I buzzed Archer's doorbell as I stood behind his door.

Ilang minuto lang ay bumukas na iyon. Bumungad sa akin ang bulto ni Archer na mukhang kaliligo lang. Bumakas ang gulat sa kanyang mga mata ngunit agad ring napangiti.

"What makes you come back, huh?" May multong ngisi sa kanyang mga labi. I shrugged. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ako bumalik. Maybe I miss everything I have before. Though, I'm not sure if that's really just the reason why.

"What about my divorce?" Tanong ko nang maalala ang ipinunta ko rito.

"You should just call me, gabi na." He glanced at my back and continued. "Wala ka pang dalang kotse. Delikado-"

He stopped when I sarcastically looked at him. "Para namang hindi mo 'ko kilala," I playfully smiled. "I can kill without even blinking an eye."

"Its been awhile, I'm wondering maybe you forgot it already?" Sambit niya bago tuluyang nilakihan ang bukas ng pinto upang kami ay makapasok. Agad akong pumasok at dumiretso sa sofa. "Baka nakalimutan mo na kung paano?" He sat beside me as he faced me. Mapaglaro niya akong nginisihan.

"Don't worry, I still know how to, Attorney." Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. "Where's your wife and the little Archer anyway?"

He glanced at the stairs connected to the second floor of their house. "Upstairs."

Nahihiwagaan akong napatitig kay Archer nang wala sa sarili siyang napangiti. I shook my head.

"About my divorce, what is it?"

Bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin. He shifted on his seat. "There's something wrong with it."

Unti-unting kumunot ang aking noo. Hindi ako nagsalita at hinayaan siyang magpatuloy.

"I know it was approved last week and I was confused, that's why I checked the records."

"For some reasons, it was delayed for two years. Five months ago, the court passed order on the first motion. After five months, the divorce was approved. Don't you think that's unusual?"

Napatango ako sa sinabi niya. Six months should have been the fastest after the court passed order on the first motion, but it only took five months for it's approval. But I remember my parents' divorce.

"Mom and Dad's divorce was approved after some months." Hindi na rin kinailangan na magkita pa sila sa korte.

Archer chuckled and slowly shook his head. "You know, Tita Hestia makes her magic happened on that."

Napalabi ako at matantong tama siya. Madaling madali si Mommy na makipagdivorce kay Dad, kaya posible nga na may ginawa si Mommy para mapabilis iyon.

I intently looked at Archer as I realized something.

"That's what I'm thinking for the past years. I can't tell this to you back then because I have no proof," He cleared his throat and continued. "But I think, someone's purposely delaying your divorce."

I shifted on my seat as I intently listened to his words.

"You know I've already pulled some strings for a faster process but nothing happened. And for some reason, it was approved five months after the court passed order on the first motion. That makes me wonder about things." He shifted on his seat and faced me. "I checked the records and you won't believe this because I can't either."

"What about the records?" Marahan at nananantyang tanong ko.

"I don't know how this happened without us knowing but your divorce was approved a year ago. It was approved the moment you left the Philippines," He muttered.

My lips parted and I blinked. Kumunot ang aking noo. I harshly bit my lower lips as I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out of it. Sa huli ay napalabi ako.

I was trying to digest his words but I just can't, that I need to confirm if I heard it right. "W-what did you say?"

"Your marriage with Devaughne ended a year ago."

I tilted my head, still can't get his words. "Y-you mean-"

Arch immediately cutted my words. "Your approved divorce last week is a fraud. Because you're already divorce a year ago. I don't know why we got the wrong information but one thing is for sure, someone's making his magic happened on this."

He kept explaining about how things happened but my mind's already somewhere.

I was divorced a year ago. Even before Niccolo started courting me. I didn't cheat on anyone. I was divorce several months ago before i entered a new relationship.

Posible kayang si Hoax ang dahilan kung bakit maling impormasyon ang nakarating sa amin?

I immediately shook my head and shrugged my thoughts off.

