ONE

*PROLOGUE*
Ten-year-old Daze keeps crying. She didn’t know where she is right. She got lost now and she doesn’t know how to go back to the Luxury Hotel where the birthday was held.
Their family was invited to the birthday of the current mayor of their area. All of the family came including her. But when she saw the couple who performed the cello and piano as a greeting to the mayor, that’s where her attention was focused. And because of great amazement, she followed them out when they finished.
When she noticed that they were no longer outside, she went out the gate and saw a car. She chased the car until she didn’t realize she got too far. She looked for the car until she couldn’t see it anymore. And as soon as she walked she got lost and didn’t know the way back.
She was not familiar with the place she was walking. She is not even sure if she is still in Bulacan. She has no idea about every place because she is used to always being in a car.
“Mommy, daddy,” She started getting nervous. It’s getting a bit late at night and it looks like it’s going to rain because the wind is getting stronger.
“Brother Dylan.” She was crying as she walked and looked around.
Unbeknownst to her, someone noticed her. An eighteen-year-old young man in his newly bought car. He just bought it this morning and arrived late. And because he was busy, he only had time to use it towards his best friend to show it off, and for him to be the first to ride it. But the boy who seemed to be caught his attention because she had been looking around for a while.
At first, he didn’t care about the girl. He thought that it was nothing to him so he didn’t care what happened there. But something pinched in his heart when he thought that what if something might to her? Now that he saw her in this situation, it was as if the child was under his responsibility now. He is afraid that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, that girl will suddenly be in the news because something bad has happened. It is his conscience when it happens.
He saw the girl sitting on the side of the road and hugging himself. He saw her shoulders move as if she was crying. In the end, he decided to help her. He pulled the car aside and then got out and approached the girl.
“Are you lost, baby girl?” Daze looked up when he heard a male voice. Their eyes met. Even though there was darkness, he immediately saw his eyes as if they were talking. And at a young age, she felt something strange that she couldn’t explain. She felt safe immediately and a knight in shining armor was sent for her.
“Hi,”
“Are you lost?”
“Yeah.” She wiped away her tears and then smiled. She immediately felt better and there was no trace of fear in her. Regardless of the fact that just now she was very scared. Now it was as if he found an ally right away. An angel that God sent to help her.
“Are you familiar with the place?” the young man asked her.
“No.” She couldn’t take her eyes off the man. She felt like she could see her own reflection in her eyes even though the surroundings were shrouded in darkness. Her eyes are clear and she loves to look at them.
“Do you have any contacts with your family?” She shook her head in response. “Ow, so better I will turn you over to the police, is it ok with you?” She nodded in agreement.
What the man wanted was to call the police and wait for them to arrive. He had no plans to take the girl in her car because the first person she wanted to ride in it was her best friend whom she secretly loved. But when he looked at her, she thought of letting her get in and it started to rain.
“Can you come with me?” he asked her.
“Sure.” Daze answer. He supported her to ride so she was even happier. When the man got in, he even helped him fasten her seatbelt.
“I am Enrique Locsin, and I live nearby. When you go straight to this road you will end up at Hacienda Sebastian. And that road where I came is the Locsin farm. So we’ll turn that way to get back to the highway. What’s your name by the way?”
“Dandelion Daze Dy, everyone calls me Daze, but I prefer you call me Dande for short.” Everyone calls her Daze. That’s why she prefers to be special when the young man calls her.
“Are you a Dy?”
“Yes.”
“Are you related to Diana Dane Dy?”
“Do you know my sister?” She was even happier when she heard that she knew her sister.
“She was my classmate in high school. So you are the youngest Dy?”
“I am.”
“Well, I think I know where I can send you.” The man smiled at him and saw the fine dimple on the side of his lips which added to the man’s handsomeness. While driving, she couldn’t get rid of the smile on her lips while looking at the man who was surprised by it.
“Do I have dirt on my face?”
“No, nothing.”
“You’ve been staring at me for a while.”
“You look like an angel.”
“Really?”
“Yes, you’re so handsome.”
“Thanks.” She was even happier when he smiled at her. “I think we’re here.”
Outside the mansion, they saw a car that immediately stopped. It was familiar to him so he opened the window and waved. She saw her father come out of it with his mother.
