SPECIAL CHAPTER:

Coming out

"SO, WHEN are you going to tell them?" Tanong ni SM nang tumayo ito sa tabi ni
Jacques habang pinapanood nila ang mga bata na tinuturuang mag basketball ni Knight
at Cloud. "You can't keep it hidden forever."

Jacques pressed his lips. "Would it really be okay?"

SM turned her head at Jacques who looked worried. "Jacq, ilang beses ko na bang
sinabi sayo na ayos lang 'yon? You have nothing to worry about."

"But environment is important to kids—"

"They're old enough to understand." Sansala ni SM sa iba pang sasabihin ni Jacques.

"And my kids are smart, Jacq. We both know that."

Jacques took a deep breath. "Maybe later ... after dinner?"

SM just tapped Jacques' back before she walked to her husband and children who were
playing basketball. 1

Jacques silently watched the family he wouldn't get tired of loving. Lady SM, the
motherfucking Count and their kids.

"Pass me the fucking ball!" Galit na sigaw ni Mint.

"Mint! Language!" Sabay na taas ng boses ni Maple at Lady SM.

NK and KN just snickered and continued playing with their father.

Time really flew fast. Ang makukulit na bulilit noon, malalaki na ngayon.

Maple was already in College taking up Business Management, NK was now a Senior in
High School, KN was in the same grade as NK because he got accelerated. While the
youngest, the precious little Princess of the house was a Junior, she was
accelerated as well.

Maybe it's time to tell them. Jacques thought and stared at Cloud who was walking
towards him, all sweaty and looking sexy.

Cloud was still as handsome and as sexy as tye first time he met him. That should
be a crime.

"What's my baby dragon thinking about?" Cloud asked when he stops in front of
Jacques while fixing Jacques' messy hair.

Kinuha ni Jacques ang face towel na nakasampay sa balikat ni Cloud saka tinuyo niya
ang pawis sa mukha at leeg nito gamit 'yon.

"Milady told me to tell the kids about us." Aniya habang tinutuyo ang pawis nito.

"Oh," Cloud was taken aback that Lady SM said that to Jacques. Usually, Lady SM
would just wait and let them decide, so for her to butt in, she must've been
waiting for a long time and couldn't wait anymore. "What are you going to do then?"
Napatigil si Jacques sa pagtuyo sa pawis ni Cloud saka napabuntong-hininga. "What
do you think?"

Cloud shrugged. "I'm okay with anything. As long as you're comfortable with it. I
told you before, when it comes to coming out, I'll let you decide."

Jacques just tsked and resumed drying Cloud's sweat. Cloud has always been like
that, not because he doesn't want to decide, but because he's being considerate of
him. To Cloud, his comfort has always been Cloud's priority.

"Whatever you decide, your Nube got your back." Then Cloud puckered his lips and
winked at him.

Jacques tsked. "Annoying prick."

Cloud just chuckled, "you're being a baby dragon again." Cloud walked pass him,
"I'll ready your snack." As Cloud walked pass him, the annoying bastard slapped his
ass. "Later, babe."

Kaagad na umigkas ang binti ni Jacques para sipain si Cloud pero nakatakbo na si
Cloud papasok sa kabahayan habang mahinang tumatawa.

Jacques tsked. That prick haven't changed a bit for the past years. Still annoying
as ever.

Napailing si Jacques saka napatingin ulit sa mga bata na naglalaro. He was actually
happy that the motherfucking Count was not biased when it comes to his kids, he was
not just teaching KN and NK basketball, but he's also including Maple and Mint.

Well, he's a crazy motherfucker. It's to be expected.

Naglakad si Jacques patungong basketball court at umupo sa bench katabi ni Lady SM

na abala sa pakikipagusap nito aa Elite Forces sa cellphone nito.

"Okay! By pair!" Sigaw ni Knight na nasa court. "We're going to play, motherfuc—"
napatigil sa pagsigaw si Knight saka napatingin ito kay Lady SM na abala pa rin sa
pakikipausap. The motherfucking Count had this relieved emotion on his face.

