Her Misfortune

IX. We Don’t Need Him

I did not know when we arrive until I felt weights on my lap with pinches coming to my cheeks. They are soft touches that reminds me of the twins.

“Twins.” Repeated in my mind I suddenly opened my eyes remembering that I am on my way with Albert to the twins.

“Ah!” Two cute boys’ voices are what I heard as I open my eyes.

“Mimi, you scared us!” Michael's voice said before they giggle.

I look at them from head to their legs that are resting on my lap.

‘It is their weight.’ I smiled as I see the smiling two peas in a pod in front of me.

“How long?” I said towards Albert who is standing beside the two to make sure they will not fall off.

He looks at his wrist watch before he looks at me and said “About fifteen minutes.” with a smile.

“How?” I asks as I could not remember telling him the address or the exact place aside from the city’s name.

“Your mom called you, you had your phone in vibrate in your bag at the back seat. I took it and sees your mom I answered her call, forgiveness for not asking permission.” He said apologetically.

“What is pelmission mimi?” Mark said as he looks at us.

“It is what you ask for using someone else’s things, like how you ask Michael to share his toys with you and you with him.” I said explaining to him that received a nod from him.

I lean up and kiss them both and sees my mom ahead walking with my auntie. She looks better than when Nick is still staying with her.

“Did you say thank you to uncle Albert for bringing me safe?” I asked the twins and they both nods.

“But he tires you up that you had to sleep soundly.” Michael said that shock me in so many ways.

I look up at Albert who has his hand on his shock face that soon change into happiness. I glared at him before I turn to Michael.

“That is not true, you see yesterday is auntie Lisa’s birthday, I helped her to organise her party. That is why I am tired right now since mimi got home so late.” I said explaining to them that they both nods.

“Could you both get down now so we can enter already? And I could not feel my legs anymore since I have two growing men on them.” I said lovingly while looking pitiful.

They both nod and Albert helped them to get down and so I could finally move, unbuckle myself and get down with the help of Albert holding my hand.

“Why I did not think of that crime?” Albert said teasing me as I stepped down from his car, I look at him with death glare and as soon as my feet touched the soil, I took my hand away from him and give him my elbow to his side that he needed to groan in pain and slightly folded himself.

“I might do that a little harder than I should. But who cares?” I said to myself as I let myself gets drag by the twins towards my mom and auntie who stood up and waited patiently.

I walk with the twins both in my hands as they tell me what they did today as I am absent and it is almost five pm.

Meanwhile

I look at this very strange woman walking in front of me with two kids she held hand in hand and have done it alone for almost five years now.

“I do not really care if she has kids from an unknown man. The kids love me enough to let me get close to their queen and I am sure they will never mind if I add another one in the family if ever I could get the chance to be included in their family.” Albert sigh as he walks slowly behind Jay and the kids after locking the car and get the only luggage, she brought with her.

“I like her, I like her to the point that I want to help her support the twins even though it seems like she does not need and would not want that. The only thing that is holding me back is their father who seems to came back with unknown reason.” He said one last time before he caught up with them and started tickling the twins both at the same time making them laugh that filled the whole field.

Back to Jay

Mom said that the twins have taken their snack and did their homework. That it left me nothing to do but to cook dinner while my mother emptying our luggage, auntie with her own routine and Albert with the twins doing I do not know as I could not see them from the kitchen.

After a few moments, I walk out to check at them and I accidentally hear Albert talking to the twins.

“Do you want to have a father?” he said that made my heart thump and making me stop to take another step that would fully reveal me in front of them.

“We do. Of course!” the twins responded to him.

“Would you mind if another man loves your mother enough to be your father?” he asked another one that is making droplet of sweats came out from me.

“If he could make our mimi, we do not care.” Michael said. I know they are just kids, but as much as I know about their intelligence, I knew they comprehend with what Albert is saying

“You both really love your mother!” he said and I could hear him ruffling their hairs.

“But what if your real dad comes back?” he said. It made me curious as well if they long enough to have a father that they would go and follow him even if it means leaving me.

“He left mimi befole we ale even boln. He hult mimi and left hel all by helself to laise us. If he comes back to hult hel again, we do not need him. We do not want him. We can stay like how we ale. We do not need toys that ale unnecessaly needed. We will not be a burden with mimi so he does not need to comeback.” Mark said.

