I don't understand what Dasher's telling. Sa subdivision daw na hindi ko naman alam kung saan at kung bakit doon patungo si Dad.

But when we arrived at that subdivision, an idea came in my mind.

And I can't help but curse when I realized that my hunch might be right!

He's planning to kill the Universe. Its near midnight already, of course he'll think that the Universe is already on her home. And one of the houses inside this subdivision might be Mirae's property.

Agad na hinarang ng security ang kotseng nasa unahan dahil hindi ito kilala. But my eyes widened when even in the dark, I saw how the security guard fall on the ground. Hindi ito nakalaban dahil na rin sa pagkabigla.

Dad and his men's car went inside the subdivision. Habang ang kotse ko ay nakasunod sa kanilang likuran. I don't know if Dad knew I'm following them or what.

They all stopped in front of the first mansion in the subdivision. Inilibot ko ang tingin ngunit dalawang mansyon lang ang nahagip ng aking mga mata. Ang hinintuan namin at ang mansyon na halos katapat nito. Habang ilang metro ang layo mula sa aming kotse ay tila may itatayo ring mansyon, na para bang kauumpisa pa lamang.

The two mansion screams modernity in all aspects. The lights outside the mansion were opened. Tahimik ang lugar at kahit anong ingay ay wala kang maririnig.

I parked behind the car of Dad's men and went out of it. Iniwan ko sa kotse ang aking phone. Agad kong hinanap si Daddy, na siya naman patungo sa aking direksyon. The crease in between his brows are very visible in the dark. Tiim ang bagang niya akong nilapitan. Hindi man lang pinansin ang mga tauhang dinaanan na agad na nahawi nang dumaan si Daddy dala ang kanyang baril. Like his men knew it already that their boss is not in his very good mood.

"What the hell are you doing here!" he shouted. His eyes are gleaming with frustration. Na para bang ilang sandali na lamang ay hihilahin na niya ang sariling buhok dahil sa prustrasyon. He whispered a crisp curse as he gestured his hand. Pigil na pigil ang pagtataas niya ng boses. Like he doesn't want to but he can't refrain hisself from doing so.

Hindi niya hinintay ang sagot ko at agad akong tinalikuran. But he didn't walked away. Tumalikod lang siya na tila ikinakalma ang sarili.

"Felix! Give me a gun." Baling niya sa isa sa mga tauhan. The man immediately handed him a gun, a handy one. Sa tingin ko ay isang forty-five caliber iyon.

Matapos ay bumaling siya sa akin. "I don't know what's with you but you're being stubborn the past few days, Mauree. I know you won't go home, so hold this. Just pull the trigger and the bullet would immediately come out," he handed me his gun.

Agad ko naman iyong tinanggap. At matapos matitigan ay natanto kong,
Iyon ang baril na kinuha niya sa koleksyong naroon sa kanyang opisina. While the gun from Felix stayed in his hand.

"But you still love me, Dad," I concluded with a tone full of conviction.

He tsked as his eyes narrowed. "You know I will still love you whatever you do. That's why you're being stubborn, aren't you?"

I gave him a knowing look and a small smile slowly crept in my lips.

He slowly shook his head like he can't believe me before turning his back on me. Ngunit sa pagtalikod niya, hindi na ako nakatiis at niyakap siya mula sa kanyang likuran.

He stopped walking ang let me hugged him from behind. "Mauree," I heard his warning but playful tone.

I shut my eyes closed. "Dad, you know we can still stop this. Can we just go home?" I asked for the last time but seems his decision is final already.

"Come on, Mauree. Kung kailan nandito na tayo, sa tingin mo ay mapipigilan mo pa ako?" He removed my hands on his body and turned to me again.

"I'll finish this quickly. Then we'll go home after." Isang ngiti ang pinakawalan niya.

I heaved for a deep sigh. "Don't ask me to stay in the car," I declared when I know he'll ask me that.

Nakipagtitigan siya sa akin. And when he make face, I know that's a sign of his defeat.

I smirked when he turned to his men. "Felix, Rand, guard my daughter as we enter," utos niya at mabilis na lumongon sa aking direksyon.

"If you want to go inside, you'll stay beside me. Do you understand, Maureanne?"

"Yes, Dad!" I answered like a good and honorable soldier.

Akmang lalakad ito palayo nang agad ding napahinto na tila may naalala. Hindi pa nakakaisang hakbang ay muli siyang napabaling sa akin.

