"You're a capo. Why don't you just do what I say?"

I stopped when I heard Hoax talking over the phone. We're at his penthouse. Matapos kong makalabas sa ospital ay dito na niya ako dinala. I've been staying here for weeks already. He asked me to be here until everything's fine.

"Follow Mirae Lozano. I think there's something with her. I think she's what I'm looking for. That fucking Universe. I want to know her whereabouts, everyday."

Namilog ang aking mga mata nang marinig ang sinabi ni Hoax. Wala sa sariling napailing ako. I won't let him. Hindi ko hahayaan na makumpirma niya ang kanyang sinasabi. Mapapahamak si Mirae kapag nangyari iyon.

"Hey!"

Napabaling ako kay Hoax nang marinig ang bati niya sa akin. Hindi ko namalayan na naibaba na niya ang tawag.

I immediately smiled at him. "Can you drive me at my café?" I hope not.

"Sure." Agad na sagot niya na sinabayan ng maliit na tango.

"Aren't you busy?" I stopped when I realized what I've said. "I mean, don't you have a meeting to attend?" I glanced at his clothes. He's now wearing a suit.

"I'll drive you to your café first."

I nodded. "Alright."

He gestured the lift as I felt his hand supporting my back. Hinayaan ko na lang iyon at dumiretso sa elevator. He entered the lift's combination and it opened.

Sa elevator ay walang nagsasalita sa amin, hanggang sa makarating kami sa kanyang kotse at pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto bago umikot sa driver's seat.

I fastened my seatbelt as he swiftly maneuvered the car.

We're on our way towards my café when my phone started ringing. Nilabas ko ang aking phone at tinignan kung kanino galing ang tawag.

"I'll just answer the call," I informed and I saw Hoax nodded.

"Bryce," Bungad ko. He's one my co-model. We've been in the same project for a lot of times.

I saw Hoax from my peripheral vision, he glanced at me.

"Astrid! You up for photoshoot?" Bungad niya.

"I'm not sure. Kailan ba?" In this kind of situation, I don't think I can do modelling right now.

"Next month?" Agap niya.

Tumango ako na para bang makikita niya iyon. "I'll just message you if I'm free," Marahan sambit ko.

"Alright, see you soon."

"See you soon, bye." I ended the call. Ibinalik ko sa loob ng bag ang phone ko at bumaling kay Hoax. "That's my co-model," I said. I don't why, somethings urging me to tell him that.

He quickly glanced at me. "Hmm, asking you out?"

Agad akong umiling. "No, he just informed me about the photoshoot." Bryce once asked my out though.

He nodded. "Can I ask you something again, I just want to be sure."

Napabaling ako kay Hoax at marahang napatango.

"Is Mirae really a part of Cosmos?" He asked. My lips parted a bit but I immediately closed it.

Napalabi ako bago tuluyang nakasagot. "I'm sorry, I lied. She isn't." I bit my lower lips as I continued. "Galit ako sa kanya noong nakaraang nagtanong ka sa akin kaya nasabi ko iyon," I muttered. There's a big possibility that he won't believe me but I want to try.

Ilang sandali siyang tumitig sa akin bago tuluyang tumango.

We arrived at me café. I immediately went out of the car. Hindi ko na hinintay na pagbuksan pa niya ng pinto.

Lumabas din siya at sinalubong ako. "I'll be in my office for the whole day. Just send me a message if you'll go home already or you wanna go somewhere, I'll pick you up."

I smiled. "Thanks for the ride."

Tumango siya. "I'll go ahead."

Tumalikod siya sa akin at nagsimulang lumakad pagbalik sa driver's seat.

"Hoax!" I called when I saw him opened the door of his car.

I smiled when his eyes met mine. "Drive carefully."

I bit my lower lip when I saw him stilled.

A smile crept in his face after a while. "I will. I'll see you later, take care."

My grasp on the handle of my bag tightened when I felt my heart ramming like it wants to get out of my chest. "Uhmm, take care."

He nodded as he finally entered his car.

Hinintay ko na mawala sa aking paningin ang kanyang sasakyan bago tuluyang pumasok ng café.

