"We need to go." My chest heaved up and down as I faced Dasher. I even glanced at the women's restroom to see if Aislinn's coming already. Agad pang namilog ang aking mga mata nang matantong inalis niya ang sunglasses niya. He's only wearing his cap right now to cover his face.

"Bakit ang bilis mo?" Nahihiwagaan siyang napatitig sa akin. He tried to hold my elbow but I immediately dodged his hand. Tila napapaso akong napalayo sa kanya.

"Namumutla ka, Maureen. Tell me what the fuck is wrong," mariing sambit niya sa bawat salitang binibitawan.

"A-Aislinn--" Hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin dahil sa paghabol sa hinginga.

"What?" Agad na kumunot ang kanyang noo.

"I saw her at the restroom. We need to go, Dasher." I hurriedly tugged his arm, worried that Aislinn might see him.

Ang usapan kapag tuluyan ng maayos ang lagay niya, saka niya muling ipapaalam na buhay siya. If Aislinn will see him right now, she might ruin the plan.

"Will you calm down?" Ngayon ay bahagya pa ring lukot ang kanyang noo. Ngunit tila hindi naman nabahala sa sinabi ko na narito si Aislinn. At any moment, she can go out of the restroom.

"Did you do what you're supposed to do in the restroom?" he asked.

My lips parted as I remember. Ni hindi ko nagawa ang pakay doon dahil sa pag-aalala na makita ni Aislinn si Dasher.

I slowly shook my head even it seems like he figured it already.

"Do you want a complication on your bladder?"

"Aislinn might see you," I whispered.

He gave me a bored stare, like he doesn't care even if his ex-girlfriend who thought he died see him in flesh. "Come on, let's find another restroom if that's what will make you at peace."

Nag-aalangan pa akong muling bumaling sa direksyon ng restroom. Balak ko pa sanang makipagargumento ngunit nang makita si Aislinn na papalabas doon ay agad ko ng hinila si Dasher.

"Alright! She's coming! Let's go, let's go--" Natigilan ako nang hindi gumalaw si Dasher sa kanyang kinatatayuan. I bobbed my eyes to see his face. At mataman ko siyang tinitigan nang makitang bahagya siyang natatawa.

"Will you calm down first?" he muttered in between his chuckles.

I gritted my teeth in frustration. I badly want to pulled my hair but I tried hard to stop myself. "Dasher!" mariin at gigil na sambit ko.

What's wrong with him? Hindi ba siya ang dapat na nagmamadali ngayon? Anong mangyayari kapag nakita siya ni Aislinn? Or maybe he misses her so much that he wants to see her again. Ano, kahit isang sulyap ba, Doc? 'Yon lang sapat na?

He already stopped chuckling but a smile is still etched in face. Inis ko siyang tinalikuran at naglakad palayo sa restroom.

If he wants to face her then be it. Huwag lang niya akong idamay at magtataka pa si Aislinn kung bakit magkasama kami. Lalo na at nabanggit sa akin ni Aislinn ang ex-boyfriend na halata namang si Dasher. It'll be awkward if that happens.

I didn't look back and remained walking, wanting to find another restroom when a warm hand snatched my arm. Hindi pa man lumilingon ay alam ko na kung sino iyon.

"Hey, I'm sorry."

I was right when I heard Dasher's voice. I didn't looked back at him, kaya naman nagtungo siya sa aking harapan.

He's still not wearing his sunglasses, reason why I can clearly see the emotion in his eyes. "If you're thinking about Aislinn, stop it. She didn't see me." He even shook his head like he's assuring me.

Bumuntong hininga ako at tinanguan na lamang siya bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"Where are you going?" Muling habol niya sa akin nang muli siyang naiwan. I glanced at his cane down to his legs. Isn't he tired walking already?

I tried to gave him a grin but I failed. Instead, a faint smile escaped from my mouth. "I'll look for another restroom," marahang sambit ko.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya muling nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Sakto naman na nahagip ng aking mga mata ang signage patungo sa restroom.

