I parked my car in front of the Rozelli's headquarters. It looks like a normal building in the middle of the city. This is where I got after following Dad. Sa tingin ko ay totoo nga ang sinabi sa akin ni Mommy na may binabalak si Dad laban sa Cosmos.

She said he's planning to kill the Universe the moment I'm safe. Ang now that I'm back, Dad's moving already.

He didn't even wait for a day or an hour. Oras na nakita niya akong nakauwi ay nagtungo na agad siya sa headquarters. Or maybe, what he saw triggered him.

I slammed the door closed and went out of it. Nasa loob na ang sasakyan ni Dad habang ako ay hindi na tumuloy gamit ang sasakyan.

I gripped my phone and stride towards the entrance. Malalaki ang aking hakbang upang abutan ang pasara nang pinto ng gusali. I even jogged when I saw its almost closed already. Mabilis kong pinadulas ang sarili papasok nang tumapat ako roon.

The moment I got in, the door behind me closed. Kasabay noon ang pagbukas ng mga ilaw sa loob ng gusali.

Agad kong namataan ang kotse ni Daddy na hindi pa maayos na nakapark. The engine of his car went off.

I let my feet walked near it when I saw Dad went out of the car and hastily closed the door. He looked at my direction, frowning. Malalaki ang hakbang na tinawid niya ang aming distansya.

"What are you doing here?" he asked as he stopped in front of me. Nasa baywang ang dalawang kamay niya habang kunot na kunot ang noo.

"What are you planning, Dad?" mariing sagot ko sa tanong niya.

"I told you we will talk later. May tatapusin lang ako--"

"I said, what are you planning, Dad?" I can't help but cut his words.

He mockingly tsked and asked another question, ignoring what I asked like what I did. "Now you're here. Alright, what are you doing with that doctor?"

Nahihiwagaan ko siyang tinignan. "Can we talk about it later?"

Mataman niya akong inilingan. His eyes darkened, na para bang may naalala. "No. Now that you're here. Answer me, what did I just saw, Maureanne?"

My lips parted but nothing came out. Napabuntong hininga ako at natantong hindi ko matatakasan ang mga tanong niya. Might as well answer him, maybe he'll answer my questions too if I did.

"I love Dasher," I confessed without even batting an eye and I saw Dad flinched the moment he heard what I said. Bahagya pang nangatal ang mga tuhod.

Sa gulat niya, sa tingin ko ay kung may iniinom man siya ay naibuga na niya.

"You mean..." He blinked like he can't process what I said or hoping he ears are playing with him. Then he chuckled and shifted his weigh. "Mauree, anak, there's tons of Dasher in the world. Mind telling me the surname?" tanong niya ngunit alam kong alam niya kung sino ang aking tinutukoy, hindi lang niya matanggap. I saw it using his own eyes.

"I love Dr. Dasher Alterio, Dad. The one you tried to kill."

I saw distaste in his face as he grimaced. Bumakas ang pagkadisgusto sa kanyang mukha. "What happened to you? What did that doctor do?"

Napapantastikuhan ko siyang tinitigan. "Dad," I whined.

"God, Mauree. I can't--" he stopped as his hand moved in the air but sigh in the end. Seems like he wants to say something but he can't put it into words nor gestures. "You know what, go home and rest. Maybe you're just tired. Then let's talk later or tomorrow when your mind's clear already."

My mouth hung opened when he turned my back on him and he started walking towards the elevator.

I chew my bottom lip and uttered a low groan. Matapos ay agad kong sinundan si Daddy gamit ang malalaking hakbang upang agad siyang masabayan.

And when he stepped along the elevator's door, I immediately went beside him and entered the elevator. Naunahan ko pa siya kaya't kunot noo niya akong sinulyapan. But he still seems preoccupied.

His eyes narrowed at me but in the end, he didn't say anything and just pushed the button to the floor where he is supposed to go.

The swift closing of the elevator's door is the only thing I can hear. And when it finally shut closed, Daddy faced me once again.

"Are you serious on what you said?Tell me you're not serious. You know, I can forget what I saw earlier." Muling tanong niya na nakapagpakurap sa akin.

Don't tell me he still can't believe it? Masyado bang imposible iyon? I mean, there's nothing wrong with Dasher. Well, aside from he's from Cosmos, Dad has nothing to hate about him.

"I'm serious, Dad."

Muli siyang napabuntong hininga at napangiwi. Like he really can't take it. I watched him gently massaging his temples while his brows were creased.

