I closed my eyes as I pushed the door open. I did not have the courage to see her reaction at the contents of this room, no matter how much I talked myself into it. What lies beyond is my only hope of reconciling with my conscience for ghosting Tamara for years. I did this so I could somehow make peace with the thought that she'll someday see this and be happy with it.

When she asked to see the inside of this room yesterday, I gritted my teeth and grumpily declined her request. I saw the shock cover her beautiful face as I walked away, leaving her standing there.

My attitude was uncalled for.

Mara has always been a curious child. The more we warned her not to touch things, the more she did. She's that person.

I knew she wouldn't be able to keep her hands off of this room because her curiosity will get the best of her. Which is why, I woke up early and baked her some cookies. Pastries always seemed to make her mood better, no matter what.

"What the hell?"

I peeked at her face. She looks surprised to see what was inside. Like she couldn't possibly be awake right now. Like she could just be dreaming. That it must be a big joke to see all of these just in one room. Cautiously, she walks into the room.

I admit the whole thing is too much to look at.

The room is filled with wrapped boxes stacked up. It occupies almost the whole room. Some boxes are bigger than the others. Most of the contents of these I have long since forgotten but I know who they are for.

"Dy, what is this?" Mara asked as she picks up a small box on the floor. She gently shakes it, determining the contents with much failure. "Are you giving this to charity? These wrappers look so old."

I cleared my throat, ready to see a horrified expression once she found out. "They're for you." I said in a whisper.

I've never been so afraid in my life before. This is the first time I wish the ground would open up and swallow me. The embarrassment of my actions have finally caught on to me and I didn't know what to do.

I'm scared that Mara would see me as a creep. That she'll be too scared to even come near me. That shell think everything was too much after all. That this wasn't worth all the trouble she experienced since I got back in her life.

I missed years of Mara's life when I went to college. For a time, I was so in denial a refused to answer her call or even read her messages. I wanted to forget these feelings. I dated girls after girls, pushed myself to feel something for someone else despite knowing that I was madly in love with girl I left back home. I convinced myself that falling in love with a girl who I watched grew up was not right. That this love, isn't something I should feel for a girl I helped raised. It was a bad time in my life.

Once I got my head out of my ass, it was all too late. I was too embarrass to even message her or suddenly called, After what I did, I didn't think Mara would bother to pick up my calls. So I settled for the comfort of Alec's story of his little sister. He didn't disappoint. I think the only time he ever stopped talking about Mara was when he found out I'm in love with her and when he met Aurora.

"Dy. What is all this for?" She asked me, her voice soft and surprised.

I looked at her and a small smile is playing on her lips as her eyes glance around the room. My nervousness instantly vanished. Smiling means shes not that angry at me. "I know its too much but I missed years of your teen life."

She laughs. "Dy, you missed, like six or seven years? Not fifty!" She said, her hands gesturing to the number of boxes.

"I know. But every time I went to a store or went to another country for business, I always find something you'll like." I explained, handing her a very small box I purchased on my recent trip.

She puts the box in her hand down and accepts the box in my hand. "I can open this?"

I nod my head again, suddenly feeling shy about watching her open all of this.

A smile.

She gives me a smile and opens the gift excitedly. She rips the wrappings of which reveals a black rectangular box. She plays with the box for a while, turning it to different directions to see what could be inside it. Even putting it next to her ear and shaking.

I hide my smile.

I made sure to put that gift in a way that it doesn't make a noise when moved. I almost let out a laugh at the frustration on her face. Her lips are pursed and her eyebrows contorted together.

"You can open it, shortcake. No need for that."

Without a word, she opens the box. A gasped escaped her lips before she turns to me with a shocked expression. "This is.."

I grabbed the necklace from the box. "I found it. That necklace you always wanted, remember that?"

The necklace is silver with a key pendant. Just the right size, simple enough that it has a big diamond in the middle and two small ones below.

"But that's not possible. Even Dad looked for it everywhere!" She reasons out but still, the happiness in her eyes spoke out to me.

I shrugged my shoulders and grinned at her. "I guess I was better at finding things?"

She shakes her head but a smile continues to grow on her lips. "That's not possible. Dad said--"

"Jack never went to Asia, shortcake." I reminded her as I unlocked the necklace. "May I?"

