Family.

Rhia.

I bit my lower lip while at the veranda, malalim na ang gabi at malamig ang simot ng hangin, everything is just so peaceful and quiet...

"Ekang."

It's my twin brother Kiel.

"Eseng."

Ganti ko sabay irap, Kiel then chuckled as he handed me a glass of warm milk.

"Can't sleep again?"

He asked, I just nodded my head looking at the view outside.

"You should really consider your doctor's advice, I think it will help you to recover fully."

He said then sighed, napayuko nalamang ako, My doctor said It's PTSD, I couldn't forgive myself and continously blamed myself from everything since mama Cherry's death. 

Medyo nakakarecover parin naman but there are still times na natitrigger ako sa tuwing nasa matataas na lugar o makasalamuha ng mga taong makapagpapaalala saakin ng nangyari.

Medyo nakarecover naman na ako at medyo alam ng kumalma sa tuwing nasa matataas na lugar, hindi tulad noong mga unang buwan ko rito na nahihirapan akong huminga at napapahagulgol pag napupunta ako sa matataas na lugar.

"I-I don't know.."

Sagot kong nagpanguso sakanya.

"I really think you could consider going back to the philippines, I know there are risk pero sasamahan ka naman namin. You should stop hiding Rebekka and face the problem, you're a strong woman I know it will take time but you will eventually learn to forgive yourself."

He said then smiled, malakas akong napabuga ng hangin.

"P-pag iisipan ko."

Saad kong nagpatango sakanya.

"You should, Paano nalang sina Scarlet at Hades? I know we three are always here as their father figures, pero darating ang araw na maghahanap na sila, They need Chase, Rebekka. We were separated before, hindi natin nakasama si Dad and no matter how we deny it, deep inside hinahanap hanap natin siya, don't let your kids experience the same pain, they need a complete family, they need their father."

Ngumiti itong tumanaw sa madilim na dagat at mga nagkikislapang mga bituin.

"I saw that in him that day, Binunugbog na sya't lahat ikaw padin ang bukambibig, and for someone to search that long for a missing person? kung tutuusin ay pwedeng pwede siyang maghanap ng iba, but what did he do? He didn't stop searching for you. Alam namin yun ni Dad dahil lagi namin siyang pinipigilang mahanap ka sa tuwang nagtatangka siyang pumasok sa system natin, sa takot na baka matrigger ang PTSD mo, but he didn't stop searching for you."

Dagdag pa niya, napakagat labi nalang ako.

"D-dapat ba sinabi ko na sakanya noong nagkita kami?"

I said with a guilty tone, Kiel chuckled then kissed my forehead.

"Take your time, kung kailan ka ready, wag lang masyadong matagal, wag mong paghintayin masyado yung mga piranhang makilala ang daddy nila."

Sambit niya, napangiti akong yumakap sa kambal ko.

"Thank you Kiel."

Ngumiti ako sakanya, natawa itong ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Wag ka ng iiyak uli, di ka maganda."

Tawa nito, nakasimangot na sinabunutan ko siya, ang gago lang hinila din ang buhok ko.

"Bugok magkamuka tayo, Itim lang yang buhok mo!"

Irap ko.

"Ubusin mo na yung gatas tapos matulog ka na, magbubeauty sleep nadin ako pagtapos ko mag kolja"

Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin saka binatukan, natawa lang ang gago saka humalik sa pisngi ko at umalis. I just showed my middle finger on him, feeling ko minsan tama si Nelson ehh, expired pinangbakuna sa lokong to.

nailing nalang akong sinilip ang kambal sa kani kanilang mga rib, I kissed both of them as I went back to my room, Just infront of theirs. Hindi ako pwedeng matulog doon, baka kasi managinip nanaman ako at magsisisigaw.

I removed my brassiere and wore a thin silky peach night dress then went to my comfy bed, Nakatulala lamang ako sa kisame ng madilim na kuwartong kinaroroonan ko at ang tanging nagbibigay ng liwanag ay ang maliwanag na sinag ng buwan. 

When I still couldn't sleep, when I heard a relaxing piano music from the piano room just beside my room, mukang hindi padin natutulog si Ezekiel. He always plays relaxing pieces, it's calming, It sounded like a broken man trying to mend himself from Hiraeth.

