Hello to Nyca Laine Tamayo and to Rica Mae Cariño of PHR Manila. ❤️

CHAPTER 44

HINDI TINANTANAN NI HAPPY ang panggigisa sa ama habang nagpi-FaceTime silang dalawa. Hanggang sa naisip din nito kung kailan daw nito ginawa ang anak nito at ni Henreitta. It was after her mother, Helena, left.

And she was two years old that time.

That meant she was still the eldest. Pero pareho ang edad ng anak ni Henreitta at ni Lucky.

"What the hell, Daddy?!" Happy couldn't contain her shock as she thought of the timeline. "Pinagsabay mo si Henreitta at ang mommy ni Lucky?! How dare you! Talagang ipapahuli na kita! You are a womanizer!"

Napangiwi ang ama niya. "No, hindi ako nagsasabay ng babae, princess. Nagsunod lang sila."

Pinandilatan niya ito ng mga mata. "Nagsunod, 'tapos pareho mong nabuntis?!"

Her dad shrugged. "I'm a sharpshooter?"

"Barilin kaya kita? I'm a sharpshooter too!"

Her father was still grimacing. "Princess, hindi ko naman alam na nagkaanak ako kay Reitta."

Happy tsked. "Alam mo 'yong feeling na gustong-gusto ko ng kapatid, 'tapos malalaman kong may dalawa pala akong kapatid na puro panganay sa iba't ibang babae?! Daddy, please tell me na wala ka nang ibang anak."

Nag-iwas ng tingin ang ama niya. "I don't know. I was a sharpshooter."

"Don't you use condom?!"

"Princess!" He glared at her. "Change topic! This is uncomfortable—"

"Oh? Uncomfortable? 'Buti nga sa iyo! And no, we're not changing the topic here."

Her father sighed. "Bakit binu-bully mo na naman ako, ha, princess? Hindi ka na naaawa sa akin. Sinisigawan mo na lang ako palagi." Nagdadrama na naman ang ama niya. "Hindi mo na ako mahal. Palagi kang nakasinghal sa akin. I'm so sad, princess."

Hindi niya pinansin ang pagdadrama nito. "Nagkita na ba kayo ni Henreitta? It's been a week since she visited me in the hospital."

Tumango ito. "Nakabalik na siya. Hindi pa nga lang kami nagkikita. I was busy with your sister."

"Good." Tumango-tango rin siya. "Talk to her and to my brother. Or else I will really put you in jail. Next to the fourth Arkhon."

Napangiwi ang ama niya. "Princess, naman." Nangungusap ang mga mata nito. "Ayokong makita si Reita. Princess, marupok ang daddy mo. Baka ano ang magawa ko sa kanya."

Tiningnan niya ito nang masama. "Dad, ang sabi ko kausapin mo hindi ko sinabing landiin mo."

Her dad sighed. "Princess, hindi mo pa rin ba nahahalata hanggang ngayon? Tatlo ang anak ko, lahat panganay sa iba't ibang babae. Isa lang ang ibig sahihin n'on, malandi talaga ang daddy mo."

"Finally! He admits it," sabad ni Daddy Von na nakikita niyang nakahiga sa sofa na nasa likuran ng ama niya. "Klaus! Dominick finally admits that he is horny as fuck!"

"That's good news, Master!" Boses iyon ng ama ni King.

Napailing siya. "Talk to my brother, Daddy. You owe him an explanation." She tsked again. "And as for Henreitta, kausapin mo lang huwag mong landiin. She's too pretty for you. Baka ano na namang gawin mo sa kanya."

Her dad gaped at her. "Princess, your daddy is very handsome—"

Pinatayan niya ito ng tawag, saka napailing at napabuntong-hininga. Si Blaze naman ay tatawa-tawa lang habang nakahiga sa sofa at nakaunan sa mga hita niya.

"Your dad is indeed a legend."

Happy flicked his ear. "Siguruhin mo lang na hindi ka gagaya. May lahi rin kayo, baka akala mo. Naka-two rin si Daddy Von."

Ngumiti lang si Blaze, saka hinawakan ang kamay at at dinala iyon sa bibig nito para halikan. "I love you."

Napailing si Happy, saka napabuntong-hininga na naman habang inililibot ang tingin sa kinaroronan nila.

They were in Racini's Hotel. Penthouse. Doon muna sila hangga't hindi pa naayos ang bahay nila Blaze.

Yes. It was a huge penthouse but for Team Happiness? It's still small.

