The Sweet Revenge (COMPLETED)

Epilogue

"Daddy, can I play with Kerrin after school?" Zella, my seven-year-old daughter, asked. I put down my paper and glanced at her. She was peeking at the door of my room, pouting, and her hands were clasped. I motioned for her to come closer, which she did, but her mouth pouted more.
 
"Did I say that you should call him Kuya Kerrin because he's five years older than you?" I said softly. Zella snaked her arms around my waist and looked up at me.
 
"I told you, Daddy. I like Kuya Kerrin," she shyly said. I chuckled lightly, carried her, and made her sit on my lap. I removed my eyeglasses and started combing her hair using my slender fingers. I stared at my daughter's eyes and smiled as I saw that some of her features mirrored her mother's.
 
"But your mom won't like it when she hears it; you're too young for that kind of stuff, my princess." Zella bit her lower lip, trying to restrain herself from crying, but she couldn't. Umalpas ang luha sa mata niya at nahihiya siyang nagtago ng mukha sa dibdib ko. Just like her mother, she loves to bury her face on my chest whenever something is bothering her.
 
I sighed and massaged my nape. Lagot na naman ako kay Zyxhiaxy kapag nakita niyang umiiyak ang anak namin. Binuhat ko si Zella at at lumabas ng kwarto. She hid her face on my neck and sobbed. Nakasalubong ko naman ang Kuya Zenith niya na nagtatakang nakatingin sa amin.
 
I smiled at him, and I saw him fix his glasses. Nang tumungtong siya ng anim na taon ay kinailangan niyang magsuot ng eyes and glasses dahil lumabo ang kanyang mata. The doctor said that it wasn't dangerous, but we have to watch out for his eye's condition. My baby boy has grown up. He has already studied in high school and seems to be competitive in his studies. Minsan na nga lang siya halos lumabas ng kwarto niya dahil babad sa pag-aaral.
 
Nagkaroon pa kami ng isang baby ni Zyxhiaxy ngunit bago pa umabot ng tatlong buwan sa tiyan ni Zyxhiaxy ay nakunan siya. We're both devastated; nang oras na 'yon ay bagong kasal lang kami. Our friends suggested to us that we should attend counseling that time. Pareho kami ni Zyxhiaxy na nalungkot nang mangyari iyon.

"Why is our baby crying?" he asked and tried to look for Zella's face, but the girl just buried her face more on my neck and cried harder. Natawa si Zenith sa nakikita. He even tried to make fun of her sister, but I warned him. Alam niya kasing pauwi na ang Mommy nila at hindi nito magugustuhan na makitang umiiyak ang bunso namin.
 
I walked down the stairs with Zella in my arms. Narinig ko ang busina sa labas ng bahay, kaya mahina akong napamura. Zyxhiaxy entered our house while wearing her three-piece suit. She glanced at us and smiled, but it immediately faded when she saw our baby crying. She rushed in our direction and got Zella from me.
 
"Bakit mo na naman pinaiyak ang baby ko?" she asked, not bothering to ask who made our baby cry. I heard Zenith's laugh behind me. Tinignan ko siya ng masama ngunit mabilis lang siyang yumakap sa Mommy niya na agad siyang hinalikan sa noo.
 
"Seriously, love?" I said, pouting.
 
She glared at me. "Bakit?"
 
Mabilis akong umiling at ngumiti ng pilit. Kakagaling niya lang sa trabaho, kaya alam kong pagod siya. It's been three years since she started taking over Antonio's company and his businesses. Those were hers now, after Antonio passed away. She decided to just run the company and completely change it, not leaving a trace of Antonio's legacy there.
 
"D-Daddy said I couldn't like Kuya Kerrin," Zella said between her sobs. Zyxhiaxy's face changed. I knew she didn't like what our daughter said, so I quickly caressed her back to calm her down. "Anak naman, bakit 'yung anak pa ni Tito Duex mo?"
 
I heard Zenith's laugh, kaya pareho kami ng Mommy niya na sinamaan siya ng tingin. Zyxhiaxy looked at me as if asking for help, but I just shrugged my shoulders.
 
