A/N: Hello po! Reminder lang po, huwag po muna nating i-judge si, Knight Andrius, hangga't hindi pa po natin alam/nababasa ang POV niya. Thank you! Happy reading!

MGA MEN in black suit ang sumalubong sa akin nang tumapak ang mga paa ko sa teritorya ng mga Fulgencio. Sabay-sabay silang bumaling sa akin nang mag-umpisa akong mag-lakad papalapit sa kanila.

Agad akong naghanda ng sarili sa kung ano mang masamang pagkilos ang gawin nila. I already expected this, they won't give my son back that easily. They won't be easy on me, I knew it.

I glared at them one by one when they started to walk towards me. "Let me--" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang sabay-sabay silang humilera sa harap ko, at isa-isang yumukod sa akin.

Napakunot ang noo ko. What are they doing? Bakit yumukod sila sa akin? I never expected something like this...

"It's been a long time since a Grecco visited the mansion..." Boses 'yon ng isang matandang babae mula sa entrada ng mansiyon. "It's nice to see you again, my dear, Liliénné Amoré Grecco." I saw her smiled at me.

That voice...

"Where's my son?" Walang emosyon kong tanong sa nakangiti niyang mukha. "Nasaan ang anak ko?" Mariing pag-uulit ko pa.

"Chill, Mister Grecco." She grinned. "Why don't you come inside and have a cup of tea with me?" Iminuwestra niya ang loob ng bahay.

"I don't have time to catch up with your life, Senyora. I need to know where my son is." Naikuyom ko ang kamao dahil tila nang-aasar lang yata ang matanda, she just smiled--grinned at me. "You're grandson abducted my son, that is a crime--" Nag-sisimula nang mag-init ang kamao ko.

"A crime?" She cut me off, then grimaced. "Wala na bang karapatan ngayon ang isang ama na bumawi sa kaniyang nawalay na anak?" She asked. "Is that what you called a crime?"

Saglit akong natigilan bago tuluyang makabawi. "You don't have any proof that my son is your grandson's child. Are you insane? He's mine; my son's mine alone. His mother died--"

"His mother?" Nakangiwing tanong ng matanda. "Oh, come on, Liliénné. I have eyes everywhere." She raised one of her hands to dismissed me. "Hindi ka makapagtatago ng sikreto sa akin." She shook her head at last.

Ngumisi ako. "Who's my son's mother, then?" I crossed my hands. "I am his biological father--" I was cut off.

"You are his biological mother, Liliénné." Unti-unting nawala ang ngisi sa mga labi ko sa narinig. "And my grandson, Knight Andrius, is the biological father."

"T-that's not true--"

"I know that you are a hermaphrodite human being, Liliénné Amoré." Lumapit ang isa sa mga men in suit at may iniabot sa kaniyang folder. Iwinasiwas niya 'yon sa ere. "You can't deny it. I've had your records from the very first day of your pregnancy. From Doctor Lynn Brillantes to Doctor Alice Trinidad."

Unting-unting nanginig ang mga tuhod ko. My jaw tightened. "Y-you are keeping an eye on me--on my son..." I said in a low voice.

"Of course, you carried another heir of Fulgencio in your womb... so, it shall be protected, safe, and, of course, healthy at the same time." Ngumiti siya sa akin. "At hindi nga ako nagkamali... you never need my help in raising my great grandson... you raised him well, a well-mannered, smart, and educated child he is." She looked at me with her eyes full of confidence.

"Nasaan ba ang anak ko...?" Nanghihina kong tanong sa kaniya. "Ilabas niyo ang anak ko... ibigay niyo na siya sa akin... p-parang awa niyo na." Nagsimula nang gumaralgal ang tinig ko.

She sighed. "They're inside. Come." Iminuwestra niya akong lumapit at sumunod sa kaniya nang tumalikod siya at magsimulang maglakad.

Pinunasan ko ang namumuong luha sa aking mga mata at mabilis na naglakad papasok para sumunod sa kaniya.

Sa mahaba at tagi-tagilid na hagdanan agad tumama ang mga mata ko nang tuluyan akong makapasok sa loob ng mansiyon. Iginala ko ang paningin at napansing tila wala itong pinagbago simula noong una akong tumapak dito. Pinagsamang kulay krema at puti ang kulay ng loob, katulad noong huli kong punta. Hindi man lang nila binago.

