Clarriese Zyah's POV
My mom and dad were very worried about my situation. They told me they couldn't think well because they are anxious about my situation. I assured them not to worry about me because I can handle myself. Besides, I am not alone in this matter. Even though such a thing happened, I know within my heart that J won't give up on my job. 
What just happened was indeed a traumatic experience but it's always been part of my journey as a journalist. The moment I take this path, it's inevitable. I just didn't expect that it would come sooner. I am just new at Dreammy Pen. It still isn't a year yet. I was only a few months here but I already brought a lot of trouble to the company. I couldn't help but feel guilty. I couldn't blame anyone but myself. Although it may sound odd, I think I could only bring bad luck to the company.  I am putting Dale's career at risk. I couldn't bear seeing him carrying the burden and pressure of the trouble that I caused.
Many days had passed but the news about me plagiarizing someone else's work was still on the air. It wasn't east to tamp it down. The company denied the accusation that made the situation messier. Avid fans of DMM Media asked for petitions. They being aggressive and made it trend it on social media.  This situation made me realized that most of the people are being blinded and biased. They kept on ranting without even knowing the truth and the story at the other side. 
I opened my eyes when I felt the ray of sunlight touch my skin. I rubbed my eyes and brought myself to get up. I am still at Dale's condo. My mom was here yesterday. Ellaine and Dwight visited me here too. They joked that they are worried about me, what if I'll be depressed and think of some sort of things I should think of. I just smiled at them. I know within me that I am a fragile person but I know how to pick myself up after such difficulty. It may be tough because of tons of questions and doubts in myself but I won't give up my life. I believe that the following days prepared something for me; that is the lesson I need to learn. I still have a long way to go and a lot of things I need to experience and understand. And I am very willing to learn them by myself. 
After I presentably dressed myself and fixed myself, I went out of the room. The moment I opened the door, I overlooked Dale talking to someone over the phone. I walked slowly, barely making a noise, afraid to disturb him. I was about to get his attention but he did something I wasn't expecting. 
"That bastard!" he roared with hostility and formed his hand into fist. He was furious. He even slammed the door as if no one was inside.
I was worried about what happened to him. It's the first time I see him acting this way. His anger was deep, it's unusual for someone like him who knows how to get a hold of his temper. I decided to follow him downstairs but he ran faster. He also departed before I could reach the ground floor. 
I was gasping for breath when a red sport's car stopped in front of me. 
"Hi, Zyie!" Ellaine removed her sunglasses away from her face. "I am back!"
I hastily went to other side and get up on Ellaine's car. "Let's follow Dale's car!"
"Huh?" she asked. "What?!"
"Please, Laine. Do it now!" I urged her. 
Ellaine couldn't refuse me. She could only do what I said and followed Dale's car. We both don't have any idea what he is doing and where he is going. He was driving fast like he was chasing someone and he was running out of time.
Ellaine stepped on the brake when we saw Dale pulled over in front. I saw him stepping down from his car and went inside the building. 
When I stepped down from the car, the enormous DMM Media appeared before my eyes.
Wait. DMM? What is Dale doing here? 
"No wonder." Ellaine went down from her car. "This is the company who ruined your name, Zyie."
I shook my head with confusion. "It's DMM, Laine!" I faced her with worry. "With Dale's temperament, something bad is really about to happen!"
"OMG! Zyie! Then let's hurry inside! Your husband looks like he was about to eat someone alive!"
We both went inside hurriedly. Ellaine was pulling me. The moment we set foot in the entrance of the building, I saw Dale punch someone. Oh no. What is happening? Why did Dale lose his temper today?
"You two-faced moron!" I heard him yelling while I was running towards him.
"Dale!" I tried to stop him, holding on to his arms but it seemed like he didn't even notice me when he attempted to attack the man again. 
"You, f*cking bastard!" He was getting red with anger. His dark stares settled on that man he just punched.
I couldn't move when the man recovered from Dale's punch and raised his head. There is blood on the corner of his mouth. It must be because of Dale's punch.
"Ledge?!" I exclaimed. I couldn't even believe my eyes that it was him who was standing before us right now. "Ledger?" I gave him a questioning look. Why is he here too? Why was Dale so mad and even punched him? They got along in the past, didn't they?
