NYXIE: THE LONG LOST EMPRESS (COMPLETED)

Chapter 33

Two months passed since Aidan and I saved Amber. At sa loob ng dalawang buwan, ay palagi na lang s'yang nagpapakita sa akin para makipaglaro sa mga bata. Minsan naiisip ko na baka alam na niya ang totoo, pero alam kong malabong mangyari iyon dahil wala naman akong naramdaman sa memorya niya ukol sa amin nang binasa ko ang isipan niya.

Maybe he was just fond of the kids.

"Mama, will Tío Aidan come today to play with us?" si Grayson sa malambing na boses.

My forehead creased because of the tone of his voice. I felt like he was a bit disappointed over something.

"Why?"

He pouted, "It's been two days already since the last time he played with us. We kind of miss him."

"He is just busy. Maybe he will come today," sabi ko.

"Okay,"

I can still feel sadness in his voice. Masaya ako dahil kahit papaano ay nagkakasundo silang mag-ama. Sana lang talaga ay hindi magagalit si Aidan kapag nalaman na niya ang totoo.

I bent to level him. "How about we play instead?"

Biglang lumiwanag ang nakabusangot niyang mukha sa tinanong ko. Agad na tumalikod ito, kaya nagtaka ako. I was about to ask him when he suddenly yelled.

"Hayden, Sapphire! Mama and I will play tag; wanna join us?" siya sa excited na tono. I smiled widely and was proud of what he did. This is what I like about my kids—they don't want one of them to be left out. Kapag nagsasaya ang isa sa kanila dapat masaya silang lahat.

I laughed softly when I saw my two children running towards us with their faces beaming with happiness.

"Really mama?" si Hayden na tumatalon sa tuwa. Si Sapphire, naman ay tiningnan ako ng mataimtim. Tinaasan ko s'ya ng kilay, akala niya naman magpapatalo ako.

"Don't look at me like that, Sapphire," pagtataray ko. "I am still your mother. So, stop staring at me like I lost my mind."

She rolled her eyes. "This is my normal look, mama. Stop making it a big deal," pagsusungit niya. "And besides, I didn't even say a single word that you lost your mind... you are just overthinking."

Aba't ang maldita talaga. Kaya naman dahan-dahang lumapit ako sa kaniya ng may matamis na ngiti sa labi. Napaatras s'ya ng bahagya habang nakaktaas ang kilay nang hinawakan ko ang dulo ng buhok niya. 

I saw how her lips parted and her face glistened with pain when I pulled her hair a little bit rough. I heard Hayden and Grayson gasp.

"L-let's just wait over there, Hayden," I heard Grayson mumble.

"Good thinking, hermano." sang-ayon naman ni Hayden sa kuya niya.

I focused myself on my daughter again, who's glaring at me furiously, and so I glared at her with the same intensity.

"Why did you pull my hair?" 

I folded my arms. "Because you are being rude and annoying."

"You are more annoying than me, mama!"

Aba at pinagtataasan na ako ng boses.

"Who told you to talk to me that way? You are overreacting. I was only messing with you. I bet it didn't hurt a bit."

Namumula na s'ya ngayon sa sobrang galit at inis. May namumuo na ring mga luha sa dalawang mata niya.

"No! I am n—"

"Sapphire," may pagbabanta sa boses ko. I didn't even know why it turned out to be like this. Gusto ko lang naman makipaglaro sa kanila. Tapos ito s'ya nagmamaldita, na Aaala mo ay may dalaw.