After Dasher's words, Ridge came that put our conversation into an end. It bothered me the whole night, thinking what can I do for him to spare my family's life. And the fact that Dasher's the one who wants to kill them made my heart clenched more.

Despite his words, his threats to the ones who did it to him, I can't blame Dasher and still, I can't hate him. I don't know but I can't hate him.

I've warned Dad and Ate already about their wrong doings. Dahil alam kong darating ang araw na ikapapahamak nila ang mga iyon. But they didn't listen. I don't know what I'd do to stop them.

Lalong simisikip ang aking dibdib sa tuwing naaalala ang mga bagay na iyon, idagdag pa ang banta ni Dasher.

I woke up late the next day. Matapos ayusin ang sarili ay dumiretso na ako sa kusina para makapaghanda ng agahan ngunit napahinto ako nang makitang naroon si Dasher.

He's facing the stove while talking to someone over the phone. His walker is in front of him, helping him stand. Tila may niluluto ito ngunit pinatay ang kalan at ibinigay ang buong atensyon sa kausap.

"What did you say?"

I can't see his expression but I can imagine him frowning. Napahinto ako sa aking kinatatayuan. He's too preoccupied that he won't know I'm here, listening.

"Fuck!"

My shoulders jumped as he cursed. Mabuti at napigilan ko ang sarili upang hindi mapasinghap. A series of profanities came out of his mouth. He stopped after awhile, seems listening to whoever's over the phone.

"Are you all safe?" Tanong nito, ngayon ay sa mas kalmadong tono. "How about Mom? Si Dad?"

It took him a few while before saying a word again. "I'll let them pay for all the things they did."

He uttered one more curse before he stopped, maybe when the on one over the phone started speaking again.

"Really?" He muttered in an amusement. Sa tingin ko ay iba na ang pinaguusapan nang dalawa dahil sa pagbabago ng tono ni Dasher. "Good for him. That fucker." His last words turned into a chuckle.

I saw him nodding his head, tila nakikita siya ng kausap. "Alright, Milady. Alright. I'll see you later then."

That's what he said before the call ended. I saw him put his phone down as he started walking towards the glass utensils.

Hindi pa rin niya nararamdaman ang aking presensya kaya naman sinamantala ko iyon para panoorin siya.

He's carefully moving with his walker. Kumuha siya ng isang plato at akmang babalik sa harap ng kalan nang bahagyang nawala ang kanyang balanse sa hawak na walker kaya naman dumulas ang pinggan sa kanyang kamay.

"Damn it." He cursed when the plate fell on the floor, causing a loud shattering sound.

Agad naman akong tuminag sa kinatatayuan dahil sa nakita. Agad ko siyang dinaluhan lalo nang makitang yumuko ito at nagsimulang pulutin ang mga basag na piraso ng pinggan.

I squatted on the floor in front of him. "Ako na--"

"Shut up."

Napatigil ako nang mariin niyang putulin ang aking mga salita na para bang may nagawa na naman akong masama.

I swallowed as I shrugged the thoughts off. "Let me do this." I snatched the large broken pieces of plate from his hand.

I saw his grip on his walker tightened. He's now holding the part of the walker near its end because he's squatting on the floor.

"Baka masugatan ka--" I stopped when his eyes found mine. Malamig muli ang mga titig ng kanyang mga mata na hindi ko maintindihan ang dahilan. What happened again? I thought we're okay?

"Do you think I'm stupid? Simpleng pagpupulot ng nabasag na plato ay masusugatan ako? And I'm not useless, for pete's sake let me do it. Ako ang nakabasag kaya't ako ang magpupulot."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi mapabuntong hininga. Mariin akong napapikit. Matapos ay muli kong binalingan ang pirapirasong plato. Sinimulan kong pulutin ang mga iyon at hindi pinansin ang mga sinabi ni Dasher.

"Fuck! I said I can do it!" Tila naputol ang pising sambit niya bago marahas na hinila ang basag na parte ng plato sa aking kamay.

"Shit." I can't stop myself from cursing when the edge of the broken plate slit the skin of my forefinger. I gasped as blood started gushing out of my finger.

"Fuck." Dasher cursed as he tried to reach my hand. Para bang nagulat din ito at hindi sinasadya ang nangyari. Nahagip ko ang kanyang mga mata, there's something in there that I can't explain.

"I--" Mariin itong napapikit at marahas na napabuntong hininga. "I'll clean this mess. Baka masugatan ka ulit."

Umiling ako. "Ako na--"

He cutted my words. "Maureen."

