EPILOGUE

Five Years Later...

LUTHER put his index finger over his lips, silencing his three years old son, Logan. Napangiti siya ng makitang tumango ang anak niya at pilyong ngumiti. His son has the same smirk and grin as him and it always warmed his heart.

"Why, Daddy?" Pabulong na tanong ni Logan sa kaniya. 

Ginulo niya ang buhok nito. "Because it's going to be a surprise for mommy."

His son grinned. "Okay. I love surprises!" Logan half whispered and half shouted.

Luther chuckled. "Yeah. So tutulungan mo na si Daddy? Para mas maging successful ang surprise?"

Excited na tumango ang anak niya. "Yes po, Daddy." Ang lapad ng ngiti nito. "Tiyak magiging happy si mommy ko."

"That's the plan, baby, that's the plan."

Inakay niya ang anak patungo sa labas ng pinto ng silid nila ni Amethyst saka may ibinulong sa anak niya.

"Logan, you distract Mommy okay?"

Logan grinned. "Roger." Anito na sumaludo pa sa kaniya.

Hindi na magtataka si Luther kung maging sundalo itong anak niya. He and Amethyst were both Agent. Hindi na nakakagulat kong susunod sa yapak nila ang kanilang anak na lalaki.

Nang makapasok sa silid nila ni Amethyst si Logan, nagmamadali siyang naglakad patungo sa low deck ng Yacth niya.

For five years that he's been married to Amethyst, halos dito na sila tumira sa Yacht niya. They always sail around Venice and right now, they are in the open sea as they wait for the sun to rise.

Sumilip siya sa baba, sa may dagat. "Tapos na ba?" Pasigaw niyang tanong.

Blaze gave him a middle finger. "Ikaw kaya ang magpatuyo ng pintura rito?"

Luther rolled his eyes. "Ako ang nagtahi ng plastic bottle at ako ang nagpintura. Pagpatuyo nalang, Blaze, umaangal ka pa. Barilin kita riyan, e."

Tumawa si Blake na pinapaypayan ang mga bote na pinagpuyatan niya. "Shut up, we're doing this for Logan. Not for you."

Pinaikot niya ulit ang mga mata. Blaze and Blake had always been his companion. Kahit nuong ikinasal nila ni Amethyst, hindi pa rin sila naghiwa-hiwalay kahit tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan. Pero paminsan-minsan ay tumatanggan pa rin ng mga misyon ang dalawa galing sa organisasyong kinabibilangan at umuwi sila sa Pilipinas para bisitahin ang pinsan nila at ibang kaibigan.

Ang nakakatawa, ang kambal na ito ay naging malapit sa asawa at anak niya. To the point na palaging kinikidnap ang anak niyang si Logan para doon matulog sa bahay ng mga ito.

Those twins love Logan as much as Luther loved his son. That's supposed to be a good thing. Pero mukhang hindi. Masyadong spoiled ang anak niya sa dalawa. Humingi lang ang anak niya ng laruang Helicopter, ang ginawa ng dalawa, binigyan ng totong Helicopter.

Bumaba siya sa Low deck at isinagawa ang plano niya, para pagkagising ni Amethyst ay maayos na ang lahat. And then she'll give him a thank you kiss, that could led to a mind blowing thank you sex tonight.

I just love my wife so much!

Using his Jet Ski, inayos niya ang mga plastic bottle na tinahi niya mula pa kagabi. Syempre, katulong niya ang magkambal sa pag-aayos na panay na naman ang reklamo.

"Isang salita pa, Blaze. Ipapakain kita sa pating." Aniya na naiirita sa ingay nito.

"Walang pating dito. Gago." Kinunotan siya nito ng nuo. "Pasalamat ka talaga at mahal namin si Logan, kung hindi dahil sa ka-cute-tan niya, hindi ka namin tutulungan."

Natawa nalang siya sa halip na mainis. Blaze and his mouth. Blake and his attitude. These twins always made his day extra annoyingly happy.

Napailing-iling nalang si Luther at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. He needs to make his wife happy. That's his main goal in life.

NAGMULAT ng mata si Amethyst at sinalubong ang tingin niya ng kaniyang tatlong taong gulang na anak na si Logan.

"Hey, baby." She said in a raspy and sleepy voice. "Good morning."

