Special Chapter

One of the things I had looked up to ever since he made me feel like our hearts would always beat even until time got tired of running, was the moment he would finally open the door of a future with him and ask for my approval.

Yes, it magically happened and just no one could tell other than me how happy and delightful I had felt when he already had his bended knee in front of me, an elegant gorgeous ring in hand while asking me that question with his hopeful eyes and loving smile.

"You have to marry me, otherwise, this life won't be worth living anymore." Makakalimutan ko ba namang halos konsensiyahin niya ako noon para lang mapasagot ng 'oo' gayong alam ko naman sa sarili kong hindi ko siya tatanggihan.

I waited for it, I had looked up for it and though he had his own funny way to make me marry him, it didn't matter because for whatever it was, I would still say yes.

Sobrang dami naming pinagdaanan, mga problemang hinarap nang magkasama kaya kahit na punong-puno ng kasiyahan ang puso ko noong mga panahong iyon ay hindi ko pa rin napigilang makaramdam ng takot dahil alam ko sa sarili ko ang puntong gusto naming pasukin. We both had built a strong foundation beneath us, protecting our relationship from all the odds coming our way, but of course, fear of the uncertainty would never disappear.

Yes I loved it, there was no doubt about that but fear was something inevitable to feel.

Hindi ko rin namang sinasabing sa lahat ng mga nangyari ay naging malakas ako. Believe me or not, it was me who was the fragile and the weak one all throughout this relationship, it was me who always needed the comfort every time a part of the past would come and trigger a still very sensitive part of me. Ako iyong naging immature dahil lang hindi ko magawang kalimutan iyong mga nangyari noon, dahil lang hindi ko kayang bumitaw sa nakaraan.

How could I let go if a very precious part of me was there? I would never let go. I just needed to find the perfect way on how to cope up with it, and it wasn't easy when there were just a lot of things that could trigger me. They were just around me, waiting for me to acknowledge every bit of them to salt my wound. It hurt so much…

Ilang beses ko ring tinanong ang langit kung bakit kailangan pang mawala sa akin ni Luna, kung bakit hindi na lang siya ibinigay sa akin. I was young before, yes, but I could have done everything to give Luna the world… Yoongi and I could have given her the world.

Siya? He had been so mature and so strong in handling me and coping up with it with me. Minsan nga naisip ko, siguro pinilit niyang maging ganoon kasi kailangan ko siya sa tuwing nahihirapan akong tanggapin sa sarili ko ang lahat. He needed to be strong for me, he needed to show me he was strong enough to handle me and our relationship when I knew, deep inside, he was as hurt as me, he was as devastated as me. I knew that we were still both wounded by the past…

He had been so strong up until to where we were now, and I just loved him even more, I loved him more everyday. I loved how he didn't leave me all throughout, instead, he became my strong foundation.

We both had gone through so much when what the future contained was already beneath our soles, I would say, I wouldn't mind going through those pains and sufferings again if we would be right where we were now. We both had made it to what we had now because we were both strong enough before.

When it came to the future, or to anything that relates to life, I wouldn't want anyone to go through with together but Yoongi Min, and our precious son.

"Good boy, you can go and join your friends after you finish your food, a fair deal. Right, little dude?"

"But can I have the cake after I eat these foods?"

"Of course, Taehyunie."

Smiling lovingly while I watched my husband and my four years old son as they both ate their food happily, I slowly raised the camera I was holding to capture such an enticing moment. The skyline that met the grassy field became their backdrop as their images flashed on the screen. Natawa ako nang nakalimutan kong may flash pala iyon kaya tamad akong nilingon ng asawa ko.

To be honest, even after all the years that we had spent together as husband and wife, butterflies would still flutter inside my stomach, sending tingles and beats to my heart when thinking that he was finally my husband. He was finally legally mine and that he was finally holy bounded with me. It could be just vows we both recited to seal our marriage, but still, our hearts knew that even if a hundred years would pass, even until time stops running, our heart wouldn't get tired beating for each other.

Bringing my eyes to look at the adorable little boy beside him, my heart swelled in overwhelming happiness just seeing him alive and breathing. The little boy was just eating silently though I could see his pair of small eyes constantly going to the other kids playing around the area. Nakikita ko rin kung gaanong nagpipigil lang siyang huwag tumayo para makisali sa mga kaibigan niya dahil alam niyang kailangan muna niyang kumain.

The way his small jaw adorably moved in a slow manner while he chewed the food in his mouth reflected so well the way his father did. Our baby boy didn't really take into my husband's features so much, he actually took a lot from me but his attitude spoke so much of his Papa. In his young age, he was also a savage speaker, he always vocally bullied his friends and got away with it because his friends were afraid of his father.

