Atticus' POV

The movement of her body arching towards me gives all the golden pieces of the puzzle now sealed and mine. I know it took a long time, but it's worth it. Having her under my skin in this blissful lovemaking is the most beautiful memory I wish never to end.

Mailap siya at ilang beses ko nang napatunayan ito sa kanya. I don't chase women because it was given if you belong to a Mondragon clan. And meeting her for the first time provides all the sparks that break all the rules I have in hand.

Alam ko naman na sa simula pa lang ay mali, pero ginawa ko pa rin. I know that I will end up giving myself a hard time or, worst, broken if I fall in love with a woman like her. But I did not listen to what my brain dictated because I followed my foolish heart.

I may be foolish, but I have no regrets. This is how you fall in love. You have to take the risk.

"Gaige, darling. . ." I groan, whispering her name while kissing. Our body joints to its timeless warmth, and I love it.

"Let's make a life again. Another little one?" Pilyong ngiti ko at halik sa bahaging leeg niya. Habang abala ang mga kamay ko sa walang humpay na pagsamba sa katawan niya.

There was never a moment in my life that I forget every mark of her skin in my mind. Kilala ko na ang katawan ni Gaige. Alam ko na ang lahat sa kanya. I know she hasn't given himself to anyone except to me. And I'm sure about that.

"Atticus, please. . ." her voice plead low.

"I know, darling. I know," I said and kissed her again. I position myself, ready to take her to beautiful places with never-ending love and desires, to places where there's no one else except us.

"Let me in, darling." I smile wickedly, and she laughs a little bit. I could feel her moisture, which was turning me harder, which I could no longer control.

"How could I stop you, Atticus? Ang akala ko kasi ay mawawala ka na at susuko lang din. Pero mali ako," pikit-matang tugon niya nang maramdaman ako ng buo sa ilalim niya.

"I will never give up, Gaige. I will never, darling," I said and kissed her again. It was never-ending, and I don't think I would get tired of loving her like this.

___

"And what the hell is happening, Atticus?" Ang matalas na boses ni Mama sa kabilang linya. I smile looking at Gaige from a distance. Pabalik na kami sa isla na kung nasaan ang anak namin at ang iba. It was Diezel who fetched us using my yacht.

"Mama, I have nothing to explain to you. I don't know if you got the papers. I'm tired of fighting against Philip, and there's no fucking way that the two of us will be good after this. Hindi ko na kapatid ang lalaking iyon."

Natahimik saglit ang kabilang linya at rinig ko ang pagbuntonghininga ni Mama. I needed to tell my mother many things, but I realised I had nothing to explain. After all, I have Gaige and Arthur with me. That's all it matters.

"Hindi mo ba kukunin si Marie bilang katulong ng bata?"

Nagbago agad ang boses niya at hindi na gaya ito ng kanina. I know my mother loves the little one, but as of the moment I want to be away from the rest of them. Gusto ko muna na bumuo ng panahon sa anak ko at sa ina nito.

"No need, Mama. Gaige is a well-responsible mother to our son, and I trust her." I said, feeling proud about it.

"So when are you coming back?" mababang boses niya. At kung pagbabasihan ko ito ngayon ay tiyak nabasa na siguro ni Mama ang mga papelis na pinadala ko para sa kanilang dalawa ni Papa.

Early this morning, I told Xavion if he could send some copies for Mama and Papa while they're on Santa Carlo farm. It was the new thousands of hectares of land that Papa bought and will be developed into a country home farm.

The house blessings were on together with the farming tools as Papa wanted to develop the massive land into a pineapple plantation.

"Mama - "

"I know," she cut me off.

"Take care and send my regards to them. I talked with Philip early morning today after reading the documents that Xavion sent us. Look, Atticus, I know I have no right to judge her, anak, but - "

"Mama, I don't want to hear anything about it," I said, cutting her off the line.

"I respect you as my mother and I love you. Nothing can change that. But Mama, iba na ang pinag-uusapan natin dito. Maraming bagay kang hindi alam at wala na akong pakialam, Mama. . . What matter to me now is my son and my wife. If you want to cut ties and get me out of the will, then do it," buntonghininga ko. Napansin ko agad si Gaige na nasa gilid ko. Napalakas ko yata ang boses ko dahil mukhang nag-aalala ang titig niya sa akin ngayon.

Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang kamay niya at hindi ko binitawan ito. I'm still waiting for my mother's answer in the line as she went quiet after what I stated.

Rinig ko na lang na parang may umagaw sa cellphone na hawak ni mama at alam ko na si Papa ito.

"Son? Do what is right. Look after your family, and return to us when you are ready. I want to meet the little boy and, at the same time, your wife. Take care, son," si Papa.

