Exton's POV
"Love?" I extended my arm to my baby so she came to me right away.
Galing ako sa kwarto, kagigising lang, siya naman ay sa kusina.
She looked at me, I kissed her forehead first before answering.
"Yes, baby?"
"Where's Vernice?" kumunot ang mukha niya.
"I'm sure nasa mga kaibigan niya 'yon, don't worry about her," she nodded, I looked around and smirked. "Walang tao baby..."
"Ano ngayon?" ayan nanaman ang nakakatakot na tingin niya.
"Baka gusto mong gumawa ng pangatlo?" Natawa ako nang mahina niyang sinuntok ang tiyan ko, napabitaw tuloy ako sa baywang niya.
"Stop it, Exton." she rolled her eyes and started walking to the kitchen again, she's baking some cookies.
I love her cookies!
"But baby..." I'm pretending that I'm sulking, I was like a baby. Well, I'm her baby!
"No." tumalikod siya sa akin saka chineck ang bini-bake niya.
I hugged her from behind. She didn't react, lalo tuloy akong sumimangot.
"You're not hugging me, don't you love me na?"
She seriously faced me.
"No." she answered, lumaki ang mga mata ko and felt my heart dropped.
She don't love me anymore?
I looked at her like I was gonna cry infront of her, she just laughed and kissed me in the lips.
What was that? Is that supposed to be a joke?!
It's not funny!!
I was ready to get revenge to Vien when the kupal came in.
"Mom?" I rolled my eyes, istorbo talaga 'to kahit kailan e.
"Shaoton" Vien hugged him.
He's our son, ang nag iisang bwisit sa bahay na 'to, istorbo kasi lagi.
"Do you know where Vernice is?" Hinihingal pa siyang nagsasalita.
"Dad told me she's with her friends, why?" tumingin silang dalawa sa akin, aba malay ko, hula ko lang naman 'yon.
"She's lying mom!" Shaoton exclaimed. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, kailangan ba sumigaw? "I heard from her friends that she'll go away with her boyfriend. Makikipag tanan na raw siya." He continued.
Nagulat kami sa sinabi niya. How is that possible?
"What are you saying, Ton? Wala naman ata sa ugali ni Vern na makipagtanan na lang, she's too innocent for that." I commented, he rolled his eyes on me. Aba, 'tong bata na 'to!
"Dad, sorry to ruin your imagination, but Vernice isn't that innocent girl like what you are thinking." tumingin pa siya sa malayo na animo'y nag iisip.
Akala mo naman talaga may isip.
"Nakipagtanan talaga siya?" My baby talked so tumahimik na lang ako.
"Yes mom. What do you want me to do?" she's looking at her mom intently, he's always like that, attentive to his mom, tapos 'pag sa 'kin, 'di na lang ako magtalk.
"Let her be, I mean if she don't want here anymore let her be. Maybe she wants to be independent na." I nodded, she has a point, Vernice is already 19, she can do whatever she wants.
"No! Bakit natin siya hahayaan mom? Ikaw ang nag alaga sa kaniya noong walang kumupkop sa kaniya and just like that aalis siya ng walang paalam?!" sumama ang tingin ko sa kaniya, kanina pa siya sumisigaw ah.
"Ton, stop shouting at your mom!" suway ko.
"I'm sorry Mom, Dad, naiinis lang ako wala siyang utang na loob" he said in a low voice.
"Shaoton, that's too harsh" Suway ni Vien, naiinis na rin siguro sa mga sinasabi ng anak namin.
"No, she can't get away from us... from me." He immediately left the kitchen after that.
I just sighed, manang mana talaga sa nanay niya.
"Where's Gram?" Vien asked Ethan, may hawak siyang tray ng spaghetti.
We're in a beach.
"Nasa sasakyan, may naiwan raw e." he answered.
Vien took the tray and put it inside the cottage.
"Parating na rin sila Shin." Justine arrived, may dala ring pagkain.
Ambagan 'to e, ano sila sinuswerte.
"Nasaan naman ang unico hijo mo?" tanong ko naman kay Vince.
"He's gonna be late, galing pa kasing Batangas." I nodded. We're talking about Kale, his son.
"Hmm, someone's gonna get married." Geo joked. May hawak siyang batang babae sa kaliwang kamay niya.
I smiled at Maxine Adria, it's her name. She smiled back and waved at me. I gave her 500 pesos.
"Thank you, tito!" she hugged me, so cute!
