Days passed by quickly. Hindi ko na namalayan ang araw sa sobrang bilis noon. Dasher's recovering fast, he's now just using a cane to support hisself. Maayos na ang mga binti niya ngunit kailangan pa rin ng cane para sa suporta.

Nasabi niya sa akin na babalik siya sa pamilya niya sa oras na maayos na ang lagay niya. I know soon, he can go back to his family. At hindi man direktang sinabi, alam kong babalik din siya para sa Cosmos. I still don't know if he's really the Universe but I have a hunch that he really isn't.

Ate Callista didn't stop calling me that day when I told her Dasher might not be the Universe of Cosmos. Pinatay ko na lang ang aking cellphone para hindi na iyon mag-ingay. Wala na rin akong balak sagutin pa ang alin man sa mga tawag niya matapos ang paguusap na iyon.

"You sure you'll be safe?" I asked Dasher, still having second thoughts on what he wants.

"Hmm. No one can recognize me." Ipinakita niya sa akin ang itim na cap at malaking sunglasses na maaaring tumakip sa mga mata niya. "I'll wear these later."

He asked Mirae to stopped buying groceries for us. Kami na raw ang gagawa noon. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya mapapayag si Mirae ngunit sa tagal ng pag-uusap nila noong nakaraan, mukha nang sumuko na si Mirae at hinayaan si Dasher.

"Alright. Sandali lang tayo, huh."

He shifted his grip on his cane as we remained walking towards Ridge and Donna's villa.

Sa pagpaling ng aking tingin ay dumako iyon sa villa, bahagyang malayo ngunit katabi ng tinutuluyan namin.

It is rooted farther from the shore than Creed's villa. Ang hilera ng mga puno ay ang tanging nagbabakod sa dalawang pribadong lupain. Hindi maipagkakaila na mas malaki ang villa at lupain sa kabila kasya sa aming tinutuluyan.

Mula sa kinatatayuan ay tanaw ko ang hindi bababa sa tatlong kotse ang nakahinto sa kabilang villa.

"That was a private property, right?" Paglilinaw ko sabay baling kay Dasher na nakatingin na rin doon dahil sa akin.

"Hmm. I heard that's a family villa too."

Tumango ako bago kami tuluyang nakarating sa harapan ng villa nila Donna. Kasabay naman noon ang paglabas ni Ridge.

"What's up!" Bati niya nang makita kami.

"Going somewhere?" Dasher grinned.

Muling bumalik ang aking tingin sa kabilang villa na hanggang ngayon ay tanaw ko pa rin. In our almost two months stay here, ngayon ko lang nakita na may tao roon, obviously dahil may kotse roon.

"I was about to go and check you two on your villa."

I jerked my head towards Ridge and I caught him scanning our clothes. Tila naguguluhan sa ayos namin ni Dash. "Kayo? Going somewhere? Did Mirae approved of this?"

"Hmm. Let us borrow your car for awhile."

Ridge's eyes narrowed he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Sinong mag-da-drive?"

"Ako," I muttered.

Dasher groaned at my immediate answer, reason why I turned to him.

"We already talked about this," sambit ko habang pilit na sinusupil ang ngiti sa reaksyon niya. He still can't drive. I didn't want him to force his legs.

After almost half an hour, we arrived at the mall. Agad kaming nagtungo sa hypermarket para bumili ng groceries. Dasher's already wearing his cap and sunglasses while gripping his cane. But I doubt if someone can recognize him here. I mean, this is far from Manila but well, just to be sure.

Habang ako naman ay abala sa cart namin na ngayon ay wala pang laman.

Sinubukan niyang kuhanin sa akin ang cart ngunit agad ko iyong inilayo at pinanliitan siya ng mga mata.

His forehead creased. "Let me have that. Mabigat 'yan mamaya."

"Its still empty. Mamaya na lang kung hindi ko talaga kakayanin."

I don't know what's with him. He's too protective the past few days. And I can't help but feel overwhelmed with it. Felt like warmth's filling my insides.

