His words linger in my mind, that it was the only thing that occupied me the whole time that I'm beside him while he's driving towards I don't know where. I didn't bother asking. 

I can't understand his words. Like it was too much for me that my mind doesn't want to process it.

My mind went back to reverie when I saw some media from the window, flocking at Chaos's car. Noon ko lang napansin na bumagal na ang takbo ng kotse ni Chaos. It's nearly stopping. 

I roamed my eyes around the place but I couldn't clearly see where exactly we were because of the reporters surrounding the car. I stared at the outside and realized we're probably in Manila as some of the buildings were familiar.

Tuluyan nang huminto ang sasakyan ni Chaos dahil ang ibang media ay nasa harap na ng sasakyan.

I saw some guards pulling them away from the car. Ngunit sa dami nila, hindi sila tuluyang mailayo ng dalawa gwardya na mula sa mga gusali.

"Fuck." I glanced at Chaos when I heard him cursed and caught him turning the engine off. 

He held the handle of the door. Akmang bubuksan niya iyon kasabay ng paglingon niya sa aking direksyon. 

"We can't go further," he announced while glancing in front through the windshield.

"Stay here. I'll ask the valet to park the car. Do you still remember the condo we used to share?" His eyes landed at me again.

I felt my lips parted. I was caught off guard at his sudden question. The one we used to share? Mabilis akong napasulyap sa labas at doon tuluyang natanto kung nasaan kami.

I didn't got a chance to answer but he took my silence as yes. "Wait for me there. I'll divert their attention," may pinalidad na sambit niya bago itinulak ang pinto ng kanyang sasakyan upang tuluyang makalabas. 

And questions from the media outside reached my ears.

"Is it true that you're supposed to marry a stranger five years ago? That someone copied the face of your fiancee and the Zaldivars and even the Serranos were fooled?"

"An article says, Ms. Serrano was kidnapped years ago. Can you confirm if it was true, Sir?"

What... the fuck?

Sabay-sabay ang salita ng mga media sa labas nang binuksan ni Chaos ang pinto ng kanyang kotse at ilan lang ang mga tanong na iyon sa narinig ko. Sa bilis ng salita nila ay hindi ko na nasundan ang iba. Like every seconds were important for them because of the rumor they heard.

What is this? My lips parted as I tilted my head. Baffled at everything. 

Paanong ngayon lang lumabas ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon? I mean, that was five years ago. I expected it to reach the public a few days after Chaos's men got Rieselle.

I watched the media flocked on Chaos as he went out of the car. Hindi ko alam kung sumasagot ba siya sa mga tanong ng mga ito ngunit sa reaksyon niya kanina, mukhang wala siyang balak na magsalita. 

The guards are now near Chaos. Bahagya na siyang nakalayo sa sasakyan ngunit kasunod pa rin niya ang media.

I removed the lock of the door as I pushed the door to open it. 

Sa pagbukas pa lang ay nahuli ko na ang pagbaling ng ilang media sa aking direksyon.

I went out of the car as I hastily closed the door. They instantly ran towards my direction as they started bombarding me with questions. Mga tanong na hindi naman para sa akin. 

"When is the wedding, Ms. Serrano?"

"Matutuloy pa ba ang kasal?"

"Ms. Serrano, is it true that you're kidnapped?"

"What happened five years ago? Is it true that—"

The voices muffled on my ears as I saw Chaos walking back towards the car. Igting ang kanyang panga nang nagtama ang aming mga mata. 

I blinked and adverted my eyes away from him. Noon muling bumalik ang mga boses ng media sa aking harapan. 

"Is it true that it wasn't you who attended the engagement party years ago?"

"Was it postponed or the wedding was called off already?"

I pressed my lips as I raised my hand to signal them to stop but they continued asking.

Marahas akong bumuntong hininga at nahagip ng aking mga mata ang papalapit na bulto ni Chaos. 

"I'm not Rieselle," I stated but I'm not sure if they all heard me. Ngunit sigurado akong narinig ako ng mga nasa harap ko.

The questions died down until it turns into murmurs. Unti-unting nawala pati ang bulungan at natahimik ang lahat. 

"Stop asking me those questions. I'm not Rieselle Serrano," I muttered when everyone went silent, making sure they'll all hear me. 

"Fuck!" I heard Chaos's curse somewhere. Akmang lilingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses nang may umabot sa aking braso. 

My eyes landed on Chaos who's now beside me, shielding me from the media that seems still digesting what they heard. 

His hand encircled around me as he held my arm, pulling me closer to his chest. 

He stride as he tried to pulled us out of the crowd. Tila noon lang natauhan ang mga media at muling nabuhay ang kanilang mga tanong. 

Chaos's hand remained pulling me closer to him while the media's still flocking on us. He didn't answer any questions and ignored them like the only thing that matters is the two of us getting out of the crowd.