"Fuck ... that was scary."

Mint laughed at her father together with KN. While Maple went to NK to chose him
for her partner in the game, so Mint had no choice but to chose KN.

Nameywang si Mint kay KN. "Kasalanan mo 'to, Kuya KN. Bakit ka kasi tumawa, ha?
Hayun tuloy, magka-partner tayo."

KN glared back at Mint. "Ayoko rin naman sayo, ah. Mas matangkad sayo si Ate Maple.
Mas may posibilidad siya na maka-score."

Mint glowered at KN. "I don't want to lose!"

"So am I!" KN hissed back.

"Good." Mint smirked, "I have a plan. 100% success."

KN smirked back. "You're on, little Princess."

Maple looked back at NK over her shoulder who was busy tying Maple's long hair to
get ready for the game. "NK, looks like they're going to wage war on us."

NK smiled. "Don't worry, Ate. I'll protect you from those two little devils."

Maple smiled sweetly. "Yey. Thanks, NK."

"Anytime, Ate."

"Who are you calling devils, Kuya?!" Sabay na sigaw ni KN at Mint kay NK.

Jacques smiled to himself. These kids may not be his, but he was happy to see them
grew up into a good person. He was happy to be one of the person who helped raised
these four. He was happy to be part of their lives and he wanted to continue being
part of their lives 'til he could no longer do so.

These kids has always been one of his happy pill. They are his positivity when the
world was throwing all the negativity on him and Cloud. They are his ray of
sunshine when things were dark and unclear. They are his smile when he felt lonely.
They are his life, part of the reason he wanted to live longer.

Jacques sighed. I miss my son. Parker already finished his College degree and now
he's taking up Medicine and he's studying in a faraway University. They just
visited him last month, but still, he missed the times when Parker would run to him
to asked him to teach him.

Time flies really fast.

Jacques looked at the kids playing basketball again and smiled. They all looked
happy.

Would their smile remain if I told them about me and Cloud? Would they looked at
him and Cloud the same way if he told them? What if everything changed? What if—

"You have to trust them, Jacq." Ani Lady SM na nakaupo sa tabi niya at mukhang
tapos na ang tawag na pinagkakaabalahan nito. "Pinalaki natin silang mabuti. It was
not just me and Knight, you and Cloud helped too."

He looked at Lady SM. "What if something change—"

"Trust them." Lady SM said simply with a smile.

Jacques looked at the kids again. I trust them so much, but I'm scared. But he had
too tell them. Keeping it a secret from them was as good as lying. At alam niyang
hindi lang nagsasalita si Cloud, pero ayaw na ayaw nitong tinatago niya ito.

Jacques took a deep breath and decided. Okay. I'll tell them.

"WHAT'S WITH THE meeting, Papa Jacq?" Tanong ni KN kay Jacques ng makaupo ang lahat
sa salas pagkatapos maghapunan habang si KN ay nakaupo sa armchair ng sofa na
kinauupuan ni Jacques at umakbay ito kay Jacques. "Papa Jacq, you're not leaving
for vacation again, are you?" He pouted. "Papa Jacq, pasalubong, ha?" KN grinned.
"Masarap na chocolates lang."

Ginulo ni Cloud na kararating lang sa salas ang buhok ni KN at inakabayan nito si

binatilyo. "It's important, little Lord. Listen to your Papa Jacq."

Kaagad namang sumeryoso ang mukha ni KN at nang lahat ng bata.

Knight tsked. "Finally. It has been long overdue. About damn time you tell them."

SM who was sitting beside Knight, nodded and smiled at Jacques like she was
encouraging him.

"What is it, Papa Jacq?" Tanong ni Mint na kanina pa inoobserbahan si Jacques. "You
looked nervous."

While Maple and NK stayed silent, waiting for Jacques to speak.

