A/N: I'm back! Had fun in Subic. 🐬
Quick update tonight. Happy reading!

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

THE DAY she was waiting for came and Alexza can't help herself but to feel empty. Or maybe she's just trying to hide all her emotions until she felt nothing, but emptiness inside.

She was sitting in front of the mirror while staring at her reflection there. She looks pale and no emotions on her eyes. She was convincing herself for a couple of minutes now that today she would let go of all the memories she had when she was with her dear son.

She will never forget him, but she should at least accept the fact that he was no longer exist, he will never be with her again. He's in heaven again with our almighty God. Her dear son is in good hands.

She can still remember what happened to them that day. It seems and feels like it happened just yesterday, the memories was very clear on her mind as if that's the only memories her mind wanted to remember no matter how painful it was. It was very tragic and traumatizing!

And when she woke up after a long deep sleep, her son was no longer beside her anymore. He's gone.

"Mommy! We are ready!" Blake excitedly announce when he open the bedroom door.

She look at her son through the reflection of the mirror. He's wearing a baby blue polo shirt and khaki pants, he pair it with white expensive sneaker for kids. He's clean cut and his cologne smells good for her. The birthday boy hurriedly run towards her and hug her stomach.

Her heart lift a bit and her lips form a small smile. She brush his hair with her fingers.

"Happy birthday, baby." She greeted him softly.

"Thank you again mommy for another birthday greetings this morning." Blake chuckle smoothly.

"Do you wanna hear my birthday wish for you?"

"Shoot!"

Her eyes wide a bit. He say it like a big man.

"Shoot? Who taught you that?"

"Naririnig ko lang po kay ninong pogi kapag nagkukwentuhan sila ni daddy. Was that bad?"

"Uh, no." She chuckle a bit. "It's just that, you sounds like not a baby at all when you say it."

"Coz I'm not a baby anymore? I'm five na." He even shows her his five small fingers.

Napanguso siya at pasimpleng umirap. Her son is growing up. She could even imagine him courting different girls in the near future! Uh, how she wish this cute little boy would remain being innocent and bubbly forever.

"You will be mommy and daddy's forever baby."

"Kahit may iba ka pong baby dito?" Marahan pa nitong tinapik ang ibabaw ng tiyan niya. "Baby mo pa rin ako?"

Para siyang pinagpawisan bigla. Kinalimutan niya na nga ang pag-uusap sa baby sa tiyan niya, pinaalala naman ulit ng cute na batang 'to.

"Uh, y-yes. Baby ka pa rin namin kahit may baby din sa tiyan ko." At gusto niya rin talaga magkababy ulit? What?

"That's cool, mommy." Blake nod cutely. "I wanna hear your birthday wish for me mommy. Spill it out."

"You're copying daddy and his friends with that Shoot and Spill it out."

"It's cool copying them. They're big men."

Ginulo niya ang buhok nito. "You really like to be a big boy na, but for me you're still my baby and this birthday wish is for you..." She breath out carefully. "Ahm, my only wish is for you to be always happy, Blake. We could provide all the material things in this world for you, but I wish we could also give you a real and pure happiness..." She lean down a bit and kiss the top of his head. "I love you very much, anak ko..." she whisper.

"Love you very much mommy ko..." Blake whisper back, resting his face on her stomach.

She heard the door open but she remain on their position. She like the feeling hugging Blake, she felt at ease again.

She saw a white expensive sneaker same style with Blake, standing beside her. Then her body suddenly enveloped with a warm familiar embrace.

"This feels so good." Drake whisper on the side of her head then kiss it.

"It feels so good to hug mommy, dad." Blake mutter. "Parang may magnet po siya. Kapag nakikita ko siya parang gusto ko po siyang laging yakapin. May magnet ka po ba sa katawan mo, mommy?"

They both chuckle at what their son confessed.

"Wala akong magnet sa katawan anak."

"We both magnetized by her, son." Drake said, teasing on his voice. "Your mom good at this. Magnetizing us."

She leered and titled her head back to have a clear sight of Drake. Like their son, he also sporting a polo, but it's color navy blue and he pair it with khaki shorts.

"Now I know why you guys keep insisting this light blue dress." Aniya.

