The days went on at maayos naman kami. Kagaya ng sinabi ko, sinubukan ko nalang na makuntento.

Alistair and I were both casual with each other. He always try to strike a conversation with me, sinasagot ko naman, I always answer his questions calmly and casually.

Gano'n lagi ang eksena. Nasundan din naman ang pagtulog niya sa condo but I was busy that time dahil marami akong papeles na binabasa at sa sobrang puyat ko ay sa sofa ako nakatulog. Nagising nalang ako na may kumot na and I guess Maya did that dahil madaling araw siyang umuwi noon galing sa ospital.

Mabilis lumipas ang apat na araw and when the twin's birthday came, maaga palang ay gising na kaming dalawa para isurprise sila ng cake pagkagising.

"Happy Birthday!" We said in unison, habang may kanya-kanyang hawak na cake. Isang pink na unicorn cake para kay Gab at Spiderman-inspired cake para kay Dylan.

"Thank you, mommy and daddy!" Gab went to us and hugged us both.

"Ang saya-saya po namin ngayon, kasi kumpleto po tayo."

Pakiramdam ko ay may humaplos sa puso ko nang marinig iyon. I almost got teary eyed nang niyakap sila nang mahigpit.

They were all smiles after that, syempre dahil kagaya ng napag-usapan ay pupunta kami ng EK.

When we got there, wala silang sinayang na oras at agad na nag-enjoy sa rides, halos lahat yata ay sakyan na nila at game naman si Alistair na samahan sila.

Aba, mukhang namana ang pagiging adventurous ng ama na kahit delikado ay g lang.

Natatawa naman ako habang tinitingnan sila. Ang cute kasi.

Agad na yumakap sa akin si Gab pagkagaling ng roller coaster. Akala ko ay nahihilo pero hindi naman pala, mana nga talaga sa ama.

"Here, water," I smiled and gave her the bottled water I bought.

Agad naman niya iyong ininom. Ngunit hindi pa siya nangangalahati nang bigla may dumaan sa likod niya't natulak siya, natapos naman sa akin ang tubig na nasa bote.

Nabasa ang unahan ng suot kong blouse at dahil medyo manipis ito ay naging see through tuloy ang bra ko.

"Papa, pahiram panyo!" Dylan muttered with panic. Alistair's eyes were still on my chest ngunit nalipat din ang tingin sa anak nang magsalita ito.

Agad niyang kinuha ang panyo sa bulsa niya at iniabot sa akin.

I smiled. "Thanks."

Ginamit ko ang panyo para punasan ang nabasang parte ng damit at takpan ito but he seemed so displeased while looking at it.

"Wait here, I'll just go get something." Aniya at tinalikuran kami.

I pouted. Bakit mukhang galit?

"Daddy is so cool!" Dylan beamed.

"Oo nga, mommy! He's fearless, hindi siya takot sa height!" Gab added and let out a small giggle.

Natawa rin ako. Hay nako, anak. Mukhang 'di nga rin 'yan takot sa kamatayan.

"Matapang si daddy mo e, kaya magmana kayo sa kanya, ha?" I smiled.

We were in the middle of our chattering when Alistair came back at may dalang dalawang paperbag. Binigay niya ang isa sa akin.

"Change your shirt," mahinahon niyang sabi. "Sasamahan ka namin sa CR."

Uh? Binilihan niya pala ako ng shirt. Pero parang ang dami naman yata niyang pinamili. Sabagay, baka para sa mga bata 'yong iba. Souvenier, gano'n.

"Okay, thanks." Nakangiti kong sabi.

I really mean it. Naappreciate ko ang ginawa niya. Uncomfortable naman kasi kung maglalakad-lakad ako na basa ang harap ng damit. Hindi naman kami nasa beach para maghubad ako.

We went to the CR and I changed my clothes. Isang black shirt ang binili niya sa akin na may print na queen sa harapan. Didn't know kung pinili niya ba talaga 'yong print o wala lang siyang choice.

When I went out, nagulat naman ako nang sumalubong sa akin si Gab at Dylan na parehong naka itim na shirt na rin.