“Daddy!” Enrique helped her remove her seatbelt. She disrespectfully went down and slammed the door shut. The young man just closed his eyes because his car was brand new but the girl didn’t even care. She just thought she didn’t know what she was doing.
He came down to show her parents. He doesn’t want to be doubted by the father of the Dy family. He knows the strength of his influence in the whole of Bulacan and maybe instead of just helping her, he might end up in jail. So it’s better to go down and give respect.
“Good evening, sir, my name is Enrique Locsin. I saw your daughter on the way,”
“Our daughter explained it to us. Thanks for bringing me here safe.”
“My pleasure, sir.”
“Are you related to Mr. Salvo Locsin?”
“He’s my father.” Daze’s father smiled at him.
“I met him earlier. Anyway, you wanna come? Want some coffee?”
“No, thanks sir, actually I have something important to do before I see your daughter, and I think I am late.”
“Oh, my bad, I hope we will meet some other time young man, so we can return the favor of the good deed you did to our daughter.”
“That’s fine, sir. I am honored to help. I need to go, sir, I will meet my best friend and she’s waiting for me.”
“Thanks for your help again.”
“Thank you for bringing me home, my knight in shining armor.” The man smiled at her and held her head.
“Next time, you have to be careful, ok, baby girl?”
“I am.”
The man turned back and then took the cell phone. He also saw that it stopped and then left in a hurry.
When the man left, Daze looked at her father. There was no trace of fear that she would be scolded or nervous that she might punish her.
“Dad,”
“Yes?”
“When I grow up, I want to marry him.”
“Silly. Instead of worrying because we might punish you that is what you think first. You left the party and worried everyone.”
“Because I am. And if I don’t leave I won’t meet him. I will accept your punishment now. But I meant what I said, I want to marry him when I grow up.” Her father just laughed and they entered the mansion.
‘Enrique Locsin, my knight in shining armor. You are officially my husband and will be mine forever.’
*ONE*
DANDELION DAZE POV
I stared at the child held by the woman with my brother Dave. Her name is Dustle Live, named after him and Lileth. And the worst case is that baby is my brother’s illegitimate child. Ok fine, she is the daughter of my brother and sister Lileth’s stepsister. But she was still an illegitimate child because my brother was married to Lileth when she was born. So, still an illegitimate–I think.
I don’t hate her, after all, she’s my niece. Let’s just say that my charm was slightly shaken because I wasn’t informed that there was already something going on outside. I was surprised that we had an unknown woman with a baby with us at the family dinner only to find out that they will soon be a part of the family.
Surprised is not new to me. I was just surprised that sister Dane was pregnant. I was just surprised that sister Lileth and brother Dave had a problem. Then now there is a surprise that he has a child with another woman. Everyone already knows what’s happening while I’m clueless.
But that’s life. It’s really like that when you’re beautiful, they did not give you stress. They don’t want to ruin my beauty so they don’t want to let me know about the problems that are happening in our family. I’m a princess.
Back to brother Dave’s daughter. She really looks like him. It’s like Dave was shrunk and turned into a woman. Although they don’t have a formal relationship with the mother yet, they are co-parenting for my niece, she still brings her here to introduce us.
We’re gathering here in the garden. Only we girls are here to entertain Erika—-the mother of Dustle. Dustle slept while her mother carried her. Ace is with Dane while King is with Lauren.
“Can I call you Erika?” I broke the silence.
“Yeah sure.” But I noticed Dane was just staring at him. A while ago I noticed that Dane was staring at Erika.
“Dane, have you been staring at Erika?”
“I think I saw her before with Wallace and Isabelle. Is it you?”
“Yeah.” Dane nodded and smiled. But his smile is plastic. Obviously, there is something. How do I know? She’s probably Dy, it seems like it’s just me, in her case, it’s not obvious and she still has manners while with me it depends on the person in front of me.
“Is there any issue, Diana?” mom asked her.
“No, mom, I just want to make sure it’s her.”
“Because brother Wallace used to be a womanizer mom, maybe sister Dane just wanted to make sure that sister Erika didn’t become brother Wallace’s girl. Isn’t that right?”
“Daze!” Dane scolded me and glared at me.
“Why? Brother Wallace is really a womanizer. My brother Dylan and Cluster, too.”
