I woke up for the second time at the same day. Minulat ko ang aking mga mata at natantong malambot na ang yakap ng aking mga bisig. My eyes darted at the pillow I'm hugging. Kinunotan ko iyon ng noo at natantong iyon ang unan na gamit ni Dasher kagabi.

I roamed my eyes around the place and saw no one in here except for me.

Dumako ang aking tingin sa bedside table. Napaupo ako nang makita ang pamilyar na phone roon. I extended my hand and grabbed the phone. Matapos buksan at tumambad sa akin ang wallpaper ay noon ko nakumpirmang akin nga ito.

I glanced at the bedside table and saw handwritten note in a small paper. Katabi iyon ng pinagkuhanan ko ng phone. Inabot ko iyon at matamang binasa.

Good afternoon!

I'm just around the headquarters, I'll be back in a few while. You can go out of the room if you want, I've already talk to our members, they won't harm you.

You can also use my bathroom to clean up. There's unused necessities in there, you can have them.

I know you're hungry already, just find a member ang ask where the kitchen is. There's food in there. Eat well, Calla!

Anyway, there's your phone. I forgot to give it last day.

I was nibbling my lower lip while reading his note or perhaps his letter. I stared at his handwriting. Who would have thought that he's a doctor? This looks more like a handwriting if an architect! Malinis! No erasures and the sizes of the letters were uniformed.

Naiiling kong ibinalik ang note sa table kasama ang aking phone. Dumiretso ako sa bathroom at sinimulang linisin ang sarili. I found an unused toothbrush and took it to clean my mouth.

Ilang minuto akong nasa bathroom bago tuluyang nagpasyang lumabas.

I picked up my phone and brought it with me as I went out of Dasher's room.

I slowly pulled the door closed behind me while roaming my eyes around the place.

Sa laki at dami ng pasilyo sa headquarters ay hindi ko na alam kung saan unang maghahanap ng kitchen. Or it'll be better if si Dasher ang mahanap ko.

I'll be more comfortable to eat if it's him I'm with. I mean, I'm an outsider here. I'm uncomfortable to just move around like I'm very much welcome here when in fact, I'm their enemy's daughter.

Muli kong iginala ang tingin sa kabuuan ng paligid at natantong nasa kanang bahagi ako ng headquarters. Or I don't know really. And daming lusutan ng lugar na ito at talagang maliligaw ako lalo na at hindi ko naman kabisado.

I decided to walk and let it be. Kung saan ako dalhin ng aking mga paa ay doon ako nagtutungo. Sa dami ng tauhang narito ngayon, wala kahit isa ang nilapitan ko upang magtanong.

I was chanting inside my head to find Dasher or Ridge as I continued walking straight while my head's turning at everywhere. Nagbabaka sakaling makita si Dasher.

But a loud explosion made me stop on my track. Napalingon ako sa gawi ng pinanggalingan noon, ngunit sa laki ng lugar ay bigo akong makita.

Dad immediately came in my mind as I heard the explosion. I don't want to conclude things but is he the one behind this?

He promised me last day, no more gunshots but if this is his doings, does that means his promise lasts for a day only?

Sinundan pa iyon ng isang pagsabog. Bahagya akong napaatras at napaupo sa sahig dahil sa lakas noon. At sa pagkakataong ito ay kitang kita ko iyon lalo na at sa aking harapan naganap ang pangalawang pagsabog.

I realized that this is an entrance. But this isn't the one we used when I entered the headquarters with Ridge.

Itinukod ko ang mga kamay sa aking likuran. I immediately moved my hands and body backwards as the sound of gunshots dominated the whole place. The explosion made the secured entrance opened in a forceful way.

Dahilan para makapasok ang sinumang nagpasabog noon. And I'm sure they're not a part of Cosmos. Muli akong napaatras at pinilit ang sarili na mapatayo. Kasabay noon ang pagdating ng tauhan ng Cosmos mula sa aking likuran.

They run towards the entrance and shoot everyone who's trying to enter their headquarters.

