That day, Dasher was announced dead. Hanggang ngayon ay gulat pa rin ako sa nangyari kay Dash.

Dasher is a good friend even though I'm not that close with him and I don't want to accept his death. Hanggang ngayon ay naaalala ko pa ang asaran at sagutan nila Archer. I can still remember the way he cared for me when I was pregnant. Aside from Creed, Archer and Dasher's there for me while I was carrying my child.

After hearing that news, I tried to hold back my tears but I failed.

I tried to contact Creed after that but he's not answering and I understand him.

Kasabay noon ang pagkalat ng balita sa underground tungkol sa pagkamatay ng Universe ng Cosmos. At first I am confused, then after that, a news saying that Dr. Dasher Alterio is the Universe of Cosmos spreaded on the underground like a wildfire.

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nagpakalat o kanino nanggaling ang kagaguhang iyon. Kung hindi lang sinabi sa akin ni Lolo Leonardo na siya ang former boss ng Cosmos ay baka paniwalaan ko rin ang balitang iyon, na si Dash ang Universe. Nasisiguro ko na nasa mga Lozano pa ang pamamahala ng Cosmos at isa sa mga apo ni Lolo ang humahawak noon. I'm not sure if Mirae is the Universe but definitely not Dasher.

I immediately went outside the car after parking it. I looked at the entrance of the funeral house and immediately saw Mirae.

I entered the funeral house wearing a black jumpsuit. Sumabay ako ng pagpasok nang may bisitang dumating at abala si Mirae roon kaya naman hindi niya ako napansin.

I saw Astrid approaching, maybe to assist me but I immediately signalled her that she doesn't have to as I shook my head. Maraming nakikiramay na mas kaylangang asikasuhin kaya sa akin. Bahagya siyang tumango habang nakangiti sa akin ngunit bakas sa mukha ang lungkot.

Agad akong pumunta sa lugar kung saan walang masyadong makakapansin sa akin, baka magkagulo lang lalo at hindi ako pamilyar sa mga narito. I sat down on the last row where there were only few people seated. I saw Dasher's urn in front. I heard he's cremated the moment he died.

I saw a woman weeping near Dasher's urn, I assumed that she's Dash's mother.

Hindi na ako lumapit kay Dash at nanatili nalang sa kinauupuan.

I saw Creed with his bloodshot eyes and disheveled hair roaming around. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at ilang minuto pa ang aking hinintay bago nagtama ang aming mga mata.

He immediately walked near me. "Can we talk?" Bungad niya sa akin.

I nodded as I rose up. Iginiya ako nito sa direksyon na pinanggalingan niya. It is a room where foods are in. Wala ng ibang tao rito maliban sa amin ni Creed.

"I'm sorry, I missed your calls," Creed muttered. He looks so tired, sa tingin ko ay hindi pa ito natutulog mula nang mabalitaan ang nangyari kay Dasher hanggang ngayon.

"It's okay." I bit my lower lip. "I'm sorry about what happened, my deepest condolences, Creed."

He nodded his head.

"Are you...alright?" I asked though I already know he's not.

He didn't answer me, he just sighed as he pulled me closer to him. He encircled his arms around me. Isiniksik niya ang mukha sa pagitan ng aking leeg habang tahimik lang na nakayakap sa akin.

Ilang minuto kaming nanatili sa ganoong posisyon hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ni Creed. He rested his chin on my shoulder while he's still hugging me tightly.

"I failed, Vinia." I heard his voice faltered. He placed his hand on my head while the other stayed on my waist. I felt him gently caressing my hair and stopped after a while.

"Dasher's my brother...we weren't blood related but fuck! Vinia, I lost my brother," He whispered as I heard someone's phone ringing. I'm sure it's not mine. Namatay ang tawag ngunit ilang sandali lang ay muli na naman iyong nagingay.

"Hey, your phone's ringing," Sambit ko kay Creed. Maybe the caller have something important to say.

Bumuntong hininga ito bago ako pinakawalan at sinagot ang tawag.

"Dad," I heard him called. Natahimik si Creed at unti-unting kumunot ang noo.

"Fuck! How about Mom? You? You two alright?" Creed's jaw clenched.

"What is it?" I asked when I saw him ended the call.

"Crizzette's kidnapped, I need to go."

"What? I'll come with you." I frowned. What happened? Sino naman ang gagawa noon?

"I'll find my daughter. Stay here, Vinia. I want you to be safe."

"But-"

"Come on, just stay here. It's not safe for you to come with me. Take care, I'll be back." Nagmamadaling sambit ni Creed. Lumapit siya akin at hinalikan ang aking noo bago umalis.

