Ten months of being married to Hoax is fine. I know I love him as much as he does. Nararamdaman ko iyon.

Its been ten months yet I still don't know how can I tell Mirae that I married a Devaughne. Natatakot ako sa magiging reaksyon niya.

I can still remember my conversation with Dasher. He warned me about Hoax. I appreciate his concern. Alam ko naman iyon kahit hindi niya sabihin.

I was busy reading my reviewers when I heard Hoax's phone ringing. Nasa harapan ko lang iyon kaya naman agad kong nakita na hindi rehistradong numero ang tumatawag doon.

"Hon, someone's calling on your phone!" I shouted then I remember that Hoax is in our room.

I picked up his phone to answer the call.

Sinabi niya sa akin na ayos lang naman iyon sa kanya, na ako minsan ang sumasagot ng mga tawag sa phone niya lalo na kung hindi niya masasagot ito.

"He-" I wasn't able to finished my greetings because of a woman's voice on the other line.

"Finally! After almost a year ignoring my calls! What the hell, Hoax? Lagi mo 'kong pinapatayan ng telepono at hindi kita mahagilap! Halos isang taon akong walang balita sa'yo, tapos ngayon malalaman ko na pinakasalan mo 'yong babae na 'yon? Kasama pa ba sa plano 'yan? My God! Baka naman wala kang mapapala sa kanya, tigilan mo na 'yan! Besides, marami-" I ended the call as my grip on it tightened.

Nang nakita ko na pabalik na si Hoax ay agad kong ibinalik sa table ang kanyang phone.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Nakangiti at kunwari ay birong tanong ko.

Bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo ngunit may mapaglarong ngiti sa labi. "Nothing, do you want me to tell you something?"

I rolled my eyes on him. "Help me with this." Bahagya kong iwinagayway ang reviewers sa aking kamay.

That's when my doubts started growing. I know it wasn't just a mere paranoia, there's really something wrong.

I wear my sunglasses as I walked towards the lift. Kasabay nang pagbukas noon ay bumungad sa akin si Cylde.

"Kuya!" I called and kissed his cheeks as a greeting.

"Where are you going?" I asked and continued. "Come with me." Hindi ko na siya hinintay na makasagot at agad ng hinila ang kanyang kamay pabalik sa elevator. Alam ko naman na papayag siya. I need to do this. Hoax thought that today is the last day of my exam.

We arrived at the DEAS, Devaughne's firm. I told Kuya to wait for me.

I sashayed towards the entrance of the building. Agad akong pumasok sa elevator at nagtungo sa opisina ni Hoax.

I immediately saw his secretary outside his office. "Good morning, Is Hoax inside?" I asked, smiling.

"Good morning, Ma'am. Do you have an appointment?"

I shook my head. "I am his wife."

Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata nito. "He filed a three days leave. Hanggang bukas po effective ang leave ni Engineer, Ma'am."

Napawi ang aking ngiti dahil sa isinagot niya. What the hell?

"O-oh, Alright. Thank you!" Wala sa sariling tumalikod ako. I felt my tears slowly forming at the side of my eyes as my head filled with conclusions.

I bumped into someone. Kung hindi lang ako nahawakan ng taong nakabangga ko ay baka napaupo na ako sa sahig.

I looked up and saw Hoax's brother. "K-kuya." I bit my lower lip. Pinigilan ko ang sarili upang hindi mapangiwi nang tawagin kong Kuya si Vynz. I never imagine that time will come and I'll call him Kuya. Baka nasampal ako ni Mirae kung narinig niya iyon.

He frowned and asked with his cold eyes staring at me. "What are you doing here? You told Hoax today is your exam. Why are you here?"

Bakit naman sasabihin iyon ni Hoax kay Vynz.

"Nothing," I muttered as I shook my head. Agad ko siyang nilagpasan at sumakay sa elevator.

I even saw him talking to someone on his phone before the elevator finally closed. Sa tingin ko ay alam ko na kung sino ang tinatawagan niya.

I walked towards the parking lot and immediately saw Kuya. I saw him leaning on his car. Agad akong dumiretso sa kanya.

