Archer moved his body in front to protect me. I can't see his face but I caught a glimpse of his clenching jaw. I held his arm as I slowly tugged it. I can now properly move my body. Tila ba sapat ang ilang minuto upang bumalik ang aking lakas.

"Arch." My voice trembled as I whispered his name. I glanced at his gun. Hindi niya na hawak iyon. Pasimple kong iginala ang paningin upang hanapin ang kanyang baril at agad ko namang nakita iyon na ngayon ay nakapatong na kaninang kinauupuan ko.

The training room feels familiar. Walang nabago sa ayos, ilang taon man ang nakalipas.

"We can settle this quitely," Archer negotiated but as I looked at Mirae's eyes, I know she already made a decision.

Dismayadong umiling si Mirae. "Get off. I'll kill that woman." 

Archer's head moved. "Go on, shoot her," sambit niya habang nakaharang pa rin ang katawan sa aking harapan. "Kill me too if you'll kill her."

My eyes enlarged. "Arch!" I harshly pulled his arm but he didn't look at me. I witnessed Mirae a while ago shot the fake Dellany without even batting an eye. Archer's her friend but I'm not sure if she won't shoot him.

"Mirae, stop that." Astrid's voice is already pleading. Wala siyang magawa kahit siya ang pinakamalapit kay Mirae. Her hands were shaking as she lifted it, hesitating if she'll reach Mirae's gun or not.

Mirae heaved a sarcastic breath as she mockingly looked at Archer. "Really? For that woman? I thought you'll kill her?"

"She's my girlfriend--"

Mirae immediately cutted his words. "She's Dellany!"

"She's not!"

Mariin akong napapikit dahil sa isinagot niya.

"Really? Ask her then." I caught a glimpse of Mirae sarcastically raising her brow.

"I-I'm--" I bit my lower lip as my voice trembled. My grip on his arm tightened. "Arch, I'm Dellany Mallari," I whispered in an almost inaudible tone.

I felt him stilled. Dahil nasa likod niya ako ay hindi ko makita ang naging reaksyon niya.

"I'm sorry," I whispered when he didn't answer. Though I didn't betray Cosmos, I can't just tell them that.

He quickly glanced at me. My grip on his arm loosened when I met his eyes, as dark and cold as the night.

"See? I told you, she's really Dellany."

Marahas akong napabuntong hininga nang muling marinig ang mga salita ni Mirae. Dahilan para muling napabaling si Archer sa kanyang direksyon. There was a hint of impatience in her voice.

"Let's stop this."

"Give me that woman--"

"Shoot me, Mirae! Shoot me if you want to kill her."

A loud gasp escaped my mouth. "Archer! No," I sob though my tears already stopped from flowing. He believed me, right? That I'm Dellany.

"Let's settle this without--" Naputol ang sinasabi ni Creed nang dumagundong ang boses ni Mirae.

"Tangina, Archer! Umalis ka dyan!" She shrieked. Tila naubos na ang natitirang pasensya.

"I won't. Shoot me if you want. Better put your gun down if you can't." Ngayon ay bahagya ng kalmado ang kanyang boses.

Mirae slowly shook her head as I caught her looked at the woman's eyes who's near my left. Sandali lang iyon ngunit agad na nakuha ng lahat ang ibig sabihin ng tingin na iyon.

The woman immediately pointed her gun on me. Nakita ko ang agarang pagkilos ni Creed na nakatayo sa tabi ni Mirae. He immediately pointed the gun towards the woman's direction. "Stop--"

Huli na iyon dahil agad na hinila ng babae ang gatilyo ng kanyang baril. Archer swiftly moved backwards to blocked me from Mirae and the woman. Napasinghap ako nang nakita ang pagagos ng dugo mula sa braso niya.

"Fuck," Creed cursed.

"What the fuck, Dellany!" Astrid shrieked. Napatingin ako sa kanya ngunit natantong wala sa akin ang kanyang atensyon.

"Damn you, Bitch!" I cursed as I grabbed Archer's gun from my seat as kicked her hand who's holding a gun, dahilan para mabitawan niya iyon. Walang pagaalinlanggan kong itinutok ang baril sa hita ng babae. Pinaputok ko iyon sa parte kung saan alam kong naroon ang hindi pa naghihilom na sugat niya na ako rin ang may gawa.

