This is the last chapter of Deceiving the Star, next update is Wakas.

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"Alright," I sighed as I ended the call.

The wind warm blew as it touched my skin. The sound coming from the waves makes everything calm. I watched the waves as it kissed the sand. Bumaybay ang aking paningin sa kabuuan ng paligid at mariing napapikit. I shut my eyes off when I was blinded by the rays of sun.

Agad kong inalis doon ang paningin at dumako iyon sa villa na nakatayo sa aking harapan.

How am I suppose to enjoy this without them? Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang mapabuntong hininga.

Mirae planned this for us. It should be a one week vacation. Lahat naman ay pumayag sa plano niyang ito. It should be the five of us. That was a week ago. Kung kailan araw ng pag-alis namin ay saka sila nagkaroon ng kanya kanyang emergency.

Creed and Dasher has an emergency in their own field. Archer also cancelled because of the sudden visit of his in-laws. And Mirae who planned all of this, also called me saying she can't make it because she can't leave their twins alone. Wala raw si Vynz at walang mapagiiwanan ng kambal.

What's worst is, they all told me that they can't make it when I'm already here.

Sinabi naman nilang susunod sila kapag maayos na ang lahat. Maybe I'll just wait for them and extend this vacation.

I walked towards the villa. Dumiretso ako papasok habang hila ang aking maleta nang makitang bukas ang front door noon.

"Tay? Nay Lumeng?" I called the couple caretakers of Ferron's villa as I entered.

"Astrid?" I smiled when I saw a familiar woman's built approaching. May bahid na ng puti ang kanyang mga buhok hudyat ng katandaan.

"Nay Lumeng," I greeted as I held her hand and place my forehead on the top of it.

"Ikaw na ba 'yan, Astrid?" Tanong niya matapos kong magmano.

"Opo, kamusta po?"

"Ito at tumatanda na. Halika at sasamahan kita sa iyong silid."

I nodded as I walked towards the second floor of the villa with her.

"Umalis lang sandali ang kaibigan niyo, sinamahan mamalengke si Ermeng," Sambit niya matapos naming tumapat sa pamilyar na silid.

I frowned a bit. "Po? Sino pong kaibigan?"

A frowned crept on her forehead. Bahagya siyang natigilan na para bang inaalala ang tinutukoy niya. "Hindi ko maalala ang ngalan ng lalaking 'yon. Ngayon ko lang din nakita ang kaibigan niyong iyon."

I faced her. "Sigurado ho kayong kaibigan namin ang tinutukoy niyo?" A man? Ngayon niya lang nakita? I'm sure its not Arch nor Dasher. Lalo namang hindi si Creed.

"Oo, itinawag sa akin ni Mirae at baka raw hindi ko pagbuksan ng pinto lalo na at hindi ko kilala. Sige at magpahinga ka muna, maya-maya lang ay darating na iyon."

Hindi na ako nakasagot nang tumalikod na siya. Nagtatakang pumasok ako sa loob ng silid. Pinalis ko ang bagay na iyon sa aking isip at nagsimulang iayos ang aking mga gamit. I'll stay here for a week or more. Good thing, I brought a lot of clothes. Kung kulang pa ay mayroon namang mabibilhan malapit dito.

I was arranging my swimsuits when I thought of something. I glanced at the clock and smile when I saw the time. Its almost four in the afternoon.

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa kabuuan ng silid. I immediately grab the black bikini when I saw the bathroom at the corner of the room.

Agad akong pumasok doon at nagpalit. Matapos ay lumabas ako at kinuha ang cover up. I wore a see-through cover up. Hinayaan ko iyong nakabukas at hindi na nag-abalang itago pa ang aking suot.

I went outside the villa. Nagtungo ako sa parte nito kung saan ko nakita ang mga sun lounger. Naglakad ako patungo roon. Hinayaan kong sumunod sa ihip ng hangin ang cover up na suot ko.

I sat at the third sun lounger as I removed my cover up. I started applying sunscreen on my body.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako nang hindi ko maabot ang aking likod. I sighed as I gave up reaching for it.

I walked towards the shore wearing only my black bikini. I didn't stop walking towards the beach until the water reached my neck. I swam back towards the shore. Ilang ulit pa akong nagpabalik balik hanggang sa may mapansin.

I turned to the direction of the sun loungers. Napakunot ang aking noo nang makita ang pamilyar na bultong nakaupo sa pangatlong sun lounger.

Agad akong umahon at naglakad pabalik. My heart started ramming my ribcage as I clearly see the man's face. Nakatagilid siya sa akin ngunit ang mga mata ay diretso ang tingin sa aking direksyon. He's wearing a board shorts and a plain white shirt. Simple lang iyon ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang epekto noon sa akin.