"You're welcome!" I hugged her and smiled. Bumalik siya sa tatay niya kaya napatingin ako kay Geo, pinapanood niya pala kami. "Sa anak mo 'yan ah, mamaya kunin mo nanaman."
"Ang kapal ng mukha mo." sinimangutan niya ako at inambahan ng sapak.
Tumawa naman ako at humarap kay Max.
"Sabihin mo sa 'kin kung kukunin niya ah?" ginulo ko ang buhok niya at masayang tumango tanga sa akin.
"Okay, tito."
I smiled at her.
Ang ibang bata ay naroon na sa dagat, Shaoton, Maxine, Vernice, Melly at si Shawnie.
Si Kale naman at Gram ay nandoon sa upuan, Gram's just reading while Kale is staring at them.
Parang kailan lang kami kami lang magkakaibigan, ngayon may mga anak na. Buti nalang mas gwapo at magaganda kami sa kanila. Mga chanak.
I looked at my friends, nothing really changed, it's just that we became all so busy, sa sari sarili naming pamilya at career.
When the night came magkahiwalay ang bonfire ng mga bata sa amin, we also want them to enjoy on their own.
"Happy anniversary for the two of you." Vince greeted, katabi niya ang asawa niya. She smiled at us kaya ngumiti rin kami, I just realized that the world was really small. She's our former housekeeper.
Bumati rin ang iba pero ang paboritong inaasar ni Vien ay si Geo.
"Hindi na happy andito ka e." Sagot ni Vien sa kaniya kaya umakto itong nasasaktan.
"Sorry ha, eto lang kasi ako e." He wiped his invisible tears and held hid heart.
"Oo, sana nga pinutok ka nalang sa kumot." Blake fired and we laughed.
"Aba! Tangina mo ah!"
We all laughed, the night was long, we enjoyed it.
Nang lumalim na ang gabi, napansin ko na rin na napagod ang asawa ko kaya inaya ko na siyang pumunta sa kwarto namin.
"Love, I have something for you." I hug her from behind, I brought out the small box I'm holding.
I kissed her cheeks as she open the box.
"Love, 'di ba nahulog ko 'to?" bakas ang pagtatakha at gulat sa boses niya. I smiled and nodded. "Saan mo nakuha? I-Thank you, love!"
Humarap siya sa akin saka ako hinalikan sa labi.
I pulled out from the kiss and greeted her.
"Happy anniversary, baby, 20th anniversary!"
"Happy anniversary, love."
She kissed me again, lumalim ang halikan naming dalawa, I smiled.
Our night is just starting, baby.
"I hate you!" nataranta naman ako nang biglang sumigaw ang asawa ko. I just arrived.
"Huh? Why?" dali dali naman akong lumapit sa kaniya pero lumayo lang siya sa akin.
"Why did you leave me?" she pouted.
"What?! Sabi mo gusto mo ng manga, so bumili ako." naguguluhang ani ko, sabi niya bilhan ko siya ng manga.
"I told you not to leave me, Exton!" napatanga naman ako nang batuhin niya ako ng unan.
"Pero..." I was about to talk when she left the room.
Vien and her mood swings.
"Baby, ang ganda mo ngayon." I complemented her. Kanina pa ako nakatitig sa kaniya.
"Ngayon lang?" tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin.
Hinahaplos niya ang tyan niya. 7 months na iyon.
Time really fly that fast, huh?
"Everyday, look at you, hindi mukhang buntis." I kissed her belly.
"Well, they say kapag babae raw ang anak blooming." she nodded. "So noong kay Shaoton, pangit ako?"
Napatanga nanaman na ako, siya lang naman gumagawa ng away namin.
"No, you're so gorgeous, my Aphrodite." I smiled at her.
"Pangit ka rin naman." sagot niya saka umirap.
Natawa na lang ako sinabi at ginawa niya.
She's a cutie.
"Ang sakit!" nanlalaki ang mga mata ko nang sumigaw si Vienna. It's just 3 in the morning.
"What do you want, pain killer?" hindi ko naman naisip na manganganak siya dahil next month pa ang due niya.
"Kasalanan mo 'to!" umiiyak na aniya.
"Anong ginawa ko?" I'm worried as fuck, what did I do? Baka nadaganan ko ang tyan niya?
"Anniversary lang dapat di 'ba? Bakit binuntis mo 'ko?" with that I chuckled, hindi ko naman alam na magbubunga ang gabing 'yon.
