(NOTE : Last pov until EPILOUGE or special/important event/plot/dialogs in the story)
Xalvinus Zeruno Valeria
"YOU'RE REALLY something, woman, no?" patanong kong komento sa babaeng natutulog na ngayon.
She dare told me i'm sleepy when right now, it was her who's sleeping peacefully.
Napangiti ako at marahang hinaplos ang pisngi niya.
Her beautiful face can't be compared to the Disney princesses or in the every princesses in fairy tales that a kid will love.
Nasobrahan nga lang sa ganda, umapaw sa utak. Bumulwak, kaya nag-iba na ang lengguwahe sa isipan niya. Just how wide your imagination is, wife?
Napailing ako at natawa na lang, "Why are you so beautiful?"
Napakurap ako nang masilaw sa flash ng camera. Umigting ang panga ko at nagdidilim ang paningin na nilingon ang pinanggagalingan ng flash.
It was no other than Castriel Xaydion Rosholt, he grimace. Behind him are Deridson Xayne Sullistre, Klayton Xamir Riencess, Estiven Xylier Deros Voginvill and Youseff Xerxes Da Vouguen.
In his right side are Xerxes who's holding a light pinkish color rabbit stuffed toy. It has its ears down and have medium pink inside of the ear.
The stuffed toy's eyes are big and color dark brown. But in its end, it has a bright brown like hazel eyes' color. Both of it's eyes have bright but not too much colored mini heart with circle on side above. And a four sides star below the circle and heart. It made the circle look in the middle and the heart on right while the circle is on the left.
The rabbit stuffed toy's nose are light pink with dark pink lips. It even have it's down sides cheeks colored pink, like a blush.
The paws have a mini carrot on it, just like what it's holding.
I tsked and smile at Xerxes, "Xerxes?" i called him.
He tilted his head. I want to pinch the other four as i saw that Xerxes had his sleepwear pajama already.
Even his slippers are what he wear when he's sleeping.
"Yes, Master Cloudy?"
I sighed, "What did i ask you to call me again?"
He pout a little, "But it's kind of disrespecting you!"
I gave him a look which he can't say no, "Yes, master kuya cloudy?"
Napailing na lang ako. Hindi talaga niya bibitawan ang master cloudy na tawag rin ng iba sa akin.
Youseff Xerxes Da Vouguen is my father's youngest son on his mistress, Yassi Da Vouguen.
And that didn't stop me to treat him like a real brother. I don't even know why he's trying to work as my guard when i can pretty remember that i welcome him wholeheartedly as my brother.
"Go to your room now, do you need anything?"
He smiled like a cute bunny as he shake his head. And the way Xylier staring at him didn't get escaped with me. This guy! I secretly rolled my eyes as i'm getting irritated on why i don't have any privacy in my own house.
It's as if i'm raising a five kids of my own. Tsk, lintek na mga tao talaga!
"I was just wondering what would Mastress Barbie and you look like. And as i expected, you two will make such a powerful cute potential married couple kuya."
Napailing ako, "Stop with your jokes, Xerxes."
He pout again, "I wasn't, kuya! Bagay talaga kayo!"
Napangiwi si Xamir nang marinig ang accent ni Xerxes sa pagtatagalog.
"You should get some sleep now. While the four of you-!!" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin nang hilahin na lang bigla ni Xayne ang mga kasama na ikinalaki ng mga mata ko.
Aalma sana ako nang makarinig ng tugtog ng drum sa may gate.
I frowned, "Who's in the right mind that will play that in the middle of this talk?!"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang maalalang nasa iisang kwarto nga pala kami ng asawa ko.
Kahit naman hindi ako mai-inlove sa kaniya, hindi ko pa rin naman gusto na may magigising ako dahil sa ingay ko.
It's bad for a man like me who will have bad comments about me because i talk too loud. Unti-unti siyang nagmulat ng mga mata.
Namumungay ang mga mata niya at kinuskos ito.
"Did i wake you up?"
Mahina siyang tumawa. It's funny how i found her laugh sound so cute, adorable and a favorite music in my ears.
"Baliw ka siguro, hubby. Feeling mo mas malakas pa boses mo sa tambol, no?"
Napataas ako ng kilay pero tumawa lang siya. Is this woman not even scared at me? Not even a little?
She look at my eyes then her beautiful blue eyes widened, "Hala! May nangangaroling pala, hubby! Bukas 24 na! Tara na, dali!" sigaw niya.
I blinked as i look at her eyes, "Now? But i don't have any gifts for them."
Nangunot ang noo niya, "Hindi naman required ng gift! Kahit barya, hubby, happy na sila!"
Napangiti ako. Shut it! I don't have any coins! All money that i have are either in bank, cards or papers! They will like it more, no?
Nagpahila na lang ako sa asawa ko. Remembering that she doesn't want to be called as a woman since she said, that's not her name.
Baka hindi na kami makinig sa mangangaroling at magtalo na lang sa paniniwala niya.
I wonder who's her parents are. How come did they survive those years with this woman? Or did she get that attitude from them? Like maybe, inherit them?
Kasabay ng tunog ng drum ay tila mga tunog ng tansan na inaalog at nagtatama-tama.
Hindi na ako nagulat nang makita ang lima sa may gate at nakangiwi na nakatingin sa akin at sa asawa ko.
Napangiti ako nang makita si Xerxes na nakatingin sa isang batang lalaki na namumula ang pisngi at mukhang nahihiya sa kaniya.
