Kung kanina'y nanginginig pa s'ya, ngayon napagkagaanan na sila ng loob ni Rebekah. The girl didn't even cry while she was driving. Rebekah was just playing her toy on her hand. Ngayon nakarating na sila sa bahay n'ya, she fell asleep. Kahit may pagaalinlangan. Dahan-dahan n'ya itong binuhat.

Upon entering her house, dahan-dahan n'ya itong inilapag sa sofa. She sat beside her. She was absentmindedly caressing her hair while staring at her face. She felt comfortable and at ease. Naalala n'ya nanaman ang kanyang anak. Magkasing age kaya sila kung nabubuhay pa ito?

God. She looked like an angel. Ericka smiled a little. Sobrang pinkish ng pisngi nito at mahahaba ang pilik mata. She was really the girl version of Rake but less domineering. Sobrang swerte ni Rake at nagkaanak s'ya ng ganito.

But who's the lucky mother?

Hindi napansin ni Ericka na napayuko na lamang s'ya upang halikan ang noo nito. It caught her off guard.

What the fuck are you doing, Quinn? Natawa s'ya ng mapakla sa inasal n'ya. She doesn't one to feel vulnerable anymore. Not with anyone. Not right now.

"Merlat!" nagulat s'ya sa pagsigaw ni Martha. "You're finally home!"

"Shh!" suway n'ya rito.

"Oh," nanlaki ang mata nito nang makita si Rebekah sa upuan. "Don't tell me kinidnap mo 'yan? I swear, mapapatay ka ni Rake."

"It's not like that, Martha. H'wag kang OA, the old woman told me to bring this child with me. Alagaan ko raw muna dahil mag-uusap sila ni Rake."

"And then?"

Tinaasan n'ya ng kilay si Martha. "I brought her here." she wickedly smile. Itinago n'ya ang emosyon na lumalabas dahil sa bata na ito. "How's Tita Judith?"

"Same old. Nasa taas." Tinitititgan s'ya ni Martha. Alam kasi nito na ayaw na ayaw nya sa mga bata. Palagi s'yang kinakabahan when around one.

"And Mira?" She kept asking to hide her real emotions.

"Taking care of herself, as usual." umiling ito. "By the way, may padala nanaman si James." iniabot nito ang sulat sakanya.

Binuksan iyon ni Ericka.

I. Need. Help. I need you. Come. Find me.

I miss you...

Napalitan ng pag-aalala ang kanya mukha. "Where is he exactly?" Napasandal s'ya sa sofa while crossing her leg. "You think totoo ito?"

"Hindi ko rin alam. Pero pakiramdam ko. He's depressed. Hindi parin s'ya nakakamove on sa'yo, sa pinagsamahan n'yo, sa mga tinuro mo sakanya."

"I'm trying to find him pero hindi ko alam kung saan ko s'ya hahanapin."

"Ako nang bahala kung saan. Alam mo naman na paborito kong alaga mo si James."

Umirap si Ericka. Bigla ito napatalon ng may nagdoorbell. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa. It must be Rake. Kanina pa ito nagtetext at tumatawag sa kanya. Alam n'yang alalang alala na ito sa anak. If she were the parent too. She won't let untrusted human being to be left with the child.

"I'll handle him as soon as I can. Pero there are things I need to finish first."

Itinago n'ya ang sulat sa likod ng bulsa.

"Ericka, are you sure kaya mo pa i-handle?"

Tumayo si Ericka. "Don't fret, love. I can handle this. Bantayan mo muna s'ya."

Alam n'yang si Rake na iyon dahil kanina pa ito tawag ng tawag sakanya pero hindi n'ya sinasagot. The man was overreacting. Kahit hindi s'ya mahilig sa mga bata, it's the least possible thing that she would hurt one.

Pagkabukas n'ya ng pinto nagulat s'ya sa nakatayo sa gate. It was no other than Zachary Levi Esqueza. Napakunot si Ericka ng noo. Hindi normal na pupuntahan s'ya ni Zach sa kanyang bahay. Unless, there's happening to Erin. Kumabog ang dibdib n'ya.

"Zach, what are you doing here?"

"I came to warn you."

Binuksan ni Ericka ang gate. "To warn me from what?"

"Rake Alicante. He's buying your share. Gusto ka n'yang pabagsakin. And he's researching your background, including your past."

"May nakuha ba s'ya?"

"None. I kicked their private investigator. You know, Ericka, it is actually a sensitive topic to me specially when Erin's involve. So I also came here to help. Kung gusto mo I can offer a help." seryoso ang mukha nito.