Nahagip ng aking mga mata ang bulto ni Creed at nahanap niya ang aking mga mata. He mouthed something while gesturing me to go back.

Mabilis lang iyon dahil agad na natuon ang pansin niya sa pakikipagpalitan ng putok ng baril sa mga nagtangkang pumasok.

My shoulders were jumping every time I'll hear gunshots near me. My steps were synchronized as I walked away from the entrance.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga matapos makalayo roon. Hindi nauubos ang mga tauhan ng Cosmos na aking nakakasalubong patungo sa direksyong pilit kong nilalayuan.

Iginala ko ang tingin sa paligid. Some were running towards a different direction. At natanto kong ang tinutungong direksyon noon ay ang pinanggalingan ng naunang pagsabog.
Mas marami ang tauhang patungo roon.

As I stared at the whole place, I can say its a bit crowded. Lalo na ngayon at naglabasan ang mga tauhan ng Cosmos mula sa mga silid. Everyone I see's holding their own gun and seems ready to retaliate.

Agad kong inalala kung saan ang silid ni Dasher. I turned my head from everywhere. While my heart's beating faster than the usual because of what's happening.

Nasa ganoon akong posisyon nang may humuli sa aking palapulsuhan. Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata. I was about to shout to get an attention when I saw who's holding my wrist.

I blinked.

Dasher heaved a deep sigh. Tila maluwag siyang nakahinga sa kung anumang mabigat na iniisip. "Thank God, you're safe."

I caught his chest heaving up and down like he run around their headquarters. He's still holding his cane, tightly gripping it like he's getting strength in there. Even though he can stand without it.

His hair is now longer than his usual clean cut. At tila sinadya niyang guluhin iyon. It is now disheveled. Though that doesn't make him looks rugged. It actually suits him but this is not him, usually.

"What's happening?" tanong ko nang hindi na nakatiis.

"Let's go back in my room. You'll be safe there." He didn't let me answer and just pulled me as he walked with his cane. Na para bang kapag nagtagal pa ako ng ilang minuto sa aking kinatatayuan ay tatamaan ako ng ligaw na bala ng baril. Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang magpatianod sa kanya.

Ngunit nasisiguro ko na wala namang tatama rito sa akin. Malayo na kami sa kahit anong entrance. Siguro ay iniisip niya na baka may makalusot na kalaban sa mga tauhan nila at bigla na lamang kaming barilin. Wala kaming laban dahil wala siyang dalang baril.

Though that's quite impossible. Sa dami ng tauhan ng Cosmos na naririto, imposibleng may makalusot sa mga nagtatangkang pumasok.

Mabilis ang bawat hakbang ng mga paa niya habang itinutukod pa rin ang cane. Hindi ko na nasundan ang mga dinaanan namin. The next thing I know, we're already standing at the door of his room.

Agad niyang binuksan ang pinto at pinauna akong pumasok doon. He immediately shut and locked the door closed the moment he entered.

The loud gunshots vanished in a blink of an eye. Ngunit alam kong dahil nasa loob ng silid ni Dasher kaya't nawala ang tunog ng putok ng mga baril. But I know, it didn't actually stop.

Mariin siyang napapikit. I watched him clenched his jaw as I gave him time and let him calm hisself. And when he looked at me, a few minutes after we arrived at his room, I immediately let out the weaved words wanting so bad to get out of my mind.

"Who are they? Ta-tauhan ba ni Dad?" nananantyang tanong ko.

He shook his head. Iginiya niya ako palapit sa couch. Umupo ako roon habang itinabi ko sa akin ang aking phone.

"Its possible that they're from Rozelli but also possible that they're not. I really can't confirm this one right now," sagot niya habang ibinagsak ang katawan sa aking tabi. Though he still allotted enough distance for our privacy.

I nodded as my gaze darted at my phone. Dahilan para sundan niya ang tinitignan ng aking mga mata.

"About your phone... I forgot to give it last day."

