I woke up with a heavy and aching head. Agad kong kinapa sa side table ang aking phone upang makita kung anong oras na ngunit malambot na bagay lang ang aking nahawakan.

Napadilat ako at napabaling sa aking tabi. Napatingin ako sa aking kinakapa ngunit nasa gilid pa noon ang side table kaya't unan ang aking nahawakan. Where the hell am I?

I looked around the place and saw a modern type monochro-

"Fuck," Marahan kong bulong sa sarili.

Nagtambol ang aking dibdib dahil sa posibilidad na aking naisip.

Hindi ako maaaring magkamali. This room is so familiar. Kahit isa ay walang nabago roon.

Where's Mirae? Paano ako napunta rito? Pilit kong inalala ang nangyari kagabi ngunit kahit anong gawin ko ay blangko ang aking isipan.

I looked at my clothes and my eyes widened when I saw a familiar nighties. T-this is mine. When I left that day, lahat ng gamit ko, iniwan ko. Wala akong ibang dinala kung hindi ang ilang importanteng dokumento.

Kinuha ko ang aking clutch na nakapatong sa side table. I went out of the room and stilled when I heard a familiar voice. I saw him on the first floor of the penthouse while talking to someone over the phone, frowning. I held on the banister as I watch him.

"Damn it, Kuya," He cursed. "I know, I won't let her leave. I can't risk it." Bahagya siyang natigilan bago muling nagsalita. "Alright."

Pagkababa ng tawag ay agad siyang lumingon sa aking direksyon, na para bang alam niya na naroon ako at nakikinig.

Our eyes met and I immediately avoided his gaze. I started walking down the stairs. I can feel him following every movement I'm making. Sa baba lang ang aking tingin, takot na makasalubong ang kanyang mga mata.

I felt him walking near me. Bago ako makababa sa huling baitang ay nagangat ako ng tingin.
He's now standing in front of me with an unreadable expression in his face. Something's urging me to caressed his cheek. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa aking clutch. I immediately placed my hands on my back. That would be weird if I do that.

"I don't know why I'm here, I can't remember what happened," I started as I cleared my throat. Para bang may nakabara sa aking lalamunan. "I'm sorry if I did something wrong last night. I-I'll leave."

Nilagpasan ko siya ngunit hindi pa ako nakakadalawang hakbang ay nahuli na niya ang aking braso, kaya naman agad akong natigilan.

"You're not leaving."

My lips parted a bit.

"You forgot it already, huh?" Napakunot ang aking noo sa mapanuyang tono niya. I don't know what I did and how did I end up here inside his penthouse.

"What did I do?" Marahan tanong ko habang pilit na inaalala ang nangyari.

"You're wasted last night that's why you can't remember anything," He muttered before turning his back on me.

I started walking towards the elevator when Hoax spoke in his cold tone, it sent shiver down my spine. "No one's leaving."

Matapang ko siyang hinarap at nakita kong bahagyang nakataas ang kilay niya sa akin na para bang hinahamon ako kung kaya kong umalis.

"You can't tell me what to do. I'll leave whenever I want," Mariing sambit ko.

He nonchalantly nodded as the side of his lips lifted for a smirk. "Try me, Hon."

My lips parted when he started walking towards the dining area. Fuck him for calling me Hon. Now, I can hear my heartbeat. Damn it, my heart's pounding! Napakurap ako habang pinapanood siyang maglakad palayo sa akin.

I rolled my eyes. Binalingan ko ang lift at tumapat roon. I entered a combination of numbers for it to open. Then I remember something, hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung paano nakapasok dati rito si Mia. Wala akong ibang pinagbigyan ng code ng lift kung hindi ang pamilya ko.

Mapait akong napangiti nang matanto na kay Hoax niya nakuha ang code.

Natigilan ako at napanganga nang magerror iyon. What the fuck?

I tried again but I got a same response, error. Bakit erro-- I remember Hoax. That's why he's confident I can't leave this penthouse.

I went on the dining area and saw Hoax on the countertop, preparing something.

"What's the code?"

Sandali siyang nagangat ng tingin sa akin at agad na bumalik sa ginagawa. "I told you, you can't leave."

"Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sa'yo. Uuwi na 'ko. Now, give me the code." Inilahad ko ang aking kamay na inilingan niya lang at hindi man lang ako tinignan. I took a deep breath as I tried to calm my emotions.

"H-Hoax." My chest tightened. Muntik na akong mapamura nang manginig ang aking boses.

I heard him sighed and finally looked at me. "No, Astrid."

Inis ko siyang tinalikuran at naglakad patungo sa lift. I want to get out of this penthouse. I don't want what I'm feeling every time he's around.

I started trying different combination of numbers but it'll just give me a same response.

"Fuck!" Marahas kong hinampas ang lift nang makita kong error na naman ang lumabas doon.

