"I'll see who's outside," I muttered when the door buzzed for the second time even before our lips met. Ako na ang kusang humiwalay at napamura sa isipan.

He nodded but he followed when I went back on his living room to open the door.

The door buzzed again as I opened it.

"Arche-" The woman stopped as she saw me.

"Astrid," I called when I recognized who's buzzing the doorbell.

A frown formed in her forehead. "You know me?"

"Hey!" Bati ni Archer na ngayon ay nasalikuran ko na.

"Pasok ka," sambit ni Archer matapos kong lakihan ang bukas ng pinto upang makapasok si Astrid. "Anyway, this is Auriese Gallardo," imporma niya sa kaharap habang ito'y nakakunot pa rin ang noo sa akin.

"Aurie, this is Astrid Devaughne, a friend."

My lips parted as I heard Archer. She's married? To a Devaughne? Bahagya pa 'kong napalingon kay Archer upang kumpirmahin kung nagbibiro ba siya. I smiled I bit after awhile when he formally introduced us. Ngunit sa aking kalooban ay nanghihingi pa ring ng kasagutan. Devaughne is not a usual surname. Iilan lang ang may ganoong apelyido at 'wag niyang sabihin na pinakasalan niya ang isa sa magkapatid na Devaughne, one of the Cosmos' rival?

"You know me," she repeated in a matter-of-fact tone. Tila ba hindi inintindi ang pagpapakilala ng kaibigan. Fuck, she's really married. Kay Vynz ba? O kay Hoax?

I calmly nodded, upang hindi ipahalata ang laman ng aking isipan. "Hmm, you're a model."

"Oh! Famous ka pala?" Sabat ni Archer na para bang inaasar lang ang kaibigan.

Astrid tsked.

"Anong masamang hangin ang nagdala sa'yo rito?" I felt Archer's hand rested on my back.

Bahagya ko pang nilingon iyon at pagbalik ng aking tingin sa harapan ay nahuli ko ang sulyap ni Astrid sa kamay ng kaibigan.

"I want to talk about my divorce but..." she trailed off as she glanced at me. Divorce! What the fuck.

"You have a visitor, some other time," she continued. "I'll go ahead," paalam niya at akmang tatalikod na nang mukhang may naalala.

She looked at me before her eyes darted at Archer. "I thought you're..." Pinutol niya ang sasabihin. The two looked at each other like their eyes are talking.

"Hhmm, that's her."

Napakunot ang aking noo sa makahulugang sambit ni Archer. Tila ba nagkaintindihan na sila ngunit hindi ko pa rin makuha ang kanilang pinaguusapan.

"Really?" I watched as Astrid's eyes widened before turning to me with a smile on her face.

"Astrid Dela Vega." Nakangiti niyang inilahad sa aking ang kanyang kamay.

I immediately accepted even I'm still a bit confused on her reaction. "Auriese Gallardo."

I heard Archer chuckling. "You're still a Devaughne."

Astrid's brow raised. "Magdidivorce na, remember?"

"Just ask Hoax to sign the divorce papers, it'll be faster."

Hoax Devaughne! Seriously? In those four years, I missed a lot, aren't I? Kailan ikinasal? Paano? At magdidivorce? Shit.

"I don't want to face him. Anyway, I'll really go ahead. Nice meeting you, Auriese."

She smiled at me before finally turning her back on us. Archer closed the door as I went back on the couch.

Matapos ay napatingin siya sa akin. I cleared my throat as I slightly avoided his gaze. Dahil para akong natutunaw sa mga titig niya.

"I'll get your drink and we'll find your mother."

Napatango na lamang ako sa sinabi niya. Nang mawala siya sa aking paningin ay pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili. I placed my palm near my chest and my eyes shut closed when I felt my heartbeat ramming my ribcage.

I sighed as the car stopped at an old building. Even at the dark, just by looking at it, I know it was abandoned a long time ago. Hindi pa inabot ng kalahating oras ang paghahanap ni Archer kay Mommy. I immediately asked if we can come and get her. Dito kami dinala ng lokasyong nasagap niya. In an abandoned building far from the city.

"Stay in the car," Archer ordered as he started fixing his gun. He even explained to me why he have his gun and assured me he can handle hisself. Though, in the first place and even without him explaining, I know he really can. He's Light, one of the underboss of Cosmos.

Inabot niya sa akin ang kaninang inaayos ng baril. Sa una ay napamaang ngunit agad na nabuhayan ng loob.

"Finally after years, I'll be working with you again," I whispered.

"What?"

I shook my head as the side of my lips tugged. If you only knew what I mean.

"You'll stay here. Use the gun if someone attacked you. If things worsened," he handed me a phone as he continued. "Find the number registered under the name Universe and dial it. Just tell her Light needs help, then use the car," he gave me his key fob. "And leave."