Takot ang mga bata kay Yoongi sa totoo lang. Minsan kapag nagkakaroon sila ng maliliit na away ay madalas niyang ipangtakot sa mga ito ang Papa niya, and yes, it worked. It always really worked.

I was at the point of the my life where I couldn't ask for more anymore because what God has given me was so much enough. Like more than enough. Minsan parati kong iniisip kung deserved ko ba ang lahat ng ito. I always thought if I deserved these two precious men in my life now. Pero siguro nga oo, kasi matagal kong hinintay na dumating siya sa buhay namin. Hindi madali iyon dahil may mga nararamdamang kailangang i-consider bago ako tuluyang bumigay.

I was afraid, I didn't want to risk one precious angel again so it took me so long to let myself have the luxury of having a baby. We both had waited so long… I was afraid before that if I got pregnant, I would again lose a precious life.

"I'm sorry…" natatawang hinging-paumanhin ko nang tamad na tumitig sa akin si Yoongi habang bumubukol ang kaliwang pisngi niya dahil sa pagkaing mabagal niyang nginunguya.

A lot had actually changed in terms of his physical face features, though his pair of kitten eyes remained at their glory, his cheeks became more hollow from the way the bone in his jaws seemed to harden. The pale white man before was now looking more Daddy than he was years ago. His slender body even developed into a bulky one, strong muscles were born at his biceps and slight stubbles were growing in his face. Madalas naman niya iyong i-shave pero may mga pagkakataong talagang nawawala na iyon sa isipan niya tulad ngayong nasa bakasyon kami.

It was a hell of a week for him before we all flew away for this family vacation, last week, he needed to finish all the works he needed to be done for the next months just so he could let himself have the luxury of enjoying this vacation. He said, he didn't want to leave the company with a lot of works undone, aniya ay hindi niya mai-enjoy ang bakasyon. He had a point, only if he was letting me work though, I could have helped him with the company.

"You don't need to work, baby. Just be a good Mama to our son and a pretty wife to me, that's all you need to do, hm?" Minsan hindi ko rin mapigilang isipin kung anong klase ng pag-iisip mayroon siya.

Did he live in the past? Sa panahon ngayon ay hindi na uso ang ganoong set-up ng mag-asawa, kahit ang mga asawa ng mga kaibigan niya ay pare-parehong may mga pinagkakaabalahan sa buhay. Of course, I also had things I busied myself at home with, he, at the very least, let me draw and have my drawings into exhibits for bidding. Pero hindi madalas iyon dahil hindi naman na ako madalas mag-drawing ngayon, minsan na lang kapag sobra na talaga akong naiinip.

Sometimes I did when with our son at home, I actually taught him how to draw. Nakuha niya kasi ang galing ko sa pagdo-drawing. He was three years old in a day care when his teacher found out that in a young age, his drawing skills was way better than his classmates. So I had him enrolled into this special class that could help to enhance his drawing skills. Truthfully, he was really good in drawing.

"Stop capturing everything, baby. You should eat…" After gulping the food he was chewing, Yoongi spoke to me in a lazy yet raspy voice.

"I'm good. I ate fruits while we were at the car remember?"

Sighing deeply, remembering what I was talking about, he went back to minding his food while silently talking to his son. Ibinaba ko ang gadget na hawak ko saka inilibot ang paningin. The weather was perfect, it had to be because before we all decided to have this vacation, we first checked everything, we first made sure everything was perfect.

Korea doesn't really have a very reliable weather, one moment it could rain, one moment the sun could be at its highest. Kuya Namjoon had made sure that the weather was nice for the whole duration of our vacation because we all didn't want packing our luggage to go back to the Philippines when we all wanted to enjoy this vacation till it lasted.

Everything was planned and I was glad everything was going they way they were supposed to.

Tatlong araw na kaming lahat rito. Kuya Jungkook, and his family had been residing here so it was easy for us all to get the best accomodation. We could have gone to each of our houses here in Korea but it was decided that it was better for us to stay in one place while in here.

The first day was all rest, with a short amount of touring around the Jeon Estates, and letting the kids play till their satisfaction. The second day was last minute monitoring of all the plans we had, buying stuff we would be needing though it all could be found at the Jeon Estates, and properly putting lists on their right places.

Nakakatuwa ring makita na nag-eenjoy ang mga bata. They didn't do anything other than play and eat since day one. Magkakasundo sila dahil magkakasama na silang lahat mga bata pa lang sila, well, except for the two boys, pero kita pa rin ang pagiging malapit nilang lahat sa isa't isa. We all made sure they all had the strongest bond, sila-sila rin naman ang magtutulungan pagdating ng panahon.

