It hurts. His mother's words stung but I understand.

"Mom, can we talk about this first?"

"About what?" Kunot noong sambit ng Mommy niya.

Dasher's now standing in between us. "Calla isn't--"

"Can't you remember what Ysmael did to you?" She once again cutted her son's words. "Because if you can't, I'll make you remember."

"Mom, wala akong nakakalimutan. I can remember everything he did."

I heard him heaved a deep sigh. I know this is hard for him. Dad did horrible things and he should be planning on how to retaliate. But because of me, I know he's hesitating. He can't just decide and now, here he is, debating with his mother.

"Then why did you bring that woman in our mansion? God, son! I can't..." she trailed off as her hand flew on her forehead and started massaging it.

"Mella," marahang tawag ni Tito Jax ngunit may bahagyang diin ang pagbigkas. "You're being rude. Why don't you give her a chance?"

Dasher's mother nonchalantly looked at his father. "Don't tell me you'll allow this?"

"There's nothing wrong--"

"Oh, God!"

"Camilla, hija." I turned to Tito Jax when he called me to get my attention.

"Do you want anything? Coffee? Juice?" he suddenly asked. "Let's get some."

Tipid akong tumango dahil alam kong gusto niya akong ialis muna sa silid na ito. I glanced at Dasher and saw him bobbed his head for a nod, assuring me everything's gonna be alright.

"Son, I'll borrow your woman for awhile. Talk to your Mom."

Suddenly, my memories from earlier was interrupted when from my side, Dasher's arms slowly wrapped around my body. His hands then stopped and overlapped at the right side of my waist.

"I'm sorry about my Mom," he whispered while we're still near the entrance of my condo. We're already in the inside but the door's still open.

After meeting his family, I told him to just drive me to the condo where Mom and I were living. I don't know if Mommy's here but I hope she's in States.

I didn't asked him to drive me to our mansion because Dad might be there. Ayokong magpang-abot pa sila ni Dasher. Dahil tulad ng nangyari kanina, alam kong hindi maganda ang kalalabasan noon.

Tito Jax escorted me out of the master's bedroom. He treated me casually, like I'm not Ysmael Rozelli's daughter. Though I can still feel a little bit hesitation in his eyes and I understand.

I appreciate him trying to be casual on me despite of the things my father did.

I felt Dasher's lips planting soft kisses on my temple while still hugging me from my side. "I'm sorry," he murmured as he leaned his forehead on my head.

"Its alright. I actually expected that reaction from her."

Hindi ako nagtanong sa mga bagay na napagusapan nila matapos kong lumabas ng silid kasama si Tito Jax. Wala rin naman siyang sinabi sa akin. He's just silent. And I'm not used to him being like that.

I tried to removed his hands on my waist but he's to firm, he didn't even budged. Kaya naman isiniksik ko na lamang ang sarili para makaharap sa kanya at maabot siya pabalik. I enveloped my hands around him and buried my face on his chest.

"I love you," I whispered. I don't want to lose my chance to tell those words to him. If he'll decide to... leave me like what his mother said, at least I told him what I feel.

The side of my eyes burned with tears. Lalo kong isinubsob ang mukha sa kanyang dibdib, takot ba makita niya ang aking mga luha.

At least he knew that I love him. Because I do... so much. And if he'll decide to go back to Aislinn, I surely can't take it but I can't do anything. I won't do anything about it. If that's his decision, then I'll let him.

And I'll probably just be with him... from afar.

I felt his body stiffened. His arms around me tightened. "What did you say?" he breathily asked.

He held my shoulders and pushed me a bit, just enough for him to have a glimpse of my eyes. "Hey, w-why are you crying?"

Tanong niya. That triggered my tears and I can't help but let them cascade down my cheeks. Mapait akong napangiti. I don't want this to be last time that I see his eyes concerned for me.

Agad siyang naalerto nang maguna-unahan ang aking mga luha. He shifted. Marahan niyang inabot ang aking mga pisngi. He cupped my cheeks and gently wiped the tears streaming down my face. "Hey, baby, why are you crying?"

I lifted my hands and let those rest in between his shoulders and his neck. My chest's heaving up and down, it took me awhile to finally answer him.

"W-would you go back to Aislinn?" I asked in between my calm sobs.

A furrow immediately formed in his forehead. "What? Why would I--" He stopped and low chuckles escaped from his lips. He made me faced him, agad niyang nahanap ang aking mga mata. He's still cupping my cheeks while my hands' lying in his shoulders. "Calla, I don't think I can leave you."

"I can't, baby. I can't." Marahan niya akong inilingan habang may bakas ng ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. "Why did you even thought of it, huh?"

