“You can’t help but find me cute, huh?” he teasingly said. Naomi turned around to hide her smile, “Yeah, right. I know it really isn’t your fault. But, can you bring me to our daughter? I want to see her for the very last time” she replied and so JL granted it. He brought her to the hospital’s chapel where their daughter is laid to rest. JL’s family is there, including her parents.
She saw a little picture frame with her, JL, and Luna in the image placed on a corner. JL carefully pushed her wheelchair near the little coffin in the chapel’s front. She gasped with tears falling to her cheeks. She can’t even touch her now; she saw how she looked like and she also saw what her daughter wore. “Did you decide to put this on to her?” she asked JL. He slowly nodded and answered, “I was the one who changed her clothes into that. I know you love that dress”.
She stared at her for moments and hummed a lullaby. Everyone inside mourned with her but to her surprise, JL just kept standing still. “Can you be more caring, JL? Why do I feel like you do not care about what is happening?” she asked. JL sighed and answered, “Just because I don’t cry, that does not mean that I feel fine. I have cried all my tears and all that is left are the pains in my chest. I just want to be strong for you two”.
She leaned back as she hugs the receiving blanket and the first clothes Luna wore. She can still smell her baby girl’s scent in it. He sat next to her while she mourned in tears. Few of his colleagues in the hospital offered their condolences. He kept on comforting her; her body is still weak to receive emotional damages.
“Let me take you back to your room” he said when she felt Naomi slowly grab her head in dizziness. “No, I want to stay here for the night” she replied but JL forced her, “I don’t want your situation to get complicated also. Please think of how breaking for me to see you like this”. Naomi allowed him to bring her back to the room.
She laid to the bed and allowed JL to clean the wound that came from the incision. She ruffled JL’s hair and did a more sincere apology, “I am sorry, I have been too selfish today”. He shook his head and replied, “I understand. I blamed everyone I can blame the moment I felt the loss also”. She added, “I’m sorry I blurted out everything to you. You did not do anything wrong, it’s just me who…”. She failed to finish her words when she felt JL’s lip on hers.
They shared a passionate kiss as if they separated for a long period of time. “I missed you. I thought I will lose you yesterday. Thank God you came back” he said while dampening the sterilized cotton swab to the stitched wound in her belly. “I will never leave you again especially now that we have a son waiting for us” she said while holding JL’s arm.
He twitched in pain and it made Naomi worry for a little bit. “I still haven’t healed my own wound” he said while folding up his sleeves. Naomi saw the impact of Luke’s attack in his arm. The wound is still bleeding but he managed to dress it on his own. “Do you need a hand?” she asked but JL refused, “I can do this on my own”. Naomi smiled, “I am proud that I dated a strong man” she complimented. JL smiled, “That overwhelmed me” he replied while pulling down his sleeves.
“What will happen to Luke now?” she asked. JL glared at her, “Why do you ask?” he questioned acting upset. “Are you jealous?” she asked back while acting gullible. She pinched JL’s cheek and answered his first question, “I just want to know what he will get after doing this to us”. JL held her hand and replied, “I am pushing three criminal charges to him. I am not sure if all the cases I charged can bring him to jail as a punishment. Fonsi will take care of it, don’t think about that”. She just nodded; she trusts JL more than anyone else.
Two days passed; JL carefully zipped up Naomi’s white dress for her. They are about to say their last goodbyes to their daughter, Luna. JL drove to the memorial park where they will settle Luna’s final resting place.
Naomi felt her knees shaking the moment her white flat sandals touched the fine grassland in the memorial park. JL held her arm and caressed her back. Every step they make to where their daughter is laid pains them. It is a fine sunny day in Luna’s burial; they were the ones to come first in the location as it is their role as parents.
Naomi sat next to their daughter’s deathbed and started conversing. JL just watched them; he saw how Naomi got broken the moment he said out the words to explain their daughter’s death. He felt a hand in his shoulder – it is his dad’s. “My condolences, JL” he said while hugging his son. He felt rest in his dad’s warm and tight hug. “I didn’t know it would be this hard, dad” he said while cherishing the moment.
“JL, look into the bright side; this is part of you and Naomi’s challenge as a husband and wife. This is a sign of a new chapter for you both. Maybe it is not time for you to have two kids at a time that’s why they took her away from you. You see, you are still starting to get back on track while Naomi needs to redo everything she left behind” he expounded.
That made sense to him. He dropped the hug and went to Naomi who is holding back her tears. He looked down to see his daughter in her deathbed. “You look like how I first saw you. I was in love with you the moment you came out. I liked how you put warmth in my arms to my heart” he whispered. Naomi smiled, “Maybe you can’t understand what we are saying right now, my little one. Please grow as a kind little angel in heaven” she said before the burial ceremony begins.
When her final rites and blessings ended, JL went near while holding a white rose. He placed a kiss on it while his tears slowly fell from his eyes. “Root for us, my Luna. Please be your brother’s angel” he said in his mind and placed the rose on where she is laid before it is closed. Naomi sat in despair while watching how their daughter disappear from their sights. It is her first time to see JL broken with what happened.
