Last Epilogue

Zelo’s POV

“Fuck it!” malutong kong mura habang mahigpit na mahigpit ang hawak sa manibela.

Hindi ko lubos na maintindihan kung bakit laging kontra sa akin ang pagkakataon. When I’m finally living my best life with my family, fate will make a move to do something harsh.

I almost got into the twins room subalit agad nilang nailipat ang mga bata at naisama pa si Artemis. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lost any of them. I won’t be able to forgive myself.

It's my fault fucking weak. Why can’t I fight those people easily? Dapat noon pa’y nadala ko na sa kulungan ang mga taong ‘yon.

Sobrang bilis ng paharurot ko sa sasakyan. I can’t even calm myself anymore knowing that if ever come there late, there’s a chance that I won’t be able to see any of them anymore.

Parang winasak ang puso ko nang makita ang dalawang bata na sumisigaw na tulungan ang ina nila. Ramdam ko ang pamumuo ng luha nang makita ang sugat mula sa katawan ng mga ito. How can people be this monsterous. They don’t have any hearts at all.

“Get the kids to the safe place. Prioritize the kids and Artemis. Move,” sambit ko sa kanila. But the kids didn’t even listen at all nang magtungo ako sa basement para sundan si Artemis.

When I got there, kitang-kita ko ang panghihina ni Artemis doon. Ramdam ko ang galit sa aking dibdib.

I reveal to Honey and Vice President that I was the one who killed their father. I know that the Vice President have a lot of dirty deeds, hindi ko nga lang natunugan na anak siya ni Alfredo.

“Fucking pull the trigger, Artemis!” malakas na sigaw ni Honey kay Artemis. I smile at Artemis while nodding a little to her.

I can even kill myself instead so she won’t be able to choose. I would always choose to give the three of them happiness. I will always sacrifice myself for them. If it's my end, I don’t mind. I’m just happy that I got to spend a little bit of time with them.

However, as if my inner wish was heard. We got out of that place. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung paano. Nagising na lang ako na nasa hospital na. We ended up losing Macoy while all of us are not being ourselves too.

Hindi ko alam kung talaga bang pinaglalaruan ako ng pagkakataon.

“Can I go back to Cebu now?” she asked. Ramdam ko naman. Ramdam na ramdam mo na may mali subalit takot lang ako. Takot na naman akong maiwan. Takot akong mawala siya sa akin. I pleaded to her. Subalit bakit ko nga ba nakalimutan na si Artemis ito? Once she decided something, she will just do it on her own.

I don’t even know how did I felt asleep that night. Basta ang alam ko’y wala na ako sa sarili nang umalis silang tatlo. I know that the kids needs it too. The new environment. Gusto kong talikuran na lang ang responsibilidad ko sa mga tao. Gusto kong sumunod na lang sa kanila sa Cebu but I know that’s not what Artemis wanted too. And maybe I know that it’s just the best for us but I just can’t afford to think about the time that are not going to be together.

Halos isang buwan pa lang pero miss na miss ko ja agad sila.

“Are you thinking of running from your job again, Mr. President?” tanong ni Junio sa akin. Hindi ako nagsalita roon. If I just can, I will just do it. I’ll end my job responsibly and send to jail those dirty politicians na nakaupo pa rin sa pwesto. I know that I won’t be able to take all those people to jail pero hanggang nakaupo ako babawasan ko.

I did everything I can to end those people.

I was dead tired when I was done nang sugpuin ang ilang politicians na nasa bar.

“Cebu,” sambit ko nang makasakay sa aking kotse.

“Hindi ka man lang ba magpapahinga, Mr. President?” tanong sa akin nio kahit sanay na sanay naman na ito sa tuwing matatapos ko ang isang trabaho’y sa Cebu ang diretso ko.

“That’s the rest,” I said kaya napatango na lang siya. I just ride my private jet after. Nang magtungo ako roon ay agad akong sinalubong ng yakap ng mga bata.

“I’m sorry, Daddy…” mahinang bulong nila sa akin.

“Why are you two saying sorry?” natatawa kong tanong sa kanila.

“For not being with you…” anila. Napangiti na lang ako bago ginulo ang mga buhok nila.

“Why are you even saying sorry, Babies? We are going to be together once I’m done with my responsibility. You don’t have to worry about me,” ani ko bago hinaplos ang buhok ng mga ito. Kusa na lang kumurba ang ngiti sa mga labi ng anak ko roon.

“I can’t wait for that to happen, Daddy!” they said in chorus. Yumakap lang ako sa mga ito. I just play with the kids. Whenever I’m with them lahat ng bigat na nararamdaman ay humuhupa. They even let me look at some of their Mom’s photo kaya napangiti na lang ako. Madalas ay nagkukwento lang din sila tungkol sa kaniya. Kung hindi, ako naman ang nagtatanong. I just love hearing those stories about their Mom or them. It made me relax and felt like I was still part of their lives.

“Mama misses you too, Daddy! I saw her looking at your photos last night. You should post on your presidential account so she can see some updates about you,” ani Athena kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti.

“You should guard Mama, okay? Don’t let her date someone else,” bulong ko sa kanila. Well, even if I’m giving her space, she promises me that she’ll run towards me so she can’t just date anyone.

“Aren’t you going to wait for Mama, Daddy?” tanong sa akin ng mga bata nang makitang tumayo na ako nang makitang malapit na ring umuwi ang kanilang ina.