The penthouse only had two rooms. Ang isa, sa kanila ni Blaze. 'Yong pangalawa, si Yrozz ang umokupa dahil doon din nito inilagay ang mga gamit nito.

So, Kane was sleeping in the living room together with King who was slowly recovering. Ayaw nitong manatili sa ospital baka raw matunugan ng kalaban at atakehin sila roon kaya naman inuwi nila ito sa penthouse.

At ayaw rin ni King na maraming tauhan ng Organósi ang nakapalibot sa ospital para lang daw dito. Mas marami pa raw ibang bagay na mas importanteng gawin kaysa ang bantayan ito.

And speaking of King, Blaze let him watch Oggy and the Cockroaches together with Kane who kept asking why Oggy or the cockroaches didn't die.

"Because they're awesome," sagot naman ni King sa tanong kay Kane.

Tumango-tango si Kane habang nagbabalat ng Kisses na chocolate at inilalagay iyon sa nakabukang palad ni King. Minsan naman ay kinakain ni Kane ang binalatan nito na umaani ng reklamo kay King.

Napailing siya.

The weirdos were back. Except Yrozz who was busy cracking Midnight's file code.

Isa na lang daw, mabubuksan na nito iyon.

Speaking of Midnight, she looked down at her husband. "Kumusta na pala ang paghahanap kay Midnight? Sabi mo ikaw ang gagawa."

"Mahahanap natin siya," sabi ni Blaze, saka nginitian siya. "Lambingin mo ang asawa mo, dali. Lambingin mo ako."

Napapailing na niyakap ni Happy si Blaze, saka hinalik-halikan niya ang mga labi nito at sa baba, sa leeg, sa dibdib hanggang sa hulihin nito ang mga labi niya at mapusok na hinalikan.

King cleared his throat. "Horny people in the sofa, there's a kid here," sabi nito, sabay turo kay Kane na seryosong nanonood.

Nagpalit na ng channel ang mga ito. They were now watching Powerpuff Girls.

Blaze tsked before getting up and dragging her with him to their room.

"Blaze! Ano ba?!"

Hindi nakinig sa kanya ang asawa. Basta hinila lang siya nito sa kuwarto nila. At nang maisara ang pinto ay agad siya nitong isinandal doon at siniil ng mapusok na halik na agad naman niyang tinugon.

Nagpaubaya si Happy nang isa-isang hinubad ni Blaze ang damit niya habang hinuhubad din niya ang damit nito.

They were touching and groping each other until they both fell on the bed.

And Blaze started romancing her naked body.

Panay lang ang daing at ungol ni Happy habang hinahalikan ng asawa niya ang katawan niya. At nang bumaba ang mga labi nito sa pagkababae niya, doon siya napaliyad at mas malakas na napaungol.

She really liked it when Blaze was eating her. It felt so good, she always wanted more.

Napasabunot siya sa buhok ng asawa habang kinakain nito ang pagkababae niya habang umuungol siya.

"Blaze... Blaze..."

Blaze didn't stop eating her until she was moaning loudly as she came.

At nang kubabawan siya nito para angkinin, pumulupot na lang ang mga hita niya sa baywang nito. Yumakap siya sa leeg nito habang sinasabayan itong gumalaw para sabay nilang maabot ang sukdukan ng pag-iisa ng katawan nila.

Sabay silang napapadaing nang mahina ni Blaze. Bumabaon ang kuko niya sa likod nito sa bawat pagsagad ng kahabaan nito sa loob niya. Hindi niya napigilang kagatin ang balikat ng asawa nang maramdamang malapit na siyang sumabog.

She was gripping Blaze's butt cheek, her nails dug on his skin as he filled her faster and harder until she came, and he filled her with his hot semen.

Napakabat-labi na lang si Happy pagkatapos siyang ihatid sa langit ni Blaze.

"That was good..." she breathed out.

"Yeah..." Blaze buried his face on her neck. "I love you, Happy."

She smiled. "I love you too, Blazey."

Umalis ito sa pagkakakubabaw sa kanya at iginiya ang ulo niya para umunan sa braso nito. "Baby?"

"Hmm?" she hummed.

"Wala pa bang laman 'to?" tanong ni Blaze, sabay haplos sa tiyan niya.

Happy chuckled. "Gusto mo magpa-check ako?"

"Hmm... kahit hindi na. Sigurado akong mayroon 'yan pagkatapos ngayon."