Our companies were somehow tangled with each other, I actually didn't know how it happened, I just woke up one day that Min Industries and De Asis Holdings were both having something to do with our friends' companies.

It was actually a good thing. Our companies were already well-known all around the world, as companies with a greatest bond.

Nakita ko nang bahagyang gumalaw si Taehyun saka nilingon ang Papa niya mula sa paninitig sa mga kaibigan niyang kanina pa naglalaro. My son was well-disciplined that he should finish first his food before he could go and play. Mukhang hindi ganoon ang kaso ng ibang mga bata.

Noon pa lang ay talagang maluwag na si Ate Hannan at Kuya Jimin sa mga anak nila kaya hindi na nakakapagtakang malayang naglalaro sina Flake at Huening ngayon habang kumakain ang mga magulang nila sa picnic mat nilang medyo malayo sa amin. The other kids might have already finished their food that was why.

"Papa, why is Huening has two Papas?" His soft low voice reached my ears as he softly tugged at his father's sleeve. Mula sa pagkain ay muling bumaling sa kaniya ang Papa niya.

Yoongi first gave him a look before he raised his head to look for my eyes. Alam ko kaagad ang ibig niyang sabihin kaya bahagya akong umiling. One of the things Yoongi hated the most was lying to his son, but then, what Taehyun asked his father was something beyond our business. He was still young, his mind was still very innocent and young to acknowledge such information anyway. Maiintindihan din niya habang lumalaki siya.

It wasn't like we could just tell him why the youngest son of the Parks had two fathers. Alam naman ng mga bata kung bakit hindi nila madalas nakakalaro sina Huening at Beomgyu dahil parehong dito sa Korea nakatira ang mga bata, malayo sa mga magulang nila. It was like that, in favour of their grandparents from their father's side. The youngest son had to be with the grandparents until they turned fifteen.

That at least was something the kids was somehow aware of. He should know actually. It was hard at first with Kuya Jin and Ate Soft's youngest son because Beomgyu had a twin, and they didn't want to part them from each other, however, they also couldn't go against Kuya Jin's grandparents. Kaya napagpasyahan nilang paghiwalayin sina Beomgyu at Eishi.

We all knew Ate Soft didn't want to send Beomgyu away, but more so her youngest daughter.

Uttering a deep sigh of despair, Yoongi brought his hand to softly rummage through Taehyun's black hair before he sent his son a small smile. "Because your friend is a very naughty one. He needs two Papas to take care of him…"

I seriously had to press my lips together from breaking into a laughing mess because what Yoongi said somehow was convincing enough for his son. He actually didn't lie because Huening was such a naughty boy, the kid was literally a younger version of his father.

"So if I'm naughty, I'll also get another Papa? Could it be Tito Taehyung?" Taehyun blinked innocently, his hands totally ignoring the silverwares he was holding. He looked too into what him and his father was talking about.

Pinigilan kong muli ang matawa nang makita ko ang mabilis na pagkunot ng noo ni Yoongi, halatang hindi gusto ang narinig. The man was actually a very possessive one, particularly when it came to his only son. When the kids would be out to play outside, he would always make sure it was him who was with Taehyun because he didn't want his son talking about other Daddies after playing.

He also always bragged about how he was always invited to Taehyun's school, not because of troubles our son did, but because our son was a smart kid. Madalas ay ipinapatawag kami, mostly si Yoongi para personal na i-congratulate tungkol sa anak namin. Yoongi would always make time for it, willingly leaving his important works in the office just for his son.

I just loved how he prioritized us.

"Why your Tito Taehyung?" Yoongi asked firmly, but the stroke he was making on his son's hair was obviously soft and careful.

"Because Tito Taehyung said we almost have the same name, and he said, I can always go to their house and play with Kuya Yeonjun."

"Tss, you don't want to play with me anymore? I bought us a new console—"

"You are my only playmate, Papa. I only want to play with Kuya Yeonjun when you're at work." Ngumuso si Taehyun, mukhang nakukuha na ang inaakto ng Papa niya. For sure, our son was already getting how his Papa was always acting so childish when it came to him and to other Daddies.

He was smart, it wouldn't take him long to realize that.

I just watched them as I busied myself with the other foods on our mat. Marami kaming dalang foods, ganoon din ang iba kaya kahit na abutin kami rito ng gabi ay ayos lang. Though it wouldn't be a good idea because Kuya Jin had already reserved us a dinner at a restaurant here in Seoul.

"Sure? You're not betraying me?" Bumaba ang boses ni Yoongi at hindi ako makapaniwalang ginagamit niya sa anak namin ang tactic niya na iyan.