Logan happily grinned at her. "Good morning, mommy ko. How's your sleep po?"

Pinanggigilan niya ang pisngi ng anak. "I slept well. Ikaw, bakit ang aga mong magising?"

"Kasi si Daddy—opps!" Sinapo nito ang sariling bibig habang namimilog ang mga mata. "I'm not supposed to tell you, mommy."

Kumunot ang nuo niya. "Ano iyang hindi mo dapat sabihin sakin?" She narrowed her eyes on her son. "Nagsisinungaling ka ba sakin?"

Logan pressed his lips together, he looks guilty.

"Logan." She said in a warning voice.

Logan pouted. "Mommy, it's a surprise. Daddy said so."

Bumuga siya ng hangin saka idinipa niya ang kaniyang mga braso. "Come here, baby. Hug me."

Kaagad naman siyang niyakap ng anak niya ng sobrang higpit at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. "I love you, mommy."

"Love you too, baby." Bahagyan niya itong pinakawalan. "Now, who wants to eat breakfast with me?"

Excited na itinaas ni Logan ang mga kamay. "Me! Me! Me! I want!"

Natatawang bumangon siya saka karga-karga si Logan na nagtungo sa kusina.

With Logan in her right arm, she opened the refrigerator door with left hand and peek inside. Amethyst saw water bottle, beers, frozen meat and fish, eggs and many more. Looks like Blaze had returned from Venice with lots of Groceries. When those twins visit them every week here in the Yacht, they always carry groceries with them. Blaze and Blaze have humongous appetites.

"Mommy i want eggs and bacon." Logan said.

Pinaupo niya ang kaniyang anak sa island counter at nag-umpisang magluto. But when she turns around to give Logan the food she had cook, he was gone. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya saka inumpisahang hanapin ang anak niyang makulit at malikot na mukhang may binabalak na naman. Logan and Luther had always been partners in crime ... crime like making her happy and contented everyday of her married life.

"Logan?" Malakas ang boses na tawag niya sa anak. "Logan... nasaan ka ba?"

No answer.

"Logan. Answer me. I swear no chocolates for you for a week." Pananakot niya sa anak na mahilig sa matatamis, lalo na ang chocolate.

Pero kahit pa yata magpaulan siya ng chocolate, hindi magsasalita ang anak niya.

"Baby, come on. Where are you?" Nasa living room na siya ng Yacht kung saan mayroon malaki at malapad na flat screen TV at isang set ng leather sofa.

Umalis si Amethyst sa living room at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungo sa maliit na hallway na maghahatid sa kaniya patungo sa low deck. Nakakarinig siya ng boses mula roon.

When Amethyst came out from the small narrow hallway, towards the low deck, she heard laughter from below ... from the sea?

Mabilis siyang lumapit sa railing at tumingin sa pinanggalingan ng tawa.

There they are.

Her husband sitting on the large surf board, his feet dangling in each side. And then her son's sitting just in front of Luther in the same surf board, ang likod nito at naka sandal sa matitipunong dibdib ng asawa niya. And unlike her husband, her son's feet are flat straight on the surf board, only his hands are playing on the sea water. And in the corner of her eyes, she saw the twins on a jet ski. They were pointing at Luther and Logan.

Mas nakunot ang nuo ni Amethyst dahil wala siyang maintindihan sa pinaggagagawa ng dalawa. And then her eyes blink enumerable times as she took notice of the floating rainbow colored plastic bottles. Those bottles were knitted to each other. Kung sino man ang tumahi sa mga iyon paniguradong napagod ito. And then it hit her. The bottles are knitted to form two words, sixteen letters.

'Happy Anniversary.'

Her eyes started to water. These two really made her cry in happiness this time. Bawat taon nalang, kapag anibersaryo ng kasal nila ni Luther, palagi siyang sino-surpresa ng asawa niya at palagi iyong nagpapasaya sa kaniya. Pero iba ngayong taon, pati ang anak niya ay tumulong para surpresahin siya at pasayahin.

Amethyst saw Luther whispered something to Logan then help their son to stand up in the surf board. Hindi natatakot si Amethyst na baka malunod amg anak niya, at the age of three, Logan can already swim. Luther taught him to swim and surf and that boy stuff that sometimes made her worried. Nuong una ay natakot siya para sa anak niya, pero may tiwala siya sa asawa niya. Hindi nito ipapahamak ang anak nila. Luther loves Logan as much as she love him.