It made tears roll down my eyes hearing each and every word he said even if his r turns to l. I do not care.

“Then, do not leave your mimi if someone ask you ok? Your mimi will die if you leave her.” He said that I heard sobs from the twins telling him that they do not want that and they will not do that.

I was in daze for a couple of minutes and was brought back by the smell of something burning.

I run towards it frantically and removed the burning wooden cooking spoon that is almost gone.

“Aww!” I yelled as I accidentally touch the burned part.

I am shaking my hand when I hear footsteps coming closer to me before I heard and exclamation with Albert’s voice.

“Are you ok? What happened?” he said as he continues to walk towards me and held my hand quickly and pulls me towards the faucet where he put it under the flowing water.

“I was in the bathroom and forgot that I left that near the flame.” I said as I point to the burned wood piece on the counter with my other hand.

“Will you please be careful next time?” he said with a tone mix with angriness and worries.

I see the twin behind him who looks at me worriedly.

“Uncle, it hurts. Mimi cried.” Michael said and it made me shock. I shed a few tears and knew that my eyes are reddish, but it is unnoticeable because if it is not, I would have run to the bathroom to hide from Albert.

To Albert who finally looked at me but not just ordinary look but a burning gaze towards me. I wanted to look back and see what kind of face he is making but I could not bring myself to.

I shrug his hand and pulls mine before I said. “I am fine, mimi is fine so go back and do not forget to bring Uncle Albert with you gentlemen. The dinner will be ready soon.” I said towards the twins as I still could not look at Albert.

Thankfully the two called him and he went back with them while throwing back glances at me that I had to turn my back so he would not see me.

My gaze fell on the shiny casserole lid and wanted to hit myself with it as I see my eyes not reddish but a clear shade of red.

I washed my face to the faucet and once again I hear footsteps before I heard my mom’s voice says “Are you ok?” as she walks behind me and give my back a light pat.

“I am fine mom, never been better actually.” I said as I finally face her and sees a small smile on her face.

“The twins loves you more than anything else and more than you will ever know.” She said that made me smile genuinely.

My hand is aching so mom told me that she would finish the cooking so I could finally take a bath. Feeling exhausted I agreed and went to the bathroom to take a bath after taking clothes upstairs for a change.

I removed my clothes and quickly went under the shower. Although I say that it is a farm, my auntie’s house is civilised because of Nick who wanted her to live in a better way. We are both grew up without a father because they died early making our mother closer than others.

I did my shampoo quickly before I run soap through my body.

“No more running Jay.” I said to myself as I let the water flows freely down to my body.

I knew I could never run away from this. I need to face this and him and so we could reach an agreement for the twins if that is what he wanted and so they do not have to hide just because of him.

I knew the twin’s understanding capabilities, and I know that they would understand what happened if one day I finally have the courage to tell them and I knew that it is their rights to meet him and finally decide for themselves. I know that whatever their decision will be, I will always be in it. It might as well be all about me.

I finished taking a bath and was change already with a towel in my head when I came out to find Albert waiting for me outside the bathroom.

“Ahh!” I exclaimed as I am surprised to find him there.

“God! You will be the death of me!” I said as I walk past to him.

He took a grasp with my hand and slowly turned me around.

“What is wrong with you?” I said softly.

He sighs and took a look at my hand that is now swelling before he looked at me and said “You.” He simply said before he pulls me towards the living room where the twins sits beside me as they watch the t.v. and he runs out of the house.

I massage my hair with the towel as I also watches the t.v. and laughs with the twins when he came back with a first aid kit box in his hand.

He puts Michael on his lap after he sits next to me and opens the box to take a cream in tooth paste like container. He puts some in his finger before he rubs it around the swelling part.

I look at him and so the twins, we look at him aiding my swelling burn, wrapping it in a bandage before taping the end and says “No water for a day.” He said.

“Albert dear, why do you not take a bath too so we could eat?” mom came and said out of nowhere.

“I did not bring any extra clothes.” He said as he closes the box without throwing me another glance.

“We have extra clothes here, there are some shirt that Jay used before. He loves wearing over sized clothes.” My auntie said coming out of nowhere as well.