"Good morning, Ma'am," My staffs greeted me when they saw me entered.

I gave them a smile as I greeted them back. "Good morning."

I went inside my office and walked towards my table. Inilabas ko ang spare phone sa aking bag at agad na nagtipa roon. I dialed the number registered under the name "Dark".

Ilang sandali lang ay may sumagot na roon.

"Star," She answered.

"Send me the names of Devaughne's capos," I ordered as I opened my laptop.

Agad naman siyang nakasagot. "Copy that."

"I need it right now, thank you."

The call ended as I turned to my laptop. Bukas na iyon at hinihintay na lang na pumasok ang mensahe ni Dark.

I started walking back and forth while staring at my laptop.

Ilang sandali lang ay naroon na ang aking hinihintay. I opened the electronic mail from Dark. I captured the screen and immediately deleted the mail.

I scanned the list and stopped when I saw a familiar name in it. I don't know if it's just a same name because I don't know her surname or they're really the same person. Ipinagkibit balikat ko na lang iyon.

Devaughne have more than thirty capos. I know under one capo they have fifteen to twenty soldiers. Hindi nalalayo ang bilang ng Cosmos sa bilang ng Devaughne.

Matapos ay agad kong tinawagan si Archer. His number is registered under the name "Light" in my spare phone.

He immediately answered the call.

"Sweetie!" Bungad niya sa akin. I almost rolled my eyes because of his random endearment.

"Are you at your office? At Fonacier?" Tanong ko habang pagbalik balik na naglalakad sa loob ng opisina.

"No. I'm at my office, sa firm. May inaayos akong kaso." I even heard the quick sound of flipping pages from the documents, perhaps. "You called using this number, this must be urgent," Pahabol niya.

"I need your help."

Bahagyang tumahimik ang kabilang linya. "Where are you? I'll get you."

"'Wag na, pupuntahan na lang kita." I went out of my office. Tinanguan ko ang manager ng café at tuluyan nang lumabas.

"You sure?"

"Hmm."

Tinapos ko ang tawag. Agad akong pumara ng cab at sumakay doon. I told the driver the address of Archer's law firm. Malapit lang iyon sa café ngunit dahil sa buhol-buhol na sasakyan ay inabot ako ng kalahating oras bago makarating doon.

Agad akong sumakay ng lift patungo sa floor kung nasaan ang opisina ni Arch.

I arrived at the twenty seventh floor of the firm. Tatlo lang ang opisina roon.

Archer told me that his office is located in this floor but he doesn't told me where. Hindi niya sinabi na tatlo pala ang opisina rito. Wala kahit isang tao ang nasa labas kaya naman wala akong mapagtanungan.

I heaved a deep sigh and walked towards the first door. I just hope this is his office. I knocked as I slowly opened the door.

"Archer-" Sumilip ako roon at agad na natigilan dahil sa nakita. I saw a woman sitting on a man's lap while kissing torridly. Napangiwi ako. That isn't kissing, more than that, I think.

"Oh my God!" The woman screamed when she saw me.

"I'm sorry!" Agad kong isinara ang pinto. Napasandal ako roon at mariing napapikit. What the hell what that? I know my face's now turning red.

Kinuha ko ang aking phone. I started dialing Archer number but he's not answering. Maybe he's talking to a client.

I stared at the two remaining doors. Sa huli ay dumiretso ako sa kasunod na pinto ng una kong pinasukan. Sana naman ay ito na ang opisina ni Archer.

I slowly knocked on the door as I opened it.

"Archer! What the he-" I stopped when I saw a man inside the office. Nagangat siya sa akin ng tingin. Nang makita ako ay mapaglarong ngumisi habang nakataas ang kilay.

"What can I do for you, Missy?"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out of it. I bit my lower lip.

"If you're looking for Archer, you're on the wrong office, Miss."

"His office is on the third door, right?" I slowly muttered. My God!

"Hmm," He answered while still smirking.

"Alright, thank you!" Sambit ko bago tuluyang lumabas ng opisinang iyon.

I sashayed towards the third office. Hindi na 'ko kumatok roon at basta na lamang binuksan ang pinto dahil sa inis.

