AMOROUS AGREEMENT

SPECIAL CHAPTER

(Fostering Angels)

TWO BOYS with green eyes—IDENTICAL TWINS—were sent to Keiran

and Raiven's home a week after they spoke to Kamden. For children aged
six, they were not so lively. They were just holding each other's hand after
they were dropped off at their house, not even looking around to check the
place as if afraid.

Honestly, Raiven and Keiran didn't know how to approach the twins, but
they promised to take them in for a while. They had to do their best to
make it comfortable for them.

"Hi." It was Keiran who approached the two at the gate and squatted to
level his face with theirs while Raiven was standing behind him. "What's
your name?" Keiran's voice was so soft and light-hearted that it made
Raiven smile. "My name's Keiran, what's yours?"

The two didn't speak, which was not shocking knowing what they had been
through. They were just looking down.

"In the meantime, until they find a suitable family for you, you'll be
staying here with us," patuloy na pag-usap ni Keiran sa dalawa. "I hope
that's okay."

No response.

Keiran turned to Raiven; he was asking for assistance.

Looking at the twins, Raiven was not sure if he could help Keiran. He had
an indifferent face. Yes, it had lessened over the years that he was with
Keiran, but he still didn't have a friendly face. But for the sake of giving
the twins a comfortable home, Raiven stepped forward and did his best.

"Hi, I'm Raiven." Inilahad niya ang kamay sa dalawa. "I'm Keiran's
husband."

Maybe it was unheard of for the twins because they raised their heads and
their eyes snapped at Raiven, giving him a questioning look.

"There's no Mommy here," Raiven continued because he had a feeling that

those were the words the twins were waiting to hear, and he was right—
something shined in the twins' eyes. "It's just me and Keiran. So... want to
live with us? We honestly don't know how to be a parent for you two, but
we'll try our best to give you a happy home. We can't promise anything
huge, but we can promise you a comfortable life. Is that okay?"

Raiven was not expecting the two to accept his hand. They didn't say
anything, but the mere fact that they accepted his hand meant a lot.

"You should hold Keiran's hand too, and then introduce yourselves."
Raiven smiled. "He'll sulk if you two didn't. He's a very sensitive guy."

Napailing na lang si Keiran pero may ngiti sa mga labi niya lalo nang
hawakan ng isa sa kambal ang kamay niya at nagsalita ito.

"W-we... we don't have a name..."

Nagkatinginan sina Raiven at Keiran. Sa nabasa nilang report, may

pangalan doon ang dalawa. It was John and Paul.

And that's when it clicked to Raiven and Keiran. Those were just made-up
names for the two so they could travel under the protection of the
organization. They were not from this country after all. The Orgánosi did
something for these two to be here legally.
"Is there a nickname we can call you?" Keiran asked. "Like, um, the usual
name the people around you calls you?"

The one holding Raiven's hand answered, "B1. And I'm B2."

Both Keiran's and Raiven's hearts sank.

Raiven took a deep breath and messed 'B2' hair. "Do you mind if we gave
you a name?"

The two shook their head.

"Then..." Raiven patted B2's head. "You'll be Ashton and you..." He messed
B1's hair. "You'll be Braxton. Ash and Brax for short. Is that okay?"

The two nodded while mumbling their new name. It was safe to conclude
that they liked it.

"Then from now on, you're Ashton and Braxton," Raiven declared with a
smile. "Come on then. Let's go inside the house. We prepared a very
delicious dinner for you two."

Somehow, that made the two move as if excited to eat.

Keiran and Raiven smiled at each other as they guided the two to their
home. They could see that the twins were tensed as they entered, but when
the two realized that there was no one inside, just like what Raiven said,
the two visibly calmed down.

"Don't you want to take off your jackets?" Keiran asked the two when they
entered the kitchen. "You might be more comforting without it."

Keiran was just suggesting, but the two immediately listened and took off
their jackets. And what Keiran and Raiven saw made the two flinched.

