"You tell him what?" Eksehaderong sambit ni Prestin matapos marinig ang aking mga sinabi. Tila ba hindi malinaw sa kanya ang narinig. I decided to tell him after a week.

I started combing my son's hair using my fingers while he's busy reading his book. Sinulyapan ko si Prestin. "I told him about mom."

He's walking towards the door then after a few steps, he'll go back in front of me. Ilang ulit ko pa siyang sinundan ng tingin dahil sa pagbalik balik na lakad niya. He tightly shut his eyes off as he started massaging his temples. Nang dumilat ay tila ba problemadong sinalubong ang aking mga mata. "Why did you tell him? Ano bang iniisip mo?"

I sighed. "He can help us." He can find Mommy in just an hour. He's just busy these past few days because of Rozelli. I think they have a problem inside the Cosmos. Or I don't know, I'm not sure. But he promised me that he'll find Mom.

Nahihiwagaan niya akong tinignan, like I said something ridiculous. "Help what?" Sarkastikong sambit niya na nakapagpataas ng aking kilay.

"He'll help us, trust me. I know he will," I kept thinking of words to say just to assure Prestin.

"The hell are you talking?" Ngayon ay bahagya ng mahina ang boses niya, ingat na hindi marinig ng aking anak ang kanyang sinabi. "He's a part of Cosmos!" Sambit niya na para bang nakalimutan ko iyon. "Yet you trusted him, so much."

"Just trust him, like how you do when you let him handle my case," sagot ko.

A smirk slowly crept in my face when I saw how his expression relaxed like I've said the right words to convince him.

Kaasabay noon ang pagtunog ng aking telepono. It was lying on the center table. Kaya naman sabay kaming napatingin ni Prestin doon. I heard him sighed as he saw the one calling.

Agad kong sinagot iyon.

"Aurie."

"Arch." From the side of my eyes, I saw my son glanced as me. I placed my forefinger on my lips as I smiled, telling him to stay quiet. Si Prestin naman ay pailing iling sa aking harapan.

"Can I go to your condo?" He asked.

"Huh?" I immediately answered, confirming if I heard it right.

"I need information about mother."

"Oh!" Agad kong nakuha ang ibig sabihin niya. "Alri-" Napahinto ako nang mapatingin sa aking anak. "Y-you can't. I mean, baka makaabala pa sa'yo." I licked my lower lip. "Ako na lang ang... pupunta sa... condo mo. Kung ayos lang?" Nananantyang tanong ko. I rolled my eyes at my brother's overreacted face.

"Of course you're not, hindi ka nakakaabala. But if that's what you want, I'll fetch you," he insisted but I immediately turned his offer down.

"No need. Just send me the location, I'll go there," sambit ko na para bang hindi alam kung nasaan ang condo niya.

"Alright, I'll wait for you. If you saw someone following you, just dial my number, I'll back you up."

I was oblivious that I'm smiling until Prestin lazily handed me a mirror. Wala sa sariling tinanggap ko iyon at nakita ang nakangiti kong repleksyon. Pailing iling si Prestin nang ibalik ko iyon sa kanya.

"Hhmm, thank you."

"Take care, Aurie."

"I will."

Nang matapos ang tawag ay agad kong hinarap si Prestin. "See? He'll help us."

"Yeah, where are you going?" He asked as he nodded, tila hindi naniniwala na iyon lang ang dahilan kung bakit hindi mawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi.

"His condo. He needs information about our mother," I bit my lower lip as I stared at my brother, like I'm a high schooler waiting for a consent if I can leave. "I'll ask Melissa to look for Rye if you're leaving," I muttered pertaining to Rye's nanny. Siya ang nagbabantay kay Rye tuwing may pasok kami ni Prestin.

He gestured the door before massaging his temple. "As if you'll follow me if I told you to stay. And don't bother calling Melissa, I won't leave."

Lumawak ang aking ngiti at bumaling sa anak. "Rye, baby," tawag ko sa atensyon niya. He glanced at me but his eyes immediately went back at his book. Nitong mga nakaraang araw ay tinuturuan namin siya ni Prestin na magbasa. He's a fast learner, just like his father. A frown slowly formed on my forehead as I recognized the book he's reading. Pamilyar sa akin ang libro dahil ilang ulit ko na ring binasa iyon.

Marahas akong bumaling kay Prestin. "What the fuck?" I mouthed. "Seriously, Philippine Constitution?" Hindi na napigilan na hindi maisaboses iyon.

"He saw that on my table, he said he wants to read it," he shrugged.

I rolled my eyes as I turned to my son. "What do you want, baby? Tell me anything, I'll buy you. Do you want toys?"

My son look at me as he shook his head. "Books, Mommy. Something like this." Bahagya niyang itinaas ang binabasa upang ipakita sa akin iyon. Matapos ay muling bumalik sa pagbabasa.

"You sure?"

He nodded his head. "Hhmm, take care, Mommy."

"I will." I kissed his head as I hugged him and whispered on his ear. "I love you."

Noon niya tuluyang tumingin sa akin at binitawan ang hawak na libro. He hugged me back and whispered, "I love you too, Mom."

A smile is plastered on my face until I arrived at Archer's condo. It was located at the seventeenth floor of the building. I buzzed the doorbell, hindi naman nagtagal ay agad na bumukas iyon. Bumungad sa akin si Archer suot ang kanyang puting t-shirt. I can't help but bit my lower lip 'cause it looks good on him.

"Aurie," he smiled. Nilakihan niya ang bukas ng pinto at agad akong pinapasok. Palihim kong iginala ang aking tingin. No doubt, this condo is owned by a bachelor. The furnitures are arrange in an organize way. I proudly smirked at myself.