Sumunod ako rito hanggang sa makalabas siya ng funeral house at nakita ko ang pagharang sa kanya ni Mirae at maya-maya ay mukhang nagtalo na pa ang dalawa bago tuluyang makaalis si Creed. Ilang sandali lang ay nakita ko ang pagsakay ni Mirae sa kanyang sasakyan at pinasibad iyon.

I turned my back, akmang papasok na muli nang makasalubong ko si Archer. Our eyes met and he immediately smiled. "Lavinia, you're here!" Masiglang bati nito na agad kong nginiwian dahil alam ko ang nagkukubling lungkot sa mga mata nito.

"What happened?" I asked and he just looked at me with his eyes full of questions. Na tila ba hindi niya alam ang sinasabi ko.

"What are you talking about?" He chuckled but it died down immediately.

My brow arched as I casually looked at him.

I heard him sighed and plastered a weak smile on his face. "We can't... accept what happened." Marahang sambit nito habang mabagal na umiiling. I can't accept it either.

Noong gabing iyon, nalaman ko nalang na ibinalik si Crizzy ng mga dumakip dito. The kid was traumatized, ngunit wala naman itong galos kahit isa.

Crizzette said that Mirae saved her then Creed and Archer started looking for Mirae 'cause she's nowhere to be found. Si Astrid naman ay hindi ko na rin nakita sa mga sumunod na araw.

I went back at the funeral house the next day, the two's still looking for Mirae. It is a peaceful day, or not, until an explosion inside the funeral house came. Sinundan iyon ng sunod-sunod na putok ng baril kaya't nagkagulo sa loob. Walang nagawa ang mga nakikiramay kung hindi ang magkubli.

I know how to use a gun but I don't have one right now, wala akong magawa kung hindi ang magkubli na lang din. Nakita ko ang ilang unipormadong lalaki ang nakikipagpalitan ng putok ng baril sa mga iyon. Looked like those were bodyguards of someone inside the funeral house.

Nang mabaril ang ibang kasamahan ay nagmamadaling umalis ang mga ito, hinabol naman sila ng ilan sa mga bodyguard na kaninang nakikipagbarilan habang ang iba ay nanatili.

I thought that's the worst thing but when I turned my head, I saw Lolo Leonardo fell on the ground. Dinaluhan siya ng tauhan habang ako ay hindi makagalaw sa kinatatayuan. I almost closed my eyes when I saw Lolo covered with blood. Agad naman itong dinala sa ospital.

Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang nangyari sa funeral house matapos iyon dahil agad na akong sumunod sa ospital.

Idineretso si Lolo sa emergency room at ako naman ay nanatili sa labas noon at naghintay.

I started dialling Creed's number and thankfully he answered.

"Creed, where are you? Are you with Archer?" I started.

"Yes, why? May nangyari ba?" Bumakas ang pagaalala sa boses nito

"Uhmm, balik muna kayo ni Archer sa funeral house, n-nagkagulo kasi may mga nagpaputok ng baril."

"Fuck! What? Are you okay? Where are you? I'll-"

"Can you calm down?" Pinutol ko ang sinasabi niya. "I'm at the hospital, my Lolo was shot."

"Armando Amherst? Why is he-"

"No, the other one." Lolo Armando is still confined in the hospital.

"Alright. You sure you're okay? How about your grandfather?" Paninigurado ni Creed.

"Yes, I'm alright. Lolo's still inside the emergency room. Don't worry, just go back at the funeral house. Take care."

"Alright, take care, I'll call you later." Hindi na ako sumagot doon at agad na pinatay ang tawag.

Ilang sandali ay napalingon ako at napatayo nang makita kung sino ang mga dumating. Tita Miranda, Mirae's mom with Damien and Tyler.

Nang magtama ang aming tingin ng ginang ay bahagya itong nagulat ngunit agad ding nakabawi. She looks so young and intimidating despite her age. Naramdaman ko ang pagkabog ng aking dibdib dahil doon. Damien nodded at me while Tyler's just staring like he's confused at my presence. Ni minsan ay hindi ko pa nakakasalamuha ang karamihan sa mga Lozano kaya't hindi ko alam ang ugali ng mga ito.

"Hija, what happened?" Bungad sa akin ni Tita Miranda. Bakas ang pagaalala sa mukha nito.

"Tita, calm down," I heard Tyler muttered. Hindi naman iyon pinansin ng ginang at nanatiling nakatingin sa akin at hinihintay ang aking pagsagot.

