TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series 1)

S3: EVIL

CHLOE

"Hi!" I greeted Harriet, and she immediately turned to look at me. Her face brightened as she smiled at me so sweetly.

This is my third time visiting my sister and Mama. Last visit ay kasama ko pa si Trace pero kagabi ay umalis siya papuntang Manila. May biglang aasikasuhin at may tumawag sa kaniya. Trace didn't tell me what the transaction was all about, but he said it was as important as the day I was born. As he always talks in riddles, ayoko na lang mangulit pa. Isa lang naman ang logic ng statement niya, importante.

"Chloe..." Harriet made steps towards me. "Mommy keeps on asking kung kailan ka darating. Plano ko na nga sanang tumawag sa 'yo."

I smiled warmly. But honestly, Mama is kinda weird. Hindi niya pa man kasi naaalala kung paano niya ako naging anak pero alam niya na anak niya ako. The only confusing ay ulit-ulit niya kasing sinasabi na hindi kami kambal ni Harriet. Weird talaga dahil pareho naman kami ng birthdate ni Harriet.

"How is Mama?" tanong ko na lang muna kay Harriet, while she was holding my hand as we walked through the lobby of Deversorium.

"She's in her room. Tara! Samahan kita. She will be glad to see her 'bunso' again."

I smiled again at Harriet hearing the word 'bunso' that Mama used to call me. She calls me like that, and it's weird but... but I fondly like it.

"Let's go, Yette. I wanna see Mama."

We heeded the stairs. Inakyat na namin iyon hanggang sa nasa second floor na kami.

"Ang laki na ng tiyan mo," Harriet said while glancing at my big tummy, which made me grin.

"Yeah, and the baby is very active. I am lacking sleep sometimes because he keeps on moving." I giggled with my excitement. No matter how much my baby is disturbing me with my sleep, I am always happy knowing he's strong and healthy.

"Trace is so excited." Harriet smiled. "Paige too."

"I miss Paige..." I said with a sigh. "How I wish I could see her but I know she's so busy."

"Yeah, she's super busy. Mayor na, eh. May Jerusalem McBride pa na laging nakabantay sa kaniya."

Natawa ako doon sa part na binanggit si Jeru.

"I should be the favorite aunt of Prime," biglang sabi ni Harriet at hinawakan pa ang tiyan ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa paggalaw ni Baby Prime na nadama niya. "He's moving."

"Yeah, he is," natatawang sang-ayon ko.

"Prime's agreeing na ako ang favorite niya na tita."

"Of course, Yette."

"Yes, ako talaga. At bahala si Paige kung hindi siya papayag pero ako ang dapat favorite tita ni Baby Prime. I am his super aunt lalo na... lalo na at both parents niya ay... mga kapatid ko."

I went still. Hindi ko alam pero parang pilit lang ang ngiti at tawa na pinapakita ni Harriet, parang nalulungkot siya. I just noticed as she emphasized 'both parent' kapatid niya.

My sister smiled. "Sorry if I sounded weird pero... weird din kasi ng situation at relationship nating lahat for me. Awkward sa true lang, Chloe."

"Sorry..." tanging sabi ko dahil wala na akong masabing iba. Wala siyang sinasabi but I can feel the heavy burden in her heart.

"And you don't need too. Sa ating lahat naman ay ikaw ang pinaka-deserve maging masaya. At ang dami ni'yong pinagdaanan ni Trace. Pinagdaanan at nilabanan in fact."