Titanium held my hand as we rode the car on the way to the hotel. Anja is driving, Tita Moana is on the front seat and I was sandwiched between Titanium and Audrey.

"Calm down, Gabby, okay? Everything is gonna be fine." Titanium said.

I wanna believe that. I wanna calm down, but my heart won't. My heart was pounding when Anja pull the car in front of the hotel. Hindi pa iyon maayos na naihihinto ay nakababa na si Tita Moana.

Maingat akong inalalayan ni Titanium pababa, nanatili sila ni Audrey sa aking tabi habang sinusundan namin si Tita Moana na siyang agad na sinalubong ni Tito Exodus pagkapasok sa lobby ng hotel.

"They're at the board room, the cops are there. Good thing Kurt was still here when they came, he didn't let the police take him-"

"Bakit mo iniwan?! Hindi mo dapat iniwan si Oxygen mag-isa doon, Exodus!" Umiiyak na sabi ni Tita Moana habang pinipindot ang control button ng lift.

"Nasa taas na si Tristan, si Blaster papunta na." Mahinahong sagot ni Tito Exodus dito. "Calm down, Moana Marie. Your son wouldn't like it if he'll see you cry. We have to be strong for him, he will need us."

Tito Exodus is right, our tears won't help. I need to be strong not just for Oxygen but for our babies, too. I wiped my tears away and tried not to replace it with a new set. We rode the lift and it stopped on one of the highest floors in the building.

The two still hold me from both sides. I'm glad they did because my legs were shaking. We reached the board room, Tito Exodus opened it and we walked in.

"I'm not gonna say anything without my lawyer here." That was Oxygen's voice we heard.

"Oxygen, nandito na 'ko." Sigaw ni Tita Moana na agad hinagilap si Oxygen.

He's seated at the center, both hands behind and were handcuffed. I bit my lower lip to keep myself from crying. I stared at him, two cops were standing on his side. Both were aggressively asking him questions.

"Bakit kailangan niyong iposas?!" Sinigawan nito ang mga pulis nang makalapit. "Hindi naman papalag ang anak ko!"

"Protocol lang po, Mrs. De Salvo," paliwanag ng pulis.

Lalabanan pa sana ito ni Tita Moana nang mag-salita si Oxygen. "Ma, okay lang ako."

Inilibot niya ang kaniyang mga mata sa aming mga dumating at huminto iyon sa akin. Agad na kumunot ang kaniyang noo, lalo kong pinigil ang pag-patak ng aking mga luha. Alam kong hindi gugustuhin ni Oxygen na nandito ako, but I want to be here and I will be here. I have to prove him that I'm okay and I'm strong enough for this. I won't leave him. Not in this situation.

"Bakit sinama niyo siya dito?" Mariin niyang tanong kay Tita Moana, akmang tatayo siya nang pigilan ng mga pulis ang kaniyang balikat.

"Bitiwan niyo nga ang anak ko!" Muling hiyaw ni Tita Moana sa mga ito.

Inakay ako ni Titanium paupo sa isa sa mga upuan sa paligid ng mahabang lamesa bago ito umupo sa aking tabi. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko kay Oxygen, ganoon rin siya. How bad I wanna run towards him and hug him.

Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ang mga pangyayari, hindi ko alam kung bakit siya inaaresto pero isa lang ang alam ko, mabuting tao si Oxygen at iyon ang panghahawakan ko.

"We'll apeal for bail." Nanatiling kalmado si Tito Exodus.

"Attorney, mabigat ho ang ebidensya na meron kami laban sa anak niyo." Sabi nito. "May nagtip sa amin na nagdidistribute si Mr. De Salvo ng ilegal na droga. Ayan ho ang nakita namin sa bulsa ng pantalon niya."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang nasa lamesa. A small pack of drugs. Napailing ako, this time, I could no longer control my emotions. Tears rolled down freely from my eyes.

"N-no, that's not true! Oxygen is not doing drugs!" I said, breaking down.

"Gabbana, calm down." Oxygen worried. "Baby, calm down. I'm fine. This is okay."

I shook my head, looking at him. He mouthed please then it reminds me of how much I should be here, strong for him. I nodded, covering my face with both hands. Agad ko naman naramdaman ang pagyakap sa akin ni Titanium.

"Gabby, hindi makakabuti sayo ang pag-iyak. Do you want to get out of here?"

"No, Oxygen needs me."

"But this is too much for you."

"I can. I can do this for him." I don't wanna leave. I don't wanna leave him. "I will still cry if we leave. I rather stay."

"Then be strong. Walang hindi kayang lampasan si Oxygen, you know him." Puno ng kumpyansa niyang sabi.

"Republic Act 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Section 11 possession of dangerous drugs is a non bailable offense, life imprisonment-"

"Don't go there, trust me I've memorized each period of it." Putol ni Tito Exodus sa sinasabi nito. "That's less than five grams, twelve years and one day up to twenty year and a fine of three hundred to four hundred thousand."

"Exodus, hindi pwedeng makulong si Oxygen ng ganoon katagal." Reklamo ni Tita Moana.

