"Last shot," Paulo announced as I heard the camera clicked.

Sandaling tinignan ni Paulo ang mga kuha sa akin. He gave me a thumbs up after a while. "Nice shots, Astrid!"

Tumango ako sa kanya bago lumapit sa aking mga gamit na binabantayan ni Inah.

I heard Paulo calling the attention of the other models from the background.

Ang phone ang agad na inabot sa akin ni Inah, kasabay ng aking mga damit na pangpalit.

"Tumatawag kanina pa 'yong Creed."

I smiled as I nodded. "Hmm, magpapalit lang ako."

Malisyoso siyang tumingin sa akin habang pigil ang mga ngiti. "Jowa mo?" She asked.

Kumunot ang aking noo dahil sa tanong niya. My eyes widened a bit after a while. "Hindi!"

Mapangasar lang siyang ngumiti bago nagkibit balikat sa akin. Tinalikuran ko siya bago tuluyang pumasok sa dressing room na nakapangalan sa akin.

I locked the door as I started removing my clothes. I changed into a black square neck jumpsuit.

Matapos kong magbihis ay nagsimulang tumunog ang aking phone.

I looked at it and saw Creed calling. I frowned as I immediately answered the call.

Madalang tumawag si Creed kaya naman alam kong importante ang kung ano mang sasabihin niya at hindi simpleng mangangamusta lang.

"Where are you?" He asked.

"Sa studio. I have a photoshoot, katatapos lang."

"We need to talk. I'll fetch you-"

"'Wag na! Ako na lang ang pupunta sa Ferron."

"No. At the penthouse, Astrid. I'm here." I bit my lower lip when I heard his firm tone. Nasa kabilang building lang ang sinasabi niyang penthouse.

"Alright."

I sighed as the call ended. Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag. Creed's really scary sometimes.

I kept on thinking what did I do this time for Creed to call me and tell me we need to talk.

Hanggang sa makabalik ako kay Inah ay iniisip ko iyon ngunit wala talaga akong maalala na may ginawa akong mali.

I walked towards my personal assistant. Dala niya ang aking personal bag at inabot iyon sa akin.

Ipinasok ko roon ang aking phone at napakunot ang noo nang may napansin.

I looked at Inah. "Where's my phone?"

I saw her confused at my question. "Huh? Kalalagay mo lang, 'di ba?"

"No, the other-fuck!" Hindi ko alam kung nadala ko ba iyon o naiwan ko sa penthouse ni Hoax.

I was remembering where did I put my spare one when my phone started ringing again.

Agad ko iyong sinagot nang makita na si Creed tumatawag.

"Where's your phone?" Bungad niya. I bit my lower lip.

"Hindi ko dala, naiwan ko sa penthouse ni Hoax."

"Fuck! Maybe that's Hoax." I can imagine his jaw clenching.

Napamaang ako sa sinambit niya. "Why? What happened?"

"Someone sent the Universe a message using your phone, saying you need help and you're at the hospital."

My lips parted a bit. I wasn't sure if my phone's in the penthouse.

"I'm outside the studio, bumaba ka na. We need to talk," Mariing sambit niya.

"A-alright."

He ended the call and I turned to Inah. "You have your car right?"

She hummed as she nodded. Kinuha ko sa kamay niya ang ibang gamit ko bago tumango. "You can go ahead, thank you."

"Huh? May pupuntahan pa tayo."

"Ako na lang, sige na."

Ilang sandali ay nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Her eyes narrowed after awhile as she mischievously smirked at me. "Uhuh," She nodded.

I started walking towards the elevator. Si Inah naman ay sa kabila, diretso iyon sa parking lot.

Nang makalabas ng elevator ay agad kong natanaw ang pamilyar na bulto ni Creed.

Marahan akong lumapit sa kanya. He's just staring at me. He gestured the exit as we walked towards it. "I asked Dark to go to the hospital."

Napalingon ako dahil sa sinabi niya. "What?" Iyon lang nasabi ko ngunit may hinuha ako kung bakit niya ginawa iyon.

"She knew what she needs to do," Simpleng sambit niya at napatango ako dahil nakumpirma ang aking iniisip.

Dark went to the hospital to pretend that she's the Universe. Whoever sent that message to Mirae, I know they're already there, waiting for the Universe to come.

"Makikilala nila si Dark!" There's a bit possibility that Devaughne's the one behind all of it. Hindi impossibleng kilala nila si Dark.

"She's wearing a prosthetic makeup," He muttered. "Double, actually," He continued but I don't know if I heard it right.

"What?"

A small smile crept in his face as he shook his head. "Nothing. Archer's now trying to hack your phone."

Napatango ako roon.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa hanggang sa makarating kami sa penthouse.

He handed me an envelope after he went in his room.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Open it."

I hesitated at first. Sa huli ay binuksan ko iyon at inilabas ang mga papel sa loob noon.

Inisa-isa ko ang naroon at pagkatapos ay namimilog ang mga matang napatingin kay Creed.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out of it.

