"Mirae." Dasher's cold and firm voice echoed in the whole room.

That made me stopped as well as Mirae. She tilted her head towards Dasher, tila hindi makapaniwala sa tonong ginamit ni Dash. Bahagyang namilog ang kanyang mga mata ngunit agad ding nakabawi.

My mouth slightly hung open, it made me blinked twice. Ngunit agad akong umiling upang makabawi.

"Everything is Ysmael and Callista's fault. Not hers." He shook his head. "Why would you bring her at the torture room? What did she do?"

Mirae's eyes narrowed for a few while. Matapos ay sarkastiko itong nagpakawala ng hangin sa kanyang bibig. "D-Did you just defend Rozelli's daughter?"

"I won't do it if Camilla did something wrong that caused a great damage."

I lowered my head. I want to defend myself so Dasher don't need to go against Mirae or question her decisions but how? How if every time that Mirae's blaming my father, I felt like I'm also responsible for all the horrible things that he did.

Hindi man ako ang gumawa, pamilya ko pa rin iyon, tauhan pa rin ng pamilya ko. I felt like I'm at fault too.

Mirae let out a sarcastic chuckle. Naiiling siya habang bahagyang napapahilot sa sentido. She faced Dasher afterwards. "You know what, Dash? I think you're tired. Itulog mo yan."

I frowned a bit. I was torn if she's being sarcastic again or what. Nagtama ang aming mga mata and she immediately rolled her eyes.

Agad namang bumalik iyon kay Dasher. "Anyway, Archer can't see you right now. We're preparing to rescue his girlfriend's mother later at midnight from..." She trailed off as she gave me quick sharp glance. "From Rozelli. Ilang taon na pa lang itinatago. That evil old man!"

Napahilot sa sentido si Dasher. While my eyes enlarged. The mother of Archer's girlfriend? Itinatago ni Dad? Why would he hide her?

Naguguluhan man ay wala namang akong makukuhang sagot sa kanila. Mirae would never answer me and I doubt if Dasher have any idea why. Si Dad lang ang makakasagot noon sa akin.

"Archer will really settle down already?"

Mirae lifted her shoulder for a half shrug. "Yeah."

"I'm glad he will."

"I hope she loves Archer the way he does."

"About the operation later, need help?"

"All done. Just..." Mirae trailed off. "Rest. Maybe you're still a bit confused. So yeah, sleep. I'll go ahead."

Dasher groaned. "I'm not. I mean what I said."

A grimace plastered on her face. "So you're really defending this woman?" She even turned her gaze on me, sandali lang iyon na tila kapag nagtagal ang mga mata niya sa akin ay lalo siyang maiinis.

"I thought you'll leave?"

"Yeah, whatever." She glanced at the ceiling to roll her eyes.

"How about you?" baling niya sa akin. "What's your plan? Wala kang balak lumabas ng kwarto ni Dasher?" she asked while her brow is still raising.

Naguguluhan kong tinagilid ang aking mukha. "S-saan ako pupunta? What will I do?" Ridge said I should stay here if I still want to live. And I very well know that.

She let out a deep audible breath as she mockingly smirked at me. "I don't know. Go kill your self if you're bored. I just don't care," she nonchalantly answered.

"Just stay here, Camilla." Dasher interfered. He grabbed my hand that made my eyes widened a fraction. My lips parted. I want to snatched it because we're in front of Mirae but in the end, I didn't. Especially when I felt my heart throbbing drastically.

"You know what? I don't know what's wrong with you, Dasher." Mirae's eyes squinted at our hands. Napapantastikuhang napailing siya. "I have a hunch on what's happening. But please, prove me I'm wrong. You know I won't like it. Stop it."

Bumuntong hininga siya. "I'll just talk to you tomorrow and I hope you get back to your senses already," sambit niya bago kami tuluyang iniwan sa silid ni Dasher.

"I'm sorry. Don't mind her." His grip on my hand tightened before he let it go.

"I understand." I don't have to force my lips because the corner of it willingly lifted for a smile.

"Do you want anything?" he asked. "Just tell me."

"Wala naman."

"You hungry?"

Agad akong umiling. "No."

He hummed. "If you want something, tell me. We'll go to the Cosmos' penthouse tommorow if we can. You're not safe here. Hindi lahat ng tauhan namin kilala ka. And maybe some knew you're Rozelli's daughter."

"Penthouse?" I mimicked. "Is that a headquarters too?"

Isang beses siyang tumango. "Headquarters exclusively for bosses of Cosmos."

My forehead puckered. "Am I allowed to go there?" I mean, if that's for bosses of Cosmos only, then maybe I can't go there?

"Technically speaking you're not," he truthfully answered.

And I know that. Of course, I am Ysmael Rozelli's daughter.

"But because..." He trailed off, finding the reasons why I'm allowed. "Because you're with me and they'll understand that, so you're allowed."

I didn't get the last part though. They'll understand what?

I slowly lifted my head for a nod. "Hmm. But the other bosses are there too? I mean, are they staying at the penthouse?" I just want to ask to know what to expect when we go there.

"I'm not sure if they'll be there tomorrow. But occasionally, they visit or if there's a meeting or something important we need to talk to regarding Cosmos." He shifted his weigh from one foot to another. "Though, if they're at the penthouse or at least one of them, you don't have to worry. You've met them all already anyway."

I felt a furrow formed in my forehead as I frowned. "I met them already?"