Natawa siya pero agad ding nabahala. "Kung may laman na ang tiyan ko kawawa naman siya. I'd been lashed and stressed these past few weeks. Baka maapektuhan siya kung nasa loob ko na siya. Oh, God... bakit hindi ako nag-iisip?"

Blaze chuckled as he kissed her cheek. "Bakit? Gusto mo na bang magkaanak tayo?"

"Oo na parang hindi," sagot niya. "Magulo pa kasi."

Kinubabawan siya uli ng asawa at hinalikan ang hubad niyang katawan.

"Gawa tayo ng baby," aya ni Blaze sa kanya at inangkin na naman siya.

And Happy just let her husband owned her in more ways than one. Pinagsaluhan nila ang init ng katawan at paulit-ulit na nagtalik. Siniguro nilang pareho nilang naabot ang rurok ng kaligayahan nang sabay silang labasan ng ilang beses.

Makatapos nilang magtalik ng ilang beses, iniwan niya sa kama ang asawa at pumasok sa banyo para maglinis ng katawan. Nang makalabas siya ng banyo, napailing na lang siya nang makitang mahimbing nang natutulog si Blaze.

Walang ingay siyang nagbihis, pagkatapos ay lumabas ng kuwarto nila. Nasa kuwarto pa rin nito si Yrozz at tulog na si King. Nakapatay na ang TV at wala si Kane. Kaya naman hinanap niya ito at natagpuan naman niya ito agad sa kusina.

Kane was looking around the kitchen like he was looking for something. Napahawak ito sa tiyan, saka binuksan ang ref, kapagkuwan ay isinara iyon at napahawak uli sa tiyan.

Mahina siyang natawa. "Hungry?"

Mabilis na lumingon sa kanya si Kane, saka tumango. "Yes." He looked at ther ref again. "Si King ang cook pero nagpapagaling pa siya. I don't think Yrozz knows how to cook so is His Highness. And you're busy... and..." Itinuro nito ang sarili. "I don't know how to cook. I have no idea how's it's done."

Napailing siya. "Ako na. Upo ka na lang."

Tahimik namang sumunod sa kanya si Kane at umupo sa upuan sa hapagkainan habang naghahanda siya ng ingredients para sa lulutuin.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagluluto nang basagin ni Kane ang katahimikan. "Lady Happy?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm really sorry," sabi nito na ikinalingon niya.

"For?"

"For betraying you."

She frowned. "But you didn't."

"Yes, but when you thought I did, Yrozz told me you changed." He looked into her eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't want you to change. I like how very trusting you are and how you show kindness and mercy. That's why got me because people I know are not like you. You trusted me and your kind to me. I don't want you to lose that. Leave the doubt and the mistrust to us. We'll deal with them. I'll kill them for you... Just please don't change. Please?"

Ilang segundo niyang tinitigan ang nangungusap na mga mata ni Kane bago siya sumagot. "Kane, what you did, it opened my eyes. Na-realize ko na dapat hindi ako ganoon. So, I forced myself to change but... here I am, trusting you again. I keep telling myself na dapat ganito ako, na dapat ganoon, na dapat hindi ako ganito pero I still end up being that me... the weak me. I told myself that I will never show the fourth Arkhon mercy but one look at Knight, naging malambot na naman ako."

"It's because that's you," Kane said softly. "That's who you are and that's what makes Lady Happiness Aravena Quinn unique and beautiful."

Napangiti siya. "And you said you're innocent. Aww, my baby is growing up. You know how praise a woman now."

Kane's eyes literally widened. "Don't call me baby. If His Highness heard it, he would kill me."

Malakas siyang natawa. "Kane, there are three meanings of baby. One, baby as in romantically like an endearment. Two, baby as in a parent calling her or his child a baby. It's an endearment as well. Parang naglalambing, ganoon. And lastly, the baby. Like literally a baby. An infant."

Kane frowned. "And which one am I?"

Happy grinned. "The infant."

Kane nodded earnestly. "Pero malaki na ako."

"Nope, you're a baby in my eyes."

Tumango uli si Kane at hindi na umimik. Siya naman ay tinapos ang pagluluto. Pagkatapos ay nilagyan ng kanin at ulam sa pinggan si Kane, saka inilapag iyon sa mesa, sa harap nito.

"Here. Eat up," sabi niya.

Ikinuha niya ito ng kutsara at tinidor, saka pinagsalin ng tubig sa baso.

"Ano'ng gusto mo? Fresh mango or pineapple juice?" tanong niya kay Kane habang sinisilip ang laman ng ref.

"Chocolate milk."

