Nang makauwi kami ay agad kong nakita si Ren na nagluluto. Sinalubong ko naman ang aking mga anak na sobrang cute sa suot nila.
"I miss you, elements," I said, frowning.
"Mommy, smile na," ani Cadmium habang kinikiliti ako.
Krypton kissed me. "I love you, Mom!"
Arsenic hugged me tight. He then looked at me. "Are you hungry, mother? Ininit ni Uncle Ren ang pagkaing dala ni Uncle Chase kanina. They say food makes us happy," aniya.
"Okay... I will eat," sabi ko. Tatayo na sana ako nang pigilan nila ako.
"Kami na lang po ang kukuha," ani Krypton.
Malawak akong napangiti. Kinikilig ako sa ginagawa nila. Ang cute talaga! Kinalaunan ay may dala-dala na silang pagkain at juice para sa akin. Malawak ang ngisi nina Ren at Cedar habang tinitingnan ang mga bata.
"Thank you, my elements," I uttered.
Pinigilan ulit nila ako dahil salit-salitan nila akong sinusubuan. Si Krypton at Cadmium ang nagsasalit-salitan habang si Arsenic naman ay hinihilot ang aking ulo.
"Are you all excited to meet our visitors, later?" I asked them.
"Yes, Mommy..." ani Cadmium.
"Will our cousins be here too?" tanong ni Krypton.
"Yes, baby. They will be here," I replied.
"Will they love us, Mother?" tanong ni Arsenic.
"Of course, baby. Why are you asking me about that?"
"I'm scared, mother. If they won't like us then I won't like them too. I don't want to see you hurt," seryoso niyang sabi.
Tiningnan ko siya. "Thank you for protecting me, baby. Don't worry. They're kind. They will surely love the three of you."
Bigla akong niyakap ni Arsenic. Hinagod-hagod ko ang kanyang likod.
"Are you okay, Arsen?" pag-aalalang tanong ko.
"I'm sad, Mother. I don't like to be sad," he said then I heard his sob.
Tiningnan ko si Krypton at Cadmium na nag-aalala sa kanya. Nilapitan nila si Arsenic at niyakap.
"It's normal to be sad, baby. Sometimes, I feel sad for no reason. Just tell me if you're upset, sad, angry or happy, okay?"
"I'm scared."
"They will like you, baby."
"And how about our grandparents? You always said that they were kind but they didn't visit us just like our father," Arsenic said, sighing.
"What do you want exactly, baby?"
"If they don't like us, we should stop trying, Mother. We're happy with you. Hindi naman kami mangungulit. I just dreamt of you crying again..." his voice broke.
Tiningnan niya ako. "I don't want to see you hurting, Mother. I love you," he said. "And I'm sorry for being sad today..."
Agad akong umiling. "No. Don't be sorry, baby. It's normal baby. Mayroon tayong iba't-ibang emosyon. Hindi naman laging masaya ang nararamdaman natin. Okay lang maging malungkot... We're here for you, okay?" I said, hugging him tight.
"I love you, Arsen..." sabi ni Cadmium habang hinahalikan sa noo si Arsenic.
"I love you... We're going to protect, Mom. Don't worry," ani Krypton habang sinusuklay ang buhok niya.
***
Nang sumapit ang hapon ay sunod-sunod na nagsidatingan ang mga pinsan ko. Nasa labas ako, si Catmint, Archer, Ren at Cedar habang sinasalubong sina Serene, Franco, Marcus, Jarzaiah, at Imil.
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