"Do you trust me, Moana Marie?" Tanong nito sa asawa. "If you do then we'll get this through."

Matalim na tingin ang inilipat ni Tita Moana kay Tito Tristan na nananatiling tahimik sa isang tabi simula nang dumating kami. Bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa noon si Anja kasama ang isa pang lalaki na kamukha rin ni Tito Tristan. He look so familiar, then when the police greeted a salute on him, that's when I realized that he's Blaster De Vera, the newest Vice President of the Philippines.

When the former president, Dansen Mendrez died in assassination he was replaced by another Mendrez, Tito Lander making Senate President Blaster De Vera, the Vice President.

"Blaster, tell them to remove his handcuffs. Come on, my son is not a criminal!" Agad na sabi ni Tita Moana dito.

"Moana, calm down. For now, let them take Oxygen-"

Doon napatayo si Tita Moana. "Tangina hindi! Ano? Wala tayong gagawin? Bakit? Bakit hindi 'yung mga talagang gumagamit ng bawal na gamot ang pagbuhusan niyo ng atensyon at hindi ang anak ko? Hindi pwede, Exodus. Tangina ano ba!" Nilingon niya si Tito Tristan. "Tristan, ano? Wag mo sabihin sa'kin na hahayaan mo si Oxygen? Blaster? Ano ba?!"

"Moana, tama na." Pilit na pagpapakalma dito ni Tito Exodus. "Hindi, hindi ko pababayaan si Oxygen. Hindi namin pababayaan."

Nilingon ng isa sa mga pulis si Blaster De Vera. "Sir, pwede na ho ba namin siya kunin?"

Muli kong tinignan si Oxygen, kahit pa gustong-gusto kong umiyak pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Hindi iyon ang kailangan niya ngayon. He needs me to stay strong. I watched him stood up from his seat. "Sasama ako."

"Exodus, yung anak ko." Umiiyak na niyakap ni Tita Moana si Tito Exodus, I've never seen her this devastated. She was always happy.

Naglakad si Oxygen patungo sa akin, mabilis akong tumayo. Pigil na pigil pa rin ang aking pag-iyak. When he reached in front of me, he bent down and kiss my forehead.

"This won't be long. I love you, Gabby. Take care of yourself for me, sandali lang 'to." He whispered.

I hugged him tight. "Hindi totoo 'yun 'di ba? Hindi naman totoo 'yung binibintang nila sa'yo. You won't do that."

"Kung totoo ba, hindi mo na ko mahal?" Mahina niya paring sabi.

Dali-dali akong umiling. "I love you, Oxygen. I love you so much."

I'm no longer crying but the worry in me doesn't subside. Hindi na ako pinayagan pa nila Tita Moana na sumama sa presinto nang dalhin doon si Oxygen, ako at ang mga kapatid niya ay umuwi na. Titanium doesn't leave my side, so as Audrey. Anja continued making calls to their connections.

Evening came and their parents still hasn't come home yet, neither Oxygen. I was still hoping that they can bring him with them today and that he wouldn't be staying the night in prison, he doesn't belong there.

"Sigurado ka ba na ayaw mo na?" Muling tanong ni Titanium sa akin nang ibaba ko na ang kubyertos na ginamit ko sa pag-kain.

Tango lamang ang isinagot ko sa kanya. Sa katunayan, wala akong ganang kumain. But I know I couldn't miss a meal, I have three kids to feed inside me. So, I have to eat.

"Sige, madami ka na rin namang kinain." Tipid niya akong nginitian atsaka tumayo na at iniutos sa kasambahay ang pag-liligpit. "Gusto mo bang ihatid na kita sa kwarto ni Oxygen para makapagpahinga ka na? We all had a long day, pero kailangan mo pa rin ng pahinga."

Tama siya, iyon ang isa sa mga bilin sa akin ng OB. Get as much rest as I can. But how could I do that without worrying about Oxygen?

"Gabby, alam ko nahihirapan ka. Ako rin naman. Si Oxygen 'yun, e. Kapatid ko, kakambal ko. He's the other part of me. But I have to stay strong for him, we all have to." Then I felt her hand on my shoulder, caressing it. Pakiramdam ko, may kakampi ako. "You heard dad, right? We'll get through this. I believe him."

I looked up to her and nodded. "Thank you, Tami. For staying strong for him..."

"That's what sisters do," she smiled at me and helped me up. "Come on, I'll help you to bed."

That night, I almost hadn't slept. A lingering haze of sleep sat somewhere at the back of my mind but was too far away to reach, floating in the pool of worries. Icy discomfort blossomed in my chest and made it difficult for me to breathe. Trying to make myself fall into slumber, I took as deep breaths as I could, but many just caught in my throat, like an icy wind had blown down there and managed to freeze the air solid. At that moment, I knew this was going to be a long night. I actually didn't know how I managed to sleep.

When I open my eyes, it rested on the wall opposing the windows covered by blinds. There were rectangles of light projecting from the gaps. That's when I realized it's already morning. I didn't waste time, I stood up and fix myself then went out of the room. I don't wanna miss things about Oxygen. I was silently hoping he's already here when I woke up from sleep, but if he's here now, he should've woke me up through his kisses.

