Everything Ridge said caught my attention. I felt like my heart skipped a beat, I can't even explain why.

I unconsciously glanced at the backseat where the personal things I bought were in. Tipid na ngiti ang kumawala sa aking labi nang maalala ang sinabi ni Ridge.

Bukod pa roon, isa sa mga bagay na nakakuha ng aking atensyon ay ang itinawag niya kay Dasher. He called Dasher as his comrade and not just a colleague.

"The woman Dasher will marry is indeed lucky," Ridge spoke after starting the engine of his car.

Bumaling sa kanya ang aking tingin. Matiim akong napatitig at hindi na nagawang tumanggi pa sa sinabi niyang iyon. Ilang ulit tumango ang aking ulo.

"Hmm. She is, indeed." I muttered as a face of a woman flashed in my mind. Hindi man sinadya ay agad na nawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang maalala ang girlfriend ni Dasher. I felt like my heart clenched as I remember her.

His shoulders lifted for a shrug. "Hindi ko lang alam kung may balak siyang mag-asawa."

I stared at him, dumbfounded at what he said. "Huh? Paano mo naman nasabi?"

"Just ask Dasher--"

"What? As if he'll tell me!" Natigilan ako nang hindi namamalayang napataas ang aking boses. Napaayos ako ng upo. I cleared my throat as I bit my lower lip. "Sorry," hingi ko ng paumanhin dahil sa tono ng aking salita.

Nahihiwagaan naman siyang napalingon sa akin. Agad ding bumalik ang mga mata niya sa daan. "Why are you even saying sorry?" Marahan itong napailing habang may ngisi sa mga labi. "Nevermind."

Hindi ko na sinagot pa iyon at itinuon na lang ang pansin sa bintana ng kanyang kotse. Ngunit hindi pa nagtatagal doon ang aking mga mata ay muli siyang nagsalita at buong puso noong nakuha ang aking atensyon.

"Dasher only had one girlfriend."

I turned to him with my keen eyes. Napalabi ako bago mariing pinagdikit ang mga labi. He used past tense. They broke up already?

"At sa tingin ko ay wala ng susunod pa roon. They were in a relationship for I don't know how long. We all thought they're planning their marriage already 'cause the two seems fine. Until Dasher called it quits," he narrated casually.

Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata nang marinig na si Dasher ang nakipaghiwalay. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may parte sa akin na nabuhayan matapos malaman na si Dash ang tumapos ng kanilang relasyon. Though something feels wrong.

"Aislinn's devastated and can't accept Dasher's decision."

Aislinn. Matiim kong inalala kung iyon nga ba ang pangalan ng babaeng kasama ni Dasher nang iligtas niya ako. At hindi ko maiwasang hindi manghang mapakurap nang maalalang Aislinn nga ang pangalan noon. She's a lawyer.

"He probably fell out of love?" Suntok sa buwang tanong ko. Dahil sa pagkakakilala ko kay Dasher ay hindi ito 'yung tipo ng lalaki na bigla na lang mawawala ang pagmamahal sa minamahal. I even saw how he stared at that woman a year ago when he saved me, like she is the star he will always admire.

"Fell out of love?" Nahihiwagaan akong sinulyapan ni Ridge. He even let out a sarcastic breath, though he's not being sarcastic on me but on what I've said. "No way! He loves her so much that's why he chose to broke up with her."

Nanatili ang titig ko sa kanya ngunit hindi na ako sumagot, dahil napapantastikuhan ako sa sinasabi niya. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hihiwalayan ni Dasher si Aislinn kung mahal naman pala niya?

"Aislinn, Dasher's ex-girlfriend is a lawyer. You know how dangerous being a lawyer is. She's receiving threats and being Dasher's girlfriend made her life a lot more complicated. Dasher is not only involved in--" He stopped, maybe when he realized he shouldn't be telling me all these.

"Dasher broke up with her girlfriend so she won't be in danger because being in a relationship with him will put her life at stake? Is that what you're trying to say?" Paglilinaw ko. Kahit pa hindi itinuloy ni Ridge ay alam kong Cosmos ang tutumbukin ang sinasabi niya.

Maybe Cosmos' rivals learned about Dasher's relationship with Aislinn and gave her more threats?