"There was an explosion at the funeral house, may mga namaril at n-natamaan si Lolo," I explained. Napasinghap si Tita Miranda roon.

"Wait, what?" Tyler asked, frowning.

Naguguluhan napalingon ako dito. "H-he was shot-"

"No, who are you and why are you here?" He asked and my mouth fell opened.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagsaway ni Damien kay Tyler at ganoon din si Tita Miranda. "Tyler, stop being rude. That's enough."

I frowned because of his question. "Lirae Verania Amherst and I'm here for my Lolo." Naguguluhan pa ring sagot ko, hindi niya ba alam?

Lalong lumalim ang gitla sa gitna ng noo nito dahil sa aking sinambit.

"Wait, Lolo?" He tilted his head. "I think you're at the wrong emergency room, Miss. You're an Amherst and not a Lozano."

I raised my brow up on him as I heard Tita cleared her throat. Akmang magsasalita ako nang maunahan ako ni Tita Miranda.

"Tyler, she's a Lozano, not an Amherst."

Bumaling si Tyler kay Tita at naguguluhang tumingin dito habang si Damien ay tahimik lang na nakasandal sa pader at nakikinig ngunit walang bakas ng gulat sa mga mata.

Tyler turned to me and asked. "A-are you David Lozano's daughter?"

Akmang sasagot ako ngunit agad na natigilan nang makita ang mga bagong dating. Pinigilan ko ang sariling mapasinghap nang makita ko kung sino ang mga iyon. Ellena Lozano together with David Lozano and his wife.

Great! I'm in a place full of Lozanos.

"How's Papa?" Ellena Lozano nervously asked while looking at Tita Miranda.

"He's still inside the emergency room."

"Dad, have you cheated before?" Tyler suddenly asked. Napalingon ang lahat kay Tyler dahil sa itinanong nito sa ama.

Tito David frowned. "No, you know I love your Mom and I'll never cheat. Why are you asking?"

Hindi nito pinansin ang tanong ng ama at bumaling kay Ellena Lozano. "Then, its you Tita?"

Bakas ang gulat sa mukha ng ginang ngunit agad iyon nakabawi. "Are you accusing me, Tyler?" Taas noo at eleganteng sambit nito. "I'll never do that to Ricos," She continued as she looked at Tyler nonchalantly.

"Imposibleng si Tito." Kunot ang noo niya at bahagya pang napailing.

"Lirae is your cousin, she's Mirae and Damien's sister." Tita Miranda muttered in a casual tone.

Natigilan si Tyler at para bang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ng ginang. He frowned after a while and slowly shook his head. Doon naman ako napansin ng mga bagong dating.

"L-Lirae, hija." It was Ellena Lozano. Alanganin akong napangiti rito.

I met David Lozano's eyes and he nodded at me with small smile in his face. Ganoon din ang asawa nito na nasa kanyang tabi.

"You sure that its not Dad, Tita?" Marahang tanong ni Tyler, hindi pa rin makapaniwala.

"I won't cheat, Tyler." Singit ng ama ngunit hindi ulit iyon pinansin ng anak.

Tita Miranda slightly nodded her head. Iyon ang nakapagpatahimik kay Tyler ngunit bakas pa rin sa mata ang pagkalito at pagtatanong. Bahagya pa itong umiling habang nasa malayo ang tingin.

"Alam ba 'to ni Mirae?" Sa tingin ko ay alam ko na kung saan papunta ang usapang ito. Agad akong naalerto dahil kay Tyler.

Walang sumagot sa tanong niya at nagiwas lang ng tingin si Tita Miranda at Tita Ellena. Hindi alam ni Mirae? I don't know how to react on that. All this time she's didn't know that I'm her sister.

"Sa tingin niyo ba ay matutuwa si Mirae kapag nalaman niya na may kapatid siya bukod kay Damien at hindi niyo sinabi sa kanya?"

"Do you also think she'll be happy to know that her father cheated?" Ellena Lozano muttered. Bahagya itong natigilan at sarkastikong napatawa. "Oh right, Kuya didn't, hindi niya ginusto iyon, that bitch-" Naputol ang sasabihin niya dahil sa boses ni Tita Miranda at asawa ni Tito David.

"Ellena!"

Ramdam ko ang pananakit ng dibdib dahil sa itinawag niya kay Mommy.

"What?" Sarkastiko itong napatingin sa dalawang pumigil sa kanya. "It's a fact." She smirked as she raised her brow up.

"Ellena, that's enough." Nangibabaw ang malamig na boses ni Tito David kaya natahimik ang lahat.

Tita Miranda turned to me.
"Hija, I'm sorry for this."

__________