"He's kind, Mommy; he always gives me candy whenever I visit their house. S-Sabi ni Tito Duex d-dapat daw kami magkatuluyan. S-See, Mommy? Even Tito Duex wants me for his son," Zella mumbled and cried harder.
 
Mahina akong napamura at akmang lalabas para sugurin ang bahay ng tarantandong Duex na yon, pero agad akong napigilan ni Zyxhiaxy. She bit her bottom lip, trying to stop herself from bursting into laughter.
 
"Okay, baby. Papayag ako sa gusto mo pero kapag nasa tamang edad ka na, hmm? You're too young to have a crush on someone, but if you really like him, then I'll let that pass. Just don't cross the line. Okay?" Zyxhiaxy tolerated our daughter.
 
Napahilot na lang ako sa noo at pinanood silang mag-ina na umakyat sa hagdan papunta sa kwarto. Zyxhiaxy continued caressing Zella's face while whispering something that I couldn't hear, and I knew she would not tell me that. Napabuntong hininga ako at saka tumingin kay Zenith.
 
"Do you like someone at the moment?" I straightly asked. I saw how he froze.
 
"D-Dad?" 
 
"Are you seeing someone?" nakangiting tanong ko at inakbayan siya. Hindi kaagad nakasagot si Zenith at tila na tulala. I noticed that every time he goes to school, he constantly checks himself in the mirror and practices smiling. Napailing na lang ako nang maalala 'yon.
 
" Yeah, Dad. But I'm not planning to court her. We're too young for that thing," seryosong saad niya kaya mas lalo akong napangiti. I gripped his shoulder and tapped his back.
 
"That's my boy."
 
Habang nasa taas sila ay inasikaso ko ang hapunan namin. Zyxhiaxy must have been tired after working the whole day. Sinamantala ko ang day off ko at pinagsilbihan silang mag-iina.
 
Nang matapos ay pinatay ko ang stove at umakyat sa taas. In our 5 years of marriage, we have gone through different circumstances that really tested our patience and love for each other, but we remained strong and committed to each other.
 
Nakita kong naghaharutan ang tatlo sa kama, habang nakahiga si Zyxhiaxy. She was still wearing her attire. I tsked and entered the room. Siya ang palaging nagagalit sa akin sa tuwing hindi kaagad ako nagpapalit ng damit pagdating sa trabaho, but here she was, still in her suit.
 
"I love you," bulong ko kay Zyxhiaxy nang makalapit. I kissed her forehead and caressed her cheeks. I heard my daughter screaming while her brother was trying to cover her eyes.
 
"I'm going to have a baby sister, na!" Zella screamed and jumped on the bed. Zyxhiaxy laughed and hugged my waist. She buried her face in my chest and inhaled my scent. She loves doing that.
 
"I love you," she replied, gripping my waist tighter. Pinagmasdan ko kung paano ngumiti sa amin ang dalawang anak namin. I never knew that I would be this content with my life.
 
"Have you prepared your speech?" I cursed when I remembered that I had to prepare a speech for Zyxhiaxy. I'm going to surprise her for our anniversary, and she'll be home anytime now.
 
"Bro, relax." Duex chuckled. "Kami na muna bahala rito, I'm sure parating na 'yon." Duex and Silver helped me prepare this surprise. Magkasama ang mga anak namin sa loob at naglalaro. Nag-aalala ako nang maalala na baka may gawin na hindi maganda si Kerrin kay Zella at mas lalong lumala iyon nang makita ko si Zella na umiiyak habang hinahampas ang dibdib ni Kerrin.
 
Duex and I stared at each other. We both ran in their direction. Mabilis kong binuhat si Zella palayo kay Kerrin at hinatak naman ni Duex si Kerrin para hindi masaktan ni Zella. Nagpumiglas ang anak ko at tumili kaya binaba ko na lang siya dahil sa masakit sa tenga.
 
"What happened here?" Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Kerrin, but Duex' son remained blank while staring at my daughter.
 
"D-Daddy," umiiyak na tawag sa akin ni Zella. Lumuhod ako sa harapan niya at pinunasan ang luha niya. Suminok-sinok siya at saka tinuro si Kerrin. "I confessed to him, and he rejected me, Daddy. He rejected me!" Narinig ko ang nakakainis na tawa ni Duex, kaya nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at sinamaan siya ng tingin.
 