"Yes. He'll probably won't marry anyone because even until now, I can say he still loves Aislinn." He was full of confidence.

"Alam ba ni Aislinn 'yung..." I bit my lower lip, contemplating if I should continue and I did. "Dahilan ni Dasher kaya nakipaghiwalay sa kanya?"

He shrugged his shoulders off. "Maybe? I'm not sure."

Nakaramdam ako ng kirot sa aking kalooban sa katotohanang mahal ni Dasher si Aislinn. Sobrang pagmamahal na pipiliin niyang makipaghiwalay dito kaysa sa mailagay ito sa kapahamakan?

Though if I'll be in Aislinn's situation, I won't let Dasher go no matter what. Even if being with him means it'll be my death then I'm ready to die.

And in Dasher's case, I don't know but can't he protect Aislinn that he needs to let her go? I'm not doubting Dasher's love for Aislinn. Because I know he loves her, so much.

I can see it the way he stared at her, even for a quite while that they're together while I'm at the back seat. Sa kabila ng sitwasyon ko nang araw na iyon ay hindi nakatakas sa akin ang hindi mabilang na pagsulyap ni Dasher kay Aislinn na naroon lang naman sa kanyang tabi.

I know he loves her but isn't it enough for him to stay?

Though we have different opinions and decisions. Maybe for Dasher, letting Aislinn go is the safest way to love her.

"Aislinn's low-key convincing Dasher to take her back for a year already until his fake death. You know that, right?" He asked, pertaining to Dasher's fake death. "That Dasher was announced dead, I know Mirae briefed you about this. Aislinn still wants him."

Marahan akong napapatango habang mariing nakalapat ang mga labi.

"She was there at Dasher's wake, mourning. And devastated is an understatement to describe her."

Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapait na mapangiti.

And if she learned that Dasher's alive, she'll surely go back to him, running. Baka kahit hindi siya tanggapin ni Dasher ay manatili siya sa tabi nito. Dahil iyon din ang gagawin ko kung ang taong mahal ko na inakala kong patay na ay buhay pa pala.

We arrived at the villa with the sun almost set already. My hair immediately followed the directions of the wind as soon as I got out of the car. Ridge parked his car right in front of the villa. Para naman madaling maipasok ang aming mga napamili. Bumaling ako sa backseat at kinuha ang mga personal na gamit na pinamili.

Kasabay noon ang pagtunog ng phone ni Ridge.

"Mauna ka na. I'll just answer this. Don't mind the groceries, ako na ang magpapasok sa loob."

"Hmm." I nodded at him as I gave him a smile before getting out of the car.

I was carrying approximately ten paperbags in both of my hands while walking towards the entrance of the villa. Lahat ng mga iyon ay personal na gamit na binili ko para sa sarili. Shirts, satin clothes, sleepwears, slippers, body scrubs, and such. I didn't buy much.

Saka na lang siguro kung kulang pa dahil hindi ko rin alam kung gaano katagal kaming mananatili rito. But my contract with Mirae says I have six months to take care of Dasher.

I know he'll go back when he can walk already. Kahit pa inakala na ng mga tao na patay na siya. I wonder if his parents know that he's alive?

Bahagyang nakabukas ang pinto ng villa kaya naman hindi na ako nahirapang pumasok. But my eyes immediately widened a fraction as I saw Dasher trying to stand but his legs failed, resulting for him to uttered profanities.

Napapangiwi ako sa lutong ng kanyang mura at tila iritadong iritado sa nangyayari. He frustratedly raked his fingers in his hair as he cursed again.

"Dasher!" Agad kong nabitawan ang mga dala upang tulungan siya. A frown etched in my forehead as I gazed around the villa, trying to find where Donna is.

Bahagyang napalingon sa akin si Dasher at tila mas lalong sumama ang timpla ng mukha nito. I rushed near him and stopped in his front. Lumuhod ako sa kanyang harapan upang mahuli ang kanyang mga mata ngunit bigo ako nang agad siyang umiwas at muling sinubukang tumayo.

"Stop it, Dasher!" I tried to stopped him he immediately dodged my hand.

Malamig niya akong tinitigan habang mariing magkalapat ang mga labi. "Will you fuck off and just let me?"