When Dale moved and started to raise his fist again, I tried my best to stop him. We are getting the attention of the people here already. After all, we are labeled as trespassers here. I couldn't let him just do this, punching our own employee.
"Dale! Dale!" I pleaded. I spread my arms in front of him. "Stop! What are you doing?!" I was compelled to raise my tone, to the max level, so he could hear me. I've been standing here, calling his name but I could feel that I am not existing. He was engulfed by his hatred. 
"Woman, he was the one who copied your article!" he shouted and pointed to Ledger with his hand. "He was working with DMM, not with us!"
I faced Ledger with confusion but he just smirked. He wiped the blood on his lips using his thumb. "Surprise?" he asked, sarcastically. "It's a big surprise, isn't it?"
The man before, it wasn't the Ledger I used to know. He is far from the Ledger I know who is gentle and kind. He is completely different. "Why, Ledge? Why did you do that?!" I couldn't help but to raise my tone too. It's an implausible scenario, I couldn't stop myself from asking.
"You, bastard!" Dale interrupted before Ledger could even give me an answer. "You were the one who was harming my woman the entire time!"
Another blast. What?! He was the one who's hurting me the entire time? Wait. I still don't get it. 
"You put on an act that you were helping but actually you were the one who dragged her there!" Dale added, full of rage. He used his strength and tried to escape from my grip and attempted to attack Ledger again. But I won't let him. I won't let him hurt himself because of this guy.
"Is that true, Ledge?" I felt a warm liquid run down through my cheeks. "Did you really do that?!" It hurts me a lot because I trusted him. He was like my brother but today I don't know anymore. I want to believe that he is innocent, that he is not like what Dale said but his face expresses different things. 
"Oh. I did that, Zy!" he admitted, meeting my gaze. 
"Ledge? Why?" I asked in a shaky tone.
"Wanna know, why?" he asked and grinned. "Remember the DZ Place, Zy? That was supposed to be my dad's company. But he lost the deal because you, Dale!" He pointed at Dale madly. "Not really because of you, Dale." He shook his head and let out a teasing smirk. "Because of your grandmother! Your Lola came in at the picture and snatched the deal from my dad! Our family invested a lot for that project, Dale!" 
He then switched his gaze on me. "Why harm you, Zy?" His desperate stares bothered me a bit. "I even intentionally harmed you and appeared like your hero but still you neither see me nor appreciate me like what I am expecting, Zy!"
"Ledge, what are you saying?" 
"Don't you really remember me, Zy?" he pointed to himself. "It was me, Chubs!"
"Chubs?"
"I've liked you since we're at grade school but you never looked at me the way you look at him, Zy!" He was referring to Dale. 
"Your reasons are too shallow, Ledger!" Ellaine joined the chaos, yelling to him. 
"You like her but you harm her!" Dale shouted.
"Atleast, you taste the feeling of nearly losing her! If I can't have her, so do you!" 
Dale quickly attacked him with a heavy punch. "You, f*ucking bastard! You don't deserve her!"
"Dale!" I tried to pull him back. I felt like crying because of Dale being impulsive. He was just attacking Ledger having seconds thoughts. His lips were already wounded but he don't mind it. Instead, he is looking for more. 
"Ommo! My son! My son!" A woman who looked really respectable with her luxurious wrap dress went to Ledger's direction and analyzed his situation.
"Son?" Dale uttered, broken tone. "Did you just called him son?!" Dale's eyes were filled with hatred at the same time sadness. 
I could feel that the appearance of this woman was a pain in his heart. 
The woman turned and looked at Dale with longing stares. "Dale? My. . .son." She moved close to him and was about to hold his hand but he avoided it first. 
Felt like cold water splashed over me. This woman just called Dale her son? So, they are mother and son? 
Then Ledger will be. . . his step-brother?!
Dale features changed. His expression went darker, dreadfully mad. I pulled him out of the scene before he could do something. It's not good for them to be at the same place at this time. They all need to calm down. And that includes me. I really need to digest everything I heard. We encountered too much for this day already. Full of surprises, painful surprises! 