"Daddy told us to wear these, medyo pawisan na rin daw po kami." Dylan spoke.

I chuckled but I almost stopped breathing when Alistair went out wearing a same shirt.

Itim na may print na King sa harapan.

Gosh, my face heated when I realized that we're wearing an effin' family shirt! Princess and Prince pala kasi ang print ng shirt ng mga bata.

Gagi, ang cute. Pero paano 'yon? Hindi naman kami tunay na pamilya?

But then, it's still adorable. In fact, I've never thought I'd love stuff like this.

"It suits us," Alistair smirked as he pulled me with the twins.

"Daddy, I want ice cream!" Gab smiled and tugged her father's shirt while walking.

"Alright, we'll buy ice cream. What flavor do you like?" Alistair gently asked.

Gab smiled. "Vanilla po, daddy! Si mommy rin vanilla ang gusto niya kaya bilhan niyo rin po siya."

Wait, what? Ang anak ko naman, dinamay pa ako. Hindi naman ako nag-ki-crave ng ice cream, lokong 'to.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. "Hindi na, okay lang ako dito, tsaka mainit. Baka mabilis malusaw kapag ako ang kumain." I almost didn't finish my sentence when Alistair's gaze suddenly fell on my lips.

Gagi, bakit? Dahil sa tingin niya ay bigla akong naconscious at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi.

He smirked. "Vanilla pala, ha? Alright, I'll get it for you, mommy." Aniya at nilampasan ako.

Pakiramdam ko naman ay namula ang mukha ko dahil doon. Is he teasing me? God! Ang sabi ko magiging casual lang ako sa kanya but how can I do that when he's teasing me? Hindi ko pa naman ugali ang magpalampas ng mga gano'n.

Kalma, Gigi. Abogado ka. Kailangan mo ng control.

When he went back, dala-dala na niya ang ice cream. Nakangisi siya nang iabot 'yon sa akin at panay naman ang kontrol ko sa sarili para hindi siya patulan.

"Thank you, daddy!" Gab smiled, nakangiti naman niyang pinagmasdan ang anak at tinanguan, ngunit pagkatapos nun ay muli na namang bumalik sa akin at tingin niya.

Damn, it was so awkward to eat ice cream like that.

"Stop staring at me," I muttered when I couldn't take it anymore. Narinig ko naman ang mahina niyang pagtawa dahil doon at saglit akong napatulala.

Fuck, kailan ko pa ba huling narinig 'yon? It was like a deja vu.

"Paano naman ako hindi tititig?" He smirked and went closer to me at agad ko namang nahigit ang hininga ko dahil doon. "Eh ang ganda mo." He whispered.

Pakiramdam ko naman ay nanigas na ako sa kinatatayuan.

He smirked. "At may vanilla ka pa sa labi," he laughed and gently wiped the vanilla just beside my lips.

"Kaya ko namang alisin 'yon," I casually said after recovering.

He nodded. "Yeah, I know. But I just want to do it for you." He smiled and I was surprised when he suddenly snatched the ice cream from my hand and licked it without warning.

"Matutunaw na e," he chuckled. "By the way, ang sarap pala talaga ng vanilla," he added before letting out a low chuckle.

Inis ko naman siyang tiningnan. "Magnanakaw ng ice cream."

He licked his lip. "Sana hindi lang ice cream ang manakaw ko, sana pati puso mo rin." Aniya saka tumayo at nilapitan ang mga anak namin na busy kumain ng ice cream.

Ako naman ay tila naubusan na yata ng oxygen sa katawan. Gosh, Gigi. Feeling teenager lang? 'Di ka pwedeng kiligin! Bawal! Corny 'yon!

When the night comes, we decided na huwag munang umuwi dahil may fireworks display pa at gustong manood ng mga bata.

Tuwang-tuwa naman sila nang magsimula ito, magkahawak pa sila ng kamay habang nanonood. Alistair was smiling the whole time he's watching them. Ako naman ay pasimpleng kinunan sila ng video.

Memories like this should be kept. Kasi baka hindi na maulit pa.

I almost jumped from where I was standing when Alistair suddenly went closer and held my free hand. Nagtatanong naman ang mga mata kong tiningnan siya.

