Alessia's POV

NAKAHARAP ako ngayon sa aking anak dito sa loob ng kwarto. Kanina pa ako nakauwi at hinintay ko na makauwi si Marga at Aiden dahil sasabihin ko na sa kanya ang pag-alis ko.

Hindi ako sigurado sa kung ano man ang magiging reaksyon niya, ngunit alam ko na sa huli ay maiintindihan niya ang gagawin ko.

"Mommy, don't stare at me like that. You're making me worry." Mahinang puna ni Aiden sa akin. His face is a little bit sad and thinking. "Are you sending me to the mortal realm earlier than expected?" His voice cracked and about to sob. A sudden pain in my heart flooded as soon as I saw his expression.

Mabilis akong umiling. "No. I am not. Please don't think that way, Aiden." Mabilis na saad ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit iyon ang naisip niya. He knows that he will be going to the mortal realm once he's seven years old. There are still four years remaining. "I just want to tell you something important and I hope you'll gonna understand me."

Tumango naman si Aiden. "Just tell me, Mom." He still has a sad face. Somehow, he can tell that it's not a good news.

Bumuntong hininga naman ako. "Tomorrow, I'll be going somewhere for work. I will not be able to go home for a week or more than that. I don't want to leave because you're here, but I have to." Mahinang saad ko kay Aiden. Hindi ko mahulaan kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya. Hindi ba siya papayag sa simula? Based on his reaction right now, it seems like he's not going to allow me to go.

"Okay." Mabilis na sagot ni Aiden na tila nagpapaalam lang ako na pupunta ng tindahan para bumili ng sardinas.

Napakurap naman ako. Tama ba ang dinig ko? Pumayag siya kaagad ng wala man lang katanungan kung saan ako pupunta at kailan babalik? Is this really my child?

"You're not sad about it?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Nagtataka pa rin ako kung bakit ganoon ang tugon niya. Marami akong inasahan na pwedeng maging reaksyon niya. Ngunit hindi ang ganito.

"I feel sad, Mom. But I know you're coming back and it's for your work. I know adults has to travel for many days for work. I'll just read your books, Mom. It will just be seven nights that I cannot sleep with you." Sagot niya sa akin. It was a long sentences. Hindi man lang ito nabulol kahit kaunti. Ni walang mispronounced words. It was like an adult who was talking.

"It will be more than seven nights, Aiden. But I will be back." Nakangiting tugon ko sa kanya. Hindi ko akalain na magiging ganito lang kadali ang usapan na ito. Akala ko ay may matinding pakiusapan na mangyayari. After all, boys are simple minded.

"Where are you going, Mom?" Tanong niya sa akin pagkatapos.

Hindi ko alam kung sasagutin ko ba siya, ngunit ayoko naman magsinungaling. We're transparent to each other. There is nothing that I hide from him. He even know about his father but he never talks about it. It feels like he knows my pain in the past. He doesn't even show envy to the other kids who has a completely family. When I look at him, it feels like it doesn't matter to him if his father is here or not. He doesn't care at all.

"Palace." It was one word. That simple word made Aiden lost the shine in his eyes. It went blank and even his face lost it's expression.

"You're going to that man's place?" It was a simple question, but it was laced with dislike. His forehead is now contorted with frown.

I never told him to hate his father. But somehow, he realized that the reason why we are not together because his father did something to me that made me left him. He never ask me about Elijah and he doesn't have interest to know about him.

"It's for work. We need to create a design for a colosseum and a greenhouse." Sagot ko naman sa kanya. "I'm not going there for your father. Everything will be okay."

"But I am not okay with it, Mom." Mabilis na tugon niya sa akin na ikinagulat ko. "He will pursue you." It was a statement like stating a fact.

Biglang kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya sa akin. "Aiden, your father will not pursue me. He's already married with someone else." Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ito natutunan. How can a three year old kid know about pursuing?

"You're pretty and men likes pretty people. That man is not an exception, Mom." Seryosong saad ni Aiden sa akin. That man. He doesn't even call him father.

Mas lalo akong naalarma sa mga pinagsasabi niya. "Aiden, where did you learn these things? It's not good to talk bad about other people." Suway ko naman sa kanya. I don't want him to create misconception. He was still his father even it's the end of the world.

"Mom, it's human nature. Men are easily attracted to beautiful things. There are no man who's unhappy to see pretty things." Pakiramdam ko naman ay sinabihan ako ng anak ko na hindi ako nag-iisip. Na common sense na iyon. "You're beautiful and pretty. It's impossible for that man not to covet you." He said like a grown up man. It's still unbelievable that I am hearing this from a three year-old kid.

Napataas naman ang aking kilay. "Does it mean that you'll be attracted to pretty girls too?" I know it's not appropriate to ask a three year old kid about this thing. But I just want to make my point.

