Xanthos Dela Paz Archante
I don't know when I realized that I love Kiara. I know to myself that I love her even before I realized it. When did I fall in love with her? Is it when she hugged me and told me how sorry she was about everything that happened to me? Is it when I saw her giving birth to our children?
Who am I kidding? I already love her even before those moments. I just don't know when because maybe, I was still too in denial that time.
I know I fell in love with her the moment I realized she's different from Kairo and Aldovino North. I fell in love with the moment she gave me her pure and sweet smile. I fell in love with her the moment I saw how beautiful she is inside... I just fell in love about everything about her. Every part of her is lovable, even the smallest things.
"Hey, baby... Wake up." I gently pinched Kiara's nose to wake her up.
"Hmm..." She just groaned and hugged me tighter. "Later."
Ginantihan ko siya ng yakap. "Baby, you have to wake up now. Pupunta pa kayo ng kambal kay Kairo."
Today, they will visit Kairo North at his house. They always visit him at least once a week. I've got no problem with it. I still can't forgive him but he's still the grandfather of my kids.
"Ayoko ng umalis, maglambingan na lang tayo maghapon," she said and nuzzled on my neck.
"Baby, your offer is tempting but you really have to go. The kids are looking forward to meet him again. Mamayang gabi na lang tayo," nakangising sabi ko saka hinaplos ang buhok n'ya.
Wala ng nagawa si Kiara kundi bumangon at maligo. I just went to the kitchen to cook breakfast for them. I'm always busy at work but I still find time to cook for my wife and my kids. They love the food I cook so I will always find time to cook for them.
"Papa! Good morning po!"
I smiled when Xiana and Xevan ran to my direction and hugged my waist. I carried them both and planted small kisses all over their face. My heart leaped with joy when I heard their laughter.
Ipinaghain ko na sila pagdating ni Kiara.
"Papa, bakit po always kang hindi nasama kapag pinupuntahan namin si Lolo?"
I looked at Kiara when Xiana suddenly ask that. She always asks everything she's curious about, so I should have prepared for this sooner. I sighed and held Kiara's hand under the table.
"Baby, you still won't understand because you're still young... but Lolo did something bad to your Papa. That's the reason why your father doesn't want to see him," Kiara explained and smiled at the kids.
Xiana stared at us. I know that look, she's thinking what she's gonna say or do about it.
"Okay po. Maybe it was a really serious matter. Sorry for asking, Papa," Xiana said and stood up. Lumapit siya sa 'kin at niyakap ako.
I smiled and caressed her hair. "Well, sorry too for not explaining it to you clearly."
I know our setup is not easy to explain to them anyway... But I love how understanding our kids are. Xianariah really took after Kiara. Xiana had her boundless understanding.
"Kiara, sorry if I still won't be able to come with you and the kids to see him," I said and held her hand.
I know that Kiara's heart already softened towards her father. I can't blame her. Whatever her father has done to me, Kairo is still her father and it's fine... I don't like her holding a grudge against her father just because of me anyway.
Kiara smiled at me and kissed my lips. "How many times do I have to tell you that it's fine? I'm not forcing you to forgive him if you're still not ready for it. Stop apologizing for it, Xanthos. I understand... Okay?" she asked and hugged my waist.
I smiled and nodded. I'm so lucky to have an amazing woman like her in my life... someone like me... someone like me who don't deserve peace of mind and this kind of happiness. I'm everyday thankful to have her and our kids in my life. This is too much, this is more than what I deserve.
"Stop bothering me. I have to finish these as early as possible," I said and threw the paper weight to Cad but he immediately catched it.
"Wow, pare... Ano ba'ng meron today?" Cad asked and sat on the chair in front of my table.
"We will have a family picnic, so stop bothering me." I glared at him.
Denise is not my secretary anymore so it's harder for me to finish my work papers earlier. Denise knows what to do more than anyone, but she needs to have a life of her own too. Until now, I still couldn't find a suitable secretary. I want a male secretary because I always have problems with female secretary. Si Denise lang talaga ang babaeng secretary na hindi ko tinanggal sa trabaho.
"By the way, how's the mission last time?" I asked and glanced at Cad.
"Ayun, ayos naman. Muntik ng sumabit pero pumasok sa eksena si Papi Zak. Scam talaga 'yon, paalis alis pa ng feroci pero hindi rin naman makatiis. Puta parang siya pa rin leader, e," napapailing na sabi ni Cad.
I just chuckled and shook my head. "It's because you always fuck things up," I teased him.
"Hoy, mag-ingat ka sa pananalita mo, pare. Ako ang best strategist ng feroci, hindi lang halata sa gwapong mukha ko." Napaismid si Cad.
Well, it's true. Cad is one of the best strategist in feroci aside from Draxon and Fiero. He just doesn't look like it but Cad is actually clever. Feroci wouldn't survive without his reckless ideas and strategies.
