Four years later…

I was awakened by sun lights, nakaligtaan kong isara ang bintana ng aming sillid. I felt someone stirred beside me, nang magawi ang tingin ko rito. I saw my Goddess. She's peacefully lying beside me, mahigpit ang pagkakayakap nito sa akin na tila ba wala siyang balak pakawalan ako.

I suppressed a smile and planted a kiss on top of her head I saw how her lips curved up. At nang magmulat ito ng mga mata, her emerald orbs welcomed me. Hindi na ako nagpaawat pa't mabilis na inangkin ang mga labi niya.

Tulad ng nakagawian, tinugon nito ang mga halik ko. We've been immersed to the heat that we can no longer get to stop. We made love all over again and I will never get tired making love with her, over and over again.

"Dada!" tatlong katok ang nilikha nito bago binuksan ang pinto, our lovely daughter greeted us. "I'm hungry Dada!" She added pouting her lips.

"We'll be down in a minute honey," I assured her. Agad naman itong sumunod. I look at Zannah, tulad ng dati, halos maiyak na naman ito.

Tuwing nagagawi ang babaeng anak namin sa kuwarto ay tila nagiging emosysal ito. Hindi mapigilan ang mga luha sa pagtakas mula sa kaniyang mga mata.

I wipe her tears away. "It's fine, Sweetheart." I uttered. Enclosing her in my arms, softly planting kisses on her head.

Pagkababa namin nagtungo agad kami sa kusina, agad itong naupo sa isang stool at nangalumbaba, she'll gonna watch me cook breakfast for us. And so I started preparing the food i'll be cooking for this day.

She keeps on smiling at me, hanggang sa matapos ako. After preparing the table, agad itong naupo sa p'westo niya. Napangiti nalang ako.

"Venus?" Tawag ko, "Breakfast's read---," hindi ko pa natatapos ang sasabihin ko ay nagmamadali na itong naglakad pababa sa hagdan. Kita mo ‘tong batang ‘to, basta usapang pagkain, siya ang nangunguna.

Agad itong puwesto kaharap ni Zannah, "Heppp!" ngumiwi ako ng tangka nitong kumuha na ng pagkain. Napalingon ito sa gawi ko.

"Go wake your brother up first, young lady!" Ani ko rito. She pouted her lips once again, trying to appease me. "That won't help you honey!" Sambit kong muli.

Dagli itong tumayo, "Phanes, a sleepyhead!" reklamo nito. "Can I kick his butt, Dada?" Ani nitong nagpatawa sa akin. She's been like that ever since. Nang tumango ako ay kumaripas na ito ng takbo.

Yeah! We got twins. The Gods and Goddess of beauty and life, Venus and Phanes…

Such a beautiful life!

On the next day, every one seems to be excited. We'll be having a picnic at the falls. Zannah held my right arm as she watches our twins.

"What were you wearing?" Sita ni Phanes sa kapatid nito.

Kunot ang noo, habang nakangiwi. Nakuha niya ang mga mata ni Zannah, pambihira. Pati ang kulay ng balat ay kay Zannah din. Tsk! 'Yung handsomeness lang ang naibahagi ko.

"Ano bang isinusuot pag magus-swim, kuya? Don't tell me its jeans and coats." Naiinis na tugon ni Venus rito.

Unlike Phanes, Venus got my eyes. She’s also got my fair skin. She’s got Zannah's blonde hair and beauty.

"For man's sake Venus, your fats are peeking!" Pangiinis nito bago tumakbo patungo sa falls, leaving her sister, with an insulted face. I can't help myself but to laugh, but was stopped when Venus glares at me.

"Ahem!" Tikhin ko, bago nagiwas ng tingin rito.
They're just six, pero nasa average level na ang pagiisip nila and even their heights it's way amusing.

Tsk! Tsk!

Agad na nagtampisaw sa tubig ang dalawa nang makarating kami. "Dada, won't you join us?" Phanes yells.

I shook my head. "Nope, go on dude, I'll stay with your mom," Sagot ko.