Ang totoo'y napakaganda at enggrande tingnan ang loob ng bahay, halatang-halata na may pera ang mga nakatira. Mga manahaling palamuti; vase, paintings at kung ano-ano pa. Pero wala akong pakialam sa mga 'yan, dahil kaya ko ring bumili ng mga ganiyan, kahit bilyon pa ang presyo.

I just need my son right now. My only son, Knick Liam.

"Where my son?" Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang beses nang lumabas ang tanong na iyon sa bibig ko sa mga nag-daang oras. "Nasaan ang anak ko?" Mariin kong pag-uulit nang hindi ako pansinin ng matanda.

"Ikaw naman, Liliénné, ang init agad ng ulo mo." Huminto ang matanda at hinarap ako. "Upstairs, in Knight's room." Akma sana akong maglalakad papaakyat nang muli siyang magsalita. "I think you need some talking in order to fix whatever things are going on right now regarding you and my grandson's affair."

Marahan akong umikot at bumaling sa kaniya. I looked at her coldly. "There's no need to fix, Senyora. There is no affair between me and your grandson," I said with cold voice.

She shook her head and smiled. "Then, have a proper closure regarding your past." She tilted her head, amused. "I know... hindi maganda ang naging paghihiwalayan niyo before and I think you both need to talk about it..."

Umirap ako sa hangin at mabilis na naglakad papaakyat. Does she even know what she's saying? Does she know what happen between me and her freaking grandson? Does she know my sacrifices? All the hardships I need to get through just to be where I am right now? Just to be alive? Does she know that it was all because of his grandson and his wife's fault?

Ugh.

Marahas akong bumuntong-hininga at umiling. Napasandal ako sa pader nang narito na ako sa itaas.  Napabuga ako ng hangin para pakalmahin ang dibdib kong nagsisimula nang dumagundong.

Bakit bigla akong kinabahan?

Muli akong umiling bago napapikit. Paano ko ba haharapin si, Knight Andrius? Paano ko kukunin sa kaniya ang anak ko?

"How should say it?" Mahinang bulong ko at ikinalma ang sarili. "Knight, ibigay mo na sa akin ang anak ko, please, please." Nalukot ang mukha ko sa sariling sinabi. "Imposibleng hindi ako maiyak... baka nga humagulgol ako, e." Napakamot ako sa ulo. "Bahala na."

Marahan akong naglakad papalapit sa pinakadulong bahagi, kung nasaan ang kuwarto ni, Knight. Ilang beses muna akong bumuntong-hininga bago ko hinawakan ang seradura ng pinto at inikot iyon para bumukas.

"Knight Andrius, ibigay mo--OH MY GOD!" Mabilis akong napatakip ng mga mata bago mabilis na tumalikod nang kasabay ng pagbukas ko ng pinto, ay ang pagbukas din ng pintuan ng banyo. "What the hell?!" Bulalas ko nang makitang walang kahit anong takip na tela ang buong katawan niya.

"Liliénné..." I heard Knight's cold voice from behind.

"What are you doing!"

"Doing what?"

I rolled my eyes. "Bakit nakahubad ka!"

"Katatapos lang mag-shower."

"You don't have bath robe or towel?"

"Hindi ako sanay."

I rolled my eyes. "Takpan mo nga 'yang katawan mo!"

"Psh. As if naman na hindi mo pa 'to nakita dati."

"Dati 'yon."

"Ayaw mo ba 'tong makita? Nakasaludo sa 'yo si, little Knight, oh."

"Fvck you." Marahas akong umiling at napapikit. Humugot ako ng hangin sa kailaliman at marahan iyong pinakawalan. "Where's my son?"

"Hmm?"

"My son. Where's my son?" Mariin kong pag-uulit sa tanong.

"You mean... our son." I heard him sighed. "He's not just your son, Lili, he's also--"

"Just tell me where he is. Give him back to me."

"Give him back to you? Para saan? Para makalayo kayong dalawa? Para maitakas ang anak ko mula sa 'kin? Liliénné, I am his father. May karapatan din ako sa kaniya."

"I don't freaking care. Ibigay mo sa akin ang anak ko, ngayon na." Mariin kong utos sa kaniya.

"No..." His voice lowered. "And he's not here, he's downstairs. Na kay, grandma."