"I do, but it doesn't mean I'll..." Hindi nito natuloy ang sasabihin dahil tila may naging reyalisasyon ito. "I got your point, Mom. But that man is a different point. I am better than him in many ways." Halos mapasapo naman ako sa aking mukha. It's obvious that he doesn't like his father.

"Of course you are. You're my most love, cherish and favorite person in the entire world." Tugon ko naman sa kanya. Gusto ko na tigilan na niya ang pagsasabi ng masasamng bagay tungkol sa ama niya. "But he will no longer pursue me, Aiden. It's impossible." Kumbinse ko sa kanya dahil wala na rin akong maisip na dahilan para lumapit sa akin si Elijah bukod sa trabaho ko. Not unless, he will reach me out because of Aiden. What if he will take Aiden away from me? Bigla akong kinabahan sa kaisipan na iyon. Ngunit hindi ako papayag na kunin niya sa akin ang anak ko. Wala siyang karapatan pagkatapos ng lahat na ginawa niya sa akin.

Hindi na sumagot si Aiden. Tila sinarili na nito ang kung ano man ang gusto niyang sabihin. He's still a child but he's already paranoid.

"Okay, Mom. I'll make sure he will not be able to win you over." Saad nito at tsaka biglang tumayo. "I'll help you packing your things, Mom." Pang-iiba naman nito ng usapan. Ngunit may pakiramdam ako na hindi ito nagtatapos dito. I can see in his eyes that he's not letting go of this topic. It seems like he's certain that Elijah will chase after me.

That's impossible. Kumbinse naman ng utak ko. We had a bad ending, and I no longer intend to tie the broken strings.

"Okay. Help me choose my dresses to bring there." Saad ko naman sa kanya.

Mabilis naman kaagad na pumunta si Aiden sa kabinet at namili ito ng mga damit na nagugustohan niya. He's particular with the color. He picks all the pastel colors, disregarding the design and style. But I guess, he still has no sense of style. For a kid, color is the first attraction to them.

He picked twenty dresses and they are wether pastel color, cream, or white. There is no any shade of dark colors. I would like to have a purple and blue but I let Aiden to decide.

"Why don't you pick the blue one, Aiden?" Tanong ko naman sa kanya.

"You look good in blue, Mom. I want you to be unnoticeable as possible...even though it's impossible." The last sentence is a whisper but I was still able to hear it. I snickered. Sometimes, it feels like my son is hyping over me.

"Okay. Pastel colors are the least noticeable colors." Saad ko na lang kahit hindi iyon totoo. Pastel colors are gentle to the eyes. It's a soft color for soft girls.

Natapos din kami sa pag-eempake. Dinala ko din ang mga gamit na kakailanganin ko. May mga assistant naman kami na kasama para sa pagsusukat.

Tahimik naman si Papa ngunit hindi na ito nakakunot noo. Wala pa si Lolo dahil hindi pa ito bumabalik mula sa kanyang paglalakbay. Kaya kinausap ko naman si Marga.

"Marga, ilang araw akong mawawala. Bantayan mong maigi si Aiden. Control his reading habits. Don't allow him to sleep late." Paala-ala ko sa kanya. Lalo na at sinasagot sagot ito ni Aiden.

"Sisiguradohin ko po, Miss Condor. Iingatan ko po ang young master." Tugon niya sa akin.

Tumango naman ako. That night passed like a blink of an eye. Pinaalalahanan ko din si Aiden na huwag maging pabigat kay Marga at huwag maging matigas ang ulo. Tumango naman ito ngunit hindi ko alam kung susunod ba ito lalo na at ugali na nitong sinasagot sagot si Marga na tila ka-edad lang nito.

I will just hope for the better. Sana pagbalik ko ay nandito pa si Marga at hindi biglaang tumigil sa pagtatrabaho dahil sumuko na ito kay Aiden.

Maaga pa lang ay umalis na ako. Hindi ko na ginising pa si Aiden dahil tulog na tulog ito. I don't want him to see me going since he has distaste about this trip.

Dumating ako sa bayan, dala-dala ko ang isang maleta na medyo may kabigatan. Nagulat pa si Ales nang makita niyang bitbit ko iyon at mabilis akong sinalubong nito at kinuha ang dala kong maleta.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsama ng iba para bumuhat nito? Ang bigat nito Alessia!" Hindi mapigilan na puna ni Ales. Totoong mabigat iyon ngunit sanay naman akong bumuhat ng mga mabibigat. This feels like a Louis Vuitton suitcase. It's heavy, but I have no choice.

Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya. "Ayos lang dahil kaya ko naman. Hindi ko naman yan bibitbitin patungo dito kung hindi ko kaya ang bigat." Tugon ko naman sa kanya. Natutuwa naman ako sa pinapakitang concern ni Ales. He's really a nice person since then. Dahil sa magkapareho kami ng apelyido ay parang kamag-anak na ang turingan namin lalo na at pamilya din ang turing ko kina Honey and Falix.

