strawberry drink and cigarettes | ✓

Special Chapter: Sia

happy mother's day to all mothers, especially my brave Sia and my Kinse in heaven. <3

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Who thought that I will end up with Tristan? Who thought that I will have my own family even though I don't want it? Who thought that I will never be a wife and a mother?

That's me.

That's always me.

For my doubts before? I couldn't imagine where I ended up. I always hated the word 'family', because I never felt that I have one before. But today, that I have Tristan, Blue, and Luke I couldn't ask for more.

It was different. Tristan was spoiling me, Blue, and Luke, and me pouring all my love into Blue and Luke. Blue's already a grown-up woman and she's already in college. Sa Baguio n'ya ginusto mag-aral dahil nandoon ang mga kaibigan n'ya. I can see Tristan to her, where Acell is, there's Tristan. Gano'n silang dalawa noon, kaya gano'n din si Blue sa kan'yang mga kaibigan. Si Luke naman ang kabaliktaran ni Blue, tahimik lang at hindi masyadong pala-kaibigan. Halos hindi sila magkapareho dahil mas maingay si Blue kumpara kay Luke na ilang beses mo lang ata maririnig na magsalita.

"Mommy, you don't have to go here naman po. I will visit naman, e." My daughter said as she put the groceries we brought for her. "Saka you have work, 'di ba? Dad will probably miss his students!"

My husband, Tristan, laughed. "Kaya na nila 'yon. Ako hindi ko kayang hindi makita ang prinsesa ko." He winked at our daughter.

Blue snorted. "Ano ba 'yan! Ang tanda mo na pero ang korni mo pa rin!" She laughed when her Dad pouted. "Asa'n nga po pala si Luke? Akala ko sasama 'yon?"

"Your brother doesn't want to miss his trainings, alam mo namang athlete 'yon." I said, "Nagalit nga sa 'kin noong sinabi kong pupuntahan ka namin today."

"Kasi may training?"

Tumango kami ni Tristan. Nilapitan ko ang anak ko at niyakap ito. "I missed you." Bulong ko rito.

Ngumiti siya, 'yung ngiti n'yang abot sa mga mata n'ya. Ngayon ko lang ulit nakita 'yon. Noong nasa modeling pa siya ay parang laging pilit ang ngiti n'ya, hindi ako natutuwa no'n.

"How's Aki?" Tristan asked, "Hindi mo naman pinapakilala sa 'kin, e!"

Para na tuloy siyang bata sa ginawa n'ya. He was pouting making our daughter laugh.

"Dad, he'll be here mamaya. Umuwi lang siya ng Manila to visit Tita." Blue said happiness is evident in her face.

She looks happy. She was free. It made my heart melt. Last year na nila ni Aki sa college, at ilang buwan na lamang ay gra-graduate na silang dalawa. I can't wait to meet my balae!

"Aki loves to meet you, but it's mother's day today kaya need n'ya umuwi sa Manila." Our daughter explained. "Tito also wants to meet you, kaso hindi tumutugma time ninyo na bumisita here."

"Sayang naman. Aayain ko sana mag-shot." Sabi ni Tristan na ikinailing na lamang ng anak namin.

"Ikaw talaga! You're a bad influence kay Tito!" Pagbibiro ni Blue.

Tristan acted like he was hurt by what our daughter said. "Sakit mo na, Blue."

Tumawa ang anak ko. "Joke lang, Daddy! Mas basagulero pa si Tito kaysa sa 'yo. Pero noon 'yon. Ikaw yata kasi magmula noon."

Pinandilatan ko ng mata ang anak ko. Baka ay mapikon si Tristan, mahirap pa man din amuhin. Grabe kung magtampo.

Kinagabihan ay dumating din si Aki, kasama ang Daddy n'ya. Tumayo kami para batiin siya. Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na magkikita kami, nagkita na kami sa bahay nina Calla, pero hindi kami nag-uusap no'n dahil inaasikaso ko ang anak ko noon.

"Mom, saglit lang. May pupuntahan lang kami." Paalam ni Blue at hinila agad si Aki.

"Kakarating lang nila, 'nak. Hindi mo ba kaya na mag-isa?" Si Tristan, nag-aalala kay Aki.

Aki smiled shyly. "It's okay po, Tito."

Tumango lang si Tristan at hinayaan na ang dalawa. Nang makalabas silang dalawa ay naiwan kaming tatlo.

"Hindi na naman mapaghiwalay 'yung dalawa," Gray said.

Tristan chuckled. "Sinabi mo pa. After their heartbreak? 'Yung pinakamatagal nilang hindi pagpapansinan ay parang hindi nangyari."

We were aware that Aki and Blue almost had a thing when they were in 1st-year college. But Aki still loves the woman who died before Aki and Blue happened. It was a tragic story for Aki, yet he still made his way to fix everything and let go everything for my Blue. He was so sorry to me when he hurt my daughter. He was kneeling, asking for my forgiveness. But I didn't hate him for what he did, I understand him. . . Because he loves the woman and it's not easy to love again after loving and losing someone.

"I was so happy when Aki told me that he made it up with Blue," Gray said, a smile plastered on his face.

Itutuloy n'ya pa sana ang sasabihin n'ya nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang mga anak namin. May dala silang cake at balloons. Akala ko ay dalawa lang sila, pero pumasok din ang isa ko pang anak.

"Luke!" Napatayo ako dahil sa gulat.

"Surprise!" Sigaw nilang tatlo. "Happy mother's day!"

Luke was holding two bouquets. He was smiling at me, or I should say grinning at me?

"Sabi mo may training ka!" Iyak ko at niyakap siya.

"Mayroon nga, Mom. Kaso maaga natapos, kaya tinawagan ko si Kuya Aki para makisabay." sagot n'ya.

He broke the hug and handed the other bouquet to Gray. "Happy mother's day, Tito. Akala mo kay Ate 'yan, 'no? Syempre, hindi!"

Binatukan ni Blue ang kapatid. "Pasalamat ka sinabay ka ng bebe ko!" Aba, inaway pa. "Kung hindi dahil sa kan'ya ay wala ka rito ngayon, ha!"

Luke sticks out his tongue, teasing his older sister.

I was laughing at the same time crying because of happiness. I am so happy to have them in my life. I don't want more. They're enough.

"Mommy," lumapit silang dalawa sa 'kin. "Mahal ka po namin kahit alam kong ampon lang si Luke."

"Ate!" Saway ni Luke.

"Joke lang," Blue said, winking at him. "Love ka palagi ni Ate."

"Mahal kayo palagi ni Mommy at Daddy."