The lunch went fine. Kabado pa ako noong nagsisimula ang tanghalian sa hapag dahil sa pagaalala na sabihin ni Lavinia ang natuklasan tungkol sa akin. And true to her words, Lavinia didn't say anything about what we have talked about earlier.

But still, I can't fully trust her. She's still an Amherst and I think there's something between her and Creed. Anumang oras ay maaari niyang sabihin ang lahat ng nalaman niya at agad siyang paniniwalaan.

Hindi dapat ako makampante ngunit wala akong magagawa dahil sa mga nalaman ni Lavinia. One thing I'm sure is, she doesn't have any idea that I'm a Rozelli. The only thing she knew is I'm not a nurse.

Matapos ang tanghalian ay hindi ko na alam kung nasaan ang mga kasama ko sa villa. Hindi ko na rin naman sila hinanap. Maybe they went outside?

I insisted on washing the dishes even though Lavinia offered a help. It is enough that she help in preparing our lunch.

Isa pa, sa mahigit isang buwan na pananatili rito ay nasanay na ako sa mga gawaing bahay. Even though sometimes-- no, most of the times Dasher's insisting on doing the chores, I'm not letting him. Lalo na nitong mga nakaraang araw na standard walker na ang gamit niya at nakakatayo na.

Nga lang, laging nauuwi sa hindi pagkakaintindihan ang pagpupumilit niya na nakalaunan ay naaayos din naman. Sometimes, he's compromising. Like if I'll wash the dishes, he'll find a different chores that I can't do while I'm still doing something. Ganoon, kaya't minsan ay hindi ko na rin siya mapigilan, hinahayaan ko na lang.

That way he won't feel like he's a burden. Dahil alam ko na hindi man niya sabihin o aminin ay may parte sa kanya na iyon pa rin ang iniisip.

I, not even once think of him like that. Because he isn't.

I was rinsing the last plate with water when I felt Dasher's presence near me. Nilingon ko siya sabay punas ng kamay sa basahan upang patuyuin iyon.

I remember he kept glancing at my hand awhile ago when we're having lunch, particularly on my right hand.

Bahagyang kumikirot ang aking sugat ngunit hindi na iyon dumudugo. Mabuti at hindi na napansin ng mga kasama namin.

"Maureen," he called, trying to catch my attention.

My eyes darted at him before I turned to the first aid kit that he's holding. Muling bumalik ang aking tingin sa kanyang mga mata. I saw him gently placed the box at the dining table. Iyon na lamang, maliban sa isang simpleng vase na may iilang bulaklak ang nasa lamesa.

He licked his lower lip as I saw him shifted his weight while gripping the standard walker. "Let me clean your wound."

"No need. Hindi na naman dumudugo. See?" I placed my hand in front of me, tama lang para makita niyang naampat na nga ang pagdurugo ng aking daliri.

"Still, I want to clean it, Maureen. Sit down and let me see your wound." He ordered yet it doesn't sounds like it. He angled his head, motioning the chair at the dining table.

Mataman ko siyang tinitigan habang pinakikiramdaman ko ang sarili. I'm calm already.

The side of my lips faintly rose as I sat on the chair. I intently watched him as he settled beside me. Hinarap niya sa akin ang kinauupuan kaya naman ganoon din ang aking ginawa.

We're now facing each other while the table is in our side. I waited for him to get the first aid kit but seems like he's waiting for something too.

"Let me see you hand," sambit niya nang siguro ay natantong hindi ko nakuha kung ano gagawin.

Slowly, I extended my right hand while my lips were pressed. I almost shut my eyes closed when his hand met mine. He gently held my hand, na para bang sa isang maling galaw ay maglalaho ang aking kamay.

I watched him as he stared at my hand. He caressed my forefinger, gently tracing the one inch slit caused by the fragment of plate. Hindi gaanong mahaba ang sugat ngunit malalim iyon, base na rin sa dami ng dugong lumabas mula roon.