That's impossible, why would he even do that. Dapat nga ay tinulungan niya pa akong mapabilis ang proseso. Dahil alam kong siya ang kauna unahang matutuwa kapag naaprubahan ang divorce namin.

I drew a sarcastic, audible breath.

Mali, si Mia pala. Or maybe both of them.

I sat beside Archer as I poured the wine on the wine glass. I gently sipped on it as I crossed my legs.

Mirae leaned on the couch as she glanced at me. "So when's the wedding?" She suddenly asked that made Dash and Archer choked. Sabay na naubo ang dalawa. Bahagya pang naibuga ni Archer ang wine galing sa kanyang bibig. Bahagya pa akong lumayo sa kanya, takot na mabugahan.

"Gross," Mirae who's seating on the one seater couch grimaced.

Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Creed at nakitang nakangisi lang siya sa dalawa. 

Bahagya akong tumagilid para mapaharap sa kay Mirae. I'm seating beside Arch, on his other side is Dash. While Creed and Mirae's seating on a separate one seater couch.

"Who's getting married?" I asked though I know she's pertaining to me. Ako lang naman ang hindi pa kasal sa aming lima.

"You."

"What-"

Hindi ko pinatapos ang sasabihin ni Dasher at agad na sinagot si Mirae.

I shrugged my shoulder and shook my head. "I'm not getting married, maybe soon, but not anytime soon." Hindi na muna nagsalita ang tatlo at hinayaan kami ni Mirae para magusap. Though I know they're listening. At alam kong gustong gusto ng sumabat ni Dasher at Arch.

She rolled her eyes. "I miss attending weddings," She said as she sipped on her wine glass.

I frowned at her. What's with her? "How about Hoax? He's getting married, I'm sure you're invited." Pinigilan ko ang sarili na hindi mapangiwi dahil sa aking sinambit.

She frowned a bit. "Hoax? Getting married? To whom? To you? Nagkabalikan agad kayo? How about-" Pinutol ko ang sunod sunod na tanong niya.

"I'm not getting married. Hoax is."

She blinked. Bahagya siyang natigilan. "I'm not attending his wedding unless you're the bride. But seriously, he's not getting married." Mirae even shook her head.

"You know there's one time, napagusapan namin ni Vynz 'yung relationship niyo ni Hoax. And we kinda argued because of that. Vynz kept insisting na hindi ka raw marunong makinig. Kung nakikinig ka raw, sana maayos kayo ngayon ni Hoax. But for me, if you don't want to listen, Hoax should respect that," She continued. Bahagya siyang tumigil, para bang nagaalangan kung magpapatuloy pa, ngunit sa huli ay muli siyang nagsalita. "But I like Hoax for you, though I have nothing against Niccolo," She smiled.

I sighed. I was about to answer when Creed interfered. "Who's Niccolo?" He asked, raising his brow up on me while there's a ghost of smirk in his lips.

"Her boyfriend," Mirae answered.

"Niccolo what?"

"DelaCerde," Sagot ko kay Archer.

"I hope that one's better than Devaughne." Dasher tilted his head and asked. "Is he?"

I took me several minutes to finally answer.

Napangiti ako sa tanong niya. "He is."

He's way better than Hoax that it made me questioned myself if I deserve someone like him. Then I got the answer.

Niccolo's better than Hoax. I kept convincing myself. 'Cause something inside me's telling me the otherwise. Wala sa sariling napahawak ako sa tapat ng aking dibdib at mariing napapikit.

Archer playfully smiled at me. "True ba?" Malisyosong tanong niya sa akin.

I chuckled because of his choices of words. Bahagya pa akong napailing. Hindi pa rin siya nagbabago. He's still the Archer I know.

"'Di makasagot, hindi ka sure?" He mocked.

I rolled my eyes and turned to Creed when he spoke.

"DelaCerde's stock market's plummeting."

Napalabi ako at tumango. "That's why we decided to go back."

"He was also at Florida? With you? How did the two of you met?" Napabaling ako kay Mirae.

I nodded. "I thought he's stalking me so I confronted him," Simpleng sagot ko na nakapagpatigil sa kanila.

