Creed opened the door for me, paglabas ko ay agad na hinangin ang aking buhok. Pinagsalikop ko ito at ipinatong sa aking balikat.

We started walking side by side. Creed's holding a lot of paper bags full of toys while in my hand is a basket of flowers.

Nang makarating kami sa mausoleum ay isa-isang inilabas ni Creed ang mga laruan at isinama iyon sa mga naroon na. I kneeled on the floor as I placed the basket of flowers in front of the tomb and caressed it like what I'm always doing.

"So these toys and baby stuffs, they're from you?" I asked. Kaya nagtataka ako dahil hindi naman bumibili si Mommy ng mga ganoon para ilagay sa mausoleum, at kung bibili man ay hindi ganoon kadami.

"Yeah. I searched for her the moment I remembered our baby and gladly I immediately found her." Mapait itong napangiti. "And it brought me here, inside this mausoleum."

I bit my lower lip. "I'm sorry, if only I am not stubborn. If only I took more care of her."

Natigilan ito sa ginagawa at hinarap ako. "Are you blaming your self?" Tanong niya habang mataman akong tinitigan.

"Everything's my fault." I smiled but I wonder if it reached my eyes.

He walked towards me, tinulungan niya akong makatayo bago ako hinarap. He held my shoulders and sighed. "Kung ano man ang nangyari, walang may gusto noon. Don't blame your self, Vinia. Sa tingin mo ba ay matutuwa ang anak natin kung sinisisi mo ang sarili mo sa nangyari sa kanya? She wouldn't be happy seeing you miserable. Move forward, Vinia." Malumanay ang bawat salita ni Creed ngunit may diin ang bawat sambit na para bang ipinapaunawa sa akin ang lahat.

I shook my head. "I can't forget it, the day it happened. Every night, everything's flashing back in my mind."

He frowned and shook his head as well. "I'm not telling you to forget it because doing that means forgetting our daughter. I'm telling you to move with it." He smiled and I know it's genuine.

"No! Hindi ko siya kakalimutan, I can't." I can't even imagine that I'll forget her.

"We won't, she's always with us, she's in our hearts."

I nodded my head and pulled him closer.

I encircled my arms around his nape and leaned on his neck.

I felt him kissed the top of my head and whispered. "Maybe it happened because He wants us to learn something from it."

"I hope she's happy up there," I muttered.

"She is," He answered like he's so sure of that.

We stayed at the mausoleum until the darkness consumed the whole place. If not because of the light coming from the incandescent bulb, everything you can see inside the mausoleum's nothing but darkness.

We decided to leave when we heard a thunder. Hindi pa umuulan ngunit ang kulog na iyon ay hudyat na noon.

We walked towards his car. His hand is on my back, na para bang nakasuporta roon.

He opened the passenger's door for my but I didn't enter.

I looked at the sky and smiled. Another night without a star, a night full of darkness. "Night." I called Creed using his Cosmos' codename without looking at him. "I love you." I whispered while my eyes were still focused at the night sky.

I turned to Creed. A smile automatically formed in my lips when our eyes met.

Binitawan ni Creed ang pinto ng kotse at sumara iyon. He cupped my face using the both of his hands and whispered. "I love you, Vinia."

Hindi ako nakasagot dahil sa paglapat ng kanyang mga labi sa akin. My eyes closed as I encircled my arms around his nape when I felt his soft lips. He tilted his head as he slowly move his lips on mine. We kissed until we're both gasping in air.

Bahagya siyang lumayo sa akin. He gave me a peck on my lips and whispered. "I love you."

I smiled. "I love you, Creed. I miss you," I muttered and my eyes widened when he playfully pinched my cheeks.

"Hey!" Tinampal ko ang kamay niya sa aking pisngi at sinamaan ng tingin. I rolled my eyes on him as I opened the passenger's door and I entered. Bago ko pa maisara iyon ay narinig ko ang malutong na paghalakhak niya.

He walked towards the driver's seat. Nang makapasok siya ay agad na binuhay ang makina ng sasakyan habang mapangasar na nakangiti sa akin.

I raised my brow up on him and he slowly shook his head as he maneuvered the car.

