This morning wasn't gray, but by soothing lavender and brilliant amber. The colors merged into neon pink and peach. I can't remember when was the last time I woke up with a smile on my face, but right now I have one.

I opened my eyes and see the vacant space beside me, I shook my head and pulled myself up. Nauna na naman si Ricos gumising. Last night, after I told Aidan that I wasn't cheating on him with Wendell, he told me to go upstairs and wait for him. But on my way, I saw Ricos getting out of his room. He had a bad dream, so I carried him back to his room and lull him to sleep, na siyang nakatulugan ko na rin.

Mabilis akong bumalik sa silid naming ni Aidan, wala na siya roon. I'm sure my boys are downstairs. I took a bath and get ready for work. I don't know what's up with me but I'm just smiling the whole time.

Nang makababa ako ay agad kong tinungo ang komedor, suspecting to see them there and I was right. Nakaupo si Ricos sa isa sa mga silyang nakapalibot sa lamesa habang si Aidan naman ay nag-aasikaso rito. I smiled at him when our gazes matched, ibinalik nito ang mga mata kay Ricos na dumadaldal.

"Pancakes are healthy for breakfast dad, mom said it provides high quantity carbohydrates. I can eat two, po."

Lalo akong napangiti sa sinabi ni Ricos. I've long been noticing that Ricos has a sharp memory. Especially his explicit memory. I remember myself to him when I was younger, now I understand dad. I don't want to entertain the idea that Ricos can do much than his age. I want him to experience being a kid, loved and surrounded with happiness.

"Good morning, baby..." I bent down and kissed his cheek, his smile is enough to complete my morning.

"Morning, mom" his little hand tried to point the chair beside him. "Sit here mom, let's eat breakfast."

Lihim akong napasinghap nang maramdaman si Aidan saking tabi, he held my waist and guided me to the chair he pulled. Bago niya ako paupuin ay bumaba ang labi nito saking mga labi, it was just a simple brush.

"Good morning, mommy..."

I bit my lower lip to keep myself from smiling widely. Tinanguan ko ito bago naupo sa upuan. Nangunot ang aking noo nang malingunan ko si Ricos na nakatakip ang maliliit na mga kamay sa mga mata.

"Tapos na, tag team. You finish your food, you'll be late in your art class." Sabi ni Aidan bago maupo sa kabilang gilid ni Ricos. "Sige ka, diba sabi ni teacher bad ma-late. Magiging bad ka-"

"I can finish my food within five minutes!" putol ni Ricos sa sinasabi ng ama, he started munching his pancake.

"Why are you not having milk?" puna ko nang makitang orange juice ang laman ng baso nito.

"I'll drink milk tomorrow, mom. I just need some variety."

Tumango-tango ako bago balingan ng tingin si Aidan na naglipat rin ng tingin sakin matapos pagmasdan si Ricos. I shrugged and continued eating. I listened at my boys when they started talking between meal.

"I want to create a painting inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night, tag team. Help me, please?"

"Of course, everything is set for that." Aidan chuckled, I can see how much he's enjoying our son's interest with art.

"I'll just wait till my hands grow bigger so I can paint better." my little baby giggled, ipinakita pa nito kay Aidan ang kaniyang munting kamay.

Hindi natapos ang pag-uusap ng dalawa, kay Aidan pa nga ito nagpasama mag toothbrush para lang tuloy-tuloy ang kwentuhan nila. After they're done preparing, we went out of the house. Para bang silang dalawa lang ang tao sa mundo at tuloy-tuloy lamang sila sa kung anu-anong pinag-uusapan nila, karga-karga pa ito ni Aidan na hindi iniinda kung magusot ang bihis nito.

I cleared my throat to call Aidan's attention, nang lingunin niya ako'y tinungo ko ang aking sasakyan. He frowned, ngunit hindi nito pinutol si Ricos sa pagsasalita. Hinayaan niya itong matapos sa sinasabi bago niya halikan ang sentido nito at bulungan. Tsaka niya ako binalingan.

"The car is there, mommy" he raised his brows, seems to be amused when I shook my head and threw him my keys. Mabilis niya iyong sinalo atsaka pinatunog ang sasakyan.

"We'll use mine, you drive." sabi ko bago tumuloy sa loob ng sasakyan.

Aidan let me win again, walang reklamo nitong iniayos si Ricos sa backseat atsaka kinuha ang mga gamit nito sa kabilang sasakyan upang ilipat. Nang makabalik ay makahulugan akong binalingan nito ng tingin.

He started driving and Ricos started talking again, tahimik lamang akong muling nakinig sakanilang dalawa. They're talking about hands again.

"Is your hand little before, dad?"

"Mm," tango ni Aidan.

"How did it became huge?" from the rare view mirror, I saw Ricos' forehead knotted.

"As you grow older, your body changes" sagot ni Aidan.

"Why? Did they celebrate birthday too? As I age they grow, like me?" Inosente nitong tanong, nanunulis pa ang nguso.

"Parts of your body is you too, so yes they will grow like you."

Tila hindi ito nakuntento sa paliwanag ng ama kaya naman hinanap ako nito sa salamin, I smile at him there. Nilingon ako ni Aidan, I know what that means. I get him, as a mother I too want him to live normal. Hindi naman na namin maikakailang, Ricos is intelligent for his age. Hindi narin kalian pang subukan, I know that Ricos' intellect is just like mine. That's why I love how Aidan handles him, he's making sure that the answers he's giving is just as innocent as Ricos' questions.

"Daddy is right, baby. You just to wait for your turn."