Hiding behind those jackets were cuts and scars. There was even a red
mark on their necks as if someone tied a rope around their necks.
Seeing that, Raiven's tears just fell uncontrollably because it reminded
him of his past. He didn't go through the same thing with the twins, but
Raiven knew the feeling of pain, fear, and the trauma it left behind.

Hinawakan ni Keiran ang kamay ni Raiven saka pinisil 'yon nang makitang
tumulo ang luha nito.

Kaagad na tinuyo ni Raiven ang mga luha saka nginitian ang asawa para
hindi na ito mag-alala saka ibinaling niya ang atensiyon sa dalawa na
nakatingin sa pagkain na nakahain sa lamesa.

"Come on, let's eat," ani Raiven saka kinarga ang dalawa—tag-isa sila ni
Keiran—para i-upo ang dalawa sa upuan. "There. You can eat anything on
the table. It's all for you, so don't hesitate and eat a lot."

The two nodded, and with Keiran and Raiven's help—putting food on the
plate, giving the two waters and fresh juice—the two were eating heartily
in no time.

Raiven smiled when he saw that the two were eating vegetables. Mama
will surely love them, Raiven thought while watching the two eat.

After dinner, Keiran stayed in the kitchen to clean up while Raiven guided
the two to their own room to give them a bath and tuck them in on their
bed.

"We made this room for you two," ani Raiven habang kinukumutan ang
dalawa na nagkatabing nakahiga sa kama. "We also bought you clothes and
toys for you to play with. If you need anything, remember the room we
passed earlier, the one I pointed?"

The two nodded.

"That's mine and Keiran's room. If you need something, don't hesitate to
knock. We will answer as fast as we could."

The two nodded again.

Raiven took a deep breath and caressed the twins' hair. "Will you be able
to sleep alone here? If you couldn't, you can stay in our room in the
meantime."

The two shook their heads simultaneously.

"It's 'kay."

Ashton nodded. "W-we always sleep alone. We don't want Mama inside."

Raiven felt as if his heart were being gripped, knowing what Ashton
meant. "Don't worry. No Mama here. Just us four. Keiran, me, and you
two."

The relief on the twins' faces was so palpable, Raiven felt it.

"Have a good night," kapagkuwan ay sabi ni Raiven sa dalawa saka

masuyong ginulo ang buhok ng mga ito. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"G-good night."

"G'night."

Raiven smiled at the two before he left the room and closed the door.

Nang makalabas siya, kaagad na nakita niya si Keiran na hinihintay siya sa

labas.

"Why didn't you go in to say good night?" tanong ni Raiven nang yakapin
ito ni Keiran sa baywang at hinalikan sa noo.

Keiran shrugged. "They're a little intimidated by me. I don't want to make

them uncomfortable before sleeping."

Raiven caressed Keiran's face. "You know, hun, seeing you take care of
them earlier, I think you're going to be a good dad."

"So are you, kara."

Mahinang natawa si Raiven. "Nangangapa ako. I don't exactly have a good
father figure, so I don't know if I'm doing it right."

Keiran claimed Raiven's lips and said, "You are too, babe. They took a
liking to you."

That made Raiven smile. "Really? I'm glad."

"Yep." Still hugging, Keiran guided Raiven to their room. "Now that I
think about it, we shouldn't do this in the hallway. We have kids in the
house now."

Mahinang natawa si Raiven at hinayaan lang si Keiran na igiya siya

patungo sa kuwarto nila kung saan ihiniga siya ng asawa at kinubabawan.

"Seriously, hun." Raiven pinched Keiran's cheek. "We have kids in the
house now."

Keiran shrugged. "Then... don't make a sound?"

Raiven nearly rolled his eyes. "When was the last time we made love that I
didn't make a sound?"

"Hmm... now that you say that... can't remember."

Napailing si Raiven kapagkuwan ay ipinalibot ang mga braso sa leeg ni

Keiran. "Fine. I'll try to not make a sound."

Keiran grinned. "That's my kara."

