"You still love him, I know 'cause I heard you confessing it," I softly muttered and I didn't even saw a glimpse of shock or any reaction in her face. I didn't even saw that she's caught off guard.

Maybe because she's a lawyer, reason why she knew well how to hide her reactions.

I was intently staring at her as she's seating at the chair opposite to where I am.

We're at the cafe just near the hospital owned by the Alterios and where Dasher is confined. After a week, he'll be finally discharged today. And he's fully recovered already.

He was advised to stay at the hospital for three days but it became a week. Dahil iyon sa biglang pagkalat ng balita tungkol kay Dasher. That he's alive and some have different speculations about what happened. Some where saying that it was all a plan, even his accident.

Because of that, the media flocked in front of the hospital.

Hindi naman mapabulaanan ni Dasher ang nangyari at hindi rin naman niya maaaring sabihin ang totoo.

They waited until the news subsided a bit. He prepared too on how to answer them without saying the truth but still believable lies.

Dad's burial went peaceful. Marami ang dumalo ngunit hindi ko nabigyang pansin ang kahit isa sa kanila dahil na kay Daddy ang aking buong atensyon. Mom didn't cry on his burial. But when we came on our home, at the mansion where Dad and Ate's living, and when everyone's gone, that's when she cried.

This past few days, as much as I want to stay the whole night and day everyday at the hospital, I can't. Umuuwi ako dahil tinitingnan tingnan ko si Mommy.

Nana Elvira's with her but I want to see it with my own eyes that she's alright or at least she won't do anything to harm herself.

Dahil sa loob ng nakaraang linggo hindi iisang beses ko lang siyang nakita na tulala at malayo ang tingin. And I have to call her repeatedly so she can hear me.

Ni minsan ay hindi ko siya nakitang ganoon. Ngayon lang na wala na si Daddy.

The other noises at the cafe muffled as I focused and waited for Aislinn's answer. She's actually the one who asked me if we can talk. Hindi ko naman siya tinanggihan.

"I won't deny that..." she trailed off and stated back at me. Tuwid ang kanyang pagkakaupo at pino ang bawat galaw. "I still love Dasher. And if I'll be given a chance to be with him again, I won't hesitate and grab it." She gave me a faintly smile.

Dumaan ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. That's when I clearly saw her reaction. I heard she's a great lawyer. Ngunit ngayon ay tila hindi na kayang itago ng nakasanayan sa kanyang propesyon ang totoong nararamdaman.

"But I respect Dasher. In a week that he's in the hospital, I took every chance I have to talk to him whenever we'll be left alone in his room. Lagi ko siyang kinakausap tungkol sa relasyon namin. That, I still want him back. But in those times, never... not even once his answer change."

"He told me..."

I watched her swallowed like there's a big lump on her throat. Tatlong beses siyang mabilis na napakurap. Like she's suppressing something that wants to come out of her eyes. Tila gusto niyang ipikit na lamang ang mga mata ngunit nanatiling dilat dahil sa aking mga titig.

"He loves me some much... before. That he decided to leave me and broke us apart for my own safety." Muli siyang napahinto na para bang may bumabara sa kanyang lalaluman kaya't hindi maayos na makapagpatuloy. Na para bang sa isang maling salita ay manginginig ang kanyang boses at babagsak ang kanyang mga luha.

"He answered me, he's sorry that he can't take me back. Because he loves someone he can't let go no matter what. Someone that... he's willing to die for just to make her safe."

She slightly lowered her head. Patagong pinalis ang luhang naglandas sa kanyang pisngi. "Hindi ko dapat 'to nararamdaman because I am a Zaldivar... but I envy you on that one. How I envy that he loves you enough to keep you despite the consequences. He loves you so much that he's willing to do everything to make you safe but not to let you go."

Tila may bumara sa aking lalamunan nang makita ang mga luha niya. I cleared my throat.

"But I'm not planning to do anything against you two. I know where to stand."

Those words made me think that she is indeed a Zaldivar.

"Don't let him go, Camilla. Because he can't." The corner of her lips stretched into a smile that I immediately returned.

I watched her stood as she wiped the tears in her eyes. Her mascara smudged a bit because of it. Hindi niya na ako nahintay at basta ng lumabas ng cafe.

But because of the glass walls of the shop, I saw how a black van stopped in front of her. Agad akong napatayo sa aking kinauupuan sa hindi malamang dahilan. Men in black came out of it while wearing masks. Nahuli ko ang akmang pag-atras ni Aislinn ngunit marahas ang paghila ng mga ito sa kanya.

My heart pounded against my ribcage. Unang pumasok sa aking isip ay ang pagiging abogada niya. May kinalaman ba 'to roon? O may iba pa?

I immediately stride towards them, not minding what will happen to the both of us. I know I can't do anything but I won't just stood on where I am standing and watched them as they forcefully took Aislinn away.

Panay ang lingon ko sa paligid habang palabas ng cafe, naghahanap ng pwedeng mahingan ng tulong.

"Aislinn!" I shouted as I came out of the cafe.

I saw some people looking. Seems that they want to help but because the men in black were all armoured with guns, they backed off and turned a blind eye. Tila ayaw madamay sa anumang gulo.

"Ayan 'yung isa, kunin niyo!" I heard from someone who's inside the van shouted. At dahil abala ako sa nangyayari kay Aislinn, hindi ko agad natantong ako ang tinutukoy nila.

Huli na dahil nakalapit na sa akin ang mga lalaking nakaitim at sapilitan akong ipinasok sa van tulad ng ginawa kay Aislinn.

