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"Ricos, you don't need to wear nerdy glasses. Your vision is fine, if you see this thing as fashion then I'm telling you, it doesn't look cute." Kunot-noong sabi niya habang tinitignan ang sampung taong gulang na anak.

Ricos is literally growing up. He isn't the cute little boy always clinging to his father's arms anymore. Aidan's features slowly become prominent in Ricos' face. He has got those eyes and brows, even his father's nose. Ricos is more of Aidan's than hers.

"I don't want to look cute, Mom" Ricos ducked his head, lurking his emotions from her.

She doesn't seem to have much of a problem with her kids. Having Aidan as a husband did her so much help. Raising four children isn't easy, but with Aidan on the side, it's bearable.

Ricos Anton is now ten years old, still the genius Einstein that he was when he was little. As years go by, he's becoming more and more curious about the surroundings he belongs. And Aidan made sure that he'd satisfy Ricos with his answers to his curiosity.

Then there's Riley Allison, at seven, who acts more responsibly than anyone her age. She's not as curious as Ricos regarding things, but she used to ask questions, too. She's behaved and is so much obsessed with her three-year-old youngest sibling, Aouie Riel. Riley really acts like a big sister to Aouie. She knows when to feed her and is always ready to help. Their five-year-old son, Achilles Rook, often stays in the corner with his drawing materials, which his dad got him a little over a year ago.

Mataman niyang pinagmasdan si Ricos. She'd been observing her eldest for a couple of weeks now and worried about his behavior lately. Ricos had been wearing nerdy specs that look like those you'll find in a thrift shop. She checked his closet once and was horrified when she saw a pile of the white shirts he often used in school underneath his uniform. All look worn out, with rips in some parts.

Is her son being bullied in school? A kick on her chest frightened her. She'll surely kill.

"What's wrong, Ricos?" She sighed, kneeling in front of her son who was seated at the edge of his bed. "Is there something you need to tell mom?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, mom."

It pains her to see him that way. She'd been that way when she was little, hiding her feelings and having to remain contained. Ricos doesn't have to say a word; he is her son. One look and she already knows her son is dealing with something.

But she isn't good at this. She doesn't know how to handle things like this. She can't just force Ricos to open up about what is it that bothers him. It's difficult to spill something you're keeping from anyone, even your mother. She never once did.

"What's up?" It was Aidan's voice from behind that had her turning. Their eyes met, and with the connection they had built for years, she didn't have to say a word. "Aouie is looking for you, mommy."

She stood up and sighed, one more glance at Ricos who had kept his head down. Then turned again to look at Aidan.

Aidan walked towards her, taking her from the waist before he kissed her temple and whispered. "I got this, go get Aouie and prepare. We have a couple of hours left."

"Talk to him, please?" She said. "Oh, Aidan, I really don't know how to do life without you."

"You won't do anything without me, I got you." He grinned and winked. "Go on see the girls, Rook is already fine. He's already downstairs, waiting."

Leave everything to Aidan, and sure, all is well. She turned her back to leave the two when Aidan even spanked her ass lightly, making her grin and shook her head.

"I want my blue tutu, Wayley!" Aouie's loud and demanding voice already reached her ear before getting in.

"Aouie, your blue tutu is dirty. You've used it yesterday. But I have another tutu for you here, a purple one. It looks cute, let's try it on you." Riley said in a sweet and soft tone, trying to convince her stubborn little sister to get dressed.

"I don't like puwple, I want the blue one!"

Aouie's speech development isn't as amazing as her siblings, but nonetheless, it's cute, and they surely had it monitored. So far, with the help of Riley, who always stays by her side the whole time after she's home from school, Aouie is starting to pronounce words right because Riley always had her talking.

"It's purple, Aouie" Riley corrected. "It's ar not aw. I already told you that."

"Doesn't make sense, Wayley!" Stubborn Aouie rolled her eyes. "Still, I want the blue one."

A long sigh from Riley made her smile. Riley looks so frustrated with Aouie; there are times that Riley can't bear with Aouie, but she never raises her voice at her sister. She's so in love with her. And in those times of frustration, mom's help is needed.

"Mom won't wear anything blue tonight, little Aouie." Paris smiled, closing the door behind.

Aouie immediately looked at her, and Riley did too. Riley gave her a smile of relief as if she just saved her from trouble.

"You won't?" Aouie frowned.

She shook her head. Aouie looked up to her as someone she wants to be in the future. Palagi ay gusto nitong pareho sila ng kulay ng damit na susuotin. Aouie loves color blue, pero mas na pipiliin nito ang kahit na anong kulay so long as it's her choice. Aouie often claims that she's Little Mommy.

