She claimed him

21

Day 3

I went inside the house with my eyes puffed.

"Hey mom, you- what happen?" Biglang pagpapalit ng tono ni John ng makita nya akong namamaga ang mata.

"It's nothing. Napuwing lang sa labas." I answered him before walking passed him to drop the groceries I bought on the table.

I organized the things quickly without any stop to avoid any unnecessary questions from John before turning to him.

"What are you craving for lunch?" 

"Tita Julia used to make the best--" He stopped talking after he realizes how awkward this must feel for me.

"It's fine, what does she make you? I'll try to cook it too." I can't blame them. I am sure they are very close to her, she was there for them for 13 years. They mothered them when I was away.

"She makes us meatball pasta whenever we aced our exams because that is one of our favorite, but we rarely enjoy it in restaurants because some are too sour, some are too sweet. Tita Julia makes the perfect amount of sweetness and sour sauce." John shyly answered.

"Okay!" I happily answered him. There is not time for any sadness or bitterness. Besides Julia will be the one who will stay with them after all of this.

"Can I help?" John shyly asked again, it was so different to see John being so soft and like a child.

Maybe it was all because of his mom finally being there for him. Maybe he was trying to act cold and tough before because he felt like everyone was already going through so much, he has to be strong.

"Sure, do you know how to cut garlic?" I asked him and he happily nodded like a little kid. He really is like Daniel, has a tough act on the outside surface but deep inside is such a soft person also.

We were enjoying cooking the meatball pasta that we were copying online when we heard Julian speak.

"Pwede ba ako tumulong?" nahihiyang tanong ni Julian.

It made my heart so full and happy to finally have this moment with the twins. I know that this time wont fill up the 13 years that I've been away but it is enough to make me feel like I have a family.

Daniel woke up in the middle of the twins and I setting up the table and food.

"What a beautiful sight to have at the morning." Daniel snaked his arms to my waist and kissed my cheeks.

"Yuck dad, ang PDA!" Maarteng pagbibiro ni Julian,