 I don't know what happened to him back then in the philippines, pero mukang ayaw naman na niyang pag usapan, kaya hindi ko na kinulit.

I left the glass door open for the fresh air to enter, I prefer it than the airconditioner, though halos di naman magamit iyon dahil malamig naman ang klima dito.

The cold kinda comforts me..

"Chase..."

I whispered his name like zephyr and was about to close my eyes when I felt something, nangunot ang noo kong napaupo, I'm on guard then stood up. Lumapit ako sa veranda at napatulala nalamang sa tahimik na lugar.

The cold wind is embracing me, hindi ko iyon inalintana at nanatili ang tingin sa malayo habang hawak hawak ang railings. 

It feels like a movie scenery, idagdag pa ang patuloy na pagtugtog ng kapatid ko sa kabilang kuwarto, It sounded like those piano pieces on Chinese dramas, relaxing and calming, para bang may hindi siya masabing naeexpress ng pagtugtog niya.

I sighed as looked up in the dark sky full of stars, napakaliwanag ng buwan ngayon, hindi ko maalis ang tingin, It's as if I am falling inlove with the moon as I stared at it, the light of the moons seems like it's trying to mend my heart and remove all of my sorrows.

"Rhia..."

I heard someone whisered taking me back to my senses, My eyes widened as I saw the only man that could make my heart thump so crazy.

"W-what are you doing here? Paano ka nakapasok?"

Kunot noong tanong ko, Ngumiti siya saakin saka tuluyan ng nakaakyat sa railings ng veranda na kinaroroonan ko. Sabagay ay hindi na nakapagtatakang nakapasok siya dito, he's an agent, not just an agent but also a high tier, kayang kaya niyang pasukin ito kahit gaano pa kahirap.

"Chase..."

I said in a warning tone, He sighed.

"I-I just want to see you..."

Naningkit ang mata ko roon, His pleading soft eyes looked at me, He looked so sad and desperate...He has messy hair, disheveled jaw, dark under eyes, mariin akong napapikit, how can he still look so handsome even if he looked like a mess?!

"I-I won't kidnap you again, I promise...aalis din ako."

His voice sounds different with his eyes pleadingly stared at me far away from his furious eyes when he first saw me yesterday. His blue orbs are like waves during a thunder storm, I sighed.

"Please Rhia..."

He continued, nag iwas nalang ako ng tingin at bumalik na sa kama.

"Bahala ka, hindi naman ako ang mapapahamak kapag nahuli ka."

I said then closed my eyes, unlike yesterday, I'm calm now, I felt his hand on mine, wala nadin akong lakas pa para magreklamo. 

"I love you..."

 When I woke up, Wala na si Chase sa kwarto ko, I surprsingly didn't have any bad dreams.

I somewhat wonder if Chase is just a dream last night....

But I guess not, Nagpatuloy ang pagbisita niya saakin gabi gabi at ang pag akyat niya sa Veranda, I would always left the glass door open. Halos isang buwan na niyang ginagawa iyon at unti unti na akong nasasanay.

 He's not the same aggressive Chase that would do as he wants, he gives me all the time that I need, It kinda calms me... Gusto ko ng sabihin sakaniya ang tungkol sa kambal, pero kadalasan ay hindi ko alam kung papaano and I think I would tell him tonight...I should.

Tama si Kiel, The twins need a father, na kahit pa naniriyan silang tatlo ay hindi iyon magiging sapat.

 A day will come and my Father would grow older than he is now, si Kiel at Nelson naman ay mag aasawa din at magkakaroon ng mga pamilya, so I shouldn't rely on them.

"Ekang bat parang may kakaiba sa Veranda mo?"

One time Kiel asked, I looked away.

"Wala naman, baka daga lang."

Simpleng sagot ko.

The night came, Nakatanaw lamang ako sa malayo habang hinihintay si Chase at kinakabahan.

"Baby.."

He finally came, umakyat muli ito sa veranda ko tulad ng nakagawian, Chase then leaned closer to give me a kiss, I kissed him back with the same hunger.

 My brother is just on the piano room playing another piece, so we should be quiet.

"Chase..."