"Bakit?"

"Thank you, Gi." He leaned closer and gently planted a kiss on my forehead.

I was caught off guard at akala ko pagkatapos nun ay hihiwalay na siya, but he remained there, in front of me, his forehead resting on mine.

"Thank you for bringing them to the world. Thank you for raising them so well. You're the best, mom." He uttered which made my face heat.

It felt overwhelming to hear those words from him.

"Oyy, si mommy at daddy, lovey dovey!"

Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro akong lumayo sa kanya nang marinig na magsalita ang kambal.

I awkwardly laughed. "Tapos na pala 'yong fireworks, tara, uwi na tayo?" Aya ko, narinig ko naman ang mahinang pagtawa ni Alistair sa likod ko.

We had a flight back to Palawan the next day, kagaya ng gusto niya, sumama si Alistair sa amin.

"Lumipat kami dito sa city 7 years ago, no'ng una kina Tita Yvette pa kami nakatira but three years ago, we finally moved out. Maliit lang 'tong bahay na pinatayo ko pero maayos naman," pagkukwento ko habang binubuksan ang maliit naming tahanan.

It's just a small bungalow type, ayoko rin namang magpatayo ng malaki dahil tatlo lang kami noon, at mas gusto ng kambal na maglaro sa garden na nasa labas. Mas mahilig kasi sila sa outdoor.

"It's beautiful," he smiled while looking around before his gaze fell to me. "It feels like home."

The way he said that was so heartwarming that I had to immediately look away to keep myself from hoping.

"Uh, magluluto lang ako. Hmm, kung gusto mo samahan mo muna ang kambal na maglaro sa labas." I muttered before opening the refrigerator.

"I want to meet Maya's family, marami akong utang na loob sa kanila, gusto kong magpasalamat." Aniya habang nakatanaw sa bintana.

I smiled. "Nasa likod lang ang bahay nila, pupunta rin ako doon mamaya."

He nodded before walking to my direction. "Tulungan na kitang magluto."

"'Wag na, bantayan mo nalang ang kambal sa labas. Pakisabi na rin, maligo na sila dahil amoy araw na sila."

He chuckled. "Okay, Ma'am."

Loko. Ma'am pa nga.

The day after that, we threw the party at a private beach resort just an hour drive from the city. Iilan lang kami dahil maliit lang naman na salo-salo, sina Tita Yvette lang, ilang kapitbahay, at ilang mga kaibigan ng kambal ang naimbita. Nasanay na rin kasi kami sa mga intimate gathering lang.

Ang kambal naman ay tila ang dagat lang ang habol, particularly the wild waves.

"Ama ng kambal? Gwapo pala talaga, kaya naman pala ang cute ng dalawa e." One of our neighbors asked.

Tumango naman ako. "Ah, oo. Si Alistair."

"Ang ganda naman ng lahi niyo."

"Oo nga e. Tsaka teka, kailan nga pala ang kasal?"

Napakurap ako dahil sa tanong na 'yon. Kasal nino?

"I mean, ngayong nakilala na niya ang mga bata, edi magpapakasal na kayo?"

What? I had an urge to start an argument ngunit hindi ko rin tinuloy at nagpasyang ipaliwanag nalang nang maayos dahil may mga tao talagang gano'n... na iba ang pananaw sa buhay.

"I would marry her not because of the twins, papakasalan ko siya dahil gusto ko at matagal nang pinapangarap."

I was shocked when I heard Alistair talk beside me. Agad naman akong napakunot ng noo dahil sa sinabi niya.

Did he just say he'll marry me? Tama ba ang narinig ko? Pakiramdam ko ay gusto kong maiyak pero ang sakit din sa puso.

"Alistair," I muttered while looking at him.

Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ng dalawang kasama sa harapan. Alanganin naman akong bumaling sa kanila.

"Ah, pagpasensyahan niyo na, mapagbiro lang talaga." I tried to laugh it off, but I was surprised when he suddenly held my hand.

"I'm gonna marry her," he announced like he was so sure of it and pulled me away with him.

Mabilis niya akong hinila papuntang dalampasigan. When my senses went back ay agad kong binawi ang kamay ko sa kanya.

