My eyes squinted into a glare when I saw that imbecile who thought it was funny to trick me into putting oil grease on my eyes. Instead of having to finish my presentation for today, I spent hours in the bathroom the grease off my face. That was the third strike and I wasn't going to take anymore of that. I wanted him out of the house.

"Good morning, Ma'am Drey." He flashed a smile at me. I found my triplets talking with this bastard in our backyard under the shade of a tree.

I lifted an eyebrow, cocking my hips to one side and crossing my arms to my chest. I had always hated this man's guts. Ang lakas ng loob niyang mag- good morning sa akin pagkatapos ng ginawa niya sa akin. He was treating me as if I was a funny joke. 

"Kids, what are you doing here?" Tanong ko sa mga anak ko.

"Tinulungan kami ni Tarzan na kunin ang kite namin sa tree, Mommy. It got stuck up there because we were chasing Brad, it was Sid's turn but he didn't want to give the kite to him." Monty pouted, his dark brows crumpled. 

"I told you I'd give it to you in a minute." Brad gave his brother a sideway glare before his eyes lighted up again. "Tarzan climbed up the tree to get the kite and he climbs like the cartoon Tarzan."

"It was so cool you should've seen it." There was amusement in Sid's voice. "Sabi ni Tarzan, he climbed trees higher than this and this is the highest tree we have, right?"

"Pumasok na kayo sa loob. The food's ready." I told them in a stoic tone.

"Can we stay for a little while? We want to hear his cool stories." Brad excitedly said. 

"Sabi ni Tarzan sobrang taas ng mountain kung saan siya nakatira dati, he said he could touch the clouds! Isn't that cool, Mommy?"

"No. Get inside." I firmly told them. 

"But Mommy-"

"No buts. Inside. Now." I said, using my authorative tone. 

The kids whined but did what I told them to do, anyway. With sagged shoulders, they walked past me to the house. It was just Tarzan and I now. I could see through he was trying to do. If he thought he could use my sons para hindi ko siya kagalitan, nagkakamali siya. 

"Ma'am, ang kukulit po ng mga anak niyo. Ang daming tanong. Nakakatuwa." He flashed a cheeky smile as he watched them walk away. 

"You're fired." I said without batting an eye.

Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi niya at bumalik ang mga mata niya sa akin. "Ma'am?"

"Mag-impake ka na. Last day mo na ito dito."

"Ma'am naman? Bakit?" 

"Ang lakas din ng loob mong itanong sa akin yan. Go pack your things, I'll have your last salary sent later." After that, I turned my back to him and began walking inside. I went through the glass sliding door to our dining room where my family was having dinner. Kuya Miggy and my twin, Coco, dropped by to have breakfast with us so we could discuss about the company's new project. 

"Ma'am Drey, huwag mo naman ako tanggalin sa trabaho ko." I heard Soren's begging voice from behind me as soon as I walked into the dining room. "Dahil ba ito sa nangyari kagabi?"

"Did you shag the driver?" Coco asked, nonchalantly.

"Coco, there are kids in here." Saway ni Mama.

"What? They don't know what I'm talking about." Said my twin brother before turning to Monty who was sitting beside him. "Did you know I was talking about sex?"

Monty shook his head. "What's sex?"

"See." Coco shrugged with a cheeky smile on his face. 

"COCO!" Dad's voice boomed throughout the whole dining room. "That is inappropriate."

"I did not sleep with the driver." I said with gritted teeth, ready to sock my twin brother in the face for exposing my son to that language.

"Ma'am Drey, please bigyan niyo pa ako ng isang pagkakataon." Soren begged. 

"Pack up your bag and leave." I firmly told him, folding my arms over to my chest. "Kahit ano'ng pagmamakaawa mo, it won't work. Punong-puno na ako sa'yo."

"Is Tarzan going to leave?" Sid pouted.

"What exactly is happening here?" Kuya Miggy asked, confused.

"Ginagawa akong katawa-tawa ng driver na yan." I told them. "I'm not having anymore of it. Make him leave, Dad."