Raiven just rolled his eyes as his husband claimed his lips, which led to a
hot and heavy night, unknown to the two that they were the subject of the
twins' conversation inside the twins' room—the kind of conversation that
was too serious for six years olds.
"I LIKE ASHTON," Ashton whispered to his twin the moment Raiven left
the room. He was referring to his new name. "What do you think, Brother?
Do you like your name too?"

Braxton nodded. "Yes. Raiven is really nice."

Ashton nodded. "Yes. Yes! And Keiran is scary."

Braxton immediately held Ashton's hand. "But Keiran is Raiven's husband.

I'm sure Raiven would not marry him if he's bad. Maybe he just looked a
little scary."

Ashton nodded again. "You're right. Maybe Keiran is not like our daddy
who beats us all the time."

Braxton nodded vigorously. "Hmm. And remember what that guy

promised to us? He said, if we came here and live with Raiven and Keiran,
he'll make sure that no one would hurt us anymore. No one would force us
to do anything we don't want to do."

Ashton looked at Braxton curiously. "Do you really think that guy Kamden
will keep his promise?"

Braxton shrugged. "I don't know, Ashton, I just... I just want to live here
and hope that the promise is true. You see their food earlier, right? We got
to eat delicious food for free. They didn't ask for anything. And Raiven
said we're also going to have a delicious breakfast tomorrow. When was
the last time we eat good food for free, Ashton?"

Ashton shook his head. "I don't remember..."

"Precisely." Braxton lips thinned. "But of course, we have to observe them,

Ashton. We have to make sure that they're really good people like that guy
Kamden promised."

Ashton nodded, but in his eyes, Raiven was already a good person. He
gave them food, bathed them and tucked them into bed. No one had ever
done that to them before. Not even their parents, especially their scary
mother. They're always in a cage, rented and sold to the highest bidder
because of their brains. But Raiven and Keiran didn't cage them; they
didn't even ask them anything except for their names. They even gave
them free food, clothes, toys, and room for free.

To Ashton, Raiven and Keiran were already good people. But for his twin
brother, he nodded and agreed to observe them.

And that's what the twins did for the first couple of days that they were
with Raiven and Keiran.

When Raiven was working, they'd be home with Keiran who always took
good care of them and played with them. He cooked really good food as
well, much to the twins' happiness. And when Keiran was working, Raiven
would take them to his office and let them play around. There, they found
out that Raiven was a lawyer. For the twins who had such brilliant minds,
they knew what it meant to be a lawyer.

The twins also met Raiven's brother Raizen, who always gave them food.
And they also met Police Officer Khairro Sanford, brother of Keiran. And
as per the twins' observation, Keiran and Raiven were both loved by their
brothers, and to the twins, it meant they were really good people.

In just one week of living with Raiven and Keiran, Ashton and Braxton
had already become so comfortable that they now woke up early and
watched Keiran cook breakfast. And if Keiran was at work, they would
pout because they knew Raiven was not an excellent cook and they would
undoubtedly eat takeouts.

But they were still thankful that Raiven always buys them delicious food.
Anything they liked, Raiven would always buy it for them.

And in Ashton's and Braxton's observations, they were finally able to draw
a conclusion about their benefactor.

Raiven was really nice but strict. He seldom smiled, but when he did, it
was genuine. And Raiven loved Keiran. Meanwhile, Keiran was the nicest,
always spoiling them with anything. He'd always smile, but when he's
serious, it's an important one. And Keiran loved Raiven so much.

So these twins who had brilliant minds and whose mental age were much
older than their age, Ashton and Braxton decided to trust the married
couple Keiran and Raiven.

"I'm glad it's finally healing," Raiven said while putting a cream around
their neck to heal the bruises they had there.

The four were in the living room, sitting on the wide carpeted floor.
Bonding since it was a weekend. Raiven had no work, and Keiran was not
busy.

"Yeah," Keiran agreed. "Look, it's starting to fade. Isn't that nice? It won't
hurt anymore."

It was the bruises that nearly killed the twins, and seeing Raiven and
Keiran taking care of them, the twins had become even more attached to
the two.

"Raiven?"

