Agad kaming bumalik sa silid ni Crizzette matapos tumawag ni Creed at sinabing nagising na ang bata.

I saw the doctor checking Crizzette's vital signs.

Creed is with Tita Merida beside the hospital bed where Crizzy is lying. Napansin ko na nakabalik na rin si Archer at naroon ito nakatayo sa tabi ni Astrid malapit kay Crizzette.

Agad na dinaluhan ni Tita si Crizzy matapos ang ginagawa ng doctor ay binalingan nito si Creed at kinausap iyon tungkol sa kondisyon ng anak.

I walked near Crizzy's bed and smiled when our eyes met. "Mommy!" Masiglang bati niya sa akin bago muling bumaling kay Tita.

"Lola, I have three mommies!" She exclaimed and Tita smiled at her.

"I'm sorry, Crizzy." I held her hand as I looked at her. Gusto ko siyang yakapin ngunit baka masaktan ito dahil sa sugat niya.

"It's not your fault. Hindi mo naman po gusto 'yong nangyari." She stared at me for a while. "Mommy, did you cry?" She asked.

Akmang sasagot na ako nang maunahan ako ni Creed. Noon ko lang napansin na nasa amin na ang atensyon ng lahat.

"Mirae-" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Creed dahil sa agarang sagot ni Mirae.

"What? She cried because she can't accept the fact that she's older than me." Napalingon ako kay Mirae at sinamaan siya ng tingin. "Right, ate?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay habang may mapangasar na ngiti sa mga labi.

"Ate?" Nahihiwagaang sambit ni Archer. "Fuck! I can't wait to see Dasher's reaction after hearing you-" Bahagya itong natigilan ito sa sasabihin nang sikuhin siya ni Astrid. Archer turned to Astrid as he cleared his throat. "I mean, feeling close ka, Mirae! Ate mo? Ate mo?" Nanunuyang sambit niya.

Taas noo itong binalinggan ni Mirae habang nakataas pa rin ang isang kilay. "Yes, she's a Lozano."

Archer sarcastically laughed on Mirae. "Why are you fucking laughing?" Hindi na napigilan ni Mirae ang sarili na agad namang sinaway ni Astrid.

"Mirae, Crizzy's here." She even glanced at Crizzette. Napatingin din ako at nakahinga ng maluwag nang makita na nililibang ito ni Tita Merida, naroon na rin si Creed sa tabi ng anak. Mabuti at wala sa amin ang atensyon ng bata.

Mukhang walang balak tumigil si Archer at lalo lang iniinis si Mirae. "Ilang cream stick nahithit mo? Imagination mo ang limit!"

I chuckled. Hindi ko alam kung dahil iyon sa sinabi ni Archer o dahil sa mapangasar na reaksyon nito na lalong nakapagpainit ng ulo ni Mirae.

"My Dad is a Lozano," I muttered and I saw Archer and Astrid stilled. Kapwa natigilan ang dalawa sa aking sinabi ngunit si Archer ang may lakas ng loob na magtanong.

"You mean, Robert Amherst is Don Leonardo's son?"

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay ako naman ang natigilan at napakurap. "May sinabi ba akong ganoon?"

I saw Mirae massaging her temple as she problematically looked at Archer. "Mommy's husband, Daddy is her is her dad." Archer's jaw fell opened after hearing Mirae's words. "Unfortunately, she's my sister," She continued.

My brow automatically arched. "I should be the one saying that."

"Whatever," She muttered as she rolled her eyes.

Sasagot pa sana ako nang gumawa ng ingay ang aking phone. Agad kong tiningnan iyon at napakunot ang noo nang makita ang numero, pamilyar iyon ngunit hindi rehistrado. Hindi na ako nagabalang lumabas ng silid at bahagyang na lang na lumayo bago iyon sagutin.

Nakita ko ang mga mata ni Creed na nakasunod sa akin.

"Lavinia Amherst speaking-" Naputol ang aking sasabihin nang agad na mag salita ang nasa kabilang linya.

"Lavinia!"

I frowned when I heard a familiar voice. "May I know who's this?"

"This is Cerys." I looked at the unregistered number. It's Lance's number, that's why it is familiar.

"Cerys, wait-" Naputol ang sasabihin ko dahil sa agarang pagsasalita ng nasa kabilang linya.

"Tulungan mo akong hanapin ang anak ko. Lavinia, ang Lolo mo, alam niya kung nasaan ang anak ko." Walang prenong sambit nito. I heard her sobbed as her voice trembled.

"Wait, can you calm down?" Kunot noong sagot ko kay Cerys. Hindi pa rin ako sigurado kung may alam nga si Lolo sa kung nasaan ang anak ni Cerys dahil hindi ko pa siya nakakausap. But they're insisting that Lolo have something to do with it.

"Lavinia, sorry. W-wala kaming anak ni Creed, walang n-nangyari sa amin." Narinig ko ang panginginig ng kanyang boses. Okay, now why is she telling me this?