My eyes landed at some uniformed bodyguards who came out of nowhere. Probably, Chaos's men or from the Zaldivars. They helped us get out of the crowd. 

Ilang minuto rin ang inabot bago kami tuluyang makapasok ng gusali. We're inside the elevator when Chaos removed his hand on me.

"Why did you announced that you're not Rieselle?" Binalingan niya ako nang tuluyang sumara ang elevator. 

"Because I'm not," I muttered in a matter-of-fact tone. "They're asking me questions that's supposed to be for her."

"I told you to stay in the car. Wait for the valet to park it somewhere not crowded," he forcefully stated, almost cutting my words. "Look at what happened."

I chuckled as I slightly tilted my head for a shake. "Nothing happened. They just saw me."

I scrutinizingly stared at his eyes, looking at where all this madness was coming from.

Sarkastiko akong napasinghap nang matanto kung bakit ganoon ang reaction niya. "Surely, your fiancee would understand why we're together," I grinned. 

Mataman siyang napatitig sa akin. "I don't have a fiancee."

"Then, did you call the wedding off?" If there's someone who will break the engagement and the wedding, its him. Dahil pakiramdam ko, sa bait ng fiancee niya ay kayang-kaya nitong patawarin si Chaos kung may nagawa man itong mali.

Even if Chaos really impregnated someone else, I think she'll still find a way to understand and forgive him. I don't know if that's a good thing but if I were her and my fiance got someone pregnant, I wouldn't think twice and I'd immediately dump him.

"How are you?" tanong niya bilang sagot sa tanong ko. "Your daughter? Your man? Did you marry him already?" he asked with a deep note in his voice.

I narrowed my eyes and fully shifted my body towards his direction. "What the hell are you talking about? I have a daughter? And married?" I can't help but chuckle at my last word. 

"Where did you get that? I didn't hear that rumor," sambit ko habang bahagya pang tumatawa para lang lalo siyang asarin.

"No lying this time."

I raised a brow. Oh, come on! He really think I'm always lying? Mapait akong napangiti. Of course, paanong hindi ganoon ang iisipin niya kung puro panloloko ang ginawa ko sa kanya noon? I lied to him, not once. But always. 

I heaved a sarcastic breath. "I'm not in a relationship. Anak pa kaya?" I raised a brow.

"Don't—"

"The kid earlier is Flavio's daughter." I didn't let him finish and cutted his words. 

Kasabay iyon ng pagbukas ng elevator, hudyat na nasa tamang palapag na kami. 

My brow raised when he didn't move. Like he's still processing what I said.

He gestured his hand when I snapped, telling me to go first. With hesitant steps, I walked out of the elevator while he followed. 

We silently got inside his condo. I tightly pressed my lips as I bit the insides of my cheeks upon feeling how familiar everything that's in front of me.

I stopped in the middle of the living room when I felt that Chaos was now nearing behind me after shutting the door.

I turned my body towards his direction when I remembered the suppressed words in my head.

"Why did you bring me here?" I expected it more that he'll bring me to prison and not to his condo. The condo where I stayed for a couple of months years ago.

"Why did you leave?" he asked instead, not wanting to answer my question again.

I let out a mocking breath. "You let me," I stated, remembering how he just stood while I'm leaving. 

"I let you leave to give you space so you could clear your mind." His eyes grew more intense as he licked his lower lip before parting his lips to speak. "I didn't know it'll took me five years to fucking find you. If I only knew you're planning to fool me again, I won't let you." His deep and baritone voice vibrated along my nerves.

"So you could sue me immediately, huh?" I really can't stop the note of sarcasm in my voice. "Pwede ka nang magpakasal. I know you're only waiting for me. After making sure I'll rot in jail, you'll continue the wedding. Finally, huh? You'll marry the woman you love—" I trailed off as my mouth formed an oval. "Oh! The woman who belongs to a powerful family who's a threat to yours rather." The grin in my lips widened and continue mocking him but it seems like it wasn't affecting him.

His eyes remained intense. "I don't have a fiancee and I mean what I told you before, Marcia."

I tilted my head. "That you'll cancel your wedding with Rieselle and marry me instead? Come on, Chaos! We both know that isn't happening."

"That will only happen if you do not love me."

Umawang ang aking bibig. I cleared my throat upon recovering. "Why? Do you love me?" I raised a brow, challenging him.

He shifted as his hand moved. Seems he wanted to hold me but stopped himself like I'll disappear the moment he'll try. "I've told you that before. I won't tell you to allow me to spend my life with you if I do not love you."

"You sure? I acted like Rieselle before. So, more like it was still Rieselle you're with at those times. How can you say it is me that you love? Maybe you're mistaken," I sarcastically muttered but I tasted a bitter fluid in my insides.

I felt my heart pounding wildly against my ribcage. I tried to ignore it and focused more on calming myself but his next words didn't help. 

