Hapon na ngunit hindi pa rin lumalabas ng kuwarto si Cheska. Matapos niyang umalis sa condo nila Tyler ay dumiretso siya sa kanilang mansyon. Hindi pa dumarating ang kaniyang ama kaya nilulubos niya na ang pagdarama. Ang magaling niya namang kamabal at hinahayaan naman siya.

"Hindi man lang ako hinatiran ng pagkain!" maktol niya. Habang tinatadyakan ang ibang unan niya. "Aaaaarrrrggh!" pigil na sigaw pa nito at saka binalot ang sarili ng makapal na kumot.

Natitigil lamang siya nang makarinig ang mahinang katok. Tumitig lamang siya sa pinto na tila walang balak siputin ang sinomang nasa likod ng pintuan. Ngunit dahil may angking kakulitan na hindi tumil sa pagkatok na lalong kinainis ng dalaga..

"Bukas iyan! Pumasok ka na lang buwiset!" Inis niyang sigaw.

"Whoa! Twin sis? You're back to your old grumpy self hahaha!" Bungad na asar sa kaniya ng kakambal.

"Tigilan mo akong bakla ka! At bakit ka na rito?" Masamang tingin ang ipinukol niya rito.

"To give your food." saka niya lang napansin ang tray na hawak ng kambal. Akala niya hindi na talaga siya nito hahatiran ng pagkain.

"Luto mo yan?" tanong niya.

"Yes, princess. Alam ko namang hinihintay mo lang ako. I was just late because of an emergency meeting. Huwag na magtampo okay?" Malambing na sabi ni Chester sabay pisil sa ilong ng kakambal.

"Magtigil ka nga! Assuming ka talaga kahit kelan." Asar na sagot ni Cheska, pero sa lob lob niya ay nangingiti siya sa pagiging sweet ng kakambal.

"Hahaha anyway, you should eat. I know you're hungry." Kumutsara ang binata ng kanin at nilagyan ng ulam na menudo at saka itinapat sa bibig ng kakambal na hindi naman nito tinanggihan.

"Do you wanna go somewhere after this?" tanong niya pa habang patuloy pa rin ang pagpapakain kay Cheska.

"Don't know. I don't feel like going out." Ngumunguyang sagot ni Cheska. Masyadong masarap ang luto ng kapatid niya, ayaw niyang mag-isip ng iba kung 'di namnamin lang ang pagkain.

"Really? Even it's my treat?" Nakangiting sabi ni Chester. Seryosong tinignan ni Cheska ang kakambal na tila inaanalisa kung nagsasabi ito ng totoo. Nang makitang bukal ang loob nito ay pumayag na ito. Kailangan niya ring ibaling sa iba ang atensyon upang makapagpokus siya sa darating na giyerang papasukin niya. At minsan lang manlibre ang kuripot na kapatid, kaialangang sulitin.

Nagtungo ang kambal sa mall, at gaya ng napag-usapan gastos ni Chester ang lahat. Dahil hindi naman mahilig mamili ang babaeng kambal ay wala siyang gaanong nagatus sa shopping ngunit sa arcade, tila ba malapit nang masaid ang ATM niya.

"Hindi ka ba nagsasawang maglaro? Ubos na ang pera ko!" Maktol nito kay Cheska. Halos apat na oras na silang nasa arcade.

"Aba! Ikaw ang nagvolunteer na gumastos kaya huwag kang magreklamo." pangangatwiran naman nito.

Wala iyong nagawa ang lalaki kaya nakipagsabayan na lang siya sa kakambal niyang balik na naman sa sobrang bossy nitong ugali. Nanatili sila roon hanggang magsawa sila. Minsan ay nagtutungo naman sila sa mga food stall upang kumain. Pagabi na ngunit wala pa rin silang kasawaan. Tanging tawag mula sa kanilang ama na nagpapauwi sa kanila ang pumutol nito.

"What did he say?" Cheska ask as the call ended.

"Nagpapasundo siya sa Airport." Chester answered and carry their things.

"Now?" tanong ulit ni Cheska. Parang tinatamad na siya dahil ngayon lang nito naramdaman ang pagod.

"Yeah, now. Let's go daanan na natin siya. The old man doesn't like waiting." he jokingly said and his twin giggle.

"Stop that he might hear us! He might turn to Hulk!" she added and they laughed even more.

They arrived at the airport after half an hour, they were welcome by the furious face of their father. They give him a hug and Cheska kissed him on the cheeks. Chester took their father's luggage while their dad went straight to the car.

"Be alert I can sense danger." Seryosong bulong ni Chester na ikinatawa ng kambal.

Cheska laughed but immediately stop when their dad open the car's window looking at them boringly. They did not waste any time and went there faster.

"Are you guys making fun of me?" he ask on the window while we're fixing his luggage at the compartment. The twins did not bother to answer. Cheska left Chester do the fixing and went to the backseat and sit with dad.

"Daddy." I said as I hugged him.

"Hmmm? My princess is sweet. Ah I missed this." he said and kiss her daughter's forehead and envelope her around his arm.

"What the fuck! I'm not a fucking driver!" Suddenly crsed kaya napatingin ang mag-ama rito.

"I don't like your words young man." he said seriously. Palihim naman na natatawa si Cheska.

"Oh daddy! Mukha akong driver nito! Why do you both have to sit at the back?" Chester said frustratedly.

"Hindi tayo kasyang tatlo diyan sa harap. Stop complaining and just drive."Nagkakamot ng ulo na lang na sumunod si Chester. Sinamaan niya namn ng tingin si Cheska na binelatan lang naman siya.

Kannla pa nakarating ang mag-aama sa kanilang tirahan. Kanina pa rin nanatili si Cheska sa kanila ng hardin at malalim ang iniisip kaya naman naisipan ng kaniyang ama na lapitan ito.

"What makes our princess go deep as the sea, huh?" bungad niya at umupo sa tabi ng dalagang anak. Narinig niya ang malalim na paghinga nito bago tumingin sa kanya.

"Dad?" she looked at him and smile.

"Yes princess." tinitigan niya ito at iniipit ang takas na buhok sa likod ng kanyang tenga.

"Do you miss mom?" malungkot na tanong nito. His father smile at her question.

"I always miss her." he answered as he put his right arm on her shoulder.

"I miss her so much. I wish she was here to answer my questions." Komportableng sumandal naman si Cheska sa balikat ng ama.

"Well, I'm sure she's listening, but I'll be the one answering your questions. We might freakout when she answered." They both chuckled with her dad's silliness. "So what is it?" Nag-iisip muna ito bago tumingin sa ama. She is a bit doubtful if she'll ask her dad or not.

"Is it right to leave the people you love just for their safety?" There she asks at last. Her father looked at her.

"Why do you asked?" balik tanong niya.

"Just asking." she answered and shrugged.

"If it was the best then, it is right to leave them. And we have to endure the pain of our decision. Loving is giving and if you love. When someone whom you love gets into danger, then your love will lead you to protect them even if it means your life." mahabang sagot ng ama. Saglit na katahimikan ang bumalot sa dalawa.

"Just like mom..." She again remembered how her mother died.

That's to protect her.

"Your mother loves us so much, she loves you and your twin. What she did was the greatest thing a mother can do. I am thankful and at the same time hurt. Hurt because she left me-us too early and thankful, for because of her I have you and Chester, and I love her more for that."