I stepped on the gas while my eyes were focused on the road. Tila ba inip na inip akong makarating sa opisina ni Archer. Nang hindi nakatiis ay nagovertake na 'ko sa mga sasakyang nasa harapan ng sa akin.

Ilang sandali lang ay nahagip na ng aking tingin ang gusali ng mga Fonacier. Akmang liliko ako patungo roon nang makita ang aking pakay.

I saw that woman in her black ensemble, went inside the driver's seat of a car. Mabuti na lamang at naabutan ko ito. Nang pasibadin niya ang kotse ay hindi na ako nagabalang lumiko pa at hinayaang dumiretso ang aking sasakyan. Matalim na titig ang iginawad ko sa kulay abong kotse, dalawang sasakyan ang layo mula sa akin.

I opened the glove compartment and checked the chloroform spray. Napailing ako sa huling naisip, natantong hindi kailangan iyon.

I followed the car until it went inside the parking lot of a building. Agad kong nakita ang kotse niya matapos pumasok sa parking lot. I parked beside her car.

I opened the glove compartment and snatched the chloroform spray. I changed my mind, I need this.

Kinuha ko ang aking panyo at binuhusan iyon ng chloroform bago ibinalik ang lalagyan sa glove compartment, ngayon ay kasama na ang aking panyo.

Lumabas ako ng kotse nang makitang palabas na rin siya. Hinanda ko ang ngiti sa aking mga labi. I glanced at the CCTV and smirked when I realized something. Hindi abot ng CCTV ang aking kotse.

"Dellany!" Pinigilan ko ang sarili sa pagngiwi nang tawagin ang pangalan niya.

She turned to me. Bahagyang namilog ang kanyang mga mata, siguro ay dahil nakitang iba na ang suot ko sa kanina. I'm now wearing a tight jeans and a plain shirt. Ngunit agad na ngumiti nang makita ang malugod kong pagbati.

"Auriese, what are you doing here? Archer's looking for you."

I almost shut my eyes closed when I heard her voice. Ngayon ko lang natantong kahit ang boses namin ay bahagyang magkatunog.

I walked near her. Sinalubong niya naman ako. Nang huminto siya sa aking harap ay napansin ko ring kung hindi lang bahagyang may takong ang aking suot ay magkasing taas kami.

I bit my lower lip. Kunwaring nagaalangan sa sasabihin. "I know you're Archer's friend. You are, right?" I make my eyes looks hopeful.

Bahagyang kunot ang noo ngunit may ngiti sa mga labing tumango siya sa akin. "Yeah, you can say that."

I gasped in excitement. "Then you know him?"

"Yes." She confidently answered. I know him more, bitch. I know him... very well. Hindi mawala ang ngisi sa aking kalooban.

"Can you... uhmm." Sinadya kong ihinto ang sasabihin.

She chuckled. "What is it?" She muttered, urging me to continue.

I smiled at her. "Can you help me? I mean... nahihiya akong magtanong sa kanya. K-kung hindi ka lang naman busy. You know he's my boyfriend and I want to know him more."

The woman's smile widened. "I will. Tamang tama, wala akong gagawin ngayon. My unit is located at the fifth floor, come with me."

I shook my head. I pressed my lips while still smiling. "H-hindi na." I let my voice trembled. "Nakakahiya. I mean, I know a place where we can talk."

"Alright, I'll follow you." Akmang babalik siya sa kanyang sasakyan nang agad ko siyang harangan.

"Let's use my car. Ihahatid na lang ulit kita..." I trailed off, trying to find a reasonable excuse. "I'm planning to go to a cafe near Archer's office. Ki...kilala niya ang kotse natin, baka makita niya. I don't want him to have even a little hint of what I'm doing."

I bit my tongue. What kind of excuse is that? Nagmumura na ang aking isip nang tumango siya.

"Alright," sagot niya nang nakangiti pa rin sa akin, tila ba paniwalang paniwala sa aking pinagsasasabi. That was a lame excuse though, yet you believed it?

"I'm sorry for too much request."

"Its okay. I hope this time, Archer will finally settle down." Pahabol niya na nginitian ko lamang pabalik.

"I hope so," I whispered.

She walked towards the passenger's seat as I stayed on her back, following her.

Binuksan niya ang pinto ng aking kotse at nakayuko na, akmang papasok nang abutin ko ang kaliwang kamay niya. Hinayaan kong lumaki ang bukas ng pinto ng aking sasakyan.