Natawa si Happy, saka kinuha ang ipinatagong Chuckie sa kanya ni King. Isinalin niya ang laman niyon sa baso at iyon ang ibinigay niya kay Kane.

"Here you go," nakangiting sabi niya. "May gusto ka pa?"

Umiling si Kane at walang imik itong kumain hanggang sa mag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.

"May naisip ako," sabi nito na kumunot ang noo. "Baby pa rin kaya ang tawag mo sa akin kapag nakita mo ang mukha ko?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Happy. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not called monsters just because of my skills alone," pabulong na sabi ni Kane, saka itinuro nito ang maskara. "I used this so people would not look at me differently."

Happy's face softened. "Okay lang ba sa iyo na makita ko ang mukha mo? Kung hindi, ayos lang din."

"You might not like what you'll see," sabi ni Kane.

Happy smiled. "Try me."

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Kane na parang kinakabahan sa gagawin bago nito inalis ang pagkakatali ng maskara sa likod at dahan-dahang inalis iyon.

Hindi kumurap si Happy habang unti-unting lumalayo ang maskara sa mukha ni Kane.

Seconds later, his face was on full show.

His deep mismatched eyes. His pointed nose. His stubborn jaw line. His flat eyebrows and his handsome face.

"I'm sorry if I'm an eyesore," sabi nito nang tuluyang maibaba ang maskara na hawak.

Lumapit siya sa lalaki at lumapat ang dulo ng daliri niya sa pahaba nitong pilat mula sa noo, pahilis sa gitna ng mga mata nito, pababa sa ilong at sa pisngi. Dalawang pilat iyon na parang hugis "X" sa mukha nito.

Pilat na parang gawa ng kutsilyo na pilit na inukit sa mukha nito.

Her heart tightened at the thought of Kane enduring the pain it caused.

"W-who did this to you?" nanginginig ang boses na tanong niya.

"I was five," sagot nito. "It's a birthday gift, from my mother."

Her lips parted open as tears swell from her eyes. "W-why would she do this to you? Why?" Masuyong hinahaplos na niya ngayon ang pilat sa mukha nito.

"She... she was violated by one of the Triad's bosses," kuwento ni Kane sa walang emosyong boses. "Nakuha ko ang mga mata ng lalaking gumahasa sa kanya. Hindi na niya nakayang tumingin sa akin araw-araw kaya naglalasing siya. And on my fifth birthday, she was so drunk and wanted to gouge out my eyes because they were evil, my eyes reminds her of what happened to her. But because she was drunk, the knife she was holding took a different path."

"N-nasaan na siya ngayon?"

"Asylum."

Umawang ang mga labi niya. "D-do you visit her?"

Umiling ito. "I did. Once. And she nearly killed herself. Kaya minabuti ko nang hindi na siya bisitahin. She's better off without me."

Her tears fell on her cheeks. "Well, we are not better off without you. You're part of our family now. Team Happiness, remember? Your face without your mask doesn't bother me. I'm sure it won't bother the rest as well."

The look in Kane's eyes, the gratitude and the happiness in their depths, it moved her.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me." The sincerity in his voice made her heart reach out to him. "In the past years, I learned that people laugh or make fun over other people's misery. It's like people's pain and embarrassment are other people's joke and happiness. That's why I hid behind the mask, so no one will laugh at how I look and no one will look at me like I'm a joke."

Hindi napigilan ni Happy na yakapin si Kane at hagurin ang likod ng ulo nito. "Someday, Kane, not just me or our family, I know, someone will accept you for who you are. With that scar on your face and your innocence. And that person will be the luckiest in the world for being with you."

He smiled. "Thank you, Lady Happy."

Hinalikan niya sa noo si Kane at hinagod ang likod nito. "Kung kaya mo na, don't use your mask around us. Kung kaya mo lang naman na at kung 'yon ang gusto mo."

Kane looked up at her. "Is it part of being in a family as well? Accepting one's bad appearance? I mean, you're all good looking... and I'm not."

Pinakatitigan niya ang lalaki, saka nginitian. "You're handsome."

"You're lying."

"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," sabi niyang nakangiti. "For me, you are handsome. Don't listen to other people. They don't know a shit about you. All they do is judge and make more judgement without knowing the real you. Huwag mo silang hayaang maapektuhan ka. Learn to love yourself, genuinely care for yourself, and then self-respect will follow, and then you will be able to know your worth as a person and as a man."

Kane nodded. "You're a good woman, Lady Happy. His Highness is very lucky to have you."

