His Secret Heirs

CHAPTER 1

When everything is starting to feel right that's when things start to turn upside down again.

I was awaken by a soft cry. Agad akong bumangon at rumekta sa sala kung saan naabutan ko ang limang bata na nag aagawan sa remote. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang buong silid at para na naman itong dinaanan ng bagyo. Nagkalat ang mga unan, maging ang ilang butil ng biscuit ay makikita sa lamesa, sahig at mismong upuan.

"Give me the remote," agad naman mga nagsilingunan ang mga batang akala mo ay hindi na hinihilamusan sa dungis dulot ng kinain nitong mga biscuit. Ibinigay naman ito sa akin ni Uno, nakanguso pa ang maliit at mapula nitong labi.

"Mommy!" my second son yelled as he saw me. This is Dos, ang pangalawa sa limang kambal.

"Stwap yewling Dos," singit naman ni Tres, the only girl in the quintuplets.

I just switched the channel to the cartoon channel, " Okay, that's enough. Where's your Aunty Winter?"

Sinco pointed his finger in the kitchen. I just kissed their forehead before heading in the kitchen, pumahabol pa ng request ng juice si Quatro. Pagdating ko sa kusina ay abala naman sa pagluluto si ate.

"Aga mo naman magising," she said in a teasing tone. we both know that its already passed 10 in the morning.

"Did the kids gave you a hard time again?" I asked dismissing what she said earlier.

"Not that much. You know naman how I love taking good care of my pamangkins," nag patuloy ito sa paghahalo sa nakasalang na fried rice. Umupo naman ako sa may counter while watching her.

"Should I get a nanny for them?" with that she turned to face him while her hands is on her waist.

"Sam, I said I can take good care of them. I can look after them, no need to get a nanny. Kukuha ka for what? Kaya nga nga ako nandito instead of living with mom right?" Bigla itong natahimik sa huling sinabi. She cleared her through before speaking again, "Sorry."

I just gave her a weak smile. She knows that I don't like talking about our mom. I'm still nor comfortable about her being our topiic even if its already been years since the day I left our house, " Okay. Nag-aalala lang naman ako since you're also working."

She took a quick glance at me, " We've already talked about this Sam. Okay naman na tayo sa set-up natin. I can do my work at home without going sa office, unlike yours.."

I just sighed. She's right. Unlike me, her schedule is more flexible than mine. Sometimes I'm thinking what if I took the position on mom's company? But of course I wouldn't do that. I have pride and ego as a woman. The fact that Ate Winter is also the eldest, it is already given that she must help mom's company. I must be spacing out for a couple of minutes, dahil nabalik lang ako sa sarili nang marinig ang pagtawag sa akin ni Ate.

"Sam, your son is looking for you.'Yung juice raw niya. Mag-ayos ka na rin."

I took a deep breathe before standing up and giving my son his most requested juice. I bent a little over to caress his hair, " Sorry for waiting."

He just smiled and kissed me on my cheek. Nakita naman ito ng iba niyang kapatid kaya nag si tayuan din ang mga ito sa sofa upang makahalik din sa pisnge ko. I just giggled at their cute action. This is one of the reason why I'm still grateful despite of what happened in the past.

They are my main reason why I'm still striving forward. my 5 angels.

Its already 1pm when I arrived at my work. I'm currently working at a BPO industry, tapoos ako ng collehe sa kursong BS Psychology but since I got pregnant I failed to pursue my profession. Hindi ako nakapag take ng licensure exam, but its fine with me. I still have chance to take that. Maybe sa future, but now now. I still need to focus sa ibang bagay.

Pag ka-upong pag ka-upo ko ay agad ako nilapitan ni Stephen. He is one of my co-workers, at hindi lingid sa kaalaman ko na pinopormahan ako nito. He actually bluntly admitted it to me few months ago, but like how I didn't pursue my profession I also don't have time to pursue love as of now.

" Good afternoon, Sam"

He is smiling from ear to ear. I gave him a small smile and proceeded in opening my desktop.

"Wala manlang ba greetings from my beautiful lady?" Napailing na lang ako.

"Good afternoon, Stephen."

He smiled and bit his lip, "Yown. Mukhang pagod ka na ata hindi pa nagsisimula ang trabaho. Mga bata na naman ba?"

He now then sat beside my swivel chair. I answered him without looking at him and continued setting up my work place, " Yes. Gusto sumama sa trabaho pero you know naman na hindi pwede."

I felt him stare at me for awhile before speaking, " Kailangan na kasi nila ng tatay, Sam."

I gave him a stern look which made him laugh, "Kidding. Ito naman hindi mabiro."

" I can take good care of them, Stephen. Saka kasama ko si Ate."

He brushed off his hair using his fingers and started typing something on his desktop, "Just trying my luck you know?"

I didn't even dare to answer him. I don't want him to be offended, naging mag kaibigan din kami and I'm happy that despite of finding out that I already have 5 babies he still managed to pursue me. But unlucky of him, ayoko. Ayoko pa.

Sa sobrang bilis lumipas ng oras, hindi ko na namalayan na natapos na pala ang shift ko. It was already 12 midnight and its time for me to go home. I packed my things and left the building. Hindi na ako nagpamalay sa mga kasamahan ko dahil magi-insist na naman si Stephen na ihatid ako.

I was on my way home when I noticed a drank man. Lalagpasan ko na sana ito ang kaso nga lang ay nilapitan ito ng isang taong grasa at mukhang balak nakaawan. Agad agad akong lumapit at sinita ang lalaki.

"Hoy anong gagawin mo?"

Namumula ang mga mata nito at tila nakatira ng pinagbabawal. Pero hindi ako nagpahalata na kinakabahan na ako.

"Sino ka ba? Huwag ka nga makielam dito saka teritoryo ko ito."

Nagmatigas ako at hindi ko rin alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko dahil amging ako ay nagulat sa sunod kong sinabi, " aswa ko balak mong pagnakawan manong. Baka gusto mong tumawag ako ng pulis?"

It looks like he was threatened kaya nakahinga na lang ako ng maluwag ng bigla itong tumakbo papalayo. I looked at the man lying on the bench looking so wasted. I tried tapping him on his shoulder pero umuungol lamang ito.

Natatakpan ng ilang hibla ng buhok nito ang mukha niya at dahil madilim pa nga ang paligid ay hindi ko maaninag ang mukha nito. Kinapa ko ang phone ko sa bulsa para sa flashlight. Nang makuha ko na ito ay dahan-dahan kong hinawi ang iilang hibla ng buhok nito, my soul almost left my body when I saw his face.Ganoon na rin paniniggas ko sa kinatatayuan ko. Pakiramdam ko ang kaninang mga binubuo kong pangarap para sa mga anak ko ay tila gumuho.

How come?....

K-Kailan pa?