Sinalubong ko ang kanyang mga mata. "Dasher!" My voice raised than usual. I licked my lower lip. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napapadalas ang pagtataas ko ng boses simula nang makasama siya. I'm not like this when I was in States. I'm always calm but right now, I don't think I can calm down.

"Can you just let me do it?" I softly muttered. Pilit na ikinakalma ang sarili. "For once, Dasher. Listen to me."

He cursed once more before finally letting me do what I want. "Alright, do what you want. I'll get the first aid kit. I will clean your wound after that."

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa pagpupulot ng basag na parte ng plato. My right hand's forefinger is still bleeding but I didn't mind it.

I felt him started walking away, siguro ay para kunin ang sinasabing first aid kit.

Kumuha ako ng dustpan at winalis patungo roon ang mga basag na parte ng plato. Matapos ay pinunasan ko ang sahig ng tuyong basahan upang linisin ang dugong lumulo roon.

Nang masigurong malinis na ay agad akong tumayo at naglakad patungo sa pinto ng villa. I saw Dasher came out of the bathroom with the first aid kit in his hands but I didn't mind him.

"Maureen." Rinig kong tawag niya sa akin ngunit dire-diretso ako sa pinto ng villa. I don't want to talk with him right now.

"Damn it." It was a crisp cuss. Dahil iyon sa hindi ko pagpansin sa muling tawag niya.

I opened the door of the villa and went out of it as I heard him calling my name again. Nawala ang kanyang boses nang tuluyang kong maisara ang pinto.

I sighed as I lowered my head. Napatingin ako sa dariling dumudugo ngunit agad kong itinago iyon sa aking likuran at nakatungong naglakad palayo sa villa.

Ang mga paa ko ay kusang lumakad sa hindi malamang direksyon. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at unang tumama iyon sa bulto ng lalaking hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko ngayong araw.

My eyes darted at the woman beside him and I blinked as I realized who the woman is.

Lavinia Amherst? What is he doing with Creed Ferron? Nagpalipat lipat sa dalawa ang aking tingin ngunit agad kong natanto na kapwa sila nakatingin sa akin.

I gave them a faint smile. Sinubukan kong magbigay ng maluwag na ngiti ngunit iyon lang ang aking nakayanan matapos muling maalala si Dasher.

Creed slightly nodded his head, acknowledging my smile. They started walking towards my direction. At nang tuluyan kaming magkaharap ay agad na nagtanong si Creed. "Where are you going?"

I cleared my throat. "Just, somewhere. Babalik din ako," kalmadong sambit ko.

"How is he?" Creed asked. Hindi man banggitin ay alam ko na kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

"He's inside. He's fine, I guess." I tried smile once again because I can feel Lavinia's stares on me.

Bahagya pa akong yumuko bago napagpasyahang lagpasan ang dalawa. Surely, they'll visit Dasher. I don't have to worry about him being alone because Creed and Lavinia will be there for Dasher. Sigurado naman ako na maganda ang intensyon ng dalawa sa pagbisita. I mean, Creed's also a part of Cosmos and I know they're friends.

Iginala ko ang tingin sa kabuuan ng lugar. My eyes landed at the villa where Ridge and Donna's living. Sakto pang nakita ko si Donna sa labas noon. Seems like she's talking to someone over the phone. Seryoso at makailang ulit itong tumango na para bang nakikita iyon ng kausap.

Nang makita kong ibinaba niya ang kanyang telepono ay agad akong naglakad patungo sa kanyang direksyon. She immediately saw me coming. Tinanguan niya ako sabay magiliw na ngumiti sa akin.

"You okay?" Bungad niya matapos kong makarating sa kanyang harapan.

I nodded at her twice while a smile is plastered in my face.

"I heard, Creed arrived with Lavinia. I mean, Dasher's friend."

"Hmm. Kadarating lang."

"Pasok ka. Ridge's cooking for lunch. Dito ka na kumain."

Bahagya akong napaisip sa sinabi niya. Sa huli ay napatango rin nang maalalang tanghali na nga pala akong nagising. It was almost ten thirty when I woke up.

"Let's go inside." Her head tilted towards the door of their villa, asking to come in with her.

I waved my hands while gently shaking my head. "I mean, huwag na. I'll cook for lunch too," tanggi ko ngunit napako sa aking kamay ang kanyang mga mata.

It dawned to me that my forefinger is still bleeding and that caught Donna's attention.

Inabot niya ang aking kamay ay matiin itong tinitigan, tila sinusuri iyon. "What happened to this?"