"Mommy!" Idinipa ni Logan ang mga braso habang malapad na nakangiti. He has orange floating bags around his arms. Hawak ni Luther ay beywang nito para hindi ma out-balance ang anak nila. "Happy Anniversary, Mommy!"

Then Luther and Logan said in chorus, "I love you!"

Luther shouted again. "I love you, baby!"

Logan shouted after his father. "I love you, Mommy!"

Natatawa na naiiyak si Amethyst habang nakatingin sa mag-ama niya. She can't help it anymore, she dive unto the water and then swim towards her husband and son. Nang makarating siya roon, umupo si Logan sa surf board.

"Hang in there, buddy." Ani Luther na umalis sa surf board.

Luther sank his body on the sea next to her, then he resurfaced and kissed her senseless.

"Ew! Daddy! Stop that!" That was their son.

Naghiwalay ang mga labi nila ni Luther, puno ng pagmamahal ang mga mata nito.

"I love you, Baby." Bulong ni Luther sa mga labi niya. "I love you so much. I can't live without you so you better grow old with me."

Natatawang tumugon siya kay Luther. "I love you too, Luther. And i plan to grow old with you."

Their son, Logan, squealed then lunched himself to Luther who literally caught their son and cradle Logan in his arms.

"Mommy, can i have a baby brother now?" Inosenteng tanong ni Logan habang nakanguso ang mga labi na para bang nanghihingi lang ito ng laruan.

Ginulo ni Luther ang basang buhok ng anak niya. "Sure, baby. Mommy and Daddy will make your baby brother tonight." Pilyong kumindat sa kaniya ang asawa. "Right, baby?"

Inirapan niya si Luther at hinalikan ang pisngi ni Logan. "We'll try, baby."

Suddenly, someone grab Logan away from them. It was Blake and Blaze on a jet ski.

"Maglampungan na kayong dalawa. Kami na ang bahala kay Logan." Nakangiting wika ni Blaze saka mabilis na panaharurot ang jet ski palayo sa kanila.

Amethyst sighed and looked at Luther knowingly. "You want to make him now?"

Luther frowned. "Him?"

"Yeah, the baby brother."

Understanding dawn on his face and he grin mischievously. "Hell, yeah." Then he kissed and touched her at the same time, eliciting a moan of pleasure from her.

Luther might not be a prince charming material at first, but he definitely is her happy every after. He is not a dangerous gentleman after all. He is just now a man who loves her as much as she loves him.

INIWAN ni Luther si Amethyst na mahimbing nanatutulog sa kuwarto nila. He then went to his son's room. Tulog na ang anak niya pero naroon pa rin si Blake at Blaze sa silid at naglalaro ng Super Mario.

Napailing-iling siya. "Umalis na nga kayo."

Blaze paused the gamed and looked at him. "Hinihintay ka talaga namin."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Bakit?"

It was Blake who answered. "May natanggap kaming tawag mula kay Minrod."

His eyes widen. Ano na naman ang kailangan ng lalaking 'yon? It's been years since Minrod contacted them but Blake and Blaze knew Minrod but he's using a different name then.

"Anong sabi niya?" Tanong niya sa magkambal.

"He's asking for a favor." Ani Blake. "I don't know what favor but Blaze and I will go back to the Philippines tomorrow."

Napaupo siya sa gilid ng kama ng anak. "Aalis kayong dalawa?"

Blaze sighed. "He's a a friend. We can't say no."

"Kailan ang balik niyo?"

Umiling si Blake. "Hindi pa namin alam."

"What about me? May sinabi ba siya tungkol sakin?"

Si Blaze ang sumagot. "He told us to tell you to hang in there. He just have to settle some things then you can finally go back home."

Luther's frown turns into a smile. "Hopefully soon. I miss the Philippines."

Blake and Blaze replied simultaneously. "Me too."

"Sana walang gulo na mangyari sa pagbalik natin." Blaze said in a hopeful voice.

Blake chuckled. "Maybe if someone heard this broken soul's plea... maybe it'll be uneventful."

Blaze tsked. "If Knight Velasquez is concern," It's Minrod's real name, "nothing is uneventful."

Paregong silang natawa at sabay-sabay na nagsabing 'agreed'.

THE END