"Okay..." tumango-tango ito bago muling nag-simula ng panibagong usapan.

Hanggang sa maihatid namin ito sakanyang school ay panay parin ang kwento nito kay Aidan. Bago kami umalis ay paulit-ulit na ibinilin sakanya ni Aidan na aantayin ang susundo sakanya, palagay naman ang loob ko sa school ni Ricos. My family is one giant clan in business industry, from my roots up to my cousins now, kaya normal na ang kabikabila ang makakalaban ng pamilya namin. And I know dad won't let his guard down, alam kong may mga tao siyang laging nakasubaybay kay Ricos, that's how we grew up, we're going to class without any idea how may men are protecting us.

"You're just half an inch jealous and you don't wanna ride my car anymore..." tumango-tango si Aidan habang ang mga mata ay nakatutok sa daan. "Ano pa kung buong pulgada na?"

"Whatever," inirapan ko ito at inilipat ang tanaw sa labas ng sasakyan. Dinig ko pa ang mahina nitong halakhak.

"You were missing last night."

I cleared my throat before answering. "Ricos, happened"

"Mm," hindi ko alam kung bakit ngunit nahihimigan kong aliw na aliw ito, kung saan ay hindi ko rin alam.

Just like the usual, inihatid ako nito hanggang saking opisina. Napasinghap ako nang abutin nito ang aking siko at hilahin paharap sakanya nang maisara ang pinto ng silid. And before I could even move, his aggressive lips captured mine. In a kiss that I've missed for so long. It wasn't gentle neither brutal. It wasn't innocent, it's passionate and demanding.

I rested my arms around his neck and kissed him back, earning a groan from him. His tongue delved inside my mouth and I'm lost. I would've been really lost if not with a warning knock behind the door. Mabilis akong kumawala kay Aidan, I saw him wiped the moist on his lips with the back of his hand.

That when the door opened, it was dad. Agad na napalingon dito si Aidan.

"Dad," I went to him and kissed his cheek.

"Good morning, Sir." Aidan greeted.

"No work, Castañeda?"

"I do have, Sir. Inihatid ko lang po si Paris, mauuna narin po ako." paalam nito, nang lingunin ako nito ay nakatikom ko ang aking bibig para pigilan ang pag-ngisi. "I'll go ahead, pick you up for lunch..."

I nodded my head.

Muli pa itong nagpaalam kay dad bago tuluyang umalis, I can't decide if he's scared with dad or he just respect him fully. But either which, I like it.

"Dad, take a sit" iminuwestra ko ang visitor's seat para sakanya. "Where's mom?"

"With your Uncle Roy and Uncle Zanti, out for a horseback riding" he informed.

"And why are you not with her?" I asked, not that I don't wanna see dad, but the when there's the lynx there's the lion idea is a common knowledge to everyone. They're inseparable.

"I'm with your grandfather, he had checkup with your Uncle Dave."

Marahan naman akong tumango at napangiti, I would love to see Lolo Rigo after his checkup. It's been awhile since I last saw him. "Do you want anything, dad? Coffee?"

Umiling ito at tahimik lamang na inabot ang picture frame na nasa ibabaw ng aking lamesa, it was me an mom hugging. My father is aging, but you couldn't barely see it. He's still the same Red Franco Santa de Leones he was before me. Still the same lion in love with the lynx.

He looked up and our gazes matched. I stared into his eyes that told of many secrets but held them locked in a strongbox so beautiful that you wouldn't dare to open in fear of what you might find within. That's one thing about dad that can outstand everyone, his eyes.

"Dad, have you ever think that mom is cheating on you with Dr. Chase?" I asked carefully, I know that Dr. Chase was my mother's boyfriend before dad. Based on the stories told, they actually had a split because mom choosed to marry dad.

"No" diretsong sagot nito.

"Even after you learned that they're seeing each other in New York and even after mom told you that she doesn't love you anymore, you still won't believe in rumors?"

"There's only one thing in this world that I'd die believing, Amanda. And that's your mom loves me. Words are just words, Paris. It's our mouth that speaks not our heart." He said with so much confidence in his words. "Chiara can only be one thing in this life time and the next, that's to be my wife."

I can't help but to feel in love as I listen to dad's words, I will always fall in love with my parents' extraordinary type of affection. I'm sure having dad as a husband was never easy just like having mom as a wife. They're both tough to handle and no one can tame them aside from each other.

"Are you having problems with your husband, Amanda?" nananantyang tanong ni dad na kaagad kong sinagot ng pag-iling. "I know when and when you're not okay, you're my daughter."

I inhaled deeply and smiled at him. "We're okay, dad. I'm okay."

But then, who am I kidding? Red Santa de Leones knows what dots to connect. "Is your husband cheating?"

"No, dad." Agad kong sagot. "Aidan won't do that."

"Then are you... cheating?"

"Dad, of course I'm not." I leaned on my seat and looked at him.

"Good that you're not" he said. "Marriage does not guarantee you will be together forever, it's just papers. It takes so many things that includes faith in your relationship to make it last. Your mom and I can live apart and I won't cheat, neither she. You see, honey, never ever doubt your husband. And don't you ever lie to him."

Natahimik ako. Why does it seem like dad knows what's going on? Did Romee tell him? Nah, I don't think so.

"If you're cheating and in love with another man, leave your husband. Respect him." he stood up from his seat "but if it's your husband who's cheating, you know I rule my own world. And you along with your family are a part of it, get what I mean?"

Dad's warning made me took a deep breath. I nodded and smiled at him. "I'm in love with Aidan, dad."

"Then trust him and make him trust you. That's the key and you'll never be locked."