“One sunny side-up coming right up!” nakangiting sabi ni Gael bago inilapag sa harapan ni Levi ang plato ng niluto nito."Thank you, Daddy!" masiglang sagot ng anak nila bago ito nagsimulang kumain. Kasalukuyan silang nag-aagahan na mag-anak sa penthouse kung saan pansamantalang tumutuloy si Gael. She and Levi had moved there a little over a week ago and they had been living in bliss since.Gael is nothing but a doting father to their son and loving husband to her like he had always been. He takes care of all their needs kahit na mas gusto niya sanang siya ang mag-alaga sa mag-ama niya. But Gael insisted that it must be him that should take care of them for he had been absent in their lives for the past five years. Kaya naman hinayaan na lang niya. Alam niyang gusto lang nitong bumawi kanya at maging kay Levi.Lalong-lalo na sa anak nila.They had only been together as a family for a few days but she can almost see now how Gael will spoil their son. Lahat ng hilingin ni Levi, binibig
“This better be it Hugo or else you will really hear from me this time,” gigil na sabi ni Charlie sa assistant ng asawa niya habang pinagbubuksan sila nito ng pinto ng sasakyan kung saan sila nakalulan na mag-ina.Namutla si Hugo, bahagyang yumuko. “I’m just following instructions, Ma’am. I hope you won’t take it against me.”She huffed and rolled her eyes bago siya bumaba sa sasakyan. She’s not pissed. She’s just annoyed.Paano, para na siyang mababaliw sa pag-aalala kanina habang patungo sila sa Prime Mall. Only when they arrived there, Hugo met them and told her that Gael was fine and that they just needed to pick up something at the mall. That irked her instantly. Lalo pa at ayaw sabihin ni Hugo sa kanya kung saan nagpunta ang amo nito. But before she could even lash out at Hugo, dumating ang isang babae at iginiya sila sa novelty shop nito kung saan nagsukat ng ship captain costume si Levi.She really doesn’t understand what the costume is for. But she withheld herself from sayin
Charlie watched as Levi’s eyes widened as the man on the next house performed a magic trick. Her little boy clapped his way to amazement after the trick, so as the other kids.“Those men are professional magicians. Mabuti na lang at nakumpleto silang lahat on the last minute,” sabi ni Gael.Her brows furrowed instantly. “You mean to say hindi sila ang may-ari ng mga bahay dito?” Umiling si Gael. “Who owned the houses then? Buti pumayag silang ipagamit ngayon para sa trick or treat ni Levi,” tanong niya, habang patuloy sila sa paglalakad na dalawa.“Us.”“What?”“We owned the houses here on this street, love. I bought them all just for this.”Napahinto na siya sa paglalakad, bumaling sa asawa. “What did you say? W-we owned all of these houses?” Kalmadong tumango si Gael. Lalo siyang napanganga. “You cannot just buy a whole street, Gael! Saan natin gagamitin ang mga bahay na ‘to pagkatapos? We cannot live in all of these 12 houses!” she said, incredulous.She’s not knew in splurging. O
“Here, have some coffee,” ani Charlie habang ibinababa sa harap ni Gael ang tasa ng kape na siya rin ang may gawa.Nag-angat ng tingin si Gael sa kanya. His eyes, just like the few days that have passed, was distant—gloomy. It was as if she's not there. O mas tamang sabihin na nasa iba ang isip nito. He forced a smile. “Thanks, love,” anito bago tahimik na dinala ang tasa sa bibig nito.She released a slow breath and sat on the chair in front of her husband. They were at the balcony of the Bernstein mansion. It was already late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set on the horizon. But she feels like Gael’s day was just about to start.Ito kasi ang nagbabantay sa lolo nito sa gabi. Mula nang dumating silang mag-anak sa Germany halos tatlong araw na ang nakararaan, hindi na natigil sa pag-aalala si Gael sa lolo nito. Why wouldn’t he? The old man was shot on the chest by one of the three butlers in the mansion, whom, they had found out later on, had been working for Alaric for the
