F.L.A.W Series Book 3: RUBY

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"No, it wasn't your fault. You're just worried about our kids' safety. Sometimes being suspicious can save lives."

"But it can also ruin relationships." Bawi agad ni Vix. "Hindi pa nga kayo tuluyang nagkakaayos ng papa mo, heto na naman ang panibagong di pagkakaunawaan." Sabay kagat sa ibabang labi niya. "I'm really sorry."

"Hey, stop blaming yourself." At hinila siya para yakapin nang patagilid. "Walang may gusto sa nangyari. Papa left his gift in a little suspicious way which drove us to a conclusion we had. It's no one's fault but a mere misunderstanding, do you understand?"

Vix nodded and succumb in between his arms. Her husband is trying his very best to understand her and she's grateful for that but it also made her feel more guilty.

Days passed but Percy and Don Matheus still didn't patch things up. Patuloy pa din ang pag-gitna ni Doña Adelinana upang magkaayos na ang mag-ama ngunit sadyang matigas ang Don. Hindi lang ito basta galit sa anak kundi ayaw na talaga nito kay Vixyn dahil noon pa man ay si Lovely ang gusto nito para sa anak. It's just that Vix has given her father-in-law more reasons to hate her.

"Mommy, can we go out with Sav and her Dad?" Tanong ni Sephy habang nagdidilig siya ng mga bulaklak sa garden. "She said that they're going to the park near their village. Malapit lang din naman tayo sa kanila diba? Can we join them?"

"Seph, it's her alone time with her dad, we must not bother them." Sagot ni Vix habang nakatuon ang atensyon sa mga halaman at bulaklak.

"But she invited me yesterday. Sabi niya laro daw kami sa park, dun sa playground." Doon na niya tiningnan ang anak na nakanguso na at halatang nagpapaawa sa kanya. "Please, Mommy."'

Nangingiting napailing na lang si Vix dahil sa kakulitan ng anak habang tinatanggal ang suot na guwantes.

"You always find a way to get what you want, do you?"

"Ofcourse, Mommy, I'm a Montenegro." Sagot nito na ikinaawang ng labi niya.

"Who taught you that idea?"

"Daddy, Uncle Thadd, Uncle Deus and Uncle Morph." Kibit balikat nitong sagot.

"Seph, don't listen to them, they're just joking." Aniya upang huwag nang tularan ng anak ang ama at mga tiyuhin sa kalokohan at pangangatwiran.

"Oh, okay." Sabay tango ng bata bago lumapit sa kanya at akmang hahawakan ang mga bulaklak. "These flowers are so beautiful-"

"Don't!" At mabilis na nahawakan ang kamay ng anak para pigilan. "I told you to never touch these flowers with your bare hands."

Nagulat man ang bata ay dahan-dahan itong tumango.

"Coz it's poisonous." Anito na napakagat labi pa. "Sorry, Mommy."

"It's okay." Hinila na niya ang anak paatras mula sa mga halaman at bulaklak roon. "Just don't do it again. The poison in these plants can get inside your body if you have an open wound or if you ingest it. So you better not touch this with your bare hands." Paalala niyang muli.

When she was just Vixyn, she didn't understand why she was hooked on propagating those types of plants. The flowers are beautiful, pleasing to the eyes, but behind that beauty lies its true color which is lethal. But when Ruby resurfaced, she finally understood. She liked those flowers, the Foxglove, Wolf's bane, the Oleander, and the Deadly Nightshade because she has used that to lace her weapon with poison back on the island