"Sir, hindi ko naman sinasadyang ibigay sa kanya yung panyo kong may grasa. Hindi ko naman alam." Soren said and turned his head to Mama as he knew Mama had soft heart. "Ma'am Cassie, isang pagkakataon pa po. Hindi ko kayo bibiguin."

"It's me and the kids or him." I said.

"What is your name again?" Dad asked.

"S-soren po, sir." He humbly said.

"Soren, I'm sorry but we have to let you go." Dad said with sincere apology in his voice before looking at me, lovingly. "My princess calls the shot here."

My heart melted when he called me his princess. I was already a mother of four kids and I was still my Dad's princess. 

"Don't worry, bibigyan ka naman namin ng bonus. It'll be enough para makauwi ka sa probinsya niyo at mabisita ang pamilya mo. I'm sure you miss them already." Said Mom, forcing a happy tone, trying to soften the blow.

"Wala na po akong pamilya, ma'am Cassie." Soren's shoulders sagged and guilt began to flood me when I saw how miserable he looked. "Sige po, ma'am. Aayusin ko na po ang mga gamit ko." Then his eyes averted to me. "Ma'am Audrey, pasensya na po at maraming salamat."

I kept a stoic face as I looked at him and he walked out like a dog with its tail between its legs. I was very vocal about hating Soren's guts to them. They knew about it so it wasn't much of a surprise to them anyway. We could get another driver. Hindi naman mahirap humanap. Besides, we only needed a driver para may maghahatid sa mga kasambahay sa groceries or kung may kailangan bilhin. I drive my kids to school and I pick them up from school, kung may meeting ako nandyan naman si Mama para magsundo sa mga bata.

"Why did you make Tarzan leave?" Brad sounded upset.

"Why are you mad at him?" Monty asked, his brows crumpled.

"He's a nice guy, Mommy." Commented Sid.

"I don't like him." Arthur shrugged, apathetically while putting cream cheese on his bagel. 

"We've already made a decision. Kumain na lang kayo." Dad told them.

"Maybe Drey has a little crush on him." Coco said in a teasing tone, just as he used to always do when we were little. 

"SHUT UP!" I hissed.

"Stop being immature." Sabi naman ni Kuya Migs sa kanya.

"Hurry up, you two, we have a meeting at 10. " Sabi ni Dad sa dalawa bago tumingin sa akin. "You take care of your kids. Kami na muna ang bahala sa meeting."

"Thanks, Dad." I smiled.

"I have kids, too, Dad. Bakit si Drey na lang lagi ang exempted?" Coco whined like he always does.

"Because you two have wives to take care of your kids." Sabi naman ni Mama.

"Your Mom's right." Dad agreed. "Now, eat up so we can leave."

We had a relatively nice breakfast but I still couldn't get the picture of Soren out of my mind. He looked heartbroken. I tried to justify it by telling myself that he brought it upon himself. Kung hindi niya pinasasakit ang ulo ko palagi, hindi mangyayari iyon. If only he minded his own business. Besides, Arthur doesn't like him. That alone was enough reason to fire him.

"Mommy, why are you mad at Tarzan?" Sid innocently asked as he sat on the backseat of the car with his three brothers while Arthur sat next to me on the passenger's seat.

"Yeah, why did you fire him? He's cool, Mom!" Brad joined in.

"And we promised to teach him how to read and write!" Sabi naman ni Monty.

"I know he's a nice guy but he's just not competent for his job. We'll find a cooler driver." I smiled at them through the rearview mirror.

"But he's not going to be as cool as Tarzan. He knows how to climb trees, he knows how to play guitar, he's climb a very taaaaall mountain, and he's touched the sky. We haven't had a driver who's done that before." Said Brad, amusement in his voice.

I let out a deep breath. "Look, boys, we have to let Tarzan go. He may be a nice, cool guy but he is not fit for this job!"

"Yes, he is! He knows how to fix cars and he knows how to drive!" Pagtatanggol ni Monty.

