Chapter 31: The stigma
1535 Words
It's been more than a week since Lucio left Siquijor, and it seems like everything is working fine with his family. They are back to what they were used to. He visits them once in a while after a long week of working. Aria, on the other hand, is always on the lookout for her kids. She would never allow them to get sick. She watches their diet and their actions. It feels better every day.
"Honey, no one is allowed to stay awake late at night. That will keep you healthy," Aria said while standing by the door of the kids' room.
"Copy that, Mom!" the kids said in chorus.
"Great!" she replied, as she was about to turn her back.
"Wait, Mom!" Charm called her out for attention.
"Yes, baby?" She turns herself back towards them and walks beside their bed.
"What if we woke up because of some scary noise?" Charm asked, trying to dispute what she had told them and raise his concern.
"Then call Mommy. My room will always be open for you. You can call on anyone in the house, alright?" Aria answered, assuring her children that she would just be right there and always available for them.
"Can we just sleep in your room?" Fortune asked.
"Is there something wrong? You have nothing to be afraid of. This house was safe and Grandpa wouldn't allow anything or anyone to get hurt. Remember when there were black termites in this house? Grandpa protected us by taking us to the farm," Aria said.
"Okay, Mom, but keep your door open. Alright?" Fortune said.
"I will, now you go to sleep and have a good rest. Love you three!" she said and slowly closed the door.
She did not close the door entirely. Instead, she leaves a small opening for the kids to not be concerned. She wanted to rest early. However, she needs to wait for Lucio to call. He is demanding a daily report about what happened throughout the day. She had just laid down when her phone rang. As usual, Lucio is the one calling to check on them. She had fallen asleep during the call and realized that when she was awakened by a loud sound from the lobby just outside her room. Slowly, she walked to see what the noise was. She has seen a shadow going into the kids' room. She ran without having second thoughts. She found the triplets sleeping in silence. She came near them and felt relieved while watching over them.
"I wouldn't allow any harm to touch any of the three of you," she whispered, and kissed each one of them.
"Mom? What's wrong?" Charm said.
"Nothing. I just came to check how you are doing." She answered in a low voice.
"Are you scared, Mom?" Lucky asked.
"No. Mom is not scared. I just miss being beside you. You have all grown-up boys now," she replied and did not tell them what she saw.
She wants to keep it a secret for as long as no harm is done to her family. She has been seeing the shadows lately and nothing bad has been happening to any of her family members, but she doesn't want to disregard it. That's why she wakes up late because she watches over the kids at night. She is not telling Lucio about this because she doesn't want to make it his concern. She was thinking it was a premature incident that needed to be reported. She sang them lullabies until the kids fell back to sleep.
"It's four in the morning already. I guess it is time for me to sleep." She whispered and fixed herself to her most comfortable position.
"Mom!" Fortune cried.
She had no response.
"Mom! Help!" Fortune was shouting.
He continues crying for help. Yet, no one came to the rescue.
"Mom! I am so scared. Please help!" Fortune cried.
It was nonstop and was too loud until he almost lost his voice.
Aria, at that moment, was just looking at him like she had no plans to save him. Her emotions are blank and she can't figure out what she is supposed to do. Fortune was raising his hands, but she did not bother to extend one hand to help. In a snap, she could no longer see Fortune's body. She found herself crying, but she couldn't hear her own voice.
"Mom, wake up!" Fortune's voice.
He was beside him, smiling. He looks so healthy in his good morning habit. He always gives him kisses and stays sweet whenever he has a chance.
"What time is it, honey?" she asks.
"It is already eleven in the morning, Mom. It is almost lunch," Fortune said.
"Why did you not wake me up early?" Aria asked, looking tired.
"Because you looked so exhausted and you needed to rest, we didn't bother to wake you up. Did you not sleep well last night?" Fortune said to his mother.
"I just overslept. Where are the others?" she answered him without telling him the truth that she was guarding them.
"They are downstairs with Grandpa," he replied.
"Is Grandpa not doing anything today?" she questioned him because she noticed that it's been a few days since Alexander was spending more time with the kids than on his personal matters.
"Just a little, but he allows us to play in his home office," he told Aria.
"Okay, you better join them and I'll go after you. Mom just needs to dress up, alright?" she told Fortune.
He nodded and left while Aria was just staring at the glass window near their bed. Her mind was blank and she was just too lazy to become active that day.
"Why am I seeing shadows?" she whispered out of nowhere.
She couldn't just tell anyone because she was hesitant and they would tell her that she was going insane and out of her mind. She went to have a shower and go down to where the kids are. She has found they are playing actively. It was Friday, and it was their last day for the whole week with their private tutor. She missed their class today because she overslept.
"Hey, you look tired. What's the problem?" Alexander noticed her standing outside the door.
The door was left open so it is visible when someone passes by and vice versa.
"I just overslept but I am good. How are the kids? Are they behaving well?" she asks.
"Pretty much fine. As you can see, they enjoyed it here." his father-in-law said.
She walked around his home office, and it was perfectly organized.
"Great. I have just noticed you this, but why are you not going to the farm these past few days?" Aria asks in curiosity.
"I have been too busy. I have asked Reyes and Roberto to do things on my behalf. I can't leave my work here hanging," he replied without taking a look at her.
She tried to get a glimpse of his paperwork. She noticed that all of it was about their local business in the province of Siquijor.
"Yes?" he asked when he observed that she was looking at him.
"Sorry, I am just curious." She said apologetically.
"It's okay. If you wish to learn about the business, you can ask Lucio to teach you. It will be hard but worth it. The kids are getting bigger and they will need less attention from you. They are all boys, so for sure they can manage to take care of themselves," says Alexander.
"They are growing so fast before my eyes, and maybe you are right. Well, let's see." She answered him with respect.
"Excuse me, Madam! Head Master, the lunch is ready!" Selda announced, and the kids hurriedly ran towards the dining room upon hearing such an invite.
They were so hungry after play, while Aria did not feel any hunger at all. They dined all together. All throughout the day, it went smoothly and was joyful for the kids. When the dark comes in, Aria can feel a strange reaction before the night gets colder.
"Is there anything that bothers you, Aria?" Alexander asked her when he noticed that she looked disturbed.
"I am okay, Dad. Maybe I just miss my husband," says Aria.
"He will be home soon," Alexander assured her.
"Yeah, maybe in a few weeks. He called me up last night and said he would be gone for a month. He needs to attend a business summit in Europe. I wanted to go with him, but I couldn't. The kids need me more than he does," she said.
"That's quite long," Alexander blurted out, surprised and happy upon hearing the news.
He was thinking that the ideal time was happening in the next few days after Lucio left for that trip.
"I know, I was left without choices." She complained, frowning.
"That is fine. You have got us here," he proposed.
"Thanks, Dad!" she said.
They are talking on the terrace while watching the kids playing letter board with Mayi. She did not notice Keila, who was standing behind her. She did not see her silent rage from behind.
- Writer
