Chapter Six

Chapter Six PART I

"JANN ano ba! Nahihilo ako sa 'yo sa kalalakad mo, umayos ka nga." Reklamo ni April habang pinapaypayan ang sarili.

"I am nervous, okay!"

April rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Why are you nervous? You will meet the kids. Unless, it is not about the kids."

Her friend eyed her suspiciously.

"Hindi nga, kasi. Paano kapag nagkamali ako? What if I disappoint them? I am sure their heart would be broken."

"Call down, Jann! Just be yourself, the kids adores you. Love them like they are yours. And may I remind you, the kids not their father."

She grimaced, "I love the kids, not their father, bitch."

Sansrif asked her a favor to look out for the kids today. The kids pleaded just for her to say yes. Who is she to say no? She don't want to break their heart. Sansrif called her yester to inform her that he'll drop the kids off. It has been three days since the last time she saw them, after their dinner they went home sine the kids were sleepy. Thank goodness she brought her car with her, or it would be a hell of awkward night.

April stood up from the sofa, his hands are on his waist. His eyes were scrutinizing Jann.

"May I remind you, that your heart is fragile. One sweet move and you'll fall, that's what always happened in all your past relationship."

She groaned in frustration, "Please stop reminding me of my stupidity."

"I will always remind you, even in our next life time. Ang bobo mo pa naman pagdating sa pag-ibig!" April remarked which made her grimaced.

"Wow, ha! Remember, you had your lowest moments because of love. It's a tie!" nakapamewang niya ring saad.

"Birds with the same feathers flock together!" April roughly stated.

They both laughed. April had his lowest moments in love but mostly? It was her. She had beg for love, she had been patient in all of her partners. But she end up being the one who's left. Maybe it's life's way of teaching her or everyone that there are people who are only meant to teach you. Meant to help you grow but they are not your end game.

"Jann, protect your heart at all cost okay? Don't love someone who's not yet ready to love."

"Yuck, ha! Let's stop talking about love life, please. I'm so done with love for now, I want to explore and love myself for now."

April sighed, "I am only reminding you. Everything is still your decision. Get your ass ready, you don't want to look unpresentable to them, right?"

She nodded as a response and took her bag and apply some powder and liptint on her lips. Her friend April went back to his business, editing some photos. While sat on the sofa. She doesn't know if her decision is right, she doesn't if it was right to involve her life to them. She will not be permanent to their life, maybe she's just one of the phase.  Someday the kids, will forget her. And it saddens her, if that time will come her heart will surely break.

"Boss, Jann. May naghahanap sa inyo!" sigaw ng trabahante nila.

She almost tripped when she stood up, she didn't notice the stool. She immediately put her things inside the bag and went outside.

When the door swung open, she saw the two kids on their matching outfit. The two noticed her, a huge smile appeared on their faces.

"Mommy!"

Before she could open her mouth to utter anything, the two run towards her direction. They hug her tightly.

"Aww!" she said and pat their head lightly.

"You two, that's enough." She glanced at him, "let your." He paused for a second, "Mommy go."

Mommy?

How can she be a mom to these kids, when in fact she haven't experience  to be a mom. The two let her go but they held her hand. Which made her laugh softly.

"Mommy, lets go! I want to go to mall, he said he'll buy us toys." Pagbibida pa ni Ching.

Hindi rin nagpatalo si Chan, "Daddy said we'll eat ice cream today, Mommy!"

Her forehead creased, "I thought it will be me and the kids only?"

"Is it wrong to come with you? I want to spend time with my kids," katwiran ni Sansrif.

She avoided his gazed, it was wrong move. Her gaze landed to her employee, who's looking at her.

"Ma'am, dyowa niyo?" tanong ng madaldal at chimosa niyang trabahador.

She glared at her.

"Mommy what's dyowa?" asked Ching.

"Bebe girl, dyowa is boyfriend." Sagot ng siraulo niyang trabahante.

"Andeng! Pumasok ka sa loob at tulungan mo si April dun," saad niya para umalis ito.