Kunot noo niya akong sinalubong. "What happened?"

I shook my head as I walked towards the passenger's seat. Sumakay na rin si Kuya roon at pinasibad ang kotse.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Penthouse," Simpleng sagot ko habang dumako ang tingin sa labas at inalala ang usapan namin kanina ni Hoax.

I asked him before he left the penthouse if he'll be in his office for the whole day and he said yes. Tapos sasabihin sa akin ng sekretarya niya na nakaleave siya?

What the hell should I feel with that?

We're already married for ten months yet Hoax didn't even bother tell me anything about their underground business. I don't know if it's because he knew that I already knew it or he just really doesn't want me to know. I hope its the latter.

Napabaling ako kay Kuya nang malakas siyang napapreno. I looked at him with my eyes full of confusions but I just saw him frowning while directly looking at the road.

Napatingin ako roon at hindi na napigilan ang sarili na hindi mapakunot ang noo dahil sa pamilyar na kotseng nakaharang sa aming harapan.

Lumabas ang driver ng kotseng iyon at napabuntong hininga ako matapos makumpirma ang nasa isip.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakalabas na rin si Kuya at sinasalubong na si Hoax.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang puntahan ang dalawa. We're actually causing traffic right now.

Hoax ignored my brother like he's just an air as he walked near me.

"Let's go home." Malamig ang tono niya at ganoon rin ang mga mata. Marahan niyang hinawakan ang aking braso na para bang iginigiya ako patungo sa kanyang kotse.

Napasigaw ako nang biglang suntukin ni Kuya si Hoax. Agad namang may kinuha si Hoax galing sa likuran niya. Namilog ang aking mga mata nang matanto kung ano iyon.

Hoax pointed his gun towards Clyde. Bahagya namang napaatras si Kuya roon ngunit hindi nawala ang talim sa mga mata.

"Fuck off," Mariin ang bawat salitang binanggit niya kay Kuya.

"Hoax!" Saway ko rito ngunit hindi niya ako pinansin.

Akmang kukunin ako ni Kuya nang ikasa ni Hoax ang kanyang baril.

"H-hon," My voice trembled as I held Hoax's hand with the gun in it. Doon naman parang natauhan si Hoax. Unti-unti kong hinila iyon pababa at laking pasalamat ko nang hinayaan niya ako sa aking ginawa.

"Uwi na tayo," I whispered. I turned to my brother. "Kuya, uuwi na kami. Sorry."

Tumango naman siya sa akin.

I started walking towards Hoax's car. Hindi ko na siya hinintay at inunahan na siya upang hindi na niya ako pagbuksan ng pinto.

I felt him on the driver seat while I'm just staring outside. Sa bintana ng kotse ang tingin ko at hindi na nagabalang lingunin ang asawa.

He maneuvered the car and there was a deafening silence between the two of us until Hoax spoke.

"You told me you have an exam," He muttered in a firm as the same time, cold tone.

"You told me you'll stay in your office the whole day," I answered.

I saw him glanced at me from the side of my eyes and sighed. "I have an emergency meeting with a client."

Nilinggon ko siya at bahagyang tumango. Maybe I'll believe that if his secretary didn't tell me that he filed a three days leave.

"You lied." Gusto kong ibalik sa kanya ang mga salitang iyon ngunit hindi ko ginawa.

"I want to surprise you," I lied. "But you're not on your office."

"I'm sorry, I have an emergency meeti-"

"I understand." I cutted his words.

I felt like he wants to stop the car while we're talking. "Why are you with that man anyway?"

I turned to him with confused eyes. Sa huli ay natanto rin ang ibig niyang sabihin. "He's my brother." At hindi ko nagustuhan ang ginawa niya kaninang pagtutok ng baril kay Kuya.

"His stares doesn't looks like you're just a sister to him." May bahid ng pait ang ang kanyang mga salita.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, frowning. What is he implying?

"Nothing. Do you want to go somewhere?" He asked, changing the topic.

I just shook my head as I turned to the window.

We arrived at the building where our penthouse is located. Agad akong bumaba ng sasakyan at hindi na siya hinintay pa. Sinalubong ako ni Hoax kaya naman napahinto ako sa paglalakad.