"And by the way, the plan changed. No one would kill the doctor, he'll surely live so he have to face me after this. At our mansion, Maureanne," mariing paalala niya.

Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata. He's really serious on meeting Dasher?

"Tell him that if I didn't see him tomorrow, he won't have the right to see you too." Pasingkit nang pasingkit at tumatalim ang mga mata niya habang patuloy na nagsasalita. Like he can imagine Dasher standing in front him.

I immediately nodded at him after realizing that he's really serious on that one. Nakagat ko ang aking pangibabang labi dahil sa pagpipigil sa ngiting kumakawala sa aking mga labi. "I'll tell him, Dad. Thank you."

"Good," maiksing sagot niya bago binalingan ang mga tauhan. "Let's proceed!" He declared and his men immediately scattered around the mansion like they're already informed on what to do beforehand.

Ang dalawang tauhan ni Dad na sinabihan niyang magbantay sa akin ay naiwan kasama namin.

The one named Felix immediately lead the way towards the main entrance of the mansion.

I have no idea if Mirae's here but I hope she's not. Even how heartless that woman is, I don't want her to die. I don't want Dasher to lose a friend.

Sigurado akong may alam na si Mirae sa balak ni Daddy dahil sa sinabi ko kay Dasher. I'm sure they're at the headquarters of Cosmos.

Bahagya akong natuwa roon dahil kung ganoon nga, wala kaming dadatnan sa mansyon. At kapag wala kaming nadatnan, walang papatayin si Daddy.

But my head tilted and I blinked when Felix opened the door with only a few seconds. It wasn't locked?

If Mirae, the Universe's really living here, then the security must be tight. She might be unknown to people but not to some. Katulad na lang ni Daddy na harap harapan niyang inamin ang katauhan niya.

The security guard too. Why do they only have one?

Something's wrong in here. O baka naman hindi ito ang bahay ni Vynz at Mirae?

I gripped the gun I'm holding as we entered the mansion. Katahimikan ang bumalot sa aming pagpasok. The lights were off reason why I can't clearly see the surroundings.

Ang tanging ilaw lang na nagmumula labas dahil sa pinto na ngayon ay bukas pa rin ang nakakapagbigay liwanag sa amin.

I heard Dad whispering, like he's talking to someone I can't see. That's when I realized they're wearing earpieces.

"All clear?" he lowly asked. "You all can now enter."

Wala ng nagsalita matapos iyon. They roamed around the place with the lights off. I saw Dad's built running towards the stairs while I remained standing near the entrance.

But it didn't lasts long because at that very moment, a gunshot filled the whole mansion. I saw Daddy hide hisself beside the stairs. Habang ako ay napatakip sa aking tainga. I ducked and saw Dad gesturing me to run outside but I didn't.

Shit! May tao? Posible kayang galing iyon sa isa sa mga tauhan ni Dad? Pero kung ganoon man, siguro nga ay may nakita ito kaya't nagpaputok ng baril.

I tried to find Rand and Felix but I saw them far from me. I heard a gunshot once more. Doon na nagsimula ang palitan ng putok ng baril.

Shit! Cosmos are here! I suddenly remember Dasher telling me they'll go here. Oh God, they're here.

I can feel my body trembling as I saw both of Dad's men fell on the ground. My grip on the gun tightened as I remained unmoving near the door.

Agad na hinanap ng aking mga mata ang bulto ni Daddy at nakitang nakikipagbarilan na rin siya sa taong nasa tuktok ng hagdan. I narrowed my eyes but I can't clearly see who's at the end of the stairs, trying to shoot Dad but I'm sure it's a man.

Muling bumalik kay Daddy ang aking mga mata. But my eyes immediately landed at the familiar built of a woman near in front of him while pointing a gun on his direction. Ngunit hindi iyon nakita ni Dad dahil sa pakikipagpalitan ng putok ng baril sa lalaking nasa tuktok ng hagdan.

I caught how the woman mercilessly pulled the trigger in uncountable times!

"Daddy!" I shouted as I froze from where I am standing. Namimilog ang aking mga mata nang nanghihinang napalingon si Dad sa taong bumaril sa kanya.

My heart immediately stung in pain as the tears in my eyes cascaded down my cheeks.

Kasabay iyon ng pagbukas ng mga ilaw sa buong mansyon. Malinaw kong nakita ang kabuuan ng lugar, lifeless bodies of Dad's men are scattered on the floor.