"I can still remember you telling me you'll support me in everything I want." I smile at him as I tried to reminisce the day he told me those. That was when I graduated in college. "Sinabi mo rin na tatanggapin mo kahit sino ang mahalin ko at gusto kong pakasalan?"

His eyes immediately enlarged like he saw something frightening. "Oh, God! Maureanne! Why are you talking about marriage?"

I bit my lower lip to suppress the chuckles coming out of my mouth but I failed in the end. Hindi ko mapigilan na hindi matawa sa reaksyon ni Daddy. "I told I'm serious with him."

Mataman niya akong tinitigan. Maybe, looking if I'm really serious. "But is he to you?" he immediately countered and I proudly nodded while smirking at him.

The door of the elevator opened. Bumungad sa amin ang mga tauhan ng Rozelli na may kanya kanyang ginagawa. I went out of it with Dad beside me. Kasabay noon ang pagbati ng mga tauhan ngunit nasa akin ang lahat ng atensyon ni Dad, he just told them to go back whatever they're doing and that's it.

Dire-diretso ang lakad ni Dad habang ako ay nasa tabi niya at nakasunod. "I can't--" he gestured something before massaging his temple once again.

"You told me, Dad. Its a promise," sambit ko nang sa tingin ko ay ayaw niya talaga kay Dasher. I well, I'm expecting that already. Kaya nga ayokong magpang-abot sila. But it happened already anyway.

"I can't accept... that man right now, Mauree. I hope... you understand. Give me time... I'll try. But not now, I can't." Putol putol na sambit ni Dad na tila hirap na hirap na banggitin ang mga salitang iyon. I caught his face twisting in distaste too as he speak. Napailing din siya sa mga huling salitang sinambit.

I inwardly smiled. At least he didn't closed the possibility of accepting Dasher. At least he's trying, because I know this is hard for him too.

We arrived at Dad's office inside the headquarters. Bumungad sa akin ang mga baril na nakakilera sa kaliwang bahagi ng opisina. Dumiretso siya roon at kumuha ng baril. "But tell that man, I want to meet him if he's still alive after what will happen tonight."

Walang bakas ng pagbibiro sa mukha niya. And I know he's not joking! That's when I remember what my mom told me.

"What are you planning?" I followed him when he walked towards his table.

"I'll kill the Universe, that Lozano. Like what I'm planning to do. Then after that, the only dirt in my way are the Devaughnes. We'll surely top the mafia chart, honey. Because those Amherst are full of stupids," he smirked at me while caressing his gun.

I tilted my head as I don't really care about that mafia chart. I know how it works but I don't really care. As what I've remember Devaughne and Cosmos are the ones topping it. Bagay na gustong makuha ni Daddy.

I don't get it, that's the point of ranking one on it? Maybe the clients would surely boost but still that's all illegal.

"Now, go home," Dad gestured the door using his hand while his other hand's still holding his gun.

"Stop this, Dad," I ordered. Nagbabakasakali na ngayon ay mapatitigil ko na siya kahit na alam kong hindi ko iyon magagawa. I've been trying for a year already but he didn't listen. Only Mom can stop him.

Ngunit wala naman akong aasahan sa kanya dahil siya mismo ay hinahayaan si Dad sa mga ginagawa. Yes, she can stop him but I don't know why she's letting him. She knew everything that he's doing is illegal but she didn't even try stopping him.

"Maureanne, give up. You can't stop me on this one. Pinagbigyan na kita. You can like that doc--"

"Love," I cutted him.

Napangiwi siya roon at ikinumpas ang kamay, dismissing what I've said. "Yeah, whatever you feel for that doctor. Ako naman ang pagbigyan mo. And really, I'm telling you, you can't stop me."

My shoulders fell even though I've expected this already.

"Now, stay here and excuse me. I'll talk to our men."

He didn't wait for my answer and just went out of his room with his gun.

The moment I was left alone the room, I immediately picked my phone and dialed Dasher's number in it. It didn't took him a while to finally answer it.

"Calla," he greeted.

"Dad's planning something against Cosmos. He'll execute it later tonight." I didn't waste time and told him immediately.

Telling him all these means somehow betraying Dad but I can't just shut up when I know he's planning something like killing!

The other line went silent for a while. "Wait, where are you?" I can perceived him frowning a bit while asking.

"I'm at Rozelli's headquarters. Dad's moving already." I glanced at the door when I heard footsteps but it immediately vanished. Tila dumaan lang ang kung sinong naroon.

"What?" The end of his tone rose. "Are you safe?"

Of course, I'll be safe here. "Yes. I followed Dad and he won't hurt me."

