"Sir?" I called but I got nothing as a response.

I bit my lower lip while staring at Dasher. I sat down on the sofa while he's seating on the wheelchair beside me. "Dasher, sorry. I-I didn't mean it." I even shook my head as I felt something heavy in my insides.

What am I even thinking awhile ago? I know I'm wrong. I shouldn't have said that. Hindi ko gustong ipamukha sa kanya ang anumang kondisyon niya ngayon.

Kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam kong nasaktan siya sa sinabi ko. Because even I, am hurting because of what I've said.

Hindi na muling bumaling sa akin ang kanyang mga mata matapos kong iabot sa kanya ang remote. Ilang minuto na akong nakaupo sa sofa ngunit hindi man lang niya ako nagawang tapunan ng tingin.

"D-ash? Sorry--"

"I thought you'll cook?" Walang lingon na sambit niya sa akin.

Tila natauhan ako sa sinabi niya. I immediately gazed at the wall clock. My eyes widened as I saw where the hand of the clock is in.

Dali-dali akong bumalik sa kitchen at agad na pinatay ang apoy ng kalan, hindi na nagabalang tingnan pa ang hitsura ng niluluto.

Mariin akong napapikit at napangiwi nang makita ang steak. Humagod ang aking kamay pataas sa aking buhok at marahas na napasabunot.

"What happened?"

My shoulder jumped at that voice. Hinarap ko ang pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon at nakitang naroon na si Dasher malapit sa aking likuran.

He's holding the controller of his wheelchair, kinokontrol iyon patungo sa aking direksyon.

I cleared my throat as I forced a smile. "The dinner's ready. I'll prepare our--" Agad akong natigilan nang may matanto.

"What is it?" He questioned as he stopped in front of me. Bahagya ng mataas ang wheelchair niya kaysa kanina, maybe he adjusted its height.

"Are you hungry already?"

The frowned in his forehead deepened. "No. Is there a problem?"

"Can you wait for awhile? Ano..." I bit my lower lip. "Nakalimutan ko magluto ng kanin." Napangiwi ako matapos sambitin iyon. Why did I even forgot?

Our dinner started around eight because of that. I removed the chair at the end of the table as Dasher went towards it. He's now controlling his own wheelchair. Umupo ako sa kaliwa niya habang siya ay nasa kabisera.

I caught him looking at the steak with an unreadable expression. "I said I want medium rare," he muttered though that doesn't sounds like he's demanding.

Matapos ay bumaling sa aking ang kanyang mga mata.

"Huh? W-well done ang rinig ko, sorry. Medium rare ba?" Kunwaring ulit ko. Bahagya pa akong napangiwi sa sariling palusot.

He hummed as he took a piece of steak in his plate.

"Well done talaga ang rinig ko." Muling depensa ko para muling ipahiya ang sarili. Excuses! he won't believe that!

I caught the side of his lips rose a bit. Ngunit agad din iyong nawala kaya't hindi ako sigurado kung totoo ba ang aking nakita.

The dinner went well. Then I heard Dasher talking to someone over the phone. Sa tingin ko ay si Mirae dahil narinig ko na tinawag na 'Milady' ni Dasher ang kausap.

When I saw him controlling his wheelchair towards his room, I immediately went near him. Sumunod ako sa likuran niya papasok sa kanyang silid at nang makitang akmang lilipat siya sa kama ay agad ko siyang inalalayan.

Ngunit katulad kanina ay agad niyang hinawi ang aking kamay. "I don't need a help from you," malamig na sambit niya.

What's with him again? Kanina lang ay maayos kami sa hapag? Or that's only what I thought? At anong ibig niyang sabihin na hindi niya kailangan ng tulong mula sa akin?

"You need my help. Remember, I'm your nurse--"

Napatigil ako nang muli niyang sinubukang lumipat sa kama. I immediately held him to help him lift his body and he successfully landed on the bed.

Bahagya lang itong nasubsob dahil muli niyang pinalis ang aking kamay. "Fuck!" He cursed crisply.