Napakamot ito sa ulo, "Si Ma'am, hindi naman ako tinawag ni, Sir."

Inirapan niya ito, "Andeng, ha! Pumunta ka na don. Huwag kang tanong nang tanong. Babawasan ko 'yang sweldo mo, ililipat ko talaga kay Tin ang sweldo mo!" malumanay ngunit nagbabanta niyang saad.

Kumaripas naman papasok sa opisina agad si Andeng.

Ching tugged her hand, she looked at Ching.

"Yes, Baby?" masuyo at malambing niyang sabi rito.

"So Daddy is your boyfriend, Mommy?"

Que horror!

"No! Daddy is not Mommy's boyfriend," kontra ni Chan.

"No! Daddy is Mommy's boyfriend!" Ching argued.

Chan bursted in tears, so picked up Chan and carried him. Ching on the other hand is pouting, her eyes misted.

"You two, stop. Should we cancel our appointment today? If you continue to fight, we'll go home!" Sansrif sternly said and walked closely towards them.

He picked up Ching, she noticed that he wasn't wearing a suit. He was wearing a polo shirt paired up with a pants. As he picked Ching, his arm muscle are prutoding. She moved away her gaze at him. She caress Chan's back who's still crying. Sansrif went outside their studio while carrying Ching on his arms.

"Stop crying, Chan. You shouldn't argue with Ching. You should love each other, okay?" she uttered and kissed the top of his head.

Chan didn't say anything, his small arms snaked around Jann's nape.  She went outside while carrying Chan.

Naglakad papalapit si Sansrif sa kanya, "Let me take him to the car seat."

She swallowed the lumped on her throat, she extended her arm to give Chan to his father. As the distance between them decreases, she could smell his perfume. She could not stop her self from sniffing, she shook her head vehemently to reprimand herself. As he scoop Chan, she immediately step back.

Sansrif, put Chan on the car seat.

"Should I bring my car with me?" she shyly asked when she notice there where no space for her.

After Sansrif is done making sure that the kids are tied to their car seat, he glanced at her as he went to close driver's seat.

"No, sit on the passenger seat. Alangan  ipagsiksikan mo ang sarili mo likod."

'Suplado!' she thought, almost rolling her eyes in annoyance.

Sinunod niya ang sinabi ng binata, umikot siya papunta sa passenger seat, binuksan ang pintuan ng sasakyan at sumakay. Her hands where shaking as she put her seat belt on, she glance at the two kids at the back who are still silent, having a silent war.

Her lips formed a lopsided

smile, Ching is like mini version of her. Ganyan na ganyan kasi ang pag-uugali niya noon, iiyak kapag hindi nasusunod ang gusto. Sa tuwing nakikipagtalo siya sa mga kapatid ay iiyakan niya lang ang mga ito. At sa tuwing napapasailalim na niya ang mga kapatid sa kondisyones niya, sila naman ang iiyak.

"We are heading to the mall," he stated.

Tumango naman siya bilang sagot, the situation is awkward buti sana kung nag-iingay ang dalawang bata. In this kind of situation, this calls for alcohol. Alcohol takes the awkwardness away.

"DON'T run Ching!" she yelled as Ching let her hand go. Chan followed her sister, napabuntong hininga na lang siya sa kulit ng dalawa.

Nakasunod sa kanila si Sansrif na tahimik na nakamasid sa kanila. Nang makarating sila sa mall ay dumiretso sila agad sa isang toy store. The kids requested for new toys. Sansrif was like a bodyguard, he doesn't talk with Jann but he does with the kids. It's not a problem to her anyway. Since the last time they talked without the kids was when the time he asked for a favor. She wants to be friends him but  she always remembers the time when he cursed and shouted at her. Isa pa, he does not see her as a friend or anything, she's just a stranger trying hard to be a part of the kids life.