"Her blue tutu is in the laundry, she doesn't like this purple one." Riley told.

Nginitian niya ito bago haplusin ang braso. "Sige na, Riley, you go to your room and fix yourself. I'll dress our Little Mommy with this purple tutu you got for her."

"Okay, mom. I'm wearing the purple dress you gave me last month."

Leave it to her, little Riley, matching colors is her thing. Kaya naman alam niya na sinasadya rin nitong ipasuot iyon kay Aouie. Riley loves to match the color of her and Aouie's clothes. But Aouie chooses what she'll wear because she's the little mommy. Had her eyes rolling.

Kagabi ay nasabi niya kay Aouie na kulay asul ang isusuot niya para sa pupuntahan nila ngayong gabi nang mag-tanong ito. Well, that's her plan. Aidan bought her an elegant blue dress for tonight's event. She'll talk it over with her husband, she's wearing a purple one just so Aouie will wear her purple tutu and Riley won't be upset. Little adjustments you do for your kids.

Tonight, Aidan will hold his first art exhibit. It took him a while to finally accomplish and fulfil his dream. Aidan's love for art didn't fade. And she can't help but feel proud of him. Aidan has always been dedicated to everything he does.

She started encouraging him to put up his own art studio. Aidan isn't fond of the idea. He's worried that it might take the time he had for his kids. But she assured him that she together with her children, will stick with him through it all.

Art is something that defines Aidan's life. He's a masterpiece himself. It's like how Science is for her. She knows he can't live without it, and she won't let him live without it. She had a talk with Alaric weeks ago regarding that. Alaric supports her idea. He even told her that if their company stopped Aidan from doing what he really loved, then he'd fix the matters for his brother. He's willing to take over the whole Castañeda Holdings so Aidan could focus more on an art studio.

Aidan selflessly set aside his dreams to fulfil his responsibility as a son, father, and husband. It's about time to be his own person. An artist that he is.

"Where's the other one I got you?" Aidan asked, stopping her hand from reaching the back zipper of her purple dress.

Aidan stood behind her in front of the mirror inside their room, with his hand touching her bare back. Years had passed, yet his touch could still make her head spin.

"I don't like this dress, it shows so much skin. Plus the fact that you're not wearing any bra underneath gives me a trouble inside my head." He muttered, snaking his arm on her waist before crawling a hand up to cup one side of her breast. "Spare me tonight, love. We have an event to attend and all I have in mind now is to get inside you from behind. Or pushed over the bed, legs spread, eat the hell outta you. Damn, Paris."

God, Aidan's words can still send her blood humming in her veins. "Aidan, we can do all of that later."

"You're fucking with my head again, Amanda." He groaned, burying his head on the side of her neck and kissing her. "I might ditch my own event or have it canceled, you're screwing me bad."

"Putangina," biglang usal niya nang makiliti matapos damhin ni Aidan ang ibabang bahagi ng kaniyang katawan.

Malakas na humalakhak si Aidan. "Be careful with your words, huh? The putangina is only allowed here, inside our bedroom. Outside, it's not. The kids might hear you. And you know them, they copy your actions. Especially our little mommy Aouie."

"Stop, touching me, Aidan!" She moaned, feeling his hand stroking her femininity.

"Hmm," he whispered. "Damn, baby, you're wet. Don't clean, please?"

He pulled his hand off her panties and pulled her dress back in place.

"I'll clean you up after the event, inside the comfort room." A wicked smile curved his lips. "Knowing you're so wet for me will make this night a lot more interesting."

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. Remembering the comfort room idea she suggested to Aidan years ago in their wedding day. "Yeah, fine. Now help me, please. Zip my dress close."

Nag-baba ito ng tingin sakanyang suot. Kumunot ang noo at tila doon lang naalala na hindi pa niya nasasagot ang tanong nito. He zipped it close. "Why are you wearing this again?"

"Riley is wearing the purple dress I got her from last month, you know her obsession with Aouie. I told Aouie last night that I'm wearing blue, so she wants her tutu, blue. And Riley keeps insisting the purple one for Aouie. I need to adjust a little, just so Aouie will wear the purple and Riley won't be upset." She explained.

His eyes glittered as he chuckled. "Some girly things going, huh?"

She leaned relaxed on his chest when he embraced her. He kissed the top of her head. "What's going on with Ricos?"

"Oh, that" he sighed. "Some weird problems, but I'm working on how to deal with it."

"Is someone bullying him, Aidan?" She tensed.