I said biting my lower lip, nakita ko ang pagbaba ng tingin niya doon, he has a dark look on his face, napanguso nalang ako. The second day he insisted na may utang ako sakanyang halik at dahilang mahigit isang taon ako nawala ay may malaking interes na daw.

"I-I have something to tell you.."

I started with his arms still clunged on my waist.

"hmm?"

Nakagat ko lalo ang labing kabadong magsalita, hindi alam kung talaga bang sasabihin ko sakaniya, pero mukang ang mga anak ko na ang nagdesisyon para saakin nang malakas na umatungal ang mga ito.

"Ahh shit."

I cursed, natigilan roon si Chase ako naman ay bahagyang lumayo at tumalikod upang puntahan ang mga anak ko.

"Wait, may baby dito?"

Kunot noong tanong niyang sinundan ako, hindi ko iyon pinansin at mabilis na naglakad, saktong pagbukas ko ng pintuan ay naroroon ang kapatid ko.

"Hoy yung mga anak mong piranha baka need dumede---"

Bahagya itong natigilan at nagtaas ng kilay nang mapansin si Chase sa likod ko.

"Ay malandutay ang kapatid ko wala akong kaalam alam humaharot, Hi daga!"

Tawa nito, hindi ko siya pinansin at nagtuloy tuloy sa paglakad patungo sa kwarto ng mga anak ko.. namin.

"Y-your child?"

Chase asked, hope is visible on his eyes as he stared at me, I sighed, aburido akong patahanin si Crest, to my surprise Chase suddenly carried Eleanor to help me stop them from crying.

Nanubig ang mata ko roon, Nang matapos na namin silang patulugin ay muli naming ibinalik ang mga ito sa kani kanilang mga crib saka umalis roon at baka muling maistorbo ang tulog. 

Nang makalabas kami ang nanghihinang napahawak si Chase sa ding ding.

"A-Are they mine?"

Nanginginig na tanong niya, ofcourse he'll know right away, Crest is his spitting image, kamukang kamuka ito ng mga baby pictures ni Chase and Eleanor looks like me, mixed with mama Cherry.

"Sorry, hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sayo."

His tears flowed like a river, napaluhod siyang mahinang umiyak, He's like lost kitten who have finally found his owner. Yumakap ito saakin ng mahigpit na para bang wala itong balak na bitiwan ako, he cried and all I could do is hug him tight while caressing his hair.

"I'm sorry..I'm sorry..."

His voice broke as he said that, napaiyak nadin ako.

"I wasn't there when you're in pain..I-I'm sorry..."

He apologized as he cried even more, when I'm actually the one at fault here, I didn't give him a chance to be with me, I was shelfish, I got too hurt that I just run away without telling him.

Morning came and I woke up without him by my side, I sighed then did my morning routine as I went directly on the room of my twins. What heppened last night still lingers on my mind, I feel so guilty. 

Bahagyang nangunot ang noo ko nang makitang wala ang kambal roon, Baka kinuha na nila dad? 

Bumaba na ako nang di ko sila makita.

"dad where is the twins?"

I asked my dad who's calmly sipping his coffee.

"Eat your breakfast first."

He said then smiled ngumiti din ako pabalik nang sabay namang pumasok sina Nelson at Kiel na halos magsakalan na nanaman.

"Hey where is the twins?"

I asked the twins, the two looked at me pouting.

"Asa garden."

Para bang nagrereklamo pang sabi ni Kiel, bahagyang nangunot ang noo ko roon.

"I'll go to them first."

Humalik ako sa pisngi ni dad at pinisil ang ilong ng dalawang umagang umaga ay sambakol ang muka saka dumiretso sa garden. 

Nang makarating ako roon ay bahagya akong natigilan nang makita ang isang pamilyar na pigurang nakatalikod sa gawi ko, bahagyang kumabog ang puso kong nakapagpakagat labi saakin.

"Chase..."

I said in the middle of him playing with the twins, surprisingly, the twins really like him, kadalasan kasi ay umiiyak ang mga ito sa ibang tao. But seeing them play with Chase? It seems like they've known him since birth.

"Look there's your beautiful mommy.."

Masayang sabi ni Chase, hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti, kagat labing naupo ako sa kumot na nakalatag sa damuhan kung saan sila naroroon, puno iyon ng mga stuff toy na wari ko ay mga bagong bili.

