Searching the Stars (Montereal Series #1)

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"T-This is the palace?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at mangha-mangha sa lugar kung nasaan kami ngayon. Ilang minuto rin bago kami nakarating dito mula pagkapasok sa gate.

I carried our daughter, Margaux in my arms. Trent held Jaxen while nodding at me. Some staff rushed to help us with our bags.

About a year ago, I gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy. Trent was right about what he said that he feels its going to be a boy and a girl.

I named our daughter, Margaux Seraphina Montereal. She looked almost exactly like me, except for the nose and the lips which she got from Trent.

Trent named our son, Jaxen Trace Montereal. He looks exactly like Trent and had no other features similar to mine except for the eyes.

Both of our twins turned a year older last week. We had a grand celebration thrown and arranged by Mama. She badly wanted to spoil her grandchildren kaya naman siya na ang nagplano nung mga party ng kambal.

During my pregnancy, Trent offered me to stay in their rest house in Batangas so I could breathe fresh air. He never left me there and even took a leave just so he could stay with me and watch as our children grow inside my tummy.

We only came back in Manila when it was my due date. That's when I realized how hard childbirth was! I didn't only give birth to one, but two babies so it kinda tired me that day.

"Daddy!" tawag ni Margaux.

I smiled. Napakadaddy's girl talaga nitong si Margaux. Lagi niyang gusto magpakarga kay Trent. Napalingon naman si Trent kasabay yung kamukha niyang karga-karga niya.

"Margaux, daddy's holding Jaxen. Daddy will carry you later, okay?" I told her.

"Daddy!" naluluha niyang sabi.

Pag nakikita kong naiiyak yung anak ko ay parang sinasaksak ang puso ko. Alam kong normal lang sa bata ang umiyak, pero hindi ko pa rin mapigilang maluha rin pag nakikita ko 'yun. Nakakaawa kase tingnan.

Trent went near us, pinag-iisipan kung paano ang gagawin naming pagpapalit.

"Ako na," sabi ni Santi at kinuha muna si Jaxen kay Trent. Hindi naman 'to umiyak nung kinarga nung Tito niya.

Kinuha naman sa akin ni Trent si Margaux. Kinuha ko naman kay Santi si Jaxen. Mas malambing sa akin si Jaxen kaya alam kong hindi 'to iiyak. Humigpit naman ang kapit sa akin nito.

Umiiyak naman si Margaux habang karga-karga niya. Maya't maya ay tumahan din. She clung onto him at tumawa. Trent smiled at what she did.

Kasama namin si Santi, pati na rin sina Mama at Papa. Gusto ko rin kase nilang bumalik dito para batiin yung pinsan ni Papa. Ilang taon na rin daw kase silang hindi nakakapunta dito. Pinapapunta rin daw kase si Papa nung pinsan niya.

Napakamot si Santi sa ulo niya habang nakatingin sa amin.

"Ang hirap palang mag-alaga ng bata," sabi niya.

Humalakhak naman si Mama. "You and Trent were exactly like that when you were a child, Santiago." sabi niya. "Nagtatampo pa nga ako at parehas kayong maka-ama ng kapatid mo!"

Nagtawanan sila.

"Mommy... hungry." sabi ni Jaxen sabay hawak sa mukha ko.

Narinig naman yun nung yaya na kasama namin kaya binigay niya agad kay Jaxen yung gatas niya. Sa kanilang dalawa, si Jaxen ang pinakamakulit. Pero ngayon parang siya ang behaved. Si Margaux kase madalas tahimik katulad ni Trent. Manang-mana talaga siya sa ama niya. Si Jaxen naman, parang mukha lang ang nakuha kay Trent. Maingay kase 'to at makulit.