HE MANAGED to hide his secrets, his top secret, to his parents. Pero totoo talaga ang kasabihan na walang lihim ang hindi nabubunyag. Ranger wanted to solve his problem without someone nagging him. Hindi niya 'yon kailangan ngayon. What he needs right now was the assurance of Angel.

Sigurado siya na hindi sa kanya ang bata na dinadala ng babae, his last sex with other woman was his client. Who eventually backed out when she saw Angel and told her to stop.

Napahilamos siya sa mukha habang pinapakinggan ang Mommy niya. Tikom ang bibig ng Daddy at kapatid niya dahil alam nitong mali talaga ang ginawa niya.

"— just look at your woman, Ranger! She's suffering because of you. Ilang beses na ba kitang sinabihan noon na itigil mo ang paglalaro mo sa apoy?! Hindi ka nakinig. And now that's the result of your stubbornness!"

"Mom! I'm already fixing it! Just... Give me some time! Angel understand me, why can't you?!" Inis na sagot niya.

His mother scoffed. "Maybe now, yes, she understands you. Pero ni minsan sumagi pa sa matigas mong ulo na baka magsawa si Angel kakaintindi sa'yo?! Son, I am a woman too! And we have a limit understanding your bullshits! At itong nagawa mo, mahirap intindihin to," umiiling na sabi nito sa kanya. "Ranger, nakabuntis ka. Ano sa tingin mo ang nararamdaman ni Angel ha? Magsasaya kasi finally may anak ka na? Hindi nga lang sa kanya? Ganoon?!" Sarkastikong dagdag pa nito.

Ranger sighed heavily.

"I won't be surprised if one day Angel will leave you. Just to inform you, hindi ako tumatanggap ng ibang babae para maging daughter in law ko. Do not step in our house if it's not Angel you are bringing home. Fix this problem of yours in instant. Pupuntahan ko si Angel."

Napapikit si Ranger at napahilamos sa mukha. As if he will let that happen, he will keep Angel. As well as the baby if he the test results is positive. And if not, pasensyahan nalang silang dalawa ni Celestine, the woman whom claimed that he got her pregnant.

Hindi niya nga matandaan ang mukha nito maski ang pangalan! Damn!

"I'll go with Mom too," Jillian said.

Naiwan ang Daddy niya pero wala naman itong sinabi sa kanya. And when he looked at his Father, he was already shaking his head.

"I am dissapointed, Son." That was his words before he left.

Pagak na tumawa si Ranger. What's new? Damn! He needs his comfort right now.

He was about to go home when he saw Esel's number. Esel was the one who keeps eyes on that woman, kahit ayaw nito. He had a hard time convincing his friend to help him, lalo na at hindi maganda ang sitwasyon. Damn it! Kung kailan aayain na niyang pakasalan siya ni Angel, doon pa sila nagka problema!

Their relationship was almost perfect. They didn't fight over a small thing. Ang araw ma magkasama sila puro saya lang. Hindi ba pwedeng habang buhay na lang silang masaya?

[This woman is causing a scene again. Come here this instant, baka maitulak talaga ito ni Shawn sa hagdan.] Esel said and ended the call.

Ranger doesn't have a choice but to go, kahit hindi sa kanya ang bata, he can feel it, ayaw naman niya na may mangyari rito. That baby was a blessing. He still believes in that.

He slid himself inside his car and manoeuvre it towards Esel's hotel. Malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya. He'll make sure that he will leave this shit hole as soon as possible. They need a little more time for the results. Ryker made sure that the results will turn out good and favorable to him.

Masyadong praning ang kaibigan niya, kahit mismo siya ay hindi niya naisip 'yon, Celestine was capable financially. Enough to fabricate the results. Even though Caleb assured us that the results for Non-invasive Prenatal paternity test was going to be just fine, wala itong nagawa nang nagpakuha si Ryker nang isa pang sample.

So, Ranger agreed. May tiwala siya sa hospital and the doctors, but not the possibility that someone might tampered it. Tama si Ryker, mas mabuti na ang maging sigurado. Then, if the results is saying that the baby is his, Ranger will face it.

"What the hell is your problem?!" He said the moment he entered the room Celestine occupied.

Matamis itong ngumiti sa kanya, but Ranger didn't felt anything. Nanatiling iritado ang ekspresyon ang mukha niya. What he wanted to see right now is his Angel smile, ayon lang ang klase ng ngiti na gusto niyang sumalubong sa kanya.

