Her Misfortune

IV. His Motive

The lunch went well with the twins ate one and half servings of spaghetti with meat balls. You can clearly see that they liked it as they literally cleaned up their plates, leaving not even a small strand of spaghetti.

“Thank you for bringing them out.” I said to Albert as he helped me bring the twins inside fallen asleep.

“You do not have to. I enjoyed it myself making me miss my nieces that are now in Germany.” He replied smiling towards Michael that he lay down on his bed and covered him with his blanket.

“I wish you would let me take them out of course with you included.” He added looking towards me while we take steps out of the room before he closes the door trying his best to make less noise.

I look around and found my mom nowhere. “She bid me goodbye and said she is tired so she went to rest as well.” Albert said that made me worried and is about to run towards my mom's room but is stopped by his hand grabbing my wrist. “She is fine. I check up on her before I let her go. No fever with normal temperature. Her eyes are just fine as well as her heart beat so she is simply just tired.” He added and pulls me towards the living room.

“I will be seeing you soon. I guess.” He said as we finally reach the door step.

“Soon? Why?” I said in a low voice.

“You owe me dinner remember?” he said snickering that made my eyes go wide.

“Oh! That is right. You can call me whenever I am free. But just to let you know. There would be no more after that.” I said as he opens the door to go out.

“Jay, when will you stop being on your guard? I mean no harm to you and to your family.” He said stopping from taking another step out.

“Then what is it that you want? I have been wanting to know since this morning. These things you doing is not something a stranger should do to another stranger.” I said after taking a deep sigh as I finally let out what have been bothering me.

He smiled softly, looks at me before he opens his mouth and say “I want to be friends with you. Is that not enough to be a reason? Plus, I have not taken you to a formal dinner to give you ideas, I just took you out for a sandwich.” In joking tone.

I sigh and think for a moment. It is true that last night is not enough for me to have ideas and assume for something.

“Now I feel embarrassed.” I said to myself.

“And I just really like the twins. They are so bubbly cute little kids, the reason why I am a paediatric and why we met.” He added that now in his sincere voice.

“I just enjoy being with you. Like this, casual that I am having fun.” He added again in teasing tone this time.

I hit his arm after glaring at him. I guess it would not be bad to have a male friend that is not a member of my family and to top it all, I also enjoy his company, it feels just so natural when I am with him, like I have known him for a very long time.

“OK. Just friends. I would not mind having my first male friend in four years if it is you. You know I could get a discount in hospital treatment.” I said jokingly as I see the face Albert is making, like he is so afraid of me saying no.

“OK. Time to go. We have been intruding to your time since last night. It is your rest time but here you are making some friends.” I said as I push him out of the door and walk with him until to his car door.

“If making friends with you will cost me something like this, I would not mind doing triple of it.” He said as he opens his car door while giving me his cheeky smile that made me giggle.

“OK then. See you next time.” I said closing his door as soon as he got in.

“Why do I feel like you are shooing me away as fast as you can? And it is not next time. It should be soon.” He said after rolling down his car window and buckling himself while looking at me who is standing beside his car.

“Why do I feel like some wife sending her husband for work?” I thought to myself before answering him.

“I am not. I just know that you need to rest after taking the midnight shift right after your day shift. And yes, it is, it should be next time since I will be flying soon and I would not spend my free time aside from spending it with my M&M.” I said to him smiling.

“How long will it take this time?” he asks that surprise me.

“Can you not just wait? Why do I feel like you are so eager to be with your newly made friend?” I said in a bit sarcastically joking voice.

“That is not really so true. The twins told me that they can’t go out if you are not around. And because of that you being present is necessarily needed. Sorry for disappointing you.” He said in teasing tone. His last remark made me feel more ashamed of once again assuming things. Although I have intended it myself to be a joke, I still could not help to feel this way.

“If that so, I might think first if I should let them go out with you or not at all.” I said as I turn my back towards him and walk to my door which I opened and entered as fast as I could without looking back at him. I could feel his gaze but still I ignored him until I closed the door and hear him start the engine.

I walk towards the sofa where I threw myself my whole body lying on it so is my head making me stare to the ceiling and think. Think about things that I have not think for almost half a decade already.