Raiven looked at Ashton and messed his head when Raiven saw curiosity
in Ashton's eyes. "What is it, little guy?"

"Um..." Ashton looked and sounded hesitant before he finally had the
courage to continue his words. "Why are you not asking what happened?
Why we're here and... you know, why we have bruises?"

Braxton nodded because it baffled him too. Raiven and Keiran were
clearly both caring people, so for them not to ask, they didn't get it.

"Because I don't want to make you two uncomfortable," Raiven answered

and smiled at the two. "I know what it feels like to go through something
painful, so I don't want to ask questions that you might not want to answer
and might want to keep it to yourselves."
Keiran nodded. "And we don't want you to remember those painful
memories."

Ashton and Braxton looked down, thinking, and then Braxton spoke.

"We have a good memory, so we remember all of it. Every day," Braxton
whispered and Ashton nodded. "But we're thankful that you didn't ask
because we didn't want to tell you either. It's not a good memory, so we
didn't want to talk about it."

Raiven and Keiran hugged the twins, messing their hair and tickling them
to make them laugh and try to cheer the twins, but in their minds, they
were thinking that it didn't seem like they were talking to six-year-olds.

Napansin na 'yon nila Raiven at Keiran noong una, pero hindi nila
pinagtuonan ng pansin, pero ngayong araw-araw silang magkakasama,
napakadaling makita niyon pero hindi nila pinapansin at baka mailang sa
kanila ang magkambal.

"By the way, Ash, Brax, I already told you about my family living next
door, right?" Keiran said after tickling the two. "They actually want to
meet you. Is that okay?"

Napatingin si Ashton at Braxton kay Keiran. They were scared because

they know that Keiran's family had two women, and they didn't like
women because they were scary. But at the same time, they didn't want to
disappoint Keiran because he had been so nice to them without asking
anything in return.

"No need to be pressured," ani Keiran nang makitang naghawak ang kamay
ng magkambal. "If you don't want to, that's okay with me. I'll understand."

Ashton and Braxton knew Keiran would understand, but they wanted to
give something back for his niceness and care.

Ashton and Braxton shared a look before Ashton nodded.

"We'll, um, we'll try to meet them."

Ashton and Braxton were happy that they decided that because they saw
how Keiran's face lit up. Somehow, seeing Keiran happy made them happy
too.

"Great! They'll join us for dinner. Is that okay with you two?"

Ashton and Braxton nodded.

"You sure?" Raiven asked the two to make sure that it was really okay. "It's
okay if you say no. We won't force you."

Braxton shook his head. "No. W-we want to."

Keiran smiled, seeing Braxton making a brave face. "Okay. We hear you,
little guy, but if they join us and their presence makes you uncomfortable,
you have to tell us so we could send them home immediately."

"But isn't that bad?" Ashton asked in curiosity.

"We will tell them beforehand that you two are sensitive with people, so if
we ask them to leave, they'll understand. And they're my family, there's
nothing to worry about."

Raiven nodded and laid himself on the floor and made Keiran's lap his
pillow. "I think Mama Stella would love you both. She likes kids who eat
vegetables."

"So she doesn't like you?" Braxton asked. "You don't like veggies."

Keiran laughed, and Raiven grimaced. "Oh, she likes me. She loves me
more than Keiran actually. But she always chases me to feed me
vegetables."

Braxton and Ashton shared a look before they moved and mimicked
Raiven. They, too, lay on the carpeted floor and made Raiven's tummy
their pillow.

Raiven laughed at that. "So you two can be a baby too."

Braxton answered, "We are babies."

"Hmm-mm."

Raiven just chuckled and combed Braxton's and Ashton's hair until they
had to get ready for dinner.

Raiven and Keiran let the twins hide behind their backs as they welcomed
Keiran's family. Everyone deliberately didn't come to visit to give the
twins the comfort they needed, but Mama Stella had been wanting to meet
them, so they told her that they'd ask the twins. And if the twins agreed but
became uncomfortable midway, they had to abandon ship and send
Keiran's family home, which was okay with Keiran's family. They
understood.

