Way Back Home

37

I was confined at the hospital for one week, together with the babies. If I was alone, I would struggle but I had two lovely men on my side. Palitan sina Jeu at Danes sa pagbabantay sa amng tatlo. Sometimes, people would ask who is the father of my kids. Confused that I both had them by my side. 

Ngayon kami makakalabas sa hospital at nagpresenta ang dalawa na ihatid kaming tatlo. They kind of argued at first but settled then afterward. Dahil wala pa namang lisenya si Jeu dito, mas mabuting kay Danes kami sasama kaso gustong sumama ni Jeu.

Kaya ngayon ay hindi matahimik ang dalawa habang papauwi kami.

Danes scoffed at Jeu's last statement. "Imagine how lucky are you, the famous Danes are driving the car you are riding. So just the fuck up, bro. It's not my fault that you have no license in my country. Go back to the Philippines! Your people need you there!"

Jeu was calm. Years of being a lawyer helped him control his emotions. And Danes won't surely win arguing to Jeu.

Pagod na pagod ako at gusto nang mahiga sa kama ko at matulog pero nang marinig silang dalawa na mag-away ay natawa na lang ako.

Nasa bisig ko si Adrienne habang bitbit naman ni Jeu si Edrian at nagmamaneho si Danes. Pareho silang nasa harapan at katabi ko ang iibang gamit namin. Hindi naman malayo ang lugar ko sa ospital pero ngayong dinig ko ang ingay nila ay parang babyahe ako at magtutungo sa ibang bansa.

I wanted to order to stop arguing but I feel like I owe them a lot and just let them. I closed my eyes due to my tiredness and woke up when I felt Adrienne wasn't in my arms anymore.

Nabahala ako nang mawala ito sa paningin ko at isinuyod ang lugar. Nakalma ako nang makita na nasa loob ako ng aking kwarto, nakahiga.

Lumabas ako at nakitang kalong ng dalawa ang mga anak ko habang naghahanda ng pagkain. Tumingin ako sa labas at nakitang madilim na. Looks like they are preparing for dinner. This means that they are also eating dinner here.

"How's your sleep Ave?" Danes asked when he saw me out from the room.

"I was able to rest. Thanks to both of you." I rewarded both of them with a sweet and thankful smile.

"Of course, always, Belle. You can count on me." I heard Jeu say.

Then Danes whispers follow. "Lucky bastard who holds his time."

I glared at him. He was picking a fight with Jeu. Then bickers like there's no tomorrow.  Good thing, they did not. Or else, I would send them both of them out, even if it means I had to take care of them both, all by myself. Sounds better than hearing the nuisance bickers.

I prepared the table when Jeu said the food was already cooked. Hinanda niya iyon habang hawak ko ang aking babaeng anak. Danes prepared the water with his other hand while his arm was occupied by my son.

We decided to take the crib out, near us. So we could eat peacefully and we did. They did not even bicker for a while. After we ate, Danes offered to wash the dishes and I could not help but hesitate.

"You might break 'em, Danes! Just leave it there, I can handle them." I recited. Jeu laughed. Then Danes shutter me a glare.

Danes sounded like an applicant stating his background about dishwashing making Jeu burst out in a peal of laughter. And mine follows. In the end, he washed the dishes and it took him an hour to finish it. Thankfully, he did not break anything.

Days turn into a week. Weeks in a month. And as I blink, another year has passed. We are now celebrating the twins' 3rd birthday. We held it on Danes' small secret resort, here in Maryland.

Kaunti lang kaming nandito, halos mga kaibigan sa industriya at ibang kaibigan lang. And  Danes family. His son and wife.

Maraming nangyari sa nagdaan na taon. Kabilang na doon ang pagbabalik ko sa modeling industry, hindi na nga lang ako iyong modelo. Iyong mga anak ko na. They cater dresses and clothes for kids their ages. And Jeu works as a photographer. The twins' photographer since he can manage and track their tantrums.

Danes found his P.A., pregnant after searching for almost a year. They were both in love with each other but kept on denying it. Until they knocked off some sense and gave it a try which leads them to marriage. Then after a year of finishing his contracts, he never signed in for another one. They stayed low-key but not private but the whole fandom knew about the wedding, some media were even invited.

The twins were with Eliana, Danes' wife with their son, M. I checked the location again before I goes back to the room and called them to start the party.

Everything goes on as planned. Jeu and his team for the documentary. I thanked some sponsors who sponsored foods and the designs. Danes and Eli for letting us celebrate the twins' birthday in their resort.

"Of course! That's my godchildren you are talking about!" he shouted from the crowd and shows a thumbs up.

As I acknowledge the guests, the twins came out of the stage. My eyes were on the planned program that I made to have everything perfect. As the people clapped their hands, my eyes automatically looked up to see them. The smile in my mouth was suddenly changed by confusion. Seeing a mascot in between them.

Ed and Ad are both holding the mascot's hand. Both had smiles on their lips as they looked at the guests. Still confused, I walked to Jeu who was steps near.

"Who paid for that mascot? I never called for one." I asked him, all eyes on my children.

His eyes were on his camera and says, "I called for one."

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa isinagot niya. "You never told me about that."

"Oh? I did not?" He faced me as if he forgot about that idea.

I was losing my patient so before I could ruin my mood for the night, I left him and continued to do my thing.

The party was making the twins have fun and I was sure that they would be dead tired as this day ends. They were running and playing with their friends. Swimming at the beach and later on the pool. We already changed into more comfortable outfits for some of the games we did earlier. Making the people have more fun.

"Ed! Don't go too far!" I shouted, telling my son who's on the sea.

Ad, my daughter is already tired, laying down on the same sun lounger as I am. While Ed was enjoying the sea by himself.

I am keeping my eye on Ed when Ad, called my name to scratch back. I went to her and scratch her back when I hear someone calling my son's name. My eyes went to see my son. But I was not able to see his body anymore. Isinuyod ko ang tingin ko sa dagat at nakitang may mga kamay na patuloy iwinawagayway sa ibabaw ng mga alon.

Panic washed all over my body. I shouted my son's name as I ran towards the shore. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng aking mga kamay at paa habang pattuloy ako sa pagtakbo patuloy sa gawi ng anak. I feel everything went slow-mo.

He was already in the arms of a man. They were both wet and heard that the man was breathing hard. My eyes went unto my son's face and saw his eyes were closed. Tears came out of my eyes as everything became blurred. Seconds later, it went black.

As my eyes opened, the first thing that came up to my mind was my son. I am about to open my mouth when I saw both of them on the couch. Hindi na ako nagsayang pa ng oras at agad itinakbo ang pagitan namin. I envelop both of my arms to hug them and kissed them.

"I am so sorry I wasn't able to keep my eyes on you, Ed." I was sobbing as I apologized to my son.

The three eyes were crying as I hugged both of them. Thinking how bad I am as their mother.

"I am so sorry, my son. I was not a good mother for letting you in that situation." My voice is shaking, my heart shattered.

"No Mama, that's not your fault!" his voice quivers, and cried hard.

"I am sorry Kuya and Mama, it's all my fault po that I asked you to scratch my back when I can do it." My heart broke more hearing my daughter say those words, saying it's all her fault.

My eyes went up as I asked Him, what went wrong.