JL gave him a tight hug and tried to keep her away from sighting it. He does not want to give her traumas that can bring her nightmares during her sleep. Luke’s parents came after Luna’s resting place is settled. Naomi is now sitting down in a bench while hugging the first and last picture they had with their daughter. JL kept consoling her but it is just too hard to accept since what they lost is their own flesh.

Luke’s mother approached them, “I am sorry for your loss, Doc JL and Naomi” she said while putting down a basket of flowers in their daughter’s tomb. Luke’s dad added, “Stay strong in this time of your lives”. JL did not manage to give them a glance, “I can’t help but to blame your son and I am sorry for that” he said with eyes focusing on their daughter’s embossed name on the tombstone.
“We can’t blame you also for saying that” Luke’s mother said while sitting down beside the mourning Naomi. She sighed and held her hand tight, “We are truly sorry for what we did, Naomi. Now we realized that we overmanipulated you and your parents….”. Suddenly, Therese came with arms crossed. “Amiga, maybe it is time for us to part ways. It is hard for us to forgive and forget” she said that interrupted Luke’s mother’s apology.
Naomi’s dad added, “I know we owe you a lot in the past ten years. Please give us time to pay all those”. Luke’s father shook its head, “Amigo, do not think as if you are indebted with us. After all, we are good friends. We should be the one to pay after what Luke did. Your granddaughter’s lost life is priceless” he replied.
They settled their company’s business and asked Naomi. “Do you still want to go back to Australia to continue living up your CEO life?” Therese asked. Naomi shook her head, “I want a fresh start. I want to drop down from my position as a CEO and start living like a normal employee. I don’t want to pull my connections just because I need to work” she answered that made everyone amused.
“If that’s how you want it, then how can we disagree?” her father replied. For the first time in a while, her request was granted. She pulled JL up and waved her goodbyes, “Sorry, but I need to leave things here. We have a lot to fix in the house” she said and went inside their car.
JL received a call while driving. The surgeon who administrated Naomi’s birth reported, “Doc JL, your son is performing well in the NICU. If there are no more complications, we can proceed to the next set of medication”. JL smiled, “Thanks Doc. We owe you a lot” he replied and dropped the call. “Did you hear that?” he asked while glancing at Naomi who is tearing with joy. “Thank you for hearing our wishes, Luna” she whispered while caressing their daughter’s photo.
JL drove to the jail where Luke is placed as requested by Naomi. They walked to the visitor’s lounge and waited for Luke to be released for visitation. He sat down while looking badly at the two who are holding hands. “Do you like what you see?” Luke sarcastically said while leaning back. Naomi replied, “That’s what you get for revenging. At the end, you were the one who got revenged on”.
JL smirked, “Some words for you, Luke. Sometimes, we all just need to accept defeat better than revenging endlessly. What’s the point of revenging at the first place? Just to brag about who won and who lost?” he added. “We are even now, JL” he said and requested to return to his cell. JL and Naomi looked at each other with a shrug.
They went back to JL’s condo unit where all the tragedy and smiles happened. They were greeted by a silent and tidied living room. For a moment, they felt like they were deaf in silence. She glanced at the door of the nursery they made. “Are you sure you can go inside now?” JL asked while standing beside her. She slowly nodded and answered, “At this time, we have to be practical. Our emotions will just kill us. Better if we miss our daughter not in tears but in feelings”.
JL opened the door; the room is left untouched but what added is the customized twin stroller they bought in the baby center. Naomi went near it and caressed their babies’ names embroidered in the cloth. “What a waste. Joachim can’t use this alone” JL said. Naomi turned to him and corrected his statement, “JN. Call him JN”. JL’s eyebrows raised, “I bet that is not part of the baby’s name planning?” he asked.
Naomi answered, “You named me with Luna, and so I will nickname Joachim to how your parents nicknamed you”. JL hugged her in her waist and replied, “That sounds wonderful”. Naomi opened the pink baby cabinet and started to pull out the folded and hanged unused clothes for their baby girl. “What will you do with that?” JL asked. Naomi smiled while putting the baby girl stuffs in a pink baby bag. She answered, “I have been searching on what to do with these. I found a charity organization for less fortunate premature babies. There I will donate these and the things that can’t be used”.
JL wowed, “I’m sure our daughter is proud of you”. He helped her in packing the things they will donate to the charity organization. Naomi faced the wall they painted. JL looked at her and asked, “Don’t tell me you are going to change it?”. Naomi nodded, “I will. I can’t move on at this rate” she answered.
JL kept on stopping her as she hasn’t fully recovered yet. But on the brighter side, maybe it is Naomi’s way of moving on from their daughter’s loss. The wall is fully painted with light blue. JL made the finishing touches by hanging a picture of the four of them in the wall. He stood beside his wife and placed his hand on her shoulder. “How is it?” he asked; Naomi replied with a smile, “It looks perfect”.