"Hi!" Stella couldn't wait to spoil the two adorable identical twins hiding
behind Keiran and Raiven's back. "I'm Grandma Stella. Keiran's Mom.
Nice to meet you."

"Hi! I'm Sandy. Kuya Keiran's sister."

"And I'm Johan, Keiran's father."

The twins meekly nodded but didn't introduce themselves, so Raiven did it
for them.

"Everyone, this is Ashton, and the one hiding behind Keiran's back is
Braxton."

Stella wanted to hug the twins, but controlled herself. She just said hi,
entered the house, and went to the kitchen.

Holding Keiran's and Raiven's hands, the twins followed everyone to the
dining table. They could only tolerate Stella and Sandy because Keiran and
Raiven had earned their trust, but they were very wary of them—because
of their traumatic experience with women.

Even while eating dinner, Ashton and Braxton stick close to Raiven and
Keiran.
"Is it good?" Stella asked the twins when they tasted the food she brought.
"I cooked it. I heard from Keiran that you liked his cooking. Well, I'm
proud to say that he got it from me."

The twins' eyes sparkled but immediately cast down their eyes as if afraid
something might happen if they looked at Stella directly.

Stella sighed. "I don't know what you've been through and I don't know if
you could understand me, but let me tell you this—not all women will hurt
you. I and Sandy won't hurt you. We are Keiran's family, and whoever
Keiran cares about and loves, we love and care for them too. I know you
can't trust anything I say now, but please give us a chance to prove
ourselves. And if someone hurt you in any way, man or woman, that son of
mine"—tinuro ni Stella si Raiven—"will sue their asses until they rot in
jail. With my two sons and us, no one can hurt you two."

Ashton and Braxton looked at Stella again before casting their gazes down.

"Here, eat up." Stella will not give up on gaining the twin's trust. "It's
delicious. Try it. I made it just for you two."

Ash and Brax were both skeptical, but when they looked at Raiven and
Keiran and they nodded at them, Ash and Brax ate the dessert Stella made.
Their eyes sparkled at the taste.

"It's so good," Ashton whispered.

"Hmm. More," Braxton muttered under his breath.

Mama Stella happily put more desserts on Ashton's and Braxton's plates,
and the next thing they knew, the twins were already talking to Mama
Stella.

"Sinong mag-aakala na mango crepe lang pala ang magpapaamo sa

dalawang 'yon?" natatawang sabi ni Keiran habang pinagmamasdan ang
ina na ginagawan ng mango crepe ang magkambal habang nanonood ang
mga ito. Nasa may island counter ang tatlo kaya hindi nila marinig
masyado ang pinag-uusapan ng tatlo pero nakikita pa rin nila.
"Who can say no to Mom's charm?" sabad ni Raiven.

Everyone smiled and watched the three interact, curious as to what the
three were talking about, but no one interrupted. Mama Stella worked hard
all night to gain even just a little trust from the twins, and now that she
was given a chance, no one disturbed her chance.

"So how do you call Keiran and Raiven?" Stella asked the twins curiously
while readying the mango crepe. She already had all the ingredients that
Johan fetched from the house when the twins showed interest in the mango
crepe, so Stella was just putting everything together.

"Um, just Keiran and Raiven," Braxton answered.

Stella actually gasped. "Holy... what? No way..."

The two visibly shrink away from Stella, so Stella immediately explained
herself to not scare the two.

"You call me Grandma, right?"

Ashton and Braxton nodded.

"Then you should call Keiran and Raiven, Papa and Dad."

"But..." Ashton frowned. "They're not our dad."

Braxton nodded. "Yes. And even our own dad didn't want us to call him
Dad, so... why would Raiven and Keiran wants to be called that?"

Stella's face softened as she felt a pang of pain in her heart. "Oh, you two.
It hurts my heart, really."

"What?"

"Huh?"

Umiling si Stella. "Nothing, nothing. It's just that, they're my sons, so I

know they'll like to hear you two call them Papa and Dad."
"But we're not family," Ashton answered.