"Come on, feel at home," he muttered as he let me sat down on the long couch. I saw his laptop lying on the center table. "What do you want, juice, tea, coffee, anything?"

"Juice na lang."

"What flavor do you prefer? Orange, apple-"

"Archer," I cutted his words. Napatitig siya sa akin. "Anything will do."

"Alright, give me a minute."

Akmang tatalikod nang hulihin ko ang kamay niya upang pigilan siya. He gave me a questioning look. I rose up as I let his hand go.

"I'm sorry for being rude."

He slowly frowned at me, tila hindi nakuha kung para saan ang aking sinabi. Matapos ay umiling siya. "You're not rude."

"I mean, about last time... the dinner," I bit my lower lip as I let him remember. "I'm sorry for being rude. If you want... let's dine again? I'll treat you." Nagaalangang sambit ko. I don't want to sound like an aggressive bitch.

I blinked as I saw his face straightened. Tila ba sinusuri ang aking ekspresyon. Lumapat ang kanyang mga labi bago ako umiiling na sinagot. "You don't have to."

"What-" nabitin ang aking mga salita nang ngumiti siya. I can see pain in his smile that made me frowned.

"I'm alright if you don't want me to court you. Though I'm still courting you, Aurie. Dahan-dahan nga lang. I mean, I'll slow down but I won't stop just because you don't want. If you want you can just ignore what I'm doing, just..." He trailed off as he tightly shut his eyes off. "Don't ask me to stop liking you." He sighed, not because he's tired but because he can't control his emotions, before continuing.

"About the dinner, you don't have to say sorry." I watched him as he shook his head. "I lied, that was my fault. And if you're asking me to dine with you 'cause you feel indebted to me because I'll find your mother, you don't have to."

My mouth fell as I heard him. That's not what I'm thinking. Ngunit hindi ko siya masisisi kung ganoon ang pakiramdam niya. I turned him down without thinking, tapos ngayon ay ganoon ang sasabihin ko? I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out of it so he continued as I saw a glint of pain in his eyes.

"I want to help you, that's it. I respect what you feel, Aurie. I won't force you into something you don't want or make you feel indebted into something just to manipulate you."

"H-hindi sa gano'n." I finally have a strength to answer him but my voice trembled.

He gave me a smile. "I'll get you something to drink. Feel comfortable."

"Archer," I called.

"Just a minute," sambit niya bago ako tuluyang tinalikuran.

Nanghihina ang mga tuhod na napaupo ako sa couch. I bit my lower lip and frowned as I felt my chest tightened. Mariin akong napapikit at napahilamos sa mukha. Matapos ay agad na tumayo at nagmamadaling sinundan siya.

I sighed as I saw him at the dining area, in front of the countertop. Kaya naman nakatalikod siya sa akin. I saw him preparing the juice. Hinahalo niya ito habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

"Archer," tawag ko ngunit para bang hindi niya narinig iyon. Agad akong lumapit at inabot ang kanyang braso. "Arch-"

"Hey!" Napatalon siya sa gulat. The glass almost fell. "Sorry, what is it?" Tanong niya matapos makabawi.

"'Yung sinabi ko..." I trailed off, thinking about the words that I need to say.

Nakangiti siyang umiling sa akin. "Let's not talk about that."

"No, I need to clear-"

He continue preparing the juice as he cutted my words. "I understand, I don't-"

Kumunot ang aking noo. "I want to explain-"

Sandali siyang sumulyap sa akin at muling pinutol ang aking mga salita. "I just don't want you to-"

"Stop cutting my wor-"

"I don't want you to think that I'm doing this to make you feel indebted-"

Marahas ko siyang pinaharap sa akin. I encircled my arms around his nape as I reached for his lips to stop him from talking. I felt him stilled as his eyes widened. Nanginig ang aking mga tuhod, dahil sa pagkatuod ni Archer ay hindi niya nasuportahan ang aking baywang at naputol ang aming halik.

He didn't kissed me back, he's too shock to respond.

"I like you, Arch," I confessed.

My heartbeat raced as I felt like I was about to vomit 'cause my mouth's full of rainbows while he's just staring at me.

"I want to fix what happened 'cause I want to and not because I'm feeling indebted. I said sorry and I'm sincere with it. L-last time, my mind was filled with possibilities, I was shock that's why I reacted that way. I'm sorry, I like you too." I bit my lower lip after my litany.

"You kissed me." Tulala siyang napahawak sa labi at hinaplos iyon.

My lips parted at what he said Nahihiwagaan akong napatingin sa kanya. Sa dami ng sinabi ko, iyon lang ang naintindihan niya? What the fuck, Attorney?

"And you like me too. Fuck," he uttered a soft curse. He blinked. "You like me, Aurie."

I bit my lower lip as I nodded. I love you, Arch. It will always be you. I'll risk everything for you.

"Believe me when I say, I want to fix what happened because I like you and not because of any other reason-"

Naputol ang aking mga salita nang marahan niyang hinigit ang aking kamay. He pulled my closer to him aa he encircled his arms around me. My arms moved to embrace him too.

"I like you too, Aurie," he whispered.

I let my head leaned on his chest and my eyes automatically shut closed when I heard his heart ramming his ribcage.

"I'll court you," muling bulong niya habang ang mga braso ay nakapulupot pa rin sa akin.

Bahagya akong lumayo upang salubungin ang kanyang mga mata. "You said you're already courting me."

"I'll court you more."

I chuckled at his determined tone. His hands found my face as he gently cupped my cheeks. He tilted my head and I closed my eyes when he slowly leaned near me.

I was waiting for his lips on me when the door of his condo buzzed.

"Damn," he cursed.

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