"You'll take over the Amherst?" He suddenly asked.

I looked at him and nodded my head nonchalantly.

"Can you be my date then, at Mafia's annual gathering?"

My brow arched. I actually have no plans for wasting my time in that gathering. "Cosmos, you'll all come?" I heard Cosmos never attend Mafia gatherings, ngayon pa lang ang una kung sakali. I remember something, walang nakakaalam kung sino ang mga namamahala sa Cosmos, siguro ay minsan na silang dumalo ngunit wala lang nakapansin dahil walang nakakakilala sa kanila. I shrugged.

"Hmm," He hummed as he nodded his head.

"Why?" I asked, noong una ay bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo ngunit agad ding sumagot.

"Masquerade's the theme, why not?"

Napalabi ako bago nagkibit balikat.

"So, can you be my date?" He glanced at me then back on the road.

"I can't, I won't attend."

"You sure?" His one brow arched.

"More than sure." I won't attend that gathering whatever happens. Yes, I'll take over the Amherst physically but not mentally.

"Alright, just call me if you change your mind, I'll be your date."

"Okay," I answered but I've made up my mind. I won't attend, wala naman akong mapapala roon.

Hindi ko namalayan ang paglipas ng araw dahil sa bilis noon.

After telling Lucille what happened between me and Creed, she started asking me things. Hindi ito nakuntento sa usapan namin sa telepono at sinabi pa na dapat daw ay magkita kami.

On my way towards the cafe when my phone started ringing. I glanced on my phone and saw Creed's name on it.

"Morning, Vinia," Creed greeted as soon as I answered the phone.

"Morning, what's with the call?" I asked though I partly know why.

"I miss you." I rolled my eyes after hearing that.

"Magkasama tayo kagabi," I stated. Halos araw-araw nga ay nagkikita kami, noong nakaraang araw ay sumama ako nang bisitahin niya si Crizzy sa bahay nila Tita Merida. Doon kasi ito namamalagi at sinusundo o di kaya ay pinupuntahan lang ni Creed tuwing sabado at linggo.

"Yeah, but I miss you already." I can imagine him slightly pouting his lips.

"Why don't you just prepare for the gathering." Kung tama ang pagkakaalala ko ay mamaya na iyon.

"Mamaya pa iyong gabi. You sure you won't come? I'll fetch you right away if you changed your mind."

"I won't. Enjoy alright?"

"I won't go there to enjoy, Universe wants us to attend. I'm just following orders."

I chuckled as I leave my car. "Alright. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Where are you?" He asked, ignoring what I've said.

"Grand cafe, I'll meet Lucille, remember?" I entered the cafe, inilibot ko ang aking tingin at agad namang nakita si Lucille dahil sa pagkaway nito sa akin. I rolled my eyes and saw her chuckled because of my reaction.

"I told you I'll drive you to the cafe," I heard Creed muttered on the other line as I walked near the table where Lucille is.

"Malapit lang naman sa condo 'to, at nandito na ko." Besides, I know he's busy. Even though he said he'll always make time for me, I don't want to be a burden to him.

Tumapat ako sa table kung nasaan si Lucille ngunit hindi muna umupo. I saw her eyeing me with her eyes full of suspicions.

"Hmm, what else can I do? Like what you've said, you're already there." He muttered sarcastically as I heard him chuckled. "See you later, I'll fetch you on your office."

"Huwag na, remember Crizzette is sick, puntahan mo nalang siya sa bahay niyo at maghanda ka para mamaya."

He sighed. "Alright, I'll end this call so you can talk to Lucille. Take care, Vinia, always. I'll see you tomorrow." Paalam ni Creed. I bit my lower lip to suppress a smile slowly forming in my lips because I saw Lucille's eyes narrowed.

"A-alright. You too, take care, always." I almost cursed when I stammered and saw Lucille's eyes widened as she use her hand as a fan.

"I will."

The call ended and I sat on the chair in front of Lucille.

"Marupok!" Bungad nito sa akin. Pasimple ko pang iginala ang mata upang tingnan kung may nakarinig ba sa sinabi ni Lucille dahil bahagyang iyong napalakas. Laking pasalamat ko ng walang ibang nakatingin sa amin.