I still don't have any certain idea who Ledger really is and why he harmed Dreammy Pen. I don't know what Madam Dionalita did to his father that made him seek revenge like this. I don't know many details but I don't want Dale to hear any more of it. He had enough already. 
Ellaine told me that she is going to leave both of us first. Dale and I went back to his condo. He was just driving quietly while we were on our way back. Even when we were taking the elevator, he never uttered a single word. I couldn't talk to him because I didn't even know what to say. I don't know how to approach him. What if he gets mad when I ask him something? I don't know what he is thinking right now. But one sure thing is that he is confused right now. 
When we reached our room, he threw himself to the sofa. He was just sitting there, lifeless.
I sat next to him, observing his behavior. He looked so dismal. That already reflects how his heart is right now. There's pain consuming him. 
He closed his eyes and put his right arm over her forehead. He was so quiet. 
He opened his eyes after calming himself. "Woman?" he slowly turned to me. "Can you give me a hug?" he asked with weary eyes. 
I didn't say a word. I just leaned closer and gave him a hug he needed. He rested his head on my shoulder. I was just tapping his back, giving him comfort that he needed the most. 
"I don't know what to feel, woman," he started from behind. "The one who was trying to harm you turned out to be my brother."
I broke the hug and stared right into his melancholic eyes. "Dale, I know it wasn't-"
My words were halted when he leaned his head on my chest, closed eyes. "Woman. . . "
"Hmm?" 
"I am mad. I am-"
"Ayya," I interrupted while patting his shoulder. "I know, Dale. Have a rest first." 
"But!" A question came into my mind. "How did you know that it was Ledger?" I asked.
"Gonna tell you later," he replied in a low tone. I didn't hear more from him. He was just leaning on me. 
"Dale?" I tried to call him but I got no response. Is he asleep?
I encircled my arms over his shoulder to give him much support while he was sleeping, leaning on me. I felt tired but I didn't mind that. I don't want to interrupt his comfortable sleep. 
A moment later, I heard his phone ringing inside his coats pocket. I looked for it without getting him disturb from his sleep. When I got a hold of his phone, something was written on its screen. It says "Three Weirdos".
When I answered the call, I saw Johnny and Ryle's face on the screen. So, this is the group chat that he once mentioned to me.
"Three Weirdos." What a great name. 
"Zy, it's you!" Ryle's face appeared on the screen. "Where's Cuego?" he asked. 
"Is that him?" Johnny noticed that he was sleeping on my shoulder. 
"Yeah. He dozed off. He must be tired." I replied. 
"Zy, the headlines are all about you two," Ryle informed me in a dismayed tone.
"Yeah. I was already expecting that one."
"But there's some good news," Johnny said. "Dreammy Pen and you cleared your names!" 
"Doc Ryle?" a woman's voice echoed from Ryle's line. 
"Guys. Need to go," he said and then he left the conversation. 
"Zy, is he fine?" Johnny asked when only the two of us left in the group conversation. 
I shook my head. "It wasn't easy for him. He met his mom and Ledger."
"Yeah. We only know that her mom has another family. Ellaine mentioned it to us. Ledger hid his identity well."
"It's shocking. They were actually brothers," I said. "I just couldn't understand why Ledger hates Dale that much and even harms his company."
"I know I should not have told you this but I can't help myself. When Mr. Dan died, Mrs. Candy was the last one who knew it. He was with another man that time. Dale's grandma was really mad at her so when she heard that the guy was working on a big project, she went in and won the deal instead."
"That guy? The husband of Mrs. Candy now?"
"Yeah. The age gap between Dale and Ledger is not that huge, maybe, when Mr. Dan died, Mrs. Candy couldn't left his side, to take care of him and such."
"They have such complicated stories, don't they?"
Johnny smirked. "We all have, Zy."
I guess so. I nodded, agreeing with him. 
"Then, we'll leave our friend in your care."
I smiled at him. "Don't worry. He already did many things for me. I'll surely take good care of him."
"He loves you very much, that's it!" 
"I know. I know."
After that conversation, I stared at Dale. He is indeed lucky to have the two, Ryle and Johnny. They looked at each other very well more than siblings do. 
Dale, we'll surely make it through. We'll surely melt this hate away.