I am here. Always here.

CHAPTER 2

HAPPINESS.

This word is not enough to describe what they are feeling right now. Luan Yukio and Kale Yukio, today is their birthday. And maybe for most people, birthdays are something to look forward to but for them, they already accept the fact that this will be just another normal day. They are already set on the idea that they only have themselves to welcome the day they were born.

Being used to but still hoping to celebrate this day with their father is something that Luan hates. Every year, since the day he and his twin became aware of what the world is, they will sit down in front of the big round table in the corner of this very room, waiting for their father to come home. They would be waiting until past midnight to see if their father would come and be with them. They are not asking for anything fancy, they just wanted his presence.

But maybe, just maybe, greeting someone with a happy birthday is something their father cannot do. At least to them. Who is sane enough to wish the person who killed his wife a happy birthday?

"ATE NOEY!" Kale jumped into his sister's embrace while showing off his feline-like eyes.

"You're here! On our birthday," he added enthusiastically.

"But yes, of course. I wouldn't miss this day to be with you guys" the girl replied while caressing the hair of the silver-red-haired young man and was then followed by small giggles from the younger.

"You came here. At this hour. While the rain is pouring this hard" the sweet time of the two was soon interrupted by the voice coming from their side. It was Luan, the older twin, the young man with silver-blue hair. He was looking at the two with his arms akimbo.

"Oohh shhh. Whether it is raining or even if the whole world is shaking, I would come here" Noey answered while motioning her right hand toward the boy. The latter just sighed in reply and encircled his arms into his sister's small waist. He placed his head onto the girl's shoulder and murmured.

"We're just worried that you might get into an accident just to be with us"

"Right. We don't want to lose the only person who cares for us" Kale mumbled on the other side. Agreeing with what his brother just said. He realized just now how dangerous it is for their sister to drive all the way here, just to celebrate their birthday.

"We're being selfish again"

"Ate, you don't have to go through all this trouble. It's just another normal day anyways" Luan added

Hearing all the sentiments of the twins, Noey just tightened her embrace to the two.

"First, I wouldn't be in an accident because I drove very slowly and safely. I'm a good driver, y'know. Second, you guys are not being selfish because it was me who wanted to be here with my babies. Lastly, who says your birthday is just another normal day? That's not true. I will punch the face of the person who says that" Noey questioned the twins.

"Dad" Kale answered.

"Dad? What about your dad?" Noey asked back, clearly confused why Kale suddenly mentioned her uncle.

"It was Dad who said that our birthdays are just another normal day," Luan said in response.

"Dad probably meant that we shouldn't celebrate on this day because it was also mom's death anniversary. I mean, this day is not worth celebrating because it was also the day he lost his wife" It was Kale who stated this in a whisper.

"Yeah, who would want to celebrate the birth of his wife's killer?" followed by this reproachful statement from Luan in his hoarse voice.

Wonder-struck is an understatement if you may ask Noey what she was feeling right now after hearing what the boys have just said. Just why on earth would her uncle say that? Telling his sons that it was them who killed their mother is something that a good father would not say to his sons who never met their mother. Not even once.

She was then fished out of her pensiveness when she felt warm tears trailing down her both shoulders. The twins, her brothers, her babies, they are crying. Their silent tears are like needles pricking her heart.

"STOP. Stop crying. Yuki, Kio, listen to me, ok? You guys are not killers. You are not murderers. It was never your fault and it will never be your fault that your mother died. You were just babies at that time, you never knew anything. Your mother, Aunt Sarah died because her body is weak. It wasn't you Yuki or Kio who caused that. It was her fate. It was God's plan for her. You're not monsters, you're an angel, my little angels. " Noey tried explaining to the two.

"She won't get weak if it wasn't for us. If she wouldn't have continued her pregnancy or if she just chose to save herself and not us, maybe she wouldn't die." Kale reasoned out between his sniffles.

"No, no. Kio, baby, She continued her pregnancy with the two of you because she's been praying for so long to have you. She chose to save you and Yuki because you are her treasures. She loves you even before she finally got the chance to meet you. And I'm sure she wouldn't like it if she found out that you guys are blaming yourselves over something you never did"

"But Ate, dad is saying and acting otherwise. And besides, dad got a point. Today was also our mom's death anniversary. There's nothing to celebrate about" Luan sobbed silently.

Noey tried to stop herself from bawling. Hearing her brothers blame themselves for the death of their mother is something she never wanted to hear about. It was so devastating for her to listen to their silent cries and know she can't do anything to stop them from being hurt. They should be laughing, acting like kids their age are supposed to be but here they are, having problems that they shouldn't have in the first place. They don't deserve to be treated like they are nothing like they are someone who's not special.

She breathed deeply and looked up to the ceiling, trying to calm herself out before talking again.

"Yuki, Kio, look Ate Noey in the eyes" she started while breaking free from the two boys.

"What I am going to say, you just have to remember it. Ok?" the boys stared at her intently with tears gushing out of their eyes.

She placed her hands on their faces, trying to wipe the tears that kept on falling "Your birthday is worth celebrating. It is worth celebrating the birth of the two little angels who came into my life. It doesn't matter if your dad says otherwise because, for me, you two are special. You, twins, are the siblings I always wanted to have. Did you know that I always pray to God to give me a sibling that I can love and be with? God answered my prayers and gave the two of you to me. Maybe I am just your cousin, but my love for both of you is boundless. Aunt Sarah may be gone and Uncle Luis may be like that, but who cares? I'm still here and I will always be right here. We will celebrate your birthday until your hair turned gray and your face turned wrinkly"

Instead of stopping, the twins wailed even more. The two crushed her into a hug once again while speaking incoherently.

"Thank you, Ate. Thank you," they said together, hiccuping between every other word.

"You know what? This is not cool. We should be partying and not crying like five-year-old kids" Noey teased the two.

"You need to go to sleep, babies. We will do everything you want later so you need to rest" she said, pushing them to their respective rooms.

"Can you sleep with us, ate?" Luan inquired with his fox-like eyes blinking innocently.

"Please, Ate. I'm kind of scared of the thunder" Kale on the other hand pleaded.

This made Noey laugh. They are still the same. No matter how many birthdays pass, no matter how older they get, they will still be acting like babies in front of her.

"Alright. Let's change into our pajamas first then go to sleep" she replied with a doting tone.

"Yay!" The two screamed and made a high-five.

After changing into their matching pajamas, Noey lay down on her bed and the two positioned themselves on both of her sides, snuggling like little bunnies. After fifteen minutes of humming, she later found out the twins had already passed out.

"Sweet dreams, my little angels. I love you" She smiled and planted a kiss on their foreheads.