Prologue
I was just away for 3 years but it feels like I've left this place for more than a decade. I can't believe I'm back again. All I know is that I'll stay in Spain for good. Here I am, pulling my luggage with my left hand while holding Cian in my right hand.
"Are you really staying here for good?" Arei faced me and raised her brows.
"Are you?" She mocked and then chuckled. Cian look at us both. Maybe what we were talking about.
"Mamá, ¿dónde estamos?"
"Baby, we are in the Philippines at diba we already agreed to this? Once we arrived here you stop speaking spanish unless he or she knows how to speak spanish?"
"But you know how to speak spanish, mama." He asked innocently. Napailing nalang ako sa kakulitan ng batang ito.
"Tama nga naman si Cian, ang strikta mo talaga kahit kailan." Sinamaan naman ako ng tingin ni Arei.
"Okay baby, let's change that. From now on, we'll speak either english or tagalog, got that?"
"Yes po, mama."
"Where are you going to study, Arei?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"I don't know yet. Kahit saan basta hindi ko makikita ang tatay ng anak ko." I groaned. "I can't risk it, Issa. Hindi niya tatanggapin si Cian. Ayoko nun. Masasaktan ang anak ko. Hindi ko kaya yun."
"How sure are you? My brother isn't that heartless, Arei. I'm so guilty that I hid this from him. He doesn't deserved this." Sagot ko sa kanya. I looked at my nephew who's peacefully sleeping in the bed.
"I'm sorry that I dragged you to this, Issa. You know he won't believed me. Not when he knew I was in relationship with his twin." Tinabihan ko siya sa couch.
"But I believed in you. You can't hide my nephew forever."
"I know that. It's just that I'm not ready, Issa. I know I'm at fault for hiding him. Sinali pa kita. You weren't supposed to leave-"
"No Arei, it was my choice to leave. You know that." I sigh.
"Ewan ko sa'yo, Issa. Sa lahat ba naman ng lalaki noon, bakit si Natalio pa." Mapait akong ngumiti kay Arei.
"Mahal ko eh."
"Wait up, Cian. We just sneaked so be careful. Baka masuntok ako ng mama mo." Mariin kong hinawakan ang kamay niya. Siya pa ang nagtulak sa glass door.
"Mimi, i want pancake!" Nagtatatalon pa ito habang tinuturo ang counter.
"Okay baby, find a seat. Remember-"
"Don't talk to strangers" dugtong niya, sabay takbo para humanap ng upuan.
"Two pancakes and one americano please. Thanks." While getting my change, i looked for Cian. My jaw dropped when I saw who's setting next to him.
"Issa, is that you?" Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita kung sino ang nasa harapan ko.
"Ten, right?" Kahit na kinakabahan ako ay ngumiti pa rin ako sa kanya.
"Akala ko mapagkakamalan mo akong si Nine." He joked. I laugh at him.
"Hindi naman, kilala ko si Nine, kilala din kita." Sagot ko sa kanya.
"Of course! You dated him and Natalio. You will know who's who." I almost glared at him when he mention that name.
Kinuha ko kaagad ang order tsaka siya tinalikuran pero hinawakan niya ito.
"Let me carry this, where are you sitting?" Hindi na ako naka angal dahil nakuha na niya. Hindi na ako nagsalita at hinayaan na lang siyang sundan ako.
"Yey! Pancakes! I love you mimi." Kunuha ko na ito kay Ten na ngayon ay nakanganga sa harap namin. Oh shit!
"Thank you Ten." Nataranta ako at mabilis akong umupo. Napatingin ako sa katabi naming table, where Natalio is, he's looking here, not at me but at Cian.
"Did you got pregnant, Issa?" Seryosong tanong ni Ten. Kahit si Cian ay napatingin sa kanya.
"What? Of course not." Mabilis kong sagot.
"Then who's kid is this?"
"Why would I tell you that? Wala kang pakealam, Ten." Kinakabahan na ako, alam kong hindi ako tatantanan ni Ten.
"Where is she?"
Napalingon ako nang biglang tumayo si Natalio tsaka mabilis itong lumabas. Damn it!
"Baby, diba I told you don't talk to strangers. This is tito Ten, he's a dear friend of Mimi and Mama." Tumayo ako tsaka tumingin kay Ten na halata pa rin ang gulat. "Please Ten, can you look for him? Sandali lang talaga, I really need to talk to your cousin."
Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya, sinundan ko si Natalio palabas.
"Natalio, wait!" Sigaw ko. He keeps on walking. "Natalio, please stop! I can't go far. I can't leave my nephew."
"Why are you following me?" He halted and faced me. Muntik na akong mabunggo sa kanya. His voice makes me want to cry. How I missed him.
"I want to talk to you, Natalio."
"There's nothing to talk about, Luiza." There's a hatred in his eyes.
"This is long overdue, I'm sorry for everything Natalio."
"You shouldn't have return, I might forgive you if you didn't return."