“Des Auge (Eyes).” “D-des Auge.” “Die Nase (Nose).” “Die N-nashie.” “No, schatzi. It’s die Nase.” “Die N-nase.” “Very good, Levi! You are a fast learner just like your Dad.” Nagmamadaling lumingon si Levi kay Charlie. Her son’s eyes were sparkling with pride. “You heard that, Mommy? Grampy said I learn fast like Dadddy!” Charlie chuckled and walked over at the bed where Levi and Aksel were. She reached for her son’s cheeks and gave it a gentle pinch. “I heard that, sweetheart. Now why don’t you go with Jacob for a while and let me help Grampy with his food,” aniya. Mabilis na ibinalik ni Levi ang mata kay Aksel at nagmano sa matanda. “Bis später, Grampy! (See you later, Grampy!)” bibong sabi ni Levi bago lumabas sa silid ni Aksel. “You raised a really smart boy, Charlie,” ani Aksel nang sila na lang dalawa ang naiwan sa silid nito. "That's because you are a great teacher, Aksel. Don't you agree?" she said as she helped Aksel sit on the bed. The old man chuckle
Nilingon ni Charlie ang tinuro ng matanda bago tumayo at humakbang patungo sa lumang bureau na sinasabi nito. On top of it were the Bernstein family pictures from decades long ago.. She carefully pulled the topmost drawer and took out from it a small box that was made of wood. Carved on top of it was an ornate letter B, probably symbolizing the family’s surname. She walked back over at the bed and gently placed the box on Aksel’s waiting hand. He stayed silent for a while, just eyeing the box in his hand. His eyes were glazing with unshed tears, like he had been recalling a distant memory. Ilang sandali pa, hinamig ng matanda ang sarili at nagsimulang magsalita. “I promised my late wife to give this to the next Bernstein lady-of-the-house.” Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya at inabot ang kanyang kamay. “That’s you, Charlie,” anito bago tuluyang inilagay sa palad niya ang maliit na kahon. “Go ahead. Open it.” She slowly did and she gasped when she saw a beautiful vintage emerald
“You did what?” hindi na napigilan pa ni Charlie ang magtaas ng boses dahil sa sinabi ni Tala.They were at the private office of her husband. Doon niya ito dinala upang makapag-usap silang dalawa ng pinsan nang masinsinan. Kaya lang, ilang minuto pa lang tumatakbo ang usapan nila, pakiramdam niya gusto na niyang sumuko. “I got married,” pag-uulit ni Tala. “H-he's a prince," alanganing dugtong nito, namumutla.Her eyes widened even more. Did she hear her right?"I’m sorry, what?"Tala released a slow breath. She looks flustered as she was. "Knoxx is a prince of a small country called Maritria. It’s somewhere in the Mediterranean. I don’t know more than that. I stopped my research the minute I’ve learned that his family was related to the British royals.”She paled and gasped aloud. "You married into royalty?!" she asked in disbelief, her voice a notch higher.She had always known her cousin to be troublemaker, wild like how the world put it. But Tala really outdid herself this time.
“Daddy!” ani Levi nang makita ang pagsulpot ng ama sa may dinning roomAgad na pabaling si Charlie sa direksyon ng asawa and there he saw Gael walking towards them with a smile on his face. “Tala?” anito nang tuluyang mapansin ang pinsan niya nasa kabilang bahagi ng mesa. “Hi, Gael. Nice to finally see in person after a long long time,” umpisa ni Tala. “Hope you’re not too angry with our family and allow me to stay in your house for a while. Please," dire-diretsong sabi ng pinsan niya, Worry written on her face. Mabilis na bumaling sa kanya si Gael, sandaling nangunot noo subalit sa huli ay ngumiti rin. “Stay as long as you'd like,Tala. Our doors will always be open for you,” sabi ni Gael bago tumabi sa kanya. Her husband looked a little bit more relaxed today. She surmised he had a good day at work. Maya-maya pa natigilan ito, ang mga mata nasa kamay niya. “You’re wearing it.” She looked down on her hand and saw the ring Aksel had given her. She forgot to take it off while s