Mabilis kong hinawakan ang seradura ng pinto at akmang bubuksan para lumabas, nang muling mag-salita si, Knight.

"Lara, lock the door."

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Ilang saglit pa ay nalaglag ang panga ko nang sinubukan kong buksan ang pinto ay bigla iyong hindi umikot at nag-unlock. Now, what's happening? Is it lock from the outside?

I try again to open the door, but it didn't unlock. Muli kong sinubukan. Umulit. At sinubukan ng paulit-ulit. Pero nabigo ako at hindi iyon nabuksan.

"Stop resisting. It'll not open," I heard Knight said. Mabilis akong umikot at sinamaan siya ng tingin. He's just finished wearing his clothes, isang itim na pants at puting sando lang ang isinuot niya.

Well, this is their house anyway. So, I couldn't care less on whatever clothes he wants to wear.

"And why is that?" I arched a brow in his statement.

"It will not open, unless, otherwise I'll command Lara to open it."

Nagpanting ang tainga ko. "Smart assistant..." I gritted my teeth.

"Yes." Umupo siya sa kama at naka-dekwatrong tumingin sa akin.

"Open this goddamn door, Knight Andrius." Mahina ngunit mariin kong sambit sa kaniya.

He slowly shook his head. "No... I will not open it, unless, we talk."

"Wala na tayong dapat pang pag-usapan." Sumama ang mukha ko.

"Meron... we need to talk. I need to tell you everything. I need to explain to you... everything," seryosong aniya, blangko ang mga mata.

Malakas kong hinampas ang pintuan. "Wala ka nang dapat pang ipaliwanag o sabihin. What is done, is done. Nangyari na ang lahat. So, open this goddamn door and let me take my son away!" Muli kong hinampas ang pintuan.

"I will not, unless, you calm down and listen to me."

"And why should I?"

"So, you'll not be mad at me anymore."

"I am not mad at you..."

"I doubt it." He sighed. "In the years that passed, I knew that it was my fault that unfornate things happened to you... I broke my promise to protect you... keep you safe and taken care of. Nabali ang lahat... it feels unfulfilling."

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Wala akong pake."

"On our first meeting at the club... our first sex." He suddenly chuckled. "I was virgin." He confessed. "I don't know what makes me push through to take you... claim you... it was just fast, and I just find myself lost in the burning dominance that is slowly taking over me. The desire was so strong that I even couldn't stop myself from claiming you."

Biglang nagbalik sa isip ko ang alaala noong naming pagkikita ni, Knight Andrius sa isang club noong kasama ko si, Cress. The time where I just saw myself in his room, naked and in pain.

Teka, why am I thinking about it anyway? Past is past. Period.

"I swore to myself that I would protect you. Keep you protected in my arms... but I am such a failure..."

"Buti alam mo," I whispered to myself without turning my head on him.

"I had a twin brother; his name is Knoxx Alistair," he continued. "We've... had family issues, and his surname is not a Fulgencio; he bears the name of our father. My grandparents only took me and transferred my surname into Fulgencio and announced to the world that I will soon inherit one of the family company businesses, Knoxx excluded," he paused. "Knoxx, is bad boy and a play boy. Halos lahat na yata ng sikat na modelo at kandidata ng miss world at miss universe ay natikman na niya--"

"And how does that Knoxx have to deal with us?" Finally, I turned to look at Knight's sullen face. "Huwag ka na ngang magpaligoy-ligoy."

"Knoxx has been playing with Diana from the very beginning up until now." He shook his head. "He's the one who's always had sex with that btch, and not me. Every time he appears, he pretends to be me so that he can feel like a boss--a CEO, a fvcker. Therefore, in order to do that, I have to stay hidden, hanggang sa magsawa siya."

Natigilan ako. Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang dalawang taong umuungol noon sa isang kuwarto, nung time na bubuksan ko sana, but someone stopped me and tell me, I shouldn't. Is that... his twin brother?

"Two days after you started working at the company, grandma gave me a task; she wanted me to take care of our work in Russia... and that's the time Knoxx takes over my position completely," he paused. "But before I got into the plane, mahigpit kitang ipinagbilin sa kaniya, Liliénné. I asked him to take good care of you, but he clearly didn't."

Napatitig ako sa kaniya.