Tumingkayad si  Ching at tinuro ang isang elegante manika nakasing-laki nito. Habang si Chan naman ay dumiretso sa isang kotse-kotsehan at agad na sumakay roon. If their mother was alive, she wouldn't be here. She wouldn't probably meet the kids,

"Daddy, I want that one!" nakalabing saad ng batang babae.

Lumapit si Sansrif sa anak at kinarga ito, inilapit sa estante ng laruan. Itinuro ni Ching ang manikang naghuhumiyaw sa ganda, na paniguradong naghuhumiyaw rin ang presyo sa mahal.

Inabot ni Sansrif nag manika at inilapit sa anak, "You love this one, Baby?"

"Yes, please!" masiglang usal ng bata na nagtunog 'yes pwease!'

Hindi rin nagpapahuli si Chan, "Daddy, I want this car!"

Sansrif smiled, "You can choose anything, just one toy okay?"

Humagikgik si Chan, "I want only this one, Daddy!"

Mukhang hindi naman talaga siya kailangan ng mga bata, si Sansrif pa lang ay sapat na. Kulang lang ito sa oras para sa mga bata, kung siguro siya ang nasa posisyon ng binata. Hindi niya kakayanin, taking care of his kids knowing that the birth of the kids is the day he lost a part of his soul.

Sansrif is brave, he is a true hero. Not because she was saved by him once. But because he choose to be brave and to be a father to the two kids.

Kumawag-kawag si Ching, tila nais ipahiwatig na gusto niyang bumaba. Agad namang naintindihan ni Sansrif. He put down Ching, tumakbo ito papalapit sa kanya.

Ching was smiling ears to ears, showing her incomplete set of teeth. "Mommy, you should choose one toy! Daddy will buy it for us."

She left out a soft laugh at what Ching said, "Baby, I don't like toys anymore. But I can play with you and your toys sometimes."

Ching pouted, "But toys makes me happy always. It can make you happy when we aren't together, Mommy."

Her heart swelled, she lifted Ching and she kissed her cheeks. "I won't be with you always but you're always in my heart. As long as my heart remembers you and Chan, I will always be happy."

"I love you, Mommy!" Ching uttered and pressed her small lips on Jann's cheeks. Instead of pronouncing  Love correctly, it sounded wurv. Ching snaked her small arms around her nape, "Amoy mommy ka, always Mommy."

"Mommy group hug!" sigaw ni Chan habang tumatakbo papunta sa kanila.

She put Ching down as Chan close the distance between them, she squat down to level with the two kids. Nagtutulakan ang dalawang upang yakapin siya, hindi niya maiwasang matawa sa dala.

Inilapit ni Chan ang bibig sa tenga niya, "Thank you, Mommy! Because of you Daddy gave us his time."

Tila hinaplos ang kanyang puso sa tinuran nito. Walang siyang nagawa, kundi desisyon ito ni Sansrif. He just needs a little push and a rant to get back to his senses.

Matapos nilang pumasok sa toy store ay nagtungo sila sa isang fast food chain, nagpumilit ang dalawa dahil raw ay bukambibig ito ng mga kaklase nila. Noong una ay ayaw pang pumayag ni Sansrif dahil masyado raw maraming tao. But the two kids insisted. They were using their tears to make Sansrif surrender.

"Ganito na lang, you and the kids find seats for us. Ako na ang mag-order, is it a deal?" she sheepishly asked.

Sansrif sighed and glance ay the two who's looking at him with their pleading eyes.

"Fine, take this." He said and handed her his black card.

She shook her head, "No, let me pay for this. Pambawi ko lang sa nagawa ko." Pagtukoy niya sa pagpupumilit niyang pumasok sa kusinang pinaka-iingatan nito.

His eyes softened, she winked at him. "Akong bahala, now take the kids with you."

Mabilis siyang tumalikod sa tatlo at agad na pumila, halos kurutin na niya ang sarili dahil sa pagkindat na ginawa. She does that to charm anyone, not because she wants to flirt or anything. Pero naalala niyang hindi sila close ng binata.

