My body froze for a few seconds, or maybe for minutes. My mouth hung opened as I slightly pushed him.

There's something inside who's urging me that I need to see him. So I pushed him until he finally let my body go. Naglandas ang kamay niya patungo sa aking braso habang tuluyan na iyon dumulas palayo sa akin.

His eyes softened as he stared at me. There's something enticing in there that makes my heart flutter. As the birds and butterflies inside me cheered, my body wobbled.

"I never knew I'll like you the way I do, Camilla," he murmured using his usual but a bit shaky voice.

But it was enough for me to hear it clearly. I nibbled my bottom lip when I felt the side of my eyes heated. I blinked, trying to fought back my tears. Ngunit lalo lang nanlabo ang aking mga mata nang muling nagtama ang aming mga mata.

I opened my mouth but my chest's pounding too hard already, that it distract me from finding words I need to say.

"You don't have to answer." His lips formed a smile that made me feel at peace. It shut everything around us. "Just... d-don't ask me to stop," his voice trembled but the smile in his lips didn't falter. "Please, I can't."

That's when a lone tear willingly escaped from my eyes. I slowly shook my head and stretched the corner of my lips. "I... won't."

Where would I get the audacity to ask him to stop if I myself don't know how to? And... I don't want to. Because... I longed for this. I didn't realized I'm longing for this until this day came.

"D-Dasher, I'm sorry."

Unti unting kumunot ang kanyang noo. And a furrow formed in his brows, wondering why I suddenly said those words. He shifted while waiting for me to continue.

"Dad did horrible things against you. H-hindi ko dapat nararamdaman 'to pero..." I sobbed. "I'm sorry for being selfish but I like you too," I whispered, almost breathless as I avoided his gaze. I immediately wiped my tears before finding his eyes again.

He's now intently looking at me. I can't explain the glint of emotion in his eyes but surely, it made me drowned.

"Gusto rin kita, Dasher. So much," I continued using my usual tone but I hope my soft voice are enough for him to know how deeply sincere I am. I hope it was enough to touch the deepest of his heart.

"I-I'm sorry." I bit my lower lip, suppressing the sob that's wanting to come out of my mouth.

I stared at him as I watched every movement of his face. I can't see emotion in there except for the eyes.

"Can I kiss you?"

Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata sa tinuran niya. At hindi pa ako nakakabawi ay nagpatuloy na siya.

"I'll kiss you," he whispered. Tila nagpapaalam ngunit hindi na nagtatanong.

Hindi niya ako binigyan ng pagkakataong makabawi sa pagkagulat at paninigas sa kinatatayuan. Agad kong naramdaman ang mga labi niya sa akin. His hands cupped my cheeks. I stilled as he started moving. It was so gentle like I'll break if he'll do something wrong.

He wiped the tears on my cheeks as he tilted his head to deepened the kiss.

Kusang pumikit ang aking mga mata. I tried to moved my lips to follow his rhythm. My hands crawled in his shoulders. Marahan akong napakapit doon habang tinutugon ang halik niya.

It lasted for I don't know how long. But when we pulled away, we're both panting. Kapwa kami naghahabol ng hininga habang nakahawak pa rin sa isa't isa.

Malalim akong napahugot ng hininga nang muling maalala ang nangyari, ilang oras pa lamang ang nakakalipas.

Even until now, I can still feel my cheeks burning. I was lying in Dasher's bed for a couple of hours already. Komportable naman ang kama niya. But I still can't sleep because that memory kept flashing back on my mind.

Bumaling ako ng pagkakahiga at sa tingin ko ay maling desisyon ang ginawa kong iyon.

The lights were off already but I clearly see Dasher who's lying down in his sofa while his eyes were on me. Pinagkakasya niya ang sarili sa couch na halata namang kulang na kulang para sa kanya.

Sinabi kong ako na lang ang matutulog doon ngunit kahit anong pilit ko ay tinanggihan niya.

We actually can share a bed but he immediately declined. Malaki ang kama niya at hindi naman kami magkakadikit kung sakaling tatabi siya sa akin ngunit ayaw niya.