As I held Zannah closer to me, she smiles wider this time, oh my lovely wife.

We just watched our twins until the sun finally took its rest.

As we go back to our home, pagpasok palang namin. Agad nang dumiretso ang dalawa sa kanilang silid. Maging si Zannah ay hindi ko na napansing umalis na din.

Pagpasok ko sa silid ng dalawa. Mahimbing na ang tulog ng mga ito. Nilapitan ko si Venus at kinumutan ito bago dinampian ng halik ang noo. Ganoon din naman ang ginawa ko kay Phanes.

Nang matapos ay lumabas na din ako, agad akong nagtungo sa silid namin ni Zannah at magulat nang makitang wala siya roon. I search the living room and found her.

She's standing in front of the bookshelves. Matama lang siyang nakatingin roon. Na tila ba, may nais siyang kunin ngunit 'di niya maabot.

Lumapit ako rito, I enclose her in arms from behind. Showering kisses all over her right shoulder.

"What is it that you are looking at, Sweetheart?" I asked.

She removed my hands around her, and turns to face me. Agad kong hinuli ang labi niya, sa ginawang pagngiti nito. She straddled her feet around my waist and so I gladly took the path to our room, without breaking the kiss. It's just that, I can't get enough of her. Never…

Sa sumunod na gabi. We agreed to have a movie marathon. Ngunit nakatulugan nila ang panunuod, maging si Zannah ay nakatulog narin. I brought our twins in their room, and place each on their respective beds.

Phanes being a sleepyhead ay hindi nagising, unlike Venus. "Goodnight Dada! I wuvyu-," She mumbled her last words. My heart melted.

"Sweet dreams, Honey!" I whispered placing a kiss on her forehead. I turn to Phanes, and place a kiss on his forehead as well.

Pagkababa ko, nadatnan kong mahimbing parin ang tulog ni Zannah, I scoop her in my arms and took the path up to our room. I carefully lay her on our bed, setting aside some of her hair that's been covering her lovely features.

I closed in the curtains before lying beside her, agad ko itong niyakap. "I love you, Sweetheart." I whisper, right before darkness rush in.

The next morning, maaga akong nagising, agad akong nagtungo sa kusina at naghanda na. I cooked omelettes and hotdogs for Venus and Zannah, and ham for Phanes and me.

Nang matapos ihanda ang hapagkainan, nagtungo na ako sa silid ng kambal. Pagbukas ko ng pinto ay mahimbing ang tulog ng dalawa. Himbing na himbing maging si Venus, gawa ng sobrang pagod siguro. Una ko itong nilapitan.

I was taken aback, seeing her dried tears, "Wake up Honey..." sambit ko, ng makitang tumakas muli ang luha sa mga pikit nitong mata.

"D-dada?" She uttered, mabilis na yumakap ito sa akin. Pagkaraan ay naging sunod sunod na ang paghikbi nito.

"Venus—," Maging si Phanes ay nagising na rin. He was stopped when he saw me hugging her sister. He went near us.

"What is it Honey?" Tanong ko, habang hinahaplos ang buhok nito, calming her.

"I had a dream Dada hik-hik," Simula nito.

"And?" I  replied.

"She's crying Dada. I wanted to save her but she let go of my hand. She fell off the cliff, Dada hik-hik. Mommy fell off the cliff!" Sambit nito, kasabay ng muling pagbuhos ng luha niya. Even Phanes bowed his head.

"Shhhhhh! Your mom's sleeping in our room, Honey. Stop crying na." Tugon ko rito.

"Dada—,"

"Breakfast is ready, let's go downstairs." Putol ko. Binuhat ko na rin ito pababa, "Phanes, halika na." Tawag ko rito, hindi ito tumango ni sumagot. Pero sumunod din pagkatapos.

I place Venus on her usual seat, naupo na din si Phanes sa silya nito. Nanatiling tahimik ang dalawa, "Tatawagin ko lang ang mommy niyo." Ani ko rito bago naglakad pabalik sa taas.