"I know, Lance already told me that," I muttered. I saw Creed from my peripheral vision, his stares sharpened after hearing Lance's name came out of my mouth. Isinantabi ko iyon at ibinalik kay Cerys ang atensyon.

"For now wala akong magagawa, hindi ko pa nakakausap si Lolo. I'll try to talk to him soon."

"S-salamat, sorry-"

"It's okay, I'll call you if I have something about your daughter." Hindi ko na ito hinintay na makasagot at agad nang pinutol ang tawag. Iyon lang naman siguro ang sadya niya at wala ng iba.

I turned around and immediately met Creed's sharp eyes.

Lumapit ito sa akin at agad na hinapit ang aking baywang. Napatingin ako sa mga kasama namin at laking pasalamat ko nang makita na ang atensyon nila ay na kay Crizzette.

His brow arched. "Who's that?"

"Si Cerys."

"I heard Lance's name, is that Lance Puego?" Hindi ko nasabi kay Creed na nakipagusap sa akin si Lance at humihingi ng tulong.

"Yes, n-nagusap kami noong nakaraan." I heard him hummed while his eyes were still sharp so I continued. "He's asking for my help. Sinasabi nila ni Cerys na alam ni Lolo kung nasaan ang anak nila. H-hindi ko naman alam kung totoo, hindi ko pa nakakausap si Lolo." I don't know why I'm stammering but maybe it's because of his stares.

"Cerys told me that her daughter is not your c-child." Agad akong nagiwas ng tingin. I bit my lower lip. I don't want to see disappointment in his eyes if he is because of what I've said.

"I know." Lutang na napalingon ako sa kanya. Alam niya?

"I know, Vinia. Nothing happened that night." I can't hear any sign of disappointment in his voice. He smiled as he leaned closer then we heard someone cleared his throat.

Agad akong napalayo kay Creed at bumaling sa direksyon nila Crizzy. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa amin na ni Creed ang atensyon ng lahat.

I saw Mirae with her brow arched and Astrid with a smile plastered on her face. Si Tita Merida naman ay may tipid na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi habang si Crizzy ay inosenteng nakatitig sa amin ni Creed. Si Archer naman ay patay malisyang nakatingin sa amin at nang magtama ang aming mga mata ay agad itong umiwas ng tingin habang may mapangasar na ngiti sa mga labi, sa palagay ko ay siya ang tumikhim kanina.

"Hinay-hinay lang, may bata." Mahinang bulong ni Archer habang patay malisyang inililibot ang tingin.

Agad akong lumayo kay Creed at dumiretso sa gilid ng kama ni Crizzette at bumaling kay Tita Merida. "Tita, you should rest. Kagabi pa po kayo walang tulog." Though I'm not sure if she slept, hindi ko kasi namalayan na napatagal ang tulog ko.

"Vinia's right, Mom, kami na muna ang bahala rito. Besides, Crizzette's already stable, you should rest." Sangayon ni Creed.

"Hatid na kita, Tita. May pupuntahan din po ako, madadaanan naman 'yong bahay niyo." Archer volunteered.

"May pupuntahan." Rinig ko ang makahulugang bulong ni Mirae.

"Alright." Sambit ni Tita bago binalinggan si Crizzy. "I'll be back. Rest, apo." Tita Merida muttered as she leaned closer to her granddaughter and kissed Crizzette's cheeks.

"Yes, Lola. Take care!"

Matapos umalis ni Tita at ni Archer ay si Astrid naman ang nagpaalam at sinabing babalik nalang mamaya. Si Mirae naman ay naiwan kasama namin ni Creed. Mirae's waiting for Vynz to fetch her while Crizzy fell asleep.

I'm seating on the chair beside Crizzy's bed while Creed's standing beside me. I was playing on Crizzette's hand when Mirae spoke. Kanina pa ito palakad lakad at ngayon ay nakatigil na.

"Creed," Mirae called.

Napabaling naman si Creed kay Mirae.

"About Crizzette's mother-"

Hindi na pinatapos ni Creed ang sasabihin ni Mirae at agad ng pinutol iyon. "I told you, I don't wanna hear it, Mirae."

"But-"

"Enough," Malamig na sambit ni Creed. Mirae bit her lower lip as she turned to me, para bang nanghihingi ng tulong sa akin.

I shifted on my seat. "Creed, maybe we need to know who her mother is?" Magabal at maingat na sambit ko.

"I don't care whoever she is. Ang importante ay nasa akin ang anak ko." Malamig at pirmi pa rin ang boses niya.

Mirae being stubborn, she just rolled her eyes. "Wala ka ng magagawa." Mirae whispered the last sentence. Ang narinig ko na lamang sa ibinulong ni Mirae ay 'DNA Test' at 'mga babaeng na link sa'yo".

Ipinagkibit balikat ko nalang iyon, si Creed naman ay hindi na sinagot si Mirae.