"Naiwan ko 'to..." Hindi ko lang alam kung saan ko ito naiwan. But I'm sure, I left this inside Creed's villa.

"Yeah, I figured you'll need that."

Tumango ako at tipid siyang nginitian. "Thank you."

"I didn't got any chance to get all your things, sorry. Let's just get it when..." he trailed off. "We go back. If you want. Or if you don't, I can just have it delivered."

My eyes widened a fraction for a split second. "We'll go back to the villa?"

He pressed his lips together and smiled. "Only if you want."

I shifted my body to fully faced him. My right leg bended as I rested it on the couch. "But that is Creed's villa."

"We can visit." He shrugged. "Or I can talk to him and might buy it if he's up for selling it."

I chew my bottom lip. How did we even end up talking about buying a villa when there's bombing and firing of guns all over the place just a few meters away his room?

"Sure." I bobbed my head. "When everything's alright already, let's go visit the villa."

"About that, we'll go the penthouse later. I can't stay here for another day and risk it."

"You're safe here, I think." Narito ang karamihan sa tauhan nila. So basically, no one can hurt him here. Narito rin sila Mirae kaya't alam kong hindi siya malalapitan ng kung sino mang gustong pumatay sa kanya o gawan siya ng masama.

"I'm safe at the penthouse too. And you can roam around there without feeling uncomfortable."

I nibbled my lower lip. "I'm... comfortable here," nananantyang sambit ko. Though I'm really uncomfortable... a bit.

I inwardly sighed. I don't want him to risk his safety just because he wants me to move comfortably. Besides, I can handle. I have him beside me, so I can.

His eyes narrowed at me as he slowly shook his head. "I'm not convinced." Sumilay ang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi.

"But--" Napahinto ako nang biglang nag-ingay ang phone sa aking tabi. My eyes immediately went down on it. Nahuli ko rin ang pagbaba ng tingin ni Dasher doon.

I glanced at him when I saw who's calling. Nang muling nagtama ang aming mga mata ay noon ko kinuha ng aking phone upang sagutin ang tawag ni Daddy.

Hindi na ako tumayo upang lumayo pa. I immediately answer the call while seating beside him.

"Dad--"

"What the fuck are you even thinking! Why did you go with them?" bungad sa akin ni Daddy na nakapagpapitlag sa akin.

"Dad, I'm sorry--" My words became muffled when he cursed. Bahagya akong napangiwi sa sunod-sunod na mura niya.

I bit my lower lip. He must be really mad this time. Kahit minsan ay hindi niya ako kinausap ng pasigaw. Ngayon lang.

I blinked and adverted my gaze from Dasher.

"D-daddy, are you mad at me?" My voice trembled.

Noon ko narinig na tumahimik ang kabilang linya. I heard his violent exhales and sighs, tila ikinakalma ang sarili.

"How are you? Are you alright? What did they do? Did they harm you?" he asked instead. This time in a bit calm voice. "Why didn't you come with me earlier? If you're scared of them, I'm there already. No one will hurt you."

"I'm safe, Dad. Wala silang... ginawang masama sa'kin. You don't have to worry--"

"Really?" Tila hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. "You don't have to lie--"

"I'm not lying, Dad," I cutted his words. Seems like he can't believe it. I can't too.

But I know I'm still safe because of Dasher. Kung... wala si Dasher, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin sa akin ni Mirae.

"Why did you leave instead of going home with me?"

Inignora ko ang tanong niya. "Are you mad at me?" I asked again because he didn't answer the first time. "I'm really sorry, Dad."

I heard him heaved a deep sigh. "You think I can be mad at you? You are my only--" he trailed off for a while and cleared his throat. "I just want you safe. I'm sorry for raising my voice."

I pursed. "You're just worried?"

"Yeah, I'm not mad." He hummed. "I'm asking you why did you choose to go with Cosmos instead of going home?"

"How are you and Mommy? Tell her too I'm safe, Daddy."

"I'm asking--" he stopped, maybe when he finally realized I'm avoiding his question. "God! You will be the death of me, Maureanne!"

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