"Camilla Maureanne!"

Mom's firm voice woke my consciousness up from staring at the television. Though it wasn't enough to own my whole attention.

Dahil kahit anong pirmi ng boses ni Mommy ay hindi nawala sa telebisyon ang aking mga mata.

Lalo na matapos kong marinig na nagaagaw-buhay ang doktor na tumulong sa akin.

"Pinaghihinalaang inambushed ang biktima dahil sa pinsalang inabot ng sasakyan na pagmamay-ari ng nasabing doktor," mabilis na sambit ng reporter sa balitang inuulat.

A picture of the doctor's car is viewing at the television. It made me gasped as I saw the damages of the car. Nakabangga sa poste ang kotse habang tadtad iyon ng tama ng bala ng baril. Basag ang mga bintana at malaki ang sira ng kotse sa hulihang bahagi na para bang binangga iyon doon.

It was from a breaking news in the middle of the night. And even after that news, I was still rooted at my place. I felt like my heart dropped to my stomach as I slowly turned to Mommy.

She's comfortably seating on the sofa while I was standing beside it. She's the one who's originally watching. Habang ako ay kapapasok pa lamang ng bahay matapos umuwi galing sa mafia gathering kung saan isinama ako ni Daddy.

It was a masquerade themed gathering and after a few introductions, I immediately slipped away from dad and go home. Hindi ko kayang tagalan ang pagtitipon na iyon lalo na at alam kong puro mga illegal ang gawain ng mga tao roon.

I was about to go to my room when I heard Dasher's name on news. It made me stopped on my track.

My hands trembled as I pointed the television. "Si D-Daddy?" I have a hunch already but I want to confirm it. Naririnig kong ilang araw nang pinagpaplanuhan ni Daddy ang bagay na iyon. But I still can't believed he actually did it!

Kahit wala na roon ang balita ay alam kong alam ni Mommy na iyon ang tinutukoy ko.

I watched her shifted on her seat. Bumuntong hininga siya. "Well, he told me that earlier."

Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata. "What? Y-you didn't even stop him?" Nahihiwagaang tanong ko sa kanya. Though, I'm not expecting her to stop Dad. I don't know what's with her and she's tolerating Dad.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Mommy dramatically muttered that made my eyes narrowed. Nagmamadali niyang pinatay ang telebisyon.

"I have a flight tomorrow. I'm going back to States. I'll rest, honey." She leaned as our cheeks touched each other as a goodbye. "You should rest too," sambit niya bago nagmamadaling nagtungo sa kwarto nilang dalawa ni Daddy.

It was obvious that she's avoiding the conversation. On the second thought, I know she really have a flight tomorrow.

I was walking back and forth the living room, a few minutes after Mom went on their room, when the door of the mansion opened without further ado. And I saw Dad entered like what I'm expecting. Though, I expect him to be with Ate.

Ate Callista's nowhere to be found. I didn't even know if she attended that gathering or she's one of those who ambushed the doctor's car.

Agad na nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Dad and I can't help but frown when I saw a smirk in his face.

"Mauree, anak. You didn't told me you're going home. Sana ay nagsabay na tayo." Hindi pa rin mawala ang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi. He's removing his cufflinks while walking near me.

"Anyway, I'll go ahead. I have something to fix in my office." He didn't even wait for my response. Basta na lamang niya akong nilagpasan.

He climbed up the stairs as I followed him towards his office inside this mansion.

We're here at our mansion. Ito ang mansyon kung saan nakatira si Dad at si Ate. It was new, dahil may nagpasabog noong lumang mansyon.

Even when I'm already at the Philippines and Mom's visiting too from time to time because she have a business in States, we're not living in this mansion. May condo kami ni Mommy at doon kami nakatira. Dad still doesn't wants us to live here.

Dahil iyon sa pag-aalala pa rin ni Daddy na malaman ng mga kalaban ng aming pamilya na buhay pa ang asawa niya at may isa pa siyang anak maliban kay Ate. Takot si Dad na kami ni Mommy ang umani ng mga kasamaang siya mismo ang gumawa, mula sa kalaban.

Dad was already inside his office, removing his suit, leaving him with only his dress shirt, when I came.

"Mauree," he called when he saw me entered his office. "You need something?" He sat on his swivel chair.

Dad started opening his laptop but he immediately glanced at me when I stopped in front of him. His table is the only thing that separates us.

"Doctor Dasher Alterio's fighting for his life in the hospital," I concluded as I intently looked at him, surveying every emotion in his face.

Unti-unting nawala ang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi at inalis ang atensyon sa kanyang laptop. "In the hospital?" Tila hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. Nawala rin ang malawak na ngisi sa kanyang mga labi.

Don't tell me he'll deny it? The furrow in my forehead deepened.

"I saw it on the news," I muttered firmly but in a low tone.

He tilted his head as his eyes bore unto me. There's still that 'can't believe' expression in his face. "You must be wrong." he shook his head. "He's dead already, Mauree. I'm sure of that. You can ask you sister if you're still doubting" He sounds like he's assuring me.

I can't help but let out a sarcastic audible breath. "You did it to him," I stated.

"No, I don't. I planned it. Pero tauhan natin ang gumawa. Though, Callista's there."

Napapantastikuhan ko siyang binalingan. My mouth fell at his statement. I squeezed my eyes closed as I heaved a deep breath.

"Dad! What you did is wrong!" I shouted as my eyes opened. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi magtaas ng boses kay Daddy kaya naman bakas sa mga mata niya ang gulat matapos akong marinig.

"There's nothing wrong," he nonchalantly muttered as he even lifted his shoulders for a shrug.

