HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 41

ALVIN'S POV

"I love you, my little kitten," sabi ko kay Catherine, trying to express my affection. Inirapan naman niya ako, as usual.

Napaka-sungit ng babaeng 'to, pero iba rin ang kaastigan. She was a firecracker, always keeping me on my toes, and that's precisely what I loved about her. Her feistiness was intoxicating.

"Axel," tawag ni kitten kay Axel, drawing my attention to our son. Hindi ko alam na may anak pala kami noon. She had managed to keep him a secret from me for so long, and because of that, feel na feel ko si Jaiden's pain from Angela's similar situation. It was a shared, bittersweet experience.

"Mom, why?" Axel asked, turning from his game.

"Don't run so fast, you might trip," Cath scolded Axel as he was playing with Althea. Her maternal instinct was always on full display, a soft contrast to her usual tough exterior.

"Y-yes, Mom," our son stuttered, a clear sign that even he respected his mother's authority. He was a sweet kid, and my kitten always had a way of making him listen.

"Do you still remember the poems I wrote for you?" I asked her, my heart swelling with a mix of nostalgia and hope. I poured my soul into those verses, trying to convey what I couldn't say directly.

"Oo naman, binasa ko talaga isa-isa 'yon. Panay ka mix signal noon, kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga tayo. Tapos lahat 'yon, para pala sa akin," she replied, a genuine smile gracing her lips. Her words brought a warmth to my chest, knowing that my efforts weren't in vain.

"I still have all of them hidden away. When I was pregnant with Axel, I used to read them every day without fail," she confessed, her eyes softening. Ang sarap pakinggan na ganun niya pinahalagahan ang mga sulat ko. It was a testament to our unspoken connection, even when we were apart.

"Tapos 'yung kantang ginawa mo para sa akin..." she continued, her gaze meeting mine.

"Palagi ko ring pinapakinggan," she added, finishing her thought. The melody and lyrics were meant only for her, a secret message woven into a song.

"Sa lahat ng tulang sinulat ko ikaw ang paksa. Sa kanta ikaw ang bawat piyesa. Gumawa pa nga ako ng libro noon na ikaw at ako ang bida. I was absolutely crushed when I lost you, merong araw na pinanghihinaan na 'ko ng loob kasi hindi ko alam kung makikita pa ba kita. But my desire to see you again, to be with you, always outweighed the despair." I paused, remembering those dark days.

"Kaya naniniwala ako sa tadhana, kasi kung tayo talaga, magkikita at magkikita tayo," she said, her smile radiant and full of conviction. Her belief in fate was comforting, a stark contrast to my pragmatic nature.

"Nagkita nga tayo ulit," I said, shaking my head in a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. It truly felt like destiny had intervened.

"Ibig sabihin tadhana," she declared, her smile unyielding. "You are so beautiful, my little kitten." Her happiness was infectious, and it made my own heart sing.

"Reincarnation, naniniwala ka ba?" she suddenly asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Kitten, talaga? Sige, kung saan ka masaya, Alvin," she said, teasing me about the nickname.

"Cath, kitten, aren't they kind of the same?" I said, chuckling, trying to justify my choice of endearment.

"Anong parehas, ginawa mo 'kong kuting!" she exclaimed, playfully glaring at me. Sungit niya talaga.

"I don't believe in reincarnation," I stated, ever the realist.

"Ako naniniwala. Siguro kung magre-reincarnate ako bilang hayop, gusto kong maging pusa," she said, her eyes gleaming with a whimsical thought.

I burst out laughing. "Why a cat?" I asked, finding her idea amusing.

"Para may kasama ako, gusto ko ikaw 'yung garapata," she answered, her answer catching me off guard.

"May kasama ka nga, pero maraming epekto sa katawan 'yan ng pusa," I said, my scientific mind immediately kicking in. I couldn't help but educate her.

"Give me an example," she said, challenging me.

"Ticks can cause various problems for cats. The most common effect is itching. A tick bite can cause itching in the cat. The cat may scratch the affected area, which can lead to wounds or infections," I explained, drawing on my extensive knowledge. Cath nodded, listening intently.

"Ticks can suck blood from the cat, which can cause anemia. Anemia can cause weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite," I continued, and Catherine smiled, seemingly fascinated by the morbid details.

"Ang mga garapata ay maaaring magdala ng iba't ibang mga sakit, kabilang ang Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, at ehrlichiosis. These diseases can cause various symptoms, including fever, swollen lymph nodes, and loss of appetite. These are the common effects, but there are more serious ones," I said, making sure to emphasize the severity.

"Meron pang mas malubha diyan?" she asked, her eyes wide with a mix of horror and intrigue. I nodded solemnly.

"Ang ilang mga uri ng garapata ay maaaring magdulot ng paralysis sa mga pusa. Ang paralysis ay kadalasang nagsisimula sa mga binti at maaaring kumalat sa buong katawan," I said, painting a vivid picture.

