Alexandria Montecillo: The Defender

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Special Chapter II

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Field Trip in Oakwood

       Jace Montreal's POV

       "Do you like Nick's daughter that much?" Bigla namang nabilaukan ang anak ko sa tanong na binitawan ko, kaya agad akong natawa. Mabilis niyang ininom ang isang baso ng tubig na hawak niya kaya nagpatuloy nalang ako sa pagkain.

       Kahit naman hindi niya ako tanungin ay alam ko naman na ang sagot. Xenon doesn't like joining school activities like field trip, but look at him, he's here in Oakwood because of it... because Alexandria is here.

       Andito nga siya sa harapan ko, kumakain kasabay ko, pero kanina pa malayo ang iniisip niya. Puros Alexandria pa ang bukambibig niya.

       "Son, if you wanted to have lunch with her, why didn't you just ask her? Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay second choice mo lang ako dahil hindi mo siya naayang magtanghalian." Pagbibiro ko na agad namang ikinakunot ng noo niya.

       "It's not like that, Dad." Protesta niya kaya natawa na lang ako lalo. Why did my son grow up so serious? Manang-mana sa Mommy niya.

       "Then?" Tanong ko, at yumuko naman siya.

       Nagulat kasi talaga akong bigla nalang siyang pumunta ng opisina ko sa Council's Office, at niyaya akong magtanghalian. I was expecting him to be busy with Alexandria all day. Siya naman ang rason kung bakit sumama siya sa field trip kahit kabisado na niya ang buong Oakwood.

       "He's surrounded by her brothers." Halos pabulong niyang sagot, pero umabot pa rin sa aking pandinig kaya muli nanaman akong natawa. "Natotorpe ka ba, iho? Ano naman kung kasama niya ang mga Kuya niya, hindi naman kayo magkaka-away ha?"

        I've always known that my son acts confident all the time, he doesn't even care if Alexandria's brothers are overprotective, but I guess... when it comes to her, he flips and turn to a shy little kid.

       "No, Dad. I just saw how happy she is with them, and I realized that even if she still doesn't know who she is... Alexandria just really loves her brothers. She doesn't know it, but she misses being with them. She wants to be with them... and I'll always choose her happiness above everything." Napangiti naman ako sa narinig ko, at agad akong ibinaba ang hawak kong kubyertos. Tiningnan ko rin ng diretso ang anak ko, bago ako sumagot.

       "Alexandria... You love her, don't you?" Siya naman ang ngumiti sa tanong ko, pero nagulat ako nang umiling siya.

       "I don't love Alexandria, Dad. It's more than that..." My eyes squinted at what he said. Tatanungin ko na rin sana kung ano ang nararamdaman niya para sa anak na babae nila Scarlett, dahil medyo naguluhan ako, pero agad na niyang dinugtungan ang sinabi niya.

       "What I feel for her... it's the same as to what you feel for Mom. That's what Alexandria is to me." What I feel for Xierra...

       Hindi ko maiwasang mapa-iling na lang. Of course...

       What I feel for her Mom isn't love, it's more than that. It's much greater than what people call love. No words can even define what is it. But, if I'm to describe it with something... It's like a person without a soul.

       When Xierra died, I know I lost a part of me– I know I lost my soul. And if it wasn't for Xenon, our son, then what would've happened to me?

       "It's not always good to feel that, Xenon." Hindi ko maiwasang sabihin. Alam ko namang mabait na bata si Alexandria, pero bata pa sila. Ang makaramdam ng ganoong emosyon... Nag-aalala ako.

       "Maybe you're mistaken? Maybe it's just because of the bond?" Isang malungkot na ngiti naman ang ibinigay niya sa akin.

       "I wish it's just the bond Dad, but it's not." Aniya. I can't understand why I'm seeing fear in his eyes.

       "What do you mean?" Nagtataka kong tanong. Muli naman siyang ngumiti bago tumingin sa labas.

       "Dad... The bond... it's slowly starting to weaken." Napa-awang naman agad ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya. Kung totoong humihina ang bond... ibig sabihin...

       "Son, naiintindihan mo ba ang sinasabi mo? If your bond is really weakening... you know what this means. You... and Alexandria... you'll both die."

       Bata pa lang sila, alam na namin nila Nick ang tungkol sa bond. Pero ang tanging sinasabi lang namin lagi ay si Xenon lang ang mapapahamak kapag nawala ang bond. Ayaw kasing ipaalam nila Scarlett at Nick sa anak nila... na ang ginawa niyang pagligtas sa anak ko ay ikinapahamak din niya.

       When young Alexandria gave Xenon a part of her life, she didn't just save him. She connected their souls, in order to survive. For what she did has put her life in danger, too. Alexandria does not hold Xenon's life, and neither do my son hold hers. It's the bond who's holding their lives together. It's the bond that's keeping both of them alive.

       "I know Dad... I know. That's why I also know that what I feel for her isn't because of it." There's a sad smile on his lips, and I can't help but feel sadder.

       Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko. Hindi ko na alam kung anong iisipin ko.

      "Is there any way to fix this? Is there any way to save the both of you?" Dahil kapag pati siya nawala sa akin... hindi ko na alam kung anong mngyayari sakin. Walang kwenta lahat ng yaman at kapangyarihan na mayroon ang pamilyang 'to kung wala naman ang mga taong mahalaga sakin.

       "I already lost your Mom, Xenon. I will never lose you, too." I'll willingly trade everything I have to save him, to save the both of them.

       Hindi ko alam kung anong kapalaran ang nag-aantay sa kanilang dalawa. Pero kung tama si Nick, na lahat ng nangyayari ay nakatakda, at sa huli ay may kailangan silang harapin... hinihiling ko nalang na sana, kapag nalampasan nila ang lahat ng pagsubok na nag-aantay sa kanila... sana ay maganda ang maging kapalit noon.

       Isang ngiti ang ibinigay sa akin ng anak ko. Kitang-kita ko ang determinasyon sa mga mata niya, hindi lang para sa sarili niya, o para sa akin. Para na rin kay Alexandria.

       Gusto niyang pareho silang mabuhay... at alam kong gagawin niya lahat, huwag lang masira ang bond nila.

       "We'll find a way, Dad."

       I hope we find it, Xenon... before it's too late.