Kasabay noon ang pagagaw ni Creed ng baril mula kay Mirae. I heard her cursed.

The woman limp in pain as she tried to get her gun. I pulled the trigger while pointing it near her gun. Dahilan para mapatigil siya sa pagkuha noon.

Nang matantong wala na itong laban ay binalingan ko si Mirae at sa kanya itinutok ang baril. She rolled her eyes on me. Creed's now holding her gun.

Archer walked near me. My eyes softened as it landed on his bleeding arm. He encircled his arm around my waist as he gently pulled me closer. He reached for my hand who's holding a gun.

I looked at his eyes and it made me calm, it made me feel safe. Marahan niyang iginiya ang aking kamay pababa at kusa naman akong sumunod.

Nang tuluyan niya ng maibaba iyon ay agad niyang ipinulupot ang natitirang kamay sa akin. My eyes immediately shut closed as I feel his warmth.

Agad na naglandas ang luha sa aking mga mata. I leaned my head in his chest as I hugged him back. Nanghihina ang aking mga tuhod dahil sa higpit ng yakap niya.

"I'm sorry," I whispered in between my sobs. "I'm sorry."

I gave myself in when I felt him caressing my back while hushing me. "Shh, stop crying, Aurie. I'm here, stop crying." 

"Seriously?"

I slightly moved away from Archer when I heard Mirae. Iiling-iling siyang nakatingin sa amin.

"Fuck, this is insane," she said as she walked out of the training room.

Agad na sumunod si Creed at ang babaeng bumaril kay Archer habang iika-ika.

Astrid's still looking at us. I felt like she wanted to say something but she remained mummed as she turned her back and went out of the room.

My eyes landed at Archer's arms. The blood's still gushing down his arm. "Y-your wounds, Arch."

Inangat ko ang aking tingin at bahagyang bumuka ang aking bibig nang makita ang labi niyang ngayon ay bahagya ng nawawalan ng kulay.

"I can handle, babe." He even smiled at me. "Let's go to your mom."

"S-she's still here?"

"Hmm, but don't worry, she's safe."

Iginiya niya ako palabas ng training room. A familiar pathway welcomed me.

I turned to him as we walked. "How about your wounds? Gamutin muna natin--"

"Archer, my man! Missed me?"

Natigilan ako sa pamilyar na baritonong boses na narinig. Namimilog ang mga mata akong lumingon sa aming harapan kung saan nanggaling ang boses na iyon.

My lips hung open when I saw the familiar built of the man closest to Mirae who died several months ago, standing with a cane as a support in front of me.

"Dash!"

I shook my head. "I didn't hurt Mirae. W-why are you--" I trailed off. "You're dead--"

"Hey, Aurie. Remember Dasher?"

"Minumulto ako, Arch!" Eksehaderang sambit ko habang namimilog pa rin ang mga mata. "Oh God!"

"He's alive, Aurie."

I blinked at Archer's words. He's alive? What the fuck?

"Woah, who is this lady?"

"My girlfriend, Auriese Gallardo," Archer said in a proud voice as he introduced me to Dash.

"D-Dasher, you're alive." My voice trembled, still can't get it how come he's alive.

His lips formed an 'o' shape. "You know me?"

"She's Dellany Mallari."

He nodded his head. "I saw Dellany, someone's already mending her wounds."

"Yeah, the fake one. Auriese is Dellany."

A frown slowly formed in his forehead. "The fuck, dude? You just told me she's Auriese. And she doesn't looks like Del."

I glanced at Archer. Matapos ay bumaling ako kay Dash. "Let's treat Arch first. He was shot."

Tila ba noon lang muling naalala ni Archer na may tama siya ng baril.

"Oh, right!" It was Dasher. "That's what Milady's asking me to do. Should I carry you to your room?" Biro niya kay Archer. He even tilted his head as he arched his brow, teasing Archer.

"I should be the one saying that." My boyfriend smirked at his friend. "Can you walk? I'll carry you or I can get you a wheelchair, para hindi ka mahirapan." Archer wiggled his brows.