Everything around me became vague as I saw Dad's body wobbled while bathing in his own blood, horribly looking at the woman who shoot him.

"Die, Rozelli," Mirae's voice echoed in my ear as she smirked while looking at my father.

And when Daddy fell on the ground, like I wasn't in my own mind, my hands quickly moved while gripping the gun. My eyes are fixed at Mirae as she remained smirking at my Dad's body on the floor.

Everything went fast. Tila wala sa sarili at hindi ako natinag sa pwersang dala ng baril nang dalawang beses kong hilahin ang gatilyo nito. The tears on my eyes continue streaming down my cheeks as the bullets penetrated her body.

"Mirae!" Astrid's voice roared.

As Mirae's body fell on the ground, I heard the man from the end of the stairs cursed. "No! Fuck!" I turned to that direction and saw him pulled the trigger thrice while pointing his gun directly at me.

"Calla!" A familiar voice called near me. But before I could even turned to him, a warm body enveloped mine.

I heard curses from everywhere but everything's fast that I don't have time to see and mind who's cursing.

A familiar scent immediately lingered in my nose and it made me stilled as I don't have to see who's shielding me.

"Fuck, Vynz! Stop!" I saw how Creed tried to snatched the gun from Vynz and the fourth bullet goes through the ceiling.

The bullets from Vynz's gun came but I felt nothing. And I can't contain my tears and sobs when I saw Dasher tightly gripping my body. Like everything around becomes a blur.

"D-Dasher," my voice trembled. "Y-you shouldn't--"

Hinanap ko ang kanyang mga mata at agad na natagpuan dahil nakatutok ang mga iyon sa akin. A warm smile immediately formed in his lips. I want to return it but right now, I really can't. I can't move and force my lips to lift, I just can't.

Nabitawan ko ang hawak na baril. With my hands shaking, I gently reached for his back. And when I did, I looked at my hands and I felt like my knees started trembling as I saw my hand full of red fluid from his back.

My mouth parted as I slowly turned my eyes at Dasher. I saw him still looking at me. At para akong tinakasan ng dugo sa aking katawan nang makita ang pag-agos ng dugo palabas sa kanyang bibig.

"Dasher, n-no. Please..." I hastily shook my head. Putol putol ang aking mga salita dahil na rin sa mga hikbing kumakawala mula sa aking bibig. "Don't close your eyes, p-please."

I can't control the pain in my chest that I badly want to clutch it but I didn't. Tila hindi iyon mapapawi kahit ano pa man ang aking gawin.

"Ca-- lla," his hand remained encircled on my waist while the other reached for my cheek. "I l-love you... al-- ways."

I tightly shut my eyes closed, I don't want to see him in this situation. "Shhh, I love you. S-save your strength, please."

"Fuck! Dasher!" Agad na inalalayan ni Archer na kapapasok lang sa mansyon ang katawan ni Dash. He slowly assist him together with Creed.

My eyes roamed and I saw Mirae already lying at the stretcher with Vynz, Astrid and some men I didn't know.

That's when I saw my father in the floor, with no one in his side. "D-Daddy!"

I glanced at Dasher. He have Archer and Creed on his side. While no one's helping my father. Surely, no one will help him. He needs me. Ako lang ang mayroon siya ngayon. Mariin akong napakagat sa pangibabang labi. Agad akong tumakbo sa direksyong kinaroroonan ni Dad.

I kneeled and reached him on the floor. I carefully placed his head in my thighs while gently tapping his face.

"D-Dad."

Marahang bumukas ang kanyang mga mata ngunit bakas na ang pagod doon. Like it'll shut closed at any moment.

"Mau-- reanne, tell your... Mom, I'm g-glad that I met her."

I shook my head, stopping him from saying anything.

"I... love you b-both," he continued as his eyelids slowly closed.

Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata at sinubukan siyang yugyugin. "D-Dad, don't do this. Wake up!" I wailed. All I can hear are the sobs escaping from my lips. My tears made my eyes blur but I clearly see it when men went near us and lie Daddy in a stretcher.

"N-no!" I tried to stop them thinking that they'll harm my father.

But a man held my wrist. "Camilla, let them. We'll bring him in a hospital."

I turned to the man who kneeled beside me. Bahagya pang napaawang ang aking mga labi nang makita si Archer sa aking tabi. He gently tapped my shoulder as the corner of his lips tugged up a bit while his lips were pressed unto each other.

"I hope you know I won't do this if not for you and Dasher."

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