One of the paper inside the envelope is the copy of Devaughne's capos. The other one is the picture of Elias Flores and information about him and his family.

"What's the meaning of that, Astrid?" Marahan ang pagsambit niya sa bawat salita ngunit iba ang dating sa akin noon. That sounded dangerous even though I know for him, he's just really asking.

"Don't tell Mirae." I avoided his gaze.

Hindi nakasagot si Creed kaya naman napabaling ako sa kanya. I saw him frowning while directly looking at me.

"Explain."

I heaved a deep sighed before I answered. "I overheard Hoax and their capo, Hoax's thinking that Mirae's the Universe. Pinapasundan niya si Mirae. He wants to confirm if she's really the Universe. And I don't want that, mapapahamak si Mirae kapag nangyari iyon. That's why I follow Mirae, nalaman ko kung sino ang inuutusan ni Hoax para sundan siya."

I looked at the picture of Elias as I pointed it. "That man is the one who's following her. He's reporting to Devaughne's capo named Mia San Isidro. Hawak ni Archer ang pamilya ni Elias. We're manipulating him."

"Why do you want to hide it to Mirae?" He asked and I bit my lower lip 'cause I don't know why either.

I heard him sighed when I didn't answer. "You know what? Tell her that. She needs to know."

"I-I'll try."

Ilang segundo siyang nakatitig sa akin bago tuluyang tumango.

"Someone already knew this place as our headquarters. Mirae wants to talk to us later at her condo," He informed and I nodded.

I stayed at the penthouse until Archer came to fetch me. Sabay na raw kami patungo sa condo ni Mirae. Si Creed naman ay umalis matapos naming magusap dahil may kailangan pa raw siyang balikan sa opisina.

We rode the private elevator. Huminto iyon sa palapag kung nasaan ang unit ni Mirae.

Archer pressed the doorbell. Ilang sandali lang ay bumukas iyon at tumambad sa amin ang bulto ni Mirae.

She walked towards me and kissed my cheeks as a greetings.

"Where's mine, Sweetheart?" Mapaglarong tanong ni Archer na nginiwian lang ni Mirae.

We're about to enter her unit when Creed came wearing his suit. Si Dasher na lang ang kulang sa amin.

Mirae closed the door after we finally entered.

We sat down on the L-shaped sofa. Si Mirae naman ay sa isa sa dalawang magkatabing one seater sofa na kaharap ng aming kinauupuan.

"How's Damien's training?" She asked while directly looking at Archer, pertaining to her brother.

"Hindi pa naman sumusuko."

I can still remember Damien asking me to convince Mirae, her sister, to let him join the Cosmos.

"Any problem sa shipments natin? Sa kahit ano?" Isa-isa kaming tinignan ni Mirae habang sinasabi niya iyon. Hudyat na para sa aming lahat ang tanong na iyon.

"Bukod sa headquarter natin wala naman. Nagagawan agad ng paraan bago pa maging problema," Creed answered and Mirae slowly nodded her head.

"Our sales and services increased by thirty percent kumpara sa nakaraang buwan," I informed. That's because of the former clients of Stonesteel. I smirked as I remember what Mirae did.

"I checked Astrid's phone, na hacked nga pero naayos ko na." It was Archer.

I saw Mirae massaged her temple as she asked. "Sino naman makakaalam na ang penthouse ang headquarters natin?"

"Devaughne. I don't know if they are also the one responsible for hacking Astrid's phone."

Posible kayang si Hoax iyon? I left my phone in his penthouse. Sigurado ako na dahil hindi ko dala iyon ay naroon iyon sa penthouse.

"Mabuti na lang at may spare number tayo at Universe ang nakapangalan sayo roon."

I heard the doorbell buzzed. I rose up to opened it, I know it's Dasher.

Tama ang hinala ko. Bumungad sa akin si Dash na halatang kagagaling lang sa ospital. He looked so stressed.

He smiled at me and I nodded as a greeting.

"Milady! Sabi mo namiss mo 'ko!" Masiglang at parang bata na bati niya at umupo sa one seater sofa na katabi ni Mirae.

Well, that was fast. Pagbungad lang ay para bang pagod na pagod siya ngunit sa paraan ng pagbati niya kay Mirae ay para bang ilusyon ko lamang ang kaninang nakita.

"May boyfriend 'yan si Mirae!" Biglang sabi ni Archer kaya napabaling ako sa kanya.

"Sino?" Bumakas ang pagtataka sa mga mata ni Mirae.

"Si Devaughne!" I frowned. Who? Vynz?

"Kagabi pumunta ako dito sa condo mo walang tao! Where are you last night?" Naniningkit ang matang tanong ni Dash.

Pinaglapat ko ang aking mga labi dahil nagsisimula na naman si Archer at Dash. Kami naman ni Creed ay tahimik na nakikinig. Creed's really not a fan of talking.

"Vynz's penthouse," I heard Mirae answered.

Dash and Archer's eyes widened as I turned to them. Si Creed din ay napabaling kay Mirae.