I caught her. She was startled. She looked at me with confusion in her eyes. Nakatagilid siya sa akin at bahagya pa ring nakayuko.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"No prob-- fuck!" She cursed when I harshly pushed her shoulder as I twisted her hand that I'm holding. Mabilis ko siyang idinapa sa passenger's seat at tinukuran ng tuhod ang kanyang likod. I pulled her arm more. That made her groaned in pain.

"What are you doing!" She said between her groans. Sinubukan akong abutin ng isang kamay niya ngunit agad kong nahuli iyon.

I grasped a handful of her hair and pulled it as I slightly tilted her head. Nagtama ang aming tingin at namimilog ang mga mata niya akong tinignan. Bakas pa rin ang pagtataka na may halong gulat sa mga mata. She tried to kicked me using her feet, but I immediately locked it in between my foot standing on the ground and the door of my car.

Dark is one of the best capo of the Cosmos. You, bitch, can copy my appearance but not my ability. Saang lupalop ka man nanggaling, hindi mo 'ko kayang patumbahin.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"What do you mean? Anong ginagawa mo sa'kin! I'll tell this to Archer."

"Iyon ay kung bubuhayin pa kita," marahang sambit ko. A smirk slowly crept in my face. I don't know how it looks like but it must be scary 'cause I caught her eyes widened. Na para bang hindi pa sapat ang panlalaki noon kanina.

"Now, tell me who the hell are you?"

"Ano bang sinasabi mo, Auriese! I'm Dellany-"

"Bitch," Pinutol ko ang mga sasabihin niya. I rolled my eyes as I opened the glove compartment. The smell of the chloroform immediately linger in my nose. Agad kong pinigil ang hininga.

The woman's still trying to move. Pilit na kumakawala sa akin ngunit agad kong idiniin ang tuhod sa likod niya. I twisted her hand more that made her uttered a crisp curse. "Fuck you! Who the fuck is your boss?"

I ignored her question as I grabbed my handkerchief. Agad kong hinawakan ang kabilang bahagi noon.

"What are you doing?" Lalo siyang nagpumiglas at muntik nang makawala. Her arm slipped from mine but I immediately caught it again. I leaned forward as I reached for the woman's face. Agad kong itinakip iyon sa kanyang ilong.

"Uhmp!" Sa una ay nagpupumiglas pa ngunit matapos ang ilang minuto ay unti unti na itong nanghina.

"Go on, smell that, sweetie." I encouraged using my sweetest voice.

Nang maramdaman kong tumigil na ito sa paggalaw ay muli akong bumulong. "Sleep tight."

Inayos ko ang pagkakaupo niya at ipinasok ang dalawang paa sa loob ng kotse. I shut the door closed as I run towards the driver's seat.

I grabbed the steering wheel as I looked at the woman beside me, unconscious but still breathing. Kinabitan ko siya ng seatbelt at ipinatong sa bintana ang nakalaylay niyang ulo.

I heaved a deep audible breath as I started the engine. Muli akong napabaling sa babae nang marinig ang pagiingay ng kanyang telepono.

I pushed my hand at the pocket of her jacket and fished her phone.

"Star," I read the name of the one calling her. This is Astrid.

Ihinagis ko iyon malapit sa dashboard at kinuha ang aking phone. I started dialling Prestin's number as I maneuvered the car.

It took him a couple of ring before he finally answered. "Auriese."

"'Yung warehouse natin? Can you borrow it from dad?"

"What? Anong gagawin mo ro'n?"

I can now imagine him frowning.

I glanced at my passenger, bahagyang lumihis ang kanyang ulo. "I got the woman. I need a place where I can hide her."

"What woman--" Natigilan siya at mukhang natanto kung ano ang aking ginawa. "What the fuck, Auriese! The hell did you do?"

"Hindi na ginagamit 'yung warehouse, 'di ba? Borrow it for awhile. Get the keys from dad then I'll get it from you," sambit ko habang patuloy ang pagbaybay sa daan kung nasaan ang opisina ni Prestin.

I heard his sighed from the other line. "Fine! Go directly at the warehouse, I'll go there with the keys."

I immediately shook my head like he can see it. "No, you don't have to drag your name into this mess. I just need the keys. Papunta na ko sa opisina mo."

"Do as I say, Auriese."

Pakiramdam ko, pati ako ay nanigas dahil sa lamig ng mga salitang binitawan niya. Kaya naman wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang sumangayon sa nais niya. "Alright, Attorney."

Nahihighblood ka na naman. Gusto kong idugtong iyon ngunit hindi ko na ginawa.

Pinatay ko ang tawag at marahas na kinabig ang manibela patungo sa direksyon kung nasaan ang warehouse ng aking pamilya.

I let my car slowed down when I saw our warehouse. Its already opened, I assumed Prestin's already here.

