I woke up hearing the sound coming from the electrocardiogram. The smell of the hospital's still lingering in my nose.

I opened my eyes and saw my Lolo lying on the hospital bed. There's an IV attached in his hand and a nasal cannula to deliver oxygen. Maraming aparato ang nakakabit sa kanya ngunit iilan lang sa mga iyon ang pamilyar sa akin.

I saw my parents on the other side of the couch. My Mom's sleeping in my Daddy's shoulder while my Dad's looking at nowhere.

"Dad," I called as I rose up to get his attention.

Agad naman siyang bumaling sa akin. "I'll just go out for a moment."

"Take care," He nodded.

I left Lolo's room without looking around. I started walking with no particular direction. If I am not mistaken, it's already midnight or past midnight, perhaps.

Bumagal ang aking paglalakad nang makita ang dalawang pamilyar na bulto malapit sa aking harapan. Tatlong kwarto ang layo ko sa kanila ngunit sigurado ako sa aking nakita, kasabay noon ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib. I want to clutch my chest, ngunit pinigilan ko ang aking sarili.

The woman's facing me while I'm facing the man's back.

Bago tumalikod ang babae ay nakilala ko kung sino iyon. Mirae.

Akmang tatalikod na rin ako at maglalakad sa kabilang direksyon nang humarap sa akin si Creed.

Nagtama ang aming mga mata. Sa una ay bahagyang kumunot ang noo nito, matapos ay naglakad palapit sa akin habang ako naman ay parang napako sa aking kinatatayuan. Bakas ang pagaalala sa mga mata niya ngunit hindi ko alam kung paniniwalaan ko iyon.

Pagod akong ngumiti ng makalapit siya. Hindi ko alam kung umabot ba iyon sa aking mga mata.

"What are you doing here? Are you alright?" Tanong niya habang iginagala ang tingin sa aking katawan upang makita kung mayroon bang mali roon ngunit nang walang makita ay bumalik sa aking mata ang kanyang mga tingin.

"Lolo's ambushed," I muttered while still looking in his eyes. "What happened to Mirae?" I asked nonchalantly.

"What about her?"

Sarkastiko akong napatingin sa kanya, matapos ay ngumisi.

"You know what, just go back to her," Walang ganang sambit ko bago bahagyang bumaling sa direksyon kung saan nagtungo si Mirae.

"What are you talking about?" Naguguluhang sambit nito.

Akmang lalagpasan ko siya ngunit agad niyang mahuli ang aking kamay at napigilan ako.

"We're still talking, Vinia." Namumungay ang kanyang mga matang tumitig sa akin "Come on, let's fix this." Marahang sambit niya. "Tell me what's bothering you, huh? What is it?"

Mariin akong napapikit. I don't wanna hear his voice full of concern, I don't wanna see his pleading eyes.

"Please, Creed. Just go back to Mirae." Labag sa loob na sambit ko.

"Why would I go back to her?" Seems like he wants to pull his hair because of frustration. He sighed. "Vinia, what's bothering you?"

I slowly shook my head as I pressed my lips harder.

"How can we settle this, tell me, Vinia. I'll do it." I can feel determination in his voice. Iniwasan ko ang kanyang tingin ngunit agad niyang nahanap ang aking mga mata.

I sighed. "I'm okay." I plastered a smile on my face. Agad ko iyong inalis dahil pakiramdam ko ay malapit na iyong mauwi sa isang ngiwi.

"Is it because of Mirae?" Diretsong sambit niya at wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang magiwas ng tingin.

"I'll never get tired telling you that Mirae is just a friend, a sister for me and she'll remain that way." He pulled me closer until we're just an inch away from each other. He leaned closer and I felt his soft lips on my forehead. "We're here because Dasher's in a critical condition, he's our friend." Agad na napaangat ang aking tingin dahil sa sinabi niya.

"What happened to Dasher?" I'm not that close to him but for me, he's a friend.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Creed. "Why are you asking for him?" He asked using his firm voice, malayo sa kanina lang na para bang nagsusumamo.

"What? He's a friend." I raised my brow up on him.

"He's ambushed," Creed answered as he cleared his throat. Napatakip ako sa aking bibig at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin kay Creed.

My Lolo's ambushed but it's already normal to us, I mean, I should expect that because of Amherst.

But knowing that Dasher's ambushed, it seems unbelievable. Sino naman ang gagawa noon sa kanya? Pamilya ng pasyente na namatay? Imposible, walang gagawa noon.

Dash is a doctor, a great one, I must say. Wala sa sariling napakunot ang aking noo.

Something's wrong in here. Last night at the party, someone approached Creed and I'm so sure that I heard Dasher's name while they're talking.

Sa tingin ko ay ang lalaking iyon ang nagbalita kay Creed ng kung ano man ang nangyari kay Dash. But who's that man? Nasisiguro ko na malapit iyon sa dalawa dahil ito ang nakaalam nangyari kay Dash at nagbalita kay Creed. And that man's invited to that Mafia gathering, who's that?