I was just listening at her as she started explaining. "Elliott Ledesma visited me in my office. He was asking me things but I refused so he gave me a gift. A head of a woman to be exact at saktong nandoon si Vynz. He thought its because of him. Dahil napapalapit ako sa kanya. He asked me na roon muna magstay sa penthouse niya."

I frowned. Vynz? Seriously? He never asked anyone to stay inside penthouse. I mean, sa dami ng naging babae niya, wala siya kahit isa na dinala sa penthouse niya. Iyon ang pagkakaalam ko. I don't know, I wasn't sure though.

Sa pagkakataon nga lang na ito, sa tingin ko ay iba si Mirae sa mga naging babae ni Vynz. Vynz never stayed with anyone that long. Isa araw lang pinakamatagal. While Mirae? I heard he's courting her.

I'm happy for the two of them but I don't know what will happen when the time comes and Vynz will know that Mirae's the Universe. And Mirae's just distracting him because she has a plan so we can top the mafia chart.

"Delikado 'yang ginagawa mo. What if they already know that you are the Universe?" Creed frowned.

"Kaya ko ang sarili ko," Mirae assured.

"Hoax asked me if you're a member of Cosmos and I said no. Pinaghihinalaan ka niya," I interfered.

"See? Tigilan mo na iyan, Mirae," Creed ordered.

Agad naman iyon tinutulan ni Mirae. "No."

"Tawagan mo ako kung may mangyari man," Dasher muttered. Alam namin na hindi namin mapipigilan si Mirae sa kung ano man ang gusto niya. Ang magagawa lang namin ay suportahan siya.

Napabaling ako sa gawi ni Dasher nang muling magingay ang phone niya. Kanina pa may tumatawag sa kanya ngunit pinapatay niya iyon.

"Why don't you answer the call, maybe it's important," Kunot noong sambit ni Mirae habang diretso ang tingin kay Dasher.

He checked his phone when it buzzed, a signal that a message came in.

He looked at his phone, maybe he opened the message. Hindi nagtagal ay agad niyang ibinulsa iyon.

I saw Mirae frowning a bit while looking at Dash.

He shook his head as he answered. "Its nothing."

Mula noon ay hindi na ulit nagingay ang phone ni Dash. Maybe he turned it off. Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako at hindi na pinansin iyon.

"Tell us your plan," Creed muttered. Pagbabalik nito ang kaninang usapan.

"To distract Devaughne? And spy a little?" Dahan-dahang sagot ni Mirae kay na para bang nagaalangan siya. Si Creed naman ay napahilot sa kanyang sentido.

"Baka naman kayo na talaga ni Devaughne!" Malisyosong tanong ni Archer.

"No! But he's courting me."

"Gusto mo na si Devaughne, tama ba?"

Nakita kong natigilan si Mirae sa tanong ni Dasher ngunit agad ding nakabawi.

She rolled her eyes. "Hindi!"

Dasher's eyes narrowed as he smirked because of Mirae's answer.

"I don't like your smirk, Alterio."

"Syempre si Devaughne lang naman gusto mo!"

Pinigilan ko ang sarili upang hindi mapangisi roon.

"Careful, Mirae," Paalala ni Creed.

A phone started ringing. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay phone ko naman ang nagiingay.

I looked at it as my eyes widened when I saw Hoax calling. Shit! I forgot that he told me he'll fetch me.

"I'll go ahead," Paalam ko habang hinarap sa kanila ang aking phone upang malaman na si Hoax ang tumatawag.

"Divorced daw pero..." Sinadya ni Dasher na hindi tapusin ang sasabihin. Mapaglarong nakangisi siya sa akin. Totoo naman iyon, we're divorced.

Hindi ko na iyon binigyang pansin at tuluyan ng nagpaalam.

Pumasok ang isang mensahe galing kay Hoax na nagsasabing naroon na siya sa baba.

I didn't reply and just rode the elevator.

Nang makalabas ako ng gusali ay agad kong natanaw ang bulto ni Hoax. He's leaning on his car. Nang magtama ang aming tingin ay napadiretso siya ng tayo at naglakad palapit sa akin.

"I thought you're still in the studio," Bungad niya.

"The shoot ended earlier than expected. Kaya umuwi muna 'ko sa condo."

He nodded as he gestured his car. Iginiya niya ako patungo roon. He opened the passenger's seat and let me enter. Matapos ay umikot siya patungo sa driver's seat.

He started the car as he gently maneuvered it. "It'll be the company's annual celebration later."

I turned to Hoax with my eyes full of questions.

"I want to ask if you can come with me?" Marahang at nananantyang tanong ni Hoax. "Mama and Papa doesn't know a thing about what happened to us. They're asking for you," He continued.

Napamaang ako sa sinabi niya. I felt my lips parted. Its been a year yet his parents doesn't know a thing. Pinagkibit balikat ko ang naisip nang maalala na ganoon din naman ang aking mga magulang.

"Alright," I answered.

__________