"Damn!" Archer cursed when two cars blocked our way. Mabilis niyang kinabig ang manibela upang bumaling ngunit may isang kotse na ring nakaharang doon.

They came out of their cars. Some were holding guns on their hands. Hindi tataas sa sampu ang bilang nila.

A man knocked on the window on the driver's seat as he gestured something. The car's heavy tinted, I was sure they can't see us but I know they knew who's inside.

"Fuck! We're cornered but don't worry they won't hurt Star. Mga tauhan ito ng Devaughne," Archer spoke through his earpiece. I opened Archer's glove compartment and saw a gun and a swiss knife in it. Parehas kong kinuha iyon at inabot kay Archer ang baril. Agad naman niyang tinanggap iyon.

"They won't hurt Star but they will kill you. Fight, hanggang kaya mo. Papunta na kami," Mirae muttered.

"Where are you?" Rinig kong tanong ni Night.

"Pagkatapos ng susunod na intersection, sa kanan." Matapos sabihin ni Archer ang aming lokasyon ay bumaling siya sa akin. "'Wag kang lalabas."

My mouth fell opened. Nahihiwagaan akong napatingin sa kanya. Katulad ng sinabi ni Mirae, maaaring hindi nila ako sasaktan ngunit papatayin nila si Archer. I won't let that happen.

Patuloy pa rin sa pagkatok ang lalaki sa labas ngunit hindi ko iyon binigyang pansin. "Are you kidding me?"

"Just do what I say. If something happens, drive the car and leave, Astrid," Sambit nito at mabilis na binuksan ang pinto sa gawi niya at agad ring sinara iyon.

I turned to the window beside the passenger's seat when someone knocked on it. Bahagya pa siyang sumilip sa aking bintana.

I slowly removed the locked of the door as I forcibly swung it opened. He fell on the road. I went out of the car as I kicked the the man approaching. Bahagya siyang napaatras at itinutok sa akin ang baril. I immediately throw my knife towards his direction as I avoided the bullet coming from the right side from the other man.

Kasabay noon ang pagtarak ng kutsilyo sa dibdib ng kaharap kong lalaki.

Agad kong nasalo ang baril na nahulog mula sa kanyang kamay at walang pagaalinlangang pinaputok iyon sa direksyon kung saan nanggaling ang bala ng baril na kaninang muntik ng tumama sa akin. I didn't even blink when the bullet pierced on his heart.

Napatingin ako sa direksyon ni Archer. He's fighting with three men at the same time and he's oblivious of the other man pointing a gun towards his direction.

My eyes widened when the man pulled the trigger. Hindi iyon napansin ni Archer. Itinutok ko ang baril sa direksyon ng lalaki at pinaputukan siya. I aimed for his heart and gasped when blood started squirting from his head.

I saw Dasher at the back of the man. Walang halo ng pagbibiro ang ekspresyon niya, malayo sa Dasher na nakilala ko. His gun's still pointing at the man's head while he continuously pulled the trigger. Bahagya pang umuusok ang dulo ng kanyang baril.

Itinapat niya ang baril sa ibang direksyon at walang pagaalinlangang pinaputok iyon. He's aiming for the enemy's heads.

Dasher is a doctor. Kaya naman kapag ganito ang sitwasyon na walang awa siyang pumapatay ay nasisiguro ko na seryoso siya at may kasamang galit ang ginagawa niyang iyon.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto na ako sa aking kinatatayuan. I just found Archer tapping Dasher's shoulder. May dugo ring umaagos galing sa braso ni Archer.

Dash turned to me and asked. "You good?" He even smiled at me.

Archer gave me a thumbs up, low-key asking me too.

I nodded then I smiled. "I'm alright."

"You alright, Milady?" I heard Moon asked through his earpiece.

"Don't mind me. How about Light and Star?"

"Light was shot on his arm but we're now safe. Good thing Moon came," I answered.

"Good, to our penthouse," Mirae ordered. I don't know what happened. Sana lang ay hindi sila nagkabarilan ni Hoax.

I sighed as I looked at the dead body scattered on the floor. Ang iba pa ay sabog ang ulo dahil sa ginawa ni Dash.

