"Yes, I'm already here," I said to my fiancee through my phone. It's been long since I've talked to her. "Okay. Stay there and we will settle this. At least with a proper farewell." I know where this is coming. I pulled through a smile even though she wouldn't see it. "What do you mean farewell? Are you going somewhere?" I asked trying to wear an innocent voice. "Psh. Acting like you didn't know, eh?" her irritated voice is very evident. I sighed. Why? Why is she doing this? By the time I realized that I'm only an option in this relationship, I started to distance myself from her. "Chelsea," I called out. "...You know this is wrong. I don't understand why you started a relationship with me while—" "Can't you see? It's love! Bet you didn't feel the same way that's why you're being like this!" she screamed. Inilayo ko ang phone ko. I looked around and a number of people are looking at me right now. Tch. Again, I smiled putting back my phone on my ear. "Okay. Let's do this—" I was cut off... by a kiss. I immediately pushed the woman with both of my hands. She's out of her mind! The heat can be felt on my skin. This crazy woman... After asking her, she just said thanks and ran away. I wiped off her lipstick that stayed on my mouth with my handkerchief. I checked my phone and Michelle had already turned the phone down. "Excuse me, sir," a man's voice came from my left. I turned to face him. He is wearing a suit like the other five with him. What is this? I stood up and he walked to me. "Do you know that woman, sir?" he asked. Who is that woman? Why are they suddenly asking me about her? "No. I'm sorry, why are you asking?" "I'm sorry too, sir. What we saw proves that you and that woman know each other," he replied. What did they see? That thing? "It was a—" I stopped myself from talking further when he handed me a phone. "What is this?" I asked. "Are you a friend of my daughter?" an old man's voice came from the phone. Kinuha ko yung phone at inilagay sa tainga ko. "...I saw everything. Through a photo at least. Please, I know I can trust you--" why is he whispering right now? "Sir, I'm sorry but you got the wrong--" "Please. If you are that close, help her. Help my daughter." He cut me off. What help? Is she in danger? Well, she did say that I helped her a while ago... what is with them? "I think the police is what you need, sir." "You are what she needs. Now, I need to go. Don't call this number back. I'll call you later for clearer details," and he hung up. What mess is this? I got a problem with my only five months relationship and then this? She is here again. That familiar face. This woman sounds like trouble... She is a mess. Bringing her into my place is the most foolish thing I've ever done. "How do you explain this?! Huh?!" she threw her phone into me. I caught it with my hands. A photo of us that day... where did she get that? "Chelsea, please listen," "No! Let's end this now! It's just right... you are right! Because you are fooling with a young girl all this time! So basically, what I did is not wrong at all! You did the same thing!" she screamed. Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko. Why is this happening... I want to end this now but it felt... wrong. I want her to go back to her fiancee... her real fiancee. But something's stopping me. Women are difficult... "Let's talk inside your room." I looked at her. What? "Why? It's fine—" "So you hiding somethin' now? huh?!" "Wait, I—" She entered my room and just like what I thought, the young woman is still there. Didn't she read my letter beside her? When Chelsea went out of my apartment, I followed her. I can't believe we're finishing things like this. Even if it's wrong to start in the first place... "What the hell?! Hindi ka pa rin umaalis?" What is she still doing here... I looked around and things are not what they are used to be. I looked back to meet her eyes. She seems to be sizing me up. I saw something that she's standing behind. One of my new prototypes... Pushing her away I examined it. At least it's not completely ruined... "Tulungan mo na ako! I just need like, a month! After nun aalis na ako." she is begging me now? She doesn't seem like someone who needs money... "I won't help people like you. You look like someone well off, but can't even take care of herself? Go back to your house! Because of your foolishness yesterday and today, my life is ruined even more," I said. I don't need any more troubles, young lady. What happened that day and today after what she had done is a real problem. After she got out of the apartment, I went back to my room. Something caught my eye— a sling bag? Grabbing it, I let its contents out on my bed. A passport, I.D., wallet... my eyes widened. Who... who keeps these inside their carry on bag? I immediately put those back, just barely holding unto the rolled... undergarments. I checked her passport. Dahlia Ty... Ty... sounds familiar— is she one of them? Memories of that unfateful day attempted to enter my mind. Things I'd rather forget but I can't. This is all the more reason I should keep away from her. After a long day at the campus, I still have papers to take care of. Before closing my door I heard a voice. "Hey! Marcus! Wait!" sounds like that woman. I tried opening the door again but it seems to be stuck. I pushed it again and there she is, falling on the ground. She immediately turned her face to me. Her eyes look scared. I looked away from her only to see a man. The same man that day... "So... you're here," I started. She is now standing and looking into my eyes again... is she always like this? "Daliah... I've been waiting for you." I added. I can see that the man is firmly holding unto her elbow. I pulled her into my apartment. I looked back at the woman. Walking out, I faced the man and showed him my I.D. "Ah, so you are that guy. The boss told us to give you my number. Call me if you need anything," he said. He just walked away. I called out to him but then I kept on remembering what I saw. She is a Ty. This is a problem again. I kept on choosing the wrong things. Pero bakit parang iba yung father niya nung nakausap ko? He sounds different. Anyhow, he should call me in order for me to know what really happened. If anything, I can get information from this woman--if he is that man. I tried my best... but this lady is different. I... can't say no. I suddenly found myself starting a deal with her. One month is what she needs. In that month, I need to get her out of this place, of my life. Before I dig my own grave. "Hello?" I asked when an unknown number called. This is probably his dad. "Good day, Marcus, am I right?" so he did a background check. I can sense that he does not sound anxious like before. I must remember that this man and his wife caused my dad's worsened injuries that