Midas' Touch [COMPLETED]

Chapter 16

"Ako na po ang maghuhugas dyan."

"Nako, hindi. Kami na, ineng. Magpahinga ka na lang---"

Nakangiting umiling si Kalonice. "Okay lang po ako. Pakibantayan na lang po ang mga bata para hindi sila maglikot." She insisted and take over the sink. The babysitters had no other options but to went back to the living room para bantayan ang mga bata.

Binuksan ni Kalonice ang gripo at binasa ang mga plato. Inayos niya ang mga ito at inalis ang mga pispis at itinapon sa basurahan. Tinabihan siya ni Midas.

"What are you doing?"

"Ano sa tingin mo?"

Tumirik ang mga mata ni Midas. "Tss. Why don't you let the maids do it instead? Ikaw na nga ang nagluto, ikaw pa ang maghuhugas."

"Okay lang. Madali lang naman 'to."

"But you're tired already, Kalonice." Pag-aalala ni Midas. She look at him.

"Ikaw na lang kaya ang maghugas? Ang dami mong sinasabi. Oh, ayan. Hawakan tuturuan kita." Umisod siya pagilid para bigyan ng space ni Midas na nalaglag ang panga.

"I don't want to! I never washed dishes in my entire life! What am I, a servant!? Only servants do that!"

Kalonice grimaced at him. "You're useless. Yeah, you're rich. Pero dapat marunong ka din sa mga gawaing bahay. Minus points 'yan, Midas. Mainam pa si Caedmon, marunong---"

"Paano ba kasi 'to!?" pagdarabog ni Midas at ibinagsak ang babasaging plato. Nabasag ito na siyang ikinatigil nilang dalawa.

"I-I didn't mean to break it..." he said to Kalonice. She was smiling at him sweetly habang hawak ang maduming kutsilyo. Nanginig si Midas at pinagpawisan habang nakatingin sa kaniyang hawak.

"Sa susunod, mag-iingat ka, ha? Kapag may nabasag ulit dyan, ulo mo na ang babasagin ko. Hmm? Careful, okay?" malambing na sabi ni Kalonice at itinarak ang kutsilyo sa kahoy na chopping board. Napatalon si Midas sa takot at mabilis na tumango. Kalonice chuckled.


Her expression drifted into a serious one.

"Unahin mo ang mga baso."

"O-Okay..." Nanginginig ang kamay na hinawakan ni Midas ang isang baso.

"Use the dishwashing soap tapos basain mo."

He did what she told. "Then?"

Hinawakan ni Kalonice ang mga kamay niya upang i-guide siya sa paghuhugas. "Ganyan. Tapos 'yung loob din i-scrub mo. Then' yung bunganga ng baso..." After that, hinayaan na siya ni Kalonice na hugasan ang iba pang baso habang siya'y pinapanood.

"Then the spoon and fork."

"One by one?" Tumango si Kalonice. Midas frowned at nandidiring dinampot ang isang kutsara. He wash it between the sponge and did the same thing to the others.



"Ah!"

Nangingilid ang mga luhang tumingin si Laryen sa mga magulang at malakas na umiyak. "Mom! I swallowed the seed! It will grow inside my tummy!" Iyak nito at nagpagulong-gulong sa sahig. Tinawanan siya ni Caedmon.

"Oh my, a priest will come out there! Awoooh~" pang-aasar niya dito kaya namang mas lalong umiyak ang bata. Larren went to Laryen and pumped his stomach like he's doing CPR.

"Throw up, come on! Throw it up!" aniya at mas nilakasan ang pagpu-push.

"Ack!"

"Hey! Open your mouth, bro! I will take it!" reponde ni Larzo at ipinasok ang buong kamay sa bibig ng kapatid matapos ibukas ni Lareon ang bibig nito. Dinaganan naman ni Larcen ang dibdib ng kapatid. Contessa crawled on his feet.

Napasigaw si Larry at agad na nilapitan ang mga anak dahil sa gagawin ng mga ito. "Don't do that, Army! You will kill your brother, oh my god!"

"But the apple seed will grow inside his tummy, Daddy! Should we use a knife instead?" ani Larzo na ipinapahid sa damit ni Lareon ang laway ni Laryen.