"In rare cases, ticks can cause death in cats. Death is usually caused by anemia or tick-borne diseases," I concluded, bringing my mini-lecture to a dramatic close.

"Ibig sabihin, kung garapata pala kita, puwede akong mamatay?" she asked, connecting the dots.

"Yes, little kitten, at ako ang dahilan no'n. Gusto mo ba 'yon?" I asked, a hint of concern in my voice.

"Of course," she answered, without missing a beat. I furrowed my brow in confusion, completely baffled by her response.

"And why?" I pressed, needing to understand her logic.

"Because if I die, I'll have you with me. You're always on me, so if I die, there's no blood for you to suck, right?" she explained, her reasoning surprisingly profound.

"So we can be together even in death," she added, her smile soft and melancholic. Her loyalty and love were truly boundless, even in the face of death.

"Ang dami mong alam," I said, a little overwhelmed by her philosophical turn.

"Mas marami kang alam, mas matalino ka sa akin, 'diba? Sino ba ang summa cum laude sa ating dalawa?" she asked, her tone reverting to her usual feistiness, arms crossed defiantly.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako. Ito nanaman po tayo sa kasungitan, umaandar nanaman. Her sharp tongue was both endearing and exasperating.

"Siguro nung nagpaulan ng katalinuhan, sinalo mo na lahat, kaya walang napunta sa akin," she continued, her sarcasm dripping.

"Merong napunta sa 'yo," I corrected her gently.

"Ano naman?" she asked, her voice still a bit testy.

"Ako," I answered, a cheeky grin spreading across my face.

Napangiti naman siya. Her initial annoyance melted away, replaced by a soft, genuine smile.

"Oo nga, meron naman akong ikaw," she said, her voice filled with affection. It was a simple truth, and it brought a warmth to my heart.

"Kuya Axel, kanina ka pa, 'di na 'ko natutuwa," Althea said, her voice cutting through our tender moment. Catherine and I turned our attention to them.

"Mali ka naman kasi!" Axel retorted, his voice rising in volume. I instinctively started to move towards them, sensing an impending argument, but Catherine stopped me with a gentle hand on my arm.

"Hayaan mo sila, kilala ko si Axel," she said, her smile reassuring. She knew our son better than anyone.

"Kilala ko rin si Althea, hindi nagpapatalo 'yan," I said, sighing. Mukhang magiging mahaba ang araw na 'to.

"Iba talaga 'pag Hernandez," Cath said proudly, watching the two children bicker.

"Of course," I said proudly. Our family, for all its quirks, was something to be proud of.

"Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, how can that be the longest word if it only has thirty-six letters?" Axel asked, his voice dripping with condescension. I smiled; he was always showing off his vocabulary.

"Kaya nga 'yan na ang pinaka-haba, kaya nga thirty-six letters na, Kuya," Althea countered, trying to sound knowledgeable.

"Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, e 'yan, ano 'yan?" Axel asked, throwing out another tongue-twister that immediately silenced Althea.

"Wait," Althea said, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Count the letters," Axel urged, enjoying her struggle.

"Forty-five," Althea answered, her voice betraying a hint of defeat.

"Oh diba, ano, mas marami, thirty-six or forty-five?" Axel asked sarcastically, rubbing it in.

"Sige nga, kung magaling ka, ano meaning niyan?" Althea challenged, unwilling to fully concede.

"A lung disease caused by the inhalation of fine silicate or quartz dust, often found in volcanoes," Axel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.

"Yung Hippopotomonstrosesquippe-
daliophobia?" Althea asked, trying to regain some ground.

"The fear of long words," Axel replied with a confident smirk.

"YungSupercalifragilisticexpiali
docious?" Althea asked again, digging deep into her knowledge of obscure words.

"Wonderful," Axel said, ending the word battle with a flourish.

"Do you have any more questions?" Axel asked, his tone victorious.

"Wala na, matalino ka nga. You only beat me because you're older," Althea said, clearly unwilling to lose with grace.

"Wala naman sa bata o hindi 'yan. Kahit ang pinaka-bata sa akin, kayang-kaya akong talunin kung talagang magaling siya," Axel retorted, his philosophical side coming out.

"Ibig mong sabihin hindi ako magaling?" Althea asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Did I say that?" Axel countered, giving her a sly look.

"Isusumbong talaga kita kay Mommy. Beat me in math, Kuya. Let's see if you can beat me then," Althea said, turning to her last resort.

"Go tell Tita Angela and Tito Jaiden. I don't care," Axel said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Fine, I hate you, Kuya Axel," Althea said angrily, then walked over to Catherine and me, clearly annoyed and looking for comfort.

"Uncle, pagalitan mo 'yang si Kuya Axel, naiinis na 'ko," she complained, tugging on my shirt.

"Baby, sino ba kasi ang naghamon?" I asked gently, trying to get to the bottom of the argument.

"Siya!" she exclaimed, pointing to Axel. Catherine and I exchanged amused glances.

"Si Axel talaga," she said, shaking her head. Our son certainly had a knack for stirring up trouble.