I imaginatively felt like beads of sweat are forming at the side of my forehead, as the car whom Dasher borrowed from Ridge stopped in front of one of the modern mansion in this exclusive subdivision.

Sa lakas ng pagkabog ng aking dibdib ay tila blangko ang aking utak. At kung hindi pa tawagin ni Dasher ang aking pangalan ay hindi ako matitinag.

I saw him now standing beside me, without the support of his cane this time. Bukas na ang pinto sa aking gawi at hinihintay na niya akong bumaba.

My hands were cold as I glanced at the mansion once more before tightly shutting my eyes off.

Dasher decided to show up to his parents. He asked if we could go to their mansion before driving me back to my condo.

I don't think I'm needed right now but he insisted that I should go with him. Tila nahigit ko ang hininga nang ilang minuto, and I almost lost my consciousness when he told me he wants his parents to meet me.

Though, he let me decide in the end. He gave me a chance to decline but I didn't. Something in my insides were pushing me to this.

I silently went out of the car while eyeing the two storey mansion. Kasabay noon ang paglapat ng aking kamay sa braso ni Dasher.

He shut the door closed. Kinuha niya ang aking kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang braso.

"Your hands were cold," he concluded. "Don't be nervous, Calla. I'm here." His grip on my hand tightened and it was enough to assure me, but not to calm me down.

Dahilan kaya't hinarap ko siya habang malalim na humahanap ng hangin sa aking kalooban.

"You don't have to worry about my parents." The corner of his lips rose.

"What would you tell them if they ask..." I trailed off.

"I'll tell them you're the woman I love," walang pagaalinlanggang sambit niya, diretso sa akin ang mga mata.

Parang nakadagdag iyon ng pagwawala ng aking dibdib at hindi nakatulong sa pakay kong ikalma ang sarili.

"T-they will know that I'm a Rozelli." Sa wakas ay nasabi ko na ang higit na ikinababahala. The heavy thing in my insides lifted a bit.

Dasher would definitely introduce me and of course they'll know who my father is.

I really don't think this would be a good thing. I mean I don't know if his parents knew he's alive or what. Then suddenly here he is, he'll show up with their enemy's daughter like nothing happened.

Though Dasher seems confident on this one so I trust him.

"You're important to me," he slowly muttered, emphasizing every word. Like it was enough for his parents to approve of me. "I know they'll understand. But if they don't, it won't change a thing. It won't change what I'm feeling for you." Isang matamis na ngiti pa ang iginawad niya sa akin upang pagaanin ang aking pakiramdam.

I drew a breath.

And it's enough. Enough for me to gain all the courage that I needed to face his parents. But I'll surely respect their reaction and everything they'll say about me.

Because I understand. I may not experience it yet but I know how it feels like to witnessed your own son's death.

Ito 'yung isa sa mga bagay na hindi ko kailangan maranasan pa bago ko malaman kung ano ang magiging pakiramdam. Because its obvious that it hurts.

Surely his parents are enraged at my father. At kung mapagbubuntungan man ako ng galit nila ngayon, maluwag ko iyong tatanggapin.

"Let's go?" His hand gently glided at my back.

I bobbed my head for a nod and we started walking towards the entrance of their mansion that is three steps elevated from the ground.

Ang aming mga paa ay nakaapak sa unang palapag ng itim at marmol na hagdan nang may tumulak sa pinto ng kanilang mansyon.

I immediately saw a man in his dress shirt who seems an older version of Dasher, going out of the mansion. Maingat na nakasampay sa braso ng lalaki ang isang lab coat habang ang atensyon ay wala sa paglabas ng mansyon, kung hindi nasa babaeng kausap nito.

I recognized the woman in her late forties. Its Dasher's mother. The man kissed the woman's forehead and gave her a smile that's very familiar.

I've seen that smile for a couple of times already. Ganoong ngiti ang palaging ibinibigay sa akin ni Dasher.

I heard Dasher's father saying his goodbye and that's when the woman's eyes caught us.

Natigilan ito habang diretso kay Dasher ang kanyang mga mata. The smile in her face vanished, reason why Dasher's father turned to the direction where she's looking at.

