CHAPTER 33

~ Allison Gulferic's Point Of View ~

(Seven years later)

"Allison, do you want to buy some fish? These are all fresh and healthy. Come on, you have to buy it."

I shyly shook my head to reject her offer. I was currently at the wet market, six in the morning. Wearing a simple shirt and pant, paired with a slippers and had my hair tie in a bun, I continue walking and decided to just buy chicken meat and vegetables for our breakfast.

I always prefer buying at the wet market because everything is fresh and cheap. After buying all the ingredients, I hail a cab so I can go back to our small house, a little worried if one of them is already awake.

They will probably cry and wake the whole neighbor up once they didn't saw me first thing in the morning. I paid for the ride and was welcomed with Aldrich.

He's one of my neighbors and he never hide his real intention towards me. I have rejected him many times but whenever I need help with something, he's always on it and respects all my decisions.

"Let me help you with that." He took all bags I was carrying so I gave him a smile and wall side by side with him. Walking through the narrow road, I can't help but to feel giddy and joyous everytime offers his service without asking for anything in return.

"Do you want to join us for breakfast?" I asked delighted and his eyes almost glimmer in joy, leading me to a fit chuckle.

"Are you serious?" The excitement in his voice instantly faded when he saw the serious face I gave him.

Doesn't mean that I invited him means I'm giving meaning to everything that he has done for me... For us. I have three children and I just can't tell nor show them that I'm having relationship with others while they are still unknown to their real father.

Yes, three. When I landed in this place first thing in the evening, I decided to visit a doctor to have myself checked. She said that I'm healthy and that the baby is fine. I don't know how Evelyn get to take everything ready but she also have a house rented for me.

I have all the helps I needed from the elders on our neighborhood and they treated me fairly like a relative. Aldrich was one of those person's who helped me.

When my stomach got bigger and the doctor told me that I'm carrying a triplets, I was so scared to even move a muscle because of my trauma. I'm scared that I would lose them that easily but because of everyone's help, I get to bear three pretty angels that have been my life for the past seven years.

That's why I never even think of having a partner anymore. I don't want them to feel unneeded and out of place if ever I decided to have another family with my partner. I would never left my children alone and I'm willing to stay single, without a partner, as long as I can take care of them.

"Please don't any meaning of my invites. I just want to thank you for helping me that's why I'm asking if you could join us. You have also been a friend to me ever since we met so I already trust you." I hope can understand what I'm saying and that I don't mean to hurt him.

He really is a great guy, that someone every woman would ask for, but I'm not just that woman who needs a man like him. I already have my kids as my top priority and they will forever be.

"I know that, Allison." I can see the sad and disappoinment expression in his face so I averted my eyes from other things. "But sure, don't complain if I accept your invitation." His chuckle made the tension between us elevated.

He walked me inside of our house so he can put the foods I bought inside our kitchen. I gave him a final thanks so he bid his goodbye, saying that he'll come back once the food is ready.

I checked the kids first and when I saw that the three of them are still sleeping peacefully, I went back to cooking because they need to go to school at eight. All of them are in first grade but staying in different section.

Ziex, the first born is at the third section. He's the wittiest and mischievous among all three. Zaile is the more serious and studios one. He loves reading books and drawing, he's already so passionate at his age and I'm afraid that he'll mature up so quickly. Then Zamantha, the youngest. Even when they are triplets, the two boys love spoiling Zamantha and treating her like a baby. That's why she grew up having anything she says and getting everything she wants. She acted like an old queen trapped in a little girls body.

But neither all their different manners and attitudes, I love all of them equally. They may always make my blood boils but I would never feel angry nor hurt them physically.

"Mommy..." I woke up from my reverie when Zaile came out from our room, wearing his cute dinosaur pajama. He was slightly scratching his eyes to wake himself up before his little arms stretched in front of me, asking to be lift.

I lifted him up and hugged him tight, showering small little kissed on his face until he let out a squeal of giggle.

"Mommy, stop." He cupped my face using both of his hands. I came eye to eye with him and I want to sigh when a picture of someone instantly came to my mind. "Mommy, so pretty." He admired and pinched my nose before laughing so loud when I make a pig's noise. "Mommy, so silly." He continued laughing and I can't help but look at him in awe.

I pouted. I was the one who carried them for almost a year but the only thing that the three of them get from me was my lips. Unlike Zio– their father, their lips were heart shaped like mine, his was thin and reddish while the triplets are full and pinkish.

