NAUNANG sumunod ang Mama nila sa Los Angeles, sunod ay ang kapatid niya para tulungan ang padre de pamilya nila. The agency was doing good right after na maitayo 'yon ng Papa nila. Given his history when it comes to his job, sigurado na talaga ang pagpasok ng mga magiging kliyente.

Naiwan lang siya sa Pilipinas dahil gusto niya na sabay silang dalawa ni Rayos na aalis ng bansa. And without his parents' knowledge, at pati na rin si Rayos, he's secretly talking to her father.

"We're not making any progress, Leo."

That's what Rayos father told him. He also told him that it's either he's being biased or he's not cooperating with all his might. They both have problems to solve.

"I know a good Doctor… Kilala siya ni Vyrlle—"

"Tito," he cutted him off. "Ayoko po na malaman nila."

Marahan itong tumango habang nilalaro sa mga daliri ang sign pen na hawak.

"Then, is it okay to inform that friend of mine about our current situation?"

Tumango lang siya. Rayos father gave him the Doctor's address, and also his personal phone number.

Tapos na ang paglalakad ni Rayos sa mga papel nito, nakabili na rin silang dalawa ng plane tickets. Nagmamadali na itong makaalis ng bansa noong malaman na may anak na ang kambal nito.

Nabunutan siya ng tinik sa lalamunan dahil doon. He has a lot of plans for them and having a baby was still not on the list. Bukod sa café na pinapatakbo niya simula nang maiwan siya sa Pilipinas, wala na siyang ibang pinagkakakitaan.

His money wasn't enough to give Rayos everything that she needs. Kahit na hindi naman niya kailangan mag provide para rito. Rayos can provide for herself. But he still wants to. If he could, he would.

Holding his bag and Rayos luggage on his left hand, sabay silang lumabas sa airport ni Rayos. Ang kapatid niya ang sumundo sa kanilang dalawa.

"I missed you!" mahina na tumawa si Leo sa higpit nang yakap nito sa kanya. He was holding his and Rayos luggage kaya hindi niya ito nayakap pabalik.

"You gain weight…" ayon ang unang napansin niya sa kapatid. "And you're gorgeous… What the hell?" Leo exclaimed.

Namula ang magkabilang pisngi ng kapatid niya. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa tiyan nito. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag. Malakas siyang hinampas ng kapatid sa braso.

"Hindi ako buntis! Tumaba lang!" Pisces yelled at him.

Tinawanan niya lang ang kapatid. Inirapan siya nito bago lumapit sa girlfriend niya at ito naman ang kinumusta. Leo eyed the car Pisces bought. He could tell that they're now rich as hell. Bago ang sasakyan nito.

Leo eyed his sister and Rayos talking. His girlfriend seems genuinely happy. She's wearing an extra thick jacket because of the temperature.

Lumipat ang tingin niya sa kapatid. They've been together ever since. No secrets and lies in between. Pisces did not forget to call him and asked how he was when he's still in the Philippines. That's how caring she was.

Maliit siyang ngumiti sa kapatid nang napatingin ito sa kanya.

"I should tell her…" he whispered to himself.

Si Pisces ang driver nila. His sister also found a cheap and comfortable apartment for them, he requested a cheap one. Graduate na siya at ayaw nang umasa sa mga magulang. He had money. At alam niya na hindi 'yon sapat. Living here in San Diego was luxury for him.

Mahal na nga manirahan sa Pinas. Sa ibang bansa pa kaya?

Pisces choose a two storey house, it was good for two person. May mga gamit na rin ito.

"Okay na ba? Pasok 'to sa budget mo, ah?" bulong sa kanya ng kapatid.

"Thanks, Ate."

Vyrlle told him once that the house beside her house was vacant. Pero nang marinig 'yon ng kapatid nila, agad siya nitong hinarang at sinabihan na maghanap na lang ng ibang bahay.

Leo didn't bother to asked him the reason. For sure, may binabalak na naman ito sa kapatid. Sa tagal na nilang dalawa ni Rayos, alam na rin niya kung paano tumakbo ang utak ng magkakapatid.

"The bed's—" hindi na natuloy ang sasabihin nang hampasin siya ni Rayos sa tiyan. Leo just chuckled and innocently glanced at her. "Malaki! Sakto tayong dalawa?" tuloy niya.

"Damn you!" Rayos hissed.

Inirapan siya nito at kinuha ang mga dala nila para ayusin sa built in cabinet sa kwarto.

"Leo, nasa kabilang kwarto ang magiging office at study area niyo ni Rayos." His sister informed.

He whistled when he saw the room. The room was divided into two. May harang na plywood sa gitna, to separate his office and Rayos study area, para hindi nila maistorbo ang isa't isa.

Ang alam ni Rayos ay mag-aaral din siya. He already changed his plan, though. He was here to work and helped his family at the same time.

They're both exhausted and when their back finally rested on their bed. Pareho silang knock out ni Rayos. It wasn't a long sleep, his body was still adjusting, pero ang kasama niya, mukhang hindi na kailangan.

Nagising siya dahil sa pagtalon ni Rayos sa kama. The bed kept on shaking as well his body.

"Baby, let me sleep!" paos na reklamo niya at tinakpan ng unan ang mukha.

He sighed when Rayos didn't listen. She's still jumping like a kid. Hindi pa ito nakuntento, hinila nito ang kumot na nakatakip sa hubad niyang katawan. Leo didn't open his eyes. Faking his sleep, hanggang sa antukin siya ulit.

"Ahh!" he groaned.

Sumakay ito sa likod niya at basta na lang humiga. Pressing her breasts against his back. Gumapang din ang mga kamay nito papunta sa dibdib niya. He cursed in his mind and moved a little.