Naomi is now in the process of healing. She seldomly goes to their company’s branch in the city where her bosses are her parents. Every time JL goes to the NICU, he always makes sure that Naomi is in the video call. As time goes by, JN grows as a healthy little infant that they consider as their bundle of joy.
Two months passed; JL called Naomi’s number and gladly, she immediately picked up. “Come out now, I am almost there” he said and drove to New Empire International’s main company in the city. He saw how she sophisticatedly exit from the door with an office suit and a high - heels on. She waved to get his attention. She excitingly opened the car’s door and rode in the passenger’s seat.
“Ready?” he asked. Naomi nodded and wore the seatbelt. They happily went to the hospital where he works. They walked past the NICU; it is unusual that they can see no JN in the incubator anymore. They proceeded to his recovery room where surprises greeted them. The doctors and nurses who took charge of their son’s case prepared a surprise where JN’s weekly photos of improvement are hanged.
“Doc JL, congratulations on your son’s dischargement from the NICU. He fought so well and you remained strong for him” his co - surgeon greeted. Naomi looked at the tiny bed where her son is laying. For the first time, she saw him up close and without machines connected in his body. She looked at JL and asked, “Can I carry him in my arms now?”.
“Of course. He needs to recognize you now” he answered and allowed his wife to have her first touch of their son. She carried him in her arms; he is wearing the blue onesie JL bought. She touched his nose and adored it. “He got it from you. His long eyelashes, light colored skin, even his height!” she said while sorting out his traits.
After they packed up and fixed their discharge papers, they proceeded to their car to bring their child to a place very important to their family. They went outside and greeted the soft winds; JL laid a small carpet in the field of short grass and made her sit. JN is secured in his mom’s warm arms enfolding him. JL lit up a candle and placed a basket of white roses on Luna’s tomb. “Little angel, how are you up there?” he asked.
“I know you can see us with your twin brother now” he added while sitting beside Naomi and their son. Naomi held JN’s small hand and imitated a ‘hello’ gesture. “It is still hard for us to accept that out of two, one is just right here beside us. But I know, you are in a safer and more peaceful place where you can play with the other angels” Naomi said while caressing Luna’s tombstone.
“Mommy and Daddy will always have a time for you no matter how busy our schedules are” he said. They spent the whole morning bonding with their two kids. At last, they came home to the condo unit that is now owned by the two of them as a shared property. Naomi danced JN with a soft lullaby and placed him in the blue crib to sleep.
She went outside while holding her aching back from the sways she did. “I am starting to feel how hard the motherhood challenge is” she said and sat beside JL to rest. JL is currently talking to someone on the phone; she leaned closer to eavesdrop. They both heard Fonsi’s phone saying, “Luke’s case is processing and according to Lorenzia, it has a high chance of success”.
They looked at each other with contentment in their eyes. “Finally, the ending we want happened” Naomi said while leaning to JL’s arm. He also leaned to her head and replied, “You know before, I really planned to break you and not to love you. I planned to remain cold but these kids came; they made me a lover boy once again…”. She just listened to how JL reminisce on how it should start.
“I revenged but it was a sweet revenge. Sweet revenge that it bore twins. Out of rage, I did everything I can just to revenge on Luke. I revenged on him by hiding you… unfortunately, I failed. Chance visited me and I took it as a time to press charges on him. If I can’t beat him up with my punches, then I will just keep my mouth shut and let law punish him” he said while holding her hand.
“Truthfully, revenge is evil. I mean, not all, but rather than sitting back, it is the key to justify yourself” she replied. JL opened their smart tv and played a slow romantic song; he turned off the lights in the living room and started to slow dance her in the dark. “Remember how we used to do this in the school’s hall?” he asked.
Naomi chuckled, “Yeah, moments before I initiated a breakup” she answered. While they were dancing, Naomi storied how things happened after giving birth. “While asleep I dreamt of the time where we first met, I dreamt of how you looked like with those thick lensed eyeglasses you wear, and how you confessed to me. I felt the love from the moment I dreamt of our youth. Then there was a strong strike of light trying to get me but I saw you pulled me away. I heard cries and more and more cries before I truly passed out”.
“Thank God you returned to me. If not, maybe I am sitting here feeling empty. Maybe I am clueless on how to raise JN alone” he said while leaning close. Their lips are about an inch away from each other and are ready for a kiss. They slowly reached for each other’s lip but it got interrupted by a soft baby cry.
They both chuckled, “Who is in charged of the diaper change now?” Naomi asked. JL comfortably sat down in the couch with the television light. “You do it. I’ve been doing that since he is inside the NICU” he answered and pretended not to care. Naomi went near him and pulled his ear, “Do you want me to explain how painful my nipps are from breastfeeding?” she asked.
JL chuckled while removing her hand from pinching his ear. “Alright, I will go now” he said and went to the nursery. Naomi sat down in the couch while feeling the contentment she is experiencing with the family she built with JL. There she knew that things are better planned if they are discussed with the one they love. She watched JL changing their son’s diaper with a smile. “I wish forever will be this good” she said in her mind and followed the two boys of her life inside.
THE END