I frowned at him. Hindi na alam kung ano ang uunahing intindihan. I won't leave him alone. Lalo na at nasa loob ng gusaling iyon si Mommy. I don't know how and why of all places, mommy's here. Though even without mom, I won't leave Archer alone, especially in this place. Heck, I don't even plan to stay here while he's risking his life inside.

Sa huli ay tumango na lamang ako. He wear his mask to cover his face before getting out of the car. Iba rin ang kotse na gamit namin ngunit alam kong pagmamay-ari rin niya ito. I must say, this is a bulletproof car. May plaka ang kotse ngunit hindi ko sigurado kung lehitimo ba iyon.

I glanced at his phone in my hand. Hindi ito ang gamit niya noong mga nakaraang araw. Is this new or...

I opened it. Hindi noon kailangan ng password, or maybe he removed so I can use it. I opened the contacts and confirmed it's his spare phone. Iilang numbero lang ang nakalagay roon. It wasn't on an alphabetical order. The name Universe is the first one I saw. As I scroll down, I realized the order is based on their rank, the Universe, underbosses and the capos.

I stilled as I read a familiar name next to the last underboss of Cosmos. I felt my hands shaking, the phone almost fell.

"Dark?" I clicked it to view the number and a frowned immediately formed in my forehead as I saw an unfamiliar combination of numbers.

Wala sa sariling napabaling ako sa aking harapan. Ipinatong ko ang aking siko sa bintana ng passenger's seat habang idinikit ang likod ng palad sa tikom na bibig.

I was tempted to dial it but I immediately stopped myself. Instead, I noted those numbers in my mind.

I slid the phone and the key fob in my pocket as I grabbed the gun. Iginala ko ang tingin sa paligid at nang masigurong walang tao ay agad akong lumabas ng kotse.

The moon is already visible. I glanced at it as I saw the stars scattered in the sky.

I remember why we're here when I heard a loud sound coming from a gun. Agad kong tinakbo ang gusali, habang papalapit ay mas lumalakas ang mga putok ng baril. Fuck, don't tell me this is a trap. Where the hell is my mother?

Bumungad ako sa pasukan ng gusali at mukhang tama ang hinala nang makitang hindi lang sampung lalaki ang naroon. Hindi na ako nagulat nang makitang nakabulagta na ang karamihan sa lalaki habang si Archer ay wala kahit isang tama. They're trying to shoot Archer who's hiding while shooting them.

I rolled my eyes. These idiots! Kaninong poncio pilatong tauhan ang mga ito? Sa dami nila, wala kahit isa ang makatama kay Archer, kahit daplis ay wala. Kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon nila ay natamaan ko na siya, siguro ay kahit sa balikat. Kaya lang, hindi ko naman gagawin 'yon.

On the second thought, he's Light, an underboss of Cosmos. Mabilis ang mga galaw niya kaya't hindi talaga kayang patamaan.

Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakapasok sa gusali ay nabaril na niya ang huling lalaking nakatayo.

I watched him as his gun pointed towards my direction. Ginawa niya iyon bago lumingon at nakita kong akmang kakalabitin niya ang gatilyo nang magtama ang aming mga mata.

"Damn it, Auriese!" He cursed, his cold eyes immediately vanished as it softened. His eyes darted at the lifeless body scattered on the floor. Puno ng pulang likido ang sahig. If I wasn't used to this I already passed out.

He hurriedly walked near me. "I told you to stay in tha car." Bahagyang iritado ang boses niya.

Akmang muling lilingon sa mga katawang ngayon ay wala ng buhay nang iharang ni Archer ang sarili. He encircled his arms around me as one of his hand rested at the back of my head. "Don't look at it," he whispered. I can feel his breath near my ear.

"You're mother's not here. I'm sorry," muling sambit niya ngunit bago pa man ay alam ko na iyon. But still, I felt something struck my heart. I was expecting to see her. Its been years, I thought she's dead and after knowing that she isn't, it gives me hope that I'll see her again. Matapos ang nangyari ngayon, naisip kong hindi iyon magiging madali.

"I'm sorry, I'll try to find her again," he started caressing my hair. I hugged him back when I felt his disappointment for hisself. Lalong sumikip ang aking dibdib dahil doon.

"You don't have to say sorry. I-I should be thankful that you're helping me. That's enough, Arch. That's more than enough."

Ilang minuto kaming nanatili sa ganoong sitwasyon na para bang wala siyang pinatay na nagkalat sa paligid.

"A-anong gagawin mo sa kanila?" I let my voice tremble, pertaining to those lifeless body behind him.

Bahagya siyang lumayo sa akin ngunit ang isang kamay ay nanatili sa aking baywang. "Where's my phone."

I slid my hand in my pocket as I grabbed the key fob together with his phone. Parehas ko iyong inabot sa kanya.

