Chapter 2

"I'll ask someone to bring food over here so you won't get disturbed. I know you have a lot to talk about." Estefano patted Hades on the shoulder before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

Tulala pa rin siya habang nakatingin sa bata. She's looking back at him and honestly, it's like looking at himself in the mirror when he was about her age. Kung hindi pa tumikhim si Rachel ay hindi niya maaalis ang paningin niya sa bata. Hindi niya alam kung ano'ng masamang hangin ang nagtulak sa babae para magpunta rito at may kasama pang bata.

"Sa akin mo ba ipinaglihi 'yang anak mo?"

He doesn't care if it's a bad timing for a joke pero imposible naman siguro na maging anak niya ang bata lalo na at matagal na nagsama si Rachel at Troy. Hades only had sex with Rachel once at duda siyang may nabuo nang gabing 'yon. She would have told him. He may not be the best choice for Rachel but she is not that mean to hide their child from him.

"Hades—" Rachel was cut off by the child.

"Hades is my Daddy's name," sabat ng bata.

Parang hindi makahinga si Hades nang marinig ang sinabi ng bata. Kapangalan pa niya talaga ang ama nito? Pambihira talagang maglaro ang tadhana. Sa dami ng magiging ama ng anak ni Rachel ay kapangalan pa niya. Still, he can't find his voice.

"But his hair is not long as yours. You're like a girl with that ponytail." Itinuro ng bata ang bigote niya. "And he doesn't have facial hair." The little girl frowned. "Mommy, I don't like him. He looks scary." At ito pa ang may ayaw sa kaniya? The nerve of this kid.

Confirmed. Anak nga ito ni Rachel. Ang tanong na lang ay kung sinong poncio pilatong Hades ang ama nito at bakit nagpunta sila sa birthday ng pamangkin niya.

"Maki, please don't be rude." Napahilot sa sentido si Rachel.

Hades finally found himself at ang kaalaman na may anak si Rachel ay nakadagdag sa inis niya. It doesn't matter if this little girl looks like him or not, iba ang ama nito at may angkin din na yabang. Ayaw sa kaniya, dahil mukha raw siyang nakakatakot. Pwes, ayaw rin niya rito.

"You are so quick to say you don't like me because I look scary, but your name is Maki? Are you made of sushi or something?" Tumawa siya ng nakakakaloko.

"Hades!" saway sa kaniya ni Rachel. "Bata 'yan at—"

"And Hades is any better?" Napalis ang ngiti ni Hades. Namumuro na talaga ang bubwit na ito sa kaniya. He's feeling weird around her because he is seeing himself so much in her it's making his knees tremble. Could she be his? Shit. This is not happening.

Tumayo ang bata at naglakad papunta sa kaniya. She stared at him with the same intensity and did not even cower down in fear.

"You're mean. Uncle Troy is much nicer than you." Uncle Troy? What?! Before he could ask Rachel what's happening, sinipa na siya ng bata sa tuhod at tumakbo palabas ng pinto. Muntik pa nitong mabangga si Reina na may dalang pagkain.

"Maki, where are you going?" tanong ni Reina sa bata.

"Auntie Rei, can I play outside with Kade and Kendall?"

"But you're talking with—" Maki was close to tears so Reina nodded. "Okay. They are just in the living room." Tinawag ni Reina ang isang kasambahay. "Dang, pakisamahan si Maki kina Kade. Pakibantayan na rin sila."

Pumasok si Reina sa loob ng silid at ipinatong ang tray ng pagkain sa lamesita. Hades' head is in turmoil habang si Rachel ay nanatiling tahimik.

"Kami na ang bahala kay Maki." Bumuntong hininga si Reina. "I know this came as a shock to you, Hades. But I really hope you'll give Rachel a chance to explain. It's not easy for her to be here either. Lalo na ang makaharap ka kasama si Maki. Just hear each other out." Iyon lang at lumabas na ito ng silid.

Hindi magawa ni Hades na maupo kahit maraming pwedeng upuan sa silid na kinaroroonan nila ngayon. At sa sobrang tahimik, tanging paghinga lang nila at tunog ng antigong pendulum clock ang maririnig.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on or I'm going to join the guys for a drink now?"

"Hindi ka pwedeng uminom dahil hindi ka pa magaling." Sa halip ay 'yon ang isinagot ni Rachel sa kaniya.

Natigilan si Hades. Hindi niya alam kung nasa realidad pa ba siya o nananaginip. The concern on her voice almost got to him, but he knew better.

"I have no time for your games, but thank you for the fake concern—"

"Hades!" She snapped at him and he could only raised a brow. "I know you weren't expecting to see us today. Ako rin naman. Ayaw kong puntahan ka at makita but I have no choice!"

"Ayaw mo pala akong makita, bakit ka pa nagpunta rito? In fact, I don't remember you being friends with Estefan so why are you here? Hindi ka naman ninang ni Kade. Ang mabuti pa, umuwi ka na at dalhin mo 'yong anak mong m*****a."

Tumayo si Rachel at mabilis na naglakad sa kinaroroonan niya. Taas noo siya nitong tinitigan at parang nanunuri. Hades was surprised by the hurt he saw in her eyes that he felt guilty. He is being an asshole, pero ano'ng magagawa niya? She brings out the worst in him.

Once upon a time, Hades fell for her charm. He looked forward to the thrill of chasing her and making her fall in love with him.

To building a life with her.

To marry her and have children.

Pero lahat 'yon ay tinunaw ni Rachel nang araw na sumama ito kay Troy.

"I'm sorry I wasted so much of your precious time. Makaria and I are leaving now." Tumalikod na ito sa kaniya at humakbang palayo.

Makaria? Makaria is Hades' daughter in Greek myth— Shit! Anak niya ang batang 'yon? The face. The stance. The attitude. Si Rachel ang nagdala sa kaniya ng siyam na buwan pero replica niya ang bata at walang nakuha sa ina nito. They have a child. He's a father.

And he missed out on it.

"You're not going anywhere with my daughter," matigas niyang wika sa babae. "You've already done enough damage and I am not even sure how it can be repaired. I just know for sure that you will never take my daughter away from me again."