"It is not that I was blaming him, 'Li. I know, kasalanan ko rin." Naiiling-iling siyang nagbaba ng tingin sa malalaki niyang mga kamay. "In Russia, I always call him and ask, How's Lili? Is he in good health? Et cetera, et cetera. But it turned out he always lied to me. He said you're okay, you're fine, you're in good health, and you're well cared for. But..." Napatigil siya. "Oh, shit that fcker and his btch. Damn both of them." Mariin niyang aniya.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat kong sabihin. I remember, his twin though, our conversation, he apologized for what happened to me, before Diana kidnapped me and almost kill me. Who wouldn't remember that part anyway?

"T-then the day I thought I lose you..." he whispered under his breath, looking at me softly. "Knoxx and I immediately got to the place where Diana brought you... and we're late." He let out a small but sad smile. "The warehouse is amidst the flames when we arrive, at may bangkay na nakita... I-I thought... I-I t-thought--"

"You thought that it was me," I continued his sentence.

"Y-yeah." He heaved a deep breath, again, and again. "And that day... I feel so broken... I broke down... basag na basag ako nung araw na 'yon, Lili. Tatlong-taon ko 'yong dinamdam dito." Itinuro niya ang puso niya. "Hindi ko natupad ang pangako ko sa 'yo... I failed to protect you..." Humina ang tibig niya.

Hindi ako nakasagot.

"Then, I was invited at Paris Fashion Week..." he trailed off.

My eyes suddenly open wide. "Don't tell me--"

"Yes. I was there. That's the first time, after three years, that I saw your pure and innocent face, again..." He shook his head. "The time I first laid my eyes in you, I knew it already. My heart's beating so fast... I knew, it was you." He chuckled. "Gano'n na ba talaga kalala ang tama ko sa 'yo?"

I ignored his last sentence. "And why didn't you approach me? Greet me?" I asked with my creased forehead.

"I know you'll just deny it," he said. "If you really want to contact me--interact with me, again," chuckled. "E'di sana noon mo pa ginawa at hindi iyong nagpa-abot ka pa ng three years, hindi ba?" He let out a small smile. "Isa pa, there's a lot of men surrounding you. Well, hindi ko naman talaga sila masisisi."

"Well..." I stopped. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko. What should I say now?

Nagkaroon kami ng panandaliang katahimikan.

I heaved a sigh. "You..." I finally trailed off. "You don't know what I need to go through just to be that 'current me'.... now." Mapait akong napangiti sa sarili. "Hindi mo alam ang pinagdaanan ko noong mga nagdaang taon..."

"You carried our son... raised him on your own..." Napatango-tango siya. "I'm... very proud of you..." he looked at me with an emotion I can't name. Then, he sighed. "But... can I ask you a favor?"

"No--"

"Just this once..." He looked at me, pleading.

"No--"

"Please?"

"Let me hear it first."

He heaved and smiled at me sadly. "Puwede bang... hayaan mo akong bumawi sa anak natin? Hayaan mo sana akong punan ang mga pagkukulang ko noong pitong taong wala ako sa tabi niya..." paused. "Puwede ba 'yon?" Saglit akong natigilan, hindi alam kung paano sasagutin ang tanong niya. "Or..." Nalungkot siya bigla. "It is too much?"

Hindi ako nakasagot agad.

"I-I... I-I..." Nautal-utal na ako. "A-actually--OH, GOD!" Agad akong natigil sa pagsasalita at napatili nang may kung anong malakas na bagay mula sa labas ang humampas sa pintuan ng kuwarto.

"Papá! Daddy!" It was my son... our son's voice from the outside. "Please po, huwag po muna kayong gumawa ng baby ngayon, maaga pa po! Mamayang midnight na lang po!"

Napanganga ako at agad nangako sa sariling hindi ko na talaga pasasamahin pa ang anak ko sa Tito-Ninang Cress niya. I'm certain, sa kaniya natututunan ng anak ko ang mga kabalalaghang lumalabas sa bibig niya ngayon.

"Mamaya na po kayo mag-iyotan diya, Papá at Daddy! Buksan niyo na po itong pinto!"

Agad kaming nagkatinginang dalawa ni, Knight, nang muling magsalita ang anak namin. Nasapo ko ang noo at naiiling-iling siyang tiningnan.

At last, I sighed, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Baka anak mo si, Knick Liam, kay Cress, ha?"

To be Continued...