We left the hospital shortly. Pareho kami ni Atticus na walang makaimik hanggang sa makarating kami sa parking lot.

When I entered the shotgun seat of his car, he tossed a white folder on my lap. Nilingon ko siya.

"Anong gagawin ko rito?" pagtataka ko.

His forehead creased. "Kainin mo kung gutom ka."

Inirapan ko na lang siya at tsaka ko binuksan ang folder. I swallowed hard when I realized that it was all the data about Stellar Lumina's rape and murder case.

My case, to be exact.

He revved the engine of his car to life.

"It contains every detail of your case. Sandro had to pull some strings just to get that." Atticus placidly explained, looking at me in the corner of his eye. "If you don't want to read it, you don't have to. Ako na lang ang bahala."

I shook my head. "It's fine."

"Well, if you say so." he nonchalantly remarked.

After that incident in the hospital, Atticus wanted a breath of fresh air. "We need to take a break," he quoted.

I found myself indulging his offer since I was tired, too. I think I deserve a break from everything.

"Where are we going?"

He burst into laughter, making me raise a brow. Ano kayang nakakatawa? "For pete's sake, you sounded like Dora the Explorer a while ago, love."

I frowned. Ang ayos-ayos ng tanong ko, pero pinagtatawanan lang ako. I couldn't help but stare at him when he continued his. He looked so happy. The way he called me love with his eyes twinkling... It was kind of irritating.

"Love, don't stare."

I smiled. "Please don't forget that you're talking to a different person here. My name is Stellar, Atticus."

He was stupefied in an instant.

I did ruin the moment, but I don't care. So much for giving ourselves a break but I'm killing his joy. But, what could I possibly do? I'm just knocking some sense to him... that I'm not Gaia Venice and his love's into God-knows-where.

Umiwas siya ng tingin. "You cried, right?"

"Hmm?" Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"When you saw him in the news."

"Oh."

He must be referring to Conan Solaire. The first time I watched the news and saw him on the television, I shed tears for some unknown reason. Perhaps I felt bad.

"May I ask why?"

"I don't know." I lowered my gaze. "I just felt it, like I owed him something and I was indebted to him."

"Haven't you retrieved your memories yet, Stellar?"

I pursed my lips. "Not yet."

At this point, I'm not even sure if I want my memories back. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko bang maalala ang lahat. Sinong walang habas na pumatay sa akin? Bakit? Every time I think of those questions, I can't help but fear.

Parang hindi ko pa kayang malaman.

After an hour of suffering the traffic, we arrived in a well-known restaurant. Napadasal naman ako bigla nang mapansin kong mabait si Atticus sa akin ngayon. He's suspiciously acting like a gentleman today!

"I can walk by myself." mariin kong sabi nang alalayan niya ako sa paglalakad. Mukhang tanga kaya!

He clicked his tongue. "Just let me do this, Stellar. One thing that I've noticed about you is that you're so clumsy. Baka magasgasan si love."

I heaved out a deep sigh. I wanted to punch him right on his face for saying that. Oo nga naman. What did I expect? Si Gaia lang naman ang iniisip niya. Love, love, love.

Fucking love. Magsama sila.

It seemed like Atticus made a reservation here so we had no problems with the table. Even the food arrived in an instant.

Although the food was extravagant, I was so pissed off that I almost sent the steak flying.

"Have mercy on the steak." Atticus commented.

"Shut up." I replied through gritted teeth.

Kumunot naman ang noo niya at dahan-dahan niyang pinunasan ang bibig niya gamit ng tissue.

"Are you mad, Stellar?"

"No! Why would I be?!" labas sa ilong kong sagot.

Napangiwi naman siya. "She's not mad yet she's shouting to my face. What's her problem?" bulong niya.

I was in the middle of killing the food when I felt him wiping the side of my mouth with his thumb.

Literal naman akong napanganga.

"You're such a kid." he commented, his head shaking in disapproval. A small smile dawned to his face. "My little brat."

I bit my lower lip. "That makes you my daddy, then?"

"The fuck?" He chuckled. "It sounds so dirty!"

Maging ako ay natawa. "Spank your little brat, daddy."

Finally, I'm love no more.

I was literally bouncing for the rest of the day. Atticus was weirded out by my enthusiasm.

"Why are you so happy, you bratbr

I giggled. "I'm his brat. Yay!"

Humalakhak siya. "I get it. Kinikilig ka. Guess I should be calling you my brat more often." aniya.

My eyes widened. "Hoy! Anong kinikilig? Kapal mo!"

I blinked in discomfort when his eyes stayed on me. It felt like they were trying to rip my soul open.

But the next words he spoke caught me off guard.

"May gusto ka ba sa akin, Stellar?"

"What?" My lips quivered.

Nanliit ang mga mata niya. "Hmm... That can't be."

"Wala akong gusto sayo. Pwede ba?" matigas kong sabi at tsaka napahugot ng malalim na hininga.

He nodded. "Well, we better be clear."

Atticus changed the topic, but my elevated heart rate lasted for a few more minutes. Hindi ko inasahan ang tanong niya. May gusto ba ako sa kanya? Hindi ko rin alam!

Anyway, I didn't expect that simply eating a fine lunch was his kind of break. Iyon lang talaga? Akala ko pa naman mamamasyal kaming dalawa. Kakain lang pala tapos balik trabaho na!

Nang makabalik kami sa unit ni Atticus, dumiretso siya ng upo sa sofa. Napanguso naman siya nang mahirapan siyang luwagan ang necktie niya.

"I need some help with this." he told me.

"Ang laki-laki mong tao, necktie lang hindi mo pa matanggal." sermon ko at lumapit sa kanya upang tulungan siya. Tinabihan ko si Atticus at sinimulan ko nang alisin ang necktie niya.

I couldn't stand his intense stares so I tried to make it fast. I was just about to stand up when I was done untying it but he held both of my cheeks.

I inhaled sharply. God, ang puso ko!

"Now that I see it, your eyes look different from Gaia. Bakit ngayon ko lang napansin?" he told me while looking straight into my eyes.

I stammered. "Really?"

"Yeah. Her eyes are purely hazelnut while yours are shaded with grey." He remarked softly, his dreamy gaze still on me. "Iyon siguro ang totoong kulay ng mga mata mo, Stellar."

Iyong tingin niya... Nakakalasing.

"Siguro nga. Pwede mo na ba akong bitawan, Atticus?" I nervously responded.

For heaven's sake, he's too close to my face! Wala ba talaga akong epekto sa kanya kahit konti at hindi siya naiilang? Puso ko lang ba iyong nagwawala ngayon? This is so unfair.

"Oh, sorry." natatawa niyang sabi.

Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag noong binitawan na niya ang mukha ko. However, I was stunned when he suddenly cupped my face once again.

"I changed my mind." Atticus whispered as he leaned closer to kiss me. "Let me borrow those lips, Stellar."

What the hell, Atticus?

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