It is true that I have left some clothes here, exaggeratedly oversized. So, I guess he could wear it for tonight.

“Wear.... it... to.....night?” I said to myself once again. I do not know why but it made me blush, the thought of him wearing those pyjamas I had before and sleep with it.

I look down hoping to hide my blushing face who seems like some teenager who got her crush to wear her shirt. I am so ashamed I could die at this moment while I hope he would say no.

“If that is so, I take your offer.” He said. He said, he finally said it. I look at him with wide eyes as I could not believe him and it gets wider as I see him smirking towards me as he walks with my auntie towards the bathroom as she tells him that I will bring the clothes later.

“Jay, will you get your biggest pyjamas?” my mom said that shock me as I see her smiling as well evilly.

I sigh in defeat and went to my room when I was here and now my room with the twins. I went through my closet and unexpectedly I found something.

I pulled it out with victorious smile. Seeing the new pyjamas that are still on their pack. I went down stairs and to my surprise, Albert is already done and just waiting inside the bathroom with his half body wrap in a towel.

I stopped on my trail, and stopped waving the pyjamas that I have now in my hand that are now wrap around me as I look, stare on his half naked body that welcomed me as soon as I reach the last step in front of the bathroom door.

His body, it is not bulky, but fit enough. With his biceps that I now understood that I could cling on them without my feet touching the ground and another me at the other side and will not have any trouble walking by the space made by his wide shoulder. I trailed him with my gaze as my heart beat goes a bit higher every inch as I track some water droplets rolling down to his chest that are wide and bumpy, I could accurately say that it is big as a cup girl.

“a cup?” I smile to the thought as my gaze continues its job, landing my gaze on his cute pink n*****s.

“f**k!” I cursed under my breath as I examine his n*****s a bit more, realizing how small it is that it is so cute.

I gulp some more as my gaze went down slowly and finally landed on his visible six pack abs that are just like muffins of how bumpy they are. I gulp once again as my gaze traces lower and lower like if am sculpting his body until to his six pack down to his pelvic bone that are curved in perfect ways that made me gasp and cover my mouth that is about to let a drop of saliva to roll down.

“Had enough? Or do I need to call police for harassment you are doing right now?” a voice came to me as I continue to daze.

“No need for the police, I would be willingly handcuff myself for y...ou.” I said and suddenly I came back to reality and my gaze that was on his body has switch towards his face that now have the smile he wore when he got a yes from me for a dinner.

I feel so embarrassed that I did not know what to do except to throw the pyjamas on his face and runs away from him. I could hear him chuckling from behind.

I walk towards the table where the twins are already sitting waiting for dinner to serve.

“Mimi are you sick? Why are you so red?” Michael said. I was shock that I look at him and stare.

“This kid has noticed everything that I am hiding.” I said to myself before I took him into my arms and tickles him. Trying to shift my thoughts away from what I just saw before I came here.

Michael kept on laughing as I keep on tickling him like there will be no more next time.

“Uncle, mimi is sick. Could you check up on hel?” Another voice that made me hold my breath.

“I am not so sure anymore if I am lucky to have these intelligent kids or my life is just about to get messier?” I said to myself ignoring what Mark just said.

“It is ok Mark, your mom is not sick, she just feels hot.” Albert said as he claims a seat in front of me.

“Hot? Should she not feel could wearing only a shirt in winter?” Michael said.

“I give up.” I said under my breath as I hear giggles coming from my mom and auntie and Albert’s chuckles.

“Sometime, our body releases warmth, that is why we feel hot.” Albert said between his chuckles.

I could not take any more than what I had. I looked up to him and give him my best death glare like I am throwing not daggers but axes on his body even to his face.

“Mom, I am hungry, can we just start eating?” I said to my giggling my who is just nudged by my also giggling auntie. They are both looking at me that I had to glare at them to make them serve the food finally.

The dinner went with Albert interviewing the twins about what they did today, what did they liked to do most of all and the things they like here.

He talks like a father who just got home from work and spending some time with the twins. I am thankful for everything that he is doing for the twins, for making them feel what it feels like to have a father to bond and talk about only men would understand.