I tried to fought back but when three men forced me, I can't do anything but let them take me inside the van. I don't know how to defend myself in this situation. Bagay na hinihiling kong sana ay naituro sa akin ni Dad.

The door of the van closed and I can't do anything but shout. Isa sa kanila ay agad na itinapat sa akin ang isang panyo na may nakakahilo at matapang na amoy.

Slowly, I can feel my eyes shutting closed as my body fell.

The cold wind blew against my skin. Sa lamig ng ihip ng hangin at maramdaman ko ang pagtaas ng aking balahibo. Wala akong makita dahil sa bagay na tumatakip sa aking mga mata.

The deafening silence made my heart raced. Ilang saglit ay natanto kong hindi nakakabinging katahimikan ang aking naririnig. It didn't took me a while that a low sound of waves striking the shore is what I'm hearing.

I tried to move but that's when I realized I am tied, in a chair perhaps. Sa higpit ng pagkakatali sa aking kamay, paa, at bawyang ay hindi ako malayang makagalaw. Walang sumasakit sa anumang bahagi ng aking katawan kaya't siguro ay wala namang ibang ginawa ang mga lalaking kumuha sa amin.

Sinubukan kong pakiramdaman ang paligid at lalong kinabakan dahil agad kong nakuha na maaaring mag-isa ako at nasa publikong lugar dahil sa malakas na ihip ng hangin.

I immediately thought of Aislinn. Maybe she's here and still sleeping.

"Aislinn!" I shouted, trying to wake her up or trying to get her attention if she's here.

"Aislinn!" But no one answered. I tried once more. Ngunit huni ng ibon ang siyang sumagot sa akin.

I stopped after a while. Maybe I'm alone in here. Who would even do this to me? To Aislinn?

Pumasok sa isip ko ang mga kaaway ng organisasyon ng pamilya. Dad's death revealed to the public that he have another daughter except from Ate Callista.

Ngunit imposibleng ako ang nagiisang pakay ng kung sino mang nasa likod nito. Because they got Aislinn first. Matapos akong makita ay noon lang ako kinuha. Ibig sabihin ay isa rin si Aislinn sa tunay na sadya ng mga lalaking iyon.

I was in deep thoughts when I heard screeches from a car, like it stopped in a forceful way. It made my shoulders jumped and my insides went haywire.

Kumalabog ang aking dibdib kasabay ng marahas na pagbagsak ng pinto ng kotse.

"Calla! Fuck!"

I immediately turned my head, finding that voice I surely knew. "D-Dasher!"

"Damn it!" he cursed once more as he removed the blindfold in my eyes.

Tuluyang kong nasalubong ang kanyang madilin na mga mata at agad akong natulala nang makita ang aking kinalalagyan.

I am seated at the brink of the cliff. Dalampasigan ang aking babagsakan matapos ang tatlong hakbang. Unti-unti kong nakilala ang pamilyar na lugar. This is where I met Dasher. When Dad's men tried to ambushed him but they failed. This is the same cliff.

Dasher immediately pulled the chair away from the edge of the cliff and he started removing the ropes tied in my body.

I can feel his hand shaking. And when I met his eyes again, I can feel him seething in anger, not for me but for those who made this.

I immediately stood the moment I'm free from the ropes. At hindi pa nakakatayo ng maayos ay agad na sumalubong sa akin ang mga bisig ni Dasher.

His arms wrapped around me. Mahigpit at tila ayaw akong makawala pa. I slowly lifted my hands and let those rest in his back. Noon ko naramdaman ang bahagyang panginginig niya. I can feel his chest heaving against mine.

"C-Calla--"

I didn't clearly hear what he said because I was distracted by the cars who suddenly came at the cliff. Tila mga nagmamadali rin dahil sa paraan ng paghinto ng mga ito.

"Are you alright? What did they do?" Muling bumalik kay Dasher ang aking atensyon kasabay ng bahagyang paglayo niya sa akin. He scanned my body before his eyes went back at mine.

Maybe I was just shocked but I'm perfectly fine.

"I'm alright," I replied as I remember Aislinn. "Si Aislinn. T-they got her too," I muttered and he immediately trusted his hand in his pocket. Kinuha niya ang phone mula sa bulsa at tila may naalala dahil sa sinabi ko.

He started dialling a number and placed his phone near his ear. "How is she?"

From the side of my eyes, I caught Astrid and Creed going towards our direction. Lulan sila ng mga kotseng kadarating pa lamang.

"Alright." Ibinaba ni Dasher ang phone niya nang natapos ang tawag bago muling bumaling sa akin. "They got her. She's safe."

"Camilla, you alright?" Astrid asked as they stopped near us.

Tumango ako habang ang isip ay na kay Aislinn pa rin.

She nodded back and turned to Creed when he spoke to Dasher.

"Nakuha na nila si Aislinn. Archer's investigating about what happened. You two should go home. You need to rest, Dash." Sunod-sunod na sambit ni Creed na hindi man lang lumilingon sa aking direksyon.

A phone started ringing and it took me a while to realize its mine. Kung hindi pa ako lingunin ni Dasher ay hindi ko matatanto iyon. Because seems like my mind's still flying somewhere.

I picked up my phone but when I was about to answer the call, it ended. Kasunod noon ang pagpasok ng mensahe.

I stared at my phone as I opened and read my sister's message.

Ate Callista:

I did it for you. He chose you.

Napakurap ako. She did what? What did she--

Napahinto ako sa iniisip nang matanto kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata.

"Who's that?"

I immediately put my phone down and back to my pocket when Creed asked.

I shook my head. "M-mom's just asking my whereabouts."

__________