I bit my lower lip as I felt my knees wobbled. Laking pasalamat ko nang makabalik ako sa sun lounger na hindi bumabagsak ang aking mga tuhod.

Ilang ulit ko pang sinubukang pakalmahin ang sarili ngunit hindi iyon nangyari hanggang sa tumapat ako kay Hoax.

He's comfortably seating on the sun lounger. Ngayon ay magkaharap na kami. He didn't utter a single word but he handed me a towel. I glanced at my cover up beside Hoax.

Tinanggap ko ang iyon at ipununas sa aking katawan. Matapos ay wala sa sariling tiniklop ko iyon habang nakatungo.

"Can we now talk?"

Napabaling ako kay Hoax nang marinig ang marahang tono niya.

"Where do you want me to start?" Marahan ngunit mariin ang bawat sambit niya sa mga salita. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at hindi alam ang isasagot sa tanong niya.

"Years ago, about the video with Mia-"

I immediately shook my head when he started. Agad naman siyang napahinto nang makita ang aking pag-iling.

"I-I already know that." I bit my lower lip. Archer already explained that.

But he continued. "The video was recorded years ago before the day of our wedding. About the kiss, that's was months ago after our wedding. Hindi ko ginusto 'yon. Hindi ko alam na bigla na lang niyang gagawin iyon. I pushed her-"

"I know, Hoax." Mariin akong napapikit at nanghihinang napaupo sa katapat niyang sun lounger.

"I told you we'll start a new? Didn't I make it clear? I won't propose on anyone." That was almost a whisper but I still clearly heard it.

"I only want you, Astrid." I bit my lower lip when his lips trembled. Napatingala ako nang maramdaman ang nagbabadyang luha sa gilid ng aking mga mata.

"I was planning to propose to you with that ring," Malungkot siyang napangiti. "I made you sign a divorce because I want us to start a new, together, if this is still not clear for you. I was busy planning my proposal when you left," Namumungay ang mga matang sambit niya.

A sob escaped my mouth. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili sa pag-agos ng aking mga luha patungo sa aking pisngi. My hand flew on my mouth.

"Years ago, when I found out that my parents wants me to marry you. I didn't think twice, I agreed knowing you're a part of Cosmos. I overheard my grandfather talking to someone, that you're one of the underbosses, that's how I find out."

"I agreed to marry you to know who the Universe is. But that's not what I'm thinking on our wedding day. I'm thinking about us building our own family, with our kids, Astrid." He gave me a smile but it didn't reached his eyes. "Still, even after our wedding, I can't forget my sister. I still want to give her justice. But I lose you, Astrid. I lose you because of that."

"S-sorry," I muttered. Iyon lang ang tanging salitang lumabas sa aking bibig.

Hoax slowly shook his head. "I don't know if I'll be happy that Aleesha's alive, I should be. Turns out, I lose you for nothing. I'm finding justice for nothing," Marahang sambit niya. Wala sa sarili akong napatayo sa kanyang harapan.

"I-I'm sorry," Sambit ko habang nakatakip pa rin ang kamay sa bibig upang pigilan ang aking mga hikbi. Tears are still rolling down my cheeks. Halos hindi ko na siya makita dahil sa panlalabo ng aking mga mata.

He frowned a bit. "You don't have to say sorry. What was that for?"

I wasted time hating him for nothing. If only I gave him time. If only I listened back then.

He extended his hand on me. Inabot niya ang aking kamay at bahagya akong hinila palapit. "Come here, Hon," He muttered using a soft tone.

Agad naman akong sumunod sa kanya. Hinila niya ako hanggang sa mismong harapan niya. I know what he wants me to do.

"B-basa ako," I whispered but he didn't answer. He pulled me closer, instead.

Just like the old times, I voluntarily and slowly sat in the middle of his lap as his arm encircled on my waist to support me. Bahagya niya pang inayos ang aking pagkakaupo.

I held his shoulder as I leaned on it. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

Mariin akong napapikit nang maramdaman ang marahang paghagod niya sa aking likod. "Stop saying that, Hon. You don't have to. I should be the one saying sorry."

He cupped me and made me faced him. His lips landed on my forehead. Matapos ay mabilis niyang dinampian ng halik ang aking labi.

I clung my arms on his nape. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na supilin ang mga hikbi. I leaned on him as I hugged his nape with our cheeks almost touching. I let my tears fall while he's trying to calm me down.

"I'm sorry, Hon," He whispered but my tears were busy rolling down my cheeks to answer him. "I'm sorry, I love you," He continued.

Lalong humigpit ang aking yakap. Hindi ko nagawang makasagot dahil sa sunod-sunod na hikbing lumalabas sa aking bibig.