God, it's just a night without him and it feels like forever.

But no, Gabby. You can't cry! They wouldn't let me go with them if I continued being weak and I don't wanna be left here, I wanna be there until everything was over.

"Ma, nandito na iyong mga damit ni papa." Si Anja iyon na agad kong narinig nang marating ko ang kusina. "Dadalhin ko na sa sasakyan, pati mga damit ni kuya."

"Ma, I think something's not right here." Titanium said, holding a newspaper in her hand.

"Wala naman talagang tama sa mga nangyayari, Titanium." Sagot ni Tita Moana na abala sa pagsasara ng tupperware na may lamang mga pagkain. "Isunod mo na 'tong mga 'to sa sasakyan, Audrey."

"No, mom. I mean it's all over the news now, tapos ito pa, itong headline ng pagpunta ni Tita Chi doon. She requested to bail him out but it was declined." Patuloy na sabi ni Titanium.

"It's a non-bailable offense, Tami. Maybe that's why they didn't grant it." Nalilito ring sabi ni Audrey habang iniaayos sa paper bag ang mga pagkain.

"Yeah, I know. But it was Tita Chi we're talking about." Sabi pa rin ni Tami.

Tita Moana sighed, looking at her daughters. "Tama na. Huwag na kayong makialam pa, sabi ng papa niyo mailalabas niya si Oxygen. Maniniwala tayo doon. Panghahawakan natin 'yon. Sige na, puntahan niyo na ang kapatid niyo, susunod kami ng papa niyo. Kailangan lang namin kitain sila Chi. Mag-iingat kayo."

Agad na kumilos ang mga ito, nalingunan nila ako. Alam ko kung gaano kabigat para sa kanila ang sitwasyon na ito, ngunit nakuha pa rin nila akong ngitian. I guess that's to somehow lift up my mood.

"Gising ka na pala, Gabbana." Maging si Tita Moana ay nginitian rin ako, although her eyes won't hide the sadness she's feeling. "Nasa labas ang kapatid mo, galing din dito ang daddy mo. Nang sabihin ko na tulog ka pa, umalis na. Makikipagkita kay Tristan. They heard the news and was worried about you, I told them I'll keep you safe."

Tumango ako. "He might've called but I was too preoccupied to even check my phone."

"Maiintindihan niya 'yon." Sabi niya. "Halika, kumain ka muna-"

"Pupunta sila kay Oxygen? Tita gusto kong sumama." Mahina kong pakiusap, nang lumingon ako kanila Tami ay siyang saktong pag-dating ni Derek. Kinuha niya ang dala-dala ni Audrey. I don't have time to hate him now. Muli kong binalikan ng tingin si Tita Moana na nakatitig lamang sa akin. "Please?"

Sandali siyang nag-isip bago muling nagsalita. "Kumain ka muna, sumabay ka nalang sa akin."

Audrey's phone broke the silence. She excused herself. "I have to take it, it's Spade. He might've heard the news, too. I'll wait outside."

Lumapit na ako kay Tita Moana nang simulan na niyang ihanda ang aking aalmusalin. She pulled a chair for me and have me seated.

"Ma, una na rin kami." Paalam ni Tami.

"Sige, kaninong sasakyan ang gagamitin niyo?" Tanong ni Tita Moana. "Alam mong hindi kita kayang pagkatiwalaan sa manibela, Tami."

Nakita kong napangiwi si Tami doon. "Yeah, I know. Audrey will go with Anja, I think I'll go with Derek. He has his car."

Tinanguan lamang iyon ni Tita Moana. "Mag-iingat kayo."

Nang mawala ang mga ito ay sinimulan ko nang kumain. Si Tita Moana naman ay naupo sa tabi ko at ipinagbalat ako ng mansanas. She always does that. Binalingan ko siya at maingat na tinanong.

"Kumusta po si Oxygen?"

"Ok lang pero hindi okay," kumplikado niyang sagot. "Huwag ka masyadong mag-alala, dun siya magiging hindi talaga okay. Matapang 'yun si Oxygen, anak 'yun ng tatay niya, e. Ako? Hindi naman ako matapang. Kung wala si Exodus? Paano na ko? 'di ba? Pero alam mo kasi, you have to be the reflection of your partner. Sa isa't isa kayo kukuha ng lakas, I have to be strong and match my husband. Para sa mga anak namin, kaya ikaw din. Dapat ganoon ka rin."

She's right. And I intend to stay strong, I know this won't be easy. "Tita, I wanna be with Oxygen through it all. Will you let me?"

She stared at me, undecided.

"Please? I promise, I will be strong. I won't cry. I will continue living healthy, I can't promise I won't worry but I'll worry more if I don't get to see him everyday." I said. "I swear, I won't go anywhere away from you. I'll behave."

Hindi ko alam kung gaano niya ako katagal pinagmasdan, all I could see in her eyes were pure understanding. She then nodded. "Pull yourself together. God gives his hardest battle to his strongest soldier. Sa pagkakataong ito, si Oxygen iyon."