"Will do, Papa. Thank you," I said and ended the call. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Gaige na ngayon ay mukhang nag-aalala.

"Come here."

I pull her body towards me and hug her tight. I kissed her forehead and fully embraced her. I have made the right move in everything and have no regrets.

If my mother will go against to this because of Philip then, I will move away from her. I know she's my mother. Hindi raw mapapalitan ang isang ina. Pero hindi ko rin puwedeng pabayaan ang babaeng mahal ko.

"Okay lang ba ang Mama mo?"

"She will be okay, darling. Don't worry." Haplos ko sa gilid ng mukha niya.

"Ikaw ang prioridad ko, Gaige. . . Ikaw at ang anak natin." Tipid na ngiti ko at hinalikan ko lang ulit ang labi niya.

She hugged me. Tight enough that I could almost feel her fears and worries. Hindi man niya sabihin sa akin ay ito ang nararamdaman ko mula sa kanya.

"I will never leave you alone, Gaige. . . Not now, tomorrow, never."

I looked into her eyes, and she seemed sad. And the only way I could comfort her was by giving her all my love and staying at her side.

___

"Mama!"

Ang maiit na boses ni Arthur ang nagpangiti sa akin at tumatakbo ito mula sa buhangin hanggang sa mabasa ang paa nito sa tubig dagat.

"My baby!" Yakap at binuhat siya ni Gaige.

"How are you? I miss you so much." Sabay halik ni Gaige sa kanya.

"I miss you too." He pouted, showing his pouty lips, wanting to kiss his mother.

"I miss you more, baby." Higpit na yakap ni Gaige sa kanya. "Kumain ka na ba? May dala akong pasalubong."

"Yes!" sayang tugon ni Arthur sa bisig niya.

I interrupted them and kissed little Arthur, opening his arms for me and wanting to be carried.

"You are getting heavy little bud." Ngiting tugon ko habang karga siya sa bisig ko.

"Did you have a good time with mommy?" He looks at me seriously like an adult protecting his mother. I stopped for a moment, and the smile on my face faded when our eyes met.

This little boy can sense what's happening between the adults. He is clever.

"Yes, I had a good time with your mother, and things are good. Do you have a problem with that?" I raised one eyebrow as I looked at his eyes, and there was no smile on his face.

He pouted a little and shook his head. "Nothing. I'm glad that you had a good time together. I like that," he cheered up.

"Did you have a good time with the two adults here?" Taas ng isang kilay ko at titig kay Diezel ngayon. Pasimpli ang ginawang pagtalikod ni Diezel na parang ayaw makinig sa amin dalawa. Napangiti si Gaige at mabilis lang na pinunasan ang noong bahagi ng bata dahil namuo na ang pawis sa mukha.

"Uncle, Dez?" Lingon ni Arthur sa kanya, at lahat kami ay napatingin kay Diezel. Mukhang magtatago yata siya, pero nauhan siya sa tawag ni Arthur sa kanya.

"Yes, little boss?" Ngisi ni Diezel. Halatang napilitan ito.

"Can we play dinosaurs later? Down that little hill?" Turo ni Arthur sa unahang bahagi na kung nasaan ang maliit na korteng bundok na gawa sa buhangin.

I smile, because I remember something about that spot. Naging korteng bundok ang buhangin na iyon dahil sa kalukuhan namin noon.

Xavion and I were drunk. Ranger, Diezel, Linus and Bryce lost the bet, and the punishment was for them to build a mountain of sand.

Matibay ang pagkakagawa at malaki ito, dahil umabot ng tatlong araw ang parusang ito sa kanila.

They don't want to lose their money. So, they decided to accept the challenge. It was fun. That was fun.

"Sure, my little boss." Salute ni Diezel sa kanya.

I shook my head and looked at Ranger's face. He laughs, facing behind Diezel, patting his shoulder. They walked ahead, and we followed them.

"Ano ba kasi ang pinag-gagawa ninyo sa bata?" Tanong ko sa dalawa.

"It's the bloody gorilla's fault," si Ranger. Nakatitig na siya kay Diezel ngayon at halata ang kantyaw sa ngiti nito.

"Oh, shut up, Reeve." Tulak ni Diezel sa katawan ni Ranger palayo sa kanya at nagharutan na ang dalawa.

Little Arthur laughs looking at the two ahead. They were like kids. Playing pretends to kick and punch each other.

I did the same and grab Gaige's hand. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay ni Gaige sa tabi ko habang karga ko naman si Arthur sa bisig ko.

The happiness I feel now completes me, which is all that matters to me.

.

C.M. LOUDEN