I stepped back as I suddenly feared his gaze... because they were so intense, like they wanted to burn mine.

"H-Hindi mo na dapat sinasabi 'yon. Especially when I'm not the one whom you'd marry." I uttered and tried to counter his fiery gaze.

"Why wouldn't I? Totoo naman... totoo naman na papakasalan kita. I'm not gonna marry anyone, except you, Gi."

What? Eh si Isabella? Nahihibang na ba siya?

"You're marrying Isabella. Hindi ako bobo, Alistair. At okay lang naman 'yon. I'm not gonna cage you with us dahil lang may responsibilidad ka sa mga anak natin. It's my choice to have them and it's also my responsibility to raise them. Kakayanin ko rin naman 'yon nang mag-isa kaya you don't have to worry. Hindi kita pipigilan sa kung anong gusto mong gawin." I paused and looked at him sincerely in the eye.

"You're free to marry, Alistair."

May dumaang sakit sa kanyang mga mata nang sabihin ko iyon.

"Ang sakit mo naman, why do you keep on pushing me away, Gi?" He muttered, pain evident in his voice.

"I'm not pushing you away, I am just telling the truth. Hindi kita kailanman pagbabawalan sa mga anak natin because they're your flesh and blood. Ang sinasabi ko lang ay ayaw kitang ikulong sa amin. Kasi hindi naman porke't may anak ka sa akin ay required nang pakasalan mo ako."

He shook his head and looked up. "Paano kung gusto kong mabilanggo?"

"You're getting married! Akala mo ba hindi ko kayo nakita no'ng nakaraan ni Isabella! Pwes, I saw you two! Ang saya-saya niyo nga habang nagtatawanan! Kaya okay lang, okay lang talaga." I tried to smile dahil dapat ay okay lang talaga, dapat masaya ako.

"What? You saw us? Wait, let me explain, Gi. That meeting doesn't mean anything. Nakipagkita lang ako sa kanya to say something." He explained and I couldn't get why he was explaining, hindi naman kasi ako humihingi ng explanation e.

"Please..." he muttered and held my hand which made me flinch.

"Alistair, okay lang talaga."

"No, it's not. I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I want you to know na wala akong nararamdaman sa kanya. Hindi ko siya gusto, she's just a friend!"

What? Naningkit ang mata ko dahil sa inis.

"But you intend to marry her? Ano 'yon? Gaguhan?" I laughed sarcastically.

"No, it's not! I have my reasons and she has her reasons too." Muli niyang hinuli ang dalawang kamay ko at ikinulong ito sa malapad niyang palad.

"Ikaw lang ang gusto kong pakasalan, Gi. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, ikaw lang." he muttered and tried to cage me in his arms.

After hearing that, it's as if my heart melted and the last string of control I had dissipated. Gusto kong maniwala nalang.

"When you came into my life, I was fixed, but when you left, pakiramdam ko ay mas lalo akong nasira. It was so hard but whenever I think that you'll come back, nagkakaroon ako ng pag-asa. I thought you left me because I was too messed up, that's why I tried changing myself, I tried going to the psychiatrist to get myself treated. I tried to become a better person, Gi." He paused and a tear fell from his eyes.

"I waited for you, Gi. Habang hinihintay kita, sinubukan kong ayusin ang sarili ko. Pero dumating din sa punto na napagod ako, sinubukan kong magmahal nalang ng iba at huwag nang maghintay pa. But then, no matter how hard I tried to... ikaw pa rin e."

Tears fell from my eyes. Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. Because what he said mirrors my own feelings.

Kahit matagal na, siya pa rin e.

"Ikaw... ikaw pa rin ang pangarap kong pakasalan, Gi." He uttered with his teary eyes as he held my hand, and pulled me closer to him.

"Ikaw lang ang lagi kong mamahalin." He whispered before gently pressing his lips onto mine.

The cold wind blew as we kissed and our hair swayed with it. It was such a perfect scenery... but I just couldn't prolong it.

I pushed him until I still could.

"I'm sorry, I-I can't marry you." Hirap kong sabi bago ko siya tinalikuran.