"Never, Papa. Though I wish I have a baby sister or a baby brother. Huening has Ate Flake to play with…" Mabilis na nilingon ni Taehyun ang kinaroroonan ng mga kaibigang binanggit niya, kakaiba na ang tono ng boses. "And Kuya Soobin has Kuya Beomgyu and Eishi…" He stayed his eyes on the same direction since the three kids he mentioned next were also there. "Moon and Sun are twins, Kuya Lao is too old for a playmate so it's fine if he doesn't have a sibling and Uncle JK's baby is still a bean as you told me." Sunod-sunod na nagtungo ang mga mata niya sa kung nasaan ang mga binanggit niya.

Biting my lower lip when a I felt a quick flicker of pain within my chest, I sadly watched as he brought his sight back to his father. Malungkot na ang mga mata at tuluyan nang kinalimutan ang pagkain. It wasn't like I didn't want to get pregnant again, it was just at this point of our lives, having another child was already too far from our plans. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung handa na ba akong ibaling sa iba ang atensyon ko mula kay Taehyun.

He was our only son, and for all the years we had him, he had our whole love and attention. He might be ready to share the love we were giving him, but I didn't think I was ready. I wanted him to be showered by our love, him and only him.

"Hyunie, I know you understand that Mama loves you so much, right?" I scooted closer to my son, bringing my hands on his waist to lift him up to my lap. Kusa naman siyang yumakap sa leeg ko at sumubsob sa balikat ko habang sinisimulan ko na ang paghaplos sa likod niya, pinagaan ng matamis niyang amoy ang sistema ko. He smelled so much like his father. When he nodded, I continued speaking. "And I don't think I'm ready to love another baby other than you, you understand?"

"Yes, Mama. I understand…" he softly answered.

When once again meeting Yoongi's pair of kitten eyes, a smile broke into my lips seeing the cold frown on his face. Nakahalukipkip na at halatang hindi natutuwa. Paano siya matutuwa kung katulad ng anak niya, noon pa siya nanghihingi ng kasunod kay Taehyun? He was just too busy to seriously work for it, plus I wasn't having any of his tactics.

I only wanted Taehyun for now. He was all enough for me. For now.

"I don't understand…" he stubbornly said, as if I was asking for his opinion. "Our son deserves a baby sister or a baby brother."

"Of course he does. He deserves the world, but that can wait. You can wait." I gave a hard emphasis on the word 'you', before chuckling because his face just fell into a much deeper frown. Nang lumapit siya sa amin ay hinayaan ko siya. He just carefully took his son from me, carefully setting his son on his own lap and pampering him kisses.

I knew he was always asking for a baby, but it was also clear to me, from his eyes, that like me, he was still unsure if he was ready to share his love for Taehyun to another baby.

"I guess, we'll have to wait then, little dude." Nang matapos siyang paliguan ng halik ang bata ay ngumisi siya. "Who wants the cake again?"

Quickly having his happy and innocent mood back, Taehyun jumped in his father's lap, instantly raising both of his hands to indicate himself. Natatawang tumango si Yoongi saka inabot ang box ng strawberry cake para simulan nang i-prepare for Taehyun.

And yes, at this point of our lives, I knew I didn't have anything I could still wish for because for me, these two precious men in front of me were enough for me to still ask for more. They were what I only needed, they were what I could only wish for. They were the love of my life.

"When you're done, you can go and play with your friends but don't forget, your Papa is the best Papa, okay?"

"Can I go and play in the swing? It looks scary but Kuya Soobin looks happy!" Itinuro ng bata ang kinaroroonan ng swing kung nasaan ang panganay ni Kuya Jin. The kid was obviously having fun pushing himself in the swing.

"Of course, but you need to assure Papa first. C'mon, tell me I'm the best Papa." And of course, Yoongi wouldn't just let his son live about that matter.

"You are the best Papa, though Tito Taehyung is the most generous because he always buys me ice cream." Taehyun giggled because he knew too well how to piss his Papa off.

"He buys you what now?" Yoongi's brows quickly furrowing again.

"Ice cream, strawberry ice cream." The kid teased more, bringing his little hands to playfully poke at his father's cheeks.

"That thu—I swear, he'll get something from me."

"Stop it, Yoongi. The kid is clearly having fun teasing you. Kumain na kayo, I'll just check for Ate Jecky… she's clearly having trouble with Kuya Taehyung in their mat."

Standing up, I knew Yoongi's eyes were on me as I made my way to the nearest mat from ours. Kanina ko pa napapansing nagbabangayan sina Ate Jecky at Kuya Taehyung, I was sure it wasn't nothing serious like all of their other 'petty' arguments, pero kailangan ko pa ring i-check sila dahil sila ang pinaka-messy sa aming lahat.

Somehow, it was understandable because it wasn't new to all of us how the messy couple was ever since.