Past is the present

Chaptered twenty

"Your Lola will pick you up later,sa kanya kayo matutulog,your mom and I will be away for a week,but we will try to come back as soon as we can.."

"But daddy,why can't we go with you? one week lang yon di ba? I'm sure I can catch up with my study,I wanna come!"

"Serena baby,study first before anything else right?" Serena nodded "and no one will look after you kung sasama ka,magiging busy kami ng mommy nyo sa trabaho"

"Okay...fine....basta you make a promise to video call us,I'm sure really gonna miss mommy"

"Me too,I'm definitely gonna miss mom!"

Lihim akong natawa ng sumimangot si Leo.

"How about me?" Nakasimangot nitong tanong,naghagikhikan labg ang magkapatid. Kaya naiiling nalang na ang nagdrive ito.

Leo and I will be going to Los Angeles,today for a week conference. Ipinadala siya biglang representative ni Mr.Collum. Siya lang dapat ang lilipad but he insisted on taking me on his trip. Tinakot ako nito na titingin daw ito sa mga blonde girls na makasalubong kapag hindi ako sumama. And I acted on instinct I got mad at him,I yelled at him the whole day. Everything he do is not right for me,but he is just grinning in return which annoys me even more.

"Don't worry honey,I'll make sure to call every possible time we get"

"Yey! Thanks mommy! I love you po!"

Seeing my daughters lifted up their moods,I'm sure going to miss them too. We bonded really well since that weekend. Kaya ngayon,Leo is trying everything to get me for himself,alone. Pati mga anak namin pinagseselosan sa atensyon ko.

"I love you both darling"

Nang nakarating kami sa school ay kinausap ng masinsinan ni Leo ang mga bata. Binilinan ang mga ito na huwag maging pasaway sa Lola nila at huwag gumawa ng gulo.

"I'll expect you Rafie to be matured enough this time,okay?" Tumango ito sa ama.

"Yes dad!"

"Daddy,pasalubong ha?"

I smiled,kahit makulit at minsan parang hindi sila magkasundo in the end they still know where they stand. I can see how they care and love each other. I'm so happy I have a family like them.

"Oo naman,daddy and mommy won't forget the pasalubong for our princesses" sagot ni Leo.

"Sige na,pumasok kana Rafie baka malate ka pa,ihahatid pa namin si Serena" singit ko ng napansin ko ang oras sa relo ko.

"Okay mom,see you when you get back" she hugged me "take care dad" baling nito sa ama "wait for ate in the room baby" bilin nito sa kapatid.

This afternoon is our flight to L.A. after we dropped off the girls at school,dumiretso kami sa office para asikasuhin ang ibang mga papeles. Leo and I were busy the whole morning. We packed our luggages last night we are just waiting to go. Si kuya Gary ang maghahatid sa amin sa airport.

Nakausap ko na si mama tungkol sa nangyari sa akin noon at kung bakit hindi nila pinaalam na may pamilya na ako noong magising ako. She gave me a few photo albums,Hindi ko pa iyon nabubuklat dahil naging abala ako sa trabaho at sa pamilya ko.

I was trying to fill in the lost time with my daughters. They reciprocate and I'm thankful na open minded sila pareho. I told them how sorry I was,particularly with Rafie because I made her felt rejected when I woke up from my coma years ago and I didn't remember her. That cause her to low self esteem and isolated herself,just on her own. That's what mama told me,mabuti nalang talaga at mayroong Leo na gagawin ang lahat para sa akin. Nagawa pa niyang magabayan ang mga anak namin sa kabila ng napaka abala niya sa trabaho.