"I love you." I kissed her forehead.
"I hate you."
"Manganganak na ako! Exton!" nataranta ako, nangyari na 'to noon kay Shaoton pero bakit nabblangko pa rin ako.
I don't know what to do so I grabbed my phone and called Vien's mom.
"S-shit! Baby, hold on." nakita kong nahihirapan na siya.
"Tangina! Wag ka na tumawag diyan, ang sakit na puta ka!" she screamed.
Halos mahulog ang puso ko nang makitang nawalan siya ng malay.
Buhat buhat ko siya papuntang ER.
Ilang oras ako naghihintay sa labas at nakatingin sa kawalan, kinakabahan ako tangina.
Dumating naman ang mga kaibigan namin, all of them were excited. Who wouldn't?
"Summer Ellise..." I immediately enter the room when the doctor said I can come inside. Napatitig ako sa anak ko, she's so beautiful, kamukha niya talaga si Vienna. My baby named her. "Look baby, ang ganda niya."
I smiled at Vienna, she's smiling, it was weak but I know she's happy.
"Dad, pabuhat ako." Shaoton said, kanina pa 'yan silip ng silip sa mukha ni Summer.
"Pabuhat ka naman talaga." sumimangot naman siya sa sinaad ko.
"Kay baby girl kasi, epal."
Dinala niya si Summer sa may bandang bintana. The view there is relaxing, I smiled when he's talking to Summer. I know he also want a sister.
Our friends congratulated us and gave Summer her gift. Geo gave her a dresses. Vince gave a car! Kakapanganak pa lang ng anak ko!
Mga bwiset talaga 'tong mga 'to.
"I visited kuya earlier" tumabi ako kay Vienna. Kakapatulog niya lang kay Summer. Umayos siya ng higa.
"And?" she hugged me.
"I just thought if you two can talk? I mean baby, if you just want to-" I said, she cut me off.
"Pupunta ako, love" she smiled at me.
I kisses her forehead, am I insensitive?
"Is it okay to you?" I asked.
"Oo, its been a years, Exton. I actually forgiven him but the pain was still here" bakas ang lungkot sa boses niya pero 'di tulad noon, she's not crying anymore. "He also went through a lot so I'll go there and forgive him"
I nodded, she's really a strong woman.
Vien's POV
"Call me if you need something, okay? I will just be here." my husband assured me. He hugged me tightly.
"Okay."
"I love you, baby." hinalikan niya ako saka inakap ako ulit.
"I love you too."
I sighed as I entered the room where can I talk to Clayton.
Nakupo na siya roon at alam na na ako ang bibisita sa kaniya.
Nang makita niya ako ay agad na tumulo ang luha niya.
Umupo ako sa harap niya.
"Vien..." he held my hand, I didn't flinch, I didn't react. Siguro'y naka move on na talaga ako. He sobbed. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
Hindi siya tumigil sa paghingi ng sorry. I felt his sincerity.
"I'm still not okay. I was never okay since that night. I lost my child, Clay!" I cried.
He held my hand tightly this time.
"I... know." umiiyak pa rin siya.
"I'll give you time to speak, I'll listen." I wiped my tears and seated properly.
"I did love you, Vien. You're my first love, alam mo 'yan." bumitaw siya sa kamay ko at umayos na rin ng upo. "It's just that I needed to find a way for you to leave. They will hurt you if they saw you. Then, there's Anne, Exton's girlfriend, she's evil, Vien." He started explaining. Anne? "Alam ko magagalit si Exton at ikaw, pero kailangan kong gawin 'yon, inagaw ko si Anne kay Exton, not because I like her, but I want to protect you and Exton." nagtakha naman ako sa sinabi niya. He cheated because he want to protect us? From whom?
"What do you mean?"
"Magkasabwat ang daddy niya at si dad, they want Exton and Anne to get married, so they'll be both be the most powerful druglords in the country. I know all of that because I was their... guinea pig." natulala ako sa kaniya. I didn't speak for a moment.
Anong druglords? Guinea pig?
"W-what? Wala kang sinabi noon." it was happening while we're still together pero ni hindi ko man lang napansin 'yon.
Paano nangyari 'yon? I was not ready for this.
"Kasi baka madamay ka." umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin.
"Why didn't you report this?" nagtatakhang tanong ko, I'm also concern at him.
