Chapter 46

Inah and Van stared at the flowers that were still strewn on the balcony. I just decided to work. I don’t have time to work as long as I can provide my client’s design at the right time. I stood in the living room where no one would bother me, it was already afternoon and I didn’t know if they would be able to sleep, especially since they were already distracted by the player. As I used to do, I leave the door of the room open and sit opposite them, so that I can still see their movements, I just hope they don’t scold me.

I started to prepare the laptop, I was comfortable in my seat so I was sure in less than an hour I was done. What I was asked to do was simple, it was just children’s clothes, it wasn’t my porte but because I needed money and to buy the children’s needs, I also studied it. It’s easier after all. While I was busy aligning the line, I still couldn’t help but remember my siblings. All the things they said to me, the words they said were not painful, I knew it was thinking of my welfare and the welfare of the children, I just couldn’t help but worry about uncle because he had become so quiet.

In the days when he found out the truth, he was no longer as inquisitive about me as before. The only word he says is that we just go home with the kids. But even so, I did not deprive the children of the families I left behind in the Philippines. Lana was my introduction assistant from our aunts and uncles to my other colleagues, what they looked like, what the habit was and so on. Because the time will definitely come when we will go home to the Philippines and they will get to know them.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye a child going to the closets where my belongings were kept, I had a strong feeling that it was my daughter because she was the only one who liked to know about my belongings, especially the make— I was up as she rubbed her twin’s face. I could no longer restrain myself from looking at my daughter. It clung to the cupboard with a frown, looking up at the bags hanging there and straining to reach for it. I noticed that it was squatting but Inah was so small that she also gave up voluntarily, she went to the lower closet where their pictures and other pictures were placed.

I’m sure she was staring at herself and Van because it once complained why they wouldn’t look like Van if they were twins, whereas her aunts and I looked alike. I shook. I just went back to what I was doing because it would only be a combination of colors and I could pass it on. It took maybe a few more minutes before I submitted my work because there was still a glitch. I put away all my belongings on the sofa, I even cringed because Inah was no longer in place and the photos in that closet were gone. I couldn’t help but be nervous especially since it would break and they might drown.

“Inah? Van?” I call them when I can enter the room.

They are not in bed. There was only one thing they could hang on to, I noticed the wind of the white curtain coming from the balcony, the blanket on the floor and the scattered flowers. When I got there I was not mistaken. The two were sitting behind me so they weren’t menoticed, they were facing the other building itself, the photos were in a row but something else was entering my brain, especially since there were so many flowers scattered on the floor, they seemed to be entertaining the people in the photo. Jusko naman!

“Hey!” I called.

Inah shuddered slightly because of the shock that Van laughed at. They turned to me at the same time.

“Mama,” she greeted with a smile.

Van moved to the right so that there would be a vacancy in the middle, he lightly shook that middle signaling that I should sit there.

“What are my two monkeys doing?” I said laughing.

“Monkey? You are monkey too, mama?” astonished Inah said.

“No, you’re the only one here, who looks like a monkey,” I pretended to seriously press Inah’s nose.

Van, who was sitting on my right thigh, giggled slightly, Inah’s eyes widened and her cheek swelled. “But you’re my mama, then Van is my twin… Then we are a monkey here,” Van taught us.

I took the initiative to remain silent, I also did not win here because there is no doubt that he got the habit of my twin. I tapped my left thigh so that Inah could sit there, she got what I meant, I lightly squeezed their cheeks, while sharing the fresh air here on the balcony.

“Mama? Can you tell ahmm… Story?” Van asked me weakly.

“Sure, about?” Instead of answering, his little index finger pointed to the thing he wanted me to tell.

“Them? Si! Si! This one, and this one…” Inah pointed out one by one in the photos.

“I’ve already told a story, haven’t I? What else do you want to know?” I asked them.

I tell stories almost every day, especially about their grandparents, they even complain because there are so many of us in the mansion.

“About Aunt Zorxy, why is she looks like angry birds?” its snout question.

My brain was still slightly loading. Angry birds? W-Wait a— damn! I couldn’t help but laugh especially at what I was thinking. I’m definitely right in thinking.

“Why angry birds? Is that because of her eyebrows? Like this?” I frowned and pressed my eyebrows slightly. Inah nodded quickly and so did Van.

So here it is, “I don’t know. She’s really like that, she looks rude, like grandpa Zorteo, did you notice his eyebrows? You saw their similarities?” I asked with a smile as they nodded. “See? They’re just look like mean but no, they’re actually good, Aunt Nikasha is nice, just not obvious,” I whispered as they laughed.

I can’t blame them for why they are more afraid of Nikasha than Zafia. We had videos to watch with them, that was about our childhood or sometimes bullies, the mansion had cameras and Lana was just quick to get a copy, so I was able to show them a video. They even witnessed how Nikasha would strike and scold me, and how Zeren would hug and defend me. I missed them.

“What else can I tell you?” Instead of answering again Van left to sit next to me.

It left without saying goodbye and entered the room. Surprisingly, I just focused myself on Inah who was saying something, telling the story of what was happening on the road as well as the cyclists.

“Mom, look! Sunset!” its shrill cry.

I also noticed the beautiful color of the sky, the darkness taking over the light of the setting sun again. Nice look. It’s better to look at the sinking ara herew because we are in a high place, so we are free to look at that. But I lost my attention when I felt Van sitting on my thigh again.

“Can you tell a story again? Mama?” Van’s soft question that I quickly nodded.

“Of course, about what?” Again, instead of answering my question first, it barely raised something causing me to lose my smile.

“About this ring. Is papa gave this to you?” a question at the same time as the flash of something left to me by their father.

“Y-Yes,” I answered shortly then gave him a sweet smile.

“Whoooahh! You love papa?” Inah asked eagerly still staring at the ring Van was holding.

Even a few years later, I no longer care if my answer is right or wrong. I looked at the two children and hugged them tightly, we both watched the sun about to disappear.

“Yes. I love your papa,” a clear answer I will never regret saying.

I love him so much, so I let him free.