"Whoever did that to him, he'll surely pay for everything." Suddenly, I felt Creed's rage as his jaw clenched.

"I-is he okay?"

"Are we okay?" Balik na tanong niya sa akin, inignora ang naunang tanong ko.

I arched my brow as I sighed. "What are we?"

"Ano ba tayo, Creed?" I asked at para namang natauhan din siya dahil sa tanong ko.

"I'll court you, Vinia. Let's start this over again." Court me? Muntik na akong matawa roon. After almost seven years? Kung hindi sila naaksidente ni Cerys ay matagal na kaming kasal, tapos ay sasabihin niya na he'll court me?

"W-wag na." Alanganin akong ngumiti sa kanya at ganoon nalang ang pagtataka ko ng bumakas ang sakit at pagkalito sa mga mata nito.

"W-what...are you saying, Vinia? What's wrong? May nagawa ba 'kong mali? What is it? I'll-" Agad kong pinutol ang sasabihin niya.

"Tayo na," Agarang sambit ko at muntik na akong mapatakip sa sariling bibig dahil sa diretsong sambit ko. Wala akong balak bawiin ang sinabi. What are you saying, Lirae Verania? You bitch!

Nagtatakang tinitigan ako ni Creed, ilang sandali pa bago niya tuluyang nakuha ang aking sinabi. "Wha-fuck!" He cursed as he pulled me closer to him. He wrapped his arms around me as he hugged my tightly.

I was about to hug him back when someone cleared her throat. Agad akong napalayo kay Creed at lumingon sa gawi kung saan nanggaling iyon. I was shocked when I saw Astrid, Creed's friend approaching. Am I too preoccupied? Hindi ko man lang narinig ang mga yabag niya. I stared at her as she walked near us. I secretly glanced on her feet, she's walking like she weighs as light as a feather. Wala kahit anong ingay ang ginagawa ng paglakad niya.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanyang mga mata at nakita ko ang bakas ng luha roon.

"S-sorry," She apologized while looking at me. Siguro ay dahil iyon sa bigla niyang pagdating. Lumipat ang tingin niya kay Creed. "Creed, D-dasher," She muttered as her tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Doon naman naalerto si Creed. "What happened?"

"H-he-" She sobbed.

"Puntahan niyo na Creed." Pinutol ko ang sasabihin ni Astrid dahil nahihirapan na itong magsalita dahil sa sunod-sunod na hikbi.

Creed turned to me and nodded his head.

"Susunod ako, I'll just get something," I muttered.

I saw Creed hesitated but immediately nodded his head. "Alright, take care." He leaned forward and gave me a swift kiss on my forehead before turning his back on me with Astrid.

I immediately walked to the other direction when they vanished.

I don't want to go on Dasher's room, hindi ngayon dahil nasisiguro ko na naroon o pupunta roon si Mirae. We're not in good terms, baka magkagulo pa kami kung magpapangabot kami. I don't want that to happen. Hindi ngayon na nasa ganoong sitwasyon si Dash.

Hindi pa ako nakakalayo nang makita ko ang pamilyar na bulto na palapit sa aking direksyon. Sinabihan ko ang aking sarili na huwag na itong pansinin ngunit diretso ang kanyang tingin sa akin. Bumagal ang lakad ko habang siya naman ay patuloy sa paglapit sa akin.

"Maaari ba tayong magusap?" Naninimbang na tanong niya. After twenty four years he's finally in front of me, asking if we can talk.

"P-po?" I stammered. "I mean, yes. W-where? Ngayon na po ba?" I asked. Hindi mo alam kung bakit hindi ako makapagsalita ng maayos, nanginginig ang bawat sambit ko sa mga salita.

He slowly nodded his head. "Anywhere as long as there's coffee, I wanna have some, hija."

I pressed my lips together and gave him small smile as I repeatedly nodded my head.

He started walking while I'm still standing on my position, can't move. Bahagya itong lumingon sa akin kaya naman agad akong gumalaw sa kinatatayuan at nagmamadaling naglakad upang makahabol.

Nagalangan pa ako kung sasabayan ko ba ito sa paglalakad o magpapahuli ako ngunit hindi ito muling naglakad habang hindi kami nagkakapantay.

We walked towards the exit and two men in black approached us when we exited the hospital.

"I told you to don't wait for me. The helicopter is already at the rooftop." Leonardo Lozano muttered in a firm tone.

"Ma'am Mirae asked us to stay until you're here," Sagot ng isa sa dalawang lalaki.

"That granddaughter of mine's-" Hindi nito itinuloy ang sasabihin. Sa huli ay ngumiti nalang at napailing sa sarili.

Mirae's grandfather turned to me, agad kong nakuha kung ano ang ibig sabihin niya. "D'cafe," I muttered, pertaining to the place where we can have coffee at this hour.