"Nah, baby," he hugged her tightly. "Ricos looks like me, but I'm sure he thinks the same way you do. My son doesn't like the attention. He doesn't like the idea of people befriending him because he's got half a little Santa de Leones. He wants to shove the crowd away, he thinks that people won't like him and won't talk to him if he's wearing cheap specs and worn out shirts."

"I'm worried, Aidan. What do we need to do?"

"Just guide him, baby." He smiled, trying to keep her chill and good. "Kaya pala the last time we went shopping for his soccer attire, he wants the weird neon colored sock. I've tried to explain things to him but he's still absorbing my words. Don't worry, love, I made him wear fine clothes tonight and promised that I'll stay by his side and will keep him from drawing attention. Though I'm not really sure how I'll do that."

Ricos believes Aidan's words. For him, everything that his dad says matters.

When they headed to the event, people were already there. Aidan kissed the side of her head and excused himself because he had something important to do. Nauna ito sa loob ng event, and as he promised, he didn't leave Ricos behind. He brought Ricos and Rook with him.

"Mom, we got so many pee-poos !" Aouie clapped both of her hands and started beaming. "Oh! Aunt Womee!"

"Hey there, angel." Romee walked up to them with her husband. She kissed her cheek. "The kids are out there, I'm gonna bring your two cuties to them. Have you seen your husband's works?"

"I haven't." She said Aidan kept his art room locked all the time. She didn't want to go and took that one little private haven he kept for himself away. "But I'm sure, everything is fabulous!"

"You bet," Ro smiled, taking Aouie and Riley. "I'm gonna get these kids going. You get your little behind inside."

She nodded her head and watched them go. Her eyes roamed around. Aidan's dream is slowly taking its way to reality. And now, she's witnessing one of the many things that happened.

She walked towards the hall. Everyone seems to be looking at her like she's an artwork. All of them were smiling, looking pleased. She managed to smile back. In situations like this, she seemed to understand her son. She doesn't want to draw so much attention.

Patuloy siyang nag-lakad, hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat niyang sabihin nang mag-simula siyang lapitan ng mga naroroon.

"You look more beautiful in person," an old lady covered with gold smiled at her.

"Uh, thank you." Confused, she smiled.

Another step, another person coming over to her. Saying how much she looks like a masterpiece. Her frowns deepened until she stood before one painting hanging perfectly on the wall.

Her jaw literally dropped seeing herself, perfectly and beautifully done through those different colors of oil paint stroked with a brush.

"Oh my God!"

She looked around, realizing that her face was displayed everywhere. In every painting. Her chest tightened. Even her throat did. She feels like choking.

Mabilis na hinanap ng kaniyang mga mata si Aidan. Hindi niya ito nakita. She turned to the painting in front of her again. She bit her bottom lip hardly, reading the title of the painting.

To My Lover

It was dated from her birthday last year.

Nanghihina man ay sinikap niyang isa-isahin ang mga naroon. So many paintings of her, and the dates were all the same. Second day of October, in different years. Starting from her thirteenth birthday. Aidan did his first ever painting at the age of fifteen, and he's two years old and her senior.

"Aidan..." her heart squeezed in so many emotions, making her tears roll down her face. "Oh my Lord, this is too much..."

"Baby," Aidan's voice boomed the area. Kaagad niyang hinanap ito, he's standing on the makeshift stage with Ricos and Rook with him. He's looking directly at her. "You're my masterpiece, Paris Amanda. I hope you don't mind me secretly painting you since long ago. It's an obsession I find so hard to break."

Loud laughing crowd didn't snatch her attention. She's looking directly at him. Aidan had long confessed how he loved her, from a baby Paris until the day that he married her. But he skipped this part of his love story. All the paintings of her were never mentioned, not once. Had it been talked about before, she should've remembered.

"Today counts exactly eighteen years since the night I saw the eleven-year-old beauty who took my breath and my all away." He said. "I love you, my Paris Amanda. So much that I can't put into words, thank you for coming into my life. You're my favorite work of art."

Tears flooded her face. How lucky could she get to have someone like Aidan in her life? Aidan is everything she never expected to happen. She couldn't speak anymore. Her tears had got her crazy.

Mabilis na bumaba si Aidan sa stage upang lapitan siya. Lahat ng naroroon ay nakamasid sakanilang dalawa. But only Aidan matters to her.

Aidan took her in his arms and enveloped her in an embrace. She looked up to him, still speechless. She cupped both sides of his face and claimed his lips in a sweet and loving kiss, weeping her heart out.

"Aidan Zeus, I'm indeed your weeping woman."

The art of love is largely the art of persistence...
THE END