He encircled his arm on my waist while his other hand gently caressed my cheek as he tilted his head to give me a swift kiss on my lips.

"I'm sorry," He whispered as he leaned closer. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi mapapikit nang maramdaman ko ang paglapat ng kanyang labi sa aking noo. May ibinulong siya ngunit hindi ko iyon maayos na narinig.

Dumako ang tingin ko sa bandang likuran ni Hoax at biglang kumabog ang aking dibdib nang makilala ang isang taong naroon. He's leaning on his car while staring at our direction. Our eyes met and he gave me a blank stare before he opened the door of his car and entered. Mabilis na umalis ang kanyang kotse at nawala sa aking paningin.

"Astrid." I heard Hoax called my name, kaya naman napabaling ako sa kanya.

"What are you looking at?" Tanong niya habang nakatingin sa direksyon kung saan ako nakatingin kanina.

"Wala 'yon. I thought I saw someone I know." I hope I was wrong but I really saw Creed and his blank expression. I need to explain to him as soon as I can.

Iginiya na ako ni Hoax papasok ng building habang ang braso niya ay nakapulupot pa rin sa aking baywang.

Matapos makarating sa penthouse ay agad akong nagtungo sa bathroom at sinubukang tawagan si Creed ngunit hindi niya sinasagot iyon. I tried to call him again after a few minutes and I want to thank God, when he finally answered.

"Creed." I can feel my heart beating fast as I call his name.

"So its true, that you married Hoax Devaughne." I bit my lower lips as I felt my knees wobbled when I heard his words. I knew how observant Creed is. I knew this day will come, na malalaman ni Creed na pinakasalan ko si Hoax.

"Y-yes. I'm sorry." I shouldn't be saying sorry for marrying someone I love but in our situation, I should be.

"Is this about the mafia chart again?"

"No. I l-love Hoax. Our relationship has nothing to do with Cosmos." I want to see him personally so I can convince him more but I don't know how can I do that without Hoax knowing.

"How about the Devaughne? You know them."

I bit my lower lip while thinking if I should tell him my plan. Sa huli ay nakapagdesisyon din.

"I know them, that's why I'm planning to tell Hoax about me being the Star."

For a while, I heard a deafening silence on the other line.

"Fuck! What did you just say? What the hell are you thinking, Astrid?"

"I think he j-just-" Hindi ko itinuloy ang sasabihin. I know him. Kapag sinabi ko iyon ay pupuntahan niya 'ko rito at kukunin kay Hoax. Besides, I'm still not sure.

"Don't. I'm warning you, Astrid. Let's talk first, at Cosmos' penthouse." Mariin ang pagsambit niya sa bawat salita. Kung kaharap ko siya ngayon ay hindi ko na alam ang gagawin. Just by imagining his expression makes my whole body trembled.

"B-bahala na-"

"Fuck! We'll ta-" I don't know where I got the courage to end the call. I'm sorry, Creed. I need to do this.

Lumabas ako ng bathroom at bumungad sa akin ang kwarto namin ni Hoax. He's not here but I don't know why I immediately saw his phone. Nakita kong nabuhay iyon. A sign that there's a notification. Someone's telling me that I need to see whatever that notification is.

I walked towards the bedside table where Hoax's phone is in. Kinuha ko iyon at tama nga ang hinala ko.

There's a message from an unknown number. May password ang phone niya ngunit alam ko naman iyon kaya naman agad ko iyong tinipa upang makita ang kabuuan ng mensahe.

Nangatal ang aking katawan nang makita ang ilang palitan ng mensahe roon. Wala pang isang oras mga mensaheng naroon.

Unknown Number:

You really married that woman just to know who the Universe is?

What about me, Hoax?

Hoax:

That Universe killed my sister, I'll do anything for her. And stop meddling in my marriage, you don't know anything.

Unknown Number:

I don't know anything? You're fucking unfair, Hoax!

That just fucking confirmed everything. Naibaba ko ang phone ng asawa ko nang maramdaman na bumukas ang pinto ng aming kwarto at bumungad sa akin si Hoax.

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