Two

PART TWO: DIANE

My whole family is gathered today for a welcome back party. I admit I missed them but do my parents need to host a party. I mean, it's been two years since I am away. Why do they need to host a party.

"Ustedes dos se ven bien. A la vez guapo y hermoso." I said while fixing the clothes of my twins and giving them a kiss.

"Mami, ¿crees que papá estará aquí?" My daughter asks.

David again, why do you ask if your daddy will come. You're father doesn't care about you anymore, he has another woman and I'm guessing he has a family with his stupid girlfriend.

He's been lying to my face for years already. I'm really sorry to say this, may the forgiving Lord forgive me but I wish that is you have a child with your girlfriend. I curse you and I mean it.

"Ya te lo dije, tu papá está muerto". He's dead. Dead in our memories. "Él no estará aquí, hijo, hija. Tu padre no estará aquí".

I was surprised when Hellen and Michael whined and pout. What is going on guys.

"Mamá, la abuela y el abuelo dijeron que nuestro papá aún no está muerto. Él está vivo. Mamá, ¿qué estás diciendo?" Michael said.

My parents said what!? Bakit sinabi nila na buhay pa si David, patay na siya para sa amin. Wala siyang pakialam sa tunay na pamilya niya, walang hiya ang taong yan, walang utang na loob ang tanong yan.

Minahal ko siya nang labis pero yan ang ginawa sa akin. Kabaliktaran? Kabastosan? Goodness gracious, sana hindi ko nalang siya pinakasalan. Bakit ba kasi sinabi ni Daddy na magpakasal ako sa kanya.

Gago talaga ang David na yan.

"Let's not talk about that now, alright. Right now we need to greet our family. Are you excited to see your favourite uncle Carl."

They nondded. "Okay!"

Carlitos Xiao - Montes, he's my cousin. A weird 22-year-old lawyer. Hindi ko masasabi na talagang baliw ang cousin ko kasi ibang tao yan kapag nasa trabaho. Siya ang pinakabata sa lima niyang kapatid. Ang pinakamatanda sa kanila ay si ate Rose.

I carry the twins down stairs and I can already hear the voices of my family. The whole family, I expect na mag-vlog na naman si Carl kasi narinig ko ang boses niya na nag-vlog. Like seriously.

I gave the twins to my mother and my father and sit at the dining table.

"At, ngayon mga Montesion! Nandito na ang ate ko, galing siya nang Canada. Dalawang taon na siya hindi nakabalik dito sa Pilipinas, labyu ate!"

Tama nga ako, nag-vlog na naman siya. No offense ha, pero yong mga vloggers parang may White Lady silang kausap kasi nag-uusap sila pero wala namang tao. I mean that's kinda crazy.

Tumayo ako at nilapitan si Daddy.

"Can I work tomorrow?" I questioned.

I can't lay down in bed 24/7, I have a profession. I am a cardiologist and I must work in the hospital but I can't be workaholic because I have children. They need my since I am their only parent.

"Kakarating mo lang tapos magtrabaho ka? Give yourself a rest, Diane. You're doing great in running the hospital in Canada." My dad said.

I don't need rest. I can rest anytime I want, when I work I feel like I am at home, I feel like I am one with the hospital. I love it when I work because I get to help patients.

"I can rest anytime dad, just let me work tomorrow." I said.

"I know,  I know you can handle anything just like a De Villa would do but you need to rest. You know what I mean Diane."

I rolled my eyes. About my sister who died ten years ago. She was just 22 back then and she's a super-workaholic, never gets rest and due to over-working she got stroke and died. Maria is 8 years older than me.

She's not like any other, she's a one of a kind sister. Loving, caring and when me and my mother disagree she would always stand up for me. When she died I got depressed in the end I got engaged to David.

Akala siguro ni Daddy na walang mag-alaga sa akin, yan ang dahilan kung bakit pina-engage niya ako kay David. Our marriage was fine, kasi kilala ko si David siya ang anak nang Ninong at Ninang ko. But, when I had suspicions na may affair si David that's when we kept on fighting about it.