"Can't sleep?" he asked as he rose from the couch. Umupo siya roon habang nasa akin ang kanyang mga mata.

Kaya't napatayo na rin ako at naupo sa gilid ng kanyang kama. "Hmm," I hummed. "Can't sleep too?"

"Yeah." he nodded. His bloodshot eyes looks sleepy though seems like he won't just doze off at this moment. Like he's thinking of something deep that made him wide awake despite him being sleepy. Dahil ganoon din ako ngayon. I badly want to fall asleep but thinking of things, specifically what happened earlier, refrained me from doing so.

"You... wanna stroll outside?" alok niya kalaunan.

"Can we?" I answered. Dahil tingin ko ay hindi rin ako makakatulog kung mananatili rito.

"Of course," he immediately rose from his seat. Agad niyang inabot ang cane at natigilan. Mataman siyang lumingon. He quickly glanced at his cane before settling his eyes on me. "Can you not mention it to anyone?"

Napakurap ako kahit may hinala kung ano ang tinutukoy niya "What is it?"

"That I can walk again without using a cane? Sasabihin ko rin kila Mirae pero hindi muna sa iba. I mean, I'm still buying time."

I tilted my head while my lips partially parted. "Hindi pa nila alam?"

"Not yet," sambit niya at ihinakbang ang mga paa palapit sa akin. He's holding his cane but not using it.

"M-may I know since when..."

"Since last week. You're the only one who knew, as of now."

Napalabi ako nang muling bumuka ang aking mga labi. "W-why did you tell me?"

"Because you're Calla." He shrugged. "Come on, let's go outside"

I repeatedly blinked in a split second. Because I'm Calla? Surely I'm not dumb but why do I didn't get it?

"Wait, are you comfortable to go out with that clothes?"

My eyes went down on the white shirt and boxers I am wearing. This is Dasher's unused clothes. Wala akong dalang damit na pamalit. That's why he insisted on lending me his new clothes.

Malaki sa akin ang shirt kaya naman hindi na makita ang boxers. But I guess I don't have a choice? Besides, I'm comfortable with this.

I hummed. "Yes."

Tumango siya. "Alright. Tomorrow I'll ask someone to buy your necessities."

He opened the door of his room-- or should I say suite? Because it looks like it. Though outside of it, you can literally say it is a headquarters. 

He gestured me the door, tila pinapauna ako. I immediately do what he wants and get out of his room.

Bumungad sa akin ang iilang tauhan ng Cosmos na abala sa kanya kanyang ginagawa. It was almost or passed midnight already, I think.

The door behind us closed as I watched Dasher's movement. Agad niyang itinukod ang cane at umaktong suporta iyon sa paglalakad.

We walked side by side while his free hand is resting at my back. Ngunit hindi pa kami nakakalayo sa silid niya at nakasalubong na namin ang mga bultong pamilyar sa akin.

Namilog ang aking mga mata nang matanto kung sino iyon. It was Creed and Astrid nearing our direction.

There's a bit frown in Astrid's forehead, like she's baffled. Ngunit agad na namilog ang kanyang mga mata nang tumama iyon sa direksyon ni Dasher.

Creed's carrying someone, I must say a woman, who's unconscious in his arms. May itim na tela na tumatakip sa mukha ng babae, dahilan para agad akong mapasinghap.

I saw Dasher from the side of my eyes glanced at me when I gasped. Bumalik sa dalawang papalapit ang kanyang mga mata nang tumapat ang mga ito sa amin. Isa sa mga tauhan ang lumapit sa amin at nagpresintang dalhin ang babaeng buhat ni Creed ngunit tumanggi ito.

"How's the operation?" Dasher asked asked his hand on my back went on his cane. Dalawang kamay na niya ang nakahawak doon.

"We got the mother of Archer's girlfriend. We also got Dellany," Creed replied.

Dasher's eyes widened for as split second. "You got her?" Ans he blinked. "Finally, after a couple of years?"

"I don't get it. What's wrong with Dellany?" Naiiling na tanong ni Astrid.

