Devlin, Just One Kiss (Assassins 1)

Special Chapter

SOMETIMES, IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE A FATHER

NAGMAMANEHO patungo sa boutique ni Sunny si Devlin.  He's with their twelve year old twins na kasalukuyang nakaupo ngayon sa backseat.  Apollo was reading a book samantalang si Artemis naman ay kaharap ng cellphone nito.  Napangiti siya habang pinagmamasdan ang mga ito sa rearview mirror.  They're twins but both of them were as different as night and day.  From the color of their hair up to the things they like, all of it different.  But nevertheless, he still loved them beyond compare.  They were his treasures.  His and Sunny's treasures.

"Daddy, can I go with you this weekend sa training ground?" tanong ni Artemis sa kanya.  Her strawberry blond hair framing her angelic face.

Nagtaka naman siya.  Simula kasi nang ma-realize ng anak na mas gusto nito na magsuot ng palda kesa makipaglaro ng football sa kanya ay tumigil na ito sa pagsama-sama sa kanya sa training ground.  "Why, princess, do you need something there?"

"She just wants to see that Snowman guy," sagot ni Apollo na hindi man lang inaalis ang tingin sa binabasa nitong libro.

Tiningnan ito ng masama ng kapatid.  "Shut up, Apollo.  Ikaw ba ang kinakausap ni Daddy?  Hindi naman, di ba?  And FYI, his name is Snow."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya.  Si Snow ang kasalukuyang pinakabatang member ng Assassins.  Why would Artemis want to see him?

"As if naman sasabihin mo kay Dad ang totoong dahilan kung bakit gusto mong makita si Snowman," wika ulit ni Apollo.

"And what would that real reason be?" hindi na niya napigilang wika.

"She has a crush on that guy."

Now, Artemis was not only scowling at Apollo, she was also giving him his death glare.  "Yes, gusto kong pumunta ng training ground kasi gusto kong makita si Snow.  But it's not because I have a crush on him."  Bumaling ito sa kanya bago nagpatuloy, "I'm in love with him, Daddy."

Muntikan na niyang maibangga sa malapit na poste ang sasakyan dahil sa sinabi ng anak.  "What?"

Apollo snorted.  "Your daughter is crazy, Dad."

Hindi ito pinansin ni Artemis.  "Surely you understand, Daddy.  Girls only need to look at Snow to fall in love with him.  He's so pretty.  With his blond hair and green eyes, he looks like an angel.  My angel," wika nito with a dreamy sigh habang nakatingin sa kawalan na para bang ini-imagine nito si Snow.

"See, Dad, she's crazy."

Bigla-bigla ay parang inatake ng migraine si Devlin.  Hindi makapaniwala na naririnig niya ang mga bagay na 'yon mula sa anak na babae.  He was dreading the time when his baby girl would fall in love.  Pero hindi niya akalain na mangyayari na 'yon ngayon.  Not when she's only twelve! 

Sinubukan niyang gawing kalmado ang tono ng pananalita niya.  "Princess, aren't you being a little hasty?  You're only twelve.  Surely, you're not being serious."

"But I am, Daddy.  I love him."

He resisted the urge to groan.  "Snow is a lot older than you."

"Age doesn't matter in love naman, 'di ba?  Tito Sparks is eleven years older than Tita Paige and he's also her Godfather but they still ended up with each other.  I'm sure the same thing would happen to me and Snow," ayaw talagang magpatalo na wika ni Artemis.

Now he's cursing Sparks.  Why did he have to marry someone so young?  That cradle snatcher.  "I think Snow only thinks of you as a little sister." 

Pansamantalang natahimik si Artemis.  He thought he finally got through to her.  Pero agad din itong nakabawi at nagwika, "That's alright, I mean I'm only twelve.  Pero five years from now, he will no longer think of me as a little sister.  I'm already pretty, how much prettier would I look like when I grow older?  I'm sure Snow won't be able to resist me."

Sa sinabing 'yon ng anak ay agad na pumasok sa isipan niya ang imahe ng isang mas matandang version nito.  Too pretty for her own good.  At nakakulong sa mga bisig ni Snow.  He suddenly has the strong urge to murder someone.  Preferably Snow.  Subukan lang nito na hawakan ang dulo ng daliri ng anak niya.  He will skin him alive.  No, he will boil him and then skin him alive.

"Daddy, ba't natahimik kayo bigla?" pukaw ni Artemis sa pansin niya.

"Dad is probably thinking of ways how to kill Snowman," wika ni Apollo.

"'Wag mo ngang itulad si Daddy sa 'yo.  You're not thinking of that, right Daddy?"

"Of course not, princess.  I'm only thinking of ways to torture him."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Artemis.  "Daddy!"

Tumawa naman ng malakas si Apollo.

Napabuntung-hininga siya.  Hahayaan na niya si Sunny na kumausap sa anak.  Maybe she would listen to her mother and forget this stupid notion of being in love with Snow.

Sometimes, it's really hard to be a father.

Inihinto na niya ang sasakyan sa tapat ng boutique ng asawa.  Bumaba na silang tatlo at pumasok sa boutique.  Nakita niya agad si Sunny, kausap nito ang isa sa mga saleslady nito, her long strawberry blond hair tied in a high ponytail.  Even after thirteen years of being together, the simple sight of her could easily make his heart beat faster.

"Mom!" sabay na tawag dito ng kambal.

Lumingon ito and a wide smile escaped her lips nang makita sila.  Sinugod naman ito ng yakap ng kambal.  "Anong ginagawa niyo dito?"

"Surprising you," sagot niya.

Sabay na inilahad dito ng kambal ang hawak-hawak na isang tangkay ng kulay puting rosas.  "Happy Mother's Day to the most beautiful and the best Mom in the whole world!" sabay na wika ng mga ito.

He immediately saw the way Sunny's hazel eyes went misty.  Tinanggap nito ang mga bulaklak bago niyakap ang mga anak.  "That's so sweet.  Thank you Pol, Temi," wika nito calling the twins by their nicknames.  "The two of you are also the best kids any Mom could hope for."

Lumapit siya sa mga ito and enveloped the three of them into a big hug.  "Happy Mother's Day, sweetheart."

Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya.  "No flowers for me?"

Inilapit niya ang bibig sa teynga nito and whispered, "I already spread the rose petals on our bed.  So later..."

A wicked smile crossed her lips.  "Later then."

A/N: Hi! Sa lahat ng nakabasa ng buong series ng Assassins, there's going to be a batch 2. Di lang namin sure kung kelan lalabas since book 1, 2, & 3 pa lang ang naisusulat namin ni Jelaine. LOL. Pero yun, sana abangan niyo pa rin. Salamat nga pala sa lahat ng nagbasa nitong book1 dito sa Wattpad. Hopefully nagustuhan niyo ang story ni Devlin. :)