"Tarzan can't stay with us." I firmly said, exhausting my patience. 

"But why?" Inosenteng tanong ni Sid. 

"Because he just can't. End of the story." 

The triplets dropped the topic and went on talking about the things they were going to do in school today and the TV show they were going to watch after school. Arthur was quiet the whole drive. I had a feeling it still had something to do with the music festival I told him he wasn't allowed to go to.

"Hey, Arthur." I gently said as we were nearing their school. "Are you okay, baby?"

"Mmm." He shrugged his shoulders coldly at me. 

"You already know why I can't let you go to that concert, right?" I gave him a soft glance.

"Mmmhmm." He nodded his head, not uttering a word and just making sounds. 

"Art, baby, talk to me." I sighed. "I'm sorry but I just want to protect you."

"From what?" He said in an irritated tone. "My friends' are going and I already told you my friend's brother will be there to watch over us."

"Kahit na. Hindi pa din ako mapapalagay niyan."

He didn't speak a word after that. When I pulled up in front of their school, he didn't even say goodbye or looked at me, just opened the door and run out of the car to the entrance of the school. I could only sigh and shake my head. I unbuckled the triplets in the backseat and walked them to the school before kissing them goodbye.

Arthur was becoming a man of his own now. He was looking for his own independent identity now, just how I was when I was a teenager. I felt sadness wash over me at the thought of that. Soon enough, he would no longer be a baby. I took in another deep breath, trying to ease the heavy feeling in my chest as I started the car.

After a few minute drive, I was already in my office room doing paperworks. Lunch time came I was told by my secretary through the intercom that I had a visitor waiting for me in the receiving area. I told her to let the visitor in while I was busy reading a company contracting, thinking it was just my twin brother, wanting to bother me and complain to me about why I always have free pass for missing boring morning meetings. 

"Drey..." A smooth, velvety voice of a man said. 

My head instantly shot up and I saw Franco standing in front of my table with his expensive brown tailored suit. 

"Franco." Agad akong napatayo. "What are you doing here?"

"Just stopping by to say hello to you and I was hoping I could invite you out to have lunch with me." He flashed a mega-watt smile at me. 

Franco and I had gone out on a few dates over the past few months. He'd been very patient and sweet with me even when I told him that my kids were my priority. Tinapat ko na siya noong una pa lang na I couldn't give him the same attention as a single woman could. Mas mamahalin at bibigyan ko pa rin ng importansya ang mga anak ko kaysa sa kanya. He was very persistent, he didn't stop asking me out on dates until I gave in. I made it clear to him that I still wasn't ready to be in a relationship and he said he understood. I thought it would be the end of it, that he'd grow tired just like the men who'd courted me in the past, but he didn't. He was more persistent now more than ever.

I looked down at my wristwatch before I looked back up at him. "Well, I still haven't had lunch."

"Great! Let's go!" Masayang sabi niya. He walked around my table and offered his arm to me and I gladly wrapped mine on him. He took me to a restaurant near our office and we had a nice lunch together.

"How's the kids?" He asked. That was one thing I loved about him, he knew a way to a mother's heart is through her kids. He'd always ask about my kids and how they are doing even though he'd only met them once when we bumped into him at a party. 

"They're doing great. The triplets are still obsessed with Kubo and the Two Strings, I'd lost count of how many times I had to see it. It's unbelievable. Na-memorize ko na nga din yata ang mga lines sa buong movie." I chuckled and shook my head as I was cutting my steak with fork and knife and then my chuckle died down when I thought of Arthur. "But Arthur and I are having a bit of a problem."

"Why?" He asked, worry in his tone.

"Well, he wanted to go to this music festival but I didn't let him. Hindi niya ako kinikibo ngayon. He's growing up too fast, Franco." I sighed heavily. 

"Maybe he needs a father figure, Drey." Kinuha ni Franco ang isang kamay ko. "You can't do this alone. You have four kids and they're all boys. You're going to need someone to be there for you, lalo na kapag nagbinata na ang mga bata. They need someone to look up to."

