A knock on Dasher's door made me halt from where I am standing. Our heads turned towards it. Dasher glanced at me before striding his feet near his cane. He grabbed it as he headed towards the door.

Ngunit bago niya pa buksan ang pinto ay kusa na iyong binuksan ng naghihintay sa labas.

I immediately caught Mirae's built. Dash took a step back as he widely opened his door.

Doon ko nakita si Vynz sa likuran ni Mirae, tila pinipigilan ang asawa sa kung ano mang balak gawin. She found my eyes and raised her brow on me before turning to Dasher.

"You sure about this?" she asked.

Alam ko kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. We're already preparing to leave and we'll go to the penthouse. Hindi mahirap na nakarating ang balitang iyon kay Mirae.

After what happened to their headquarters, Dasher went out to check for his wounded comrades. Underbosses at si Mirae lang ang sakop niya dahil may mga doktor din na naka-assigned para sa ibang myembro. Ganun pa man, ilang oras din ang itinagal noon na naiintindihan ko naman.

Few minutes after Dasher left, someone knock in his room. I assumed she's a member as she gave me foods. Utos daw ni Dasher. Then a call from him came informing me that the food is safe and he really asked someone to give me something to eat.

When he came back, he told me we're leaving. Half an hour after, we're about to leave when Vynz and Mirae came. Mirae seems not in her usual self. I mean, she looked like she just woke up. Bakas din ang kawalan ng lakas sa kanyang mukha. Though that didn't stop her to stood straight and roll her eyes every time her gaze would land on me. While Vynz's just standing behind Mirae as his hands are now trusted in his pockets.

"I told you already, I'm sure about this." Napaatras si Dasher at binitawan ang pinto. Vynz silently closed the door behind him. Habang ako ay napatayo sa likuran ni Dasher.

"Alright. But why did I heard that this..." she quickly glanced at me. "Woman's coming with you?"

Dasher nodded his head. "She's still my nurse, Milady."

"I'll hire a nurse for you. A real one," she stated.

"She's coming--"

"But I have plans for her!" A flicker of irritation and impatience shone in her eyes. "That's why I hired her. If its true that Rozelli cared for his daughter, then this will work!" Her teeth clenched angrily around her words.

Dasher shook his head and I caught how Mirae's eyes widened in fury. "Camilla's coming with me at the penthouse." Nahimigan ko ang pinalidad sa mga salita niya.

Mirae's eyes leered on Dasher. "Don't you dare me on this one, Dash. Hindi pa tayo nakakasigurado. What if that woman's planning something to harm you? At dadalhin mo pa sa penthouse?"

"Mirae." Vynz finally spoke, stopping Mirae from what she's saying. "Just let him. Its his decision after all. Whatever will happen after that, it'll be his problem. Not yours." The firmness of Vynz's voice mentally echoed in my head.

"Yeah, listen to your husband. And don't worry about me, Milady. I'll be fine. I trust Calla."

I swallowed as my heart fluttered at the what I heard, that he trusts me. I nibbled my bottom lip and lowered my head.

I won't break your trust, Dasher.

Mirae hissed and rolled her eyes once more. "How about Tita Mella and Tito Jax? Would you pay them a visit?"

Agad na umiling si Dasher. "Not now. When I'm fully recovered already, I will. But... let's still see."

I immediately assumed that Mirae's pertaining to Dasher's parent. How would they even react when Dasher knocked on their door? Or do they know he's alive? I can imagine their mixed emotions when they didn't know he's alive and he suddenly showed up.

I was in deep thoughts when someone suddenly held my wrist. "We're going," he announced and it made me realized he's the one holding me, infront of Vynz and Mirae.

Nahuli ko ang pagbaba ng mga mata ni Mirae sa aming kamay at ang paniningkit ng kanyang mga mata. Tila napansin iyon ni Vynz. Reason why he encircled his hand on his wife's waist. Nakuha noon ang buong atensyon ni Mirae. She turned to her husband as Vynz leaned on her ear and whispered something.

