"We're here!" Xiana jumped happily the moment we descended from the plane. She was giggling uncontrollably as she craned her neck to have a better look on her surroundings.
"Baby, calm down. You're sweating already." Kinuha ko 'yong bimpo kay Drei at pinunasan ang mukha ni Xiana.
"Let's go see Daddy!" she chanted. And Xander who was impatient and irritable looked at Xiana peevishly. "Alexiana you're so noisy. Vous etes enneyeux!"
Xiana looks like she was about to cry, so I scooped her up and craddled her in my arms. "Hey beautiful, don't cry."
She sniffed and bobbed her little head. Drei carried Xander too. "Desole. Don't be mad at me mommy." Xander said before looking down.
Nilapitan ko siya at hinalikan sa noo. "Mommy's not mad, just don't say something like that to your sister. Vous me comprenez?"
"Oui. Je comprends." He nodded.
Manang was walking behind us. Alam kong nag-aalala siya sa mangyayari kapag nagkita na kami ni Aaron.
Hindi ko alam kung anong ine-expect kong itsura niya ngayon. My heart started racing the moment I set foot on Philippine soil. I took a deep breath and tried to expel my negative thoughts.
Xiana wrapped her arms around my neck. "Mommy, I want to see my Daddy."
"Rest muna, then we'll see your daddy." I promised. She pouted but gave in eventually. Sumakay kami sa Montero Sport na naghihintay saamin sa airport. The one behind the wheel was Drei's family chauffeur. Inihatid nito kami sa bahay ni Drei sa Makati.
Dere-deretso ako sa itaas at inihiga ang nahihimbing na si Xiana sa kama. Inilapag naman ni Drei si Xander katabi ng kakambal.
"Aayusin ko lang muna 'yong luggage natin," saad niya bago lumabas ng kwarto.
Xander shifted from the bed and slowly opened his little eyes. "Mommy?"He sat bolt upright and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "I don't wanna see my dad."
"Why is that?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.
"Papa told me that my daddy hurt you so bad. And that he doesn't want Xiana or me. He is a bad man," inosente niyang sabi.
Nilapitan ko si Xander at hinawakan ang maliit niyang mga kamay. "That's not true, Xander. Your daddy isn't a bad man."
"But he made you cry." Niyakap niya ako and I hugged him too.
"Listen to me, okay? Just because he made Mommy cry doesn't mean he's a bad person."
Ayoko namang kamuhian nila ang tatay nila. Drei and I would talk about this once I'm done conversing with Xander. Hindi na siya sumagot, so I tucked him in bed again and watched the two of them until he fell asleep again.
Lumabas ako ng kwarto at hinanap si Drei. I found him in the kitchen.
"Drei can we talk?" seryoso kong tanong.
Humarap siya at ngumiti. "Yes, sweetheart? Ano'ng problema?"
"Why did you say that to Xander?"
He fell silent and looked at me in the eyes. Then he sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. I just want him to be aware of what happened between you and Aaron."
"Be aware? What was that all about? He's four years old for pete's sake!" I can't help but raise my voice.
He dropped what he was doing and approached me. "I hated Aaron because he hurt me, but that doesn't mean I'm planning to turn the kids against him. Kung ano man ang pinagdaanan namin ni Aaron, kung galit man ako sa kanya, then labas ang mga bata ro'n!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagkainis ko.
Drei wasn't saying anything. Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto ay binasag niya ang katahimikan. "Bakit galit ka? Don't tell me pagbalik natin dito na-realize mong mahal mo pa siya?" mahinang tanong niya.
"You're unbelievable. Saka nalang tayo mag-usap 'pag hindi ka na kinakain ng insecurities at jealousy mo," inis na pahayag ko bago siya tinalikuran.
---
"I'm so excited!" pumalakpak si Xiana mula sa backseat. Si Xander ay tahimik lang. Hindi ko parin pinapansin si Drei hanggang ngayon.
Papunta kami sa kompanya ni Aaron and I need not deny that I'm nervous right now. Xiana is even singing a French song while I couldn't even form a sentence because of this nerve-wracking feeling.
Lalong lumakas ang kaba ko nang mag-park na si Drei sa harap ng building. Shit Cassidy, calm the fuck down!
Bumaba kaming dalawa ng sasakyan at pinagbuksan ang kambal. Xiana was grinning like crazy while Xander was not saying anything. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ko nginitian ang kambal.
"Let's go meet him?" Xiana grabbed my hand.
Si Xander ay nakatingin lang, but eventually hinawakan niya narin 'yong kabilang kamay ko. Drei wanted to come with us, pero dahil galit pa ako, sinabi ko nalang sa kanya na ite-text ko nalang siya 'pag magpapasundo na kami.
He was hesitant at first pero wala naman siyang magagawa. He sighed and entered the car again. Xander waved before Drei drove away.
Sumakay kami ng elevator and I pressed the number 12. The elevator dinged. Lumabas kami, bumungad ang secretary ni Aaron.
"I'm here to see Mr. Aaron Ceyx Monteverde. Is he inside?"
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Uhm, no. But I really need to see him."
Mukhang nag-aalangan ang sekretarya niya ngunit isang boses mula sa likod ang nagsalita. "Papasukin mo siya. Ako ang bahala sayo, Cassidy."
Nginitian ko si Denver bilang pasasalamat at ininguso niya ang pinto ng opisina ni Aaron. He winked at Xander who was frowning at him.
Lumapit si Denver at ni-type sa LED panel sa pader and password ng office ni Aaron. I thanked him and the three of us went inside.
Sumara sa likod namin ang pinto. Humigpit 'yong kapit ni Xiana sa kamay ko. Nang tingnan ko kung ano, or sino 'yong tinitingnan niya ay nanlaki ang mata ko at napalakas ang pagpintig ng puso ko.
Aaron was sleeping on his swivel chair. I slowly approached him to have a better look at him.
Hindi siya gaanong nagbago. I was busy examining his face when his eyes slowly opened. I backed away, startled, as he yawned.
He seemed to feel another presence so he raised his eyes. He blinked and blinked again.
"Cassidy, is it really you? Nananaginip na naman ba ako?" Gumaralgal 'yong boses niya. He bridged the gap between us and gently touched my cheeks, as if he was afraid I was just a hallucination.
"Cassidy, oh my God. I missed you, I... I... God." Hindi siya makabuo ng isang kumpletong pangungusap.
"Daddy?" said Xiana's small voice.
Bumitiw si Aaron sa pagkakayakap at tiningnan ang pinanggalingan ng boses. Tila no'n niya lang napansin na hindi kami nag-iisa sa opisina niya.
His eyes landed on Xiana's face and then on Xander's. Napaawang ang labi niya at do'n ko nakita ang pagtaas-baba ng dibdib niya. Mixed emotions were visible on his eyes. Unti-unti siyang lumuhod para makapantay ang kambal.
His lips were quivering as he looked at them with happiness, sadness, and disbelief. He was speechless, and I was too.
"C-can I hug the two of you?" basag ang boses na tanong niya. Xiana nodded. Xander looked at me hesitantly na parang ayaw niya pero inudyok ko siya.S a huli ay lumapit din siya kay Aaron. Aaron pulled both of them for a hug. Ang higpit niyang niyakap ang dalawa.
"Daddy?" says Xiana in a squeaky voice.
"Yes?" tanong ni Aaron.
"I'm so happy I finally met you, my name is Alexiana Callisto," sabi ni Xiana na yumakap sa leeg ni Aaron.
And that's when I saw the tears streaming down the face of the famous Monteverde billionaire.