Nadatnan kong mahimbing paring natutulog si Zannah. I walk near her, "Wake up sleepyhead." Gising ko rito, agad na nagmulat ito ng mga mata. At nang dumapo ang tingin ko sa mga labi, automatikong inangkin ko muli ito.

Bago pa ako hindi makapagpigil, I stopped. Nangingiting tumingin ito sa akin. "Breakfast's ready, our twins waiting for us." Ani ko.

Tumango ito, kaya't binuhat ko na. Pagkababa namin, tahimik paring nakayuko ang dalawa. I placed Zannah on her seat, beside me.

Nanatiling tahimik ang dalawa, "Hmmmm… aren’t you two hungry?" tanong ko rito, As I started to fill their plates with their favourites. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko kay Zannah, I place two hotdogs and an omelette on her plate.

"Dada?"  Phanes call.

"Hmmm?" Tugon ko.

"Is mom's happy?" He asked. Natigilan ako. Why would he ask a random question, all of a sudden? Can't he see her mom's smiling face everytime we're having breakfast?

"Of course Dude!" I answered. But as I glance at Zannah, she's looking at me, with those emerald orbs evident... of sadness.

Tuluyan akong natigilan, at pinakatitigan siya nang mabuti. What happened?

"What is it, Sweetheart?" Nagaalalang tanong ko rito.

"Dada?" Venus call.

Hindi ko ito nagawang lingunin, "Dada, can I ask a favour?" She uttered. Rinig ko ang panaka-nakang paghikbi nito.

Nanatili kay Zannah ang tingin ko. Kung kanina'y malungkot lang ito, ngayo'y nagsimula nang maglandas ang mga luha niya. Walang tigil ang pagbuhos nito…

"Dada set her f-free? Hik-hik..."

Napanting ang tainga ko. Natigilan. 'Di nakapag isip ng tama. Pagkaraan ay tumakas ang mainit na likido sa mga mata ko sa nadinig.

Hindi malaman kung anong gagawin. Unti-unting nanginig ang mga kamay ko. May kung anong masakit sa bandang dibdib ko.

"Dad- hik," Phanes whispered, he caught my attention, this was the first time I see him cry, and what comes out of his mouth next, shatters me into million pieces.

"Mom's g-gone."

"W-what the hell are you two saying, your mom's right her—,"

Natigilan ako. Nanghina. When I glance at Zannah, I saw none, but an empty chair.

"No!" I whispered, constantly shaking my head. "No!"

Nang lumapit palapit sa 'kin ang dalawa at yakapin ako, doon. Doon tuluyang bumuhos ang mga luha ko. I tried to reach for her, but there's nothing on the empty chair.

I withdrew from their hold and walk my way around the living room, searching for her. But the sofa beside the long one was also empty. Baka nasa labas, I step outside, but there's nothing on the rocking chair. 

"No..."

Naglakad ako pataas patungo sa silid namin, but when I opened the door, there's no one on the bed but a large pillow place on the side where she used to sleep.

I look above. There, I fell down on the wooden floor. "No, Sweetheart!"  Muling iling ko.

"Is that a dream catcher, or a talisman?"

"Uhh! Nope," she uttered, "That's a Jadeity. My kind of jade, given by my Deity..." She added, almost just a whisper.

"That Jadeity, is what makes this place exist. Its color, symbolizes glamour, the beauty of nature. It's brightness, typify nobleness." She stops only to look at me.

"Mallory, if one day, that jade becomes lightless. Will you promise me, that no matter what, you'll take good care of my home?" She asked, with a smile lingering on her lips, and a hope screaming out off her eyes.

"Dada!" Napapatakbong yumakap sa akin si Venus, I look at Phanes when he stood in front of me.

"Don't you think it's time Dada Dude? Don't you think it's time for you to let her go?"

I look at him. "Dada let mom rest in peace." He uttered. Bago lumapit sa amin ng kapatid niya at yumakap din.

Tulala akong nakatingin up to the lightless Jadeity, she's gone...

At that moment, I did nothing but to cry. The pain, it's unbearable... What's life, without her?

~~~