"As I am lucky to have him," she replied with a smile. "Eat up, alam kong kanina ka pa nagugutom. If you want more chocolate..." Itinuro niya ang ref. "King's Chuckie is in there. Ubusin mo. Kapag nagalit siya, akong bahala. Wala naman siyang magagawa kasi may sugat pa siya."

Mahinang tumawa si Kane, saka kumain uli.

Ginulo niya ang buhok nito bago lumabas ng kusina.

Natigilan si Happy sa paghakbang nang makitang nasa gilid ng pinto papasok sa kusina si Blaze at nakasandal.

Agad niyang nilapitan ang asawa. "Kanina ka pa ba riyan?"

Tumango si Blaze. "I heard everything. Oddly, I'm not even jealous." He tsked. "Maybe because he looked at you like you're his mom." He chuckled while looking at her. "That kid see you as a mother."

Nagkibit-balikat lang siya, saka lumapit dito. "I don't mind. Baby ko na siya. I mean, panganay natin siya."

Blaze laughed. "Ang tanda na ng panganay natin."

Happy shrugged again. "Physically yes, but mentally, he's still a kid. Except when he's in a battle mode."

Tumango si Blaze bilang pagsang-ayon, saka yinakap siya. "Well, he's a kid in my eyes anyway. Who doesn't know sex in that age? He's so innocent!"

Pinangigigilan niya ang butt cheeks nito. "Kaya be a good influence. If he sees me as his mom, then he sees you as his father. So be a good boy, okay? No horny stuff when Kane is around."

Blaze tsked. "I will be a good influence to Kane and because I'm a good influence, I'll bring him to a strip club and maybe pay some women to dance and take his innocence away—"

"Look at me and tell me if I'm happy."

Agad na ngumiti ang asawa. "On second thought, watching Tom and Jerry is better than strippers. I mean, who wouldn't choose Tom and Jerry over naked women?"

Happy glared at Blaze. "Gusto mong ipaalalala ko uli sa iyo 'yong porn magazines mo?"

Mabilis na umiling si Blaze. "No. It has been bombed and burned. Huwag na nating balikan pa."

Happy smiled sweetly. "Good. Now go and talk to Kane. Be a good influence."

Tumango si Blaze at papasok na sana sa kusina nang bigla nilang narinig ang sigaw ni Yrozz.

"Eureka! Eureka!"

Mabilis nilang pinuntahan si Yrozz, ganoon din si Kane na dala-dala pa ang plato at si King naman ay nakangiwing naglalakad habang hawak ang remote control ng TV.

"What is it?" nakangiwing tanong ni King, kapagkuwan ay tiningnan nito nang masama si Kane nang makita ang laman ng basong hawak nito. "That's my chocolate milk!"

Agad siyang itinuro ni Kane. "Lady Happy told me she got my back if you get angry."

King tsked before asking Yrozz again who was grinning from ear to ear. "What is it?"

"I got it!" Yrozz exclaimed before facing her and Blaze. "I got it! I cracked the file open! I got it!"

Masayang nagkatinginan sila ni Blaze. Pumalakpak pa siya sa saya. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's see it."

"Okay!" Yrozz clasped his hands. "Wait for me in the living room."

Lalat sila ay tumango at tinungo ang sala. Si Kane naman ay inalalayan si King habang umiinom ito ng chocolate milk.

Nang makaupo sila sa mahabang sofa, pinagsalikop ni Blaze ang kamay nila.

"This is it." He smiled. "Finally. Midnight's file."

Tumango siya, saka nginitian ang asawa. "Whatever is inside, I hope it's all worth it."

Blaze kissed her temple. "Whatever is inside, I'm just here. May it be positive or negative, nandito lang ako. Ang asawa mo na mahal na mahal ka."

Matamis siyang napangiti, saka hinalikan ito sa mga labi. "I love you."

Blaze smiled back softly at her. "Mas mahal ka nitong asawa mo."

Tumatalon-talon ang puso ni Happy sa kilig. "Alam ko."

Blaze kissed her lips again and only pulled away when they heard Yrozz's voice.

"Okay... let's do it," sabi ni Yrozz na ikinonekta ang laptop sa flat screen.

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak nina Blaze at Happy sa kamay ng isa't isa habang nag-uumpisa ang video.

Seconds passed, Midnight came into view on the monitor. No contact lens. Just pure Midnight.

Her brother.

"This is for my little sister Happiness," sabi ni Midnight, saka ngumiti sa camera. "Hey, 'lil sis... miss me?"

CECELIB | C.C.