I leaned my head on the lift. Napakunot ang aking noo nang makita ang likidong pumatak sa sahig. Hindi ko namalayan na tumutulo na ang aking mga luha.

Sabi ni Mirae ay ito raw ang kahinaan ko, alam ko naman iyon. I hate the fact that I am a very emotional person. Maybe that's why I don't have a lot of friends. Siguro ay naaartehan sila sa akin. Sometimes I can hear some of my classmates back then, telling I am overreacting. Anong magagawa ko? I can't control my emotions. Kahit anong pilit ko, kung naiiyak ako, naiiyak ako. Hindi ko kayang pigilan.

Pinalis ko ang aking luha at muling sinubukang hulaan ang combination ng lift.

Someone held my wrist, stopping me from what I'm doing. Napabaling ako kay Hoax at mariin siyang napapikit nang makita ang aking sitwasyon.

He massaged the bridge of his nose before he opened his eyes. I saw the way he looked at me. That familiar kind of look made me believe that he loves me.

"Stop crying and don't make this hard for the both of us." He heaved a deep sighed. "I won't let you leave, Astrid. Even if you cry, I won't." Sinabayan niya iyon ng marahang pag-iling. "Not now, so stop crying. Come on let's eat," Marahan ngunit mariin ang bawat sambit niya ng mga salita. I know that tone. Sa tono niyang iyon ay alam kong seryoso siya sa kanyang sinabi.

Pinalis ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa aking palapulsuhan. I ran towards the stairs and went on the guest room on the other side of the master's bedroom. Laking pasalamat ko nang mabuksan iyon. I locked the door after I entered.

I walked towards the bed. I placed my clutch beside me as I lay on the mattress.

Ilang sandali lang ay narinig ko na ang pagkatok ng kung sino sa pinto. I know it's Hoax. Sino pa ba? "Open this, let's eat."

Hindi na ako nagabalang sagutin siya.

"Alright, I'll open this door and we'll eat." I rolled my eyes when I heard him.

I heard the door opened after a while. Hindi ako kumilos at nanatili lang na nakatalikod sa pinto. I closed my eyes as I held my clutch near my chest.

"If you want to be alone then be it, but let's eat first. It's already one in the afternoon. Wala ka pang kinakain." He sighed when I didn't respond.

Naramdaman kong gumalaw ang kama sa aking bandang harapan ngunit hindi ko binuksan ang aking mga mata.

I felt someone caressing my hair. Lalo akong napapikit dahil doon. "Come on, I know you're awake," Marahang sambit niya.

I remove his hand on my hair as I opened my eyes. Nakasalubong ko ang kanyang mga mata ngunit agad kong iniwasan iyon at bumanggon. I don't want his stares. It reminds me that I was once deceived. His deceiving stares made me believe into something impossible.

"See? You're pale." Tumayo siya. I saw him walked towards the side table near the bed. Kinuha niya ang tray doon at inilapag sa kama.

"Eat," He said in a more like command tone.

I sighed as I rolled my eyes.

Ganoon ang naging sitwasyon namin sa loob ng apat na araw. He doesn't want me to leave. Most of the time I'm staying inside the guest room. Hindi na ako nagaabalang i-lock iyon dahil nakakapasok din naman siya tuwing dadalhan ako ng pagkain. Minsan ay lumalabas ako ng silid at naghahanap ng paraan kung paano makakaalis. Hindi rin naman umaalis si Hoax simula nang narito ako.

Last day, I was in the balcony when an insane plan suddenly popped in my mind. Sa naisip kong iyon ay siguradong makakaalis ako rito, hindi ko nga lang alam kung mabubuhay pa 'ko matapos kong gawin iyon. Malamang ay hindi kaya naman agad kong inignora ang naisip.

I was inside the guest room, walking back and forth while thinking how can I get out of this penthouse when my phone started ringing. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon ko lang naisipan buksan iyon.

I immediately answer the call when I saw Archer's name in it. Agad naman akong nakaisip ng paraan kung paano ako makakalabas dito.

"Arch-"

"Where are you? Ilang araw ka ng walang paramdam. Lagot ka kay Mirae!" I heard him chuckled.

"I'm at Hoax's penthouse. I need your help." Asking for his help means I surely need to explain everything to him when I come back.

"Nandyan ka hanggang ngayon? Ba-" I cutted his words.

"Yes! Hindi ako makalabas. Can you hack his lift?"

"Aba'y oo! Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi? Kung hindi pa 'ko tumawag, hindi ko malalaman." Seriously, nawala iyon sa isip ko.

"Thank you!"

"I'll do it. Where exactly are you inside the penthouse?"

"Second floor, guest room." Agad akong napatingin sa orasan. It's already eleven fifty-nine. At exactly twelve, Hoax would be knocking here for lunch.