"My!M-my!"

It's crest malaki ang ngiti nitong gumapang papunta saakin, naaliw naman akong binuhat ito nang mapansin ang muka ni Chase at mga braso na puno ng galos at pasa.

"uhh.. I just had a little peaceful talk with your father and brother."

Marahang ngiti nito nang mapansin ang nag aalalang tingin ko, I just sighed, buhat buhat si Crest na tumayo ako at nagpakuha ng First aid kit sa isa sa mga maids na naroroon, agad naman nilang ibinigay saakin iyon.

"You don't really need to---"

Natigilan nalamang si Chase nang samaan ko siya ng tingin saka umupo sa tapat niya, napanguso ito roon. Tahimik kong ginamot ang mga pasa niya habang naglalaro sa tabi namin ang kambal.

"I still can't believe it."

Chase muttered while staring at me, malapit ang muka namin sa isa't isa habang ginagamot ko siya, I saw him gulped.

"We have twins..."

He chuckled happily, napangiti ako doon.

"It's my first week in here we found out that I'm pregnant, I got depressed, my doctor said that I have PTSD that mama's death have caused me. I am so afraid for the child inside my womb, but My father, Kiel and Nelson helped me get better."

Pagkukwento ko, medyo umasim pa ang muka nito nang marinig ang pangalan ni Nelson, But then his eyes softened and held my hand, nagpatuloy ako sa pagkukwento sakaniya habang nakikipaglaro kami sa kambal.

I feel so happy, pakiramdam ko ay nagkaroon ako ng bagong lakas, Chase stayed in here for another month. 

Unti unti ay naging magaan din ang pakikitungo sakanya ni Daddy at ni Kiel, nagagawa na nga nitong makipag biruan sa mga ito, It's as if He's part of our family already, though hindi na ata magbabago pa pakikitungo niya kay Nelson na tinatawanan nalang siya ngayon.

He also told me that nothing ever happened to him and summer so it's impossible that he is the father of Summer's child, as of her, hindi na raw siya nagpakita mula noong huling pagkumpronta niya sakaniya.

"You sure about this Rhia?"

My father asked, ngumiti akong tumango sakaniya.

"Yes Dad, kasama ko naman kayong uuwi nina Nelson at Kiel tapos andiyan din si Chase, I just think that I had enough of running away, kailangan ko ng ayusin ang sarili ko, I want to do my best to be a good mother to the twins and I don't think I could do that with my past as a hindrance."

Ngiti ko, My dad sighed as he leaned close to give me a tight embrace.

"I still hate the face na kukunin ka niya saken, Saglit pa nga lang kitang nakakasama eh."

Reklamo niya, I chuckled.

"Di naman ako mawawala dad saka sasama ka naman diba? Plus I want the twins to meet Daddy Rich too and Mama Cher."

I muttered ngumiti lang uli ito at hinalikan ang noo ko. The day eventually came, when we are finally going back, ewan ko din dito kay Kiel at parang mas kabado pa saakin sa pagbalik namin doon.

"Let's go?"

Ngiti ni Chase saka iginiya ang bewang ko habang karga karga Eleanor sa kabilang braso, ako naman ay buhat si Crest na pinagtitripan ang buhok ko.

 Tumango ako saka sumakay na papasok sa private plane namin,  naabutan naming di pa man din lumilipad ang eroplano ay tulog na si Dad samantalang si Nelson at Kiel naman ay Nagaaway sa upuan malapit sa bintana, kahit pa marami namang bakanteng upuan, nailing nalamang ako.

We both went to our seats, malalim akong napahugot ng hininga, I felt Chase held my hand and stole a quick kiss on my lips.

"I know you can do this."

Ngiti niyang nagpangiti din saakin.

"I love you..."

We both uttered then smiled full of sparks as my heart continously raced,

"wab-y-youu~!"

Paggaya ni Eleanor at Crest, napahagikhik nalamang kami roon.

A/n: Next will be epilogue, matatapos na siya sawakaaas T_____T akala ko talaga diko to matatapos waaaaah >3< anyways salamat po sa mga sumuporta mula umpisaaa!!! God bless po! love lotssss :*