"Alright. What is he planning?" From here, I can hear him moving swiftly from the other line. Hindi ko matanto kung naglalakad siya o ano dahil wala naman akong marinig na bakas ng kanyang paglalakad. He always walked without making a sound.

"He wants to kill the Universe. He'll probably ambush your headquarters," pag-amin ko. "Or... I'm not really sure." Bawi ko nang maalalang ginawa na iyon ni Daddy ngunit hindi naman nagtagumpay. "I don't know if he has other plans aside from that."

I heard him cursing over the phone. Sunod-sunod na mura ang pinakawalan niya na nakapagpangiwi sa akin.

"D-Dasher," I tried to call his attention but my voice trembled.

Tila natauhan siya roon at noon lang tumigil. "I'm sorry. Can you do me a favor?"

Sandali akong napaisip sa kung ano man ang hihilingin niya. It depends if I can do it. "What is it?"

"Can you go home? Then stay there?"

My lips parted as I tilted my head.  I'm not planning to go home. Not now. "I can't. I want to know Dad's plan, s-so I can tell you if--"

"You don't have to do that. I'll talk to Mirae about what you said. Now, go home immediately. I just want you safe."

A deafening silence roared between the two of us.

I bit my lower lip. Oh, God! I can't do what he's telling me. And like him, I want him safe as well as my father.

"I'll update you on what he's planning if I got an information." I cleared my throat. "I can't go home. I'm sorry."

I didn't wait for him to answer and immediately ended the call. I put my phone in silent because I'm sure he'll try to call me.

Agad akong lumabas ng silid ni Daddy. I thought I can gather information outside his office but I was wrong. Iilan lang sa tauhan ni Daddy ang nadatnan ko sa labas ng kanyang opisina.

"Excuse me," untag ko sa tauhang pinakamalapit sa aking kinaroroonan. "Do you know where my father is?"

The man nodded. "Naroon, Ma'am." He pointed a certain direction. "Ipinatawag ang mga tauhang sasama mamaya sa pagsugod."

Marahan akong napatango at tinignan ang direksyong itinuro niya. "Do you know what's the plan later?" Baka sakaling tanong ko.

The man immediately shook his head. "Hindi ho, Ma'am. Kami ang mga maiiwan rito. Iyon lang ang sinabi sa amin."

"Alright. Thank you," I smiled a bit when I realized he's not lying.

Hindi na ako muling nakatawag kay Dasher hanggang sa ideklara no Daddy na aalis na sila. Masyadong mahigpit si Dad at hindi ako pinapasok sa secured room kung saan sila nagtipon kanina upang magusapan ang plano. Ate's at the headquarters too reason why I can't properly move.

Nagpaalam ako kay Dad na uuwi na. Dumiretso ako sa aking kotse at sumakay doon. I immediately maneuvered it a few meters away from the headquarters.

Ilang minuto ang nakalipas ay nakita ko na ang sunod-sunod na paglabas ng mga kotse galing sa gusali. Sa paglabas ng pangatlo sa huling kotse ay nakilala ko iyon bilang sasakyan ni Dad. I can't actually count how many cars went out. At nang lumabas ang huling kotse ay noon ko pinaandar ang sasakyan at sumunod sa hilera ng kotse ng mga tauhan ni Dad.

But when the intersection came, the cars of Dad's men splits into several direction. Agad na kumunot ang aking noo.

I caught Dad's car turned left with two of his men's car reason why I maneuvered the steering wheel towards that direction. But I know where the headquarters of Cosmos is. At hindi dito iyon. Shit!

I still followed Dad's car while grabbing my phone. I glanced at it and saw how many messages and missed calls I got from Dasher but I didn't open any one of it. Agad kong tinawagan ang kanyang numero.

At hindi pa nakakailang segundo ay agad ng may sumagot doon. "Thank, God! Calla, you fina--"

"Naghiwahiwalay ang mga tauhan ni Dad. And Dad's straying away from Cosmos' headquarters."

Narinig ko ang bahagyang paggaralgal ng linya. "Damn it, where are you?"

"Still following Dad and some of his men--"

"God! You need to go home, Calla!" his voice raised a bit. Bahagya akong napapitlag ay napakagat ng pangibabang labi. He cursed. "Give me your location."

Agad ko namang sinabi ang lokasyon ng daang aming tinatahak.

"Why is he--" he stopped. Ngunit agad ding napamura. "Fuck!" Tila ba natanto na niya kung saan kami patungo. "Damn it! Not on that subdivision! Fuck, we'll go there, Calla."

__________

I hope you all are safe, especially to those who are in Visayas and Mindanao. Keep fighting and keep safe po!