"I'll call you when I already opened it. All I can give is one minute for you to enter the lift. Magsasara iyon pagkatapos ng isang minuto. Answer my call when you're already outside."

"Alright, tha-" Hindi pa ako tapos magsalita ngunit agad kong napatay ang tawag nang may kumatok sa pinto.

The door opened and Hoax entered. "Let's eat," Anyaya niya sa akin.

"Can't you just let me leave?" Kunot noong tanong ko.

Nabago ang ekspresyon ng mga mata ni Hoax. "I will but not now."

"Until when? Until you get to know who the Universe is? Ano bang mapapala niyo kapag nalaman niyo kung sino siya? Nothing! You're all just desperate for position! Devaughne's already on the first spot, ano pa bang gusto niyo?" I shouted.

Hoax's jaw clenched. "Do you know what the Universe did to my sister?" Bumahid ang sakit sa kanyang mukha. "That fucking Universe killed my sister! Based on the autopsy report, my sister was raped! What do you want me to do? Just accept what happened?" Mariin at para bang hindi na nakapagpigil na sambit ni Hoax. I bit my lower lip as I felt my tears forming in my eyes. This is the first time I saw this reaction from him.

"H-hindi totoo 'yan." Iyon ang naisagot ko sa kanya. Mirae won't do that. Maybe he's saying that to fool me.

He looked at me. Para bang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

Mariin akong napapikit nang umigkas ang kamay niya. I thought he'll hit me but I was wrong. He massaged the bridge of his nose as he walked out of the room.

Nang makaalis siya ay napaupo ako sa kama at agad napatingin sa aking phone. Hindi pa rin tumatawag si Archer.

Akmang tatawagan ko siya nang biglang pumasok si Hoax sa kwarto dala ang ilang papel. Inabot niya iyon sa akin at nagtataka ko naman iyong tinanggap. "Ngayon mo sabihin sa akin na hindi totoo iyon," He muttered in firm voice.

Marahan akong nagbaba ng tingin sa mga papel sa aking kamay. Inisa isa ko iyon at matapos ay hindi ko alam kung paano ko itatangi ang mga sinabi ni Hoax. But still, Mirae won't do such things like that.

Tumayo ako at hinarap siya, kasabay noon ang pagtunog ng aking phone. Humigpit ang hawak ko roon. "Then what do you want? D-do you think I'll tell you who the Universe is? Kaya ayaw mo akong paalisin?"

Napahilot siya sa kanyang sentido. "This is not about the Universe, Astrid-"

"You know what? I don't care whatever your reason is," Sambit ko bago siya tuluyang nilagpasan.

I walked out of the room. Matapos ay nagmamadali akong tumakbo pababa. My phone's still ringing. Pagkababa ay nakita kong pababa na rin si Hoax.

I looked at the lift. Agad akong tumakbo patungo roon nang makita na pasara na ulit iyon. I was breathing heavily when I finally entered.

I saw Hoax's expression and I can't explain it when he saw me inside the lift. "Astrid, fuck-" Sinubukan niyang habulin ang pagsara ng elevator ngunit hindi na niya naabutan iyon.

The elevator's already closed. All I can hear is my phone ringing and my heartbeat ramming my ribcage.

My tears fell when I remember what happened to Hoax's sister. I don't know what I'm feeling. Isa lang ang sigurado sa nararamdaman ko. Hindi iyon awa sa kapatid ni Hoax kung hindi galit sa gumawa noon sa kanya. Pero hindi ko kayang paniwalaan ang sinasabi niya na si Mirae ang may gawa noon. Imposible iyon. Siguro ay nagkakamali lang si Hoax.

The evelator finally opened. Lumabas ako roon at tinawagan si Archer dahil namatay ang tawag kanina.

Ilang sandali lang ay sinagot na niya ang tawag.

"I-I'm already outside." I stammered as my chest's heaving up and down.

"Goodness, Sweetie! Are you okay?" Bakas ang pagaalala sa boses niya.

"I am. I'll talk to you later, kailangan ko ng makaalis dito." I ended the call as I started walking towards the exit.

Laking pasalamat ko nang makalabas na ako. Ilang sandali pa lang ay nakakita na ako ng cab, akala ko ay hihintuan ako noon ngunit nilagpasan lamang ako nito.

"Astrid!" I looked at my back and saw Hoax approaching as I felt an excruciating pain on my back.

I didn't hear anything but I know that kind of pain. Nakumpirma ko iyon nang maramdaman ang pulang likidong lumalabas sa aking bibig hanggang sa unti-unting lumabo ang aking paningin. Narinig ko pa ang mga taong nagkakagulo.

A strong arm caught my waist before I even fell on the ground.

"Fuck, Hon. Don't close your eyes, p-please." I heard a familiar voice saying something but I can't hear it clearly. Tuluyan na ring bumagsak ang aking mga talukap.

__________