Gwynedd watch Larry struggle with her arms and legs crossed. This is nothing compared to the days she's dealing with them every single day before. Yes, having a quintuplet is sure a blessing. But taking good care of them all at once is HELL. Definitely HELL. Plus Contessa. But of course, they were kids so she needs to nurture them. She will raise them right for them to be good. She won't raise a bastard. She will raise men and a lady.

"No, boys. The seed will come out after he poo-poo, okay! Don't worry, it will come out."

"But Momon said a priest will come out!? What he gonna do, Dad? Bless my poo?" inosenteng tanong ni Laryen at tumingin sa loob ng kaniyang suot na cargo pants. Caedmon guffaw.

"No. The priest will hunt you. Then, once he get you, he will open your stomach at night and take the seed inside you. And he will eat you alive. RAWR!"

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!! MOMON, STUPID! DADDY!" iyakan ng quintuplet at siya'y dinamba. Kinakapos naman sa hangin dahil sa kakatawa si Caedmon. Napa-iling na lamang si Gwynedd.

"Pipid! Pipid!" Contessa cried in high pitch while crawling on the floor.

"Ano ba naman 'yan! Ang iingay talaga ng mga baklang' to!" asar na turan ni Ali na napapakamot sa tenga.

"Oo nga! Ingay-ingay niyo!" Francis.

"Don't talk to us, peasants!"

"BOYS! THAT'S BAD! Don't call Ate Kally's siblings like that!" suway ni Gwynedd at inilingan ang mga ito. They pouted.

"Sasant! Sasant!" Contessa.

"But---Mom!" She gave them a warning look.

"Fine. We'll call them ugly then." Nguso ng mga ito at humalukipkip.

"Ugly mo mukha mo, bakla! Kung ugly ako, bungal ka naman. BUNGAL! TEETHLESS!" Ganti ni Ali na nagmamataray habang naka-arko ang kilay. Nagsinghapan ang magkakapatid.

Napahiga si Caedmon sa couch dahil sa katatawa.

"TEETHLESS! HAHAHAHA!"

"T-Teethless!?" Nagtinginan ang ang mga ito. Napansin nila ang kulang-kulang na mga ngipin ni Larcen.

"I-I'm not Teethless! They will grow someday! Someday! Right, Daddy!? They will grow someday, right?" Naiiyak niyang tanong at yumakap sa ama.

"O-Of course, boy. They will." Pigil sa pagtawa na sagot ni Larry at lumunok.

"Eh, asa ka! Magpustiso ka na lang. Mas bagay pa sa iyo! HA-HA-HA! TEETHLESS NA BAKLA!" Pang-aasar pa lalo ni Ali at nakatakip sa bibig na tumawa.

"You sound like a witch!" Larzo.

"Yes! You sound like a witch!" Lareon.

"Look at her hair! It's frizzy as her broomstick!" Larcen.

"Ugh, gross. You have TICKS! EWWW!" Larren.

"Hey, witch! It's better to have blank-spaced gums than to have gold teeth! BRUSH THEM!" matapobreng sabat ni Laryen habang nakapamewang pa. Nagtanguhan ang apat pa. Nahampas ni Caedmon na pulang-pula ang mukha ang upuan habang inaawat ang sarili sa pagtawa ngunit hindi niya magawa.

"Gold teeth!? Pwe! At least mabebenta namin 'to! Kayo kasi, walang mabebenta dahil mga bungal kayo."

"Ugly, we earn gold and we spend gold. We could have 24-carat gold teeth anytime we want. So, shut up and just brush your gross teeth!"

"Larcen!" Dumagundong ang boses ni Midas dahil sa lakas nito. "Don't boast, you dummy! Don't fight. You will upset Kalonice!"

"Mas nabubwisit pa ako sa mukha mo kesa sa away nila. Tapusin mo na 'yang pagbabanlaw mo. Ayusin mo. Ipapainom ko sa' yo ang tubig na 'yan kapag hindi maayos gawa mo." Pagbabanta ni Kalonice at pinunasan ang mga kamay gamit ang basahan.

Midas just frowned at her at napokus sa trabaho nito. Pinuntahan ni Kalonice ang mga bata. Agad niyang dinampot si Contessa na tuwang-tuwa sa kaniyang pagdating.

"Ali, Francis, huwag kayong ganyan. Dapat playmates kayo hindi enemies. Alam niyo namang mas bata sila sa inyo papatulan niyo pa. And you five, respect them as your older brother and sister. Don't be rude. Your Mommy and Daddy didn't teach you to lack manners." Kalmado ngunit seryoso nitong pangarap at hinayaan si Contessa na kagatin ang kaniyang balikat.