I shrugged my shoulders off. "Nahiwa ng basag na plato."

Her eyes slowly went up as she started scanning my face. Marahan siyang tumango na para bang may hinuha na siya sa kung ano man ang nangyari.

"Let's go inside. Let me clean it," she said as she started pulling me inside their villa.

"No need. Hugasan na lang para maalis ang dugo. Baka may makapansin pa," I muttered while thinking about Dasher's visitors.

"Lilinisin ko na. Kukuha lang ako ng first aid kit."

Muli ko siyang inilingan, ngayon ay mas determinadong pigilan siya. "No need, Donna. Hindi naman ako mamamatay sa sugat na 'to."

We stopped at the villa's living room. "Maureen," she called. Bahagya pa niyang pinahaba ang huling bahagi ng aking pangalan.

"Really, Donna. No need." I assured.

She fully shifted her body to face me as her brow raised a bit. "Ano na namang ginawa ni Dasher?"

"What? Nothing. We're good." Sagot ko na lang upang hindi na pahabain ang usapan.

I went back to our villa after a few minutes talking to Ridge and Donna. Malapit na rin maglunch kaya't napagdesisyonan kong bumalik na. Noong una ay ayaw pa nila akong paalisin ng hindi nalilinis ang aking sugat. Ngunit wala naman silang nagawa dahil ayaw ko ring ipalinis pa. Hinugasan ko na lang iyon para matanggal ang dugo. Though, I know it'll bleed again.

Dire-diretso ang pasok ko sa villa natinutuluyan namin ni Dasher. I saw him, seating at the sofa on the living room with Creed and Lavinia.

I smiled at the visitors, though they're not really visitors because as far as I can remember, this is Ferron's property. Matapos ay nagtungo na ako sa kitchen para maghanda ng lulutuin. I didn't bother looking at Dasher's direction.

I started preparing the ingredients needed. Gulay ang pinili ko dahil madali iyong lutuin, wala na ring oras para magluto pa ng beef or chicken dahil malapit ng magtanghalian.

I was slicing the bottle gourd when I saw Lavinia walking towards the kitchen. I gave her a faint smile when our eyes met.

Huminto siya sa harap ng countertop kung saan ako naghihiwa. We're now facing each other.

"I'm Lavinia, you are?"

Of course, I know her. Lavinia Amherst, her family have an underground organization too.

"Cam--" I stopped when I realized what I will say. I swallowed. Bahagyang namilog ang aking mga mata ngunit agad ding nakabawi. "Maureen."

I caught her brow raised. Siguro ay dahil nahuli niyang muntik na akong magkamali sa sariling pangalan. Sa huli ay muli ko siyang nginitian upang hindi mahalata ang aking psgkakamali.

"So you're Dasher's..." She trailed off, urging me to continue her words.

"Nurse," I muttered.

"You're not a nurse," she stated and that's when I felt my smile slowly faded.

Natigilan ako sa paghihiwa at nanliliit ang mga matang binalingan siya. What is this woman up to?

The corner of her lips tugged up, forming a smirk. I can feel my heart ramming my ribcage as I saw her eyes. Like she was so sure on what she's saying.

"I-I am a nurse," mariing sambit ko bago sinubukang ngumiti ngunit bigo akong napangiwi.

Lavinia tilted her head. "Sure, you are," she muttered in a voice full of sarcasm.

I kept staring at her, analyzing her expression. Kung sigurado ba siya sa sinasabi niya o pinapaamin niya lamang ako. I can't trust this woman. She's an Amherst.

Ngunit nang matantong sigurado siya ay hindi na ako nagkaila pa. How did she know? Kilala niya ba 'ko? That I'm a Rozelli? Gusto kong pumikit ng mariin ngunit pinigilan ko ang sarili. I silently heaved a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos in my insides.

"I won't tell them, unless they asked." Pahabol pa niya.

"W-wala akong masamang balak kay Dash." Totoo iyon. I won't do anything that can harm him. Kung saktan siya ang pakay ko, baka unang araw pa lang na magkasama kami ay nagawa ko na. If I'm as evil as my father, I would kill Dasher right away.

But I'm not. And I won't harm Dasher.

"I know." Her mouth curved into a smile as she slightly leaned on the countertop in front of me. "So tell me, are you an architect? Interior designer? Or anything related to art?"

Doon ako muling natigilan at ilang beses pang napakurap. I tilted my head. Did I heard it right?

What is she? Manghuhula? Or am I that transparent? Because seriously, I'm an architect and an interior designer.

"How did you know?" Marahan at manghang tanong ko.

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