Pinasadahan niya ang suot na dress sa salamin. Its a combination of white and light blue off shoulder dress below her knee. She pair it with white strap flat sandals. And a cute clip on the side of her hair.

Kumalas ng yakap sa kanya ang dalawa at sabay pa siyang pinagmamasdan sa bawat galaw niya. Napapanguso nalang siya. Grabe talaga ang dalawang 'to, kung makatingin akala mo naman ay aalis siya kapag kumurap ang mga 'to.

"You're so beautiful, love." Drake said with the hint of admiration on his voice and on his eyes.

She blush and avoid an eye contact on him. "Thank you,"

She get her sling bag on the table and stood up. Kinuha niya ang kamay ni Blake na nakatingala sa kanya.

"Ang ganda mo mommy."

"Ah," Her heart melt. "Ikaw naman ang cute cute mo."

"I'm handsome like daddy, not cute."

Nagtaas siya ng tingin kay Drake sa gilid niya, ang isang kamay nito ay nasa maliit na bahagi ng likod niya, iginagaya siya palabas sa pinto. Now that she's wearing a flat sandals, she can prove that he's really tall, her head did not even reach his shoulder.

"Well, you're dad is h-handsome like you."

"I appreciate that," Drake gently guide them to the door.

They stay for a minutes in front of the main wide door while waiting for his car to arrived. His personal drivel came out from the driver side and walk towards them.

"Boss," He give the key to Drake.

The driver open the back seat door and Blake hurriedly hop in. While Drake open the passenger seat for her.

"Thanks," she mutter as she hop in.

Drake roar the engine. The gate of the beach house wide open as the smooth sounds of his car echoed. Tanaw niya ang dalawang gwardiya na nakatanaw sa sasakyan nilang papalabas ng gate.

"Bye po," Blake bid a goodbye to the men when the car pass them.

Nakita niya rin na kumaway ang mga ito kay Blake bago tuluyang isinara ang malaking gate.

"Are you always like that, anak?" She look at him through rear view mirror.

"Opo," Blake comfortably sitting at the backseat, buckled up.

"That's good, you're friendly."

"Coz they're good to me and daddy."

She smile at that. He appreciate the good people around him and it make her feel glad for him. He's very easy going kid. Hindi mahirap alagaan. Hindi mahirap mahalin.

"Turn right, love..." she said softly at Drake after an hour of driving.

He took a quick glance on her and she see the side of his lips rose up. He's serious and very focus on driving, they did not even have the chance to talk because Blake was talking to her.

"This road is an accident prone area," Drake speed slowly down.

They're in a long zigzag road with dangerous cliff on the both sides. The big trees around and the dangerous lakes from the bottom of the cliff were making her remember some memories she had while passing this road before.

"Slow down!" She said in panic and grip her seatbelt, afraid that the car would fall on the cliff.

Drake took another glance on her with worry on his eyes. He then reach for her hand, trying to comfort her but the memories she had in this place started flashing her mind. She's in panic mode.

"I'm on it, love—"

"Stop the car!" She commanded with shaking voice.

Mas lalong bumagal ang takbo ng sasakyan. She look around and check if there's another car that following them, the driver might bump into them and they would fall on the cliff!

She was panicking as she look at Blake who's sleeping at the back seat.

"Hey, hey," it was Drake who's trying to get her attention.

Nanginginig ang mga daliri niya at pilit na inayos ang pagkakaupo. Sinipat niya ang side view mirror niya at nakitang may paparating na sasakyan.

"Go! Go! Paandarin mo na, Drake! They're here!" She said in more panicking voice as she watch the unfamiliar car coming their way.

"Who's—"

"Step on the gas! Damn it!" She shouted at him. "Let's get out of here! Please! Drive away from them!"

Drake took a loud breath, clenching his jaw before he furiously pulled the steering wheel and started driving again in a very smooth way.

"Is this speed is okay to you? Or you want it fast?" He ask gently, but his face is so serious that she could even hear him clenching his teeth. His jaw is moving dangerously.

The veins on his arms protrude uncontrollably and the hard muscles on it scream how he was trying his best not to explode the bomb he was hiding inside of him.

"J-Just don't let the car behind reach us..."