"Thank you, Governor." Naabutan ko si Archer na nakikipagkamay sa tinawag niyang governor.

Napalingon ang dalawa sa aking biglang pagpasok.

"S-sorry," I muttered. Nawala ang aking inis at napalitan iyon ng kahihiyan. Shit, kanina pa! Akmang lalabas ako ngunit agad akong napigilan ni Arch.

"Stay, Astrid." He's directly looking at me. "We're done already," He continued, pertaining to the governor.

"I'll go ahead, Attorney Fonacier." Paalam ng gobernador na tinanguan naman ni Archer.

I waited for the governor to went out of the office before I finally faced Archer.

"What the hell?" Bungad ko.

Nagtataka naman siyang napatingin sa akin. "What?"

"You didn't tell me your office is on the last door," I muttered as I walked near him.

Ngumisi siya na para bang nakuha na niya kung bakit ganito ang aking reaksyon. "I thought you already know," He chuckled.

"Seriously? I saw something I shouldn't-" Hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin dahil sa halaklak ni Archer.

"You saw what?" I was just staring at him because he's still laughing. Para bang alam niya kung ano ang nakita ko. "Sinong nakita mo? Si Alastair ba? O si Adella? Saang opisina ka pumasok?"

"Lahat," I nonchalantly said.

"Adella's in the first office, Alastair's in the second. They're my cousin, and I know what you saw."

I just rolled my eyes on him. "Halata namang magpipinsan kayo."

"Yeah." Ilang sandali ay sumeryoso na siya. "Problem?" He asked.

"I overheard Hoax asking their capo to follow Mirae. May hinala siya na si Mirae ang Universe."

He tilted his head as his eyes widened. "Fuck! Bakit ba si Mirae ang lagi niyang nakikita?"

I bit my lower lip as I avoided his gaze.

"Do you know where Mirae is? Let's follow her. We need to find that capo."

I shook my head. "I don't know but maybe she's at Lozano."

"I'll call her," Sambit ni Arch na agad ko namang tinanggihan.

"'Wag na!" He turned to me with his confused eyes.

"I mean, it'll be better if she doesn't know anything. You know, if you know what I mean."

Sa huli ay marahan siyang napatango. "Alright, let's find Mirae."

Iginiya niya ako paglabas ng kanyang opisina at nakasalubong namin ang lalaki na kaninang naabutan ko sa pangalawang opisina.

"New woman?" He asked Archer as he glanced at me, smirking.

Natatawang umiling si Archer. "Off limits, Alas."

He man's jaw fell opened. "Woah!" He even raised his hands in defeat.

Archer chuckled. Hindi na siya sumagot at nilagpasan na lang ang lalaki at dumiretso sa elevator.

"Let's go to Lozano's," Sambit niya sa akin.

I hummed as I nodded my head.

He pushed the ground floor button as he turned to me.

"Anyway, I remember you asking my help because you thought Hoax's cheating on his girlfriend who turns out to be your friend." His eyes narrowed. "Then you asked me if I can find out if you're married."

I just stared at him and he continued. "You're married to Hoax and that friend of yours is you."

"I thought you'll figure that out sooner." He's a lawyer after all, he knew if someone's lying.

He shrugged. "I trust you, I believe your words. I didn't even doubt it."

I stilled after hearing his answer.

"Hey! Wala akong ibang ibig sabihin," He said when he saw me bit my lower lip as I lowered my head.

Alam ko naman iyon. But I can't help but felt something heavy in the inside as I tried to swallow the big lump on my throat.

He trust every word from me, he didn't even doubt it. He's always like that, actually even Creed, Dasher, and Mirae, I think. Because they never lie to each other. Well, sometimes they lie but I'll be for the better. At bihirang bihira lang iyon.

I suddenly remember Dasher when I asked him not to tell Mirae about my marriage with Hoax. He once told me that he won't tell Mirae but if she'll ask, he told me he's sorry because he had no choice but to tell the truth.

We never lie to each other yet I doubted Mirae and I regret it. I shouldn't have doubted her.

__________