"Let's get out of here," aniya at agad akong iginiya palabas ng gusali. He's now dialing on his phone. Ilang segundo lang ay may kausap na siya roon.

"I need someone to clean my mess. I'll send you the location," I heard him talking over the phone as he opened the passenger's seat for me. He stayed outside for awhile while talking to someone on his phone. Matapos ibaba ang tawag ay agad siyang pumasok sa kotse.

He looked at me as an apologetical smile formed in his lips. "I'm sorry."

Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil agad niyang pinasibad ang sasakyan.

Weeks passed by quickly. Ilang beses pang naulit ang ganoong senaryo. Archer will try to find my mother's location but in the end, it was just another trap. He's getting frustrated as it continues. Lalo na pa at mukhang may problema sa Cosmos.

Kaya naman sinabihan ko siyang tumigil na, lalo na noong huling beses ay napahamak siya. He was shot in his shoulder and there's a bomb inside the building. Kung nahuli siya ng ilang segundo sa paglabas ay baka pa ikinamatay niya iyon. Kitang kita ng dalawang mata ko ang pagsabog ng gusali habang ako'y nasa loob ng kanyang kotse.

He asked... no, he ordered me to stay inside the car. Mariin ang bilin niya na huwag lumabas. 'Cause there's one time, I went out to help him and I was almost shot. Nakaiwas naman at hindi nadaplisan ngunit hanggang ngayon ay naaalala ko pa ang malamig na mga titig niya habang pinagsasabihan ako matapos ang nangyari. Ayaw na niya akong isama dahil sa nangyari ngunit ipinangako ko na mamamalagi na lamang sa loob ng kanyang kotse at hindi na gagawa ng maaaring makapagpahamak sa akin. Hindi rin naman niya ako natiis at tinupad ko naman ang aking sinabi.

After telling him to stop, I don't know if he really stopped. Because there's one time, I caught him in his laptop, he's still looking for my mother. Malakas ang kutob ko na pinupuntahan niya pa ang mga lokasyong nakakalap niya at hindi lang ako isinasama.

I really want him to stop. Maybe I'll just continue following Salvia to know her whereabouts, maybe she's visiting my mother. Ayaw ko ng makadagdag pa sa problema nila Archer sa Cosmos. Hindi ako sigurado ngunit may hinala akong Rozelli ang dahilan.

Hindi ko lang alam kung si Ysmael din ba ang nasa likod ng mga maling lokasyong nakakalap niya. Ngunit kung si Rozelli nga, posibleng alam niya na parte ng Cosmos si Archer. Kaya't alam ang kakayahan nito.

As weeks passed by, while finding my mother, he's also courting me. Mas naging malapit kami sa mga nagdaang araw. Siguro ay dahil na rin sa pagkakataong ito ay hinayaan ko ang sarili sa nararamdaman. 'Yon nga lang, siya naman ang parang nagpipigil sa sarili.

I mean, I know Archer. Playboy is an understatement to describe him. Alam kong kahit siya ay hindi na mabilang ang mga babaeng naikama, hindi siya makakatiis ng walang naikakama. He can get laid in just a minute. 'Yung tipong, tumayo lang siya sa bar counter ay may lalapit na sa kanya at kusa siyang sasama basta't natipuhan.

Ngunit sa ilang buwan na nagtatrabaho ako sa kompanya niya at nagsimula siyang manligaw sa akin ay wala akong nakikitang babae niya. Ang huli ay iyong Adella at hindi na nasundan pa.

Hindi ko alam kung may ikinakama siya kapag hindi kami magkasama kaya't hindi ko alam o talagang wala na. Hindi rin naman kasi siya nagpapahiwatig sa akin tungkol sa bagay na iyon. Para bang sineryoso niya ang sinabi niyang magdadahan dahan siya.

Because of those, I'm hoping that this time, he finally changed. This is what I'm waiting. Alam kong darating ang araw na magbabago siya sa bisyo ngunit hindi ko inaasahan at hindi ako makapaniwala kung ako nga ang naging dahilan noon.

Iyon lang naman ang hinihintay ko, ang magbago siya. While I was in college, maybe I'm really a bit childish. Kaya ganoon ang inakto ko matapos magkagusto sa kanya. But as I grew up, still wanting him at the same time witnessing how he changed woman everyday like he's just changing his clothes, I've realized that that's not what I want. I want someone who'll stay with me, someone who's contented with me, at ako lang.

And this is what I'm waiting. The past days, I was thinking on how to tell him I want him to be my boyfriend. Nililigawan niya ako ngunit walang tanong galing sa kanya, kaya't hindi ko alam kung paano siya sasagutin. I can't think of any way until this day, he asked me through the intercom to come inside his office.

Today, I'll make him mine.

__________