“Where are you? Have you at least searched for me? Or do you even remember me?” I whisper to myself as some of vague recollection happens that made me stare some more to the ceiling like I am waiting for an answer.

“Dear, are you ok?” my mom's voice suddenly came that made me flinch in surprise.

“Mom!” I exclaimed as quiet as I could with my fright.

“I have called you a couple of times, you did not answer me. Are you ok?” she said explaining that made me conscious that I have been staring too much to the ceiling. But is it really just staring or is it my concentration of recalling some vague memories? I do not really know but somehow, I am glad that my mom came all of a sudden.

I look into her eyes as I held her hand into mine before saying “Yeah, I am fine. I just have something to think about. I am sorry about it.” And give her a warm smile that she returned double by hugging me.

“Do not dwell on something you should not, at least for now. The twins are happy, they love you as much as you love them. Is it not the best thing?” she said as she tightens her hug and giving a light pats to my back.

“Plus, if he really loved you, he would have found you and the twins already.” She added after pulling away from me and giving a soft caress to my cheek with her thumb while she looks at me in the eye.

“Mom I am sorry for not telling you, he would never find me or us because of something stupid I did that time.” I said to myself while I look back at her.

She knew that what happened was a one-night stand, I did say that I gave him my name but I did not say that it was a nickname without a surname.

But she is right, I guess with him being not around, or have not found me yet is a good thing, as I would not have to fight for my children’s custody as I have no intention of accepting him.

And until to this day, I have been praying to God, that I do not need any help from anyone, I will do anything and everything just to support them, be with them even if I can only call it as an average way of living.

I smile to her, one big warm smile that I have not given her for years that she sees, I only do it when she is fast asleep. I am not ashamed for bringing the twins in this world, I am just sorry that I have ruined my life that she helped me built on our own.

“You are right. Him being not around is the best thing. Mom, thank you. Thank you for everything. You know how much I and the twins love you, right?” I said and hug her quickly as my tears are threatening to roll down and let it as mom gets into my hug, I pat her back while she does the same.

“Why are you both crying?” we were so surprised that we literally jumped away from each other.

We both look towards where the voices came from and to our surprise, the twins are standing hand in hand just beside the stairs.

Not being careless, but I have trust to the twins, their ability to go down stairs, our stair that the steps are something you could say that are suitable for little kids for it being wide, not that steep and the spaces between steps are small that a girl in average height could take a few steps in one go. So, I am fine knowing them going up and down the stairs.

I look at them with a smile as I wipe my tears and say “Nothing, I just told nana that I love her second after the two of you.” While spreading my arms waiting for them to run towards me.

They knew what it is so they started running towards me. Or so I thought until they land on my mom’s arms and told her “Do not worry nana, we love you more than mimi.” In unison that took me to surprise as I look at them.

“Mimi love us more than anything and she knows we love her too. But her love is too much so we will share it to you, nana so we are both in first place of mimis love.” Mark said coming to me and claiming my arms.

I find the twins intelligence is way above average considering their age, and as a matter of fact mom convinced me last time that when they reach five, we should enrol them as kindergartens which I have no opinion against it. So, I told her we will.

“One thing is bothering me. I do not like the school near us. Not because I could not afford the cost, but because that school is prominent for rich and class A family that my worries are at the end of the twins being bullied because they came from an average family and the fact that they did not have their father.

I do not care what other people say towards me but I would die if my m&m gets hurt because of stupid hypocrite people in there.” I thought to myself as I give kisses to Mark and tickling Michael in my mom’s arms.

That would be too much to bear for me but I know I had to. My income is not yet enough to get home study them. I know I could ask some help from Nick, but what he is giving them is already too much so I do not wish to burden him some more.

“I have good news for everyone!” I exclaimed that everyone looks at me with mix of curiosity and anticipation. The faces the twins are making is making it hard for me not to smile.

“God! Just how cute they could get with those chubby cheeks even if they weigh just average.” I thought to myself as I look towards my children that making this face that I love seeing more than anything else.

“We will go picnic tomorrow!” I exclaimed that they look at me with doubts before looking towards to their nana who shrug her shoulder.

“You guys do not want to? The weather would be perfect for pick nick. Not too hot but not too cold.” I said explaining to them. The summer is already approaching its end that making the night time a bit chilly as autumn is coming.

