It happened one night as I was lying in bed with my children. Astraea and Dane were watching on their ipad when suddenly, a news report from one of the Philippines' broadcasting companies played.

"Ngayong araw ay nagtipon ang ilan sa ating mga kababayan para igunita ang ikaapat na taong pagpanaw ng dating bise presidente, Jose Arturo Villamor."

Nabitawan ko ang hawak na phone nang marinig iyon. I immediately snatched the tablet from them to double check if I'm hearing it right.

My tears started falling when I realized that it was indeed true. It was indeed the Arthur Villamor I knew who died four years ago.

"Mommy, are you okay? Why are you crying?" Astraea asked, eyeing me with her worried expression.

"Mimi, are you okay?" Dane asked too and scooted over to hug me.

Mas lalo naman akong naiyak at niyakap silang dalawa.

I know I shouldn't even be crying given what happened in the past and how he treated me but it still wouldn't change the fact that he's my father and I'm his flesh and blood. Kahit papaano ay may nagawa naman siyang mabuti noon.

"W-Wala 'to. Let's just sleep." I uttered and kissed them in their heads.

However, Astraea seemed suspicious with the way I reacted.

"Do you know the man who died, Mommy?" She asked with her curious eyes.

My lips turned grim. I don't know what to answer at that moment ngunit laking gulat ko nalang nang may nagsalita sa likuran ko.

"Your grandfather, baby. The man who died is your grandfather."

It was Denver who answered her.

When I turned my back ay gulat pa rin akong nakatingin sa kanya. He knows? Kailan pa? At bakit hindi niya sinabi sa akin?

"I'm sorry," he uttered and moved closer to hug me. "I just...couldn't afford hurting you that time. You just gave birth to Dane at hirap na hirap ka pa sa recovery." He whispered.

Tumango ako. I understand him.

"Please let me make it up to you. Do you want to go home?" He asked which made my eyes widen.

Go home?

I don't know how to react because I've long forgotten the thought of going back to that country for the sake of my children. But now that Denver's saying it, I felt a tingle in my chest.

Si Daddy. Kahit papaano, I still want to pay respect...and visit Rachel. But would it really be okay?

I looked at Denver with worry in my eyes, ngumiti naman siya at hinawakan ang mukha ko.

"Don't worry now, love. It's been over a decade already. I'm sure they won't recognize you anymore. And you're Penelope...hindi na ikaw si Klio. You have your new identity already." He smiled and planted a soft kiss on my lips. "Hindi rin tayo magtatagal doon. We'll just go there for three days and we'll be back already, okay?"

Tumango ako at kinabig siya palapit para yakapin nang mas mahigpit.

Seriously, I really don't know how I would survive without him beside me. He had been my anchor ever since I almost sank.

Just like what we agreed, we scheduled a flight back to Manila a month after. Kami lang sana ni Denver but Astraea wanted to come too, at ayoko rin namang iwan si Dane kaya buong pamilya nalang kaming uuwi.

As I looked at Astraea getting excited about the flight, I was reminded of another person.

Her father.

Sayang, hindi ko na talaga maipapakilala si Alaric sa kanya. Pero siguro hanggang doon nalang talaga ang koneksyon naming dalawa. He must've been living a happy life now with his wife and kids at ayoko na ring manggulo pa.

Hindi na rin naman ako si Klio ngayon e.

Penelope. I should live by this new identity.

It was a cloudy day when we arrived in Manila via private jet. It was smooth, everything was smooth. But as I looked around, I felt my hands shaking. Denver must've noticed it kaya agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko habang naglalakad kami.

We immediately went to the cemetery where father was buried after that. I was wearing a black dress, shades, and black hat when I went down the SUV we're riding. I held Astraea's hands with my left hand while Denver held the right one while carrying Dane.

There were no bodyguards around us but Denver informed me that he hired a lot and they were just in disguise around us kaya wala akong dapat na ikapangamba.

My tears fell as I read the name on the tomb.

Jose Arturo Nuevo Villamor

I hated him but to stand here in front of his grave made me feel a sincere sadness within me.

Lumipat naman ang mata ko sa lapidang nasa gilid niya.

Rachella Alessi Montenegro Villamor

Guilt ran through my nerves as I recall what happened years ago.

