Unexpected Visitors

Nakakalayo na silang dalawa ni Alex at Than sa school ng hindi man lang nag-uusap-usap. May ibang taong napapasulyap pa kay Than saka kay Alex at sa kamay nilang magka-holding hands. They got envious by her.

Medyo nakalayo-layo na sila ng nilalakad nang mapansin ni Alex na hindi pa sila sumasakay. Magtatanong na sana siya dito nang tumingin sa kanya si Than at sinagot ang kanina pa niya gustong itanong dito.

"I forgot to tell you. I did not bring the car."

A question look appeared on her face.

"I just want to walk with you for a while," he continued.

Alex chuckle as she hugged him from behind and started to walk again. They both strolled along the street and talked happily with each other.

May nakitang nagbebenta ng mga bulaklak si Alex na ikinatigil niya. Kumalas siya kay Than at naglakad papasok doon. Than just went after her.

Alex bought a bouquet of red roses. Than curiously looked at the flower in her hand. "This is for you. I love you, Than, in case you forgot it," she whispered in his ear and slightly bit it. As soon as she hands him the roses and heard what she said, he chuckled. The owner also saw these and giggled.

"I've never heard of a girl giving her boyfriend a flowers."

"Then I'll have to be the first," she smiled.

Thanatos received the bouquet of red roses. He then brushed her cheek and pulled her into his embrace. After that, they continue strolling again.

Nakarating sila sa may playground na malapit na sa bahay nila. Maraming mga batang naglalaro doon na ikinangiti naman ni Alex. Habang naglalakad silang dalawa, may bolang papalapit kay Alex at maaaring tumama sa mukha niya. Nanlalaking napatingin dito si Alex ngunit agad din itong nasalo ni Than ng kanan niyang kamay ng wala man lang kahirap-hirap.

May lumapit sa kanilang batang babae na nakasuot ng pink na cap. Medyo nawawala na ang gulat sa mukha ni Alex at tumingin sa bata.

"Mister, can I get my ball?" sabi ng bata habang nakatitig kay Than.

"You should be careful next time, sweetheart. You almost hit her by your ball," nakangiti namang sabi ng isang papalapit na babae na mukhang ina ng batang babae.

"I'm sorry," the little girl apologized as she looked to Alex innocently. She's too cute and pretty yet her face looked pale.

"Pasensiya na sa inyong dalawa sa anak ko," pagpapaumanhin ng ina ng batang babae kina Alex at Than.

Binigay na ni Than ang bola doon sa batang babae.

"May sakit po ba siya?" wala sa sariling tanong ni Alex sa ina habang nakatitig sa batang babae na nagpatuloy na sa paglalaro.

Tumango naman ang ina na halatang maluluha na. "Yes. She has a brain cancer," aniya.

Napatingin naman si Alex kay Than na nakatitig dun sa bata. Napabuntong-hining na lamang siya saka tumingin sa ina ng batang babae. "Sige po. Mauuna na po kami," sabi ni Alex dito.

Ngumiti naman ito sa kanya saka siya tumingin doon sa batang babae na nakatingin na rin sa kanya. "Take good care of yourself, okay? A good girl should be strong," aniya.

"Thank you, Ate. I will," sagot nito saka ngumiti ng pagak.

Umalis na rin silang dalawa doon. Hindi na nila matanaw ang playground nang tumigil si Alex at tumingin kay Than.

"Tell me..." Her voice was low and sad. "Malapit na siya."

Hindi sumagot si Than. Instead, he pulled her into his embrace to show his comfort. He hate it. He hate watching his woman got sad. And the fact that it is because of him made his heart ache.

"Stop worrying, please," he whispered to her.

"I understand," she just answered and looked up to see his face as she force a smile.

Thanatos plant a kiss to her lips. It's getting dark and people was already inside their houses so no one saw what they're doing. After their intimate kiss, Alex hugged him as she bite him in his chest.

Than groaned but a small smile still formed on his lips.

"Tss. Alam kong hindi ka nasaktan." Humiwalay na sila sa pagkakayakapan at tumingin si Alex dito na nakanguso.

"But my heart ache," he rebutted innocently.

