I frowned and pursed my lips when I didn't see Dasher at any part of the penthouse. Napuntahan ko na lahat ng parte nito ngunit wala siya. Well, except to other's rooms. Hindi ko pinasok ang ibang kwarto maliban sa kay Dasher. Sa baba ko siya hinanap, sa living room and now at the dining room and kitchen.

Pabalik na sana ako sa silid ni Dasher nang makita ang hindi pamilyar na babaeng pababa ng hagdan. Her sharp eyes immediately found mine.

I caught her glancing from where I came before a crease formed in between her brows.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" she asked as her feet left the stairs. I watched her hand slowly slide away from the railings.

"I was just looking for D-Dasher. I won't do anything," depensa ko kahit hindi rin naman siya pamilyar sa akin. At hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang ginagawa niya rito. This is Cosmos' penthouse exclusive for the bosses. Sa pagkakaalala ko, nabanggit sa akin ni Dasher ang mga namumuno sa Cosmos. I knew and met them already. But this woman, I'm sure she's not one of them.

But my forehead stretched when I realized, she might be Archer's girlfriend. I remember they arrived earlier with Mirae and the Underbosses of Cosmos. They directly went here after rescuing the son of Archer's girlfriend, as per Dasher.

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw who entered the penthouse. Dasher stood with his cane as his eyes fixed on the woman in front of me.

"Auriese." He nodded to acknowledge her presence.

Agad naman iyon lumipat sa aking gawi. "Calla," tawag niya.

"Dash." It was almost a whisper.

"You know her?" tanong ng babaeng kaharap ko.

Dasher's lips tugged into a smile. "Yes, I know her. Don't worry."

She turned to me with her apologetic eyes. "Sorry, I thought..."

The side of my lips stretched. "Naiintindihan ko."

Agad naman niyang sinuklian ang aking ngiti. She extended her hand and I knew what she wants already. "I'm Auriese."

"Camilla," I muttered as I accepted her hand for a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Auriese." I gently shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you too," sambit niya.

But then my eyes immediately darted at Dasher who's now walking near us. He stopped beside me and the corner of his lips quickly rose.

"I'll go ahead, by the way," paalam ni Auriese at akmang tatalikod na ngunit narinig ko ang pagpigil ni Dasher.

"Wait, where are you going? I mean, alam ba ni Archer na aalis ka? Bakit hindi ka pahatid?"

I watched her hummed while her lower and upper lips were pressed unto each other. "Hmm. He's with Rye and I can drive."

Ilang segundong nakatitig si Dasher kay Auriese na tila may iniisip bago marahang tumango. "If you don't mind..." he trailed off. Tila tinatantya ang pa sasabihin.

"What is it?" Auriese asked, allowing him to continue.

"Rye..." he whispered.

And the next words that came out of his mouth made my lips part.

"He's Archer's son, right?"

Ngunit agad din naman akong napakurap at naitikom ang bibig.

I watched Auriese slowly nibbled her lower lip as she calmly nodded her head. Kasabay noon ang bahagyang pagbuka ng mga labi ni Dasher.

Archer's girlfriend left us in silence. Mukhang hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Dasher sa kinumpirma ni Auriese.

His chuckle roared at the penthouse after a while. Naiiling ngunit bakas ang tuwa para sa kaibigan.

I was busy watching his reaction but it was interrupted when I felt his hand crawling towards my back. "I went down at my unit."

"Do you wanna go there?" pahabol niya.

Nilingon ko siya at napalabi. "Would you be safe there? The others still think you're dead and someone might..."

"Nah, don't worry. I'll be safe there. Come on, let's go?" Agad na dumulas ang kamay niya paalis sa aking likuran at inilahad iyon sa akin.

I looked at his hand while my lips automatically tugged for a smile when after accepting his hand.

Naglapat ang aming mga kamay at agad akong natulos sa kinatatayuan nang maramdaman ang reaksyon ng aking buong katawan.

Like I heard a sound of a music with fast beat. Like suddenly there's a party in my insides. And my heart is the DJ banging his head in the air. Shit.

Napakurap ako at nagpadala sa mga hakbang ni Dasher. Wala ako sa sarili hanggang sa makarating kami sa kanyang unit na ilang palapag lang ang pagitan mula sa penthouse ng Cosmos.

Nang makapasok kami sa condo niya ay noon lamang nagbitaw ang aming mga kamay.

My eyes automatically roamed around his unit. Neural colors are all around the place. Tila wala kahit isang dumi o alikabok ang condo niya.

He's away for a few months but this looks clean. Siguro, naglinis siya kaninang bumaba siya at nagtungo rito. But still, it looks like the furnitures were new even though they're not. Nakadagdag pa roon ang maaliwalas na kulay ng lugar.

A long beige couch is in the middle like the typical condo unit. Beside it, almost facing the door is a beige one seater sofa. Isang modern lamp ang pumapagitna sa dalawang couch na naroon. A wall mounted television is in front of the couch, separating his living room and the way towards I think, the rooms? Habang sa likod naman ng couch ay ang patungo sa dining room at kitchen.

The side of my lips lifted in awe as I really can't see random color around his place. Everything here is in neutral.

"Feel free to do anything that pleases you."

I nodded but I didn't moved from where I am standing.

He stared at me, maybe waiting for me to moved but I just stared back. His eyes quickly closed for a consecutive blink and chuckled. "Alright, let me tour you first."