His eyes were on me as his voice was deep when he continued. "Five years that you're not here and Rieselle's almost everywhere yet I'm here longing for you."

"That five damn years are too long. But I don't think I'll stop looking for you if I failed to find you again. Five years won't stop me, Marcia. And I don't think a decade would." He paused a bit while slowly shaking his head. "If I do not love you then tell me what is this."

Kung kumakalabog ang puso ko kanina, pakiramdam ay lalabas na ito ngayon dahil sa lakas ng pagkabog nito. Like I'll have a heart attack any time soon. Para bang konting lakas pa ay maririnig na ni Chaos ang tibok noon kahit pa hindi naman kami ganoon kalapit sa isa't isa.

What the fuck? Those are just words, Marcia! You're not like this before, come on!

Ngunit kahit anong saway ko sarili ay walang epekto iyon. 

"Do you love me?" It was his turn to ask.

I stared at his eyes, not wanting to tear our gaze. I've admitted it before as Rieselle. At walang problema kung aaminin ko rin iyon ngayon. This time, as Marcia. Ngunit sa dami ng kasinungalingang nasabi ko sa kanya, maniniwala pa kaya siya? 

"Would you believe me?" I asked using my usual voice but a bit low as I felt breathless, ngunit may bakas pa rin ng paghahamon doon.

"Kailan kita hindi pinaniwalaan?" he queried while intensely looking at me. Tila walang balak putulin ang titigan ng aming mga mata. 

I lowered my gaze while trying to remember when but I can't think of any. O kung mayroon man, hindi malaking bagay ang nangyari dahilan kung bakit hindi ko iyon maalala.

Because the only thing I can remember is, he really does believe my words. Always. 

"I do," I slowly whispered as I cocked my head, meeting his eyes again. "I do love you, Chaos." I smiled, genuinely this time when I caught his eyes lit upon hearing my words. 

He licked his lower lip as he shifted his weight.

I felt my insides calmed down as I stared at the flicker of emotion flashed in his eyes. Like my words were enough for him. 

I slowly shook my head afterwards. "But marrying you isn't possible."

It's not in the choices. It's not in the plan. It's not what I need right now. Even though it's what I want. 

He took a step forward, this time he slowly reached for my hand and gently pulled it. "I'm not forcing you to marry me right now."

His doorbell rang, the reason why his words were interrupted a bit. But it seems like his attention isn't on his ringing doorbell.

"I can wait, Marcia. I won't give a fuck how long it would take—" 

"Someone's outside," I muttered when a doorbell interrupted his words again.

Tila noon lang siya natauhan. He glanced at the door behind him but still returned his eyes on me. Nahuli ko ang pag-igting ng kanyang panga sa pagsulyap sa pinto ng kanyang condo.

"That must be important," sambit ko nang mukhang wala pa siyang balak buksan ang pinto.

Napahilot siya sa sentido at marahang kinalas ang hawak sa aking kamay. "I'll see who's outside," paalam niya bago tinungo ang pinto. 

I'm standing near the couch, several steps away from the door but I can still hear the voice of the person outside when Chaos opened the door. 

"How's your investigation? Our family and the Serranos knew it already," I heard Guerdon's voice muttered. I didn't hear a response from Chaos but Guerdon continued. "Rieselle told everything to her parents as to why everyone learned about what happened."

"Hmm." Chaos hummed as he fully pushed the door open and turned his back on his cousin. Dahilan kung bakit tuluyan kong nakita ang bulto ni Guerdon.

"You should call her. She said she can't contact you." 

Hindi pa tuluyang nakakalapit sa akin si Chaos ay napahinto na ito at lumingon kay Guerdon na tuluyan nang nakapasok sa condo.

Guerdon's eyes met mine. Sandali siyang natigilan. "I thought you haven't talked to Chaos for weeks already?" he asked while his eyes were on me. 

Agad kong nakuha ang sinabi niya. 

I tilted my head and leaned at the backrest of the couch, amused that he mistook me as Rieselle.

"And I see, you suddenly dyed your hai—" His voice suddenly vanished as slowly, recognition dawned in his face. 

I smirked at him when he started realizing who I am.

Unti-unting nag-iba ang ekspresyon niya. Nawala ang magaang tungo niya at napalitan ng hindi maipintang reaksyon. He glanced at Chaos before looking back at me with his frowned forehead.

"It's not nice to see you too, Guerdon," I mockingly greeted and the smirk in my lips widened.

"Marcia," he concluded and his eyes darkened. Tumalim ang mga mata niya na lalong nakapagpalawak ng aking ngisi.

He started walking towards my direction but Chaos instantly placed his hand in front of Guerdon, stopping him.

"You found her?" baling niya kay Chaos. "When did you find her?"

"Can we talk about this some other time? I haven't talked to her properly yet." 

Marahang napailing si Guerdon. "Family dinner later with the Serranos. You need to bring her..." He gave me a quick gaze. "With you."

__________