I met those black, impenetrable eyes. Agad kong pinalis ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa aking braso. The loud sound from the sound system's slowly fading as I faced Hoax.

"Let's go home," Marahang sambit niya. Sarkastiko akong napatawa dahil doon. I can still remember what he said.

Leave and don't come back. Ngayon ay inaaya niya akong umuwi?

"Where?" Nanghahamong sambit ko.

I saw his jaw clenched as he pressed his lips in a hard line. "I'm sorry about what I've said."

Tumango ako at walang salitang tinalikuran siya. Hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay agad na niyang muling nahuli ang aking braso.

"We're going home," Mariing sambit niya.

"No-"

"Alright." I frowned at his answer and I shrieked when he carried me like a sack of rice.

"Fuck, Hoax!" Pakiramdam ko ay bumabalik ang ang mga kaninang nainom ko dahil sa ginawa niya. I kept on grasping his dress shirt. Takot na kapag binitawan ko iyon ay mahulog ako, na alam ko naman na hindi mangyayari dahil nakahawak sa akin si Hoax.

"Hey, put me down!" Iginalaw ko ang aking mga paa ngunit agad niyang nahuli iyon.

"Hoax, n-no!" My voice trembled as I felt my head spinning. Pakiramdam ko ay mabibiyak ang aking ulo dahil sa sakit noon. Ganoon ang pakiramdam ko hanggang sa tuluyang bumigat ang aking mga talukap at nagdilim ang paligid.

"Hoax!" Tawag ko ngunit wala akong nakuhang sagot mula sa kanya.

His phone's still ringing but he's not inside the room to answer it. Bahagya pa akong nagtaka kung bakit narito sa kwarto ko ang phone niya.

I walked on the side table as I picked up his phone when I saw Callum as the caller. Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay may nagsalita na galing sa kabilang linya.

"Hoax, fuck! Totoo ba 'tong mga sinend mo? Si Mirae nga ang Universe? Alam na ba ni Vynz?" I heard Callum's familiar voice over the phone.

I felt my knees wobbled as my grip on the phone tightened. I can feel my tears at the side of my eyes as my chest tightened. I can still hear his voice but I immediately ended the call when I saw the knob of the door moving.

Agad kong ibinalik ang phone sa kinalalagyan nito at kasabay noon ang pagbukas ng pinto.

"I left my pho-"

He stopped when he saw me shaking my head.

"Don't hurt her, Hoax." Halos pabulong ang boses kong iyon. I bit my lower lip to suppress a sob coming out of my mouth.

Hoax's frowning while directly looking at me.

"Hey, what happened?" Lumapit siya sa akin at marahang hinawakan ang magkabila kong braso.

"D-don't." I immediately wiped the tears on my cheeks.

"Strid," He called. He was about to say something when his phone started ringing.

Nilapitan niya iyon at sinagot ang tawag. Agad kong kinuha ang aking phone at mabilis na lumabas ng silid.

Narinig ko pa ang pagtawag sa akin ni Hoax ngunit hindi ko na iyon binigyang pansin at dirediretsong bumaba ng hagdan at nagtungo sa lift.

Sumara iyon ng hindi ko nakikita ang pigura ni Hoax. I started dialling Mirae's number. Laking pasalamat ko nang agad niyang sinagot iyon.

"Where are you? Kung nasa penthouse ka ni Vynz, umalis ka na. Hoax knew that you are the Universe," Nagmamadaling bungad ko sa kanya.

"I know, call Archer and tell him to go to our penthouse," Sagot niya at agad na pinutol ang tawag.

I started calling Archer but his phone's busy, maybe Creed's already calling him.

I arrived at our penthouse with Dasher. Nagkasabay kaming dumating. He's asking me what happened but the only thing that I can say is the Devaughne already know that Mirae's the Universe.

Nang makapasok sa penthouse ay agad na dumiretso si Dasher kay Mirae. Archer and Creed's already here. Archer nodded at me while Creed's just staring.

"What happened?" Dash asked.

"Alam na ng Devaughne na siya ang Universe at kung sino ang mga underboss ng Cosmos." Si Archer ang sumagot dito kaya naman napatingin si Dash sa kanya.

"I saw Hoax's email to Vynz. Hindi ko pwedeng itanggi iyon sa kanila, they have a lot of evidence," I bit my lower lip as I heard Mirae's problematic but still firm voice.

"You alright? Sinaktan ka ba ni Devaughne?"