“Really?” Mark finally said.

It made me sad to make him, them asking if what I am saying is real. I could not blame them as I have broken too many promises for them to believe me, I guess. I could not help it when work suddenly calls for emergency substitution.

“Really! Mimi is sorry for breaking my past promises, but this time, tomorrow will be a great day. I promise.” I said as I hug Mark while Michael is smiling looking at us while he hugs his nana.

“So, what do you want to bring tomorrow?” I ask them in both anticipation and fright of what their menu would be.

“First is milk!” Michael said who still could not be separated from his milk but thankfully he drinks it from the glass not from his bottle.

We all laugh with his first choice before Mark gave his first menu “Hambulgel mimi! Just a nolmal bulgel, with blead, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo and ketchub!” that made me wonder while I laugh on how he could not say yet the letter r in everything.

“Is that only? Why?” I ask him in between my laughter.

“Because you should be lesting tomollow and we do not want to tile you. So, we should just make something simple and easy. Well of coulse, the desselt is included.” He said arching both of his perfect eyebrows.

I almost tear to what I heard from my son, consideration despite all the broken promises that I have made.

“Nana can pleapale evelithing so you can sleep some mole tomollow.” He added. And this time I broke. I broke into tears that I hug him to hide, facing the other way so Michael could not see.

I regret it at times like this, I regret that they learned so early how to talk, of course, I had to ignore the r problem for now. And how early they learned to many things. That sometimes making me feel sad as well as to the thought of them growing so fast and I missing in those days because of work.

I work in one of the biggest airline company in the city that every second the runaway is always occupied and so is my schedule being the famous one for acing the interview and exam and so as in services and conduct towards the passengers.

“So, now that we have planned for tomorrow, how about we study for a bit while grabbing your afternoon snack?” I said tickling both once again as I try to change my thoughts for something.

I teach them the basic like counting and letters and some words that they need for everyday life of talking. But that is all I could give and share to them given by my schedule.

“Yeah! We can continue flom fifty to one hundled.” Mark said in between his laughter.

I am thankful as they like studying that I have no problem teaching them. I guess it is because Nick has brought them way too much educational toys that their room is look like a nursery school room.

“OK then! What should we have for snack?” I exclaimed that did not fail to receive exclamations of demands for orange juice and muffins with almonds.

Although I give them the bought ones but I bought it from a bakery which I have known since I am young that their bread and everything are nutritional enough for me to let the twins have them if I could not get time to bake.

The afternoon came to an end as it is now almost six pm meaning that I have to go to the market. I always try to make something fresh for the twins. I do stock some foods, but that is only if my mother remains alone with the twins so she does not need to go and buy things on her own and leave the twins and I do always make sure that the food sustain is just enough until I comeback and so is Nick.

I am thankful as my mother is still strong being in her late forties. She still can handle the twins even if they are handful. And thankful that mom knows very well how to make nutritional dishes as I also grew up with those.

“Mom, I will go now.” I said to my mom as I pick up my purse and ready to walk out the door with my jeans, shirt and sandals.

“Mimi, where are you going?” Michael said as he notices I am holding the door knob.

“I will buy what I need for your dinner.” I said leaning down and kissing his forehead.

“Could we not go with you? So, we could help you cally the bags.” This time came and said.

“Sorry you can’t. Since I will be quick and will not buy that much that will need help. But thank you my superman.” I said smiling to him and giving him a peck on his cheek that he smiles by me calling him superman.

“Then, we will just wait fol you and let you check this.” He said indicating his writing of numbers. They memorise the counting till one hundred this afternoon. I thought it would end with that and they will watch some cartoons but I was surprise when they ask me to teach them write it too.

“OK then. Be sure to be done when I get back ok?” I said with a proud smile to them.

“Mom I will be going now! See you later guys!” I exclaimed one last time before finally exiting from the house as soon as I hear their yell of yes.

The market is near, just a few blocks from our house that I knew will not take too long for me to arrive and get back home.

And as expected, after one hour of strolling around and scanning and picking up I can say that I am done. I have memorised every nook of the market that made it easy to find things as I have been coming here all my life and making me known for everyone in here and answering the same questions for the past four years as to how are the twins and to bring them next time. It is a wet market but everything is fresh and the surroundings is clean that I have brought the twins a couple of times with my mom to shop. That was when they are young and does not want to be left by mom only.