Napailing-iling na lang si Alex saka na niya ito hinila pauwi hanggang sa nakarating na rin sila.

Ang bahay na parehong tinitirahan nila ay pag-aari ng pamilya ni Alex. Nag-iisa lang siyang anak at tanging ama lang niya ang natira sa kanya ngunit may iba na itong pamilya dahil matagal na ng pumanaw ang kanyang ina dahil sa isang aksidente. While Than own companies from different branch but he is not the one who's managing them. May katiwala siyang inatasan para dito.

Habang papasok sila sa may gate ng bahay, bigla silang napahinto nang may biglang isang tao na naka-all black tuxedo na bigla na lang lumitaw malapit sa kanila. Masama namang tumingin si Than dito kaya agad niyang tinago si Alex sa likod niya.

"Sino siya?" bulong na tanong ni Alex kay Than habang pilit na tumitingin doon sa lalaki. Napakunot ang noo niya nang makita niya ang itsura nito dahil sa ilaw sa kanilang labas. Parang magkahawig sila ni Than ngunit magkaiba ang expression nila. Si Than, may blankong expression ngunit ito, nakakalito kung nakangiti ba o nakangisi na parang may binabalak na masama.

"It's been a long time, my dear twin brother," wika nito na ikinakunot lalo ng noo ni Alex.

Than has a twin brother!

"What the hell are you doing here, Hypnos?" Thanatos asked coldly.

"H-Hypnos?" wala sa sariling tanong ni Alex.

Naglakad naman ito palapit sa pwesto nilang dalawa.

"Thanatos... Thanatos... Is that how you greet your brother?"

"Stop fooling around Hypnos and answer my damn question."

"What do you think my reason would be, Thanatos?"

Than stared intently at him with no emotion written in his face. But Alex interrupt. Umalis siya sa likod ni Than at lumapit kay Hypnos. Mapanuri ang kanyang mga mata habang nakatingin dito.

"Hindi ko alam na may kambal pala si Than. Well, it's pleasure to meet you. By the way, I'm Alex."

Hypnos kneeled his right knee as he reached her right hand and tilted his head to kiss the back of her hand. Medyo nagulat sa kanyang ginawa si Alex pero ngumiti lang si Hypnos.

Before he could speak, Alex was already on Than's embrace snatching away from him.

In that instant, a strong murderous intent burst from Than's gaze. "I'm asking you again Hypnos, what are you doing here? If you have nothing important to say, go back where you came from," he said. Even his voice were cold and eerie.

"Calm down, Than. He's your brother, right?" Alex tried to stopped him from shooing his brother. "Why don't you welcome him instead?"

Napatitig na lang si Than sa kanya. Hindi alam ni Alex kung ano ang iniisip nito kaya umalis siya sa pagkakayakap nito. She kiss him in his lips to assure him and to calm him too. Hypnos just sneered inside to what he just have seen. He didn't expect his brother to be this childish when he is jealous.

Napangisi si Hypnos nang lumapit sa kanya si Alex at ikinawit ang kamay nito sa kanyang braso saka siya giniya nito papasok sa loob.

"Welcome to our love nest of Than. Just feel at home. Anong gusto mo? Juice or coffee?"

Hypnos didn't know if Alex is trying to bully him by showing publicly the affection between her and Than. "Anything," he just answered.

Wala ng nagawa pa si Than. Gusto pa sana nitong pigilan si Alex sa pagpapasok ng kanyang kapatid sa bahay nila.

Don't worry, Thanatos. I won't do anything that may harm your gorgeous Alexandra Foster, dinig naman ni Than sa isip niya na halatang galing sa kanyang kapatid.

He could even heard his laugh. He clenched his hands in anger. Para na niya itong pinapatay sa kanyang isipan na halatang malabong mangyari.

"Damn it!" he whispered in a gritted teeth as he stormed inside.

Para namang nanuyo ang lalamunan ni Than pagkapasok niya sa loob ng bahay. Si Hypnos na prenteng nakaupo lang sa may one-sitter couch habang nakatingin doon sa katawan ni Alex na nakahandusay sa sahig habang naliligo sa sarili nitong dugo at wala ng buhay.

"CHARON..."