"No. Good thing ako ang unang nakabasa ng email ni Hoax at wala si Vynz sa penthouse." Maluwag akong nakahinga sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko alam kung ako ang maaaring gawin ni Vynz sa kanya. But I am more nervous of what Hoax can do.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili at bahagyang lumapit kay Mirae.

"Mirae, I'm sorry." Ramdam ko ang pamamasa ng aking mga mata. I swallowed the big lump on my throat as I continued. "I-I told Hoax that you're a member of Cosmos. Kaya lagi ka niyang pinapasundan. P-pati na rin ang mga nakakasama mo kaya nalaman niya kung sino ang mga underboss ng Cosmos. He-" Hindi natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil agad niya iyong pinutol.

"What?" She asked, frowning. Walang nagtangkang magsalita sa tatlong lalaki at nanatili lang na nakikinig sa amin.

"I'm sorry, Mirae." I tried to hold her hand but she immediately avoided it. Tears started rolling down my cheeks.

Her eyes widened. "Are you stupid? Hindi mo ba alam na hindi lang ako ang mapapahamak sa ginawa mo? Ikaw din! Lahat tayo! Hindi ka nagiisip!" Galit na sambit niya.

Napasinghap ako nang umangat ang palad niya. Napapikit ako at nakaranig ng boses mula kay Dasher at Arch. My heart's ramming my ribcage as I heaved a deep sighed, as if it'll calm my heart.

"Milady."

"Mirae, don't."

I slowly opened my eyes. Naiyukom ni Mirae ang palad na nasa ere bago mariing pumikit.

Nang dumilat siya ay diretso ang maririin niyang tingin sa akin. "Explain," She muttered and I immediately shook my head. I can't, I'm not yet ready to tell her why.

"You don't want?" Mirae tilted her head without breaking the the connection of our eyes. "Then leave! Fucking leave!" She shouted.

I turned my back on her when I felt my chest tightened. Agad akong tumakbo patungo sa labas at sumakay ng elevator. Pasara na iyon nang nakita kong lumabas din si Archer. He's calling my name but I ignored it.

Hinayaan kong sumara ang lift. I kept on wiping my tears until the elevator opened on the parking lot.

Nanlalabo ang aking paningin. Patuloy ang pagpupunas ko sa aking mga luha habang naglalakad patungo sa aking sasakyan. Sinundan pa iyon ng sunod-sunod na paghikbi.

I gasped when someone caught my arm. Agad akong napalingon at nakita kung sino iyon. His eyes darkened as his jaw clenched when he saw my face.

"What happened? What are you crying?" Hoax asked and my legs trembled when I heard his hoarse voice. Bahagyang humigpit ang hawak niya sa akin nang maramdaman na nangatal ang aking mga binti.

"Is it Mirae?" I didn't answer. He continued as his eyes softened. "Strid, tell me."

Umiling ako at sinubukan kumawala sa kanyang hawak ngunit hindi siya natinag. "L-let me go, Hoax."

Lumalim ang gitla sa kanyang noo. He was about to say something when I forcibly removed my arm in his hand. Kasabay noon ang paghinto ng pamilyar na kotse malapit sa amin.

I immediately run towards the passenger's seat. Sumakay ako roon at tama ang aking hinala kung sino ang nasa loob noon. I saw Hoax running after me. Laking pasalamat ko ng nakasakay na ako bago niya pa maabutan.

Archer swiftly maneuvered the car towards the exit of the parking lot.

"Are you alright?" He glanced at me as he asked.

I nodded my head even though I know I'm not. Tears are still rolling down my cheeks.

He tsked as he disapprovingly looked at me. "'Wag ka ngang umiyak,"

Para namang umurong ang mga luha ko dahil sa paraan ng pagkakasambit niya. I chuckled as my tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Arch,"  I sobbed. I slightly pouted my lips when he glanced at me.

His eyes enlarged as he horribly looked at me while driving. "What the fuck, Astrid!"

Tuluyan na akong natawa dahil sa ekspresyon niya. I harshly wiped my tears. Laking pasalamat ko nang wala ng luha na muling tumulo roon. Though I can feel my heart clenching. Pilit ko iyong pinalis sa aking isip.

"Kumusta mga babae mo?" Biglang tanong ko.

He glanced at me as he shrugged. "Malay ko sa kanila," He nonchalantly answered.

My lips parted. Nahihiwagaan akong napatingin sa kanya. "Seriously? Madami talaga sila?"

"Hey!" Napabaling ako kay Archer ngunit wala sa aking ang kanyang atensyon.