I could not help but to smile as I look at them and remembered how they talk about the cartoon character from the one they watched before. I could not comprehend how they characterised the character as they say some words that I do not think that is right to say from something someone had work hard to produce but I really do not care that much since they are having fun.

I know how big and great these things he does for them, but I know at some point it has to stop. He is not their real father and I could not imagine him being their father.

The dinner went fast unexpectedly and it is time for the twins to brush their teeth as I did it as their routine before they finally feel sleepy and get lazy to brush after watching cartoons.

“How about we men brush our teeth together?” Albert suddenly blurted out when I was about to tell them that I will join them.

The twins liked the idea and happily went to the bathroom with Albert without looking back at me that hurts me a little bit.

“He would be perfect.” My auntie said as we clean the table.

“He is in every single way it should be but he is not their father.” I replied quite dejected that it could not be the case, it should not be.

“But I could feel he wanted to be.” My auntie said.

I sigh and said “He is not sure, he might just feels sympathy towards them or to me with our given situation.” Before I left and brought the plates to the sink where mom is already starting to wash them.

“I will go and prepare the bed for the twins.” I said before I went upstairs fully aware that I am once again running away.

I entered our room and dropped myself on the bed.

“I need to make things clearer with Albert before I decide when to face that guy.” I said to myself as I plan on talking to Albert tonight and stop this hiding game and just face that guy and talk.

I stood up and prepare the bed for the twins, putting out some books they could choose from which to read and switching on their lamps so it will not be bright enough to make them feel awake.

I left the door open before I walk down to find the men on the couch watching some heroes cartoon, only that the twins already have sleepy eyes as they keep rubbing them at the same time in sync.

I smiled at how they are really just like each other, habits, actions and thinking.

“How about we go to bed and just read some books? I have chosen good ones” I said softly as I lean on their head that are on Albert’s lap and give them kisses on their foreheads after brushing their hair off.

They stood up obediently until Mark stood up holding Albert’s hand and pulls him up.

“Honey, leave uncle Albert to watch some movies for adult.” I said to Mark but surprised to my own chosen words.

Adult movies means something for adults but as my kids knew are those movies that are too much violence so I had no worries but for Albert I am not sure so I had to look at him and check up on his reaction.

I held my breath as I covered my mouth seeing his shock expression, his eyes are wide open and his mouth as well with his jaw dropping till the floor. I wanted to laugh but I held it in, because I am sure that the twins will ask why.

“Is that true uncle Albert?” Michael said.

He stood up and smile towards them before saying “No, we four will go to bed.” That shock me this time. How could he say something like that?

“That is not true, mimi always stays awake until late, she will accompany us to bed, read story until we fall asleep and will leave us to work.” Michael said that I did not know what to say, I was confident that I left them fast asleep every time.

Albert’s POV

I look at her to see her expression change into something fun to see, being shock at one minute then suddenly turned to being dejected as she fails to do her job as a mother properly. But I could not blame her as that is what she needs to do, in fact I feel a sudden pain knowing these things that she does for them especially now that she is facing the biggest and thickest wall she will ever face in her life.

“Because your mom loves you that she wants to spend as much time as she could with you, and it just happens that kids sleeps earlier than the adults that is why your mother always do her work after she make you fall asleep.” I said defending her from whatever these kids have in mind as we started walking upstairs towards thermic room that are now dim lightened with the bedsheets ready.

They nod to what I said as the climb up to their bed. The three of them sleeps in this king-sized bed that surprised me. I never thought that it would have something like this.

“It was bought by Nick with his first salary, he knows that I love staying here and will surely come with the twins, that is why he replaced my single to this one.” Jay said as she tucked them in.

“So, here are the choices gentlemen. Please feel free to choose one.” She said with a bit excited voice as the twins obeyed her with smiles on their faces while I sit on the carpet beside Mark and she in between.

I move to the chair as soon as she starts reading the book to them. I watch her reading on them as they look up and guessed that they imagining every detail she says. I smile to the sight of them.

“A loving mother and two kids who loves her as much as she does. They look like a perfect family, if only their real father is the one sitting here instead of me. They are good kids, she is a perfect mother, even just as a girl. They do not deserve whatever they are going through right now.” I thought to myself as I look at them and listens to her soothing voice.