"J-Jax," the voice of Dasher's mother trembled as she called his husband without tearing her eyes from Dash. "Jax," muling untag ng ginang sa asawa na ang mga mata ay nasa amin din. "I think I'm hallucinating again."

Dasher's hand at my back stopped moving. "Mom, Dad."

He shifted on his position and glanced at me. Nakuha ko agad ang gusto niyang iparating kaya't agad akong tumango.

He took a step forward. "I'm alive, Mommy, Dad."

"Oh, God!" She shrieked and my eyes widened when I saw her eyes closed and losing her consciousness.

I gasped as she lost her balance when her eyes shut closed but his husband immediately caught her. "Mella!"

"Mom!" He immediately went towards his parents. Agad siyang yumuko upang kunin ang nahulog na lab coat ng ama dahil sa pagmamadaling saluhin ang kanyang ina. While I took a few hesitant steps towards them too.

His father carried his unconscious mother in his arms. He glanced at Dasher and blinked consecutively before walking to head back inside the mansion.

His father went inside the mansion with his wife in his arms without even saying anything. Like he's too stunned too but he's trying to suppress his emotions for his wife.

Agad akong nilingon ni Dasher. Nagtatanong ang mga matang tinignan ko siya. "Is she... okay?"

He stride towards my direction and held my back. Tumango siya at isang beses na humagod sa aking likod. "She will. She'll woke up in a few while."

He guided me inside their mansion as we followed his parents at the second floor and his father stopped in front of a closed door. Dasher moved to opened it for his parents.

A bedroom with the same theme with the whole mansion welcomed us. The lights automatically opened, making the whole room accessible from my sight even I'm still standing outside.

We stepped inside and as we walked, the only footsteps I can hear are surely coming from me.

I stopped ten steps away from the bed. Ganoon din si Dasher na nanatili sa aking tabi.

Jax, Dasher's father gently lie his wife on the bed. Ingat na ingat ang bawat hawak na tila isang babasagin ang ginang, na sa isang maling hawak ay masisira ito. He tucked the strands of Dasher's mother away from her face.

The side of my lips rose when he bended to reached his wife's forehead for a quick kiss.

The butterflies in my stomach rumbled and rambled as I felt familiarity on that gesture.

I caught Dasher looking at me from the side of my eyes. I fully turned to him and confirmed he's staring. Kaya naman nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi upang pigilan ang ngiti sa aking mga labi.

A ghost of teasing smile is evident at the corner of his lips. Gumapang ang kamay niya patungo sa aking baywang at marahan akong inilapit sa kanya. He leaned and I can feel his warm breath against my ear. "I love you," bulong niya bago mabilis na dumampi ang kanyang mga labi sa aking sentido, na kusang nakapagpapikit ng aking mga mata.

And that's what I'm saying familiar.

"Dasher, son."

My eyes opened when I heard his father's voice trembled a bit.

"Dad," he called as he approached his father with an open arms.

His father immediately met him halfway. Before they enveloped each other for a man hug, I caught how his father's eyes turned bloodshot.

"You're alive, son," he murmured while tapping Dasher's back. I can't help but watch them intently.

"I am, Dad. I am," Dasher whispered back before pulling away.

"I'm glad you are." Muli pang tinapik nang ama niya ang kanyang balikat habang bakas pa rin ang pamumula ng mga mata nito at ngayon ay bahagya ng kumikislap dahil sa luhang nagbabadyang dumaloy palabas.

"Didn't Mirae told you and mom?"

"Mirae?" His father confirmed and shook his head. "I don't know to your mom but Mirae haven't told me anything."

Sa pag-iling ng kanyang ulo ay nahagip ako ng kanyang mga mata. His eyes fixed at my direction before he narrowed and smirked. "Let's talk about what happened when your Mom's conscious already. May I know who's this lady you're with first?" tanong niya kay Dasher ngunit na sa akin ang mga mata.

With my lips pressed unto each other, I smiled. Dash moved near me. "Calla, this is Dr. Jax Alterio, my father." He introduced.

Malugod na ngumiti sa akin ang kanyang ama. "You can call me Tito, hija."