What? He's forcing hisself and I'll just let him? Hindi ba lalong makakasama iyon? His treatments are doing fine, ano pa bang gusto niya? "Don't force it--"

"I'm a doctor for fuck's sake, I know what I'm doing!"

I shook my head. I won't let him this time. "Donna!"

Nahihiwagaan kong tinitigan si Dasher.

"Donna!" Muling tawag ko nang walang sumagot. Don't tell me she let him do what he wants?

Finally after awhile, I saw her rushing from the kitchen. "M-Maureen--"

"Saan ka galing? Dasher's forcing--"

"I said, I'm a doctor, Maureen! I know what I'm doing. How about you? Anong alam mo? You're not even a--" He trailed off as I watched him clenched his jaw. Tila natauhan sa kung ano man ang sasabihin. "Fuck," he cursed.

"What's happening?" Ridge barged in with the groceries in his hands. Kaaangat lang ng tingin mula sa mga paperbag na nabitawan ko na ngayon ay nakalapat sa sahig.

I heaved a deep sigh before turning my back on them. Kasabay noon ang marahang paghilot ko sa aking sentido habang bahagya pang naiiling.

Mabilis na lumipas ang mga araw. Hindi ko namalayan sa sobrang bilis na ilang araw na ang lumipas matapos ang isang buwan namin sa villa na ito.

Dasher's still treating me coldly but there were times that he's casual. Ridge and Donna's still staying at the villa just a few walks away from us. Minsan ay pumunta kami roon ni Dasher. Ngunit bago gawin iyon ay sinisiguro ko muna na walang makakakita sa kanya. There were only few people in this place. Ilang metro ang layo sa likod na bahagi ng villa ay isang private property din.

Walang masyadong turista dahil karaniwan sa mga villa na narito ay pagaari ng mga pribadong pamilya at ginagawang bahay-bakasyunan. Tulad ng villa na tinutuluyan namin. This is Ferron's property.

My family's calling me from time to time but I only got a chance to answer them thrice. Inaalala ko pa rin ang sinabi ni Mirae. I told Dad I'm in Palawan even I'm not because he's asking for a certain place where I am. At alam kong hindi siya titigil kung hindi ako magsasabi ng partikular na lugar. Or worst, he'll track my location. Mabuti nga at hindi pa siya naghihinala.

A smile immediately formed in my lips as I saw Ridge as I opened the villa's door.

"Where's that hard headed fucker, huh?"

Naiiling akong natawa sa bungad niya. My eyes darted at the thing he's holding. Hindi na mawala sa aking labi ang malawak na ngiti nang maalala ang sadya niya rito ngayong araw.

"He's still in his room..." I trailed off when I turned my eyes at Dasher's room and saw him getting out of it while in his wheelchair. "There he is."

"You ready, Dude?" Sambit ni Ridge at muntik pang salubingin si Dash. Sumunod ako sa likuran ni Ridge palapit sa direksyon ni Dash.

A smirk formed in Dasher's lips. "Yeah, faster. I wanna walk again. I'm already seating for thirty five fucking days!"

I can't help but stare at him. His face looks alive. The gleam in his eyes together with the playful smirk in his face made me feel he's getting better.

He's more casual and carefree than usual, though I don't know if he's livelier than before.

"You want more days?" Ngising biro ni Ridge na inilingan lang ni Dasher, bahagya ring nakataas ang gilid ng labi nito.

"I'm tired of seating."

"Then, let's get rid of the wheelchair."

"Hmm. Give me that walker."

Ridge placed the standard walker in front of Dasher. I walked near him. Akmang tutulungan ko siyang makatayo ngunit agad ko ring binawi ang aking mga kamay. Lalo nang makitang nahawakan na niya ang kanang bahagi ng walker.

Ridge's staring at him too, alerto kung sakaling makagawa si Dasher ng isang maling hakbang. I felt like no one's breathing as Dasher tried to stand. I know he can because of the treatments but my heart's still beating fast. There's still a possibility for him to fail and I don't want that. I don't want him to feel like he failed hisself again. I don't want him to think he's a failure.

And a welcoming smile immediately formed in my lips as I saw him stood while tightly gripping the standard walker.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from grinning. Dahil pakiramdam ko ay mapupunit ang aking labi sa lawak ng aking ngiti.

I know he can do it. He'll recover fast. I knew it, Dasher.

__________