It's almost twenty minutes after Hoax left. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa siya nakakabalik. I can now feel how empty my stomach is.

Ilang sandali ay nagpasya akong lumabas ng silid upang hanapin si Hoax. I walked down the stairs as I looked around to find him.

Dumako ang tingin ko sa kaliwang bahagi ng kinaroroonan ko at natigilan. I saw Hoax with the other Devaughne's underbosses and a familiar woman in black.

I stilled as I felt my chest tightened when I saw her started kissing Hoax. Tuluyan kong nakilala ang babae. My mouth parted a bit but I immediately closed it as I walked near them.

Si Callum at Ryder ang unang nakakita sa akin. I saw Callum's eyes widened as he whispered something to himself.

Hoax pushed Mia and I saw his jaw clenched.

"I thought you'll get me something to eat?" Napabaling sa akin si Hoax dahil sa aking sinambit. Ganoon din si Mia.

"Oh!" I raised my brow up on Mia. "Here's the ex-wife!" Mapangasar na sambit niya na agad kong nginisihan.

"Astrid, it's not what you think," Agap ni Hoax at sinubukan akong kawakan ngunit agad kong natabig ang kanyang kamay.

Callum and Ryder's just looking at us. Hinarap ko si Mia at pinasadahan siya ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. Matapos ay agad ko siyang nginisihan.

"Atleast I was once his wife. Ikaw, ano? Are you his girlfriend?" Nanunuyang sambit ko.

"Yes—" Mapagmalaking sambit niya na agad namang naputol.

"I don't have a girlfriend." Hoax's voice thundered, it almost sent shiver down my spine.

Naeeskandalo akong napatingin kay Mia at sarkastikong napatawa na lalong nakapagpalukot sa kanyang mukha. "O-oh!" I blinked. "Mukhang ikaw lang ang nakakaalam." I even bit my lower lip to suppress a smile forming in my mouth.

"Fuck you!"

"Fuck off!" I can saw Hoax's veins on his neck as he faced Mia. "Fuck off," Marahang paguulit niya bago binalinggan ang dalawang lalaki na aming ka harap. He signalled something on them. Si Callum ay agad na inaya paalis si Mia.

At first, she doesn't want to go. Ngunit sa huli ay wala ring nagawa kung hindi ang umalis.

Muli akong hinarap ni Hoax nang mawala sa aming paningin ang tatlo. His eyes softened as I met them.

"About what you see awhile ago." Bahagya siyang huminto bago tuluyang nagpatuloy. "Hindi ko gusto 'yon. Mia initiated the ki-"

"You don't have to explain," I muttered, cutting his words. Seriously, he doesn't have to.

His lips parted a bit. Akmang magsasalita siya ngunit agad ko iyong inunahan.

"Uuwi na 'ko. I'll go to Dasher's funeral," Pinal na sambit ko. I even made my voice firm. Ngunit hindi iyon pinansin ni Hoax.

He shook his head on me. "No one's leaving, I said." What the fuck?

"I'll leave whenever I want," May diing sambit ko. I rolled my eyes on him. "Where's the dining room?"

Mariin siyang napapikit bago tuluyang itinuro sa akin ang direksyon kung saan nagtungo sila Callum.

Nilagpasan ko siya at nagsimulang maglakad patungo roon. Agad namang humabol sa akin si Hoax.

"Astrid, wait-"

Pinalis ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin. "Let me go!" Muli ko siyang nilagpasan. I can almost see the dining room. Naroon ang mga underboss ng Devaughne at si Mia. Ganoon din si Vynz at ang pamilyar na bultong nakatalikod sa akin.

Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Hoax sa aking siko kaya naman agad akong umangal. "I said let me go!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi magtaas ng boses.

"Astrid," Mariing tawag ni Hoax ngunit hindi ko na iyon pinansin at dumiretso papasok ng dining room.

I met a familiar eyes. Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata.

"Mirae!" I smiled as I called her name. Lalo lumawak ang aking ngiti nang makitang sinuklian niya iyon.

I saw Callum rose up from his seat beside Mirae. Lumipat ito sa tabi ni Ryder.

Lumapit ako sa upuang pinanggalingan ni Callum at doon umupo.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

Naramdaman ko ang pagupo ni Hoax sa aking tabi ngunit hindi ko na ito pinansin.