Who? I know Creed is a part of Cosmos. Then Mirae just admitted that she's the Universe. And Dasher's the Moon, so I know he's one of the boss too. I basically met three. But as far as I can remember on what I've read, there are five unknown people behind Cosmos.

"Mirae, Creed, Archer, and Astrid. You met them, right?" he asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

My mouth fell open as I blinked. "W-why are you telling me all these?"

"Should I not?" he replied and even tilted his head on me.

"I mean, isn't that supposed to be discreet."

Sinipat niya ang aking mga mata. "Would you tell it to your father?"

"No."

He cocked his head for a proud nod as a smile formed in his lips. I caught a glimpse of confidence in his eyes. "I knew it."

"Well, your father knew who the Universe is already," he continued.

Ilang ulit akong napatango. Then I stared at him for a full minute. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagtititigan lang kami. Then I adverted my gaze when I suddenly felt that my heart's starting to beat rapidly again.

I heaved a deep sigh. What a long day indeed. Akmang ibabagsak ko ang aking katawan sa sofa nang hulihin niya ang aking palapulsuhan.

Dahilan para mapahinto ako at muling mapatingin sa kanya. Tipid na ngiti ang agad na nabungaran ko sa kanyang mukha. "Can you hold my cane?"

I blinked as I angled my head. My brow raised a bit, lowkey asking him 'what' and he got what I mean.

"Can you hold my cane for me? I'll show you something," he repeated.

Yeah, I heard him but seriously, I didn't just get it. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kanyang cane. Lalo akong naguluhan nang iabot niya iyon sa akin.

Nagtataka ko iyong tinanggap at noon ko natantong nakatayo siya ng walang tulong ng cane. I gasped as my hand flew on my mouth. My eyes immediately widened, it almost popped. My lips parted as I stared at him standing without the use of his cane.

At nang magsimula siyang lumakad ay muling namilog ang aking mga mata.

"Oh my God," I whispered when he began walking towards the door of his room. Matapos ay umikot siya para humarap sa aking direksyon at muling bumalik sa aking harapan. And shit, he's not walking slowly but normally!

"Y-you can--" I can't fully finished my words because I felt like I'm too overwhelmed.

"Yes, Camilla."

"You can walk already," I whispered.

I blinked and finally everything sunk in my mind. My mouth parted and a wide smile immediately formed in my lips.

"Oh my God, Dasher! You can walk already!" I can't help but shrieked. I almost jump in joy as my arms encircled in his body for a hug while I'm still holding his cane.

It took me a few seconds to realized his body froze. And that's when I realized what I've done.

Nabitawan ko ang cane. Gumawa iyon ng ingay ngunit masyadong mainit ang aking pisngi dahil sa hiya kaya't hindi na iyon nabigyan ng pansin.

"Sorry." Akmang aalisin ko ang mga brasong nakayakap sa kanya upang lumayo nang maramdaman ko ang mga braso niya sa akin.

My eyes widened a fraction as I felt his arms immediately encircled on my body, stopping me from my attempt to distance our body. His hug tightened but still enough for me to breath. I didn't know I need his warmth until this day.

But because of my heart pounding hardly against my ribcage, I felt like I'm losing air. After a few seconds, I found myself gasping for it already.

Especially when I felt him gently caressing my back. My heart pounded more and louder that I can hear it. Though, I'm not certain if its really mine or it Dasher's. Or maybe what I heard were from the both of us.

Lumaylay ang aking kamay dahil na rin sa pagkabigla.

"Can I call you Calla?" he asked, whispering. He's a few inches taller than me. And even if I wear heels, he'll still be taller. Though if it was five to six inches heels, siguro ay magkasingtaas na kami.

"C-Calla sounds better." I tightly shut my eyes closed when I stammered.

I heard him hummed while caressing my back. "I like it better too," marahang sambit niya. Right now, his voice sounds like a lullaby in my ears. "Though whatever your name would be, you're still my Mauree."

Agad akong napadilat. "What--"

"My nurse, I mean."

We stayed in our position. No one's pulling away like we never want to.

"Let's stay like this for a while, can we?" His voice softened as he asked.

I immediately hummed. I want to curse myself because I answered without even thinking twice.

My hands slowly went on his back and I hugged him the way I do earlier.

His hand slowly crawled on my head as he gently pulled it closer to him, making me leaned on him. Nagpaubaya ako sa kung anong gusto niyang mangyari.

I felt the butterflies rumbling not only in my stomach but in my whole inside.

His chin rested on my head while he's caressing my hair. "Tell me if this is making you uncomfortable. I'll pull away, Calla."

I didn't answer. Instead, I shifted my head to find a more comfortable position but still leaning on him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered after a while. "I thought your father can do something bad against you. I'm sorry for forcing you to leave."

I don't believe Dad can physically hurt me. I know he won't. Despite of his wrong doings, despite him being in the Philippines while I'm growing up States with my Mom, he's still the best Dad. Hindi ko man siya kasama noong mga panahong lumalaki ako, ramdam ko naman ang pagiging ama niya sa akin.

"Believe it or not, he's actually a good father." My lips stretched into a smile.

"And your father will kill me for this."

I pulled away a bit, but it wasn't enough to separate our body. Mahigpit pa rin ang yakap niya sa akin. I'm still hugging him but it was more like my hands are just resting at his back. Habang siya, para bang hindi sapat na magkadikit ang aming mga katawan.

My forehead creased while slightly pursing my mouth. "Why would he? You're not the Universe. He won't try to kill you this time."

"Yeah, he'll kill me for liking his daughter instead."

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