I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes, trying to stop my tears from falling but they just won't. Like the waters in the waterfall. Like the moon changing its phase. Like the sun setting after a tiring day. No one can stop my tears who seems bound to roll down my cheeks.

"Y-you became silent after talking to your mom. I just thought..." I trailed off and didn't continue.

He blinked. "I was thinking about the things mom said to you and how can I make her understand us. Not about leaving you."

I lowered my head as I heard him. I want to force my tears to go back in my eyes. I don't know why I'm suddenly emotional.

"Now tell me, what did you just said earlier? I wanna hear it clearly." Sinilip niya ang aking mukha at muling sinubukang itaas iyon upang magtagpo ang aming mga mata.

I tilted my head, thinking what is he pertaining to. Nang matanto ay agad kong sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. His eyes glimmered as he looked at me. And there's something in it that no one can't explain.

"I love you," I whispered as I held his shoulders to lift myself and reached for his lips.

It supposed to be a quick kiss but I immediately felt his arm encircled in my waist, helping me lift my weigh. Sinuklian niya ako ng mararahang halik. Then he tilted his head. Habang ang isang kamay niya ay humagod sa aking batok upang palalimin ang aming halik.

I shut my eyes closed and clung my arms in his nape. His hand on my waist tightened, kasabay ng bahagyang pagrahas ng kanyang mga halik.

My lips would surely swell after this. I tried to moved the way he do and returned the intensity he's giving. My knees wobbled but his arm is tightly gripping my waist, preventing me to fall.

"Let's proceed to the plan the moment I got my daughter."

I immediately opened my eyes when I heard a familiar voice.

Then a shriek followed from a different voice. "Oh my God!"

All the heat materializing inside my body vanished in a split second. Tila nanlamig ako nang marinig ang boses ni Mommy.

Namimilog ang mga matang naitulak ko si Dasher. Agad naman niya akong hinayaan. Napalingon ako sa direksyon na pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon.

My mother's eyes were mirroring mine. Namimilog habang laglag ang kanyang panga. The scandalized expression in her face made me want to vanished from where I am standing, pronto.

And my eyes widened more like it wasn't wide enough earlier when I saw who's behind Mommy who just closed the door of the room behind him. His free hand's holding his phone while it's near his ear.

"Mommy! D-Dad!" I called but their attention's not on me. Tumikhim ako at sinubukan silang bigyan ng ngiti ngunit bigo ako matapos noong mauwi sa isang ngiwi.

Dad's still holding the knob of the door while looking at who's behind me. Walang salitang naibaba niya ang kanyang phone. I bit my lower lip when I caught how his brow creased.

"Oh my God, Ysmael! Did I just saw your daughter making out--"

"Mom!" I tried to cut her words but my voice became mummed as she continued.

"With the doctor you killed-- oh, God! The doctor is alive!"

We're not making out. My Mom's... really a bit... overreacting sometimes.

"Mom-- shit!" I cursed when Dad hastily stride towards us. Nilagpasan niya ako at agad akong bumaling sa aking likuran.

When I faced them, Dad's fist already flew on Dasher's face. Bahagyang tumagilid ang mukha ni Dasher ngunit hindi ito natinag sa kinatatayuan.

I heard Mom shrieked once again but my attention's focused at what's in front of me.

Dad grabbed Dasher's shirt near his neck and slammed him at the wall.

Even with his age, I know Dad still have a great force. And its not helping that Dasher's not doing anything. Tila hinahayaan lang niya si Daddy kahit na alam kong kaya niyang lumaban. I don't know if I'll be grateful to it or what!

"Dad! S-stop this." Agad ko silang dinaluhan. I held Dad's hands that's gripping Dasher's shirt and tried to removed it but they didn't budged.

Mom walked near us too but it seems she's still shocked on what she saw.

"Calla, stay away," Dasher muttered without adverting his eyes who's fixed at Dad.

I immediately shook my head. "Dad, let's calm down. W-we can ta--"

"How dare you molest my daught--"

"Dad! He's not molesting me! He didn't!" I forced my voice to be heard but Dad's just hearing hisself.

"Aren't you scared I can kill you right now?" He continued as I saw his grip tightened. Tila mapupunit ang damit ni Dasher sa higpit ng hawak niya roon.

"Dad," I called his name again but he didn't even glanced at me. Nagngangalit ang kanyang mga ngipin habang tutok na tutok kay Dasher.

"You're trying for so long already. Why don't you keep trying, Ysmael?"

Oh my God! Ngayon hindi ko na alam kung matutuwa ako na sumagot si Dasher kasabay ng mapang-asar na ngisi niya kay Daddy. Now, I'm sure of one thing. Dad won't stop because of what Dasher said!

"I will, you bastard!"

Muli akong lumingon kay Mommy upang humingi ng tulong. I saw her blinked and walked towards our direction. But when I looked back at Dasher, Dad's fist landed already in his face again.