He gently pulled my hand near him as he place it on my lap. Walang imik na bumaling siya sa first aid kit.

I tilted my head while trying to have eye contact with him but I failed.

My eyes turned to my hand. Hindi ko alam kung paano igagalaw ang kamay na nasa kandungan niya.

Mabuti na lang at muli niyang hinawakan iyon. He's now focused at cleaning the wound on my forefinger.

I was just watching him the whole time. His hair is now a bit longer than his usual clean cut. Ngunit sapat ang haba noon upang malaya kong makita ang kanyang mukha kahit na bahagya siyang nakatungo dahil sa ginagawa.

His head's a bit tilted on its side, accentuating his angled jaw who's occasionally clenching while glaring at my wound. Tila may nakikita siya roon na nakapagpapagalit sa kanya.

Muli kong hinanap ang kanyang mga mata ngunit bigong matagpuan iyon. He's busy mending my wound and his eyes were focused at my forefinger.

My stares went down on his pointed nose down to his lips. Hindi pa nagtatagal doon ang aking mga mata nang nag-angat siya ng tingin.

Our eyes met and I was dumbfounded for a second.

Can he feel my stares? Of course he can!

Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang pagbukas ng aking mga labi. Ngunit agad ding nag-iwas ng tingin matapos matauhan.

"I'm sorry," he whispered that made my eyes went back on him.

I know what he said but I gave him a questioning look.

"I'm sorry, Maureen." He repeated.

Him, calling me sounds like a melody coming from a lyre. Like the butterflies are churning in my stomach. Lalo pa kung pangalan ko nga ang tinatawag niya. I mean, Maureen is a part of my name but I'm not Maureen. It was Ate Callista's name.

"I know words won't be enough but still, I'm sorry for being an asshole."

I can feel his sincerity as I stared in his orbs. Ibinalik niya sa kanyang kandungan ang ginagamot na kamay ngunit ngayon ay hindi na niya iyon binitawan.

I don't know if he's done cleaning my wound already or what. Dahil ang isang kamay niya ay nakapatong na sa table habang ang isa naman ay hawak ang aking kamay na nasa kanyang kandungan.

"When I woke up after what happened and I can't feel my legs. I already know I can't use them for the mean time or worst I can't walk any longer." Mapait siyang ngumiti bago nagbaba ng tingin sa aking kamay na nakapatong pa rin sa kanyang kandungan.

"One thing immediately came in my mind, that I'll be useless if that's the case. Fuck, I can't imagine myself seating on a fucking wheelchair. I'm a doctor yet I can't do anything, fuck it!"

Mataman akong nakikinig. I let him say everything he want as I remained listening.

I caught how his jaw clenched before he continued. "I don't want to see pity on the people's eyes as they look at me. I don't want people to think that I'm fucking useless. Reason why most of the time, I'm not letting you help me. That's why I'm always pushing you."

I bit my lower lip as I felt his grasp on my hand tightened. Ngunit sapat ang higpit noon upang hindi ako masaktan.

"I know it won't justify what I did. But I still want to say sorry for being rude."

I flipped my hand whom he's holding awhile ago. Ngayon ay ako na ang may hawak sa kamay niya. I thought he won't let me but he didn't budged even a bit.

"I understand." I let the corner of my lips rose for a smile.

"You're not useless, Dasher..." I trailed off. Thinking if I should continue. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I gathered all the words I want to say.

Hinanap ko ang kanyang mga mata at natagpuan iyong matamang nakatitig sa akin. My insides moved drastically as I saw him staring at me while intently listening.

My thumb caressed the back of his palm before I continued. "Right now, y-you can't do things you used to before but that won't invalidate all the good things that you did." I gave him an encouraging smile. I didn't let it falter as I felt my heartbeat's unusual movement.

"I heard you're a great doctor. I know you are--" I stopped as I shook my head. "No, I think great is an understatement to describe you as a person." I smiled despite his piercing eyes on me. He didn't utter a single word. Mariing magkalapat ang mga labi niya.

