I thought Mirae's mad at me because she knew that I'm her sister. Akala ko ay alam niya ang ginawa ni Mommy kaya ganoon nalang ang galit niya sa tuwing nagkikita kami. But I was wrong. Wala siyang alam pero may galit na siya sa'kin, ano pa kapag nalaman niya na kapatid niya 'ko?

"Alam niyo na ba kung nasaan si Mirae?" I suddenly asked Creed as I tilted my head while we're walking towards Lolo Leonardo's room. I was relieved after knowing that his operation was successful and Lolo Armando was discharged last day but I didn't have a chance to talk to him.

I asked Creed to drop me at the hospital so I can visit Lolo. I know he's busy because of a lot of things but he insisted to drive me and that he wanna go with me.

"Hmm, nasa mga Devaughne. We tried to talk to Hoax to bargain but he didn't accept our offer. If they don't want to talk in a nice way then I'll give them what they want." I frowned as he answered.

Lately, I found out that the kidnappers of Crizzy only wants to get Mirae. It means Davaughne is the one who kidnapped Crizzette. Bakit naman iyon gagawin ni Vynz?

I shrugged my thoughts off. Siguro ay may hindi pagkakaintindihan ang dalawa kaya ganoon. I really can't believe that until now they're still together.

Nakarating kami sa tapat ng silid ni Lolo at agad akong pinagbuksan ni Creed ng pinto.

Bumungad sa akin si Tita Miranda at si Tita Wena ang asawa ni Tito David. I saw my Lolo sleeping peacefully at the hospital bed.

"Good morning po," I greeted as I plastered a smile on my face while looking at the two woman seated on the sofa beside the hospital bed.

"Hija. Good morning." Si Tita Miranda ang agad na nakapansin sa akin. Eleganteng ngumiti ito at ganoon din si Tita Wena matapos tumango sa akin.

I hesitated but I walked near them. Una akong tumapat kay Tita Miranda at nakipagbeso rito, ganoon din kay Tita Wena.

Masaya ako sa pakikitungo ng mga Lozano sa akin, lalo na si Tita Miranda. Kahit may kasalanan sa kanya si Mommy ay tinanggap niya ako, sinabi pa ni Tita na matagal na iyong nangyari at hindi naman ako ang gumawa ng kasalanang iyon sa kanya kung hindi si Mommy.

Also, last time, Tita Ellena apologized about what she said. Naiintindihan ko ang pinanggagalingan niya ngunit hindi ko nagustuhan ang itinawag niya kay Mommy.

Nagdako ang tingin ni Tita Miranda sa aking likuran. Bumaling ako kay Creed at na katatapos lang isara ang pinto ng kwarto at kay Lolo agad dumiretso ang tingin habang kunot ang noo.

"Creed." Bati ni Tita Miranda nang makita kung sino ang aking kasama.

"Tita." He smiled as he walked near us then he kissed Tita Miranda and Tita Wena's cheeks.

Matapos ay pinulupot niya ang braso sa aking baywang at noon naman nagpaalam si Tita Wena para sandaling lumabas dahil sa tawag na natanggap nito.

"What happened, Tita?" Creed asked as he tilted his head towards Lolo Leonardo's direction.

"Papa was shot." Tita cleared his throat. "Mabuti nga at maayos na ang lagay ngayon," She continued as Creed slightly nodded his head.

"Anyway, I didn't know you already knew Vinia, Tita." He muttered as he moved his hand on my waist.

Tita Miranda nodded as she speak. "Hmm, she's my husband's daughter."

"What did you say, Tita?" Creed asked as he titled his head.

"Mirae's Dad is my father, Creed." I cleared my throat as I looked at him. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Bahagya akong ngumiti. I saw him frowning, sa huli ay tumango ito sa akin. Bakas ang pagtataka sa mukha nito ngunit hindi na muling nagtanong. I know there are lots of question in his mind but he didn't bother asking those.

"How's Mirae, Creed?" Tita suddenly asked.

