FIVE

Zaeia's twins had grown up so wonderfully in two years after 9 months of carrying them in her womb. Lumaki silang matalino at puno ng pagmamahal. Lahat ng atensyon ni Zaeia ay ibinibigay sa kanila. Hinding-hindi gugustuhin ni Zaeia na maranasan ng kanyang mga anak ang paboritismo na kanyang naranasan noon. She adores each of them equally.

Ang kanyang kambal na anak ay isang babae at lalaki. Magkasalungat ang ugali ng dalawa ngunit pareho nilang mahal ang isa’t-isa lalo na ang kanilang ina.

“Chocho, get up! Mom said that we would be heading to the bookshop to purchase new books and other stuff.” Chacha kicked Chocho's ass up to wake him up as she walked past his bed. As a result, they began battling on the ground. They're kids anyway, and their favorite game is physical fighting.

Napahinto na lamang sila nang kumatok sa kanilang pintuan ang kanilang ina na hindi maipinta ang mukha.

“Do both of you want to just stay here and read the same books, or do you want to stop arguing so we can leave?” 

Binitawan na ng kambal ang isa’t isa at kinuha ang kanilang damit na inihanda ni Zaeia at nagpalit. Nagdilaan pa ang dalawa na tila ayaw tumigil.

“We're going to have lunch with Lucas when we finish shopping, okay?” tanong niya sa kambal. Sumagot naman ang mga ito na tuwang-tuwa dahil makakasama na uli nila si Lucas.

Si Lucas ay ang kaibigang doktor ni Elisha na kanyang nakilala noong nagkaroon sila ng dinner. 

Nakarating na sila sa mall at tumatakbo ang kambal dahil sa tuwa papunta sa isang store. Dalawang taon pa lamang sila ngunit kakaiba ang kanilang angking talino. Hindi pa naman sila nag-aaral sa eskwelahan ngunit marunong na silang magbasa at magsulat. 

“I'd like this, this, and this as well, Mom,” Chocho stated, pointing out several books.

Siniko naman siya ni Chacha dahil sa sinabi nito, “Simply get the books that are necessary for fresh learning. It's the same way with this science book. You should be developing your intelligence rather than reading literature about Gods and Goddesses.”

“But, reading books about Gods and Goddesses can also provide you with new knowledge!” sigaw naman ni Chocho sa kanyang kapatid. At dahil dito, nagsimula na naman silang magbangayan kaya’t hinila sila papalayo ni Zaeia at lumipat sa ibang bookstore.

Nakapili na si Chocho ng mga libro at tungkol ito sa kompyuter.

Zaeia, on the other hand, came upon a girl wearing a cap and a black jacket while looking for things that interest her. That girl seemed to be following her.

She suddenly remembers the girl who was in the restroom with her in a restaurant years ago.

Zaeia decided to pick up her phone and call someone since she senses an odd atmosphere around the girl. She held her twins tightly.

“Hey, where are you?” tanong ni Zaeia sa telepono.

“I’m already here,” simpleng sagot ni Lucas. 

“Okay. Papunta na kami.” 

Nag-check out na sila ng mga librong kanilang napili at dali daling sumakay ng elevator. 

Nang makita ng kambal si Lucas ay sinalubong nila ito ng yakap. Lumapit siya rito at sinabing pupunta muna siya sa palikuran at dapat niyang bantayan ang kambal.

Tumungo siya sa palikuran at dito niya nakita ang babae. Hinawakan ni Zaeia ang buhok nito. Hinila niya ito at ipinulupot nang paikot sa kanyang kamay. Kitang-kita niya na ngayon ang kanyang leeg.

At the back of the girl’s neck, she discovered a little crown tattoo. She smirked, indicating that she was well aware of her identity.

Her left hand still held the girl's hands, while her right hand securely held her hair as she pushed her into the wall and asked,

“Who sent you here, Agent Alishon?” ask Zaeia. Naramdaman niya ang panginginig ng babae nang sambitin niya ang pangalan nito. 

Hindi inakala ni Alishon na makikilala siya ni Zaeia dahil sa pagkakaalam niya ay umalis na ito sa organization at ang kanyang kapatid na si Kara na ang namumuno.

Nalaman ni Zaeia ang pangalan nito dahil sa kanyang tattoo. 

The McQuillien family runs the “El’ Organization,” which trains people to become the best of the finest secret agents. In their family's organization, every secret agent has one tattoo. It's a representation of their given name. Because Alishon's name means “noble kind,” she had a crown tattooed on the back of her neck.

Alishon chuckled, “Hindi ka ba naiinggit sa kapatid mo? She now owns the world's largest corporation. Mas malakas na kaysa sa iyo ang kapatid mo.”

Tila napantig ang tainga ni Zaeia ng marinig ito. Kumukulo ang dugo niya sa tuwing mababanggit ang pangalan ng kanyang ahas na kapatid.

“Don't change the topic, bitch! Answer my fucking question or else," says Zaeia.

“Or else what?” panunutya nito.

“You're aware that I'm free to do whatever I want, right? I was just being stupid when I asked you that question because I knew you were well trained in everything.” Bumitaw siya sa pagkakahawak, but she did keep eye contact with her.

“Nakatatak na sa isipan ko ang pangalan mo. Before I find out what you've done, you should clean up what you have done so far,” wika nito at naglalakad papalayo sa babae.

“And you know what I'm going to do if I figure out all you've done behind my back, right?” dagdag pa nito.

Narinig pa ni Zaeia na napamura ito at paulit-ulit na hinahampas ang lababo. She gave a sly grin. This is what brings her happiness.

Pinalpagan niya ang kanyang sarili at ngumiti bago pumasok sa isang restaurant kung saan nag-aantay ang kambal at si Lucas. Mahahalata ang pag-aalala sa ekspresyon ng lalaki ngunit hindi na lamang ito nagtanong.

“Where did you come from, Mom?” tanong ni Chacha. Binigyan niya ng ngiti ito at hinaplos ang kanyang mga pisngi.

“Diyan lang. Nag-CR lang ako,” sagot niya. Tumango na lamang ito at nagsimula nang kumain.

Katahimikan ang bumalot sa kanilang lamesa habang kumakain. Mabuti na lamang ay nagtanong si Lucas.

“What will you do for the twins' 3rd birthday celebration? Isn't their birthday coming up next week?” tanong nito kay Zaeia. Ito rin ang matagal nang pinagpa-planuhan niya ngunit hindi siya sigurado kung magugustuhan ba ito ng kambal.

“I have no idea. Maybe I'll just hold a party at home?” aniya. Tumango lamang si Lucas bilang sagot.

Itinaas ni Chacha ang kanyang kamay at nagsalita, “I'd forgotten! Chocho and I have discussed celebrating our birthdays in the Philippines, right Chocho?” wika nito at siniko ag kanyang kapatid na patuloy pa rin sa pagkain.

Nabitawan ni Zaeia ang hawak niyang utensils dahil sa tinuran ng kanyang anak. 

“No! Never. Hindi ba’t napag-usapan na natin na kapag malaki na kayo ay tsaka pa lang tayo uuwi ng Pinas?”

“But, Mom, we're all grown up now. Look!” wika ni Chocho habang ipinakita ang kanyang biceps na ikinatawa naman ni Lucas.

“Hindi. Hindi ako papayag,” ani Zaeia. Dahil dito ay napa tahimik ang kambal at tinuloy ang kanilang pagkain nang tahimik.

Napatingin si Zaeia kay Lucas. This was a bad idea.

‘What happened in the past has left me traumatized. But I'll do anything for my kids, but I think this is a little excessive? Damn it!’