Hindi pa nakakasagot si Mirae ay may agad ng nagsalita galing sa kabilang bahagi ng table. Napalingon ako roon at pinigilan ang sarili nang makita si Mia. "Magkakilala nga pala ang dalawang salot."

"Fuck off!" Vynz muttered

"Shut your mouth, Mia," Mariing sambit ni Hoax.

I can't help but roll my eyes when I heard Hoax and Vynz.

Nilinggon ni Mia ang dalawa pagkatapos ay inis na bumalik sa pagkakaupo.

"Bitch," I whispered as I turned to Mirae. "Limang araw lang ang viewing ni Dash at last day na bukas. I want to come Mirae." Tumikhim ako bago nagpatuloy. "Ayaw akong paalisin ni Hoax."

"We'll talk about Dash later," She answered.

"I want to see even his urn for the last time, Mirae."

A man entered the dining room and he walked towards Vynz's direction. He whispered something on Vynz.

"I'll tell you something later then you decide if you still want to go to him," Pinal na sambit ni Mirae. I frowned. Bakit naman ako aayaw na puntahan si Dasher matapos ang sasabihin niya? Nagtataka ngunit sa huli ay napatango na lamang ako.

"Let him in. In my office." Napatingin ako kay Vynz at sa tauhan ng Devaughne na tumango bago tuluyang umalis.

"Bellizar's big boss is outside," Anunsiyo ni Vynz. Namilog ang mga mata ko roon at hindi napigilan ang sarili na hindi mapasinghap.

"Bakit daw?" Hoax asked.

Nagkibit balikat ito bago tumayo. "Sama ako," Agap ni Mirae at napakunot ang noo ni Vynz dahil doon.

"You wanna see you your ex?" Nanghahamong sambit ni Vynz.

"Hmmm. Tara na." Napangisi ako sa mapangasar na sagot ni Mirae.

"You miss him that much huh?" Mapait na sambit nito.

"Yeah."

Napailing ako nang mawala ang dalawa sa aming paningin. I don't know what happened to Vynz and Mirae but they seems okay.

Hoax started putting rice on my plate. "Ako na." Agad ko iyon kinuha sa kanyang kamay at hinayaan naman niya ako. Matapos ay ulam naman ang inilagay niya. Hindi ko na iyon pinansin dahil na rin sa kagustuhang makakain. I've been asleep for almost three days. My God, ano bang pampatulog 'yung itinurok sa'kin.

"I don't understand why you're still with that woman, Hoax." Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya at nagpatuloy lang sa pagkain. "Bakit hindi mo na lang pirma-"

"Fuck off." Naputol ang sasabihin ni Mia dahil kay Hoax. "Fuck off, Mia," Paguulit ni Hoax sa mariing paraan.

Nagangat ako ng tingin kay Mia. I glared at her as I rolled my eyes.

"See? That bitch-"

"I don't appreciate you talking to my wife like that," Hoax's voice echoed.

Mia's lips parted while Callum shifted on his seat. Para bang nakakaaliw para sa kanya ang napapanood. Si Ryder naman ay tahimik lang nasa kanyang kinauupuan.

I frowned. "Stop calling me your wife," Giit ko. Matagal na kaming tapos.

Napabaling sa akin si Hoax na may nakakapanlamig mga titig. "You're my wife."

Lalong napakunot ang aking noo at napailing. "I was once your wife. But we're divorced, remember?" Mariing sambit ko, ipinaiintindi sa kanya ang nangyari dahil mukhang nakakalimot siya.

His jaw tightened. "There's no divorce," His voice thundered. Napamaang ako sa mga salitang binitawan niya. "I didn't file it. Damn, I didn't even sign that."

My lips parted as he continued. Wala kahit isa ang sumubok magsalita at namayani ang katahimikan sa dining room. Ang tanging naririnig ko lang ay ang tunog ng kutsara at tinidor ni Ryder na 'di kalaunan ay agad ding natahimik.

I opened my mouth as I tried to speak but nothing came out of it. Bahagyang napakunot ang aking noo nang maramdaman ko pamamasa ng gilid ng aking mga mata.