Hindi naman siya ganito dati. I mean, he's always cold. But I don't know? Siguro ay ganito talaga siya? He's just distant because of the incident but now that he's slowly getting better, he's being his usual self again.

This part few days, we're not fighting over petty things. Sa pagkakaalala ko, ang huling pagtatalo namin ay iyong nasugatan ako. Na naging daan para maayos ang trato niya sa akin.

I can't even feel that I am his nurse and he's my boss. Oh well, I've never been a nurse to him. I mean, si Donna ang palaging gumagawa ng dapat kong gawin. She's a nurse, a real one so she really knows what to do. Naroon din si Ridge and besides, Dasher is a doctor. I'm more like Dasher's companion rather than a nurse.

Hindi alagain si Dasher. He maybe can't walk the past weeks but he never become a bother to anyone.

"Why did you apply as my nurse?" he asked as we walked side by side at the canned goods section.

"I mean, we have a same field of work and I prefer to stay in the hospital than..." He shrugged and didn't continue but it was enough for me to get what he's trying to imply.

I gave him a quick glanced. "I want a new environment," I said using a casual tone. This is a new environment indeed!

Slowly, he nodded his head. "Uh-huh. Where are you working?" He added.

I nibbled my bottom lip. Thinking what hospital can I tell as my former workplace.

"You know, I'll gladly accept a great employee in my family's hospital." A lopsided grin formed in his lips.

Is he offering me a job in their hospital? I blinked twice and I immediately curved my mouth into a smile. "You'll hire me?" Sagot ko at inignora ang unang tanong niya.

"Why not? Sure! Just send me your application letter after your contract with Mirae. How many months did she even asked you to take care of me?"

"Half a year." I tried to distract myself and turned to the canned goods. Kumuha ako ng ilan sa nadaanan at hindi na pinansin kung kailangan ba iyon.

"If you're not a nurse, what do you think is your profession?" He asked all of a sudden.

Nahihiwagaan ko siyang tinignan. "Seriously, is this an early interview for the position you're offering? Do I need to sugarcoat my answer?" The corner of my lips twitched.

Amusement etched in his face as I low chuckle escaped from his mouth. "No. No. You can answer honestly."

I nodded. Diretso ang aking tingin sa mga canned good ngunit hindi nawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi. "If I didn't pursue nursing, I'll probably be an interior designer or architect, perhaps." I shrugged as I told him what I really am.

I suddenly miss designing as I thought of it. Its been what, almost two months?

"I see, you're into designing. Why don't you pursue those? I'll gladly be your first client if you do." Baling sa akin ni Dasher kasabay ng paglalakad namin patungo sa meat and seafood section.

I blinked at him with a bit smirk in my lips. "First client? You don't even know if I'm good at it."

"Surely, you are," he gave me a proud grin. "Soon, when I married someone, I'll build a house for my family. I'll avail your service, Architect."

Agad akong pinamulahan ng mukha sa sinabi niya. I miss someone calling me architect. And what? He'll hire me to design their house?

And he said he'll get married to someone. Probably, Aislinn?

Agad na nawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang maramdaman ang kirot sa aking dibdib.

"Finally decided to marry Aislinn?" Pilit kong pinasigla ang boses.

"Huh?" He frowned. Tila isang palaisipan sa kanya ang aking mga sinabi. "No. We're done."

I nibbled my lower lip. "You still love her or..." I trailed off, not wanting to continue.

He placed a pack of squid in our cart as he helped me pushed it using his one hand, while his other is still gripping his cane. "How would you even know if you still love someone?"

Natutop ang aking bibig at bahagyang napaisip sa sinabi niya. "Maybe when after years and you see each other again, when the feeling is still the same? When you still feels giddy when you're with her? When..." I stopped when I don't know how to continue.

I actually don't know. I haven't been into a romantic relationship with someone. Twenty six years aren't enough for me to find someone I can say I romantically love. Or maybe I did already and I can't just admit it to myself.