At night when I came home from work, my heart shattered when I saw him with another woman in our bedroom and that's when I decided to divorce David. No buts, no second chances. He agreed with the divorce and since my children are still below 7 years old I have full custody of them.

David disagree with the fact that I will have full custody of his—I mean MY children and I challenge him on court and yes, I won. Now, I have full custody of Michael and Hellen, I also changed their last names to De Villa, no anymore Evans.

"Pa, I can handle this. Just let me work tomorrow. What am I gonna do all day? Matulog? Hindi yan ang ugali ko dad. Iba ang ugali ko at gusto mag-trabaho. That's my life now without a husband."

My father smiled. "Lo que tú digas, Diane. La astuta doctora, como siempre ".

"Muchas Gracias, papi."

My mother who is talking with her sister stands up and clinks a wine glass using a spoon to get everyone's attention.

"Entonces, que comience la fiesta. La comida ya está aquí, todos estamos presentes. Entonces, ¿qué estamos esperando? ¡Comamos!"

"¡Comamos!" Everyone in the room cheered.

***

"Hindi kapa tapos diyan sa vlog mo, naguguluhan na talaga ako sayo. Tanghali na tapos nag-vlog kapa din. Tapusin mo yan ang vlog mo. Nakakainis ka!" Sigaw ni Rose.

The party is already finished and I am in my PJs. Yes, I know it's a little early to be in your pyjamas but I have absolutely nothing to do except to cuddle my children in the Lovesac.

"¿Te gusta aquí?" I asked my children.

"Sí." They responded.

"Mami, recordé en Canadá cuando papá nos compró así". Hellen said patting in the Lovesac. "Yo, Michael y papá solíamos acurrucarnos aquí todo el tiempo".

Your papa is not here now. You only have me, he doesn't care about you so stop mentioning about him. I hug them tighter and gave them both a kiss on the forehead.

Hindi ko gustong mabulyaw ang mga anak ko dahil lang kay David. Okay pang naman ako na wala sila tatay, my father is happy to give my children a father-figure. I don't want my children to have bad influences especially since they are the heir and heiress of two family companies from my parents.

"Mami, ¿podemos hablar con papi? Popong said na hindi naman dead si daddy. So, can we talk to him." Hellen begged.

I shook my head. "You're not allowed to talk to your daddy. He doesn't—I mean he isn't here in the Philippines. Why would you talk and search for a man who isn't here. Aren't you happy with mommy only."

"We are happy mommy but daddy is still our father. Can we meet him, mommy?" Michael asked.

"No." I mumbled quietly.

"Why?"

"Because mommy says no. If I say no, then I mean NO. Okay? You only need mommy. Daddy is not here. Didn't I tell you that he is dead. Your daddy is gone, I don't know where he is."

The twins pout. I know that it's not good for them to not have a daddy but what David did to me is unforgivable, I can't just let him see my children. Baka anong mangyari sa kanila kung makita nila si David.

"Vamos a nuestra habitación, es casi la hora de dormir."

I carry the twins and we go upstairs.

"Cepíllate los dientes, está bien. ¿Quieres que mami te cepille los dientes o lo harás tú sola". I said while giving them their toothbrush with the toothpaste already.

"Lo haremos nosotros mismos, mami". They said together.

These two, you are already grown-up, I will be sad if you will be teenagers. Time does fly fast, I wonder if this is what my parents felt when I grow-up. Watching their younger daughter grow-up quick.

"Mami, después de lavarnos los dientes podemos ver la televisión?" Hellen questioned.

"¿Qué? Son casi las ocho en punto, tienes que irte a la cama. Si no, no vas a crecer".

I wash off the bubbled toothpaste on my mouth and gurgled some water before drying my hands with the towel.

"¿Pero podemos ver mañana?" Michael asked.

"Por supuesto."

We got out of the bathroom and I tuck the twins in bed. I noticed the family picture complete with Me, Hellen, Michael and David I immediately break the frame and throw it in the trash bin.

"¿Qué fue eso?" They ask in unison.

"Nada, nada." I smiled innocently. "Entonces, vamos a dormir. Mami tiene trabajo mañana".

We went under the covers and I give them a goodnight kiss.

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