“They deserve, she deserves happiness.” I thought one last time until Jay came to me and made me realized that I was in daze.

“Do not sleep here, your big body will ache tomorrow.” He said while tapping my shoulder.

“Is the size to your liking?” I whisper as I stood up and stretch a bit. It really did make my body ache in just a moment of sitting on it. It fits her but not me, I guess.

“It is to every girls.” She whispers back with a mischievous smile as she walks out of the room with me behind her.

She closed the door as soon as we exited the room.

“Are you sure they are asleep this time?” I said teasing her that did not fail as I received a light punch on my arm.

“They are. You tire them enough. By the way, want some beer?” she said that shock me. If I am not mistaken, she went home drunk last night. At least that is what her friend told me.

“Sure.” I said finally grasping the chance to have a talk to her.

“Good because the night view is something to see here.” She said as she turns back to me with a smile of proudness on her face and points towards the back porch with two chair and a small table.

She runs towards the kitchen as I walk towards the porch, I took a seat and sits on it as I wait for her that did not take that long as she soon came with two bottles of beer in her hands and some nuts.

I look at her and got amazed to see how good she brought them and moves as she opens the lid.

“That is some talent you got there.” I said complimenting her as I took the bottle she handed me.

“That is what I learned for part timing as a waitress in a pub for half a year.” She said with proudness in her tone and a big smile on her face.

“I could not get a proper work when I was pregnant with the twins, and until they reached two years old when they needed less attention, so I had to do all the work I could in those little times I had. And the pub was the one I went on their first year after making them fall asleep.” She added.

I kept looking at her as she tells me this, while she looks far away, I am not sure if it was the field in front of us that seems endless, or is it the big moon that is in full shape, the stars that lighting up the surrounding or is it the sky where everything is on perfectly.

I do not know as well where am I staring at as I imagined everything that she told me just now. It pains me to know she had to work so hard to support them and to bring them to the world at the same time. She is a strong woman that deserves nothing but happiness from now on as she suffered enough.

“It is all in the past. You got through it and you make them grow into such fine men already. “ I said without a clear thought if my intention as to why I said it.

I look at her and sees a smile that somehow despite being unsure, I feel relieve that she took it in a good way.

“Albert, what do you plan for your future?” she said that shocked me.

I look away from her after seeing her head slowly turning towards me.

“I really have not think about it. For now, I just love my job, love being with kids specially the twins. How about you?” I spoke.

“I plan to stop running away, after two days, we will return to the city and I will meet to talk that guy.” She said. I kept quiet for a moment before I spoke once again.

“Would you finally tell me who is that guy?” I blurted out unconsciously that even i, myself is shock.

“Remember the guy who came with me to the hospital the night the twins got admitted?” she said. I remember that night clearly like it just happened a few minutes ago.

“Mr. Smith? Is he the father?” I exclaimed knowing that man very well.

Who would not know him if in every corner of the city he owns two to five businesses? Who is always on the news in each and every achievement he had, who is also always the talk for being single without any woman in her life that has link to him.

“How did you know him? And I am ashamed to say that I am not sure.” She said, exclaiming back at me.

“He owns the top place of business world. Who would not know him if you watch news enough.” I said facing her.

“And what do you mean by you are not sure? Did he not introduce himself?” I said.

“That is right! What nickname did their father gave you?” I added remembering that she and the father both gave their nicknames instead of their real names.

“Well sad to say, I do not watch news nor meet the owner of the shops I have worked before. And the name he gave me was Riel, but when I saw this man, he seems nit like the man I was with five years ago.” She calmly said as she brings the bottle onto her mouth and took a gulp.

“Riel? It could be him, but if he does not seem the same person, then maybe it is his brother since his name is Ariel.” I said trying to process things to my mind.

The twins are both perfect in different aspects, and their names could have the same nicknames that is would really be confusing.

“I do not care which one. I will just have a talk with him so we could reach some agreement without putting the twins in between the mess we made.” She said determinedly as she took another gulp or so I thought until it stays on her lips as her throat goes up and down only then I realized that she is taking it straight.

I am speechless in all ways unexplainable towards this girl.

“Then I guess, my future will change depends on where yours will go.” I thought to myself as I look at her drowning herself and decided to do the same.