He's glancing at the side and rear mirror. "You see the Bentley at the back?" Tanong niya kaya naman agad akong napatingin doon.

My heart hammered as I saw the familiar car a few meters away from us.

Archer started dialling on his phone while his other hand's tightly gripping the steering wheel.

"Creed, someone's following our car," Archer muttered over the phone.

He hummed as he glanced on the rear mirror. "Normal speed. Alright."

"I know that car," I muttered after the call ended.

Sandaling napalingon sa akin si Archer habang bahagyang nakakunot ang noo.

"What?" He asked.

I was about to answer when his phone started ringing. Agad naman niyang sinagot iyon.

"Creed," He called. Sandaling natigilan si Archer habang nakikinig sa kausap. "Yes, the intersection near our main headquarters."

"Ten to fifteen minutes away, alright." He ended the call as he turned to me. "Do you have your earpiece?"

I nodded. Agad kong kinuha ang earpiece mula sa aking bag at sinuot iyon. "Fuck! Tatlong kotse ang sumusunod sa atin."

Napasinghap ako sa sinabi ni Archer. Napalingon ako at tama nga ang sinabi niya. Ilang metro lang ang mga pagitan nito sa amin. Iilan lang din ang dumadaan kaya naman malalaman agad na kami ang sinusundan ng tatlong kotse na nasa likod.

"Can you hand me my earpiece? It's in the glove compartment."

I open his glove box. Kinuha ko ang earpiece roon at inabot sa kanya.

He wore it as I turned mine on.

Agad kong narinig ang boses ni Creed. "What's the plan, Universe?"

"Star, Light, are you in one car?" Mirae asked, ignoring Creed's question.

"Yes," I answered.

"Keep your normal speed. Gaano kalayo ang sumusunod sa inyo?"

"Tatlong kotse ang sumusunod sa amin. Ten meters approximately, 'yung nasa likod namin, " Light answered.

I bit my lower lip as I interfered. "It's Hoax."

"Walang masyadong dumadaan kaya nasa likod agad namin si Hoax at ang mga kasama niya."

"Night, Moon, keep an eye on both sides of the intersection. Don't let other vehicles na dumaan sa left lane kapag nakaraan na ang sasakyan nila Star," I heard Mirae ordered through the earpiece. "Light, update your location," She continued.

"Two kilometers before the intersection."

I heard Mirae cursed. "Moon, aabot ba tayo?"

"Yes, Milady!"

"What are you planning?" Tanong ko nang hindi na makatiis. I want to know her plan.

"Don't worry, I won't kill Hoax. I just want to stop them. After that I don't want Cosmos to be involved with Devaughne....and you fix your marriage with your husband," She muttered in a cold tone.

"I'm sorry."

"Shut up."

I bit my lower lip. I know what she wants, my explanation but I can't give it to her right now. Because I know even if I explained that will never change the fact that I betrayed her.

Walang ibang nagtangkang magsalita matapos ang paguusap namin na iyon.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas nang muling nagtanong si Mirae.

"Location, Light?"

"Twenty meters before the intersection," Archer immediately answered. Silang dalawa lang ni Mirae ang nagsasagutan.

"Si Hoax?"

"Three meters away from our car."

"Location."

"Ten meters." I can see the intersection already. There's a two familiar car at the both sides of the left side of the intersection.

"Eight.

"Five....four." Habang papalapit ay lalo kong nakikilala ang dalawang sasakyang nakahinto sa dalawang gilid ng kaliwang bahagi ng intersection.

"One," Archer counted. Kasabay noon ang paglagpas namin sa intersection. Lumingon ako upang tingnan ang kotse ni Hoax ngunit bumaling ang atensyon ko sa kaliwang bahagi ng intersection.

"Fuck!" I cursed when a saw a car came out of the left side of the intersection.

I turned to Hoax's car and my eyes widened as I saw it approaching.

"Hoax!" Tawag ko nang bumangga ang kotseng nagmula kaliwang intersection sa kotse ni Hoax.

"That's Mirae."

Marahas akong napabaling kay Arch. "What?" Namimilog ang mga matang sambit ko.

"The driver of the other car, it's Mirae."

My lips parted as I blinked. Seriously?

Hindi ko na nakita ang kotseng mga nakasunod sa amin dahil sa tuluyang paglayo ng aming sasakyan. Ngunit nasisiguro ko na hindi lang iyon ang mangyayari. Knowing Hoax and Mirae?

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