Itinabi ko sa gilid niya ang wheelchair at pinanood siya umayos ng upo. Nahuli ko ang paggala ng tingin niya sa kabuuan ng kama at tila may hinahanap. "Where's my phone?" Tanong niya.

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay muli ko na namang narinig ang mura niya. "Damn it!" Tila naalala na kung saan naiwan ang phone.

Nagtama ang aming mga mata. Nahuli ko ang pagaalangan doon ngunit itinuloy pa rin niya ang sasabihin. "Can you..." He cleared his throat. "Can you get my phone? I guess it's in the living room."

I pressed my lips, stopping the side of my lips from raising. "I thought... you don't need a help from me?" Marahan at nananantyang tanong ko. Nakagat ko ang pangibabang labi nang muntik ng sumilay ang ngisi sa aking labi matapos makita ang ekspresyon niya.

"Then don't," mariing sambit nito bago isinandal sa headboard ng kama ang ulo at ipinikit ang mga mata.

I walked out of the room while slowly shaking my head, I didn't bother closing the door. Agad akong nagtungon sa living room para tingnan kung naroon nga ang phone niya. Matapos makita sa gilid ng sofa at dinampot ko iyon at muling bumalik sa silid ni Dasher.

Tatlong beses akong kumatok sa gilid ng pinto kahit bukas naman iyon. He remained stilled while his eyes were closed.

"Here's your phone. I was just kidding awhile ago." I placed his phone on the bed, just beside him.

Hindi siya gumalaw ngunit alam kong gising pa siya. He's seating while resting his head on the headboard. Hindi naman siguro siya makakatulog sa ganoong posisyon.

"Just call me if you need something," pinal na sambit ko nang hindi siya umimik.

Bumalik ako sa sala at inabot ang remote upang humanap ng movie. I stopped when nothing caught my attention. Blanko akong napatitig sa kawalan habang lumilipad ang aking isip.

I sighed as I remember Dasher's cold treatment on me. I have no idea why he's like that. Can't he remember me? I mean, I'm sure he saw my face when he saved me. And he did it twice. Hindi man niya ako natatandaan noong una, siguro naman ay nitong pangalawa? In those times that he saved me, he never got a chance to asked my name.

Nakikilala niya ba 'ko? Did he know who my parents are? Pero imposible iyon.

I grew up in States with my mother. While my father and sister stayed here in the Philippines. Noong una ay hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi kami magkakasama sa iisang bahay.

I thought they're separated but Dad himself told me that they aren't. He said he loves Mommy so much and there's no way they'll separate. Despite the issues I'm hearing about him having an affair, I believe he really loves Mommy. Hindi ko alam kung totoo na may ibang babae siya o ano dahil hindi ko rin naman iyon itinanong. I trust him. Despite his wrong doings, I trust him because he's my dad.

After knowing his underground business, I understand why I need to grew up in States. Daddy said he did it so he can protect and hide me from his enemies, ganoon din si Mommy na gusto ring protektahan ni Dad. Minsan ko ring tinanong si Dad kung bakit hindi namin kasama si Ate sa States kung gusto niya pala kaming protektahan, bakit kami lang ni Mommy ang lalayo kung ganoon? He answered that he needs to train Ate.

Now, I'm here. Ang plano ko lang sa pag-uwi sa Pilipinas ay ang kumbinsihin sila Dad na itigil ang kung anumang illegal na gawain. But after what my Dad did to Dasher? The one who saved me twice, even the second is indirect, I can't just let it.

A deep, heavy sighed escaped from my lips. When I was a kid, I don't understand why I have to be born in a family where we can't be together. But I now I did. Dad's name can put all of us in danger. It was actually our family name.

I tried to remember the name that I used to apply and become Dasher's nurse. Maureen Lazaro, somehow its still a part of my name.

My middle name is Lazaro because of my mother's surname but when she married my father, she became a Rozelli.

The next day, I woke up after hearing someone softly calling my name. Naalimpungatan ako at napabangon sa sofa. The blanket covering my body slipped as I rose.