"You'll get through this, huh? For now... let me help you. Let me guide you as you walk through this." A wide smile plastered in my lips as I whispered the last words.

There's a deafening silence between the two of us when I finished. He's just staring at me. May kung ano sa mga titig niya, dahilan para hindi ko iyon matagalan. I avoided his gaze and my eyes flew on our hands. My eyes widened a fraction as I realized I'm still holding him. Hinigit ko ang aking kamay ngunit agad niyang nahuli iyon.

He didn't answer but I can he feel he agreed. That our next days will be better.

Nagpatuloy siya sa panggagamot sa aking sugat. Ilang minuto ang inabot noon mula nang matapos ang aming usapan. He then finally let my hand go.

Pinanood ko ang bawat galaw niya habang inaayos ang first aid kit, ibinabalik sa kung saan ang orihinal na pwesto ng bawat ginamit.

Hindi ako tumayo sa kinauupuan hanggang sa matapos siya sa ginagawa at muling bumalik sa aking ang atensyon.

"Creed's planning to propose on Lavinia," he informed.

My mouth formed into an 'o' shape. Creed will propose to an Amherst? Paguulit ko sa aking isipan.

"If she'll agree, they'll get married later."

I slowly nodded my head, still in awe. If Lavinia would agree? I think she will.

"Our friends are already waiting at the venue. You will come with me. We'll go there later..." He trailed off as he glanced at his wrist watch. "I mean, right now. Hindi na tayo masusundo at baka pa makita ni Lavinia. Makakahalata 'yon."

My lips parted. Creed must be confident that Lavinia will say yes? O siguro ay napaguusapan na nila ito? I mean, it'll be the wedding after the proposal. Nakahanda na ang venue at si Lavinia na lang ang hinihintay. There maybe something in their relationship that they are sure they'll end up together.

"Saan ba? We'll drive? Wala tayong kotse rito. How about Ridge and Donna?"

"We don't need a car. By now, I think the yacht's outside already. About Ridge and Donna, they can't attend. I heard they're leaving after lunch for Manila, bukas na ang balik kaya't hindi na makakapunta."

I don't know where's Creed and Lavinia. Dasher said Creed's just buying time. Maybe for more preparations? Or he's trying to calm hisself? Sinong magpopropose ang hindi kakabahan? If Lavinia says no, then that may be the end of their relationship.

My eyes are still fixed at the yacht-- no, it was a large yacht near the villa where we're staying. My stares went at the people in the yacht. Habang papalapit kami ni Dasher ay doon ko malinaw na namumukhaan ang mga naroon.

Dasher's walking with his standard walker. Habang ako ay alerto sa gilid niya, nagaalalang bumaon sa pinong buhangin ang paa ng walker at mawalan siya ng balanse.

We arrived at the floating dock and that's when Attorney Fonacier came running towards our direction.

"Dasher!" Bungad ni Archer, bahagya pa niyang pinahaba ang bigkas ng huling bahagi ng pangalan ni Dash. He's smiling with his perfect set of white teeth while he spreaded his arm on the air, aiming to hug Dasher.

Dasher chuckled at Archer's reaction. Bahagyang naiiling ngunit bakas ang ngiti sa mga labi.

Archer gave him a man hug as he slightly tapped Dasher's back. May ibinulong pa ito bago humiwalay na nakapagpatawa kay Dasher.

Attorney's eyes darted at me. "Maureen." Isang ngiti ang ibinigay niya sa akin kasabay ng isang tango.

The side of my lips tugged up. Kasabay noon ang pagtaas ng aking pisngi.

"Are you taking care of this fucker?" He bobbed his head, pointing Dasher. May mapaglarong ngisi sa mga labi nito.

Bago pa ako makasagot ay nagsalita na si Dasher na nakapagpainit ng aking mga pisngi.

"Definitely, Arch. She's the best," he proudly announced that made my heart beat drastically.

I expect us to be okay after that talk but I can't believed he told Archer those set of words.

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