She still shaking. She keep on looking at the cars behind them, following them...following their way.

"I promise. I won't." He promised.

He's keeping his cool whenever he say a words for her but his body language betrays him. He looks like a wild beast that is so ready to attack if someone who would try to mess or hurt them.

"B-Bilisan mo pa..."

"Love, this is a dangerous road. It's zigzag. We can't drive that fast. Don't worry, I won't let the cars behind reach us." Masuyong paliwanag nito sa kabila ng galit na nakikita niya sa gwapo nitong mukha.

"I...I don't like to see the cars behind us. Drive a little faster until I don't see them anymore....or stop the car on the side and let them pass us." She could not hide the panic on her soft voice. "Baka banggain nila tayo...mahuhulog tayo sa bangin. Ayokong mahulog. Ayokong mahulog ka at...at ayokong mahulog si Blake. J-just follow what I said, please..."

Drake reach for her hand and kiss it. Hindi nito binitiwan ang kamay niya na nasa labi nito hanggang sa igilid nito ang sasakyan.

Pinanood niya ang mga sasakyan sa likod nila na nilalagpasan sila. At nang masiguro niya nang wala ng nakasunod sa kanila, nabawasan ang pagpapa-panic niya.

She caught him staring at her with emotions on his eyes that she could not read. Drake tried to give her a warm smile when their eyes met but he ended it with biting his bottom lips tightly. Para bang lihim na kinakastigo ang sarili.

Ngumuso siya. "I'm sorry..."

"No, no, it's okay, it's fine, love..." he keeps on kissing her hand. "Just tell me what you want and I will obey it. Okay? Don't hesitate to tell me everything, I'll listen."

Mariin itong napapikit, matindi ang paghalik at pagkapit sa kamay niya. He looks like he's calming himself through holding and kissing her hand. Looks like he's the one who needs to calm down or else whatever he's feeling deep inside him would explode in no time.

"Drake... are you okay?" She worriedly whisper, watching him on his vulnerable state.

He breath in and out roughly, as if removing something on his chest and throat.

"I'm here to protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you again." He whisper huskily. "I'll make sure they'll pay for all of it. For all they've done to you and to our child."

"I...I don't know what you're talking about." She softly mutter. "It was an accident. N-no one to blame with."

He look at her behind his lashes, staring at her submissively.

"We will both face all the pain they caused you...losing our child...losing yourself. I swear to you, I will put them behind the bars whoever that fuck. Just please, stay with me this time and never leave again. Ibigay mo nalang sa akin lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman mo, handa akong tanggapin lahat ng 'yon huwag ka lang ulit umalis sa buhay ko." He's begging. "When the pain is too much and you could not handle it anymore, just throw that shit on me. Just please don't choose escape as your answer to solve the problem."

"T-That was the only way I know...escape from all the pain."

Drake groaned painfully.

"Always choose to stay with me and let me handle everything. Because I'd die if you leave me again. I'm begging you, love, don't do that again."

"H-Hindi na..." mahina pa rin ang boses niya, pinapanood itong hirap na hirap na sa kanya. Napanguso nalang siya.

"Hindi pa rin ako mapakali kahit kasama na kita araw-araw at gabi-gabi. Kailangan na nga yata talaga kitang itali sa'kin." Ang malamlam na mga mata nito ay mabilis na nahuli ang mailap niyang mata. Ang puso niya ay nag-uunahan na sa mabilis na pagtibok. She can feel that he will going to say something... "Sa akin lang din naman ang bagsak mo...kaya, magpakasal na tayo. Bukas na bukas din." Her heart jump out of her chest and that made her speechless. She look at him with her parted lips. "Don't say no or else I'll tie you in my bed again until you say yes to me." He threatened. "Magpapakasal tayo pag-uwi natin!"

"S-Sabi mo bukas..." paos na bulong niya, kagat ang labi.

Drake bit his bottom lips and let out a long groan. He titled his head back frustratedly.

"Damn it! You're driving me crazy, love. I change my mind..." his eyes drifted on hers. "I want to marry you tonight. I will legally claim you as mine, tonight." He territorially said. "Sa akin ka noon, sa akin ka pa rin hanggang ngayon."