Chapter 2

Time had flown so fast and Maricris didn’t notice that it was already her children’s first birthday.

So, they decided to go to the church and from there, she saw Xandro and his sisters with another woman.

Even if she wouldn’t ask, it was obvious that the woman was Xandro’s girlfriend the way that she was clinging on Xandro’s forearm.

“Well, look who’s here?” Xandro’s sister mumbled which didn’t escape from her ears.

It seemed that she really raised her voice so she could hear her.

But she just kept quiet. There would be no sense to pay attention. She had no plan of stooping down her level because she knew that these people were deaf with her words. No matter what she would say meant nothing for them.

So, it would be best for her to keep silence. She had to choose her battles and save up her energy for her children.

“Yes, a flirtation woman. She wanted to hook with my brother,” she said in disgust. “I am glad that my brother didn’t marry you because you don’t deserve to be a part of our family,” Sarah added.

Her words called the passers-by’s attention.

But the woman didn’t even care. She looked at her from head to toe.

“That’s enough,” Xandro pulled Jenny’s forearm. “Let’s go.”

Maricris was just looking at them while they were heading to his car.

She was holding her twins and her best friend Ariana was next to her.

“Why didn’t you answer her back? I couldn’t believe that you just let them say everything that they wanted to say to you. They couldn’t just look down on you like that!” Ariana said and she was obviously angry like her.

But she chose to keep quiet. There’s no use fighting them back with words. There was something inside her mind. She’d fight back but not by bickering with them. She would do something else, and she needed a lot of dedication and hard work for that.

She just shrugged it off. She wouldn’t let her emotions overcome her. She was angry because of what they had done to her but she knew that she wouldn’t win over them with word war so she would make them see what she could do even with the help of Xandro.

She would see to it that he would regret the day that he left her and their children.

Maricris and her children arrived home after they attended the mass. They were happily entering their house when suddenly she stopped from walking.

She felt like her heartbeat was pounding so fast when she saw the people who were in the living room.

What were they doing inside their house? She couldn’t believe that they really had the face to come to their house after everything that happened.

She was surprised because she knew that those people were obviously waiting for them.

It was Xandro’s parents with her mother sitting in the couches in their living room.

“I am glad that you finally arrived. Xandro’s parents are her to visit you and your children,” her mother said but she could sense something else in her voice.

Her eyebrows were drawn together. She couldn’t help but wonder what brought these people here in their house.

She was looking at her mother, but she only pointed Xandro’s parents got up as soon as they entered the house, and they even took her children to her. Xandro’s father carried her son while Xandro’s mother carried her daughter.

She couldn’t help but be shocked because of their gestures. They never showed interest with her children so why all of a sudden, they would show up and do this?

Maricris could smell something. She knew that Xandro’s parents wouldn’t go at their house without any intention. She knew very well that these people were up to something.

“My dear, we are not going around the bush with you. We are here to take you and your children,” Mr. De Guzman said while looking at her. “I am running for mayor this coming election and I don’t want any rumours to be heard against me because we have abandoned my grandchildren,” he added.

Maricris held herself from having any violent reaction. She was not mistaken that these people were here because of their selfish intention.

She felt her heart stung after what she heard from Xandro’s father. They just came to their house because they didn’t want their reputation to be ruined.

They were going to take them with them because of their selfish interest.

She felt like they were just going to use her children on their own interest. It was just for them to show the people that they had looked after her children.

They wanted to hide the truth that they didn’t care about her and especially to her children, who were their flesh and blood.

Nine months had passed, and they didn’t even pay them a visit. None of them were interested to check on her children and now, here they were shamelessly asking her to come back with them with her children as if nothing happened.

She could still clearly remember that when she gave birth to her children and Xandro was not even there. She didn’t say anything because she tried to understand the father of her children. He was studying the in the main city and it would be hard for him to get to her.

She understood him and she didn’t bother him since he was studying. Maricris didn’t even care if it was the truth or not. She had loved Xandro so much to think anything bad about him.

Though she had sent him a message that she was giving birth to their children.

A month had passed when Xandro arrived after she gave birth to their children. He told her that he had an exam and that’s why he was unable to come when she was giving birth to their children.

