Chapter 2

"It's good to know that." I helped both of them to sit on the chair.

"What will we do after this?" Tanong ko sa dalawa.

"Hmm, I could really use a nap, Mom. I'm tired." Tugon ni Eros. Nakangiti akong tumango at umupo sa sariling upuan. He rubbed his eyes gently before letting out a yawn.

"How was your grocery shopping?" Tanong ni Xavi kay Eros habang naglalagay ng tubig sa baso.

"It went well naman, Tita-Ninang. But going outside really tired me out." Eros replied.

"Let's pray first before we eat." Sabay kaming nagdasal at nagsimulang kumain, si Xavi na ang naghugas ng pinggan. Kaya natulog na kaming mag-ina sa kwarto namin, our day ended well. At hapon na nung umuwi si Xavi. Nag movie marathon kami pagkatapos. At nakatulog din kami kalaunan. Kaya binuhat ko nalang sila papunta sa kwarto nila.

"Good night, my little darling angels." I kissed them and tucked them into their beds. And turned off the lights leaving the lamp on before going to my room.

I was about to lay down but my phone suddenly rang so I picked it up. I was not expecting someone to call at this hour. Who is this? I answered my phone.

"Hello."

"Hello, Quira. I need to talk to you about-"

I cut her off before she could finish.

"You're not taking my son away from me and I'm warning you don't even think of it. I know you have a lot of connections but that doesn't mean I'll let you take him away from me. Stop hoping na ipapakilala ko ang anak ko sa pamilya niyo. I don't want my son to experience what I've been through because of your family. Not you. Or even your son can take him away from me. Always remember that, Mrs. Madrigal. Always. Good night."

I dropped off the call. And turned off my phone. Tinapos ko ang pag-inom ko at pumunta sa kwarto ko.

That night I didn't sleep peacefully. Sino ba kasi ang makakatulog ng maayos kung alam mong may kukuha sa anak mo? Damn them.

I could feel the gentle sunlight hitting my eyes. I could hear birds chirping. Nang maimulat ko ang mga mata ko ay bumungad sakin pamilyar na silid ngunit hindi pa matukoy kung kanino iyon.

Bumangon ako mula sa kama at naglakad patungo sa pinto. Ganun lamang ang pagkagulat ko nang makita ang aking mga anak na may kayakap na isang tao. Isang lalaki. Hindi ko maaninag ang mukha nito dahil naka talikod ito sakin. Nagtama ang tingin namin ng anak ko. Ngumiti siya at kumaway. Mabilis itong tumakbo patungo sakin at yumakap sa beywang ko.

"Mommy, Daddy's here." Sabay nilang sabi.

Gulat kong tiningnan ang mga anak ko. What are they talking about? Dad? Huh?

"What do you mean, son?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

Nanigas ang katawan ko nang makita ang mukha ng lalaki.

He smirked at me and walked towards us. I froze when he smiled at me wickedly. Like he was amused by my reaction.

“It's been a long time, Quira,”

Pumupungas akong napabangon mula sa pagkakahiga. Habang hinahabol ang aking hininga. Nasapo ko ang noo ko.

'What was that?' Naitanong ko sa aking sarili. Bakit nandoon si Hades sa panaginip ko? Panaginip ba yun? Am I hallucinating? Baka dala lang to sa sobrang pag-iisip ko sa nangyari kahapon.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at tumayo. Dahan-dahan akong bumaba. At kumuha ng baso at uminom ng tubig.

Why did I dream of that? What was that kind of dream? Most importantly, was that a dream or a reality?

Ibinalik ko ang pitsel sa ref at kumuha ng mga lulutuin.

I shaked that thought off. Maybe I'm just stressed. Natapos ako sa pagluto at saktong bumangon na ang mga anak ko. Inayos nito ang salamin na suot nito. Napailing nalang ako. Wala namang problema sa paningin nito at gustong-gusto nitong magkasalamin. Para pareho daw kaming may suot na salamin. While the other one was still dozing off holding her teddy bear.

Napangiti ako sa ka cutan ng mga anak ko. His hair was messy but cute. His little electric blue eyes were still drowsy. He covered his cute mouth with his little hands while yawning. Could he get any cuter? And his sister's hair was messier than his. So I tried to comb her hair with my fingers. It looked better than before so it was fine. Pilit pa nitong minumulat ang sariling mata. Unfortunately, she failed.

"Buenos dias, Mom." He greeted and sat on the chair.

"Buenos dias, mi hijo." Masiglang bati ko sa kanya.

"Buenos dias, Mommy." Aphrodite greeted while yawning.

I thought them to speak Spanish. Pero pag minsan nasa bahay lang kami nagsasalita kami ng español. I'm a full blooded spanish but may lahi kaming pilipino. Even in history hindi nagkamabutihan ang español at pilipino but beliefs change. By the time passed ay maayos na din ang pagsasama ng iba't ibang tao na nagmula sa ibang lugar and I'm glad with that. Mas gusto kong manirahan dito dahil sa-well I'm not still ready to tackle it. I prefer living here because of my family. I wanted a simple life not a life that everyone is praising you whenever they saw you. I hate being treated like that. I hate being treated like a princess. I hate special treatments. We're all humans despite the position that we have pare-pareho pa din tayong tao.

Naihatid ko ang mga anak ko sa eskwelahan nito. Bago nagtungo sa trabaho. Pagpasok ko palang ay binati na ako ng mga kasamahan ko.

Napahinto ako sa paghakbang nang biglang tumunog ang phone ko.

Yaya Mona Calling.....

"Hello"

"Ma'am! Ma'am please dalian niyo po ang kambal po kinidnap!"

"Wha-i mean did my son bring his phone with him?"

"Op-"

"Thanks, Yaya Mona."

Ibinaba ko ang tawag at nagmamadaling lumabas. I traced the location.

Then suddenly a sinister smirk appeared on my face.

As I've said.

No one.

NO. ONE. CAN. TAKE. MY. TWINS. AWAY. FROM. ME.

UNLESS I ALLOW IT.

But Hades and his clan can't take my son.

Because I won't tolerate it.

Magkakamatayan talaga tayo, mga Madrigal.

At siguraduhin kong ako ang mananalo.

Lalong-lalo na sisiguraduhin kong sakin ang bagsak ng mga anak ko.