Dasher pursed his lips as he uttered a curse softly. "Fuck you," marahan ngunit mariing sambit niya.

Their teasing continue until Dasher's treating Archer's gunshot. Sinasali pa 'ko ni Dash sa pang-aasar kay Archer kaya naman lalo itong napapangiwi.

"I'll talk to Mirae," paalam ko matapos tanggalin ni Dasher ang bala mula sa braso ni Arch.

Archer swiftly turned to me as he frowned. "Let her calm down first then I'll come with you. We'll talk to her." Suhestiyon niya na agad kong tinanggihan.

I shook my head. "I'll talk to her. Ako lang. I can handle, Arch."

"Babe--"

"Let your woman go, you fucker!" Dasher cutted his words.

"You know Mirae-"

"Exactly! You know her. She won't harm your woman if she saw that you love her."

A smile slowly crept on my face as I heard Dasher's words. Sa paraan ng pagsasalita niya ay alam mong kilalang kilala niya si Mirae. I can still remember when I'm still new to Cosmos, the way they act, I thought Dasher is Mirae's boyfriend. Then later on I've learned that Dasher's in a relationship but not with Mirae.

"I don't know what happened inside the training room but if she's really Dellany, like what you said. Sigurado akong hindi na siya makalalabas ng buhay doon. Mirae can kill her right away. Maybe she's testing you, Arch. If you really love your woman."

"I love Aurie. She doesn't have to do that. And you didn't saw what she did just to shoot Aurie."

"Mirae's aware of your women. She's just making sure. At nakalimutan mo na ba? Your woman is Dellany. Of course Mirae will try to shoot her after she vanished for four years."

I heaved a deep sighed. Napatingin si Archer sa aking direksyon dahil sa aking ginawa.

"I'll make it as quick as possible. I'll be fine." I smiled to assure him.

Taking my side even after knowing that I'm Dellany is the least thing that I expect from him. It made my insides flutter.

I know they all need to know my reasons why, especially Mirae and Archer, but I doubt if I can give it to them right now.

"Do you know Milady's room?" Dasher asked.

"Yeah, the room next to Astrid. At the right wing." That is, if that's still her room.

He chuckled. "No doubt. You're really Dellany."

I smiled more. My eyes turned to Archer when he sighed as he slowly nodded his head. "Make it quick, huh? I love you, Aurie." He uttered all of a sudden.

Si Dasher na binabalutan ng gasa ang kanyang braso ay napahinto sa ginagawa at nahihiwagaang napatingin kay Archer.

When Dasher tsked, I already know he'll tease Archer again. At hindi nga ako nagkamali nang muling bumuka ang bibig ni Dash habang diretso sa akin ang tingin. "Don't believe him. Kilala mo 'yan, maraming sinasabihan ng 'I love you'."

Archer answered something I can't understand but Dasher looks annoyed at it. Maybe something related to Dasher's woman.

They missed teasing each other, huh? Halata naman. I still can't believe he's alive.

I left the two of them battling about how Dasher would call me. He wants to call me Aurie but Archer doesn't want anyone to call me that aside from him. Napapailing ko silang iniwan doon.

On my way to Mirae's room, a lot of members of Cosmos came across me. Some were frowning as they're not familiar with my face, but no one dares to go near me.

I bit my lower lip as I stood in front of Mirae's room. Dalawang beses akong kumatok at agad namang may nagsalita galing sa loob ng silid.

Marahan kong itinulak ang pinto at agad kong namataan ang tatlong bultong naroon.

Mirae's eyes immediately darkened as our eyes met. Creed who's seating on the couch just turned his head on me. Si Astrid naman ay bahagyang namilog ang mga mata.

"Can we talk?" I asked directly at Mirae.

Creed immediately rose. Ganoon din si Astrid. Tila ba nagusap ang dalawa at nagtungo na palabas ng silid ni Mirae. Astrid smiled at me while Creed just nodded his head.

Mirae's room looks just like Archer's, the only difference is its theme and minimal furnitures.

"What do you want?" Mirae asked while seating on the couch with her cross legs.

"Lemme talk."

__________