“I am with Wallace but with Isabelle too for fun because Isabelle is my best friend. But don’t get us wrong, Dane, Ma’am. Nobody intervened with Wallace and me. We never—–you know. I am not into any guy and I can be proud that Dave is the only man in my life. Only him and I loved no one else but him.”
Sister Dane smiled at her as if giving her an answer that she believed her.
“I believe you,” I said. “Because you won’t agree to be attached and have children with your sister’s husband if you don’t love my brother.”
“Daze,” scolded mommy.
“Why? Oh, cmon, I’m telling the truth, you’re messing with me.”
“She’s right. I am not offended.” Sister Erika said so I smiled. “Besides, I know how to place myself. I didn’t ask for that to happen to my sister but I know God’s do me a favor—–on us. And I’m not going to waste that.”
“See, it’s good that she understood.”
“Thank you for bringing back joy to my son.” Mom holds her hand and smiles at her.
“The pleasure is all mine, ma’am. Right now I’m happy that we’re together for our daughter even if we don’t talk about us anymore.”
“Is it true that you have Lileth’s heart?” I asked so they looked at me.
“Yeah.” He held her heart and looked at her sleeping daughter. I don’t know if I will be happy for my brother because he has two hearts that he loved. His wife’s heart is in the body of his partner or I will be upset because he betrayed his wife before. But sister Lileth passed away. And I know for sure she is happy wherever she is right now.
“How does it feel to have a different heart? Is it still normal for you?” Is brother Dale’s wife here? I thought she was just a statue because she had been like a tree stiffened in her seat and was busy stroking King’s face.
“It’s normal, it’s like nothing.”
“Isn’t it scary?” I ask.
“Scary?” they asked at the same time and looked at each other.
“Yes, because it’s not your heart, isn’t it? Then the owner is dead. Doesn’t it seem like the owner of your heart is a little scary already?” She just smiled at me and then looked at us.
“No, because I know who my heart belongs to.” We just nodded because of her answer. She’s beautiful but sister Lileth is even more beautiful. No wonder why brother Dave and brother Dylan are crazy on her face.
What have we talked about here I’m already sleepy. I have another walk tomorrow to flirt with my love but I can’t leave until the boys are done. Apparently, daddy was with them and they were talking about something else.
“Dandelion Daze,” I looked at brother Dylan who had just arrived. He’s with the boys and that only means one thing. They finished talking. Hey, it’s good to be home early.
“Why, brother?”
“I will go home with you. Cluster borrowed Wallace’s car because he picked up his wife so Wallace will use my car to get home with Dane.”
“So can we go home now? Because you’re all here, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank God!” I stood up first and fixed myself. It’s a pity that I don’t wear my sports outfit. “Nice meeting you sister Erika, come visit my coffee shop and beauty salon sometime so we can bond sometimes.”
“I will, thank you.”
“Byes sisters, byes mom.”
“Be careful, Dandelion, Damon.” We both kiss dad and mom. I’m the only one who kisses daddy because brother Dylan only kisses mommy.
My brother drove. I want to scold him because he runs so fast. He almost flew off the road.
“Brother, maybe you can take it slow? This is not a sports car, have mercy on the steering wheel of my car. If you can twist, it’s like the neck of your enemy that you twisted.”
“Don’t worry and I can change it for ten.” I just rolled my eyes and looked outside. He has a point. Then he doesn’t complain when I fly his car.
“Brother, is it true that you’re the one who helped sister Erika with the transplant?”
“Yes.”
“And you helped sister Lileth to choose the receivers of her organs?”
“Yes.”
“So you know, who’s her receiver?”
“Not all,”
“Not all?”
“Yup, I know everyone except her eyes.”
“Why?”
“Lileth did not tell me, who is it.”
“Didn’t you have it investigated? Don’t tell me that your ability to find things has faded?”
“I tried. But I don’t know why nothing comes out. The hospital blocked me.”
“And why?”
“There are things that I don’t cover anymore and I don’t want a problem. She didn’t want to let me know so that’s fine. That’s her choice, so I respect that.” He quickly parked the car at his mansion. Oh! It’s a full moon that’s why he’s here. “Be careful on your way home.”
“Okies.” He came down and left me. “You’re welcome!” Didn’t even say thank you.