Oh, Zach... He must be really annoyed knowing that Rake was invading their privacy. She wanted to laugh but she knew Zach wouldn't like it. This was a serious matter to him. Of couse, same with her. Pero hindi kasing OA ang magiging reaksyon n'ya.

"Zachary Levi," she murmured. "I can do this. Just keep on protecting Erin and your family, okay? Don't mind me."

"Nag-aalala s'ya sa'yo, Ericka."

"Then tell her don't."

"Ericka," seryosong seryoso padin ang mukha nito. "You need to start to fix your fucking life before it ruins you."

"I am ruined." sambit n'ya. "I just need to fix some unfinished business."

"And Rake Alicante?" taas kilay na tanong nito sa kanya.

Napatingin s'ya sa sasakyan harurot na pumarada sa likod ng sasakyan ni Zach. Sumandal si Ericka sa gate. Enjoying Rake's view. His expression was dead serious at lalo pa itong dumilim ng makita kung sino ang kausap n'ya.

A man who's powerful as him.

Zach jaw tightened. Mukhang hindi talaga nito nagustuhan ang panghihimasok ni Rake sa pribadong buhay nila.

"Alicante." Bati nito ng hindi ngumingiti.

"Esqueza." Tinitigan ito ni Rake ng mata sa mata. "What the fuck are you doing here?" Tanong ni Rake habang palapit kay Zach. Pinantayan ito ni Rake ng tingin.

They were both tall as hell. Handsome as hell. Powerful as hell. But she didn't want them to make a scene here.

"Stop you too." Humawak s'ya sa magkabilang dibdib ng dalawa.

"Zach Esqueza, huh?" Saad sa kanya ni Rake. "Hindi pa ba sapat ang perang makukuha mo sakin at pati s'ya gagamitin mo?" May diin sa tono ng pananalita nito.

She heard Zach chuckled. Mukhang nawala ang pagkainis nito kay Rake.

"Jealousy is an actual crime, Alicante."

"What are you saying?"

"It consumes you."

"Zach---" pigil ni Ericka. Dahil ayaw n'yang mas mainvolve pa ito sa kanilang dalawa ni Rake. Of course, because of Erin. Kahit na may past silang dalawa. Hinding hindi na n'ya gagamitin si Zach.

"I rest my case." Zach said. "Basta h'wag ka lang mahimasok sa mga bagay na hindi mo kailangan malaman, Alicante."

"And what exaclty is it? Fucking this bitch?" Hinawakan ni Rake ang kamay n'ya ng mariin. "She's mine, Esqueza. You can't do something about that. Mind your own family and your business." Hinila s'ya ni Rake papasok sa loob

Lumingon s'ya kay Zach, telling him to go. She saw him smirking. Pumasok na ito sa sasakyan at umalis.

"You need to stop talking to that man." Huminto sila sa pinto ng bahay. "Or any man, Ericka. Sa akin ka lang. Or else I'll kill you after you give birth to that child."

"Who told you that you only own this child?"

"Ericka," Madilim padin ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito. "Don't push your luck too much. I am trying to protect you from everyone because only of that child."

"Really?" Tinanggal n'ya ang pagkakahawak ni Rake sa kanya. "That's only because, you believe it that way. I have my own conclusion, Rake." She said drawing a smile.

"Stop the bullshit. Now, where's my daughter?"

Tinulak ni Ericka ang pinto. Agad naman dumeretso si Rake papasok. Si Martha, hindi mapakali nang makita ang nakasimangot na si Rake. Binuhat na nito si Rebekah. He's looking at her.

"We're going home." Hinawakan nanaman s'ya nito sa kamay habang ang isa ay buhat si Rebekah.

"I am actually fucking home."

"Watch your mouth." Seryosong saad nito. "Nasa harapan ka ng anak ko. Hindi ko gugustuhin matuto s'yang magmura dahil sa'yo. Come." Hila ulit nito sakanya.

"Stop holding my hand! I can walk!"

Mas lalo pa diniinan ni Rake ang hawak sa kanya. Binuksan nito ang backseat at una s'ya pinaupo. Then he gave Rebekah to her. Sumakay na ito sa driver's seat. Napairap si Ericka because in that moment. She felt like a fucking child. He's acting like a superior again.

Dumating sila sa bahay at dumeretso na si Ericka sa kanya kwarto. Nagulat s'ya ng makita kung gaano ito kagulo. There were blood stains on the bed sheet. At punong puno ng mga papel ang sahig.

Her baby picture. Erin's baby picture.

Her mother.

Herself. In the club when everyone was watching her.

Her naked picture.

And a picture of her and James... When she's inflicting pain to him. When they were doing drugs. When she left him.

And lastly, her father... With Sonya Alicante.

******************

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