"I was a freaking 17 years old, I don't know anything at ayokong saktan niya sa Exton." he answered. He's protecting Exton.
"'Yong gabi, bakit nangyari 'yon?" ako naman ang umiwas ng tingin. I felt a lump in my throat. Hindi pa pala talaga ako handa.
"I have to." he sighed, ramdam kong nahihirapn siyang ikwento ito sa akin. "Kilala ka na nila, noong pumunta ka sa bahay, pinagplanuhan na nila ang gagawin sa 'yo."
"Anong gagawin?" I'm curious.
"If they can't have Exton, they will have your child, Vien."
"No..." halos manghina naman ako sa sinabi niya.
"I know that you're pregnant." nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko nga alam na buntis ako noon. He smiled at me when he saw my reaction. "Palagi kitang sinusundan, I saw your cravings, your tantrums, how you act when Exton's not around, alam ko 'yon lahat and I concluded that you're pregnant and you're really pregnant. I might be sound stalker but I did that to protect you."
"H-hindi ko man lang napansin na sinusundan mo ako."
Umiwas nanaman siya ng tingin sa akin at nagsalita ulit.
"That night, galing ako sa lab, I heard what will they do to you, I'm scared that they will get you. Inunahan ko sila. Hindi ko kayang may batang gagaya sa akin, kailangan ko siyang patayin. I'm sorry, Vien." he explained, hindi na siya makatingin man lang sa direksyon ko.
"It's... still not valid." I just stated. The child was too innocent to be killed.
"I'm sorry. Mas masakit na makita ang batang 'yon na naghihirap. Wala kayong kawala sa kaniya, even Exton, he can't do anything. He's too powerful." I felt something in me that I needed to stop.
I know grabe na ang paghihirap niya, it may trigger him if I will still continue this topic.
"How are you?" I asked instead, nariyan nanaman ang luha niya.
He wiped it right away and smiled, a fake one.
"I guess I will never be okay."
"You don't deserve all of this." I stated, this world is so cruel to him, to all of us.
"What's his name?" he's asking the name of the child.
"Lin Exton" I smiled.
"Nice name." he nodded.
"He's too powerful, then why is he in jail now?" I'm just curious on this one.
"Their are more powerful than him, they knew what did he do, kaya wala siyang kawala. They shut all of my dad's account." I nodded when he answered.
"I forgive you, Clay." napatingin siya sa akin. "You also went through a lot of pain, I also felt how to be alone, and I realized that I will never be okay if I will continue hating you. You're a family."
Hinawakan niya nanaman ang kamay ko, he seems so happy, it's like this is what he's waiting for.
"Thank you... thank you, Vienna."
Nakita ko naman kung paano siya nalungkot nang bumitaw ako at tumayo saka lumabas.
Inaya ko si Exton sa loob.
Kinuha ko si Summer mula kay Exton and entered again.
Nagulat naman siya nang makita si Summer.
"Magpagaling ka ha, sa bahay ka mag- C-Christmas. We also want you to meet our baby girl, Summer Ellise" I said and introduced my daughter.
"C-can I hold her?" I smiled and gave him Summer.
I saw the joy in his eyes. It's the first time I saw a genuine smile from him after our break up.
He's been good to us but we just misunderstood him, I hope he can finally find his happiness and that someone that can read and understand him.
"Umayos ka nga dad, ang pangit ng ngiti mo!" puna naman ni Shaoton kay Exton. I laughed and looked at Exton's face.
He scoffed at our son. My day wouldn't be complete if these two weren't fighting. Parang hindi mag ama.
"Tanga, mag-ama tayo malamang ikaw din." Shaoton rolled his eyes as his dad is talking.
"Mas pangit ka naman, paano ka kaya nagustuhan ni mom? Maybe mom was tasteless?" humarap silang dalawa sa akin.
I laughed, I'm holding Summer. We're in a studio, gusto ko kasing may family picture kami kasama na si Summer, she's already 1 year old.
"Stop it the two of you, let's take a pic!" I commanded.
Umupo ako sa gitna nila, hawak ko si Summer, si Exton ay sa kaliwa ko, si Shaoton naman sa kanan ko. I wish Lin is here too.
I felt happy with these people, they're my treasure. I'm still accepting projects but I'm not that really active in filming, I'm focusing to my family.
I'm really happy Exton loved me right, masasabi kong wala na akong hihilingin pa. I'm at peace when I'm home, finally found it.
"One... two... three... say cheese!"