"Kahit sabihin mo pa na kaya mo, hindi pwedeng abusohin mo ang katawan mo sa pagbubuhat ng mabibigat." Usal nito na tila balewala ang bigat ng bagahe ko. "Kumusta na pala si Aiden? Malaki na ba siya?"

"Oo, malaki na siya. Huling kita mo sa kanya, mga anim na buwan pa lang siya nun at tatlong taon na siya ngayon." Sagot ko naman sa kanya. Dahil sa takot niya kay Lolo noon nagalit ito dahil sa pagpunta ni Ales ay hindi na ito bumalik kailanman.

Ito yung magandang katangian ni Ales, hindi ito ipipilit ang bagay na hindi pwede. Kaya naging magkasundo kami dahil wala kaming pinagtatalunan na bagay.

"Dalhin mo naman sana siya dito sa opisina. Hindi madalas na may bata sa Caracass, lalo na at miminsan lang nabubuntis ang isang imortal na babae." Saad naman ni Ales.

Totoo na hindi madalas iyon na nangyayari. Hindi ko alam ang dahilan ngunit iilang daan taon bago pa mabuntis ulit ang isang babaeng imortal. Ang iba ay hindi na nabibiyayaan. Minsan ay naiisip ko na baka kahit imortal sila, ay tatamaan pa rin sila ng menopausal period. Ngunit hindi naman iyon basehan dahil yung iba ay nabubuntis naman ulit pagkatapos ng ilang daan taon.

Kaya sa bawat pamilya dito sa Wysteria, hindi humihigit sa tatlo ang magkakapatid. Matatawag na swerte na iyon tatlo kayo sa magkakapatid dahil madalas, isa lang at walang kapatid.

"Nag-aaral na si Aiden kasama yung mga bata." Sagot ko naman sa kanya. Alam ko na magugulat ito dahil hindi pa maaaring mag-aral ang isang tatlong taon gulang na bata. Ngunit iba ang sitwasyon ni Aiden.

"Huwag mo nga akong lokohin, Alessia. Paanong nag-aaral na si Aiden, gayong tatlong taon gulang pa siya?" Hindi naniwalang saad niya sa akin. Sino ba ang maniniwala kung hindi talaga nasaksihan? It sounds impossible indeed, but it's the truth.

"Kung ayaw mong maniwala, hindi kita pipilitin." Hindi na rin ako nagpumilit pa dahil nakakapagod na diskusyon iyon. Tsaka nakarating na rin kami sa grupo. Bukod sa amin ni Ales at Khleo ay may kasama kaming apat na builders. Sila ang tutulong sa amin sa pagsusukat ng lupa.

"Alessia, excited ka na ba na makapunta sa Palasyo?" Tuwang tanong ni Khleo sa akin pagkarating namin sa grupo. His eyes are sparkling with excitement. Kahit hindi ako magtanong ay alam ko na excited na ito. Kung iisipin, ito ang magiging kauna-unahang pagkakataon na makakapunta sila sa palasyo kaya lahat sila ay hindi mapakali.

"Oo naman." Nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya. I don't want to ruin their mood by saying that I am not excited at all. This is our trip and I don't have the heart to ruin it.

"Sino ba ang hindi, Khleo? Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na makakapunta tayo sa palasyo kaya lahat tayo ay excited." Turan naman ni Ales at inilagay na nito ang aking bagahe sa loob ng malaking karwahe. Mas malaki ito kaysa sa karaniwan at sigurado akong kasya kaming lahat sa loob kasama na ang mga bagahe.

Napakamot naman sa ulo si Khleo. "Oo nga naman. Bakit pa ba ako nagtatanong?" Ngingisi-ngising tugon naman nito. "Saan na ba ang isa natin kasama?" Tanong naman nito at kung saan-saan lumilingon.

Hindi ko kilala ang ika-apat na myembro. Ngunit wala na akong pakialam kung sino ito.

Sa tanong na iyon ay may nakita naman kaming magarang karwahe na parating. Kulay itim ito at may tatak ng chancellor iyon. Napataas naman ang kilay ko dahil sa ideya na pumasok sa utak ko. Dalawa lang ang pwedeng dahilan nito. Ang Chancellor ang laman nito o ang anak nito na maaaring ikaapat na myembro.

Hindi ako nagsalita ngunit lahat kami ay nakatingin doon.

"Don't tell me, she's with us?" Mahinang tanong ni Ales sa akin.

I shrugged. Hindi pa naman ako sigurado pero iyon ang pakiramdam ko. Hindi nga nagkamali ang hula ko dahil huminto iyon sa tapat ng gusali kung saan kami nagtatrabaho at agad na binuksan iyon ng kutsero ang pintuan at bumaba ang babaeng may itim at mahabang buhok. She's wearing lavish clothing and even hair ornamentals. Parang dadalo ito sa isang kasiyahan, imbes na trabaho ang pupuntahan.