Wala sa sariling napahawak ako sa aking sentido.

"Bakit dito ka natulog?"

Agad akong napabalikwas at namimilog ang mga matang binalingan ang nagsalita. My lips parted as I saw Dasher seating on his wheelchair.

"P-paano ka--"

Tumalim ang mga mata niya pumirmi ang mga labi. Hindi man natapos ang aking tanong ay para bang alam na niya kung ano iyon.

"I told you I'm not that useless."

"I know you're not, pero--" I sighed. Of course he forced hisself just to get into his wheelchair. Malaki ang posibilidad na nahulog siya sa kama sa pagpupumilit na sumakay sa wheelchair. "You don't have to hurt yourself just too..." I trailed off as I blinked. "Sana tinawag mo na lang ako. You can shout to call name. Nandito lang naman ako."

Iritado itong tumingin sa akin. Now, he's irritated again. "I'm asking why are you here? Didn't Mirae told you to use one room upstairs?"

I bit my lower lip. Mirae did. There were three rooms upstairs. Ganoon din naman dito, kaya lang ang silid lang ni Dasher ang naipalilis dito sa ibaba sa pagaakalang sa itaas ang kukunin kong silid. I'm too tired to clean a room, kaya't dito na lang ako natulog sa sofa.

"How can you call me when I'm upstairs? If you need my help, mahihirapan ka pang tawagin ako kung sa itaas ako matutulog."

Napahilot ito sa sentido habang mariing napapikit. "I'll call Mirae to send someone to clean the room beside mine."

Agad ko siyang inilingan. "No need, I'll clean it myself later."

He tsked once again. "Fix yourself if you don't want my therapist to see you in that state. He's on his way here with another nurse."

I blinked as I stared at him. "I thought you don't need help. W-why do you have another nurse?" Do they know I'm not a nurse? Kaya't kailangan pang magpadala ng iba o tatanggalin na ako?

He nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "Mirae insisted. I don't want to argue," sagot niya ako tinalikuran gamit ang wheelchair niya.

I looked down at my clothes but my eyes returned to him when I felt him stopped on his track. Hindi siya lumingon ngunit alam kong may sasabihin pa siya kaya't napatigil. "Don't clean the room, someone will come here and clean it for you. You're a nurse here, not a maid."

Napalunok ako sa lamig ng boses niya. I even felt shiver stroked my spine. When will I ever get used to his coldness? Though I know he's not like this before. I've seen a lot of articles about him as a doctor. He's a great and approachable doctor and not a cold one.

True to his words, the therapist and the nurse came after a few minutes. Good thing I'm already in my decent clothes.

"Dr. Coltridge Herrington, Dasher's therapist. But you can just call me Ridge." The doctor extended his hand on me after I shook the nurse's hand.

They're now in the doorway while the door is widely opened. Si Dasher ay tahimik sa aking tabi ay may malamig na ekspresyon pa rin sa mga mata.

I tried to remember what my name is, sinigurado na hindi magkakamali sa pangalang babanggitin. "Maureen Lazaro," I muttered as I shortly shook his hand. I offer them a smile and the nurse gladly returned it.

When I darted my eyes at the doctor, I caught a smirk in his face. "Miss Lazaro." Bahagyang tumango-tango ang doktor at nahuli ko ang pagsulyap niya kay Dasher nang banggitin iyon. I saw Dasher looking at the doctor too with a small furrow in his brow.

"Come inside," anyaya ko at hindi na binigyang pansin pa ang tinginan ng dalawa. Kahit ganoon ay matamang sinundan ng aking mga mata ang dalawang bagong dumating.

I'm sure Mirae won't just let ramdon people know Dasher is alive. They didn't even introduced theirselves to Dash but they acted like they know him for a long time already.

Habang pinapanood ang kilos ng dalawa ay tingin ko, tama ang aking natanto. Ganito gumalaw ang mga tauhan ni Daddy, kung tutuusin ay mas pulido pa nga ang galaw ng mga ito. I can't even hear a single sound as they walk.

__________