"I know that, Franco." I slowly slid my hand away from him. The hand that still had a wedding ring on my ring finger. "But it's easier said than done. I can't just shove a man in my son's life. I want someone who'd love the kids as much as I love them."

"Why don't you give me a chance then we'll take it step by step. Tignan natin kung magugustuhan ako ng mga anak mo. I love you, Audrey, and I don't think I'll have any problem loving your sons because they are yours. They came from the woman I love." He softly said with so much sincerity it turned my heart it to goo.

But something else was holding me back. Hindi magiging madali kay Arthur ang tanggapin ito kung sakaling magkaron nga ako ng boyfriend. He'd think I'd be replacing his father in our lives. I'd asked him about that before and he said he didn't want any man in our lives except Callum. Nobody would be good enough for him but his father. It wasn't his fault. He loved Callum and Callum loved him more than anything in the world. He had no idea how much damaged his father had done to my life and my family's at wala akong balak sirain ang imahe niyang iyon sa mga anak namin. He'd always be Callum, my husband and the father of my children, the one who'd taught him how to play guitar, the one who kissed his tears away, the one who'd sing him to sleep and I was fine with that. I would never want them to hate the other half of what made them them.

"Paano kung hindi magwork? Paano kung hindi ka nila magustuhan? P-paano kung hindi mo sila magustuhan?" Questions started rolling through my mind.

"I would do everything in my power to make them like you and I promise to love them as my own. Just give me a chance, Drey." He said as if begging and then he eyed my ring. "Matagal naman ng wala ang asawa mo. I'm sure, wherever he is, he'd be happy to know that his wife and kids are being taken care of."

I bit my inner cheek, thinking through all the possibilities. Franco came from a well-to-do family, a 37-year-old heir to a big remittance company, he was single with no kids of his own yet. How was he to know if he liked kids? How was I supposed to know if he'd like my kids or if they'd like him when they had only met once? The triplets spoke to him when they'd met but Arthur was cold and distant to him, as he always was with my suitors. He didn't like men being around me, other than men in my family. He always seemed to know when a man likes me.

"Let's give it a shot, yeah?" He asked.

I dropped my utensils, closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. "Okay."

His eyes lit up with happiness. "You're not kidding, right? You can't take that back." 

"I won't." I giggled. 

"Oh, Audrey." He stood up from his seat and walked around the table. He pulled me up and cupped my face with his strong hands, kissing me to my lips. It took me by surprise, I was speechless for awhile. I had already forgotten how a real kiss felt. Nervous butterflies began to flutter in my stomach.

"Is everything alright?" Franco asked, worried when he saw my expression.

A smile slowly crept across my face. "No, no... it's wonderful. It's just... this was the first time I have ever been kissed by a man since my husband."

"Oh, Drey, you don't know how happy you've made me." He pulled me into a tight embrace and showered me with kisses. "I love you." He whispered into my ear. I closed my eyes and savored  those words. 

I decided to leave work early so Franco and I could spend some time together. Gusto niya daw sumama sa pagsundo sa mga anak ko at binilhan niya ang mga bata ng laruan.

"This is excessive, Franco!" I told him as we were checking out the toys he'd picked for the kids. "You don't have to do this. I think they'd appreciate your presence alone."

"I want them to like me, Drey. I really do." He said, his eyes shimmering with hope. "I'll do everything I can to make them like you."

"You really don't have to do this-"

He gently pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead. "Shh... let me do this. Just this once, let me do this for them. I want to make a good impression."

"Fine. Pero ngayon lang ito."

"Okay, don't get jealous. Next time, it'll be you I will spoil." 

I just giggled like a teenager and shook my head. Ayaw kong magulat ang mga anak ko at malaman nilang may boyfriend na agad ako. I told Franco that we needed to take things easy. I'd introduce him to the kids as my friends and from there, I could start building him up to them. Franco is the easiest person to like and I knew with time, he'd eventually grow on them.