I sighed and massaged my nape. Nakita ko sa 'di kalayuan si Silver na pinagatatawanan ang sitwasyon namin. Palibhasa wala pang anak at nagkakamaling pumatol.
 
"Anak—"
 
"I told her that she needs to fix her attitude so I can like her. I don't want a spoiled and soft-hearted girl like her, so it's impossible that I will reciprocate her feelings for me." My mouth was agape as well as Duex'. My anger rose, and I was about to kick her son when Duex blocked my way while laughing.
 
"'Tangina, bro. Away bata h'wag ka na makisali."
 
"He just insulted my daughter!"
 
"Yeah, whatever. Ako na bahala. Zella, do you trust Tito Duex?
 
My daughter sobbed and nodded.
 
Duex smiled and caressed my daughter's hair. "Good. Now go to your dad; pagsasabihan ko lang si Kerrin." Binitbit ni Kerrin ang anak niya palayo sa amin. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at binuhat si Zella para dalhin sa Kuya niya. Nagtataka naman itong tinignan ang kapatid niya. I just told him to look after his sister, baka ano pang gawin. 
 
Pinagpatuloy ko ang pag-asikaso sa garden hanggang sa matapos. Pinauwi ko na si Duex at ang anak niya dahil baka magsagutan lang sila ni Zyxhiaxy mamaya pagdating nito. I couldn't afford another headache.
 
"Good luck," Silver said, tapping my shoulder.
 
"Yeah. Thanks, bro."
 
It was a candlelight dinner. It was simple, unlike our other dates, but I knew she would like it. Masyadong busy ang schedule naming dalawa at minsan na lang lumabas kaya mapagdesisyunan ko na dito na lang sa bahay mag-celebrate.
 
I waited for thirty minutes, and she still didn't arrive. Nagsimula na akong mag-alala dahil hindi siya madalas ma-late ng uwi galing trabaho. Sinubukan kong tawagan siya ngunit hindi ko agad na-contact. I called Duex, and he immediately answered. Tila binuhasan ako ng malamig na tubig nang marinig ang sinabi niya.
 
"Zyxhiaxy was still in the company; maraming pulis sa harapan ng building nila, and I'm on my way there. I just hope that nothing happens to her." Mabilis akong pumasok sa loob at binilin kay Manang ang dalawa kong anak. I was nervous as hell while driving. It was supposed to be our celebration, but it turned out to be this.
 
Nang makarating sa harapan ng building, nila ay nagulat ako sa dami ng pulis sa harapan. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan at sinubukang makipagsiksikan sa mga tao hanggang makapasok ng building. I didn't bother asking what happened. I just want to see my baby safe and look for her. Tumakbo ako papunta sa hagdanan at umakyat papunta sa floor ng office niya. Wala na halos mga tao sa building dahil tapos na ang office hour, and Zyxhiaxy should be in our house right now.
 
Nanghina ako nang makitang walang tao sa loob ng office niya. I tried to look for her everywhere, but she wasn't here until I heard a noise outside the office. Sinundan ko 'yon at umakyat sa rooftop kung saan iyon nanggagaling. My hands were shaking, and anytime soon I could cry because of the nervousness. I just want to see her safe; that's all I can think of.
 
Nang makarating sa rooftop ay bumungad sa akin ang maliwanag na paligid. The place was neatly arranged, and there was a table and candlelight everywhere. I looked for her, and my eyes found her sitting on the chair while holding a guitar. Her thighs were crossed, and she was also staring at me with a ghostly smile on her lips.
 
"Xhia . . ." nanghihinang tawag ko at lumapit sa kanya habang nililibot ang tingin sa paligid. It was a simple dinner she prepared for me, but it was more beautiful than what I prepared in our house. My eyes instantly watered when she started strumming the guitar while our gazes were still locked on each other.
 
'Georgia, wrap me up in all your...
I want you, in my arms
Oh, let me hold you
I'll never let you go again, like I did
Oh, I used to say'