Is he seriously telling me that there's no wrong? Walang mali sa mga ginagawa niya? I went back in the Philippines for a year already. Mag-iisang taon ko na siyang kinukumbinsing tigilan ang mga ginagawa nila ni Ate. But still, they're firm on their decisions.

"There's nothing wrong?" I sighed, bakit ba hindi pa ako nasasanay kay Daddy? Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko sa kanila ni ate.

He laughed with no humor. "Don't stress yourself, Mauree. Why don't you go on a vacation you'll surely enjoy? But before that, give me a favor." he gave his laptop a quick glance before his eyes darted at me.

"Go to the hospital. Check if Dr. Alterio, the Universe finally died."

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig ako kay Daddy at sa huli ay walang nagawa kung hindi ang umiling. I blinked twice as a mocking sound unintentionally came out of my mouth. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi maging sarkastiko sa harap niya

Muli na itong bumaling sa ginagawa at hindi na ako pinansin ni Daddy kaya naman labag man sa loob ay naisipan ko na sundin na ang iniutos niya. Though, I'm not planning to report to Dad like what he's expecting. I just want to see if Dasher made it.

"I'll go ahead, Dad," paalam ko.

Agad itong bumaling sa akin at bahagyang ngumiti. "Take care."

I just smiled and nodded my head before leaving his office. Kahit maraming masasamang nagagawa si Daddy ay alam ko na mahal niya kami ni Ate. No matter how evil Ysmael Rozelli is, he's still my Dad. But I don't want to tolerate his bad doings. I won't, ever.

Dumiretso ako sa aking silid upang makapagpalit ng mas komportable at hindi agaw pansing mga damit. After that, I drove my car around without any particular direction in my head.

But then I found myself at the cliff. This is where I met Dasher for the second time, I think? And where I witnessed him killed those people who wants to kill him.

I didn't went out of my car even after turning the engine off. I leave the windows opened as I let the breeze of air kissed my skin.

Mariin akong napapikit. I grasped my hair as I leaned my head on the steering wheel ans remember those who wants to kill Dasher at this cliff.

Is that Dad's fault too? Then I wonder, what would happen to me if they successfully killed Dasher that time? Siguradong alam nila na may tao sa bangin bukod sa kanila. Papatayin din ba ako? Well, maybe. Kung tauhan man iyon ni Daddy, hindi ko alam kung kilala nila ako ngunit malaki ang posibilidad na hindi. Though I'm not sure.

After almost an hour, I started the engine of my car as I maneuvered it towards the hospital where the doctor is confined.

I carved Dasher's ICU room number in my head as I walked on the hospital's hallway.

Hinahanap ko ang kwartong kinaroroonan ni Dasher Alterio nang dumaan sa akin ang mga nagmamadaling doctor at dumiretso iyon sa kwarto sa aking harapan. My eyes darted at its room number and realized afterwards, that's Dasher's room.

I saw Dasher's familiar friends kaya naman agad akong tumalikod doon na para bang makikilala nila ako.

Ilang sandali lang ay nakita ko si Mirae na nagmamadaling pumasok sa kwarto ni Dasher. I can still remember she was introduced to me together with Creed earlier at the gathering. They're wearing half masks but I know it's them.

I faced the room beside Dasher's. Umakto akong naghihintay sa kabilang kwarto nang lumabas ang mga doktor sa kwarto ni Dasher.

"Dr. Alterio is a good man, but that's life. Wala tayong magagawa roon." Rinig kong sambit ng doktor sa isang nurse. Is he insinuating that Dasher's dead?

I felt the heat on my eyelids as my lips quivered when it parted. Even there's a wide distance between Dasher's room and the one where I am standing, I can hear their whimpers. When I gave then a quick glanced, I saw a middle-aged woman who's probably Dasher's mother wailing already.

My eyes widened when I saw her losing her consciousness but someone immediately caught her. That's when I turned my eyes in my front again. Takot na may makapansin sa aking presensya.

Dasher's friends and family were all devastated because of the news. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ganoon kasakim si Daddy.

Naghintay ako ng pagkakataon para makapuslit sa kwarto ni Dasher ngunit ilang oras na ay hindi pa rin ako makapasok ng walang nakakakita sa akin.

Bagsak ang balikat na tinalikuran ko ang silid ni Dasher. I can feel my heavy breathing as my insides clenched.

Maybe that doctor a while ago is right, that's life. Agad na akong umalis doon at naisipan na umakyat sa rooftop. I sighed, isa na naman ang namatay dahil kay Daddy.

And I don't know why this hurts the most. Sa dami ng narinig ko na napatay ni Daddy, ngayon ako pinakanaapektuhan.

With my heated eyes, I forced my feet to step towards the rooftop. But I stopped when I'm almost there.

Hindi pa ako tuluyang dumarating doon ay agad akong nakarinig ng mga boses na nasisiguro kong nagmumula sa rooftop.

I know it was rude to listen to anyone else's conversation. Wala akong balak makinig. Ngunit nang marinig ko ang pangalan ni Dasher ay agad akong nagkubli sa gilid na pader upang mas marinig ang mga naguusap.

"Let them think that Dash is dead. Just make sure that he'll be safe, Lolo."

That was from a familiar voice. I'm sure of it, sa ilang minuto ko iyong naririnig ay alam ko na kung kanino ang maawtoridad na boses na iyon. It was Mirae.

Bahagya akong sumilip sa rooftop at tama nga ang hinala ko matapos makita ang bulto ni Mirae. I immediately stepped back. Dahan-dahan akong lumayo sa hagdan na patungo sa rooftop.

What did she just said? Let them think Dasher is dead? He's alive? I tilted my head and gently shook it.

And that led me to Mirae's office with a resume and fake documents in my hands, applying as a nurse.

__________