day. "Excuse me, sir? I want to know what you want me to do," I asked. "Sorry. My bad. As her father, I'm asking you a favor. One is to destroy the camera she has with her. It's a black one." Why is he asking me to do such a thing? " I'm sorry for asking but why?" I asked. "There's a video there that will put her in danger. I made a mistake. That's all-- that's all you need to know..." now he sounds like back then. "You said you can trust me, sir. Would you mind telling me what is happening?" "I trust you, Marcus. Please, do it. Also, for the second one... keep her with you there. No matter what happens. Don't let her out of New York," he is now whispering. What is he planning? My memories of him don't help at all. In any case, doing this will help me confirm if it's really him. "...I wired the money. You can use it to aid you while my daughter's there. Use it for yourself too. I need--" the call was cut off abruptly. Money? I can use that... and the information I can get from her. However, this man seems like a different person. "Carl, I don't think—" "Just accept it, man! I don't want our business to get dragged down the drain!" I accidentally pushed one of my prototypes. Telling Carl and hoping for help is a wrong move. I should have thought about it. Damn it. "I can't just accept that," I replied. I crouched down to pick up the pieces. "Why? She is even staying at your place! If you don't want it, then don't get involved with her. Easy as shit!" he shouted. "No... I will deal with this. Maybe I can pursue her. Don't worry it'll be fast." I hope. I need time to talk to her about things. "Alright... one more thing. We need more funds. Are you sure not accepting that offer is not an opportunity wasted? What we'll do about the capital?" Right... that's another thing. She will even stay in my place... No. I should pursue her. I won't use that money from him. "Yes.. yes... We just need to figure out how. I will hang onto my freelancing for the meantime." I answered. After the call, I opened the door only to find her there. Did she hear about everything? Nang makita kong natutulog na siya sa couch ay kinuha ko yung bag niya. There, her black camera is. I should check what's inside. I grabbed something from my room first. "Tsk," I mumbled to myself. I put a blanket on her. I plugged the camera into my laptop. After searching, I saw something. That man, the woman's father... is the man who let my father die. He is in the video, confessing what he did and asking for forgiveness. Nagbago na ba isip niya? Bakit niya pinagawa sa akin yun? I copied the file into my laptop. I'm going to need this. I browsed the other files on her camera. She takes good pictures, I must say. However, something or should I say, someone caught my eye. I can see it with my own eyes. In conclusion, I am the third party here. The option. She is there, standing with the man she initially was engaged to. Chelsea... "Why are you still calling me?" I missed this voice. "Let's be clear, Chelsea. I saw that man. Who you--" "It's okay! Tapos na nga eh! What do you want? Ha? I... I just did that because I needed to." she needed to? "Are you hearing yourself? Don't you realize that you are being selfish? Now, delete my number and don't... don't appear before me again," finally, I said it. "You are the one who called." yes. And I would like to finish things properly. Even if it hurts. I don't know why we even started this relationship. Did we even love each other? "Whatever it is. You kinda helped me too when I needed someone, Marcus. I hope there's something true between us," she added then hung up. She hopes? That means there is nothing. I must be out of my mind, asking her to be my fiancee with only five months of a relationship. It is done now. "My father... he was killed, murdered." and then I found myself telling her about that unfateful day. I looked at her. So her father didn't tell her about this. "...As for me, it's different." No. Is this different? I don't even understand why I am with his daughter. I already know that he's that man. "Don't you want to... get revenge as well? I mean, it's fine if you leave me since two weeks na lang naman ako rito..." "Revenge? For what? Tsk, you don't know me. I'm...nevermind." She doesn't know a thing. "W-wala ka ngang motorcycle! Naglalakad ka nga-- hey, what are you..." I grabbed my phone. "For what?" "Just send it here. I sent you the address. Part of the mission." I looked back at her. I sighed. I can't believe I'm losing my rationality here. Before I knew it, the motorcycle is in front of me. "This is new. It's yours but please, use the money the boss gave you. Call me for matters except for money. I'm working too, dude." "Thanks." Why is she doing this now? "Don't make me do things I don't want to, Dahlia Ty." Damn it. I have no idea what occurred to me, doing things for her. I ended the call and grabbed my laptop. Looking at the screen, she is not far away. She wouldn't even listen to me. I will just do what her father told me. Umalis na ako ng apartment at sumakay sa motor. Bago pa ako tuluyang makaalis, may tumawag sa akin. "Hello?" "Dude? What happened? This is the fourth time you missed your class! Our profs miss you already!" "I just needed to do things, Mike. Sorry, I need to go." I hang up. I placed my phone in a phone case stuck in the middle of the handles. That way I can see where she is heading. Right now she is at a park. What is she doing there? Arriving there, it's quiet. There is a black van and then men with the same suits I saw the day... well the day that happened. They seemed to be guarding the van. I have a bad feeling about this. It is clearly indicated in my radar that she is inside the van. Alright. Five men. I fought them off, only thinking one thing— her safety. For a brief moment, our eyes met and now I can't explain this feeling. I felt good. Is this because I didn't fail what was expected of me? It is from the man who did it to my father. Shit... I need to act now. I stopped myself from what I am doing. Damn it! What am I doing? She now looks at me like I am a pervert. "I don't want to. Let me go, gosh." she cried out. Now I feel ashamed. I think I really need to guard her. I still can't believe what came over me and I accepted this offer. "I told you not to call me--" "I am accepting the offer now," I said on the phone. "W-what do you mean? I thought you already did?" he is always whispering. "I accept it now. I can't live like this... not when others..."Damn... I really need the money now. Just a while ago, Dahlia is screaming because the electricity got cut off. Besides, I have a business to run too. Clients are not coming in my freelancing job... "Alright, alright! I need to go," he hung up again. He always whispers and in a rush. There is really something wrong here.