Jacques cleared his throat, breathe in as if the air could fill his body with
courage and then he opened his mouth to speak.

"Trust them." Lady SM said simply with a smile.

Jacques looked at the kids again. I trust them so much, but I'm scared. But he had
too tell them. Keeping it a secret from them was as good as lying. At alam niyang
hindi lang nagsasalita si Cloud, pero ayaw na ayaw nitong tinatago niya ito.

Jacques took a deep breath and decided. Okay. I'll tell them.

"WHAT'S WITH THE meeting, Papa Jacq?" Tanong ni KN kay Jacques ng makaupo ang lahat
sa salas pagkatapos maghapunan habang si KN ay nakaupo sa armchair ng sofa na
kinauupuan ni Jacques at umakbay ito kay Jacques. "Papa Jacq, you're not leaving
for vacation again, are you?" He pouted. "Papa Jacq, pasalubong, ha?" KN grinned.
"Masarap na chocolates lang."

Ginulo ni Cloud na kararating lang sa salas ang buhok ni KN at inakabayan nito si

binatilyo. "It's important, little Lord. Listen to your Papa Jacq."

Kaagad namang sumeryoso ang mukha ni KN at nang lahat ng bata.

Knight tsked. "Finally. It has been long overdue. About damn time you tell them."

SM who was sitting beside Knight, nodded and smiled at Jacques like she was
encouraging him.

"What is it, Papa Jacq?" Tanong ni Mint na kanina pa inoobserbahan si Jacques. "You
looked nervous."

While Maple and NK stayed silent, waiting for Jacques to speak.

Jacques cleared his throat, breathe in as if the air could fill his body with
courage and then he opened his mouth to speak.

"I, ahm," Jacques took a deep breath again before continuing, "I'm keeping a secret
from all of you. I didn't tell you this not because I want to keep it from you, but
because you were too young back then. I'm afraid that you'll misunderstood me. But
now, I think you're Momma is right. It's time from me, for us, to tell you.
Jacques took a deep breath again to keep his courage "You see ... me and your Papa
Cloud," Jacques was nervous but he pushed himself to come out, "...we're together."
There was a long paused and silence, like everyone was waiting for him to
conttinue. "Like a couple." Itinaas niya ang kamay para ipakita ang daliri niya na
may singsing. "We got married in Spain when you were little and just toddlers."
Nagbaba ng tingin si Jacques. "I'm sorry to keep it from you. I'm just concern
about your environment as kids and I also don't want to see you look at us
differently — that would break my heart because you're all important to me and —"

"We know, Papa Jacq."

Nag-angat ng tingin si Jacques kay NK, nagtatanong ang mga mata niya. "What?"

"We know." NK smiled at him and Cloud. "We know that you're together, like Momma
and Dad."

Jacques' eyes widened in surprise. "W-what?"

"Since when?" Cloud asked NK. He was now sitting on the other armchair of the sofa
Jacques was sitting on, his arm wrapping around Jacques' shoulder.

Si KN ang sumagot. "Since we were little."

Jacques looked at KN in shocked. "The fuck?"

"Yeah. It's really not hard to figure it out, Papa Jacq." KN smiled widely. "We
didn't say anything because, well," KN shrugged, "we don't see anything wrong with
it."

Mint nodded. "Yep, yep." Mint grinned and went to hugged Jacques. "We love you and
Papa Cloud so much, Papa Jacq, and it doesn't really matter to us because you loves
us too! So fucking much!"

"Mint." May babala sa boses ni SM habang sinasaway si Mint. "Language."

Mint instantly smiled sweetly. "Sorry, Momma." 1

Maple smiled. "Kuya Parker always tell us not to be prejudice and we know about
your relationship since I was a kid. Nakita namin noon ni NK ang wedding pictures
niyo ni Papa Cloud."

NK nodded. "Yeah. And I remember your wedding."

