I don't know if I should trust Lance. I have no idea if he's telling the truth but I hope he is. Sana naman ay huwag na niyang dagdagan ang kasalanan niya sa akin.

Si Lolo lang ang makakasagot kung totoo ang mga iyon. I really need to talk to him as soon as possible, for Lance's daughter and for my daughter. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan ang mga sinabi niya sa akin. I don't know if I should be mad at him for using my daughter for me to follow him. Pero ako ang kusang sumunod, I got curious that's why. And I'm hoping that Lolo's words about my daughter is not one of my his schemes to manipulate me.

I maneuvered the car towards the parking lot. I glanced at the side and  the rear mirror. Wala na roon ang itim na kotseng kanina pa nakasunod sa amin.

I turned off the engine of the car after parking it as I looked at Crizzy seating on the passenger's seat. Bumaling ito sa akin at ngumiti bago nagmamadaling lumabas ng sasakyan. This kid!

I shook my head as I went outside the car. Isasara ko palang ang pinto nang nakita ko ang pamilyar na kotse, mabilis ang takbo nito at mukhang hindi iyon napansin ni Crizzy dahil nananatili itong nakatungo at tila tinitignan ang kanyang sapatos. Mukhang walang balak magpreno ang sasakyang iyon at nasisiguro ko na mahahagip si Crizzy. Patuloy nitong binabaybay ang direksyon patungo kay Crizzette.

Marahas kong isinara ang pinto ng kotse kaya gumawa iyon ng ingay at nakita ko na nakuha noon ang pansin ni Crizzy. She looked at me with a confused expression on her face.

"Tita, why-"

I immediately run towards her direction. Nang makalapit ay agad kong hinila kung ano man ang unang nahawakan ko sa kanya. Kasabay noon ang mabilis na pagdaan ng kotseng nakasunod kanina sa amin.

I saw Crizzy's eyes widened as she looked at the car who nearly hit her. She looked at me while her mouth's hung open.

"Are you okay?" I held her shoulders as I unconsciously roamed my eyes on Crizzette's body, looking if there's something wrong.

She nodded her head. "Thank you, Tita. I didn't saw the car coming." Gulat pa ring sambit nito.

Malalim akong napabuntong hininga. "You still want to go inside or you wanna go home?"

She gently shook her head. "I don't want to go home, Tita."

"Alright, let's go." I said after holding her hand. We entered the fast food restaurant she chose. Mabuti at hindi gaanong maraming tao rito ngayon.

We sat on the vacant table near the counter and I sighed when she smiled like nothing happened.

"I'll just order our food, stay here. Don't talk to strangers." I reminded before leaving her seated on the table.

Luminya ako sa kung saan iilan lang ang nakapila. I keep on glancing at Crizzette while I'm in line hanggang sa nahagip ng mata ko ang pamilyar na bulto sa kabilang linya.

With cold eyes and creased brows while standing so firm. "Adriel." Mahinang tawag ko ngunit alam ko na sapat iyon upang marinig niya.

He turned to me with his frown and his eyes suddenly widened when our eyes met. My brow automatically arched on his reaction. "What are you doing here?" Pinigilan ko na matawa dahil sa mukha ni Adriel na halata ang pagkainis at para bang nabuhayan ng loob nang makita ako.

Akmang sasagot si Adriel nang may babaeng pumagitna sa amin. She's wearing a wayfarer and a cap to cover her face but I'm sure she's a woman because of her hair.

May sinabi si Adriel kaya napaharap ang babae rito ngunit hindi ko iyon narinig. "Ang tagal mo kasi. I thought something happened but it turns out..." Bumaling sa akin ang babae at bahagyang ibinaba ang salamin at tinaasan ako ng kilay. Noon ko nakilala ang babae at natanto kung bakit tinatago nito ang mukha, the famous Peony Zaldivar, I smirked as I raised my brow up on her and she rolled her eyes before turning to Adriel. "You're already flirting with someone," She continued.

"Stop being a brat and go back to the car." Mariing sambit ni Adriel. Iyon na ang huli kong narinig sa dalawa dahil pagtawag ng babae sa aking pansin. Hindi ko namalayan na ako na pala ang nasa unahan ng pila.

I paid for my orders after I gave it. Bumalik ako sa table namin ni Crizzy at laking pasalamat ko nang makita na nanroon pa rin siya sa kung saan ko siya iniwanan.

"I already miss Daddy, Tita." She slightly pouted her lips while looking at me with her innocent eyes.

"He'll be here by tomorrow." A smile crept in my face. "Do you want me to call your Daddy?"

Her eyes lit up while she repeatedly nodded her head. "Yes, Tita!"

"Alright." I grabbed my phone on my bag and immediately dialled Creed's number. He answered after a few. "Vinia," He greeted. "Miss me already? I miss you too." Bungad nito sa akin and I almost rolled my eyes.

I bit my lower lip to suppress a chuckle coming out of my mouth. "Crizzy wants to talk to you." Agad kong binigay kay Crizzette ang phone ko at hinayaan silang magusap. Her eyes twinkled after hearing her father's voice.

They're talking until our orders came, I smiled at the crew after he brought our food in our table. Narinig ko ang pagpapaalam ni Crizzette kay Creed bago ibinalik sa akin ang phone. "Daddy wants to talk to you, Tita."

I smiled, sinenyasan ko si Crizzy na mauna ng kumain at tumango naman ito.

"Hmm." I hummed after placing the phone near my ear.

"I wanna go home." Marahang sambit ni Creed.

"Then go home." I arched my brow like he can see it.

"Mirae won't let me, she just got married last night with Vynz." My jaw dropped because of what I've heard.

"Mirae and Vynz?" Bahagyang tumaas ang aking boses.

"Yes. Why, you jealous?" Why would I be jealous?