"Ilabas niyo na ang mga gamit ko at ilagay sa loob ng karwahe." Matigas na saad nito na inutusan ang mga kasamang tagapagsilbe. Taas noo itong naglakad na tila pag-aari nito ang mundo.

She's wearing a colored cream greek dress that shows a lot of skin. There are a lot of gold chains and beads, even a choker that is made of gold. Her slippers is also made of fine gold.

"Sigurado ba siya na trabaho ang pupuntahan niya?" Mahinang tanong ni Khleo sa amin.

Pareho naman kaming nagkibit balikat ni Ales dahil kahit saan banda iisipin, hindi tugma ang kasuotan nito para sa trabaho. It was like she's attending someone else's banquet and showing off their wealth.

Tumingin naman ito sa amin. She looked at us from head to toe and gave us a scrutinizing stare. I have a bad feeling about this. It's been a while that I haven't encountered people like Natalia or my sister.

"Where is my carriage?" Biglang tanong nito sa kay Ales.

Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Ales bago siya sumagot. "Ito." Sagot niya at sabay turo sa malaking karwahe.

Tumaas ang kanyang kilay na sa pagkakaalala ko ay Nicola ang pangalan. "That?" Tapos ngumiti ito. "That's a decent carriage for someone like me. Then where are you riding?"

"We are all riding the same carriage, my lady." Si Khleo na ang sumagot.

Shocked was written on her face. Hindi ito makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Khleo.

"You're kidding right? How can you...commoners has the audacity to join the carriage of a noble?" She carelessly asked. I felt pissed with her remarks. Kahit sabihin na isa siyang noble, ngunit trabaho ang pupuntahan namin. Pareho kaming empleyado kaya hindi niya pwedeng idahilan na isa siyang noble para bigyan siya ng special treatment.

"I'm sorry, my lady. This is the only carriage given by the association. We are strictly instructed that we have to ride one carriage." Kiming saad ni Khleo. Alam ko na medyo natatakot ito lalo na at anak ito ng Chancellor.

"This is unacceptable! Where is Apollo?!" Sigaw nito kaya napapatingin na ang ibang dumadaan sa amin. "I won't allow to join with commoners. This is atrocious! This is—"

"Then quit." Putol ko sa mga sasabihin niya. I am pretty pissed on how high she thinks about herself. "If you don't want to work with commoners, then why you choose a job where commoners flocks?" I did not smile. I gave her a blank stare, unshakable.

"Alessia..." pigil naman sa akin ni Khleo. Ngunit hindi ako natatakot kay Nicola. I've been through a lot in my life. I already experience quarreling with a queen, so why do I have to cower towards a noble—a chancellor's daughter who's only power is in this town?

Dumerekta naman ang matalim na tingin ni Nicola sa akin. It felt like she's going to swallow me alive from anger.

"Who gave you the audacity to insult me?!" She roared. Pakiramdam ko ay ano man oras ay aatakihin ako nito. She looks like an untamed animal.

"Is this the proper etiquette of a noble lady? How unsightly." I smiled, giving her a uncanny look. "If you don't want to join us commoners, feel free to call for a carriage. We will not adjust for you. Find your own coachman. Let's go Ales and Khleo. We cannot afford to be late for some crazy brat." Tumalikod na ako at tsaka pumasok na sa karwahe. Nagkatinginan naman si Ales at Khleo tsaka sumunod sa akin.

Narinig ko naman ang galit na tili ni Nicola. I smirked, while Ales and Khleo sat to the remaining space and made themselves comfortable.

"You're unbelievable. Hindi ka ba natatakot sa maaari niyang gawin sa iyo? Her family is powerful here in Caracass." Puna naman ni Khleo.

"Alessia, I admire your bravery...but sometimes, you need to think thoroughly your actions. One day, it may lead you to danger." Babala naman ni Ales.

Alam ko ang kanilang mga ipinupunto. Sa lugar kung saan ay pera at kapangyarihan ang naghahari, ang simpleng mamamayan na kagaya ko ay mahihirapan na mabuhay. I felt a little unsettling feeling, but I know what I'm doing. I won't do anything without a proper thought. I am not the type of person who acts before thinking.

"Don't worry. No matter how much they wanted to kick me out from my job, they won't be able to. After all, Builder's Association is Waldorf's domain. It's out of their jurisdiction." Kampanteng sagot ko sa kanila. I am not afraid, as long as it's Waldorf.

"You have a point. But I hope she's not that ill intended person, enough to hire an assassin to kill you." Ales bluntly said that. For a second, a suddenly, a hollow slowly appearing inside my heart.

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