CHAPTER 24
Even though I already looked stupid for crying, I didn't care about what others might think. I just rested my head on my two knees as I sighed and hoped for the tears to end. A few minutes passed but I was still unable to get up and go back to our room.
It felt like I didn’t have enough strength to do so because I was still hurting.
"You shouldn't cry like that."

I bravely looked straight at him after I violently wiped away my tears. I must be strong in front of him.

"Why are you here? I thought–"

"Your husband texted me to come here," he smilingly said before offering his hand. "Don't just sit there."

Instead of accepting his help, I decided to stand alone. "I can, thanks."
"Okay. But why are you crying? LQ?"

"Super curious, Tary?" I joked before I started walking towards the nearby cottage.

"I really got curious," he replied as we both sat inside the cottage. My tears seemed to dry suddenly when Tary arrived. Auto-dry. But the truth was, I just didn't want him to feel sorry for me.

I tried to smile. "Because Constance left with his woman."

"Really?" he asked before he slightly grinned.

Why did he smile?

I ignored his question. He should realize that. "I hate it that you saw me cry."

"If only you had chosen me–"

"Oh, here we go again," I sadly said before I turned my attention to the sea.

"Just kidding," he said before slightly laughing which surprised me.

I immediately looked at him. "Hey, you. You know I’m not okay anymore, but you're still laughing. I'm already hurt but it seems like nothing to you. You're not helping."

"Don't be mad at me. By the way, I and Lavender are engaged again," he said before smiling.

"Wow, that smile! That's a genuine one, ah! So, what's the story? Tell me, be quick!"

His face was very pleasant to look at. The smile I saw was similar to his smile when we were still in love with each other.
"I realized her worth after we broke up and after you rejected me. I didn't know why, but you also made me value Lavender. This time, I wouldn't let my chance to be with her disappear."

"I'm happy for you!"

"Are you sure?" he teasingly asked.

"What are you saying?" I didn't get what he wanted to convey.

"It seemed that you're not really happy."

"Ah, that one? I still can't forget Constance. We're not okay. I just can't really be happy right now because I'm hurting. I'm sorry. But I'm really happy for you."

"It's okay. I fully understand. I guess you need to come with me. You really need to see it. It's one of the best spots here. Are you ready?"

He was all smiles after he spoke that I couldn't help but get excited by what he said. It is said to be one of the best spots, but why did I feel something different? Well, just let it be.

I just followed his lead. To be honest, I knew right away where we were going that I immediately thought about how I would react when we reached the backyard of Kasoy Building. I already went to that place for how many times. Yes, he was right that it was one of the best spots because it was really a nice place. It had a refreshing view of a garden with healthy trees. The cottages were made of bamboo and you could really feel that you were in the province. There were some sunflowers in the garden too. I was really sad that it was Goddessa who had the chance to accompany Constance in that place.
"Are you okay," Tary asked after looking back at me. "We're near."

I smiled. "I'm fine."

"Good."

After a few minutes, we reached the place. "It's nice here!"

"I'm glad you like the place," he said with a smile. "Just follow me."

I followed him to the farthest cottage from the left, that was the seventh. Unfortunately, that was also the cottage where Constance and Goddessa sat when I saw them talking. Oh-oh. It was very peaceful because there were no other people around. It was new for me that cottages became vacant because those were always full of people every time I went there.
"Just sit here. I'll just get our food."

"No need, Tary. I'm still full. I'm fine."

"I don't believe you. Just wait here, okay?"

"Eh, can I just go with you? I'll go with you."

"Just stay here. I'll be back," he seriously said. I could do nothing but watch him as he walked away.

I shook my head when I thought that Tary was about to order food. I hoped I wouldn’t get bored waiting for him. "It will take some time."

While waiting, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my past with Magdalen.
[FLASHBACK]

"Mom, why?" she suddenly asked.
I was not able to look at her who was sitting on a bed but I had a plan to answer her question. "We're going to Palawan. We'll stay there."
"But why?" I was just shaken by her question. I found it difficult to explain to her. I didn’t want to say the real reason because she would surely ask more questions when the issue regarding his father was talked about. Children are often curious after all. Vyvyan did not know her father's real name because I did not tell her. Her father was far away, that was what she knew.
I knew that Constance would do anything to get her. Magdalen was five years old and Constance was looking for her for five years.
I forced a smile. "Your grandparents want us to come home," I lied.
"Yepee! I wanna see grandmama and grandpapa! I wanna see a carabao too!" She even jumped on the mattress because she was really excited to see a carabao.
I would often tell her about a farm in Coron, Palawan where my parents supposedly lived. However, my parents were already gone. They got bumped by a ten-wheeler truck while crossing the road when they were very drunk and I was still in America that time. Unfortunately, they died and I was left alone. I had no friends because of my negative attitude back then. There would have been one, but I also lost her when she died. Magdalen was the only one I had in life. However, Constance was very rich, so he had enough money to get her from me.
"You'll see a carabao there, darling. Just ‘less English’ when we're in Palawan, huh." I went to Magdalen to carry her.
"Less English? What do you mean, mama?"
"So that you and your playmates will understand each other better, darling. Promise me, okay?"
"I promise," she replied and pouted afterwards.
"One more thing, darling. Always remember your name. Magdalen Gomez. You're Magdalen Gomez."
I was unable to admit that "Vyvyan Artiles" was actually her real name. She had the surname of his father Constance Artiles, the CEO of CA Corporation. I had to convince her that her name was "Magdalen Gomez" so that her father would not immediately track her down just in case.
"Yes, mom." I gently put her on the bed and kissed her on the forehead. I approached the suitcase again to continue arranging our clothes. Magdalen, on the other hand, just jumped on the bed after I walked away a little.
"What's your name, darling?"
"Magdalen Gomez."
[END OF FLASHBACK]