There's a deafening silence when we heard someone knocked on the door. Nang bumukas iyon ay bumungad sa amin si Vynz. Sinalubong naman ni Mirae ang asawa at nang nagkalapit ay agad na hinapit ni Vynz ang baywang ni Mirae.

Para namang naalala ni Mirae na may iba pa silang kasama kaya't napaharap sila sa amin. "Vynz, you know Lavinia, right? My sister."

Bahagyang tumango sa akin si Vynz at sinuklian ko naman iyon ng tipid na ngiti.

"How's your daughter, Ferron?" Vynz asked as she glanced at Crizzy.

"She's already stable." Tipid na sagot ni Creed na tinanguan naman ni Vynz.

"Anyway, we'll go ahead." Mirae walked towards Crizzy and leaned to kissed her forehead. "Babalik ako bukas."

Noon na tuluyang nagpaalam ang dalawa.

The way Vynz and Mirae smiled as they looked at each other, para bang ang isa't isa lang ang nakikita nila.

I wonder kung ganoon din ba kami ni Creed. I smiled. I can see it in his eyes. The way he looked at me, I know there's something different.

Crizzette was discharged after a week. Pinayagan na itong lumabas ng doctor ilang araw matapos ang operasyon ngunit desisyon ni Creed na paabutin na iyon ng isang linggo.

I entered our mansion. I know Lolo is here, nang makalabas ng ospital si Lolo ay sa mansion ito dumiretso. I didn't have a chance to talk to him because I'm staying at my condo. Ngayon ay siya ang sinadya ko rito.

I saw Mommy approaching and her eyes enlarged when our eyes met. Seems like she's going somewhere. "Lavinia!"

"Mom, is Lolo upstairs?" I asked as I walked near her and leaned to kissed her cheek.

"He's inside his room, nagpapahinga."

I nodded my head. "I'll talk to him."

"We have a family dinner later, Lavinia."

"Yes, Mommy I'll be there but right now I really need to talk to Lolo."

"Alright, I'll go ahead. I'll visit your Dad in his office." She slightly tilted her head as her smile widened.

I looked at her as I narrowed my eyes. "You'll visit Dad, huh?" Nahihiwagaang tanong ko kay Mommy.

Mommy repeatedly but elegantly nodded her head. I find her weird. What's with her?

"Para namang hindi kayo magkasama sa isang bahay."

Nagkibit balikat nalang si Mommy bago ako tuluyang iniwan sa kinatatayuan. Nilinggon ko siya at kunot noong tinignan habang naglalakad paalis. I'm happy that Mommy's happy. Kaya lang, pakiramdam ko ay tumatanda siya ng paurong. Why is she being clingy on Dad? Sa huli ay napailing na lamang ako sa sarili.

I walked towards Lolo's room and all I can hear is a low sound coming from my heels.

I knocked on his door and I didn't wait for his answer. Agad na akong pumasok sa kwarto ni Lolo. Naabutan siyang nakaupo sa gilid ng kama at malayo ang tingin.

"Lolo," Tawag ko at mukhang noon lang niya napansin ang presensya ko.

"Apo, Lavinia."

"How are you, Lo?" I sat down next to him as I faced him.

"Maayos na ako."

I nibbled my lower lip and sighed heavily. "Lo, you know Cerys, right? Where's her daughter?" Diretsong tanong ko kay Lolo.

Napalingon siya sa akin at mataman  akong tinitigan.

"Why would I tell you that, apo?"

I tried to open my mouth but I can't find my words. How could he? So he really knew where Cerys' daughter is. Itinatago niya ba?

"Come on, Lolo. I know your reason why you are hiding Cerys' daughter. It's because you want someone to blackmail. Hawak mo sa leeg si Cerys at makakawala lang siya kung malalaman niya kung sino ang Universe ng Cosmos." Nanatiling walang reaksyon si Lolo at doon na ako mariing napapikit. Alam ko kung sino ang Universe. Alam ko kung anong pamilya ang namamahala ng Cosmos pero hindi ko iyon sasabihin sa kanya.

"If you want something, don't let other people suffer just to get what you want." Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako kay Lolo. He's looking at me nonchalantly and I don't know if he's even listening, I bet not.

"I guess you didn't hear the news. Dasher Alterio is the Universe of Cosmos and he's already dead." That news spreaded on the underground. Sigurado akong narinig iyon ni Lolo kaya bakit ayaw niya pang tumigil.

He slowly blinked. "If you thought that Alterio is the Universe of Cosmos, then you are a fool. He's not the Universe." Bahagya pang naiiling si Lolo habang sinasabi iyon.

"I'll give you what you want. But I want you to know that I don't believe that news about the Universe. Si Ysmael lang ang naniniwala roon." Bahagyang napangisi si Lolo sa sarili at marahang umiling. "Ang Rozelli na 'yon, hindi nagiisip."

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