"Excuse me," Paalam ko at hindi na hinintay na makasagot ang kung sino man na nasa hapag. Agad akong tumayo at naglakad paalis doon. My tears started falling down my cheeks. I don't know what's this for. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta, gusto ko lang makaalis doon dahil naramdaman ko ang aking mga luha at ayokong makita nila iyon.

Dinala ako ng aking mga paa sa hagdanan pabalik sa silid na kaninang kanaroroonan namin.

I was busy wiping my tears when someone pulled my arm. Hoax uttered a soft curse when he saw my tears. "Astrid," His voice softened. Ganoon din ang kanyang mga titig.

Pilit kumawala upang bumalik sa silid ngunit agad na pumulupot ang kanyang braso sa aking baywang. I can feel breath on my nape. My heart pounded and I felt weak. Mariin akong napapikit at at laking pasalamat na hindi niya nakikita ang aking ekspresyon.

"We're still married?" I asked while my tears are still on my cheeks. Seriously, I don't know why I'm crying.

"Yes," He whispered. I felt his warm breath against my temple. "I didn't sign it, I'm sorry." Though he doesn't sounds like he's really sorry but saying it is what is appropriate.

Mariin aking napapikit at sinubukang kumawala sa yakap niya ngunit lalo lang humigpit iyon. "Let's stay like this for a while, Hon." I can feel my heart ramming my ribcage like it wants to get out of my chest. I even gasped for air. Dahil para bang kinukulang ako sa hangin. My knees wobbled and I doubt if I can still stand without his arms around my waist.

"Sorry, I'm sorry," He whispered and his breath touching the side of my neck makes me shiver.

Malayo iyon sa kaninang tono niya. This sounds sincere than his first apology. 'Yon nga lang, hindi ko na alam kung para saan iyon. One thing I am sure is that's not for signing or filling the divorce.

There's a deafening silence between the two of us when I felt him planting soft kisses on my temple.

"I-I asked Archer to see if I'm still married-" Kahit nahihirapan ay pinilit ko ang sarili na magpatuloy.

"I know," He whispered, cutting my words. "I know. I asked someone to cover it," Marahang sambit niya.

Mariin akong napapikit, hindi na alam kung ano ang gagawin.

We're in that position when a phone started ringing. Noong una ay ayaw pang bumitaw ni Hoax ngunit sa huli ay wala ring nagawa. While his other hand's still on my waist, he picked up the phone from his pocket. Namilog ang aking mga mata nang makitang pamilyar iyon.

"Your phone," He muttered as he handed me my phone.

Agad ko namang kinuha at sinagot iyon nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag. Naramdaman kong muling pumulupot ang braso sa akin ni Hoax.

"M-Mommy." My voice trembled when Hoax buried his face on my neck.

"Is it true, Astrid?" Bungad sa akin ni Mommy.

I frowned. I can't explain Mommy's tone. "Huh? What is it?"

Hindi pa na kakasagot si Mommy ay narinig ko na ang boses ni Daddy sa background. "Is that your daughter? Tell her to come here," Napamaang ako sa malamig na boses ni Dad. What did I do?

"You heard your Dad. We're in his office, just come here. Where are you anyway? You aren't in Dasher's viewing."

I bit my lower lip. "I-I'm at Hoax's p-penthouse." Iyon ang napili kong isagot dahil hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami. Obviously, hindi na ito 'yung warehouse.

"What? I thought--just go to you Dad's office. Nariyan ba si Hoax?" Mom suspiciously asked.

"Yes, Mommy. Pupunta na kami."

"Alright," Marahang sambit ni Mommy bago tuluyang pinutol ang tawag. Napakunot ang aking noo. There's something with her as well as Dad. He seemed furious or...whatever.

Bahagya akong lumayo kay Hoax at hinarap siya. Marahan akong nakawala sa kanyang mga bisig.

"Mommy's asking us to come to Dad's office," Marahan at nagaalanggan na sambit ko. I even bit my lower lip as I continued. "I don't have any idea why..."

He nodded his head. "Alright, we'll go to your Dad's office then."

"Hoax," I called.

He attentively looked at me. "Hmm?"

"I'll go to Dasher's viewing after this," Marahan at nananantyang sambit ko. It was a statement and not a question.

He heaved a deep sighed and nodded. "We'll go there."

__________