Hindi siya mapakali sa pila, panay ang kagat niya sa labi.

'What if he thinks I was flirting with him?' She thought,  she wanted to cry in frustration.  Hindi naman siya ganito noon, she does that to anybody. Pero kapag si Sansrif ibang usapan na.

"Ma'am o-order po kayo o hindi?"

"Ay! Sorry!" anya saka lumapit sa counter.

Hindi niya napansin na ilang minuto na siya nakatulala at pinagtitinginan na siya ng iba ring nakapila. Masyadong okupado ni Sansrif ang isipan niya. She said her order and paid for it, while she waited for her order.  She took her phone from her sling bag, she want to text April to vent out. Agad naman niya iyong binalik, alam niya sasabunutan lang siya ng kaibigan at tatalakan.

"Ma'am, we'll send the following orders to your table." Ani ng cashier at inabot ang isa number card.

She took the tray, laman niyon ang iilan sa mga in-order niya para sa tatlo. Iba kasi ang hatid ng mga pagkain in-order niya. It was a part of her childhood that made her happy. She wanted it to be apart of the twins childhood too. While holding the tray, she kept she searching for them. It's looks like Sansrif chose a table away from anyone. She saw them seated at the corner the two kids were sitting on his lap while looking at the phone.

"Hey," she uttered as she sat across Sansrif. She put the food on the table and arrange it. "I have ordered a lot, some of our orders is not yet here. Can you wait for a little while?"

"What took them so long?" naiinip ng tanong ni Sansrif.

She rolled her eyes, "This isn't a fine ding restaurant, Mister. This is fast food, there are a lot of people who eats here. That is why their service is a bit slow."

"Should we call on the head?" Sansrif suggested.

She widen her eyes to reprimand him, "Sansrif ha. This isn't the same as the restaurants you have always dine. The kids didn't even complain."

"What is wrong with that. I just want my kids to eat now, I know they are famished." He said and glance at the two who's oblivious about their conversation.

"Shut up and quit whining, Sansrif." She argued and rolled her eyes at him.

"Shall I buy or franchise this to restaurant? So my kids can eat peacefully and away from the crowd?"

Sa gulat ay napaubo siya sa tinuran ng binata, "Utang na loob Sansrif. The give the kids the freedom. To enjoy childhood. Pagkain lang pinag-uusapan rito walang bilihan ng fast food chain."

"Mommy are you fighting with Daddy?" asked by Ching.

She smiled at her and handed her the fries, "Nope. We're not. We are just talking where are we going next, eat this one first."

She handed the kids with the fries, Sansrif was staring at her weirdly. Before she could say anything their order arrived.

"Thank you," she politely said and smiled at the crew. It smiled back at her and leaves after few seconds.

"So, let us eat?" she said and placed the foods for the kids. "Ako na ang bahala kay Chan," she uttered and glance at him. "Chan come her."

"How about me, Mommy?" asked Ching.

She smiled at her, "Si Daddy ang bahala sa 'yo. Is that okay? or you want me to feed you too?"

Umiling ito at ngumiti, "I want Daddy to feed me."

Sinulyapan niya si Sansrif na nakatulala lang.

She tapped his hands, "Are you, okay?"

Agad naman itong tumalima at tumango, "Yeah."

As they devour the meal the four of them was quite. Even Sansrif who was against the idea of  eating at the fastfood was enjoying the meal.

"Told you, you'll enjoy eating here." Anya saka humahikgik habang ang binata ay tila nahihiya.

"I wasn't enjoying, I am just hungry." He insisted.

She stick her tongue out at what he said, "Talk to the marines, Sansrif. Admit it, these maybe not a fancy restaurant but this brings out the childhood in everyone."

Sansrif chuckled.

It made her heart skipped.

She wanted to touch her chest but she doesn't want to appear stupid.

"I guess you're right, my kids loves it. So do I, thank you so much, Jann. For accepting my favor for the kids. I am very sorry at what I said. Binabawi ko na, hindi ka bata. Matanda ka na nga."