Napakunot ang aking noo dahil tono niya. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." Nahimigan ko ang pait sa sagot nito.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, I'll end this call, see you tomorrow?"

"Hmm. Take care, Vinia, also that little girl with you, you know sometimes she's stubborn."

"Alright, take care, bye." I ended the call and turned to Crizzy who's eating her fries while smiling widely at me.

I looked at her with my eyes full of confusions. "What's with your smile?" She looks like she's having a big and great plan in her mind.

"You know what, Tita? I like you for my Dad." She wiped her hands using the tissue after eating the fries in her hand then she clasped it as she intently looked at me.

"At first, I want Mommy Mirae or Mommy Astrid for him but Daddy explained that for him, they're his younger sisters and Mommy Astrid is already married while Mommy Mirae already have Tito Vynz." She pressed her lips together. "I like Tita Cerys but I like you more than her." She pouted and continued. "And Daddy loves you, so much." She whispered while grinning. "Can you be my Mommy too? Please?"

Of course! I'm glad to be her Mom but I can't speak after hearing this little girl.

I smiled as I remember my daughter. "Why not?"

Her eyes widened as she smiled widely. "Yes! I already have three mommies! From now on I'll call you Mommy."

I chuckled on her expression as we continue eating.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay nag-aya na si Crizzette. She told me she wants to go to a bookstore, agad ko naman iyong sinangayunan.

I held her hand as we went out of the fast food restaurant. Napatingin ako kay Crizzy nang maramdaman ang paghinto niya at ang paghigpit ng hawak niya sa aking kamay.

My eyes widened when I saw blood coming out near her chest. Fuck! My hands trembled as I looked around for a possible suspect but I saw nothing.

Hinarap ko siya habang ako ay hindi makagalaw ng maayos, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin. "M-mommy." Unti-unting lumiit ang boses nito hanggang sa mawalan ito ng malay at bumagsak ang kanyang katawan sa aking bisig. I can feel my whole body trembling and my tears rolled down my cheeks. Things started flashing back in my mind as I stared at Crizzy. I remember what happened to my baby, I remember everything, my baby died because of me.

Hindi ko alam kung paano kami nakarating ng maayos sa ospital. Namalayan ko nalang na may tumutulong na sa amin habang ako ay nananatiling hindi makagalaw. Naramdaman ko nalang na may kumuha kay Crizzy sa akin bisig.

I stared at the white wall as tears still rolling down my cheeks while I'm waiting for the doctor to come out of the emergency room.

Napatingin ako sa aking telepono, I was hesitating if I should call Creed or not. Sa huli ay namalayan ko na lang ang sarili na tinatawagan ang kanyang numero.

He answered after few. "Miss me?" Masiglang bati nito.

"C-Creed," I stammered.

Siguro ay nahimigan ni Creed ang aking boses kaya agad siyang naalarma. "Hey, where are you? What happened?"

"Please," I sobbed. "Go home."

"Alright, alright. Calm down, Vinia." Now I can hear his heavy footsteps on the other line. "Tell me, why are you crying?"

"Si Crizzy. I'm so sorry, Creed. I f-failed, I'm sorry." Tinakpan ng aking kamay ang bibig upang magpigil ang hikbing nagpupumilit lumabas doon. "S-she was shot." Mariin akong napapikit matapos sambitin iyon. I'll pay for the consequences, I understand if he'll be mad at me because of what happened. I failed, again. I failed him as well as Crizzy. Kanina ay ramdam ko ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib nang makita ang sitwasyon ng bata.

"Fuck! Stay there, I'll go home." Iyon na ang huli kong narinig bago matapos ang tawag.

Hindi alam kung ilang oras akong lumuluha, namalayan ko na lang nang lumabas na ang mga doctor sa emergency room. Agad akong napatayo at sinalubong ang doctor.

"Doc, what happened? Is she okay?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko.

"The patient is already stable. She will be transferred into a private room. You can visit her after an hour," Sambit ng doctor bago nagpaalam sa akin.

Naghintay pa ako ng isang oras bago makapasok sa hospital room ni Crizzy. Kasabay noon ang pagdating nila Tita Merida at Tito Kristoff.

"Lavinia, What happened to Crizzette?" Sambit ni Tita nang makalapit sila sa akin. Bakas ang pagaalala sa mukha ng dalawa.

"S-she was shot." I stammered. "Tita, I'm sorry."

She elegantly shook her head. "Stop saying that. Its not your fault." She muttered while we're walking towards Crizzette's room. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng aking mga kamay kaya naman inilagay ko iyon sa akin likuran at mahigpit na pinaghawak.

Si Tito Kristoff ang nauna at pinagbuksan kami ng pinto ni Tita.

Inside of the room, I saw Crizzy peacefully lying on the bed. Nakapikit ang mga mata nito at unti-unti ng bumabalik ang natural na kulay, malayo sa kaninang maputlang anyo. Hindi pa ito nagigising matapos ang operasyon nito.

Tumayo sa ako sa gilid ng kama ni Crizzette at ganoon din ang mag-asawang Ferron. Matamang nakatitig ang dalawa sa apo at bakas ang pamumugto ng mga mata ni Tita, hudyat na galing ito sa pagiyak. Tita Merida sat down on the chair beside Crizzette's bed. Ako naman ay sa sofa sa gilid ng silid.

Tito Kristoff turned to me. "Take your rest, hija. Pasensya na at ngayon lang kami nakarating." Nawala sa isip ko na tawagan sila, siguro ay si Creed ang na ang gumawa noon.

"Later, Tito. I want to wait until Crizzette wakes up."

He slowly nodded his head. Matapos iyon ay wala ng nagtangkang magsalita sa amin hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang pagbigat ng aking mga talukap bago tuluyang magdilim ang lahat.

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