Preview

“Mama, are we gonna stay in the room again?” my 6 year old son-EJ asked me.

“EJ, come here. Mama will have a visitor,” DJ said to his brother.

Ngumiti ako sa kanila. “Please, you know that it’s dangerous to go outside, right?”

The four of them nodded. “EJ, DJ, come here. Stop asking mama,” CJ said, annoyed. Napangiti ako. Among of his brothers, siya talaga iyong masungit.

Bigong lumapit ang dalawa sa kapatid nila while BJ just smirked at them. Boys.. Napailing ako.

“Kuya, can you help me in this one?” then here’s the princess of our little household, holding her doll that was given by her tita ninang.

The boys stood up para tulungan ang bunso naming si AJ. Hindi ko na matandaan paano ko sila nailabas sa sinapupunan ko.

I thought I won’t survive but thanks God, all of us were alive. Giving birth to quintuplets was not a joke. I thought it just happened in the movie but no. It’s true. It happened to me.

My case was rare.

I gave birth to 4 boys and 1 girl. I didn’t know na iiwanan ako ng boss ko na kasing dami gaya nito.

Then, a car that speaks million stopped in front of my house.

A sophisticated lady got out from the car and looked at my apartment. I put my finger in my lips to “shh” my babies. They all nodded.

I went out from the room and closed the door. Kinakabahan akong bumaba because after 7 years, magkikita kaming muli ni Attorney Manilou.

“Hija, it’s been so long since the last time I saw you,” she said and kissed me on the cheeks.

“Good morning attorney,”

“How are you?”

“Ayos lang naman po. Maupo po muna kayo,” ang sabi ko at iminustwera ang couch sa harapan.

Naupo kami at napatingin ako sa mga bodyguards na dala niya.

“Do you live here alone?” ang tanong niya sa akin.

Tumango ako. Partly a lie. I don’t want her to know that I have my children with me. Mga apo niya to be exact.

“I see. So you know why I am here right?” I nodded.

“My son having a hard time after the accident with his wife. But his ungrateful wife left him since Rod cannot walk for the time being.”

Napasinghap ako. What happened to him? Ayos ba siya? My mind fire a lot of questions but my face remained stoic.

“Do you want to take my offer, hija? Pwede bang ikaw muna ang mag-alaga kay Rod until the rehabilitation is done?”

“Kamusta po ang paa niya? Hindi na ba siya makakatayo?”

“He still can. He needs a rehab for that. The doctors are helping him and so far, he’s doing well.”

My answer is no. Hindi ako papayag kahit gaano pa kalaki ang offer ni attorney sa akin. She didn’t know what happened between me and her son. At oras na malaman niya, magagalit siya sa akin.

Attorney helped me to finish my studies. Utang ko ang buhay ko sa kaniya. Without her help, hindi ko sigurado kung makakapagtapos ba ako.

I became his son’s mistress at malaking kahihiyan yun sa pamilya nila.

But attorney won’t take no from me. I knew her very well.

“Bakit po hindi nalang kayo kumuha ng private nurse?”

“Gusto ko ikaw, hija. You can nurse him while guiding him sa business niya. Wala na akong mapagkakatiwalaang iba maliban sayo.”

Napabuntong hininga ako at pikit matang tumango. The money she offered isn’t bad at all. Kaya no’n buhayin ang limang anak ko at paaralin sa isang kilalang skwelahan.

I saw her smile.

“Thank you Marcha. Hindi mo talaga ako binigo kahit kailan. Kung pumayag ka lang sana noon na ampunin kita, naging anak na sana kita,” ang sabi niya.

Ngumiti lang ako but did not bother to say anything. I wanted to be her daughter, but Rod didn't want it. He hated me so much but I was so crazy in love with him to the point that I let him used my body whenever he wanted.

I let him made me a mistress. It was my choice back then. Ganoon ako kadesperado. But not anymore. He’s not my world now—I hope so.

“See you tomorrow hija,” attorney said before leaving.

Nang makaalis na ang sasakyan ni attorney, saka naman ang tinig ng limang bata ang narinig ko habang pababa ng hagdanan.

“Mama who was it?” tanong ni BJ

"Wait BJ, gusto kong sumilip." DJ

"Ako na muna. Saka na kayo." EJ

"Sino yun mama? Your boss?” CJ concluded.

Tumango na lang ako para matapos sila.

“I thought she is our grandma, mama.” AJ said innocently while peeking outside the house. My heart beats so fast because of what my girl has said.

Paanong...