Stella smiled. "Family doesn't start and end with blood. Anyone can be
your family, as long as they love and care for you like a family does.
Family is always being there for each other, helping one another, and
loving and supporting each other. Does that sound like Keiran and Raiven
to you two?"

Ashton and Braxton immediately nodded, without a doubt.

"Then they are your new family," Stella concluded. "Keiran is your Papa,
and Raiven is your Dad. Wouldn't it be nice to stay with them?"

Mabilis na tumango sina Ashton at Braxton.

"But..." Ashton looked down. "That day when we arrived, Raiven said this
is our temporary home until they find a good place for us."

"We don't want to leave," dagdag ni Braxton. "We like it here. We like
Raiven and Keiran."

Stella smiled broadly. "If that's the case, then call them Dad and Papa."

Ashton and Braxton looked at each other before they nodded and went
back to watching Grandma Stella make mango crepe. Meanwhile, Stella
was happily smiling because she felt she did something good with the
twins.

Hindi man naging ka-close ni Stella kaagad ang magkambal, para sa

kaniya, napakaganda pa rin ng gabing nakausap niya ang dalawa.

When Keiran's family left after dinner, Stella gave the twins a subtle wink
before leaving.

"So how's dinner?" Raiven asked Ash and Brax while walking them to
their room with Keiran. "Did you like it? Were you uncomfortable?"

"Just a little, but it's okay," Ashton answered.

"That's good." Keiran was happy. "We'll have dinner with them next week
too. Is that okay?"

Kaagad na tumango ang magkambal na ikinangiti ni Raiven at Keiran.

"Come on then," aya ni Keiran sa dalawa. "Time to clean up and brush

your teeth."

Ashton and Braxton ran towards their room and immediately went to brush
their teeth. When Raiven and Keiran entered the bathroom, Ash and Brax
were already there, playing with water and waiting for Keiran and Raiven
to give them a half-bath.

They had been doing it for more than a week that after the half-bath, Ash
and Brax immediately went to the closet to pick up their pj's. And as usual,
Keiran and Raiven tucked the two to bed.

"Good night, Papa."

"Good night, Dad."

Keiran and Raiven were too shocked at what they just heard that they just
blinked at the twins.

And the twins took it the wrong way. Because even their real dad didn't
want to be called Dad by them.

Ash and Brax were already ready to say sorry and beg for forgiveness
when Raiven and Keiran sat on the edge of their bed and messed their hair
before kissing them on the forehead.

That, too, was the first time for the twins—a kiss on the forehead.

It felt nice, Ash and Brax thought.

"You did good today, little guys." Keiran pinched Ash's and Brax's cheeks.
"I'm happy and proud."
Raiven nodded and smiled. "We're really proud of you. You were amazing
tonight. You were so brave. We're very happy."

"Does that mean we can call you Dad?" Brax asked.

"And Papa?" Ash asked.

Raiven and Keiran both chuckled at how serious the twins looked and
nodded simultaneously.

"Of course." Keiran nodded and playfully pinched Ash's and Brax's noses.
"Anytime, little guys. Anyway, have a good night."

"Good night." Inayos ni Raiven and kumot ng mga ito saka masuyong
pinisil ang pisngi. "We'll see you tomorrow."

We'll see you tomorrow. Ash and Brax's favorite words from Keiran and
Raiven.

"You two did good," dagdag ni Keiran. "Good night."

Ash and Brax watched their papa and dad leave the room, both had a smile
on their face because they felt good to be praised by their papa and dad.
The two didn't know what that certain emotion was called, but it was warm
and fluffy and full of bliss that they wanted to be praised again.

The twins may have brilliant minds, but analyzing and understanding their
emotions were something they didn't excel at. They only understand one
thing—they wanted to be praised again and to see their papa and dad
smiling happily because of them.

