These Triplets Aren't Mine

Chapter 1

Mama!

"Good morning, Mama!"

Agad akong napabalikwas mula sa hinihigaan ko. I pushed myself against the headboard of the bed.

I understand that I was drunk last night, but not too wasted to bring triplets in my house. I don't even know whose kids these are. Wait. Did I kidnapped them? Did I just commit a crime? Am i going to jail?

Napasabunot ako sa aking buhok. Mababaliw na yata ako.

I wander my eyes around the room to find another person, but it was just me and these three boys in dinosaur outfits. They are identical triplets and I think they're probably 3-5 yrs. old. They looked so cute with their brown eyes and curly shoulder length hair.

Namimilog ang mga mata nila kakapanood kung paano ako halos masiraan ng bait. I'm confused. Maiintindihan ko kung nasa bahay ako ng ibang tao pero kwarto ko 'to, bahay ko 'to. Kung may magdadala man ng bata rito, walang iba kundi ako lang.

"I told you to just wait! Na-surprise tuloy si Mama!" One of the kids scolded his other two siblings. Nakapamaywang pa'to at iiling-iling sa dalawa.

"Mama, I'm gutom na!" Ngawa ng isa, pulang-pula ang magkabilang pisngi pati ilong sa pang-iyak.

Huminga ako nang malalim at pumikit. This is all that bartender's fault! He put something in my drink kaya ngayon kung ano-anong nakikita ko!

"Am I dreaming?" Bulong ko, pilit pinapakalma ang aking sarili. I was about to slap my cheeks in hope that I would wake up from this dream when suddenly, two small hands touched my face.

"Mama, kung antok ka pa, mag-sleep ka pa."

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa narinig. Hindi na 'to kaya ng sampal-sampal lang, parang totoo na talaga! Iiyak na lang yata ako.

Nang imulat ko ang aking mga mata, halos madikit na ang tungki ng ilong ko sa bata habang ang dalawa naman ay nasa magkabilang gilid ko at nakadungaw rin sa mukha ko. Hindi ako makapagsalita.

"Before ka mag-sleep ulit mama, breakfast muna tayo please." Kalbit nung isa sa balikat ko, naka-pout.

I cleared my throat.

"B-bakit tinatawag niyo 'kong 'Mama'?" Wala sa sariling tanong ko sa kanila. Nagkatinginan silang tatlo at nagtatakang tumingin sa'kin.

"Mama, mag-sleep ka na lang ulit, parang tired ka pa eh." Yamot na sabi nung batang kanina pa gutom at marahan na tinutulak ang katawan ko pahiga ulit ng kama. Ako na lumilipad ang isip ay parang hangin na basta na lang nagpatangay at humiga.

Agad akong napakurap-kurap at umupo ulit. Why didn't I realize that I could just review the CCTV last night? I unwrapped the comforter around my body and ran to my personal computer in my study.

"Saan ka punta, Mama!?"

I heard tiny footsteps behind me. Sinundan ako ng tatlong baby dino. I slowed down a bit dahil baka madapa sila. What's crazy is that apat kaming nasa study ko at pinagkasya nilang tatlo ang kanilang mga sarili sa swivel chair sa tapat ng computer.

I was behind them, checking the footage captured last night. I specifically search for the camera outside the gate.

My heart skipped a beat for a second. Ang tanging naririnig ko lang ay ang mga sunod-sunod na mabilis na pagpindot ko sa mouse. Sh*t. I found nothing. Walang nakarecord pagkatapos akong ihatid sa bahay ni Mama kagabi. All CCTVs inside and outside my house suddenly didn't function after that. Maiintindihan ko kung may isa o dalawang biglang nasira, pero wala ni isang camera ang gumana kagabi. That was damn suspiscious and disturbing at the same time.