I exited the market and decided to go and stop by the sweets shop next to it to order something for the pick nick tomorrow and will pick it up on the way.

“Hello Jay! Hello.... you are alone today?” the owner greeted me with excitement that soon turn to sour as soon as she sees that I have not brought the twins.

“Sorry, but I have good news for you. I need something for the picnic tomorrow, I will let you decide since you know how and what the twins like. And I will pick it up tomorrow before lunch, around ten am and you have a chance to see them. Only if you do me favor to bring it to me in the car so I will not have to get off.” I said in somewhat testing tone as to my request. I am not comfortable leaving them in the car, especially with my mom who does not know anything about car or even how it works.

She looks at me before a smile curve on her face and said “Leave it to me and are you joking? I could even close the shop and would love to join you guys.” As her eyes beaming of happiness and excitement to the thought that she could see the twins. She is at the same age with my mom with one child who is a couple of years older than me. Sad to say that he did not marry anyone but God. That is right, her son is a priest. I am not sure if he is already or still in process. I never really asked as I am not interested and do not want any gossip about me interested to her son.

“Then it is a deal. Just text me the total so I could prepare the money and will not hassle you any more than should be.” I said as she nods her head and we both laugh.

Meanwhile

A car a few feet away has been parked since Jay entered the market and now is still unmoved. It has been following her from her house and will still follow her back as it started its engine while she starts taking a few steps ahead of them.

It is a quiet night as it is almost eight pm. In this street that are only full of people coming back from their work or is like her, to shop for their dinner.

A man inside has not taken Jay off of his eyes sight since then. Since checking out from the hospital this morning until they had lunch and got back home.

The man took his phone out of his pocket and dialled someone’s number.

“Tomorrow morning before ten am.” He said without greeting the other person from the other end and ended the call.

The tailing at Jay has continued until she reaches home and entered the house locking the doors already.

Having it as a sign that she will not go out again or waiting someone to arrive like the man who lives with them, they decided to call it a day and started zooming off the street leaving dust in the air.

Back to Jay

I entered the house after locking everything that should be locked so is the door of the house as I know I do not have to go out again nor someone is coming as Nick is already sailed by this time.

I found the twins on the couch watching their favorite cartoon before saying “I am back!” From the doorway.

They came to me with mom and get some bags from me. I knew they will do this so I have sorted things and made two bags weighing enough for them. I smiled seeing them both with bags of their snacks walking in front of me and mom towards the kitchen where they started going through their bags and making me proud as they put them to precisely how and where they should put them.

I did the same so is mom, when they are done, they went back to the living room where they continue watching their cartoons while mom and I cook something for dinner.

After a few moments, the dinner is ready so I call them saying “Gentlemen! Dinner is ready!” and soon enough hears footsteps in hurry coming towards the kitchen directly to the sink where they wash their hand before sitting to their seats.

They do not use their high chairs that has belt for safety, instead just a normal high chair like a bar stools as they claimed they do not need it anymore. Although when we eat outside, they had no choice but that.

We start the dinner with prayer of thanks before digging to the foods and ended it with a plate of assorted fruits as we plan some more for tomorrow’s pick nick.

The night ended with me cleaning the kitchen while the twins took their bath with mom.

I took mine as well before I went and meet them for their bedtime story that they celebrated and voluntarily lay down on their beds.

“Good night my super heroes.” I whisper as I give kisses on their foreheads when they finally making sound of sleeping so well.

I look at them with a smile one last time before I closed the door carefully and meet my mom as she heads towards her room.

“Good night dear.” She said and gave me a tight hug as I return them exactly how she gave me.

I walk back to my room and threw myself on my bed that to my surprise my eyes closes voluntarily as well as I know I have to wake up early tomorrow as I need to get the car from Nick's work.

He knows that I need the car even if he is not around. He leaves the car keys to the guards who knew me as I always went and get it. He returns home asking someone to give him a lift if I am on board or will call me to pick him up with the twins in the back.

After organising for tomorrow while my eyes are closed, I drifted quickly to sleep.