Cloud chuckled. "Damn. So there was nothing to worry about, huh?" Napailing ito
saka hinalikan sa ulo ang Marquess. "See that, babe? I told you they'll
understand."

KN frowned at his Papa Jacques. "Why were you hiding it anyway, Papa Jacq? It's not
like it's hard to see? I mean ... even without the wedding photos, you two are too
obvious."

Knight nodded vigorously. "Yep. That's what I told Cloud, but Cloud doesn't want to
pressure that motherfucking Marquess."

NK smiled at the two men who was not only a loving guardian to him, but also a
precious part of their family. "Pa Cloud, Pa Jacq, you should get married again,
like Momma at Dad. This time, we'll be in your wedding and we will celebrate with
you."
Biglang tumayo si Mint saka iwinagaway ang kamay sa ere habang tumatalon-talon,
"yey! That's a good idea, Kuya NK. I'll be the flower girl!"

"And I'll be part of the maid of honor." Maple grinned excitedly.

KN hugged Jacques from behind, "I'm already tall, Papa Jacq, but I won't mind being
the coin bearer."

NK raised his hand. "I'll be a bearer too."

That made Jacques smile with unshed tears in his eyes. "Yeah. I like that."

"Then it's a plan!" KN grinned. "We'll organize your wedding, Papa Jacq, Papa
Cloud."

Cloud messed KN's hair. "Make sure it's good, little lord. If it's not, no air
fried chicken for you for a year."

KN stilled and whispered. "The horror..."

Everyone laughed.

"Who's financing it?" Kapagkuwan ay tanong ni Maple.

NK answered. "We will."

Gulat na napatitig ang dalawang pareha sa nga bata. Bakas ang gulat sa mukha ni
Cloud, Jacques, Knight at SM.

"No worries." Tumayo si KN mula sa pagkakaupo sa armrest ng upuan ni Jacques saka

may tinawagan sa cellphone nito. "I'll call Kuya Sai and Kuya RV. They'll help with
the finances."

"What?! Wait!" Pigil ni Jacques kay KN. "they didn't know about—"

Napatigil sa pagsasalita si Jacques ng makita ang emosyon sa mukha ni KN. KN looked

amused. 1

"Papa Jacq, I told you earlier, you two are too obvious." KN chuckled like he
remembered something funny. "We — no, everybody in this Village who knows you too
knows."

Napatanga si Jacques kay KN. "What the fuck?!"

Tumawa lang si Cloud. "Hear that, babe. No used hiding now. We can do PDA at last."

Mabilis na umigkas ang kamao ni Jacques para suntukin si Cloud pero madali iyong
nasalag ni Cloud kapagkuwan ay niyakap lang siya ng mahigpit mula sa likuran saka
hinalikan siya sa batok.

Jacques didn't stop Cloud anymore. He get it. This was the first time that they'd
been free to be close like this in front of everyone in the house. Even he felt
like hugging Cloud, but of course he won't. Lalaki lang ang ulo ni Cloud
panigurado.

"Okay. That settles it." Ani KN na katatapos lang makipag-usap sa cellphone nito.
"Kuya Sai and Kuya RV will help. I think Eiji will help too and the Volkzki twins."
"I'll call Kuya Parker." Maple volunteered, "I'm sure he'll love to help out."

"Then I'll call Khael." Boluntaryo naman ni NK. "I'm sure he'll help. Papa Khairro
is rich after all. I'll give Night a ring as well. He'll help for sure. Wait, maybe
Dean, Simal and Kaiden will help."

Mint, then, raised her hand.
you have so I can budget our
Nagkaniya-kaniya namang sabi
naitabi ng nga ito galing sa
Knight just watched the kids
"Then I'll be the treasurer. Tell me how much savings
money."
kay Mint si NK, KN at Maple kung magkano ang pera na
baon ng mga ito. And the four, Cloud, Jacques, SM and
with soft expression on their face.

They all have the same thought in their minds. We raised them well.

