CHAPTER 4 - NEW BEGINNING

 (5 YEARS LATER)

In every pain that we’re experiencing, a new beginning emerges from it. Just like the rain that brings sorrow, it will subside as soon as the bright sun arises: a symbol of hope that a new day will come.

"HAPPY Mother’s Day, Mama!" Nicolo and Nicolai said in unison. They were both smiling with gratitude towards me, and I felt my heart melt with so much gladness for my two adorable sons. They are already 5 years old. They handed me their own homemade Happy Mother’s Day card. I bent my knees and sat down so we could be on the same level. They approached me with their smiling faces and gave me their Mother’s Day card. I hugged them passionately in return.

“Here, Mama, open my card first, please…” Nicolo told me cutely. 

“Alright, since these are so pretty!” I excitedly exclaimed as I got the card that he was giving me. 

“Yehey!” 

“Mama, me too! Look at this, it’s colorful and it even has many hearts for you!” Nicolai bragged and showed me his card with I smile. I got it as well and appreciated their efforts. 

It has already been 5 years, and I could say that many things have changed. I gave birth to twins. At first, I was afraid because I didn’t even know what would happen to us given that I’m not wealthy. I’m not rich back then, so I really worked hard to finish my studies while working, but unfortunate things happened, I got pregnant with a stranger, then Jonas left me. I even got involved in a scandal, so I was forced to resign and move out of my old place.  

Even though it’s hard, I even dropped out of school to start a new chapter of my life. It’s hard, but I have to do it because that’s what I need right now. With the help of Allaine, I managed to conquer it all. After all, I am thankful that I have a friend like her. At the very least, there is one person who believed in me and didn’t change the way she interacted with me despite all my problems. 

I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered that it was Allaine who was the successor and heir of Zobel Real Estate Corporation. She helped me throughout the process of getting my feet back on track. I finished my course and was able to graduate in Business and Management. My identity and name were changed, and I am no longer Kaye Cruz. My new name is Kailie Zobel, and within 5 years, I was able to fulfill all the things that I had wished for, and I became one of the successful entrepreneurs. 

"You all looked like you were having fun, huh! Can I join?" Allaine suddenly butted in all of a sudden. The kids looked at her in excitement.  

"Auntie Ally!" they excitedly exclaimed, and they came after Allaine. 

I stood up and followed my sons with my two eyes as they ran towards Allaine with a huge hug. Meanwhile, Allaine was smiling ear-to-ear with open arms to hug Nicolo and Nicolai. 

"God knows how much I missed you, you handsome guys! Thanks to my genes, this is where you got those visuals." Allaine jokingly said.  

"We also miss you, Auntie Ally!" Nicolai answered, then kissed Allaine on her left cheek.  

"Me too, Auntie Ally! I also have a card for you, just like what I gave to Mama." Nicolo added and kissed Allaine on her right cheek. 

"How sweet of you, guys! These are the reasons why I love you guys so much!" Allaine answered and kissed them both as well.  

"Auntie, I also made a card for you!" Nicolai added when he remembered the card they made for her. 

"Oh, you too? Can I see?" 

"Okay, Auntie, I’ll just get it from our room. Wait here, okay?" Nicolai excitedly said and rushed to their room. Nicolo came after his brother as I watched them disappear.  

"Be safe, boys! Slow down." I reminded them, but I wasn’t even sure if they heard me. 

I just smiled in joy and went to Allaine and hugged her. "You didn’t even tell us that you’re going home, Beks! We’re surprised, but, I guess, welcome home? Haha!" 

"That’s not a surprise if I notified you, right?!" she replied while laughing, then hugged me as well. 

"I missed you!" I said after we stopped hugging each other. 

"So, what are your plans now?" Allaine suddenly asked.  

My forehead curled as I looked at her straight in the eye. "Plans? What do you mean?"   

Before I let Allaine answer me, I signaled one of our housemaids to come here and get my bag, together with the cards that my sons gave me. After I asked her to place them in my room, I also asked someone to get Allaine’s luggage and move it to the latter’s room.  

Allaine looked at me as if I knew what she was talking about. I turned my back on her and went to the kitchen to check if the food was ready. When I checked it, it was already cooked, making it the perfect time to eat lunch since it's already near noon. I saw two of our maids preparing our food for lunch. 

Allaine followed my track and uttered, "Stop it, Beks!" Allaine retorted, unconvinced, as she sat down in one of the chairs at the dining table "You exactly know what I mean."  

I approached one of the maids, took the pyrex food container, and placed it on the dining table. "I don’t get you, Beks." I answered while busily preparing the food on the dining table. 

Allaine crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "I’m talking about the twins."  

The moment I heard what she said, I instinctively stopped what I was doing. I glanced at her, but I couldn’t maintain eye contact, so I just went to the sink and washed my hands. 

"What about the twins?"  

"They’re starting to grow up, and soon enough, they’re going to ask about their father. What would happen next? What are you planning to do, Beks?"

I switched the faucet off and wiped my wet hands before I faced Allaine. "You already know my answer about that, and nothing will change." 

"Beks, you know that you can’t hide it, right? Remember that your children are smart. Sooner or later, they will start to ask questions, and I hope you are ready on that day."  

"I know, that’s why I am trying my best to fill the gaps in their hearts, before they could even feel that they don’t have a father. It’s not easy for me, and you know that right from the start. I needed to do what’s right for them, which is to hide my cruel past with their father."  

I heard Allaine heave a heavy sigh and come close to me to hold my hand. " I understand. I should have known better, Beks. I’m so sorry." 

"Nah, it's okay. I know that you’re just thinking of me and my sons, and you’ve been a great help to us, Beks. Thank you." 

I really get emotional whenever the topic is about the past and the twins, so I’m teary-eyed right now. Together with what I’ve told her, Allaine hugged me tightly. After a minute or two, she released me from her hug as Nicolo and Nicolai rushed towards their Auntie Ally. Allaine looked at them and got the precious cards that my sons made for her. She gave them compliments and patted their heads. The latter just giggled and played with Allaine. 

I smiled while looking at my sons, who were busy playing with their aunt. All these years, I have to admit that while they were growing up, the world was getting smaller for the rest of us, our past, and our future. Allaine’s right… The time will come when the twins will ask about their father, whether I like it or not, but at the very least, I am trying my best not to think about it. I’m not ready, and I don’t even have any plans to expose my children to their dark pasts. 

****** 

Later that night, while I was reviewing a report on a new branch of one of my restaurants in the city, I decided to take a break. I even massaged my neck as I got my cellphone off the table. I went to the webpage ‘Bahay Kalinga Orphanage’, which was the orphanage where I grew up and learned so many things. That is why, even though I’m getting older now, I always come back to where I came from to bring back all the things that they helped me with these past 5 years.  

While browsing on their webpage, one article caught my attention, where their latest headlines say: 

"Dylan Mijares, The Bachelor President of Mijares Groups and Companies, donated a huge amount of money for the expansion of the Bahay Kalinga Orphanage."

But what startled me the most was a picture of a man placed beside the article. That moment, I knew in my gut that it was a confirmation that my world with my sons was getting smaller... and the existence of a man that we’ve been avoiding for years is starting to worry us so much.