We're inside the secret room of our penthouse. I'm seating in a sofa with Creed and Archer. We're both busy on our phone while Archer's looking at nowhere. There's also a gauze wrapped around his arm because of his wound. Mirae's lying on the bed while Dasher's cleaning her wound.

I put my phone in silent. Kanina pa tumatawag si Hoax at ayoko munang intindihin iyon sa ngayon. I want to ask him if he's okay but I know he is.

"What you did was a crazy plan," I heard Dasher muttered and Mirae just rolled her eyes on him. I haven’t had any idea on what happened to Mirae. Ang alam ko lang ay binangga niya ang kotse ni Hoax. Ngunit sa tingin ko ay hindi lang ganoon ang nangyari dahil sa tensyong nararamdaman ko kay Dash at Creed.

Dasher rose up as he went outside the room. I heard he has an emergency on the hospital.

"Have you seen this, Mirae?" Creed rose up. He walked towards Mirae's direction as he handed her his phone.

I was looking at Mirae as she stared at Creed's phone. I have an idea what's inside 'cause I saw it already but I wasn't sure. If I'm not mistaken, it's the invitation from the private website. Masquerade is the theme. Kaya naman malaki ang posibilidad na pumayag si Mirae roon.

"We'll attend." Nakumpirma ang iniisip ko nang sumagot siya.

Big bosses can bring non-mafia guest. This would be the first time that Cosmos would attend the mafia's yearly gathering. No one is allowed to kill or harm whoever enemies on that day. A truce for a day.

We heard a phone ringing. I looked at the side table where the sound is coming. Inabot iyon ni Mirae at namatay ang tawag. It's Dasher's phone, I guess. Muling tumunog iyon dahil sa pumasok na mensahe. I saw Mirae frowned as she looked at Dasher's phone.

Mirae turned to Arch while I was just watching them. "Can I borrow your car for a while? Dadalin ko lang kay Dash," She asked as she motioned Dasher's phone.

"Ako na." Akmang kukunin ni Archer ang phone ngunit agad iyong iniwas ni Mirae.

"Ako na, Mirae. You two, rest," Sambit ni Creed. Mabilis niyang nakuha ang phone kay Mirae. Agad naman iyong hinabol ni Mirae.

"Ako na, may pupuntahan ako." Inilahad niya ang kamay sa harapan ni Creed.

Naglalabanan sila ng tingin habang ako ay patuloy tahimik na nakamasid sa kanila. "Where?"

Mirae raised her brow up on Creed. "Sa Lozano!" Kinuha ni Mirae ang phone ni Dasher at hindi na nakaangal si Creed. Bumaling siya kay Arch at inilahad ang kamay. He immediately handed her his car keys.

"I need a new car, I'll send you the check later," Mirae uttered and leave the penthouse.

Napailing na lamang si Archer habang si Creed ay nakatitig lang sa papaalis na bulto ni Mirae.

My stares followed Creed until he went back on his seat. He gently massaged his temples as he tightly closed his eyes.

"Creed," I called.

Agad namang napadilat ang kanyang mga mata.

"What happened to Mirae?" Kunot noong tanong ko.

Nahuli ko ang pagayos ng tayo ni Archer. Tila ba naghihintay din sa isasagot ni Creed.

He heaved a deep sighed as he intently looked at me. "Vynz happened."

I sat beside him as I faced him. "What?"

"His car crashed into Mirae's. It was an accident, I think."

My lips parted. I heard Archer's question but I ignored it.

Then Mirae just leave like that? Like nothing happened. Creed told us the details as we listened.

Nakaladkad daw ng kotse ni Vynz ang sasakyan ni Mirae. It's because Mirae's taking a u-turn and Vynz's in the other lane. Ayon kay Creed, kung hindi raw dumating ang mga pulis ay may posibilidad na nagkabarilan ang dalawa. But I doubt it, Vynz won't shoot her, as well as Mirae, I think.

Sigurado rin naman ako na hindi iyon sinasadya ni Vynz. I mean, I know Mirae's somewhat special to him. Mirae have a place in his heart. I've never seen him looked at anyone the way he looked at Mirae. It's something genuine.