"I'm glad you came! Sumasakit kasi ang tiyan ko kanina, and I can tell that our baby was craving for you!" Agad na umangkala ang babae sa braso niya. Ranger removed her hands, by just being near to this woman, pakiramdam niya nagloloko na siya kay Angel. Damn, he doesn't want that!

"Don't go near me, besides, I'm still waiting for the NIPP test result." He calmly said. Ranger was frustrated for the past few days because of this, si Angel lang talaga ang nagpapakalma sa kanya. And without Angel, he'll burst out. Who knows what will happen to this woman who kept on clinging to him.

"What? Ranger, I am not l-lying! How dare you, bakit mo pa kailangan gawin 'yon?! This baby is yours! You didn't used protection that night!" Mangiyak iyak na sigaw nito sa kanya. Ranger massaged the bridge of his nose.

This woman is really trying his patience. "I know I am not using protection when I'm having sex, pero sigurado din ako na hindi ko kayo pinuputukan." Walang gana niyang sagot at tinalikuran na ito.

He needs to calm down. Or else, this woman will be a dead meat.

"Where are you going?!" Sigaw nito nang makalabas siya sa kwarto na inookupa nito.

Ranger ignored her and continue to walk, gusto niyang makita si Angel. He can't think of anyone else but Angel. Aaminin niya na natakot siya sa sinabi ng magulang niya. What if Angel change her mind? Paano kung mapagod ito kakaintindi sa kanya?

Mas lalo pa na lumala ang problema niya nang sumama si Celestine pauwi sa bahay niya. Of course, Angel was there together with his sister. Ayaw niyang iwan si Angel, hindi naman siya bulag para hindi makita na nasasaktan din ito sa nakikita. He can read Angel like a open book. Ranger loves observing every emotion in her beautiful face.

"Ranger! Ang s-sakit..." Celestine whimpered.

Sinenyasan niya si Ryker na lapitan muna ito.

Ryker sighed and get up. "Saan banda? I'll call Dra.Lane or dalhin ka nalang namin sa hospital." Ryker said.

"I want Ranger!" Celestine shouted.

Ryker scoffed. "Bakit? Kaya bang tanggalin ni Ranger 'yang sakit na nararamdaman mo?" Sarkastikong tanong nito kay Celestine.

Celestine grunted before she got up and walk towards the bathroom, tumaas ang kilay ni Ranger ganoon na din si Ryker.

Ryker looked at him, confused and amazed. "Akala ko ba masakit? Oh, bakit nakatayo? Damn. I really don't understand women." Umiiling na sabi nito. "Umaasa yata sa lambing mo, bud." Nang-aasar na ngumisi sa kanya si Ryker.

Ranger flopped himself on the sofa, he was dead tired by just dealing with that woman. He'd rather stay inside his office and let Kayson worn him out with a lot of piled papers and meetings. Or maybe, inside his house, with Angel. Mas gusto niya ang ideya na 'yon.

"Asa," he uttered and closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm going home. Ikaw na muna bahala sa kanya, patulugin mo nalang kung hinahanap ako."

"Ano ako? Baby sitter?" Sarkastikong tanong nito sa kanya. Ranger just shrugged and left Celestine with Ryker's care. Kaya na ng kaibigan niya 'yon.

Bukas, makukuha na nila ang resulta sa NIPP test. Funny, how he doesn't feel anything. Not even nervous. Hindi niya makapa sa puso niya ang saya na nararamdaman ng mga kaibigan niya nang malaman na magkakaanak na ang mga ito. Or maybe, he can't just accept the fact that the baby's mother is not Angel.

That night, he thought that everything was fine between the two of 'em. Something happened. Once again, their body was connected. Ranger can feel Angel's love. But when he woke up, without Angel in his arms. Anxiety attacked through his system.

"Love?" He called but no one's answering.

Nakakabingi ang katahimikan sa buong bahay niya. The same silence when he's alone. Ranger pursed his lips and tried to calm his mind and self, thinking that she went to grocery store because they're running out of stocks.

After an hour of waiting, hindi niya nakita kahit ang anino ni Angel. Nang umakyat ulit siya at napadaan sa dating kwarto na inookupa ni Angel, the closet was open. Kumunot ang noo niya at lumapit doon. Walang bawas ang mga damit na nakasampay, but something was missing. Her old clothes. These clothes were knew.

Nahilamos niya ang palad sa mukha, he called Ryker first, but he's currently busy with the test results. Next was Killian.

"Bud, baka naman lumabas lang saglit. Did you tried to contact her?" Killian asked trying to calm him down.

He was tapping his fingers against the coffee table, "naiwan ang cellphone niya. It's been almost 2? 3? Fuck it! I can't find her! Bud, hindi lumalabas ng alas singko sa umaga si Angel!" He yelled in frustration.