"But you can be wrong. You're probably just longing for that person's presence, reason why you're feeling that." His shoulders lifted for a shrug. "You really can't tell."

Tinanguan ko siya. I can't help but agree with him. "You said you'll marry someone but probably not... Aislinn? Isn't it unfair for the woman you'll marry?"

His brow creased as he turned to me, that even with his dark sunglasses, I can feel his puzzled look boring unto me. "Why would it be?"

"Because you love Aislinn too much that you let her go for her own safety," marahang sambit ko, nananantya sa magiging reaksyon niya.

"I won't marry someone if I love Aislinn more than her. Aislinn in a great woman but maybe they're right..." He trailed off. While I'm trying to guess who is he pertaining when he said 'they'. "That my love for her is too shallow for me to let her go?"

My lips parted as I heard those words from him. I didn't speak as I was still stunned at what he said.

"Hindi ko naisip ang bagay na 'yon noon. I also thought I love her too much. But, right now as I think of it, I can't tell."

Hindi na ako nakasagot sa sinabi niyang iyon.

We continued looking for things we needed in villa enough for a week.

Sa tingin ko, hindi na kami aabot ng kalahating taon sa villa katulad sa pinirmahan kong kontrata kay Mirae. Ang usapan ay ilang linggo lang matapos tuluyang gumaling si Dasher ay babalik na siya sa Manila. Reason why he still can't go back is, at this state of him, he can't still can't fully protect hisself.

Inabot kami ng isang oras para mabili ang lahat ng kakailanganin sa villa. At the baggage counter, when a staff is already packing our groceries, I immediately know I can't carry it all alone or even with the help of Dasher.

Mabuti na lang at nagpresinta na ang isang staff na magdala ng cart para tumulong sa amin.

We arrived at Ridge's car without anyone of us speaking because of the staff who's with us. Matapos mailagay sa kotse ang aming pinamili ay agad kong binalingan ang lalaking staff.

"Thank you," I muttered as I gave him a small smile.

Narinig ko rin ang pasalamat ni Dasher. I even caught him handing a blue bill to the staff for helping us. Tinanggihan iyon noong lalaki ngunit ipinilit ni Dasher. Maluwag din akong ngumiti saka tinanguan ang lalaki upang mas lalo itong kumbinsihing kuhanin ang inaabot ni Dasher. At hindi naman kami nabigo nang abutin iyon ng staff at nagpasalamat.

We watched him go back inside the mall. And when he went out of my sight, I turned to Dasher because he spoke. "Let's dine in first."

"Where do you want?" I asked as I locked Ridge's car. Dahil tingin ko, hindi pa nga kami aalis at kakain pa.

"Let's go anywhere you want." He tilted his head, intently eyeing me.

I bobbed my head. "Let me go to the restroom first."

"I'll come with you."

Hindi ko na siya tinutulan upang hindi na pahabain pa ang usapan. My mouth's craving for something to eat already.

I went directly at the woman's restroom while Dasher remained waiting at the entrance of the hallway towards the restroom.

Akmang didiretso ako sa isa sa mga cubicle, ngunit agad akong natulos sa aking kinatatayuan matapos makita at makasalubong ang babaeng lumabas sa unang cubicle.

I immediately pressed my lips together to hide my shock.

Maging siya ay napahinto at kumurap sa akin, tila ba gulat din ngunit sa ibang dahilan. Maybe she saw me as someone familiar. But in my case, I know her indeed.

Recognition dawned on her face as her lips tugged into a smile. "I know you. You're that woman..." She trailed off, seems weighing if I'll remember her. How can I forget, when I'm talking about her with Dasher just a while ago.

"Y-you're one of those who saved me," I whispered, I am almost breathless. "You remember," pahabol ko.

Slowly, her smile faded. She tried to return it but it turns out to be a faint smile. "Of course. I can still clearly remember what happened that day. Paano kong makakalimutan 'yon?That's when my boyfriend broke up with me."

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