The Billionaire's Children

Kabanata 15

We've reached our house in no time.

I composed myself. Ayoko namang makita ng mga anak ko na mugto ang mga mata ko. It will be a bad impression to their father because he's the only one I'm with.

I took a deep breath and faced Gray who was standing behind me.

"I know ang kapal ng mukha ko to make a request pero pwede bang magpanggap ka sa harap ng mga bata na okay tayo. Just for them." I smiled sadly at him and continued walking towards the house.

Pagpasok namin ng bahay ay ang paglalaro ng kambal sa may couch ng chess na katabi si grandma ang naabutan namin.

"Grandma?" gulat na tanong ni Gray nang makita nya si grandma. I thought he saw her earlier.

Napahinto sa paglalaro ang kambal at sabay sabay silang lumingon patungo sa direksyon kung saan kami nakatayo, sa pinto.

"Grandma?" bulong ni Leigh habang nakatitig kay Gray ngunit rinig naman namin. Si Van, tulad ni Leigh ay nakatitig lang kay Gray na tila ba'y kinikilatis ang buo nitong pagkatao.

"I'll just go to the kitchen where Aida is. I think you need privacy." She smiled at me and went straight to the kitchen.

Kaming apat na lang ang natira sa salas. And I whispered to Gray that we should get closer where the kids are.

He nervously steps closer. Napakapit pa nga sya sa braso ko sa sobrang nerbyos kahit galit sya sa akin eh.

"Uhm... Leigh, Van." I called. "You know him, right?" I asked hesitantly.

"He's the man in the picture. Am I right, mommy?" Van said, still staring at his father. I nodded as a response. Gray looked at me questionly.

"Are you for real?!" I saw how Leigh's tears started to pool in her eyes while her lips were quivering.

Gray panicked. He didn't know what to say. So he just said, "I'm real." Sa normal na pagkakataon, baka tumawa na ako. But this is not a normal time.

"Daddy!" She jumped to her dad and hugged him tightly while crying in his shoulders. Buti na lang ay kahit gulat si Gray sa biglang pagtalon nya ay nasalo pa rin sya nito.

Gray is still hesitating on what he would do but I guess, he followed his heart. He hugged Leigh as tight as Leigh's hug. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang luhang kumawala sa kanang mata nya.

I saw Van looking intently at the scene so I decided na lumapit sa kanya.

"Van, aren't you going to go near your daddy?" I whispered to him. He looked at me first na para bang hindi sigurado kaya tumango ako, sign na he should go because he's really his daddy who is hugging his sister.

Lumapit naman syang nakatungo. At nang mapansin ni Gray na lumalapit na si Van sakanya ay lumuhod syang buhat buhat pa rin si Leigh dahil ayaw bumitaw sa kaniya.

"Daddy, bakit ang tagal nyo po?" Van innocently asked. "Do you really love us? Do you really love our mommy? If so, why didn't you find her? Are we not worthy of your time? Why, daddy? Why?" with that, ang pinipigil nyang luha ay tuluyan nang bumagsak.

I was shocked by what he had said. I really didn't expect that outburst. Siguro nga, I'm a selfish bitch who only cared for herself. I didn't even consider my children's feelings and also Gray's.

I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Nagsisisi na ako. If I could just turn back time.

"I'm sorry." I sobbed. "Your daddy's not at fault. It is I who's at fault. I'm sorry for being selfish. Don't blame him." Napaupo na lang din ako sa sofa sa panlalambot ng mga tuhod ko. I know, I was the one to blame.