"Caedmon, stop laughing. Imbis na awatin mo ang mga bata, natutuwa ka pa. Teach the kids on how to knoe their limits. Don't make fun of everything."


Automatic na tumigil sa pagtawa si Caedmon at umayos ng upo. "Sorry, Ma'am." Kalonice just sighed.

"Sorry, Kally. We won't do it again. Don't ve angry at us, please." Malungkot na yumuko ang lima habang nakaupo sa kaniyang harapan.

"Sorry, Ate." Ali at Francis.

"Okay lang 'yon. Basta, playmates na kayo, ha?" Ngumiti na din siya sa wakas. She pat their heads at tumingin sa oras.

"Ali, Francis, 9 na pala. Hindi pa ba kayo matutulog?"

"Naglalaro pa po kami, eh."

"Maaga pa kayo bukas, diba? Tama na 'yan. Bukas na lang ulit kayo maglaro. Matulog na kayong dalawa." Tumayo siya at nilapitan ang mga kapatid. Kinuha niya ang hawak nilang gadget at itinabi sa lamesa. Tumayo ang magkapatid at pumunta sa banyo para mag-toothbrush.

"Tita, kayo po ba? Anong oras na po, oh. Alam ko pong pagod din kayo dahil sa byahe. Magpahinga na din po kayo," sabi niya kay Gwynedd at umupo sa tabi niya.

"Hmm, yeah. But are we not going to talk about what Jarrah did to you? She plotted everything, I heard." Nabigla si Kalonice.

Hindi niya alam iyon. Wala siyang maalala. Ang alam niya lang ay kinontrol ni Edana ang kaniyang katawan at kung gaano ito kasaya na muli siyang nakalabas. Iyon lamang. Pero kung ano ang ginawa nito ay hindi siya gaanong sigurado. Everything's a blur for her.

Doubts plugged in her heart. Natatakot siya na baka may kung anong ginawa si Edana na ikakapahamak ng Yzaguirre Empire. Sana naman ay wala. Sana.

"Uhhm, ang mas mahalaga po sa ngayon ay makapagpahinga tayo. Bukas na lang po natin iyan problemahin. Mahaba pa naman po ang araw bukas," sabi niya bago tumingin kay Contessa na namumungay na ang mga mata. Ngumiti siya dito bago siya ipinasa sa kaniyang ina.

Mabilis itong umiyak at humawak sa kaniyang buhok para hindi siya mahiwalay kay Kalonice.

"Oh, sorry, hija. Contessa, let go. We're going home---"

"UWAAAAAHHH! NINI! NINI! UWAAAAHH!!" ngalngal nito na ayaw nang sumama sa kaniya. Napanganga na lamang si Gwynedd at hinayaan si Kalonice na buhatin ang anak. Yumakap ito sa dalaga nang napakahigpit habang patuloy sa pag-iyak. Nagtinginan silang dalawa. Kalonice forced a smile.


Gwynedd look at Larry. Tumayo ang asawa at nilapitan ang anak. "Miss President, let's go na? Uwi na tayo, my baby President. Come to Daddy~" paglalambing niya. Kakahawak pa lamang niya sa anak ay hinampas na siya agad nito at hindi sumama.

Larry pouted. "Why? I'm your Daddy!" He acted and faked crying.

Midas came, done with his job and took Contessa. Nataranta sila nang magwala ito kaya ibinalik na din niya agad ito kay Kalonice. "Heck? Why is she so attached to you!?"

"H-Hindi ko alam!"

"Ate, tutulog na po kami." Paalam ng magkapatid at umakyat na sa kama. Nagsi-akyatan din ang quintuplet doon at nagsiksikan.

"Kally, we will sleep here too. Can you sing for us? Mom always sing for us to sleep. Please~?" they showes her their adorable puppy eyes na siyang nagpakilig kay Larry. Umawang ang bibig ni Kalonice.

"We'll take them once they're asleep." Ngiti ni Gwynedd na tinanguhan naman ni Kalonice. Midas took Contessa at pumwesto din sa kama.

"Bakit nandyan ka? Bata ka ba?" ani Kalonice na nagsasalubong ang mga kilay.

"What? Am I bawal to lie here?" aniya habang hinihiga ang kapatid sa kaniyang dibdib. Nakamasid lang ito kay Kalonice at hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kaniya.