"Sino iyan? Pati bata pagseselosan, eh, wala namang karapatan!"
"Pre, two days before Christmas. Label na lang iregalo mo kay Estiven."
"Ihhhhh! Ako ba si bebe bunso?"
Xylier secretly glaring at Xamir as he call Xerxes bebe made me shake my head.
"KAMPANA NG SIMBAHAN AY NANGGIGISING NA! AT WARING NAGSASABI NA TAYO'Y MAGSIMBA! MAGBANGON AT MAGBIHIS TAYO'Y MAGSILAKAD! AT MASIGLANG TUNGUHIN ANG SIMBAHAN!" pasigaw na kanta ng mga bata na abot ng sigla.
The way their eyes sparks with innocent and enjoyment. I couldn't help but smile. I keep on watching them, no, even my wife does. And so as Xerxes and the other X's.
They finished the song then smiled widely, "NAMAMASKO POO!!"
I saw the women from the other house peeking on her window as she mumbled something. Chismosa, tsk.
I smiled at them and walk towards me together with my wife. I open the gate and sit on the air as i make my height equals to them. It ached my back a little, why am i so tall?
"How many are all of you, kids?" i ask them.
Nagkatinginan sila, ang isang batang lalaki na nakasalamin ay nagtaas ng kamay, "Alam ko sinabi ni kuyang pogi, NatNat!" malawak ang ngiti niya na kita ang bungi na sigaw sa katabi niyang babae.
The little girl look so cute and familiar, which i find strange and weird.
"Ano sabi niya, Vik?"
Vik? Sounds like my kuya's nickname, Vek.
"Kung ilan daw ba tayong lahat. Ako na magka-count para saiyo-Ay, para sa ating lahat pala! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! Eight po kaming lahat, kuyang pogi!" bibo at masigla talaga ang boses niya na ikinangiti ko.
"Then, here. Pila kayo."
Rinig ko ang pagpigil ng tawa ng apat nang marinig nila ako, "Pre! Lalagnatin siguro ako!"
"Bakit naman, Xayne?"
"Our language isn't connecting, Xerxes."
"Ihhh?"
"Don't mind him. He's just not use on how your older brother's acting up as right now, little bunny."
"Okay, sabi mo, eh."
"Little bunny, sana lahat mahilig sa carrot-JOKE LANG! ARAY, AH!"
"Magkano ibibigay ni Master Cloudy?"
"Siya kaya tanungin mo, no?"
Ako ang nakakaramdam ng hiya sa ingay nila. I look at my wife as smile when i saw her talking to the kids already.
"Ate ganda! Mag-husband and wife po kayo?"
Tumango nang hindi nag-aalinlangan ang asawa ko, "Oum, halata ba?"
"Opo, ang happy niyo po kasi, eh. Para po kayo iyong parents ni Vik dati. Si Vik po kasi ang daddy niya nasa ibang bansa tapos po hindi po siya nauwi sa kanila. Sabi lang po sa amin ni Nanay Marta na gano'n daw po dati sa harapan namin iyong parents niya. Di po namin nakita. Sabi daw po kasi niya, something sweet tapos romantic daw talaga tignan."
Napangiti ako sa narinig ko. Kids and their uncontrollable mouths while talking are really adorable.
"Is it okay for me to talk to the eight of you?"
Ngumiti iyong NatNat, "Opo, kuyang pogi! Parehas po kayo ni Vik ng kilay! Makapal na hindi po tapos pataas na hindi rin, ang ganda po na nakakalalaki tignan."
Napailing na lang ako, but she didn't lie. We indeed have the same eyebrows, for some reason.
"Balik kayo dito bukas at sa susunod na araw."
Napatingin ang mga bata kay Xylier na ngumiti sa kanila, "Our Master Cloudy seems to be in much peaceful while talking to y'all, eh."
Natawa iyong Vik, "Bakit po? Hindi po ba payapa so kuyang pogi kapag wala kami? Bad po siguro kayo, ano?"
Napahawak sa dibdib ang tatlo na X na ikinatawa ni Xerxes. Si Xylier naman ay napailing na lang, "Kami na masama, bata."
"Ang bilis mo naman aminin krimen natin, pre!"
"Kaya ka inaano, eh."
"Basta talaga sa bata, honest."
Tumikhim ako, "Bakit hindi niyo naiintindihan ang English maliban kay Vik?"
Ngumiti ang batang lalaki, "Si kuya Vik lang po kasi nakaka-school sa amin. Wala po kasing pera mga magulang po namin para pag-aralin kami. Pero iyong mama po ni kuya Vik, kahit papaano meron."
Napakurap ako, what the..? I didn't expect that.
"Siyaka super smart din po kasi si Vik, kuyang pogi! Gusto mo po tanungin mo siya ng about sa school, alam niya po iyan!"
Nahihiyang umamang ang bibig ni Vik habang namumula ang pisngi niya. Maputi siya, sobra. Kasing tulad ng sa niyebe. Pakiramdam ko sensitive siya sa init dahil doon.
"Hindi naman ako super smart, Renz, eh! May kaunting natutunan lang ako."
Napangiti ako, "Dahil diyan, well, Vik?"
"Ano po iyon, kuyang pogi?"
"Eight times ten?"
"Eighty po."
Ngumiti ako at sinenyasan ang apat. Nagkandarapa naman sila sa pag-uunahan. Kaya mabilis nilang naiabot sa akin ang isang maleta.
Binuksan ko iyon, "Eighty thousands for each of you."