"I'll explain later." Si Creed ang sumagot sa kanya bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Akmang susunod na si Astrid nang tila may natanto. She went back and faced us. "Where are you two going? Its not safe, especially for you outside anyway," she warned Dasher.

"You think?"

"Hmm. Rozelli might..." She quickly glanced at me. Bahagya siyang ngumiti sa akin bago muling lumingon kay Dasher. "You know," she murmured knowingly as she squared her shoulders.

Nakuha ang ibig niyang sabihin.

Dasher cocked his head. Nagpaalam na sa amin si Astrid at nagtungo kay Creed.

"You still wanna go or let's stay in the room?" Baling niya sa akin nang tuluyan kaming maiwan nila Astrid.

"She said, its not safe for you. Let's just stay in you room. Maybe I can sleep this time?" Though, I don't think so.

I know Astrid's telling that Dad might retaliate after the Cosmos' successful operation against him. At kung ganoon, hindi nga ligtas si Dasher na lumabas pa.

But I wish, Dad won't. I hope he'd just let it pass.

"Alright."

Muli niya akong iginiya papasok sa kanyang silid.

"Calla," he called when he shut the door closed behind him.

I immediately sat on his bed as my gaze turned to him. "Hmm?"

"I'm serious about what I said earlier." His feet carried him near me. Iginilid niya ang kanyang cane. Matapos ay umupo siya sa aking tabi ngunit naglaan ng sapat na distansya para sa aming dalawa.

I bit my lower lip. Itinukod ko ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang gilid ng aking kinauupuan. I looked at him over my shoulder. "About..." I intended to stop and let him continue my words.

"About courting you, yeah. I'm serious, Calla." He rested his arms beside him. Itinukod niya ang kamay sa magkabilang gilid tulad ng aking ginawa.

I nodded. "I know."

I didn't answer when he told me that after our kiss earlier. Maybe he thought, I thought he's not serious, kaya't hindi ako sumagot.

"But... you didn't answer." His last words became a whisper, like he's breathless.

I tugged the corner of my lips for a smile. "Isn't courting occurs only when the feelings are unrequited? I mean, kung h-hindi kita gusto..."

He stared at me for a while. "Maybe to some." He lifted his shoulders and shrugged. "But it doesn't work that way for me."

He grinned over his shoulder. "I'll court you even the feelings weren't unrequited. I will continue to pursue you while we're in a relationship. And I still will, even we're married already, Calla," marahan ang sambit niya sa bawat salita. Dahilan kung bakit ramdam na ramdam ko ang sinseridad doon.

I nibbled my lower lip as I tried to suppress the smile wanting so bad to come out of my mouth. But I failed. Sumilay ang ngiti sa aking mga labi kasabay ng pag-init ng aking mga pisngi. He's thinking about marriage... with me. And my insides can't calm down upon hearing it.

"O-okay then."

He shifted his body towards my direction. "Okay?"

"Court me when everything's alright already." Because right now, I felt like courting seems wrong when there's still something wrong in our situation.

I heaved a deep sigh before smiling at him. Dad immediately came in my mind. I'm taking risk on this one.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon ni Dad sa oras na malaman niya ito. But one thing is for sure, he won't be pleased on my decision. I know but he can't stop me.

The next morning, I woke up late. I concluded because I slept late too. Tama nga ako nang iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at agad kong nabungaran ang orasan.

Akmang babangon ako nang may kamay na pumigil sa aking braso. I immediately stilled as I remember that I forced Dasher to sleep with me on his bed last... night. Dahil alam kong hindi siya komportable sa sofa at sasakit ang katawan niya sa pamamaluktot doon.

My eyes widened as I saw our position. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa aking unan at natantong braso niya ang kaninang unan ko. While my arm is resting on his body like I'm hugging him!

"D-Dasher," I called while trying to tugged my hand from him. Ngunit mahigpit ang hawak niya roon.

I stared at him. Pinakinggan ko ang paghinga niya at nanatiling tulog naman siya.

Muli ko pa iyong sinubukan ngunit bigo ako. In the end, I didn't have a choice but to silently lie at the bed and stare at him while he looked peaceful as he sleep.

__________