How can I possibly forget him when I have three duplicate of him inside this little house. I would sometimes disregard the similarities but when I'll look at Ziex, he is the total copy of their father. Even his lips was a little similar to his and we grew up together, I can still remember his baby pictures and surely, if it'll be compared to Ziex, no one can even tell which is which.

I played with Zaile for sometime while cooking our breakfast. He is such the sweetest boy, my morning will always be piled up with compliments from him. He is so affectionate especially to Zamantha, there's no day when he'll never remind his sister that she's the prettiest... As pretty as me like he said.

"Mommy, I want to wake Ziex and Zam." He favored, plus I wasn't done with the foods too so I agreed.

When minutes had passed that he hasn't return yet, I decided to secretly go to their room to see what they are up to.

"No, mommy is cooking, Zam! Teacher said that we have to give it when breakfast time." Ziex scratched his nose, being annoyed at the bratty attitude of his little sister.

What are they planning to do, huh?

"Well, we do have a different teacher, and my teacher didn't say a thing about giving my card during breakfast time." She answered back and that made a small intense tension between them.

I shook my head and wanted to tell them that they shouldn't talk like that but when Zaile interfere, I know he was thinking the same as I am.

"Do not talk like that to Ziex, Zam. He is older than you." He was too serious that none of them talk back at what he says. "We are going to give this to mommy during breakfast time, are you listening to me, Zam?" His voice became soft as he talks with his little sister but Zam was sulking.

I have to cover my lips to avoid myself from laughing loudly. I immediately went back to the kitchen and acted as if I didn't hear anything so when they come out, all of them are faking a yawn so I can say that they just woke up and didn't had a meeting.

"Awe, my babies are already awake." We had a group hug and I ushered them to the table where I was readying their foods for breakfast. I would sometimes hear them whispering but I try not to sabotage their plan. "Babies, is it okay if Aldrich would join us for breakfast?" I asked for their permission first.

I always ask for their permission if I'm inviting a man inside, I don't want them to think badly of someone and I don't want them to think that I'm having a relationship with anyone.

"Nope!"

"Definitely not."

Ziex and Zamantha answered the same time. My lips instantly puckered, not sure if it was mean or if I should just understand them.

"Just for one breakfast?" I already promised Aldrich, it'll be so embarrassing if I tell him that the kids don't want to eat breakfast with them. And I also don't want him to think that I'm not teaching them good manners. They are a bit spoiled but I made sure to teach them what's right and wrong.

"But mommy, we are going to give you gift, no invites first." The princess already said it, meaning, I was left with no choice.

"Okay, but after you give your gifts, then I can invite him already." We all agreed to that so when I was finish preparing the food, the three of them showed me a card that they pull from behind them.

It was colorful and have so many drawings, they even wrote some letters that I can't understand. I giggled at their cuteness so I give each of them a hug and a kiss while I say my thank you.

"It's a gift for our mommy. Teacher said that we should always thanks our mommy." Her sweet spoken words melt me up and I did my best not to cry in front of them.

We had a little chitchat about what they do at school and how they made the cards while I cool their foods. When everything was settled, I called Aldrich and told him that the food was ready.

I was hoping for the kids to jump and run to him as soon as he enters but the opposite happened. The two have their arms crossed over their chests while Zaile was trying to feed Zam with her food.

"Sorry..." I silently whispered to Aldrich.

Gosh! How come they didn't even take some attitude from me!? Their father would act the same if I invite someone over that he doesn't like.

Good thing Aldrich was cool with it so he just gave me a smile and said that everything is fine.

"Zam, eat your vegetables." Zaile carefully took Zam's fork and use it to feed her with vegetables. She don't like eating those but when Zaile said so, it must be followed or he'll never talk to them the whole day.

I don't know where did he got that, but I'm guessing that at least one of them had my attitude. I'm not sure if I should be relieved or what.

"Don't eat the bones." And there goes Ziex, it was almost the two serving Zam. Both are too busy to take care of their little sister that they're forgetting that they need to eat too.

"It's alright, boys. Zam can eat by herself. You can eat your breakfast too or you'll be late for class."

"But mommy, look, Zam is eating the bones." Ziex even showed me the bone that Zam accidentally chewed. They're so cute so I let them take their time.

"I wonder how their father looked like." Aldrich opened a conversation.

I'm not actually that affected when some people would ask about their father. All I say is that he's working so hard for us, aside from that, nothing more.

"You won't like it when you see him. He can be a little dangerous when it comes to men." I didn't mean to scare him but looking at his reaction, I think he already have a hunch that 'he' is the jealous type.

I'm not just sure if he ever felt jealous when someone approached me.