“Hindi na, Babies. Baka hindi ko pa matapos ang termino ko kung magkakausap kami ng Mama niyo,” natatawa kong sambit. Baka kapag sinabi lang nito na miss niya na ako’y hindi na naman ako magkandaugaga na tumakbo patungo sa kaniya.

At hindi nga ako nagkamali pagdating sa sarili. I just saw myself running back towards her nang tumawag si Ares habang sinasabi sa akin na balak na akong kausapin ng kapatid niya.

“Pero, Pres?” Napakamot pa sa kaniyang ulo si Junio nang makita akong seryoso sa sinasabi. Pinapabalik ang eroplanong sinasakyan namin. Gusto kong tawanan ang sarili dahil ang sabi ni Artemis, she’ll chase me pero mukhang ako pa rin itong tumatakbo pabalik sa kaniya. I know I already got taste of my own self-worth subalit hindi pa rin naman maiwasan na balik-balikan siya. I will still always lower my pride just to run tpwards her.

And now, she can’t run away from me anymore. Hindi ko mapigilan ang ngiti sa aking labi habang nakatingin sa kanilang tatlo.

“I’m so happy, Mama! It still vivid to me. On how we spend that day in the amusement park,” ani Hades kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti.

“Right! Nagawa rin talaga nating takasan ang ama mo,” natatawa niya pang saad na pinapak ng halik si Hades. Ang karga-karga kong si Athena’y nakangiti lang din habang nakatingin sa kanila.

Hindi ko na sinira ang wholesome na memorya nila para sabihin alam ko ang tungkol sa kanilang pag-alis.

“Mind telling me what you are thinking about, Baby?” malambing kong tanong kay Athena.

“I’m happy, Daddy. It still feels surreal sometimes. As if I’ll wake up someday without the two of you again,” she said while still smiling.

“I’m glad that we have you now…” Hinalikan niya pa ako sa pisngi kaya napangiti na lang ako.

“I love you, Daddy…” bulong niya kaya napangiti ako bago ko hinalikan din siya sa pisngi.

Napangiti na lang ako bago ito binuhat.

“Dy, let’s also wear that family shirts!” excited pang tinuro ni Athena ang family shirts nang ilang nadaan sa gawi namin. Narinig din ni Artemis at Hades ‘yon, parehong lumapad ang ngiti naming dalawa ni Artemis. Ganoon din si Hades na siyang excited din sa gusto ng kapatid.

“Alright, whatever my babies wants,” ani ko na napangiti. Whenever they are acting like a kid, Artemis and I can’t help but be happy. Well, both of them tried to be mature in their separate ways but now, they really loosen up. ‘Yon nga lang ay madalas talagang iba ang mga hilig kaysa sa mga bata ngayon. Sometimes they play but most of the time now, they are experimenting with some materials at home. The reason why they have a separate laboratory at our house now.

We just took pictures together nang masuot namin ang family shirts. We just took a lot of photos bago namin napagpasiyahan na magdinner na.

“Happy birthday, Mga mahal ko…” bati ni Artemis nang nasa restaurant na kami habang kita ang city.

“Thank you, Mama, Daddy!” They said in chorus. I can’t help but smile while letting them wish. They just blow out the candle before wishing silently.

“So? Can we ask what you wish for?”

“You tell our wish in your cake, you said I can’t tell our wish that I wish in mine,” ani Artemis kay Hades kaya napatango-tango si Hades. Hindi ko mapigilan ang matawa. So they talk about their wish, huh?

“Hmm, what is it?” tanong ni Artemis na nakangiti rin sa kanila.

“We want a bunso, Mama, Daddy!” Halos sabay nilang sambit. Nagkatinginan kami ni Artemis doon bago ako napatawa nang mahina.

We said to each other that we are not going to make a baby pa since gusto naming makabawi sa dalawang bata but they are the one who wanted a little sibling now. Inggit na inggit kay Ruiz. Paano magkakababy brother na raw ang baby brother nila kaya ayaw na magpatawag na bunso.

“Hmm, me and your Mom will give you that gift then,” nakangiti ko pang sambit kaya halos maubo si Artemis. Nilingon ko naman siya roon bago napangisi.

“Paano ba ‘yan? Looks like we will spend our whole night giving them the gift that they want,” natatawang bulong ko kay Artemis kaya agad niyang kinurot ang tagiliran ko but also let me kiss her. Hindi ko na lang din mapigilan ang pagkurba ng ngiti sa aking labi.

Nagkunwari namang walang nakita ang mga bata kahit na medyo nanlalaki pa ang mga mata. Hindi ko maiwasan ang matawa bago napailing na lag din.

That night, we ended it watching the fireworks however, I can’t stop myself from looking at my family habang yakap-yakap lang ang mga ito. Damn, who would have thought that the governor’s son who has planned to die after killing his father would love his life so much today? Who would have thought that I’ll have cute little twins who looks like their mom? And a lovely wife who I can’t get enough with. Who would have thought that the former president would love his duty as a husband now?

Napatingin sa akin si Artemis nang makita niya akong nakatitig lang sa kanila. She just hugged me before whispering the words that can make my heart crazy every single time.

“I love you… Thank you for this day, My President.”

“And I’m in love with you, Ms. Retired Assassin…