Killian raised his hand and shake his head. "Bud, the gang were at it okay? Saan ba posibleng magpunta si Angel?" Killian asked.

"Wala naman siyang pinupuntahan, she like staying inside our house. Kung lumalabas man siya kasama sina Isabella." He answered. Lumingon siya kay Killian. "I know this too much but you own a Media company, can you ahm... Broadcast her this instant? Killian I'm going insane."

Bumuntong hininga si Killian. "On it bud." Tinapik nito ang balikat niya.

He also contacted Mikael to ready his plane because he's going to used it, ayon lang ang lugar na alam niyang pupuntahan ni Angel. Damn this! Masyado siyang nagpaka komportable na hindi ito aalis. He can't wait until tomorrow to find her, mababaliw siya.

Hindi na siya nag-abala na magbihis pa at maligo nang sabihan siya ni Killian na handa na ang Private plane ni Mikael. He immediately slipped himself to his car. He was surprised when Esel suddenly showed up, itinulak siya nito sa shot gun seat.

"Baka paglamayan ka bigla," he said. "Ryker was already at the airport, hawak na niya ang dalawang results." Tumango lang siya rito. Hindi siya mapakali hanggat hindi niya nakikita si Angel.

"What are you planning to do?" Esel asked.

Ranger bit his lower lip, isa lang naman ang nasa utak niya, iyon ay ang maibalik si Angel sa bahay niya. Damn, he'll be lost without her. He will lose his shits and sanity.

Nang makarating sila sa Airport, inabot sa kanya ni Ryker ang isang folder na may pangalan ng hospital ni Caleb. This was the results his waiting for, ang plano niya ay buksan ito sa harap ni Angel. He wants to know what will be her reaction if the test results are either positive or negative.

Ibinalik niya 'yon kay Ryker. "Hold it. Mamaya na 'yan." He said in a urgent voice.

Gusto niyang matawa nang makita na halos kumpleto na sila, Alistair and Light are absent. Hindi siya mapakali sa loob ng Eroplano, kahit ang umidlip ay hindi niya magawa. He was worried as fuck. May mga tauhan na din si Ryker na nasa mga terminal para mainform agad sila kung nakita si Angel.

Damn, he looks likes an obsess man.

Nang may lumapit sa kanya na flight attendant, imbes na kape ang hingin niya. He requested for a bottle of liqour, mabuti nalang at kay Mikael ang eroplano na sinasakyan nila. The bitter taste of hard liqour, feels like it's burning his throat.

"Bud, you need to stay sane. Ikaw. lang ang may alam ng pupuntahan natin." Suway ni Killian sa kanya.

He just grunted. He didn't listen. None of the people of Ryker called before their flight. He doesn't feel like moving. His head was spinning already, probably because he didn't eat anything before drinking liquor.

Love, where the hell are you?

When they landed in Mindoro, it took them 2 hours bago makarating sa bahay ng mga magulang ni Angel. Hindi pa nakita ni Ranger ang mga magulang ni Angel, but they knew him, dahil sa kanya nakapangalan ang perang ipinapadala ni Angel. It was Angel's idea.

Wala na siya sa sarili niya nang makarating sila sa mismong bahay, it was Ryker who did the talking, but even though he reeks of the smell of alcohol. Angel's mother came and talk to him.

"Pagpasenyahan mo na ang anak ko ah? Baka may gumugulo lang sa utak niya kaya umalis nang walang paalam... Natural na sa anak ko ang ganoon, gumagawa 'yon ng kabalastugan nang hindi nag-iisip.." He can't even nod or grunts. Nakatulala lang siya sa hangin. "Paki balitaan nalang ako kapag nakita niyo na o umuwi na ang anak ko, susubukan ko din na tawagan 'yung mga kakilala niya dito at baka doon naisipan tumuloy."

"Okay Ma'am." He heard Ryker.

Umuwi sila ulit nang wala si Angel sa tabi niya. He's at his limit.

"Ranger, it's better if you take a rest first. We'll do our best to find Angel." Ryker tapped his shoulder.

Isa isang umalis ang mga kaibigan niya. Ryker left the one envelope, napansin niya na hindi may punit ang sealed, nilagpasan niya lang ang envelope at kumuha ng maiinom na alak. He even grabbed his cigarette, na matagal nang nakatago dahil ayaw ni Angel sa amoy.

His body was moving on its own. Habang ang isip niya ay walang ibang laman kundi si Angel. Angel was the center of his life. He made her the center of his life, because without her, patapon pa rin sana hanggang ngayon ang buhay niya. Fucking and playing with different women, nasa Lust community sana siya ngayon at tinataguan ang mga babae na naikama niya.