"Wake up! I want to see my niece number two!" she whined. "I'll do whatever you want, in exchange!" Rayos negotiated.

And as a business minded person, sinenyasan niya ito na umalis sa likuran niya. When Rayos finally sat on their bed, he got up and covered his lower part with pillow.

"Whatever I want?" he asked. Naninigurado.

Rayos clicked his tongue and tapped her chest. "Oo, kahit ano!"

"Get ready." Utos niya rito.

Mabilis siyang tumayo at sinuot ang jogging pants na kinuha sa built in cabinet nila ni Rayos. Dumeretso siya sa kusina para mag ready ng breakfast nilang dalawa ni Rayos while she's taking a quick shower.

Nang matapos ito. Sabay silang dalawa na kumain, and after that, Rayos presented to clean their dishes. Hindi na niya tinutulan dahil nagmamadali na ito.

"I'm excited!" Rayos jumped and hugged his arm. Hinayaan niya lang ito.

When Rayos saw her niece, her eyes sparkled as tears formed in her eyes. She quickly get Vyrlle's baby and introduce herself. Isang oras na siguro niyang pinapanood si Rayos na nilalaro ang bata nang mapansin siya nito.

"Oh, that's your uncle, Leo." Itinuro siya nito sa bata.

"Ouch!" Vyrlle teased.

"Hindi ka ba aalis? I thought you're busy?" naiirita na tanong niya rito.

"Oh, yes, yes! I'm busy. Dania will have my head kapag na-late ako!"

Vyrlle quickly picked up her bag, kissed her daughter's forehead and hugged Rayos before leaving her house.

He sat on the sofa and watch her happily taking care of her niece. Alam na ni Leo na magiging mabuting ina ito, noong una niyang nakita na alagaan si Ayze.

"Kanina ka pa nakatingin sa bata," pansin sa kanya ni Rayos. "Sabihan mo ako kung gusto mo na. Papayag naman ako."

Umiling lang siya rito.

"I'll do everything you want, remember?" paalala nito.

"Hm, then… will you marry me?" he asked. Pinakita niya ang maliit na kahon na palagi niyang dala.

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito at hindi makapaniwala na tumingin sa kanya. He smiled and get the ring inside the box. Lumuhod siya sa harapan ni Rayos at marahan na kinuha ang kamay.

"Vraiose Cay Clemente? Will you be my wife?" Leo asked. He cleared his throat because of the lump forming inside his throat.

Pabiro siyang hinampas ni Vyrlle sa dibdib bago tumango.

"Syempre! Oo!" she answered sobbing.

Mabilis na sinuot ni Leo sa daliri ni Rayos ang binili niyang singsing, pagkatapos ay masuyong hinalikan. It suits her. It was just a simple engagement ring. Hindi na siya nakapili dahil sa pagmamadali.

"Ngayon na?" he asked again.

"Ngayon na?" ulit nito at marahan siyang tumango.

"Pakasal na tayo…" he whispered. Leo brushed his lips against her and sucked her bottom lip a little.

"Teka paanong ngayon na?" natataranta na tanong nito sa kanya.

He chuckled. Leo playfully wiggled his brows before calling his father, he has every connection here in San Diego. Para maikasal agad silang dalawa ni Rayos.

"Itatali ko na, Ate. Something's wrong with me and I need to be away after this…" Leo confessed.

Nakausap na niya ang Doctor na sinasabi ng Daddy ni Rayos bago pa sila nakarating sa San Diego.

Gabi na nang makarating ang mga magulang niya. Pisces immediately hugged him, as tight as she could. He cupped his face and stared at him, as if she was memorizing his whole face.

"Don't worry. I'm good, as of now. Take care of my wife for me, hm?" paki-usap niya sa kapatid.

"Hindi pa kayo kasal." She pointed out.

"Ikakasal na!" he hissed.

Vyrlle couldn't attend the wedding because of her schedule. Nasa kanila pa ring dalawa ni Rayos ang anak nito. They're just sending her pictures, para mapanatag ito.

It was a quick wedding. No saying vows. Just signing the paper. But in his head, Leo was citing his unsaid vows to Rayos while signing the paper.

Their wedding ring was just a simple band, no diamonds, only the engraved name of his and Rayos.

Sa singsing niya ang nakalagay ay, 'Cay's Zodiac'.

Sa singsing naman ni Vraiose ang nakalagay ay, 'Leo's baby'

Iniwan nilang dalawa ni Rayos ang bata sa kapatid niya sa apartment nila. They didn't had a family dinner dahil agad rin na umuwi ang magulang nila ni Pisces.

"You're now my husband…" Rayos uttered while staring at her ring.

"My wife…" he slowly said.

"Fancy to meet you here!"

Mariin siyang pumikit nang marinig ang boses na 'yon. It triggered something inside him. He breathed slowly. Hoping it'll help him to calm.

He was talking to his wife about something but he couldn't hear any single words. He was just staring at him. Rayos looks mad.

"Really? Dito kayo ikinasal? Legal ang divorce sa bansa na 'to, Leo. Pwede pang agawin…" he lowered his voice. Pointing the knife he's holding to his chest.

He grabbed the knife and held it as tight as he could. The pain seeping through his wounded hand was now the reason why he's sane.

"Leo! Let go!" Sigaw ni Rayos.

"Let him. Let him die, Rayos…" Russel pushed his button by holding his wife's hand.

He let go of the knife and used his wounded hand to throw a punch straight to his face. It was a full blown punch. Causing Russel to fall on his chair. He didn't stop there. He kept on punching his face. Ni hindi niya alam na wala na palang malay ang lalaki.

"Leo… What have you done…?"

☕