Alanganin akong tumango. "A-alright, Tito," I stammered because even with his permission, I felt like I have no rights to call him that.

"Dad, I want you to meet the reason of your son's tachycardia and cardiac arrest," he muttered and he didn't got a chance to continue when his father's smirk widened.

My cheeks flushed at him telling his Dad that I can make his heart beat fast and stop at the same time.

His father blinked while his lips were parted. Tila hindi makapaniwala sa sinasabi ng anak. "Did I heard it right? My son sounded so..." he cutted his own words and let Dasher continue. A teasing smile is still plastered in his lips.

"Yes, Dad." Dasher nodded. "I want you to meet this woman beside me, Camilla Rozelli."

"My pleasure to meet you, Camilla--" he stopped, maybe when he realized something. Nahuli ko kung paano unti unting nawala ang sigla sa kanyang mukha. Nabitin ang mga salita niya at mabilis na sumulyap kay Dasher bago muling bumaling sa akin.

"What's your surname again, hija?" he asked.

I nibbled my bottom lip when my chest heaved. "Rozelli po."

He slowly nodded. "By any chance..." he angled his head. "Do you know someone named Ysmael Rozelli?" tanong niya ngunit hindi agad ako nakasagot. Dasher stood beside me and reached for my hand. He squeezed it a bit, giving me a strength to answer.

"He's actually my father," I said using my casual but firm tone.

"Your father?" He repeated as he glanced at Dasher. And his eyes went down on his son's hand holding mine.

"She is Ysmael's daughter, Dad."

Muling napakurap ang ama niya. His mouth opened like he wants to tell something but nothing came out of it.

"Ysmael Rozelli, you mean?" Paglilinaw niya.

"Yes, Dad."

Slowly, his brows creased. "I thought Callista Rozelli is his only child?"

"No--"

"Why am I hearing those devils' name?"

Dasher's words were interrupted by a woman's low but firm voice. Our attention immediately went on his mother that's now awake.

"Mom!"

"Oh, God! Son, you're really alive!" She hastily went up like she didn't faint earlier. Agad siyang dinaluhan ng kanyang asawa upang alalayan.

But it seems she doesn't need anything and just want to face her son. Dahil hindi niya pinansin si Tito Jax at dire-diretsong naglakad patungo kay Dasher na nasa aking tabi.

"Son." Her eyes glimmered in tears as she lifted her hand to reached Dasher's face. He slightly tilted his head and feel his mother's caress.

"Its been a while, Mom," Dasher chuckled. "I missed you!" He enveloped his mother in his arms as they gently swayed.

I saw his mother grabbing Dasher's shirt from his back. Na tila ba kapag binitawan iyon ng ginang ay mawawala sa kanya ang kanyang anak.

And even I'm behind Dasher, I caught how his mother's shoulders moved as her whimpers mummed the other noises around us.

He kept slowly swaying with his mother as he tried to hushed her. I watched them and I wasn't oblivious when the corner of my lips tugged up for a smile. His Dad's quietly watching too.

It took them a few minutes before his mother pulled away. Dasher's arms draped over his mother's shoulder as they face me.

Agad na nagtama ang mata namin ng kanyang ina. I can't read the emotion in her face. Kaya't alanganin akong ngumiti.

Dasher cleared his throat before introducing us. "Calla, this my mom, Mella Alterio." He gave me a smile too, like he's telling everything's gonna be fine. 

"Mom, I want you to meet the woman I wanna spend the rest of my life with, Camilla Maurea--"

"Stop it, son."

Natigilan si Dasher nang putulin ng ina niya ang kanyang mga salita. Even I stop and stared at her. My heart can't help but hammered at her sharp eyes boring unto me.

"I heard it. She's Ysmael Rozelli's daughter." Sinabayan niya iyon ng dismadong pag-iling. "I can't accept a Rozelli inside our household," she declared that made my insides clenched.

She frowned at me before shaking her head again as she turned to Dasher.

"Mom--"

"Son, I know you're not serious about this. Dump Ysmael's daughter immediately and go take Aislinn back," his mother ruthlessly stated like I am not here in front of them, listening.

__________