Muling nasamid si Archer. "What the fuck," He cursed.

"You what?" It was Creed who asked.

I turned to Dash and saw him slightly pouting his lips to suppress an annoying smile coming out of it.

Si Mirae naman ay nahihiwagaang nakatitig sa akin habang may mapangasar na ngisi. Napalabi siya nang magtama ang aming mga mata. She cleared her throat as she avoided my gaze.

"Until now, I'm still humiliated," Marahang sambit ko at bahagya pang napangiwi. I looked at them and continued. "But still, I'm not convinced that all of those were just a coincidence."

"What coincidence?" I turned to Archer because of his question.

I shook my head as I shrugged my shoulders off. Pinili ko na hindi na lamang sabihin iyon sa kanila. Simula nang bumalik ako ay hindi ko na nararamdaman ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin.

They went home a few hours before midnight. Vynz fetched Mirae while the three left with their car after sending me down to my unit. Hindi raw sila pwedeng umagahin. Napangiti na lamang ako. I know their wives and kids were waiting for them.

The next day, while I'm with Niccolo, I suddenly got a call from my Mom.

"Where are you?" Bungad niya sa akin.

"Right now? I'm at DelaCerde's company. Are you home already? How's the trip? Sorry if I didn't visit, I thought you're still in Europe."

"Where? Beside your boutique--wait, what?"

I frowned as I turned to Niccolo. Bahagya siyang napahinto sa paglalakad. He looked at me with his confused eyes. Rumehistro sa akin ang sinasabi ni Mommy.

"I'm in the Philippines."

I heard Mommy groaned. "I'm with your Dad. We're here in Florida. I thought you're still here."

I bit my lower lip. "No. Sorry I forgot to tell."

"Are you back for good?"

"Still not sure?" Alanganing sagot ko.

"Sige, sige, we'll see you next week."

The call ended exactly when we're already in front of the conference room.

Niccolo allowed me to invest in their company. Noong una ay ayaw niya pa dahil palugi na raw ang kompanya nila. Ngunit sa huli ay wala rin siyang nagawa.

I felt his hand on my back as his secretary opened the door.

Bumungad sa amin ang mga natitirang investors ng kompanya. Marahan akong napabuntong hininga nang nang makitang mabibilang sa mga daliri ang naroon.

Inilibot ko ang aking paningin at dumako iyon sa pamilyar na bulto na nakaupo sa kabisera. Agad akong natigilan at napatikhim. I darted my eyes somewhere away from him. My legs wobbled as Nic gently held my arm. I heaved a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart.

Iginiya ako ni Niccolo sa kabilang dulo ng lamesa. He pulled a chair for me. Siya naman ay umupo bakanteng kabisera sa aking tabi.

I bit my lower lip and lowered my head when I heard how my heart's ramming my ribcage.

"What the hell is he doing here, Gael?" Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Niccolo.

"He owns fifty-three percent of the stocks, that makes him the majority stockholder." I turned to the man who spoke. I blinked at Niccolo and the man's resemblance. Maybe they're cousins or brothers.

Agad nawala roon ang aking atensyon. Napahilot si Niccolo sa kanyang sentido. Noon lang rumehistro sa akin ang sinabi ng lalaking tinawag ni Niccolo na Gael.

My lips parted as I unconsciously looked at the other end of the table.

"Why, Mr. DelaCerde? I hope you're expecting it already." Mariin akong napapikit nang marinig ang boses ni Hoax.

I turned to Niccolo and I almost gasped when I saw his jaw clenched. Nanatili siyang mariin ang titig kay Hoax. Wala kahit isa ang nagtangkang magsalita loob ng conference room maliban sa dalawa.

"What do you want?" Nanatili ang aking tingin kay Niccolo at hindi na bumaling sa ibang direksyon. 'Cause I can still feel my heart pounding and locking an eye with Hoax won't help.

"After what you did, what do you think?"

I lowered my head when I felt Hoax's voice send shiver down my spine.

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