Hindi ko na siya nilingon habang dire-diretso ang pasok ko patungo sa women's restroom.

I faced the large mirror near the cubicles as I rested my hands at the edge of it.

I watched my eyes slowly blinked through the mirror. The way my forehead contorted a bit made my face looks annoyed.

Sa huli ay napabuntong hininga na lamang ako habang tinutuwid ang kunot sa aking noo.

Am I really worried that Aislinn might see Dasher? Mataman kong pinakiramdaman ang sarili. I heaved a deep sigh, as if it'll calm the chaos in my insides.

Honestly, I'm not in the position to feel this but a part of me is truly bothered that they'll meet and they might rekindle the relationship they have before. Lalo na kung malalaman ni Aislinn na buhay si Dasher, she'll definitely try her luck and take him back.

"What is it to you if they want to start a new?" A part of my mind muttered as I stared at the mirror. "That's their choice!"

Wala kang magagawa kung iyon ang gusto nilang mangyari. Now, the only thing you can do is either start withdrawing what you feel for Dasher or let it and you'll know what will happen in the end.

I tightly shut my eyes closed for I don't know how long. At sa aking pagdilat, natanto ko na kung ano ang aking desisyon.

Ilang minuto pa ang pinalipas ko sa loob ng restroom para ikalma ang sarili bago tuluyang lumabas. At the hallway, I saw Dasher leaning at the wall while the cane is still in his hands.

He immediately turned his head towards my direction, when he saw me through his peripheral vision.

"Maureen," he called. Nananantya ang mga mata niya at tila ginagalugad ang aking kalooban.

"I'm sorry for..." I chew my lower lip while fidgeting my fingers. Bumaba doon ang aking tingin ngunit nang handa ng sambitin ang mga natitirang salita ay sinalubong ko ang mga mata ni Dasher. "The way I acted earlier."

His eyes were on me as he slightly licked his lower lip before nodding his head. "I understand and you don't have to apologize. I'm sorry too."

"Let's just buy a take out if you want?" he suggested. Siguro ay dahil pa rin sa katunayang narito nga si Aislinn.

We settled on what he said. We bought foods for take out. We agreed on pizza, shawarma, and frappe.

Dalawang box ng pizza ang binili namin para ibigay ang isa bilang pasalubong kay Ridge at Donna.

I placed our take out at the back seat except for my frappe. Bahagya pang nagtagal sa box ang aking mga mata. The pizza's box is a combination of yellow ang black while the logo of the shop's occupying a large space in the middle.

Dasher's seating on the passenger's seat and I wasn't oblivious of his stares.

Kaya naman matapos umayos sa pagkakaupo ay hinarap ko siya.

"Let me hold your frappe while you're driving." Inilahad niya sa akin ang kamay habang nasa kabilang kamay niya ang sariling inumin. His cane is now resting beside him.

I didn't think twice and just let him hold my frappe for a while. The engine of the car started as I swiftly maneuver it towards the exit of the parking lot.

"You wanna drink?" Dasher broke the deafening silence in between us. "Here." Itinapat niya ang straw ng aking frappe malapit sa aking mga labi.

Dahil doon ay napabaling kay Dasher ang aking mga mata. Our eyes locked as I sipped on my frappe while he's holding it. I badly want to bite the straw but I stopped myself.

Naputol ang paguusap ng aming mga mata nang bumaling si Dasher sa daan at muli iyong bumalik sa akin.

"Eyes on the road, Mauree," he muttered in a strict tone yet a ghost of smirk is evident in his lips.

Agad kong naramdaman ang paginit ng aking mga pisngi kaya't agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin at ibinaling ang mga mata sa daan.

Along with that, I heard a car from the back honking. Noon ko lang napansin na bumagal na pala ang takbo ng aming sasakyan.

Nang makarating kami sa villa ay tumulong pa si Ridge sa pagdadala ng mga groceries sa kitchen.

I immediately started arranging those. Karamihan sa pinamili namin ay idiniretso ko sa refrigerator. I place the canned goods in a cabinet as it doesn't have a space in the fridge.