"Isang sabi lang na naaalala ka na, binalikan mo agad? Nakalimutan mo na ba yung mga panahon na naging girlfriend niya si Cerys. Technically, he cheated on you, kasi hindi naman kayo naghiwalay. You didn't even acted like a cold woman. Tinanggap mo agad!" Mapaglaro nitong inikot ang itim ng mga mata. I don't get her. Noong hindi ako maalala ni Creed ay siya ang nagtutulak sa akin palapit kay dito, ngayon naman ay nagrereklamo siya.

"I love him and he can't remember me. I understand if he had a relationship with Cerys." I'm not saying that what I did is right. Oo tama ang ginawa ko, pero hindi sa lahat ng sitwasyon.

I know how much Creed loves me. I know what he did is considered as cheating. Pero hindi iyon ginusto ni Creed. Hindi niya alam na may fiancee siya. Hindi niya alam na mayroon siyang masasaktan.

Besides, kung hindi ako umalis sa tabi niya at nasisiguro ko na hindi sila magkakaron ng relasyon ni Cerys, I'm also at fault.

Ngayon na naaalala na niya ako, if he'll cheat on me, I'll never accept him again no matter how much I love him.

"Hindi mo man lang pinaghintay kahit one week, sunggab agad? Kunwari cold ka, walang ganon?" Mapanuyang sambit nito na agad kong inismiran.

My brow automatically rose up upon hearing her words. "At saan ka dinala ng cold-coldan mo? Tell me, Lucille saan ka dinala?"

She rolled her eyes and pouted her mouth. "Atleast, now I know that he isn't serious on our relationship. How about you, natatakot ka ba na bigla nalang mawala si Creed kaya sinunggaban mo agad?"

I slowly shook my head and smirked. "No, alam ko na hindi gagawin ni Creed ang ginawa ng ex mo. Your ex is an ass for leaving you, at ang lakas ng loob na ipagpalit ka sa mas kapalitpalit."

"Well." She shrugged as she proudly raised her brow. "So when is the wedding?"

"Wala pa kaming napaguusapan."

Tumango-tango ito sa akin. "How about his daughter? Okay lang ba sa'yo?"

"Hmm." I have no problem with Crizzy. Wala akong ideya kung sino ang nagluwal sa bata, ganoon din si Creed at wala raw siyang balak alamin kung sino ito. Ang mahalaga ay nasa kanya ang anak niya.

Though I'm also wondering, kung tama ako ay anim na taong gulang na si Crizzy at kasing edad sana ng anak namin ni Creed at anak nila ni Cerys. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang anak ni Creed at ni Cerys, and I have a hunch and hoping that Crizzy is their daughter. Because if not, then Creed cheated on me years ago, before the accident.

"How about you? You alright?" I asked. It must be hard for her after what happened.

"Oo naman, masaya na 'ko ngayon." She even flipped her hair. Taas noo itong tumingin sa akin.

We finished after almost two hours. Matapos ay dumiretso ako sa opisina. I have a lot of things to do, kaya naman hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. It's almost five, agad kong niligpit ang gamit ko at handa ng umalis nang narinig ko ang boses ng aking sekretarya.

"Ma'am, Sir Armando is looking for you," Shane muttered through the intercom. I sighed after hearing my Lolo's name.

"Alright, let him in."

"Copy, Ma'am."

Ilang sandali lang ay bumungad sa akin si Lolo dala ang malamig na ekspresyon.

"Hindi mo sinasagot ang mga tawag ko," Mariing sambit ni Lolo. Ilang araw na itong tumatawag sa aking ngunit wala akong balak sagutin. I knew it, kapag tumatawag siya ay may ipagagawa o sasabihin siya tungkol sa Amherst.

"What is it, Lo?" Maybe I can't really escape him.

"You'll attend the Mafia gathering. Ikaw ang susunod na mamamahala sa Amherst, you need to attend." Nanatili itong nakatayo sa aking harapan.

"I won't, Lo. Ayoko." Lumiit ang boses ko sa huling salitang sinambit.

"Attend that then I'll tell you where your daughter is."

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