Given that fact, there was none of his family members came and visit her nor their children. But she remained silent despite those incidents that happened. She knew for a fact that they never treated her as a part of their family so there was really no sense of thinking about them.

So, it was truly surprising to see them at their house.

Maricris looked at her mother. She couldn’t see anything in her face.

There were no words came out from her. She was just looking at her as if she was saying that she was leaving to her what would be her decision.

She had to decide wisely so she averted her gaze to Xandro’s father and then she spoke.

She plastered a smile on her lips even if she didn’t feel like smiling. She felt like she was pretending to be somebody else because of these people.

She didn’t want to be rude. Despite of what they had showed to her, these people were her children’s grandparents. Yes, that was right. These people were still her children’s family and that was something that she couldn’t change no matter what she would do.

“Sir, can we come to your house tomorrow or after tomorrow? They are going to have their vaccine at the health center tomorrow. I hope you understand,” she said in a low voice. She was hoping that they would accept her reason and would leave as soon as possible.

She felt like she couldn’t stand in their presence.

The couple looked at each other and they nodded their heads.

She felt relieved when she saw their reaction.

“Alright, if that is the case, we will not stay long because we have a lot of things to do,” Xandro’s father said and then he gave her son to her while her daughter was given to her mother.

They just left not knowing that today was their grandchildren’s first birthday. She was just looking at them until they disappeared from her sight.

These people only think about themselves, and they never really cared for her or for her children.

They were there because they didn’t want them to be a hindrance with his political career.

As a mother, she was disappointed with this people and at the same time hurt because of what they were doing.

What do they think about her children and to her? They went at their house as if she was not hurt by their son. As if they had not abandoned her since the very beginning.

She looked at her mother.

“Mom, I don’t want to give my children to them. I don’t want to go with them,” she murmured as the teras flowed in her eyes. “I know that they just wanted us to be with them because they didn’t want people to think that they had abandoned us. They wanted them to keep the truth away from the people so they could get their sympathy and their vote,” she added.

She couldn’t hide the anger that she felt inside her on her voice.

She knew to herself that when she goes there, it was the same as dragging herself in hell.

Even if she was not yet at Xandro’s family house, she already knew what life was waiting for her and for her children. She would become their slave again. It was like making her life a living hell especially that Xandro never really cared for her and her children.

Suddenly, she felt her mother hold her hand.

She looked at her directly in her eyes.

“Listen, my dear, follow your heart. If you don’t want to go with them then don’t go. At the end of the day, it would always be your decision that should be followed,” she said.

She looked at her mom full of worry. She couldn’t help but feel that way because of what Xandro’s parents could do to her if she refused to do what they wanted.

She shook her head.

“Mom, you know what will happen if I am not going with them especially since he is running for mayor this coming election. I know what they are capable of,” she uttered in between her tears.

Maricris couldn’t help but feel anger and fear at the same time inside her heart. She was angry because this people were trying to manipulate her life and her children’s life.

She couldn’t believe that they really had the audacity to show up to their house after everything that happened between her and Xandro.

“Don’t worry, my dear. I am just here for you and my grandchildren,” she said and then she pressed her palm. “I will do my best to protect you and your children,” she added.

Ariana’s hand was on her shoulder.

“Best, if you need help just remember that I am just here with you as well,” she said.

She looked at her mother and her best friend with tears in her eyes. She wouldn’t know what would happen to her if they were not beside her.

Maricris took a deep breath. She had already decided. She had to be brave for her children because she knew that this would be the best thing that she could do for them.

She looked at Ariana. Then, she looked at her mother and spoke.

“Mom, I want to run away with my children,” she mumbled.

Her voice was firm, and she was determined to go as far as she could from Xandro’s family.

She saw how shock crossed her mother’s face when she heard what she said.

But that was just quick because she smiled after that.

“Well, I think that’s a good idea. You have to promise me that you will take care of your children and wait for me. Just stay there while I am still here. I will follow you,” her mother said to her which added to her courage.

Her mother said gave her hope and also when she heard her best friend’s voice.

“I am coming with you.”