Hinayaan kong pumasok ang aking kotse sa loob ng warehouse habang unti unting bumaba ang pinto noon at sumara matapos kong makapasok.

My eyes caught Prestin's car. Ilang saglit lang ay lumabas si Prestin mula sa ikalawang palapag ng warehouse, ngayon ay papalapit na sa amin.

I went out of the car as I jogged towards the passenger's seat. Hinila ko ang pinto upang tingnan kung posibleng magkamalay na ito. Marahas kong binuksan ang glove compartment. Kinuha ko mula roon ang aking baril at mariin itong hinawakan.

"I'll tie her." It was Prestin. Naroon na siya sa likod ko at may dalang lubid.

Ayaw man siyang patulungin ay wala na akong nagawa nang buhatin niya ang babae at naglakad patungo sa ikalawang palapag.

I immediately stayed on their back while looking around. All I can hear is Prestin's footsteps. Kaya naman agad akong napapitlag nang tumunog ang aking telepono.

"Fuck!" I cursed as I held my chest.

Agad kong kinuha ang phone sa aking bulsa ngunit agad iyon ibinalik nang makapang hindi akin ang teleponong iyon.

"A-Archer," bungad ko.

I caught Prestin glanced at me. We arrived at the second floor and he immediately place the woman in a chair. Sinimulan niyang talian ito habang ako'y bahagyang lumayo.

"Where are you?" Nahimigan ko ang pagaalala sa unang mga salitang binanggit niya. "I already looked for you inside the whole building. Sabi ng guard ay nakita raw ang kotse mong umalis."

"I have an emergency. P-pasensya na kung hindi ako nakapagpaalam. Hindi na nakapasok si Shea... tapos pati ako-"

"No. Don't mind me, I can handle a day without a secretary. I was just worried, you suddenly-"

"May emergency," paguulit ko kahit na alam ko namang hindi na kailangan.

Muli na naman siyang nagsalita. "Yes, how are you? The emergency? Ayos na ba? What is it? Can you tell me? Maybe I can help." Sunod sunod ang mga salita niya, matapos ay bahagyang napahinto sa kabilang linya. I heard a deafening silence over the phone.

"I'm sorry, I was just worried."

"I understand... and about the emergency. I already fixed it but I doubt if I can still go back to your office right now. I'm sorry," I bit my lower lip, eager to end the call 'cause that woman might wake up. Baka magingay at marinig pa ni Archer.

"That's okay. Take care, I love you."

My lips parted, tila nalaglag ang aking puso dahil sa sinabi niya. Dumiin ang pagkagat ko sa aking labi, pinipigilan ang sarili na hindi mapangiti. Lalo na noong nahuli ko si Prestin na nakatingin sa akin at nakataas ang isang kilay.

"I-I love you, too. I need to go. Bye, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Hmm, I'll see you tommorow."

Tinapos ko ang tawag at muling isinuksok ang phone sa bulsa. Akmang lalapit sa direksyon ni Prestin nang muling magingay ang telepono, ngayon naman ay ang phone babaeng hanggang ngayon ay walang malay.

I frustratedly grabbed the phone from my pocket as I glanced at it. I sighed and cleared my throat before answering it.

"Star," bungad ko.

"Dark," the woman from the other line called. "Thank God, you finally answered the call!"

"I was a bit busy." Huminto ako, hinihintay kung mahahalata niya ba ang aking boses ngunit alam kong malabo iyon. Magkatunog ang boses namin ng babaeng ngayon ay nasa harap ko.

"Yeah. Archer confirmed our operation later at midnight. We'll get his girlfriend's mother." Hindi ko na napigilan na hindi mamilog ang mga mata nang marinig ang sinabi niya. My lips parted as I glanced at Prestin. Si Mommy!

"Kinumpirma na rin ni Mirae ang lokasyon. Naroon na raw talaga. Iilang tauhan lang ang naroon dahil akala ni Rozelli ay nalinlang niya ulit si Archer. Let's try to be quiet."

Lintik na Rozelli! If I'll be given a chance, I won't hesitate to kill him.

I swallowed before I answered, takot na manginig ang aking boses. "Alright. Just inform me the location. I'll end this."

"Dark." Hindi natuloy ang pagpatay ko sa tawag nang muling magsalita si Astrid.

"Yes?"

"Your voice is a bit different. Are you sick?" There was a glint of concern in her voice. I uttered an inaudible curse.

"No, I'm not. But... yeah my throat is a bit sore."

"Oh! Alright. Later, don't forget."

Of course. I'll surely come and get my mother.

_________