"We're in Palawan again, darling. We used to get to this town because we escaped from your father before. Now, we're here for a vacation. Time really flies. I didn’t want to give you to your father before, but now you’re so close to him already. I finally accepted the fact that I couldn’t hide you from your real family forever. I’m happy that you're happy with them and that I'm still with you," I whispered as if I was really talking to Magdalen. Tary took too long to come back.
I was sleepy. I guessed it was time to leave.

I immediately stood up when I saw someone coming...

"Constance?!"

My feet carried me to him until I found myself hugging him. It was heartwarming to find out that he was hugging me and I wasn’t dreaming. Because of my jealousy, I became so emotional. I didn’t want to be like Tary. I wouldn’t want to lose Constance before I got to realize his value and appreciate him.

"Don’t leave again without telling your wife, ah?" I said before the tears escaped from my eyes. I wasn’t able to hold them anymore.

But he did not speak.

"I-I love you," I said while sobbing and with my face sank into his chest. His shirt was already wet because of my tears.

"Shhh... I know. I love you too."

He touched my cheek and looked straight at me. What he did next really surprised me the most. He gently kissed me on my forehead. It was just a kiss on the forehead, but it felt so good.

"Yehey! My mommy and daddy are happy!"

"Congrats, brother!" the three eggs shouted. ‘Three eggs’ still suited them well.

"You both have my blessings," Madam Bria happily said.

I gently rubbed my forehead when I saw all of them. They heard how I stuttered earlier. They saw my fragility. Yes, I was suddenly embarrassed.

After I hugged Constance, I just put my arm on his shoulder while he carefully held my waist.

"Is my plan brilliant, Constance?" Tary asked. Oh-oh, he also saw everything.

"Definitely. Thanks, bro!" Constance answered with a ‘thumbs up’.

"What's that plan?" I asked.

"I'll tell you in our room," he said before smiling at me.

"We heard that, ah!" Tux shouted. "Are we expecting a new nephew, huh?"

Almost all of us laughed at what Tux said, he’s really something.

"We'll take care of Magdalen for now. Go talk in your room," Hots jokingly said and we all laughed again. Magdalen also laughed even though she didn't fully understand what was being said.

"Why did you say that you’re going to tell it in our room?" I simply asked Constance.

He just smiled which made my cheeks to blush. "What is happening to me?" I thought.

"I don't like what you’re thinking," I joked.

"For us to have privacy, wife. Don’t overthink."

"Ehem... We're still here," Iwo said before he laughed.

"Oh, that’s right!" I slightly scratched my head. What were they waiting for?

"Kiss!" they shouted and we were surprised by that.

"I'll cover Magdalen's eyes," Madam Bria said. Madam’s support was really something.

Then, I just felt Constance's sincere kiss on my lips, it was full of love. A very sweet kiss. A pure one. A kiss telling me that he was officially mine.
***
EPILOGUE (THIRD PERSON'S POV)

Two years later.

"Tader Laven Domingo. Nice name, ah. What do you think of it, wife?" Constance smilingly asked Yvo. He just finished looking at the pictures sent by Tary and Lavender. Those were pictures of their one-year-old son, a very cute and healthy little boy.

"Their baby boy's name is nice, hubby. They finally have a baby while ours is still on the way," Yvo was just kidding about the latter.

"Do you want Magdalen to have a sibling soon?" Constance jokingly asked.
They were both sitting in the car and just waiting for Magdalen to come out of her classroom, they always joined forces to pick her up from school.

"No, let's give Magdalen our all in all for now. I am taking care of my two babies right now."

Constance's forehead suddenly frowned at what he heard. He didn't get it right away. "Huh? Who's the other one?"

"You, of course! You're so slow today," Yvo said before laughing at her husband.

"Come here." Constance suddenly hugged her and she was surprised because of what he did.

"You don't really get tired of hugging me," Yvo smilingly said.

"It's because I love you."

"I love you too and you know that. I still remember how Tary helped you then. He thought of making me cry even though it was not true that you boarded the boat with Goddessa. Tux, Hots, and Iwo also helped him. He planned everything just to make me jealous. Yeah, I was wrong about you and Goddessa. I also found out that it was true that you really needed to talk to her about some business matters that time. You didn’t clearly explain it, eh. It’s already done. Now, I trust you a lot. Don’t you dare fool me, huh."

"I fell in love with you because of how you loved my daughter. There's no way I would fall in love with someone who could not love my daughter the way you did."

"I love you for no reason," Yvo said before slightly squeezing Constance's cheeks. She was confident that what she said was the best.

For Yvo, she has nothing else to ask for because she already has everything with a humble heart.
***THE END***