Akmang lalakad siya ngunit agad ring napahinto nang matantong wala akong balak gumalaw sa aking kinatatayuan.

I actually remember something, reason why I'm finding him earlier. I badly want to ask him. "Did Daddy kidnapped the kid?" I asked, pertaining to Auriese's son who happened to be Attorney's son too.

Mabagal siyang napakurap bago matamang umiling. "No. It was actually a woman named Salvia."

I released a sigh after hearing it.

"But some of your father's men were there. Though according to Archer, Rozelli doesn't have anything to do with it except that he made that woman lend his men," he continued and I wince at the mention of Dad's rumored mistress.

That's just a rumor though. I trust my father and I know him. I know how much he loves Mommy. And I can't measure the extent of the things he'll do and sacrifice for Mom.

I don't know what's with Dad at ano ang gusto niyang palabasin dahil hinahayaan niya ang Salvia na iyon sa tabi niya.

But one thing is for sure, he's not cheating on Mom and Mommy knew Salvia's existence.

Maybe Dad's implying that he has another woman, but there's no one actually. Just Mommy.

"I forgot to apologize too," bulong ko at sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata.

His brows puckered a bit as he tilted his head. "What for?"

When Daddy called, I asked him about what happened on Cosmos' headquarters. And he admitted that its him who did it, not knowing that I put him in loudspeak and Dasher heard him.

"For what happened to your headquarters." Ako ang nahihiya sa mga ginagawa ni Daddy. I mean I'm tired of stopping him. Wala namang nangyayari at hindi siya nakikinig. But the Cosmos didn't do anything to him!

Wanting so bad to ask Dasher to spare my father's life is what's bothering my mind. But how can I do that when he won't stop pestering Cosmos?

"That's not your fault," agaran at kunot noong sambit niya. "According to Mirae, some corpse at our headquarters weren't a member of your family's organization. They're still checking it."

"But dad admit it already."

"Yeah," he nodded. "But we have to make sure if its really just Rozelli or there's other organization behind this."

I heaved a deep sigh and nibbled my lower lip.

He shifted his weight and angled his head to see me clearly. His scrutinizing eyes bore unto me. Matapos ay pirmi ang mga labi siyang ngumiti. "Let's seat down..." he said with a brief tilt of his head towards the couch. "And tell me what's bothering you, Calla," he continued.

My mouth parted a bit. I was planning to deny and shrug the thoughts off when he smiled, encouraging me to tell him.

Maybe... I'm really selfish. Because a part of me's urging my whole being to tell him what I want.

The next thing I know, we're now seating on his long couch but we both shifted our body to face each other.

I didn't speak so he did.

"Alright. Think about it and decide if you want to tell me or not. I always respect your decision, you know that. I just want you to know that you can tell me everything and I'll always listen, Calla. If I can do something about it, I'll do it. I'll give it to you, Calla. I want you to know how I love you, so much."

Napalabi ako at mapait na mapangiti. I swallowed as I felt my throat tightening.

I chew my bottom lip as I avoided his gaze when I felt tears at the side of my eyes. I fixed my gaze on my hands while fidgeting my fingers. Tila nahigit ko ang aking hininga kasabay ng pagwawala ng aking dibdib.

He just told me he loves me. Dasher... loves me. He's always giving me a choice. He always seeks for my comfort. He gives everything I want.

But right now, I realized I can't ask him what I have in mind. I don't want to.

As much as I want my father to live more with us, I'm returning Dasher the favor.

He... loves me. And if I ask him not to kill my father, he'll probably have a hard time saying no.

And how can I ask that when I know they badly wants to kill dad, especially Mirae.

I just can't because it feels like asking it would be the same with asking him choose between me and Cosmos. And I don't want to put him in that situation.

Its not that I'm not confident he'll choose me but because I don't want to him to give something up in return of gaining something.

I'll give him a chance to have both. I don't want be selfish and make him choose.

Right now... I realized that I love Dasher. It wasn't just an infatuation or what. It is something strong I'm willing to conquer.

Because if I don't love him, I'll probably be selfish and just think about my father. I'll ask him to spare his life and I won't care on what he'll feel about that.

Ngunit tila pinipiga ang aking dibdib sa tuwing iisipin na ilalagay ko siya sa ganoong sitwasyon. I can't.

I love my father. I love Dasher. I love them both but in a different kind of way. Katulad ng ang pagmamahal niya sa akin ay iba kung paano niya pinahahalagahan ang Cosmos. Reason why I can't compare their intensity.

Reason why I can't choose between the two of them. I won't and Dasher won't too. There's probably other solution to it aside from asking Dasher not to kill my father.

"I was just... thinking about the clients and my on-going projects." I forced the side of my lips to tugged for a smile to convince him more. Hindi naman ako nahirapan doon. "Nothing more. You don't have to worry about me."

He licked his lower lip and intently stared at me. Tila inaanalisa kung totoo ang aking sinasabi o nagdadahilan lamang ako.

"If I have a problem that I can't handle or I know you can help, I'll tell you," dugtong ko upang mas lalo siyang makumbinsi. I quickly glanced at my fingers.

He heaved a deep sighed and gladly returned my smile. "Do you want to go home?" Dasher asked that made me hastily turned my head towards him.

Mulagat ang aking mga mata at matamang napakurao. "C-can I?"

He loudly smiled at my reaction. "You can. Let me drive you home later."

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