"Yeah.." she drawls out and sweeps her hair up in her hand. I walked closer to her, leaned in to make sure I lock the necklace right in place. "This will take forever."

I stepped back, admiring the necklace around her neck. "It looks better than I imagined."

She smiles and lets her hair fall on her shoulder. "Thanks, Dy." She said, her fingers already tracing the pendant.

"It was my pleasure."

"This is gonna take a lot of time." She said, looking at the rest of the gifts with amusement.

"We've got all day, shortcake." I said, tossing another box at her.

Her laughter echoes inside the room as she laughed at my encouragement. "Guess so."

We've been sitting for what seemed like the whole day, unwrapping and unboxing the gifts. There are wrappers and half opened boxes lying around us.

"Finally done!" She exclaims as she rolls her shoulders to release some tension. She looks down at me and gives me a smile. "I think we need some food."

I chuckled. We were both too engrossed in opening the gifts, we forgot that we need food and water to function. "I know. What do you want?"

I follow her out of the room and into our living. I was not surprised to see the dark skies that can be seen from the huge window in my living room. I was, however, surprised to see Alec dozing off on the couch.

"Sir." Emil acknowledge my presence as I walked closer to them.

Alec looks worn out. There are bags under his eyes, even his clothes are wrinkled. His hair is disheveled. It seemed like he hasn't gotten any sleep at all.

"What happened?" I asked Emil as I watch Mara crouch down on the floor to be on the same level as her sleeping brother. Worry is evident on her face, long gone is the happiness she felt just seconds ago.

Emil sighed, like it was hard for him to even recall the events which lead to Alec crashing on my couch. "Sir Alec found out that it was, in fact, Amelia who leaked the information about your trip. She was also responsible for the picture of you and Miss Tamara holding hands. Sir Alec wanted to confront Amelia, but I advised against it. We needed more evidence so Mr. Ramirez would believe us more than Amelia." He explained.

I should've known. That witch is behind everything which causes Mara unnecessary trouble. Alec must've been looking for evidence since he found out. I doubt that she's only responsible for those recent events. I'm starting to wonder what else she's done to Mara and to Alec. Jack is blind with his love for Amelia to not see how much of a devil she is.

"Baby girl.."

I turned my head to Alec as he calls out to Mara. He's clutching his coat tight to his body, as if it was his sister.

"Shh.." Tamara calms her sleeping brother by holding the hand clutching the coat. "I'm okay. I'm here." She said softly, as if any sudden loudness would be a crime. She speaks to him in barely a whisper. The only thing I can hear are gibberish words.

"Shortcake, why don't we move him to my room? You two can sleep there, I'll sleep out here." I offered to her, my voice soft.

She looked up at me with a grateful smile, her eyes watery. "I appreciate it, Dy. I'm sorry we're crashing in on your privacy so much."

I crouch down next to her, my hand automatically holds her free hand. "Nonsense. We've always been like a family. I'm here for you and Alec."

Tamara mumbles her thank you.

With the help of Emil, we were able to pull Alec up from the couch and help him walk to my room while in his half asleep state. As soon as he was under the covers, he called out for his sister again. Mara attended to her brother fast. Not leaving his side even for a moment. Comforting him the way I only saw Alec comfort her.

"I'll order us food and have it delivered, right away." I told her before Emil and I left the room. Leaving the Ramirez siblings all to themselves. Emil follows after me, taking a glance at them before finally closing the door. "Tell me everything."

Emil was caught off guard at my orders. "Sir?"

"I know that wasn't enough to exhaust Alec. If you're trying to gully us, don't. Mara knows too, she's just worried about Alec to notice the white lie you are giving us." I reasoned with him.

Maybe I've been gone for far too long in Mara's life but that doesn't say the same for Alec. I stayed in contact with him even when I was at war with my feeling for Mara. I know him better than anyone thinks. I know he won't just be this tired just from finding out about Amelia, it has to bee something greater. Some thing huge that he needs to figure out or else he wouldn't even be in my apartment, sleeping and calling out for Mara in that state of his.