"Ugh! It's so cramped in here! Go away, Larzen! You're fat!" Larzo whined at itinulak-tulak siya. Dinakma ni Midas ang kaniyang ulo.

"Call me 'Kuya', dummy."

"Ano ba naman 'yan! Kami ang nakahiga dito, eh! Ate, bakit ba sumisiksik sila!?" angil ni Ali na hindi makapwesto.

"Ganito na lang: Larzo at Lareon, position here, okay? Also Larcen so they would fit above," ngiti ni Kalonice at tinapik ang paanang parte. Agad namang nagsilipat ang mga ito. Ginawa nilang unan ang kaniyang mga hita at paa na siyang nagpairita kay Midas.

He's jealous and envious! His siblings will sleep on her lap which is unfair!

"So, what should I sing?" tanong niya sa mga bata na naghihintay.

"Anything sleepy." Larren. Kalonice smiled.

"Okay. Anything sleepy." She caress Larzo's head. He smiled at her sweetly before hugging her waist. Mas lalong nanggigil si Midas.

Your little hands wrapped around my finger And it's so quiet in the world tonight Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming So I tuck you in and turn on your favorite nightlight
To you, everything's funny You got nothing to regret I'd give all I have honey If you could stay like that
Nagsisimula pa lamang siya ay dinapuan na agad ng antok ang mga bata. Contessa remained staring at her with her sleepy eyes, but she did not want to close her eyes. Midas caresses her back slowly; Contessa yawned before looking at her brother. Midas smiled at her so she did too before resting her small head on his chest.

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up Just stay this little Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up It could stay this simple I won't let nobody hurt you Won't let no one break your heart No one will desert you Just try to never grow up Never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the movies And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off At fourteen, there's just so much you can't do And you can't wait to move out Someday and call your own shots But don't make her drop you off around the block Remember that she's getting older too And don't lose the way that you dance around in your p.j.s getting ready for school
Midas stared at Kalonice as she sing gracefully. Napahikab siya at umayos ng pagkakasandal sa kama. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata habang dinarama ang pagkanta ni Kalonice. Her voice is so sweet just like her. He feels like he was entering heaven and Kalonice is the angel that sings along the other angels to welcome him. It pleases his ears. It calms him. It drags him to a peaceful slumber.

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home Remember the footsteps, remember the words said And all your little brother's favorite songs I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone
Their eyes finally closes. Kalonice smiles as she watch them sleep peacefully. Contessa rolled her head on the other side before spreading her arms and legs. She opened her eyes again and look around in verge of crying. Gwynedd approached and gave her milk bottle and feed her.

So here I am in my new apartment In a big city, they just dropped me off It's so much colder than I thought it would be So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on Wish I'd never grown up I wish I'd never grown up Oh I don't wanna grow up Wish I'd never grown up Could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up Wish I'd never grown up It could still be simple Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up Just stay this little Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up It could stay this simple I won't let nobody hurt you Won't let no one break your heart And even though you want to Please try to never grow up Don't you ever grow up Just never grow up


"Hija, they're already asleep. We're going home na. Thank you for welcoming us and inviting us to dine with you. I hope we didn't gave you a hard time," mahinang sabi ni Larry na naghahanda na para kuhanin ang mga anak.

"Walang anuman po. Anytime, Sir---Tito..." Nahihiyang turan niya at dahan-dahang gumalaw. Unang kinuha ni Larry si Larzo. Dahan-dahan niyang ipinailalim ang kaniyang mga kamay sa likod nito at nang ito'y iaangat na ay agad itong umiyam. Same thing goes to Lareon na ayaw magpakuha sa ina.

"S-Shhh... Shhh... Don't cry, boys. Don't cry..." impit na sabi ni Larry na nakangiwi at tinapik ang kanilang mga hita. Nagtinginan sila ni Kalonice.

"K-Kung gusto niyo po, dito muna sila magpalipas ng gabi. Tulog na din naman po si Midas. Siya na lang po ang maghahatid sa kanila pauwi sa inyo bukas." Suhestiyon niya at tinapik-tapik din si Larzo.

"Hija, no. You will have no space to sleep in na. We'll take them. Larzen, Larzen, wake up. Larzen..."

"T-Tita, okay lang po. Sa couch na lang po ako matutulog. At pagod din po si Midas kaya hayaan na lang po natin siya."