"Lavinia, apo." I turned as I walked near the hospital bed when I heard my Lolo called my name. Bahagyang nakadilat ang mga mata nito at nakatingin sa aming direksyon.

"How are you feeling?" Tanong ko nang makalapit kay Lolo. Creed and Tita Miranda stayed on their position but I know they're watching while talking about Mirae's whereabouts.

"Feeling good, apo. Like I should."  Bahagya akong natigilan at napatitig kay Lolo. My mouth fell opened as I shifted on my position. Did he just uttered a joke? I never heard Lolo Armando joking yet Lolo Leonardo spilled it without hesitation, though it wasn't that funny.

Is that a lyrics from a song? I forgot the title but I think I heard it already.

Bahagya itong humalakhak nang makita ang aking reaksyon, matapos ay napahawak sa parte ng katawan kung saan siya inoperahan na para bang nasaktan.

"Lolo!" Naalarma ako ngunit sumenyas ito sa akin.

"I'm fine, hija." Bahagya pa ring natatawa.

I slowly nodded my head, still dumbfounded.

He looked at me back. "Creed, how's Mirae? Is she still at the Devaughne's?"

Napalingon ako kay Creed at marahan itong tumango. "We'll get her," He assured.

"How about the other one, Astrid?"

"She's with her husband." Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Creed. Astrid, she's married? She's too young but wow!

After hearing that, I can't help but to think about the possibilities. Kung hindi naaksidente si Creed, kasal na kaya kami ngayon? Who knows?

I was walking back and forth inside my condominium while repeatedly glancing on my phone. Sa huli ay naupo ako sa sofa at mariing ipinikit ang mga mata.

I started dialing Creed's number after a while. I don't know if he'll answer his phone but I still try.

Nang sinagot ni Creed ang tawag ay nakumpirma ko na naroon na ito sa kung saan man ang destinasyon nila. Nakabalik na si Mirae mula sa mga Devaughne. A day after Dasher's funeral, they left for a vacation according to Mirae but I doubt that. I know that's more than a vacation.

Wala akong ideya kung sino ang mga kasama nila roon o kung ano ang totoong pakay sa pagpunta roon. Wala raw kasing sinabi si Mirae kung hindi ang kaylangan nilang sumama at kasama roon si Creed.

"Lavinia," He muttered as he answered the phone call.

"Creed, I just want to ask you if I can bring Crizzette with me tomorrow?" Pinasigla ko ang aking boses.

He chuckled in a manly way. "Really, Vinia what is it?" I bit my lower lip. Nang hindi ako sumagot ay nagpatuloy siya. "You know you don't have to ask permission." I rolled my eyes, alam kong alam na niya kung bakit ako tumawag. Though I really want to be with Crizzy tomorrow.

"This is Cosmos related, Vinia. Besides, the Devaughnes are with us. Astrid's husband and a woman not familiar with me's also here. Kung alam ko lang ay isinama kita."

"What are you talking about? I didn't say anything." Pagtatanggi ko habang hindi na napigilan na umikot ang mga mga.

"Hmm." He hummed. Even if I can't see him right now, I can imagine him grinning or suppressing a smile.

"I'm just checking if you're safe." Really Vinia, what kind of excuse is that?

"Hmm, I'm safe Vinia." Mapaglarong sambit nito.

"Fuck you!" Iyon ang nasabi ko dahil sa inis.

"What?" I heard him chuckled on the other line. "Alright, I'll go home the next day."

"Duh! Sabi ni Mirae one week kayo d'yan or more."

"I said I'll go home the next day. I missed you, Vinia."

"Whatever, I'll end this call, bye." Hindi ko na siya hinayaang makasagot at basta na lang pinatay ang tawag.

I received a message after a few seconds. I glanced on my phone and saw Creed's name on it.

Creed:

I missed you already, Vinia. Take care, I love you.

I rolled my eyes after reading his message. Pinigilan ko ang sarili na sagutin iyon.

I immediately looked at my phone when I heard a message came in. Walang pagaalinlangan ko iyong binuksan sa pagaakalang kay Creed muli iyon nanggaling.