"I only have a million or two in my savings because I bought my very first owned
car last month." Ani Maple kay Mint na siyang naglilista sa cellphone nito. "I got
most of it from our Grandpas and Grandmas and of course, sobra sa baon ko."

Every adult in the house could provide a car for Maple, but Maple wanted to buy the
car on her own as a sign of her independency. They all agreed with a deal that
they'll take care of the gas of course.

"I have 6 to 7 Million in my account." Ani NK na ikinatanga nila rito. "What?" NK

asked after seeing their dumbfounded stares at him. "I work for the Orgánosi
sometimes. We get to keep our payment and they pay well."

That's right. Even at a young age, except for Maple and Mint, NK and KN sometimes
worked for the Orgánosi already as part of their training — only the not-so-
dangerous missions of course — and with a supervisor. And they get to keep their
payment of course. Knight and SM doesn't approved of it, but NK and KN made their
parents understand how important it was to train now since they plan to be their
parents' heir.

"6 to 7M for me as well." Ani KN. "I just gave a million to Kuya Sai for the
orphanage so, yeah ..."

They all looked at KN in awe this time.

KN just grinned. "I work as a tracker with Kuya Sai for the Orgánosi. We split the
payment."

They all looked at Mint who looked back at them and answered. "I got 10M or so in
my account."

They all looked at Mint in shocked.

"Mi princesa, what have you been doing?" Knight asked Mint.

Mint shrugged. "Well, I work with Papa Kamden sometimes for his research, but
that's it. I haven't really work seriously for the Orgánosi because Momma won't let
me. And I also have tons of Grandmas and Grandpas. And Mama Ramona always gave me
allowance because she loves me. And also Mama Jada and Papa Charlon." Mint grinned.
"I have lots of resources, you see."

Napatanga nalang sila kay Mint na bumalik na sa paglilista at nag-budget na ang

apat kung magkano ang gagastusin nila sa kasal.
Nagkatinginan sila Knight, SM, Cloud at Jacques sa isa't-isa.

"How the fuck did it come to this?" Jacques asked.

SM smiled. "Just let them. They seemed serious about it. Maybe because they want to
be part of your wedding, be with you two in the photos and all."

Inakbayan ni Cloud si Jacques. "It's going to be our second wedding, but we're
still not paying. How lucky could we get?"

Jacques punched Cloud's thigh. "They're just kids!" Jacques looked at SM. "Lady SM,
please stop them."

SM just smiled and looked at the busy kids. "Look at them. They look so excited."

"Hey, little Lords, little Princesses," kuha ni Jacques sa atensiyon ng apat. "It's
okay, you don't have to do this. We'll pay for it."

Nilingon siya ni KN. "Nope. Leave this to us, Papa Jacq."

"Yeah." Sang-ayon ni NK. "It's the least we could do for you and Papa Cloud."

"Yeah!" Mint grinned. "This is us showing how much we love you both!"

Maple nodded. "Leave it to us, Papa Jacq. We'll surely pull this off."

Jacques was speechless and could only sighed when Cloud wrapped his arm around him.
"Let them be, babe. As long a they're happy with what they're doing, we could only
support them. To make you feel better, we'll make it up to them for this tenfold,
okay, babe?"

Jacques nodded and asked. "We're really lucky, huh, Nube?"

Cloud smiled. "Yes. We are. Our better place just keeps getting better and better."

Jacques smiled. "Yeah. We are in a better place indeed, Nube."

Cloud intertwined their hands together and kissed his temple before whispering, "Je
t'aime, mon marquis."

Instead of cussing Cloud like he's used to because he doesn't like PDA in front of
the kids, Jacques smiled while looking at the kids and replied to Cloud,

"Te amo tambien, Nube."

CECELIB | C.C.

A/N: I still want to write more of #NuBabe, but I don't know when will that be. I'm
not closing the possibility of me writing another SC for NuBabe. Maybe I'll do a 3
Chapter Christmas Special. Stay tuned! 🍑