Nakumpirma ko na mga tauhan ng mga Lozano ang dalawang lalaki sa aming harapan ng tumango si Leonardo Lozano sa dalawa at mabilis na kumilos ang mga iyon.

One of the two men in black opened the back seat of the black luxury car with a familiar brand in front of us. Bahagya pa akong namangha dahil isa lang ang may ganoong klase ng sasakyan dito sa pilipinas. No other than Leonardo Lozano.

"Hija," He called. Agad akong pumasok sa sasakyan ng matantong pinapauna ako nito.

Nang maisara ng lalaki ang pinto ng sasakyan sa gawi ko ay agad na umikot sa kabila ang lolo ni Mirae at doon pumasok.

Magkatabi kami ngunit walang nagsalita sa amin hanggang sa muling huminto ang sasakyan. Lumingon ako sa labas ngunit may humarang sa aking tingin. Ang lalaking kaninang nasa passenger seat ang siyang nagbukas ng pinto sa aking tapat at doon ko nakumpirma kung nasaan kami nang makababa ako ng sasakyan.

I saw a familiar name of a cafe using a stylish font and a coffee bean as a period.

Kaming dalawa lang ni Leonardo Lozano ang pumasok roon at nanatili sa labas ang mga tauhan nito.

There's a few people inside the cafe, at mabibilang lang iyon sa aking mga daliri.

Mirae's grandfather sat down in front of the table where there's no one can hear us.

"Have a seat, hija." Isinenyas niya ang upuang katapat ng kanyang kinauupuan at agad akong umupo roon.

He gestured his hand to call the attention of the waiter.

"Coffee, hija?" Tanong niya sa akin ng makalapit sa amin ang waiter na agad kong inilinggan.

"Anything that I can drink, 'wag po kape." Baka lalo akong nerbyusin doon.

He nodded. "Alright."

The waiter left after getting our orders. Sandali lang ang aming hinintay bago dumating ang aming inumin.

He sipped on his coffee before he turned to me. "How are you...apo?"

My mouth fell opened when I heard him called me. After twenty four years, ano ngayon lang ba niya natanggap na apo niya 'ko? I should be mad at him but I can't. I'm longing for this.

Yes, I have my Lolo Armando and Daddy Robs who accepted me like a real family. But I'm still longing for this, for my real father's father to acknowledge my presence, bagay na hindi nagawa ng tunay kong ama bago siya namayapa, I guess. He's still my family after all.

"I'm doing good, I guess."

He nodded. "You are."

Maluwag akong ngumiti at doon kami natahimik.

He cleared his throat. "Pagpasensyahan mo ako, hija." I suddenly remember something, Leonardo Lozano, my grandfather wants Tita Miranda for his late son, my father. Kaya naman kahit nabuntis si Mommy ay natuloy pa rin ang kasal ng dalawa, kasal ng mga magulang ni Mirae.

I hardly pressed my lips together as I looked at him. 

"Marami akong nagawang mali sa'yo, ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung saan maguumpisa."

I sipped on my glass. "Huwag na po nating pagusapan iyon." Ang mahalaga sa akin ay nandito siya ngayon sa aking harapan.

"How about you po, S-sir, how are you?" I hesitated. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang itatawag dito.

"Malakas pa naman, apo and just call me Lolo, if you don't mind."

"Sige po...Lolo."

He cleared his throat before asking me again. "I heard you'll take over the Amherst, is that true?" I was taken aback after hearing his words. Paano niya nalaman? We're not hiding our identity but all underground information remains on the underground.

"How did you know that?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na magtanong.

He smiled. "I'm one of the former bosses." My eyes almost widened. Wala akong matandaan na mayroong Lozano sa mga nabasa ko at kung mayroon man ay hindi ko iyon makakalimutan kaya hindi ko alam kung paniniwalaan ko ito, maliban nalang kung--natigilan ako at napatakip sa bibig dahil sa naisip.

"Cosmos, apo." Lolo confirmed it. Ang mga Lozano ang namamahala sa Cosmos! Who's the Universe? Si Tyler ba? Si Theo? Imposibleng si Mirae--our father's the eldest. Posible kaya na si Mirae? Fuck!

Cosmos' Night is Creed. Naalala ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Creed sa gathering. He told me that Mirae's there because she's part of that.

Bakit niya sinasabi sa akin ito? Naguguluhang napatingin ako kay Lolo. Para namang nabasa niya ang aking iniisip. "You're part of the family, nararapat lang na malaman mo iyon."

"Anyway, is it your own will to take over the Amherst or Armando's forcing you?"

Natigilan ako sa tanong ni Lolo at hindi agad nakasagot.

"You want me to do something about that?" He asked and I immediately shook my head.

Honestly, I don't want that position but I can't accept Lolo Leonardo's offer. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa mga Amherst at tanggap ko na, na kaylangan ko iyong gawin.

Hindi ko kayang talikuran si Lolo Armando. Besides, I already know that time will come that I need to take over the Amherst, and that would be at the end of this year.

__________