Chapter 5

Dahan-dahan akong bumangon at napabuntong-hininga. Maaga akong nagising, tila dinadalaw ako ng bangungot ng kahapon. I will face the devil that I've been escaping for years now and thanks to Mrs. Madrigal.

Yesterday was an oddly good, parang nabunutan ako ng tinik sa lalamunan.

Doon ko napagtanto na pinagkaitan ko ng karapatan ang mga bata na makilala ang Lola nila, it reminded me of my family back in Spain. Sana mapatawad nila ako sa ginawa kong paglihim sa mga anak ko. I'm grateful that Mrs. Madrigal took care and made my children happy, it made me wonder if the twins meet my family.

My whole day wasn't ruined yet or at least I hope. Pumunta ako sa kusina at hinanda ang mga kakainin namin para sa almusal. Aphrodite prefers to us call her, Phoebe, her nickname, masiglang at maganda ang bangon ng kambal. They enthusiastically kissed and hugged me before we had our breakfast. They talked about their day with their grandmother, they became more enthusiastic than ever.

"Mommy, yesterday po we went to a lot of boutiques and Mommyla bought us a lot of things," Aphrodite said enthusiastically.

"Yes, and Mommyla bought us food. She bought us toys as well Mom. It was really fun strolling around with her. We talked a lot of things po." Eros added excitedly while eating his veggies.

"Yeah? What else did you do with Mommy?" I asked curiously, sipping tea.

Maybe this wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, my kids were genuinely happy that they met their Mommyla yesterday. They also wanted to spend more time with her to make up for the time they missed. Perhaps hiding my children from their grandparents was such a bad idea, it made me consider that they also need to meet their father, well almost. But knowing Hades his name wouldn't be Hades if he wasn't a devil. I had been her secretary for three years. So, I know how cruel he was, how devilish he can be. And I don't want my children to know that or worse to experience the hell that I've been through.

It was fine to me that I will be the one that will go through bad things and not them, I will do anything I can for them.

After breakfast, I cleaned the dishes while the twins dressed up for school. I walked towards the stairs and I peeked behind the door.

"Kuya, when will we bond with Mommy again? She's busy and I know that she's working for us but I'll miss our bonding the other day." She asked sadly.

"Hmm, I'm sure that Mom will make time for us. She loves us and we love her. Let's give her space. She also needs to rest so she can take care of us. Don't rush it, Phoebe." Eros replied to his sister while buttoning up his polo. "Let me help you." He said and walked towards his twin sister's fixing her blouse. "There."

"Thank you, Kuya. You're the best." She gave him a peck on the cheek and hugged him.

"No, thank you for being a good sister." He hugged her back. "Let's go. Baka hinihintay na tayo ni Mom." Pag-aya niya sa kapatid.

Aw, my kids. How cute. As soon as the door opened I hugged them both.

"Mommy?"

They said in unison.

"Mom, are you okay?"

Hindi ko napansin na umiiyak na pala ako hanggang sa isa-isang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

"Let's go, my little angels?" Sumisinghot na tanong ko.

They hushed me and I gave them hugs and kisses, too bad that we had to bid goodbye. Nakarating ako sa Madrigal Towers where I worked and—will be working again. Sa pagdaan ko sa hall at hanggang papunta sa elevator ay namayani ang mga tinig ng mga marites pero hindi ko naman sila mapipigilan kung pipiliin nilang makinig kahit walang maayos na dahilan o pinanggalingan ng pangyayari.

"Hala bumalik na naman ang magnanakaw na yan."

"I'm sure that she will get fired."

"Mapapalayas lang yan."

"Ang kapal ng muhka nakuha pang bumalik dito."

Hindi ko nalang pinansin ang mga pinagsasabi nila, it would be useless if I'll talk back to them. Mag-aaksaya lang ako ng oras kung bibigyan ko ng pansin ang mga hinaing nila. And I'm not the type of person who wants to waste my time doing unimportant or unnecessary things. Nang narating ko ang elevator, naghintay ako ng ilang minuto hanggang sa ito ay bumukas. Luckily it did, nakita ko ang isa sa mga taong hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko ulit.

"Quira? Ikaw ba 'yan?" Gulat na tanong ni Olivia, my old officemate and—a friend. Akmang magsasalita ako hindi ko natuloy ito dahil agad niya akong niyakap. She hugged me tight as if it would be the last.

"Woi! Hinintay kita! Bakit ngayon ka lang?! Gaga ka nagmukha akong tanga! Quira, bakit ngayon ka lang?!" Pagda-drama pa niya. She even cried while hugging me. Ah, I miss her.

"Paano ang mukhang tanga? Patingin nga?" I teased her. And I even poked her side. Tiningnan niya ako ng masama. Mukha tuloy siyang ewan na nakatingin ng masama sakin habang may mga luha ang mga mata niya. Napailing nalang ako. She will never change.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang? Na miss kita. Walang hiya ka pinaghintay mo ko ng ilang taon ngayon ka lang pala babalik. Sana nagsabi ka." Mas lalo siyang umiyak kaya natawa nalang ako sa tinuran niya. Kinuha ko ang panyo mula sa hand bag ko at pinunasan ang mga luha niya.

"Tss, you still haven't changed. Iyakin ka pa rin. Tahan na. Baka pagbintangan pa ako ng mga tao na inaway kita." I whined and pouted my lips. Maingay pa naman ang babaeng 'to siguradong hindi matatahimik ang araw ko ng hindi nagku-kwento rito. I let out a loud breath. From the moment we saw each other I knew this day will be a long tiring day.

Sabay kaming sumakay sa elevator at sandaling nagkwentuhan. We were trying to catch up with each other.

We missed a lot. Iniwan na pala siya ng boyfriend niya. Ang malala pa ay ninakaw sa kanya ang savings niya sa bank account niya. It was supposed to be the money that she would use for her sibling's operation. I offered to pay for her sibling's operation but she declined. Kaya na daw niya yun. I doubt it. And even if she does, she'll just work herself to death just to earn money to provide for their daily needs.

"Alam mo maraming nagbago dito simula nung umalis ka. Hindi na kami nagkaroon ng balita sayo kaya nag retire nalang ang iba nating kasamahan dahil hindi na nila nakaya ang pagtatrabaho dito. At lalong-lalo na ang hirap na dinanas namin nung si Boss Hades ang naging CEO. Naku Quira sana nandito ka nung mga panahon na yun edi sana naabutan mo pa ang paglinis namin sa pangalan mo." Nanghihinayang na turan niya.

"Too bad I wasn't. Siguro nakaya niyo naman diba?" I let out a chuckle. Hoping that she will give the answer that I wanted to hear.