He's worried about Mara and I want to know why. I want to know what happened to her when Alec would stammer when I try to mention her. When he would stray off the topic of Mara whenever I asked. Those were the times I knew something was wrong but I hesitated so much.

I didn't know how to approach the person I ghosted just because I wasn't sure about my feelings. My stupidity got the best of me then. When Alec wouldn't talk about her, I wouldn't ask.

"I'm not sure I'm authorized to tell you, sir. I've been hired to protect Miss Mara. I intend to see to it." Emil said with conviction.

"Taken a liking to her, huh?" I asked teasingly. Emil used to be my bodyguard. He's from the agency of a friend I knew back in my university days. He worked for me for almost three years before he was assigned to another because he wanted to stay near home.

He looks away from me, not saying anything. He didn't deny the fact that he's taken a liking to Tamara, making me grin at him even more. "Miss Tamara is better than you, sir."

"My shortcake is an angel." I retorted.

"Yeah, compared to you. She doesn't make me go through all the trouble of hauling her back home. Drunk." He said bluntly.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't you dare tell her about that."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe I will. You're not paying me anymore."

I groaned. I can't bear the thought of Mara even knowing about something like that. "I thought we were friends." I said, groaning in annoyance that Emil is even able to threaten me this way. To think that I spent a year trying to get him to talk to me and this is the reward I get in return. It sure is a bit insulting when he talks down at me despite him being older.

"Keep telling yourself that." He said, waving his hand in a dismissive manner as he walks out of the apartment.

I halted in my actions and called after him. "I told you to tell me!"

I can hear his laughter as he ignores me. I sighed in distress and picked up the phone to order us some food. Maybe this could make Emil tell me about the things he found out along with Alec. But I doubt it, Emil is hard as a stone when it comes to keeping things a secret. Specially when it comes to things related to his work.

when Alec emerged from my room. His eyes fell on my position on the dining table. He took the seat next to me with a tired sigh of his own. He was quiet. Not even a single sound was made.

"You okay?" I asked him, pushing the left over pizza in front of him.

Mara ate dinner four hours ago then went back inside to tend to him. She didn't say a word except tell me good night. She didn't even finish a whole slice before she placed it down back on the plate. She was so worried with Al, she can't even stomach to eat so much food.

"I guess. Can I have some water?" He asked, looking as exhausted as he had when we found him on my couch. Without arguing, I stood up and grabbed him a glass of water. "Thanks, man."

"I heard about Amelia. Does Jack know?" I asked him, straight to the point. Since Emil refused to tell me anything, I figured I should just asked Alec to get a more direct answer.

He sagged back against the chair, his eyes watching the rain outside of the window. "I haven't told him yet. I think... I think Dad might not believe me." I can hear the uncertainty in his voice. Even the pain of thinking that his Dad won't believe him.

"He will. Jack will believe you, no matter what."

He shakes his head lightly. "Dad was never one to be swayed by any woman except for Mom. She always had the guts to call him off or even pinch his ear." he said, laughing at the memory of their Mom. "But I've never seen Dad close his eyes to the truth so many times."

"Jack will never abandon you or Mara. Specially Mara. May made us all promise we will protect her." I reminded him. Those last moments of May, are the memories I wouldn't forget. We held her hand, as baby Mara lay on her arms. May was barely breathing when she made us make that promise.

"You don't know how many times he let Mara down. I don't think I trust him anymore, Dy."

My eyes widen at his words. Silence filled the room at my lack of response. The sound of the rain and low rumbles from the skies filled our ears as we both got lost in our own thoughts.

To think that Al would lose his trust on Jack. I wonder how deep of a wound Amelia has given this tight knit family I envied a lot when I was a kid. My parents and I were never that close, not once. Mom and I couldn't even finish a meal without arguing. Dad and I had never spent more than an hour in one room.

But the Ramirez family.. They used to spent tons of time together. Going everywhere and anywhere. Spending quality time together and even making time to have dinner together.

"I just.. I don't want to fail Mara again. I have to do it right this time, Dy. I have to." He said in pain.

The loud thunder after the lighting filled the room. It was deadly quiet. As if the rain was suddenly sympathizing with the pain Alec feels. That is until a loud scream made us jump from our seats.