"I'm done... By the way, Cad, please find me a male secretary. I want someone as efficient as Denise," I said and stood up. I wore my blazer and fixed my table.
"Medyo mahihirapan tayo diyan, pare," napapailing na sabi ni Cad.
"I'll pay you for it," I immediately said.
"Piece of cake, pare. Sobrang dali lang ng pinapagawa mo, legit," napapatangong sabi ni Cad.
Napailing na lang ako at agad na lumabas ng office. I have to go home now and cook something for our picnic. I still have to bake cookies for my kids because they requested it yesterday.
I immediately went home after buying groceries. They're still not home when I got there which is a good thing. I still have time to cook.
Saktong umuwi na sina Kiara pagkatapos kong magluto. I smiled when I saw them. The kids immediately ran to my direction and hugged me. Kiara hugged me too and kissed my lips.
"Papa, did you bake cookies for us?" Xiana asked while hugging me.
I laughed and pinched her cheeks. "Of course, my princess."
"Yehey!" nagtatatalon na sabi ni Xiana. Agad naman silang tumakbo papunta sa sarili nilang kwarto para kuhanin ang bag na hinanda nila sa picnic namin.
"They said perfect husband doesn't exist... but what are you?" Kiara asked with a sweet smile on her face and hugged my nape.
"Hmm, maybe I'm trying to be a perfect husband because my wife is beyond perfect," I said and wrapped my arms around her waist.
Kiara let out a refreshing laugh and gently smacked my chest. She rubbed her nose against mine and gave me a soft kiss on the lips... Damn, all the exhaustion I felt for this day had gone just like that. How is that even possible?
"Papa, I want a dinosaur tattoo when I grew up," Xevan randomly said.
Natatawang napatingin si Kiara sa backseat para tingnan si Xevan.
"Why dinosaur though?" Kiara asked.
"Because dinosaurs are scary," Xevan said and took a bite on his cookie. I just laughed and shook my head.
After a few minutes, we finally reached the park where we will have picnic together. Excited na bumaba ng kotse ang kambal dala ang bag nila. I immediately open the car door for Kiara and took the basket from the compartment.
There are also a lot of families and couples having a picnic here. The place is refreshing and has the perfect vibe for a picnic.
Inilatag ko na ang tela at inilapag ang basket do'n. Nagpaalam naman ang kambal na maglalaro sa malapit. Kami na lang ang naiwan ni Kiara na nakaupo rito.
"Come here, Xanthos. Humiga ka sa lap ko," Kiara said and pulled me closer to her.
I obliged and rest my head on her lap. I just closed my eyes and let her carress my hair with her gentle hands.
This moment is just too good to be true. Kiara is just too good to be true. I've never done something good in my life to have someone like her... She still love and accepted me despite knowing what I did in the past and after all unjustifiable things I'd done to her... Kiara and our kids just made my life worth living for. I'm hopelessly in love with her.
I opened my eyes and stared at Kiara. She smiled at me and gently caressed my cheek.
"Kiara, have I told you that I'm loving you more in every second of our lives? I mean, I'm more in love with you now than one second ago... Is that even possible?"
Kiara laughed and smacked my chest.
"Mas lalo kang nagiging corny, ganyan ba kapag tumatanda na?" natatawang tanong n'ya.
Napabangon ako sa sinabi n'ya. "Hey, you're being harsh, baby. I'm not that old," I said and pinched her nose.
Kiara hugged my waist and kissed my cheek. "I know how much you love me, Xanthos. Araw-araw mong pinaparamdam sa 'kin," she said and smiled at me.
"Well, you deserve to be loved that much. You actually deserve more, baby... Until now, I'm still thankful that God gave me a wonderful woman like you. God is really good for giving someone like me an amazing family even though I don't deserve it. You just gave light to my life. You made me forget about my hatred that I kept inside my heart for years. You made my heart feel peace, you made me forget about my revenge that I lived for for almost all my life. You don't know how much thankful I am to have you and our kids in my life. I will love you more every each day." I took her hand and kissed it.
Kiara smiled at me and buried her face on my neck. "Bakit hanggang ngayon saulo mo pa rin 'yung wedding vow mo sa akin? Nakakapagtaka rin na kinikilig pa rin ako kahit halos araw-araw mo 'yang sinasabi sa 'kin."
"Wait, is that my wedding vow? Damn, I didn't even realize. I'm just saying what I always feel," I said and chuckled.
Kiara bit her lower lip and kissed my lips. Tila wala na siyang pakialam sa makakakita. I just smiled and found myself kissing her back.
Kiara is like a forbidden fruit to me before. Out of all the woman in this world, loving her is what I consider the most forbidden... The number one rule I had before is not to love someone like her... But I just found myself chasing that forbidden love. I just found myself drawn in that forbidden love... and I never regret loving her. The love I have for her, the love I once considered a taboo and forbidden is now the most wonderful love that I will cherish forever.