"Sorry," I repeatedly uttered as I looked at her grave. "Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari."

I uttered a silent prayer for their souls, let my tears fall and dry, and after that, I took a bow in front of them.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't stay long. I need to go." I whispered in the air.

Denver held my hand and squeezed it. I then gave him a nod and a smile.

"Tara?"

He nodded and intertwined our fingers at sinabayan ako sa paglalakad pabalik ng sasakyan.

We immediately went back to the hotel after that. Denver told me that he has something to be taken care of kaya lalabas muna siya and because of that, I was left in the hotel room with the kids and the bodyguards he hired.

It was two hours after Denver left when suddenly I heard a loud thud in the bathroom and when I opened the door, I immediately shouted because of what I've seen.

Dane was lying on the floor, unconscious, while his head was bleeding. I am a doctor but seeing my own child in that state made me panic. With my trembling hands, I checked on him. And there, I realized that he must've fallen and hit his head.

"Call 911." I shouted.

Astraea was crying beside me while typing on her phone, samantalang ako ay abala sa pagpapahinto ng dugo mula sa ulo ni Dane. Malaki ang sugat sa ulo niya and he's unconscious, so he need to undergo CT scan and other tests.

I know I should avoid going to places with people but I know I couldn't help my child kung susundin ko pa iyon. I am a doctor, oo, but without the proper equipments, I can't help my child.

Minutes after we called the emergency hotline, the ambulance arrived. I kept on calling Denver on the way to the hospital but I couldn't reach him.

"Please, please, answer me love." I muttered while crying, at kung minamalas nga naman, nalowbat pa ako.

When we arrived at the hospital ay diniretso agad si Dane sa emergency room. Astraea was hugging me tight while crying at ako naman ay halos hindi na malaman ang gagawin. But I need to be strong. Hindi pwedeng iiyak nalang din ako.

After hours of waiting, the doctor finally went out of the ER, at agad naman akong nakahinga nang medyo maluwag no'ng sabihin niyang okay na si Dane at hinihintay nalang ang result ng CT scan.

"Good thing you performed the first aid right. Are you a doctor?" She asked.

Tumango naman ako at yumuko, not wanting her to see my face properly even though I was already wearing a cap.

"Thank you, Doc!" I gave her a smile.

Tinapik niya ako sa balikat. "Sige misis, mauuna na ako."

When she left, Astraea immediately went to me.

"How's Dane, Mom?" She asked.

I gave her a smile and stroked her head. I know she's just as worried as me.

"He's gonna be okay, baby." I uttered despite my fear.

I really hope that he's gonna be okay dahil kung hindi ay baka hindi ko na mapatawad ang sarili ko.

"Are you hungry? Wanna have something to eat? I'll get you some."

Agad naman siyang umiling. "It's okay, Mommy. I'm not hungry at all."

I sighed. I know she is. Maybe she just got too shocked because of what she witnessed.

"No, you should eat. Stay here, I'll get you something to eat. Huwag makulit." I said and looked at the bodyguards.

Tumango naman sila sa akin.

Tahimik akong naglakad sa hallway, looking for the canteen or even just a vending machine.

"Excuse me, do you know where the canteen is?" I asked one of the staff.

"Ah, there po Ma'am tapos liko po kayo sa kanan, then pagdating po dulo, liko po kayo sa kaliwa, pagkatapos po may hallway po doon, nandoon po sa dulo nun ang canteen." Mabilis niyang sabi at umalis na bago pa ako muling makapagtanong.

The direction was quite vague but I still tried to follow that, which was a mistake, kasi imbes na makarating ng canteen ay sa tapat ng CR ang naging ending ko.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and sighed. I turned my back and started walking again, ngunit halos tumilapon na ako nang bigla akong may nakabangga.

"I'm sorry, Miss." The man uttered and I immediately froze in my spot when I heard that familiar voice.

Could it be...

My heart beat so fast at agad akong nangatal nang dahan-dahang mapatingin sa salamin na nasa tapat namin. There I saw him in the reflection looking at me with his dark eyes.

What...I can't believe it...

I felt like fate was playing with me again. Out of all people na pwede kong makabangga, bakit siya pa?

Bakit si Alaric pa?