"Daddy!" I tugged his shirt but he ignored it.

He didn't try to dodge or what, he just let Dad punch him hard. Alam kong malakas ang bawat suntok ni Daddy ngunit hindi man lang natitinag si Dasher. He remained smirking at Dad like his punches didn't hurt.

But my eyes enlarged when Dad hardly kicked Dasher's legs. That's when I saw his stance faltered. Mabilis na inulit iyon ni Dad kaya't tuluyang napaluhod si Dasher.

Oh, God! Not his legs! He can now walk without his cane but I know he's still not fully recovered. He still need months, I think! At talagang bibigay ang mga binti niya kung sasadyaing sipain iyon.

"Dad!" I gasped.

"What now, Alterio, huh?"

Hindi ko na nahintay si Mommy. Akmang susuntukin pa ni Dad si Dasher ngunit agad na akong pumagitna sa kanila.

"Get off, Mauree," mariing utos ni Dad ngunit wala akong balak umalis dito. I firmly shook my head. Mabilis kong nilingon si Dasher at nakitang muli na siyang nakatayo. But I caught him holding the wall for support.

"Dad, please, stop this," I tried to reached his hand while still in between them.

"Maureanne, anak. I'll talk to you later. Now, please get off."

"Move, Calla."

Narinig ko si Dasher ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin. Agad na hinanap ng aking mga mata ang bulto ni Mommy.

"Mom," I called, nearly whining when I met her eyes. Asking for her help. I know she can stop Daddy. Kung hindi ako, alam kong si Mommy ang makakapigil kay Dad.

She bobbed her her for a nod. And when she did, I immediately snatched Dasher's wrist. Hinila ko siya patungo sa pinto ng aking unit sa abot ng aking makakaya. At first he didn't moved. But when our eyes met, seems like we talked without even saying words. Matapos ay nagpatanggay siya sa akin.

"Maureanne!" I heard Dad calling. Akmang susundan pa niya kami ngunit agad na pumagitna si Mommy at hinila siya palayo. I don't know what happened next because I didn't looked back.

Dire-diretso kong binuksan ang pinto at walang pagaalinlanggang lumabas doon kasama si Dasher.

I shut the door closed and faced him. Agad na hinanap ng aking mga mata ang kanyang binti.

"I'm sorry," I bit my lower lip and suppressed the tears in my eyes.

He shook his head. Like it didn't matter. Tila wala siyang pakialam sa ginawa ni Dad. "Calla, don't cry. No need to say sorry."

I gently shook my head while my eyes are closed. Pakiramdam ko, kapag dumilat ako ay babagsak ang pinipigilan kong mga luha. "I'm sorry."

"Shhh. Opened your eyes, baby. Look at me."

And I did. Good thing I successfully fought back my tears. "H-how are you? Your legs?"

"I'm alright." Nahimigan ko ang pagod sa tono niya ngunit isang ngiti ang agad niyang iginawad sa akin.

Marahas akong napabuntong hininga. My hand lifted at the side of his lips when I saw blood in it. I was inwardly cursing as my finger touched it.

"Can you drive?" I asked as I glanced at his legs.

He chuckled as his hand flew at the top of my head and gently caressed my hair. "Yeah, don't worry about me."

"S-sige na. Dad might go out..." Ayaw ko man, kailangan ko na siyang paalisin. Hindi ko alam kung ano na ang nangyari kina Mommy sa loob. But who knows, Dad might go out and pick on another fight.

Ayoko ng magpang-abot pa ulit sila lalo na at hindi naman lumalaban si Dasher kaya't sinasamantala ni Daddy.

"Alright, go inside first before I leave."

Hindi na ako tumutol doon. I want him to leave immediately because of Dad.

"Take care," I murmured.

He immediately cocked his head. "I will. Take care too."

I turned my back and held the handle of the door. Akmang bubuksan ko iyon nang marinig ang pagtawag niya sa akin. I instantly looked at him.

"I love you," he whispered though it was enough for me to hear it clearly. "Always remember that, Calla."

Bumakas ang ngiti sa aking mga labi ngunit hindi ko matanto kung bakit kakaiba ang pagbilis ng tibok ng aking puso. Like there's something wrong in it.

I didn't got a chance to answer him because of that. The moment I entered the unit where I am staying, I saw Dad put his phone down. Nasa tabi niya si Mommy na agad na dumiretso sa akin.

Dad didn't meet my eyes like he's avoiding it. Diretso ang lakad niya. I thought he'll go near me but I was wrong. Dumiretso siya sa pinto ng aking condi.

"Dad! Where are you going?"

He didn't turned his head on me. "Later, Mauree. We'll talk."

__________