I heard him whispering 'same situation' something on Mirae that I didn't fully understand. Vynz smirked as he kissed her temple before pulling away. But his hand remained on her waist. Mirae's eyes widened for a split second as I saw her cheeks turning red.

I don't know if that's because she's fuming mad because her friend's holding the wrist of their enemy's daughter or its because of what her husband whispered.

Dasher pulled my wrist. Akmang lalabas na ng kanyang silid ngunit muling nagsalita si Mirae. "Wait, I'll ask Ridge to drive you to the penthouse."

"I informed him already," sambit ni Dasher. Kasabay noon ang paglingon namin sa pinto ng silid ni Dasher dahil sa kumatok.

Agad namang binuksan iyon ni Vynz at bumungad sa amin si Ridge. He casually nodded at Vynz and Mirae, sinuklian naman iyon ng tango nang dalawa. Then he finally turned to our direction and smiled at me.

"You two ready?" he asked.

Dasher nodded and that's when everyone moved. I immediately grabbed his cap and sunglasses. Lumabas ng silid ang mag-asawa, ganoon din kami ni Dasher.

We started walking towards the garage near the entrance of the headquarters where we could exit too.

Lights automatically opened as we stepped in the garage. Sunod sunod na nabuhay ang ilaw hanggang sa dulo ng garahe. Hindi mabilang na kotse ang naroon. There were different brands and models of cars owned by members of Cosmos. Iba iba rin ang kulay ngunit nangingibabaw ang itim sa mga ito.

Ridge pressed his key fob. Kasabay noon ang pagtunog ng itim na kotse malapit sa aming kinatatayuan. It was different from the car he's using at the villa.

Vynz phone started ringing. Kaya naman nagpaalam ito at lumayo. Mirae faced us that put us in halt while Ridge went towards his car.

"We'll just fix things here. I'll visit the penthouse too with the others."

Dasher nodded. "Alright."

Muli pa akong binalingan ni Mirae para sa isang matalim na tingin.

Ridge's car moved and stopped in front of us.

"We're leaving," pinal na sambit ni Dasher na tinanguan ni Mirae. She walked near the driver's seat as Ridge opened the window beside him.

"Drive safely," paalala niya.

Dasher escorted me towards the back seat. I thought he'll seat at the passenger's seat but I was wrong. Dahil matapos kong pumasok sa back seat ay sumunod siya sa akin.

I caught Ridge angled the rear mirror and smirked at us using it. "Seat beside me, Mau-- Camilla," sambit niya habang nakangisi pa rin.

I didn't got a chance to react because Dasher immediately did for me. He tsked. "She'll stay here."

And Ridge's chuckle roared in the car. He started maneuvering his car. Pabiro pa siyang sumaludo kay Mirae bago muling sinara ang bintana sa tapat niya at pinasibad ang sasakyan.

Inabot ko kay Dasher ang cap at sunglasses na agad naman niyang tinanggap. Then eyes landed at his cane.

Sinalubong ko ang mga mata niya. Napunta sa akin ang kanyang atensyon dahil sa aking ginawa. I leaned closer in his ear to whisper. "You didn't tell them you can walk already?" I asked using the lowest voice possible so Coltridge won't hear it. Napansin ko lang dahil gamit niya pa rin iyon sa harap nila Mirae.

"After what happened today, I don't have time," he murmured back on my ear. "They'll be weirded out if they'll suddenly see me walking without my cane."

My mouth formed an 'o' shape. Sa muli kong pag-ayos ng upo ay nahagip ko ang pagpipigil ng ngiti ni Ridge mula sa rear mirror. Mataman ko na lamang iyong inilingan.

We arrived at the penthouse after a few while. Hindi ko na nasundan kung ilang minuto o inabot ba ng oras ang pagbyahe namin.

I don't have time to roam around or what because of my body feeling so heavy right now. I don't know if its because of what happened. I felt like it was a long day already.