We're in that position for I don't know how long. Bahagya lang kaming naghiwalay nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses.

"Jusko, Astrid! Anong nangyari sa 'yo?"

I removed my arms on Hoax's nape as I looked at his back when I heard Nanay Lumeng's voice.

I immediately wiped my tears as I saw her walking near our direction while holding a tray of food. Papunta siya sa aming harapan.

Agad akong napatayo mula sa kandungan ni Hoax. Siya naman ay napasunod sa aking pagtayo.

I wiped my tears but I can't control my sobs. Tuloy-tuloy ang aking paghikbi nang harapin namin si Nay Lumeng.

"Anong nangyari sa inyong dalawa? May problema ba?" She asked while with her widening eyes.

"Wala, Nay. Ayos lang ho kami," I even smiled in between my sobs.

She frowned and I deep furrow formed in his brow. Bumakas ang pagtataka sa kanyang mukha ngunit hindi na muling nagtanong.

"Nagdala 'ko ng merienda," Sambit niya bago inilapag sa sun lounger ang dalang tray.

"Salamat po, pero hindi na ho sana kayo nag-abala pa," I muttered as I glanced at an unfamiliar snack. I even sobbed as I wiped my tears.

"Naku, wala iyon. Sigurado bang ayos lang kayong dalawa?"

"We're okay, Nay," Hoax answered. Ilang ulit pa akong tumango at binigyang siya ng ngiti.

She nodded her head as she turned her back on us.

I looked at the snacks she brought. It looks like a French fries covered with sugar. Mayroon ding dalawang baso ng orange juice roon.

I sat beside the tray as I tasted one using a fork. Wala sa sariling napatingin ako kay Hoax nang matanto kung ano iyon.

"Its a sweet potato."

Hoax sat in front of me. Nasa gitna na namin ang snacks na dala ni Nanay Lumeng.

Muli akong kumuha ng isa gamit ang tinidor at ibinigay iyon kay Hoax. "Try this."

He gently held my wrist. Matapos ay dinala niya iyon malapit sa kanyang bibig at isinubo ang meriendang dala ni Nay Lumeng. Agad kong naibaba ang tinidor matapos niyang bitawan ang aking palapulsuhan.

Silence consumed us. Ang tanging naririnig ko lang ay ang bawat hampas ng alon sa dalampasigan ang aking mga hikbi.

"I missed you, Hon."

I slowly turned to him as I heard his firm voice softened. A smile crept in his face.

I bit my lower lip as I answered. "I m-issed you too, Hon." My voice trembled when I sobbed. I slowly sipped on my glass.

There was a deafening silence between the two of us. Ilang minutong nanatili ang katahimikang iyon hanggang ako'y napalabi nang may maalala.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nagtama ang aking mga mata.

"Did you do something-" I stopped when I hesitated. I cleared my throat. Sa huli ay napagpasyahan ding magpatuloy. "Our divorce, did you do something to delay it? W-when was it really approved?"

His lips formed into a thin line as he nodded. "I did. I don't want our divorce approved while we're still not in a good terms. I tried delaying but it was approved a year ago." He licked his lower lip as he continued. "The least thing I can do is hide it from you. I'm sorry."

My lips parted at his statement. I was really divorced a year ago. I bit my lower lip as I sipped on my glass.

"I hired someone to follow you. I know DelaCerde already told to this.

Doon na ako tuluyang napamaang. My jaw fell opened. What about Niccolo?So those stares? I'm not hallucinating about the stares! Is it Niccolo? I immediately shrugged the thoughts off. I already asked him before, he said no, so maybe it's not really him.

"W-what about it?"

"I hired DelaCerde to follow you and update me about your whereabouts. But that fucker fooled me." Hoax's jaw clenched. "Ang sabi ko, ilayo ka sa ibang lalaki, hindi ang ligawan ka. Damn that bastard," He whispered the last sentence. Para bang sa sarili niya lamang iyon sinabi.

Natigilan ako at napakurap. Matapos at bahagyang napailing.

"Let's swim?" I suddenly muttered. Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya at agad na tumayo ngunit agad niyang nahuli ang aking palapulsuhan.

Marahan niya akong hinila kaya naman muli akong napaharap sa kanya. He immediately leaned on me and eyes widened when our lips met. Sandali lang ang pamimilog ng aking mga mata dahil wala sa sarili akong napapikit.

He planted soft kisses on my lips as he tilted his head. I clung my arms on his nape as he held the back of my head to deepened the kiss. His other hand's caressing my back while pulling me closer to him as if there's still space left between us.

We stopped while catching our breath. I can feel my heart ramming my ribcage as my knees wobbled. I felt his arms encircled around me.

My eyes closed as he whispered. "I'll marry you, Hon."

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