-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~•~“Ate, tara na!!!” Sigaw nina Clydel mula sa baba.“In a minute!” Sigaw ko pabalik habang nagiimpake ng gamit sa kwarto.“Emy? Ayos na ba ang lahat?” Tanong ni Maria nang dumungaw ito sa pinto.“Teka nakalimutan ko yung sunscreen.” Sagot ko at saka kinuha sa vanity table ang sunblock.And just as I was about to put the sunblock inside the bag, another contraction was felt, causing me to groan slightly and drop the sunblock on the bed.“Is she kicking?” Maria asked curiously as she grabbed the bottle from me.“She's only six months, Ria.” I muttered anxiously.“Want me to call Momma?” She asked anxiously.“Ow..” I groaned once again, holding my belly once again as I felt a kick.“I’ll call her, you sit down.” Wika niya at saka lumabas ng kwarto.Dinig ko ang pagtawag nito habang ako'y nasa kwarto, and every kick that she did just hurts me.“What happened?” Tanong agad ni Momma nang makapasok sila sa kwarto.“Ang sakit ng tiyan ko.” Sagot ko

-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~♪~“Hi, how are you?” Tanong ni Ria nang makapasok na sila ng hospital room.“Still sore.” Sagot ko at saka tumawa ng bahagya.“Groggy?” Tanong ni King.Tumango ako. “Asan si Momma?”“Nasa labas, hinihintay si Dad.” Sagot ni Lez nang masara niya ang pinto. “We're so proud of you, Ems.”“Yeah, nakayanan mo ang lahat. And we are thankful for that.” Wika ni Clydel.“I couldn't have done it without you guys, you helped me a lot.” Sagot ko sa kanila. “Especially Ria and Lez.”Napalingon kami nang bumukas muli ang pinto, and seeing Dad teary-eyed as he stared at me caused me to smile a bit.“Nasaan si baby?” Biglang sambit ni Momma nang makalapit ito sa akin.“Natutulog.” Sagot ko at saka tiningnan ang baby na nasa tabi ko.“May pangalan na ba siya?” Tanong ni Dad.“Nag-iisip pa ako, eh.” Sagot ko.“Let's name her Marie.” Saad ni Ria. “Para pareho kami.”“Kayla.” Suhestiyon ni King. “Kayla Marie.”“Pwede rin yun.” Wika ni Lez. “Or, Ria Corleen.”“I

-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~•~As the car came to a halt in the driveway, hindi ko maiwasan ang kabahan dahil pamilyar na pamilyar ang bahay na nasa harap namin.Puta..“Let’s go.” She started as she opened the driver's door.Akmang sasagot pa ako ngunit lumabas na ito ng kotse, at hindi ko maiwasan ang pagpawisan ng malamig dahil sa nakikita at nararamdaman ko.“Ma, nasaan po tayo?” Tanong ni Deanna.“Nasa bahay tayo ni Tita Eve, nak.” Sagot ko na lang at saka lumabas ng kotse.Pinagbuksan ko na rin ng pinto si Deanna at pinalabas ito, and seeing my plants outside of the yard thriving had me teary-eyed.“Mommy, are you alright?” Tanong nito muli.“I’m fine, darling.” Sagot ko. “Tara na, pasok na tayo.”“Beautiful, isn't it?” Eve asked as she waited in front of the doorstep.“It is.” I answered with a small smile.Heading inside, the first thing I saw was the painting I painted for him. It was still hanging on the wall, yet everything around it changed.From the walls p

-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~♪~Kasalukuyan akong nasa balkonahe muli, at nilalasap ang simoy ng hangin habang tinitingnan ang buwan, at isang baso ng whiskey ang nasa kamay ko.“Theo, is everything alright?” She asked me for the fifth time.Ngunit hindi ko ito pinansin at sumimsim lang sa alak na hawak ko, hindi ko na rin alam kung ano ang pwede pang sabihin dito.“You’ve been avoiding me ever since Corlyn left, and I couldn't think of a reason for you to avoid me.” She stated. “I didn't do anything wrong or for you to get mad, but… I just want to say I’m sorry.”“Don't be.” I plainly answered before taking a sip once again.“Why not?” She asked again. “You’re like this because of me.”“No, no it's not.” I answered and faced her. “This is not your fault.”“Then why? Why are you avoiding me?” She asked again.“I have so many things in mind, and I don't want to open up.” I lied. “Especially with your state.”“You can at least talk to me, that way I can at least give you some comfor

-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~•~Nakarating kami sa isang parte ng bahay nila na kung saan walang gaanong tao, at hindi ko mapigilan ang inis na kanina ko pa nararamdaman.“What do you want to talk about?” I started. “Bakit ka nandito?” Tanong niya pabalik. “From what I know, hindi kita ininvite sa party ng anak ko.”“Ininvite ako ng kapatid mo.” Sagot ko. “And for the record, that's my child too.”“You're child?” She asked in disbelief. “She's not yours, Lal.”“She's mine.” I bravely answered. “You're both mine, Emerald.”“No.” She shook her head slightly. “We're not yours, and we broke up a long time ago. You already have a wife, so what's the big deal?”Hindi ako nakasagot dito dahil sa kanyang sinabi, ngunit isa lang naman ang pinunta ko sa party na ito.“Why can't you just let me see her and let me spend some time with her?” I asked. “It's not like I’m going to abduct her from you.”“I'm not going to allow that, and you have to leave whether you like it or not.” Sagot nito.“