Hindi pa ako nakakapangalahati sa ginagawa ay narinig ko na ang tawag ni Dasher.

"Maureen."

Bahagya akong napalingon sa aking likuran at natantong naroon na siya habang hawak pa rin ang cane bilang suporta.

"Let's eat first." He even tilted his head towards the sala, urging me to go in there.

"Come on, I'll help you with that later."

Sa huli ay wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang sumama sa kanya pabalik sa sala. Lalo na nang maalala ko ang aking frappe.

We settled on the sofa. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Dasher ngunit naglaan ng sapat na distansya para sa aming dalawa.

"So Aislinn. How do you even know her?" Dasher suddenly asked as he handed me a plate with a piece of pizza on it. Itinulak niya palapit sa akin ang frappe at shawarma na nasa center table.

"I mean, how do you know that she's who you saw at the restroom?" he added thought he doesn't sounds like he's suspecting me from anything. He asked in a casual tone like he's just really curious and wondering.

"Don't you remember where we first met?" My intonation on my last word rose a bit before I dug in my pizza.

His brows slowly knitted as he angled his head while staring at me, tila naninimbang sa dapat na isagot.

I slowly chew a part of pizza on my mouth before sipping on my frappe. Matapos maibaba ang frappe ay noon ako nagpatuloy upang linawin ang una naming pagkikita. "When you and your girlfriend saved me a year ago from a perverted man."

Recognition dawned on his face. Nahuli ko ang bahagyang pamimilog ng kayang mga labi. "Yeah, I remember that." Tango niya.

Why does he seems confused, or hesitant perhaps? Can't he remember? O baka naman hindi niya masabi dahil iba ang alam niyang una naming pagkikita?

"I remember how the woman looks like and you introduced her as Aislinn."

"You remembered," he whispered while intently looking at the frapped in between his hands.

I nodded. "Na--" I cleared my throat. "Nakilala niya 'ko kanina. She told me earlier that her boyfriend broke up with her that day."

Muling bumalik sa aking ang kanyang mga mata bago matamang tumango. "I broke up with her that day. We're bound to go home after an hour discussing what I want for our relationship when we saw you being violated by whoever that fucker is." May diing tukoy niya sa lalaking nambastos sa akin.

"Thank you," sambit ko habang binigyan siya ng sinserong ngiti.

"Huh?"

"I can't remember if I formally thank you a year ago when you saved me." I was not im my right mind that time. I was too preoccupied because of what happened. Ni hindi ko matandaan kung nakapagpasalamat ba ako sa kanila ni Aislinn.

"Wala 'yon. I'm sorry, hindi ko na ipinilit na kasuhan mo ang lalaking iyon noong tumanggi ka. I'm a bit distracted that day."

Of course, I know that. Dahil noon nga siya nakipaghiwalay kay Aislinn na hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na mahal na mahal niya.

We're in the middle of that conversation when I heard the doorbell of the villa rung.

We both stopped and stared at each other, tila alam kung ano ang nasa isip ng bawat is.

"May... bisita ka ba?" I asked but seems I already know the answer. Sigurado akong hindi si Donna o si Ridge ang nagdoorbell. Kumakatok na lamang sila matapos ay kusa ng papasok.

"Wala," he answered as he turned his eyes on the door when the it rung again.

Inilapat ko sa center table ang aking plate na may lamang pizza. "I'll see who's outside," paalam ko bago agad na tumayo sa kinauupuan.

Dumiretso ako sa pinto at agad na binuksan iyon. I readied a welcoming smile for whoever's outside.

Nang tuluyan kong mabuksan ang pinto ay naroon ang bulto ng lalaki na suot ang pamilyar na uniporme ng kilalang delivery service company.

Hindi pa ako nakakapagsalita upang itanong ang pakay nito nang maramdaman ko ang presensya ni Dasher sa aking likuran.

Kasabay noon ang mga salita mula sa delivery man. "Magandang araw po, Ma'am. Package po para kay Miss Rozelli."

The warm smile on my lips faded as I froze on my place.

__________