"Aww, guess I won't have a space to sleep in too." Caedmon shrugs becore chuckling.

"Are you sure, hija?" paninigurado ni Gwynedd na nag-aalala.

Kalonice smile and nodded. "Okay lang po. Susumpungin lang po kasi ang mga bata kung gigisingin pa po natin sila, eh. Ako na po ang bahalang magsabi kay Midas bukas."

"Thank you so much, hija. Thank you." Niyakap siya ni Gwynedd na ginantihan niya din naman. Ngumiti lang si Larry kay Kalonice at tinapik ang kaniyang likod.

"We're going. Thank you for the good dinner, hija. Hope we can eat altogether again next time," sabi ni Larry at lumingkis sa bewang ng asawa.

"Walang anuman po. Sa susunod po ulit."


Hinatid niya ang mga ito sa pinto. Naunang umalis ang mag-asawa. Naiwan si Caedmon. Nang mawala sila sa kanilang paningin ay kinorner siya bi Caedmon sa pader malapit sa pintuan.

"C-Caedmon..."

"We will talk tomorrow. Let's have breakfast together tomorrow. Ihahatid din kita sa school niyo. We will talk." Seryosong sabi nito na tinanguhan naman ni Kalonice.

Caedmon claimed her lips. Hindi nakagalaw si Kalonice at hinayaan lamang siya. Caedmon parted himself inches away from her. He put his finger on her lips.

"MINE. Kalonice, MINE." Madiin niyang sabi at mataman na tumingin sa mga mata ni Kalonice na hindi makakibo.

"Caedmon, akala ko ba tapos na?" mahinang sabi niya at tumingin sa loob. Kita niya mula sa repleksyon sa salamin na mahimbing ang tulog ng mga ito, lalo na si Midas.

"Yeah, we're done. But I am greedy. I have the rights to be greedy if the thing was you because I got you FIRST. Kalonice, nauna ako, okay? Kung ano man ang namamagitan sa inyo ni Midas, CUT IT. I don't want to see you hanging out with him. I don't want to see you standing beside him. I don't want you with him. Just tonight. This will be the last. And after tonight, what's between you two is OVER."

"H-Hindi madali ang gusto mo, C-Caed. Midas just started dating me---"

"What the fuck!?" pabulong na myra ni Caedmon at nasuntok ang pader na sinasandalan ni Kalonice. "At pumayag ka naman? Look, whatever he gives to you, I will double it. Just---FUCKING CUT YOUR TIES WITH HIM, KALONICE! I will share anything to anyone but not YOU. You're mine and you know that!"

"Caed, shhh! Magigising mo sila!" suway ni Kalonice at hinawakan sa braso si Caedmon. "Gustuhin ko man ay hindi ko magawa. Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay Midas at sa parents niya. I don't want to disappoint them. And Midas is not that bad. Actually, I can tolerate him---"

"Fuck it! That's not what I'm trying to say!" muling nasuntok ni Caedmon ang pader. He pressed his body on Kalonice. "I got you first. We met first. I saw you first. It's all about first come, first serve! Mas nauna ako sa iyo, Kalonice. I won't just sit back and watch you go out with Midas. Not him again. Not this time."

He cup Kalonice's face and kissed her. He move his lips and slid his tongue inside her mouth. He bit the tip of her tongue na siyang nagpaungol kay Kalonice. Lumayo siya sa babae.

"And I'm better than him in any aspect. You know yourself that I'm the only one who can satisfy you. Either on bed or by your material or not needs. It's Caedmon, Kalonice, not Midas."

"C-Caedmon..." May pagmamakaawang tawag ni Kalonice ngunit lumabas na si Caedmon. Sinundan niya ito hanggang sa labas ng kanilang kwarto. Caedmon did not look back at her at nagdire-diretso.

Kalonice watch his back as he go father and father away from her. She sigh and went back inside. She turned the lights on except for the dim lights and went to the couch. She lay down on it and hugged herself.

Now it bothers her. Caedmon has been a good guy to her too ever since. She's grateful for all the things he have done for her. But she couldn't do what he's telling her to do. She can't imagine what will happen once she stray away from Midas when they are partners at work.


She turned around while still thinking about the possibilities. She couldn't get herself to sleep no matter how tired she was. Her thoughts keeps her awake. They just keep on coming with no edge for stop.

Slowly, her mind became hazy and her thoughts are slowly fadi