Siguro ito na yung karma niya sa lahat ng katarantaduhan na nagawa niya noon. Tumiim ang bagang niya nang makita ang imahe ni Angel sa kusina, he can tell that he was really drunk. Hindi niya na alam kung ilang bote na ang nabuksan niya at kung ilang pirasong sigarilyo na ang nahithit niya.

He's so lost.

Day after day, ganoon pa rin. Wala pa rin balita kay Angel. It's like she disappeared like a bubble. Walang record na umalis siya sa lugar nila.

His parents abandoned him too, si Jillian lang ang nagawa na dumalaw sa kanya. Pagkagising niya sa umaga alak at sigarilyo agad ang katabi niya. He doesn't have time to eat. Kailangan pa siyang pwersahin ni Yves.

"Kuya? Did you already open this one?" Tamad niyang nilingon ang kapatid na hawak ang envelope na naglalaman sa resulta ng NIPP. Nawala na 'yon sa loob niya.

He shake his head as he drank.

Hindi niya pinansin si Jillian na kinalkal na ang laman ng envelope. All he can think right now was Angel, at kung paano niya aayusin ang bahay niya. He can't control himself for the past few days that he just kept on throwing things. Parang dinaanan ng bagyo ang loob ng buong bahay niya, maliban sa kwarto na inookupa ni Angel noon.

Baliw na nga yata talaga siya.

"I think you need to see this, Kuya!"

"Is it positive? Congratulate mo naman ako, nawalan ako ng mapapangasawa pero magkaka-anak ako." He said and chuckled. His head hang low.

Inagaw ni Jillian ang bote na hawak niya. "Kuya, it's negative! Hindi sa'yo ang dinadala ng bwisit na babae na 'yon!"

"Hatid mo ako sa hotel ni Esel." Utos niya sa kapatid.

He's body was swaying but he manage to get inside his car. Sumunod si Jillian at ito ang nagmaneho papuntang Hotel. That woman was still at her scheme.

"Woah, what are you doing here? Hindi ka man lang nag-abalang maligo?" Salubong ni Esel sa kanya nang makita siya. Hindi niya pinansin ang kaibigan at dumeretso siya sa elevator.

He needs to see the woman and strangled her neck. Ranger was livid. He's jaw was clenching. How dare her to deceived and ruin my life with Angel.

Nang makarating siya sa floor ng kwarto na inookupa nito, he walk towards her room and knocked on the door. Kulang nalang ay sirain niya ang pinto para maka pasok agad siya.

"Babe I'm g—" Hindi na nito naituloy ang sasabihin niya. Ranger gripped her arm and pulled her closer to him.

"Who's that baby's father huh? Bakit hindi siya ang ginulo mo? Bakit kailangan ako pa?!" Sunod sunod na tanong niya at mas lalong hinigpitan ang hawak kay Celestine. He doesn't care anymore if she's hurting. He's angry.

Celestine winced. "What the hell? Anak mo 'to, Ranger!"

"Really? The result was saying I am not that baby's father." He answered her sarcastically. "Dahil sayo, nawala ang buhay ko. Because of you, my woman left me."

"Nandito naman ako diba?! Bakit mo pa kasi siya hinahanap?!" Celestine shouted.

"Because you're not Angel! You're not my Evicka!" He shouted angrily.

He raised his hand and was about hit Celestine when he felt sleepy all of a sudden. Bakas ang takot sa mukha ni Celestine, but take him to hell, he doesn't feel any ounce of pity.

"He's still a woman, bud. I won't let you hit her." Narinig niya ang boses ni Caleb sa likuran niya.

"Sakto ang dating mo," that was Esel's voice.

When he woke up, wala na si Celestine. Ryker told him that the woman ran away because of fear, at dahil alam na niya na hindi naman niya anak ang dinadala nito, he has nothing to do with her. Mabuti na ang umalis ito, he can't control himself when he's livid. Especially that she was the center of his rage.

Days that turns into months, ikinasal na lahat lahat si Dylan at Mikael, hindi pa rin nila nahahanap si Angel. His life was almost nothing to him, his business was being managed by his friends and his secretary, Kayson. Hanggang sa mag isang taon na ang paghahanap nila kay Angel.

His life turned out pretty bad. He's lost. It's funny how he live his whole life without Angel. Pero noong dumating ito sa buhay niya, bigla nalang nagbago ang takbo ng buhay niya.

Angel is my life. Without her I'm a lost soul.