I settled at Dasher's room because he instructed me to. I have no idea if there's other room aside from the room they're using but I didn't dare ask for it.

Someone called in his phone when we arrived. Dahilan para paunahin niya ako rito. Hinatid niya lamang ako sa tapat ng kanyang silid ngunit hindi siya pumasok dahil may kausap sa telepono.

I sat on his bed and caressed his white mattress. His king size bed feels like it was designed to entice. Tila hinihila ng kama niya ang aking katawan.

Sa huli ay pinili kong ihiga roon ang kalahating katawan. My torso lie on his bed sidewards while my legs remained on the floor.

Maramdaman ko ang pagbigat ng aking talukap at hindi ko na iyon binigyang-pansin. Slowly, darkness consumed my being as I became oblivious of everything.

Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo nang maramdaman ang tumatamang liwanag sa aking mga mata. Unti-unti kong binuksan ang mga mata at kunot noong binalingan ang pinanggalingan ng liwanag.

Ngunit agad akong napaiwas roon habang namimilog ang mga mata. I immediately pulled myself to sat on the bed.

At noon ko natantong nakahiga na ako sa gitna ng kama ni Dasher. Kaya't pakiramdam ko ay napakakomportable ng aking posisyon. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa silid. But I didn't see any signs of him.

Ngunit muli akong marahas na napalingon sa glass wall. Bukas ang kurtina kaya't pumapasok ang sinag ng araw mula roon.

"Shit," I cursed when I realized its morning again! Napahilot ako sa sentido. Mabigat talaga ang pakiramdam ko kahapon. Ngunit ngayon naman ay tila nasobrahan ako sa tulog.

I stayed in his room for a while, waiting for him if he'll come. Labing limang minuto ang lumipas at sapat na upang ayusin ang sarili ngunit wala pa rin siya, kaya napagpasyahan kong lumabas ng silid at doon siya hanapin.

I can't hear anything I as went towards their living room. Nagtungo ako sa dining room. The place is an open space, reason why I immediately saw Dasher in front of the countertop, wearing a dark blue apron. And as I went near it, a pleasant and familiar smell lingered in my nose.

Dasher immediately found my eyes. Agad na nabanat ang mga labi niya para sa malawak na ngiti. "Good morning," he greeted as he carried the plates towards the table.

"Morning." Sumunod ako sa kanya. Ipinatong ko ang aking mga braso sa sandalan ng chair sa kabisera.

"How was your sleep? Sinubukan kong gisingin ka kagabi. But... you remained sleeping so I just let you. I figured you're tired."

My mouth hung opened as I slowly nodded my head. "I... have a... good night, I think," putol putol na sambit ko.

Napatigil siya sa ginagawa, napatuwid ng tayo habang diretso ang mga mata sa aking gawi. "I slept at the couch," he stated.

It made my forehead creased as I pondered why did he suddenly told me that.

"Why didn't you sleep beside me?" I asked. But I immediately continued when my words sounded different. "I mean, its your bed. You can just..." I bit my bottom lip.

But he immediately shook his head as he hardly pressed his lips together. "I don't want to sleep beside you without your permission."

I blinked.

Hindi pa ako nakakabawi ay humila na siya ng upuan at iginiya sa akin iyon. "Let's eat. Kahapon pa walang laman ang tiyan mo."

I nodded and settled on the chair before thanking him. Umupo siya sa kabisera habang ako ay nasa kanan.

Kumuha siya ng kanin at idiniretso niya iyon sa aking pinggan. "Is that enough?" he asked.

And my mind was like... in a chaos.

"That's too much," I pouted.

"You're too slim," he mimicked what my lips did. Sumabay doon ang bahagyang pagkunot ng noo niya ngunit halatang nakikipagbiruan.

"But not too thin," bawi ko.

Sandali siyang napahinto at napangiti. "Yeah, and my arms were just enough to cuddle your slim body."

__________