Lavinia can we talk? This is Lance.

I frowned after reading the message. It was from an unknown number. Lance who?

Namilog ang aking mga mata, isa lang ang Lance na kilala ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nakuha ang number ko.

Matapos ang ginawa sa akin ni Lance ay nawalan na ako ng balita rito. Hindi ko na rin siya nakita sa university so I assumed he transferred.

Plano ko na ignorahin ang mensahe na iyon nang may mensaheng muling pumasok mula sa numerong iyon.

Unknown Number:

I really need to tell you something.

I sighed and dialed the number to confirm if the sender's really Lance. Agad namang may sumagot doon.

"Lavinia, I have something to tell you." Bungad niya sa akin.

"Is this Lance Puego?" I sighed as I asked.

"Yes, I'm really sorry about-" Agad kong pinutol ang sasabihin niya.

"Shut it, I don't need your sorry. Anong sasabihin mo sa'kin?"

"Let's meet, I wanna tell you this personally."

I raised my brow up on him even though he can't see it. "About what? Tell me so I'll know if I'm not wasting my time."

"About Cerys. Sasabihin ko sa'yo ang lahat ng nalalaman ko tungkol sa kanya." I mouth set in a hard line after hearing that.

"I'll tell you the address." I muttered as I ended the call. I immediately texted him the location where we can meet.

I have a lot of questions regarding Cerys but no one can answer me, maybe Lance can.

Wearing a simple red jumpsuit, I entered the cafe where I'll meet Lance. I saw that he's already on the reserved table through the glass wall.

Agad nagtama ang aming mga mata nang makalapit ako at malamig ko siyang tinignan.

I sat down on the chair in front him as I arched my brow.

"Why are you doing this? Is it because of conscience? After several years?" I asked as I shifted on my seat.

"About what I did, I'm really sorry, Lavinia. You don't know how sorry I am."

"Really?" He looks sincere but I can't help but to be sarcastic. Matapos ang ilang taon bakit ngayon lang? Though I don't care about his apology, matagal ko na siyang napatawad kahit hindi niya hiningi iyon noon. Wala naman akong mapapala kung hindi ko siya papatawarin at itatanim lang ang galit sa aking loob. My point is, no one can change what he did.

"I'm doing this for my daughter."

My brow arched. "You have? She must be so unlucky to have you as a father."

He nodded. "I know."

Bigla akong nanlamig at binalot ng konsensya sa aking sinabi ngunit hindi ko na iyon mababawi. Fuck!

"So what about Cerys?" Tanong ko, palihim na inililihis ang usapan. "Oh, wait! Sela Gomez she's Cerys right?"

Bahagya itong tumango. "Ako ang humihingi ng tawad sa mga nagawa niya. We only want our daughter back."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at ilang beses napakurap. "May anak kayo?"

"I'm the father of her child." He slightly tilted his head. "Hindi si Creed."

My jaw literally fell open. I shifted on my seat, muntik pa akong malalaglag doon. "What are you talking about?"

"Walang nangyari sa kanila kaya paanong si Creed ang magiging ama ng anak ni Cerys." He cleared his throat then he continues. "Cerys tried her luck knowing that Creed's drunk but he didn't even lay his hand on her."

All this time, pinaniniwalaan ko na may nangyari sa dalawa. Nagagawa kong pagdudahan si Creed dahil doon ngunit hindi naman pala dapat.

What is that? Iz a prank, Lavinia! What the fuck?

"W-where is your daughter?"

"Hindi namin alam kung nasaan siya. When Cerys and Creed got into an accident, she's supposed to gave birth that day. I found Cerys five years after the accident. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan ang anak namin." Sandali itong huminto at tila ba nanghihinang tumingin sa akin. "Help us," He pleaded. Naguguluhan akong napatingin sa kanya, ano naman ang maitutulong ko? I have nothing to do with it.

"Alam ni Armando Amherst kung nasaan ang anak namin. Ginamit niya iyon para pasunurin si Cerys."

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