DONATO
He watched Daphne, his daughter's beloved horse, crying in pain as it lay limply on its bed of rice straw. Nakatalungko siya sa likuran nito dahil anomang oras ngayon ay maaari na ito'ng manganak.
"'Tay..." tawag sa kanya ng anak na si Albie.
He turned to his and Liberty's second born who's also into veterinary like his uncle Benjamin. Palagi ito'ng uma-asista sa tiyo, tulad ngayon, sa pangangalaga ng kanilang mga hayop kahit na labing-apat na taong gulang pa lang.
"Hmm?" aniya.
He's known to be a strict and cold-blooded rancher in their town but when it comes to his beautiful wife and their four wonderful children, he's always very gentle. Istrikto pa rin naman siya lalo na sa pagpapalaki ng tatlong anak na lalaki ngunit kailanman ay hindi niya pinagbuhatan ng kamay ang mga ito para disiplinahin.
Albie pointed at the stable's entrance. Narinig niya ang tikhim ng ngiti ni Benjamin sa gilid. Dahil ito ang naka-posisyon paharap sa entrada kaya ito ang unang nakakita sa tinutukoy ni Albie sa kanya.
"Your little princess is here, Kuya," his brother said smiling.
Mabilis ang ginawa niyang pagbaling sa entrada at naroon nga ang kanyang bunsong anak na babae. Buhat ito ng kanyang panganay na si Antonio sa balikat habang sa tabi naman ay ang pangatlong anak na lalaki na si Zeke.
He stood up before playfully messing his son Albie's hair.
"Ikaw muna dito, Albert," he said before walking towards his three other beautiful children. Taking their lovely image to his heart.
His sons took after him with their dark skin, slightly curled hair, and brown eyes. Especially his first-born, Antonio. Ilang beses sinabi sa kanya ng ina na kamukhang-kamukha niya ito no'ng nasa katulad na edad. He smiled as he remembered Liberty's lighthearted complains about carrying their sons for nine months only to look exactly like him when born.
Kaya ganoon na lang ang tuwa nito nang isilang ang bunso nilang anak na si Paris Lilianne. Their youngest daughter looked exactly like his Liberty with her fair skin and soft and beautiful facial features. But Paris' eyes were still like her older brothers', like his, a light chocolate brown color.
"Tatay..." bati sa kanya ni Antonio, kumikinang ang gintong kuwintas na may krus na pendant sa leeg ng kanyang panganay. He passed the necklace to him when he reached the age of seven. "Umiiyak po si Paris."
No'n lang niya napuna ang pamumugto ng mga mata ng kanyang bunso. Worriedly, he took his small and fragile princess in his arms. Paris looked like a porcelain doll in his strong burly arm. She's five years old now.
Nahirapan si Liberty sa panganganak kay Antonio. It was traumatizing for him so he suggested that one child is enough for them. But then the following year, Albert was born. Huling tawad na niya iyon but Liberty wanted to have a huge family and a daughter. Isinilang nito si Ezekiel dalawang taon pagkatapos kay Albie.
Dahil sa edad, sinabihan na sila ng doctor na baka mahirapan nang makabuo ulit. Although he also wanted to try for a daughter, he already accepted the fact that he won't be seeing a little Liberty running around their house. Kontento naman na sila ni Liberty sa kanilang tatlong anak na lalaki. They're all responsible and kind. They are also already showing interest for the hacienda and the ranch even at a young age.
Sa kanyang mga anak na lalaki, tanging si Zeke ang nagpapakita ng interes na mag-aral sa siyudad upang maging abogado. Wala namang problema sa kanya iyon. Parehas sila ni Liberty na nais bigyan ng kalayaan na mamili ang kanilang mga anak kung ano'ng propesyon ang tatahakin. They won't force them to stay in the province to take care of their lands. Katulad ng payo na ibinigay ng ama ni Liberty dito, nais niyang manatili ang mga anak dito dahil iyon talaga ang nais ng puso.
BINABASA MO ANG
You're Still The One (A SharDon Fanfiction)
Fiksi Penggemar"You don't know how hard it is...to love and hate you both at the same time."