Ganoon ang paraan ng pagtingin sa akin ni Hoax. But things happened and I can't figure if it's still genuine or just a mere hoax.

It's already ten in the evening when Mirae went back on the penthouse. Creed seems not in the mood because Mirae and Dasher's aren't answering their phones.

Her eyes went on Creed's daughter who's playing her toys on the mat.

Creed fetch Crizzette a few minutes after Mirae left. Madalang kasing umuwi ang bata kasama ang ama. Sa mga magulang ni Creed nakatira si Crizzy. Hindi ito nababantayan ni Creed dahil sa trabaho pero sinisiguro niya na araw-araw ay mapupuntahan ang anak.

"Mommy!" Crizzette giggled as she saw Mirae.

"You okay, Mommy?" Naalarma ako sa tanong niyang iyon.

I looked at Mirae, she's a bit disoriented. I don't know but I have a feeling that it's because of Dasher. She left after, I think she saw a message from Dasher's phone.

Creed rose up and walked towards Mirae's direction. "Saan ka galing?"

Lumapit ako kay Crizzette at inaya para magtungo sa kwarto ni Creed.

"Let's go to your Dad's room." Agad naman siyang tumayo. She held my hand as we started walking side by side towards Creed's room.

Nang makarating kami sa kwarto ni Creed ay agad siyang sumampa sa kama. I gently closed the door as I walked near her. Humiga ako sa tabi niya at marahang hinaplos ang kanyang buhok.

"Mommy," Marahang tawag niya sa akin.

"Hmm?" I hummed as I attentively looked at her sleepy eyes. "What is it?"

"Promise me you won't be mad."

I chuckled on her demands as I answered. "Alright, what is it?"

"I know you're my Mommy, as well as Mommy Mirae and Mommy Vinia. But I once asked my teacher about a mother and she told me a mom is the one who gave birth to us." She smiled as she dreamily looked at me.

"Clearly, you aren't my mother," Nagaalangang sambit niya. Para bang tinatantya kung magagalit ako sa sasabihin niyang iyon. I have no problem with that. "Mommy Mirae too 'cause Daddy told me you two are both his sisters. And it's impossible thay Mommy Vinia's my mom. Kasi ngayon ko lang siya nakilala. If she's my mother then I should have known her earlier."

Napalabi siya bago tuluyang nagpatuloy. "Mommy, do you know where my mother is? The one who gave birth to me?"

I stilled as a I heard her question. I don't know how to answer her because I actually don't have any idea about her mother but I don't want to disappoint her.

"I'm not sure but I'll ask your Dad about that, huh?" I assured.

I'll talk to Creed later. Nakakaalala na siya. Dapat ay alam na niya kung sino ang nabuntis niya. I mean, he should have known.

Kung hindi ko lang alam na namatay ang anak ni Creed kay Lavinia ay aakalain kong siya ang Mommy ni Crizzette. Vinia somewhat have a resemblance with Crizzy. If I'll estimate Crizzy's age, I know Creed and Vinia's already engaged that time.

Imposible naman na si Cerys ang Mommy ni Crizzette. I know Cerys and Creed's daughter's missing but I'm hoping she isn't Crizzette's mother, plus we're not sure if Creed's really the father of her child. I don't know but I hate her. Maybe because of what she did just to have Creed and remembering what she did back then? It creeps me out.

I kept on caressing Crizzette's hair until she's fell asleep. Nang masiguro ko na tulog na siya ay agad akong lumabas ng kwarto ni Creed.

I was about to go towards the living room when I saw Mirae's room. Marahan akong naglakad patungo roon at wala sa sariling kumatok. Hindi na ako naghintay na may sumagot mula sa silid at agad ng binuksan iyon.

I saw Mirae seating on her bed. Our eyes met and I silently walked towards her as I sat beside her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

I bit my lower lip. Napayuko ako at wala sa sariling pinaglaruan ang mga daliri. "I want to talk to you."

Mariin niya akong tinitigan. "I want you to explain, don't talk to me if you don't want."

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