And that emotion had become one of the driving forces of Braxton and
Ashton as they grow up. They wanted to be praised—to be acknowledged
by their papa Keiran and daddy Raiven. The two persons they looked up to.
The two persons who mattered to them the most.
CECELIB | C.C.
 AMOROUS AGREEMENT

SPECIAL CHAPTER

(Decision)

WAKING UP IN the morning, Ashton and Brax immediately ran to the

kitchen where they knew their papa Keiran was cooking. The twins had
been with Raiven and Keiran for almost three months now, and the two had
become very familiar and comfortable already. Unfortunately, that
morning, their papa Keiran left early because of work.

How did they know? Their papa left a message on the table.

Sorry, little ones. Papa can't cook today. Got called to work early. I'm
sure your dad is still asleep the moment you two read this, so go wake
Dad up and have breakfast at Mom's house. Love you. Bye!

Ash and Brax looked so down when they read their papa's message, they
were even pouting. But when they read they were going to have breakfast
in their grandma's house, they immediately and gleefully went to their
papa and dad's bedroom.

The door was open, and they immediately saw their dad sleeping
peacefully in sweatpants with no shirt on.

Mabilis na tumakbo ang dalawa patungo sa kama saka umakyat. Nang nasa
ibabaw na sila ng kama, pareho nilang dinaganan ang daddy nila para
gisingin ito.

"Daddy! Wake up!"

"Wake up, Dad! We're hungry! Let's go to Grandma's house."

Raiven stirred in his sleep, and when he saw Ash and Brax trying their best
to wake him, he groaned and reached out his hand to mess their heads.

"I'm awake... I'm awake..." he muttered before he forcefully pried open his
eyes and looked at the twins. "Always so early."

Ash and Brax both grinned, and they tried to tickle Raiven to fully wake
him up.

Natawa na lang si Raiven saka bumangon. "What's with the early—huh?

Where's your papa?"

"Work," Ash and Brax answered at the same time.

"Oh." Raiven yawned. "Then we're gonna have breakfast in your grandma's
house."

"That's what Papa said," ani Braxton saka hinawakan sa kamay si Raiven
at hinihila ito paalis sa kama. "Come on, Daddy. You have to change. We're
hungry. Let's go to Grandma's house already."

Mahinang natawa na lang si Raiven bago umalis sa kama para maglinis ng

katawan at magpalit ng damit.

Three months ago, these two—Ash and Brax—were scared of Mama Stella
and Sandy because of their past. Pero ngayon, ito pa ang nag-uuya na
pumunta sa bahay nila Mama Stella.

Maybe the environment helped change them, but it was also thanks to the
child therapist Kamden sent. Every week, for two months now, the child
therapist would visit their house to have a talk or play with the twins. And
the last time Raiven and Keiran spoke to the twins' therapist, he assured
them that they were getting better every day.

At nakikita naman 'yon sa magkambal na nagiging malikot at makulit na.

They still had reservations when it came to other people, especially
women, but they were not as afraid as before.

"Daddy, are you still not done?" Ashton was pouting so hard.
"We're hungry!"

Mahinang natawa na lang si Raiven saka tinapos ang ginagawa sa banyo at

kumuha ng T-shirt sa closet. "I'm done, I'm done. Come on. Let's go have
breakfast next door."

"Yey!"

"Yes!"

The twins were running gleefully again, and Raiven just followed the two
with a smile.

He and Keiran didn't know how to be a parent, but being with Ash and
Brax changed them somehow—a better change. It's not just them but the
whole house. Nagkaroon ng buhay ang bahay nila. Nadagdagan ng kulay at
saya. They were happy before when it was just him and Keiran in the
house; now that they're with the twins, they felt happier, and their house
had become livelier.

Raiven didn't know anymore what will happen to him and Keiran if the
time would come for Ashton and Braxton to leave. The loneliness would
be excruciating. Honestly, he didn't want the twins to leave their house. He
was even planning to talk to Kamden. He was just waiting for the right
time since Keiran told him Kamden was busy.

"Daddy! Daddy! Come on!"

"Daddy! Let's go!"

Ashton and Braxton both held Raiven's hand, snapping Raiven out from
his reverie, and the two dragged him to Keiran's parents' house after
Raiven locked the gate.

"Come on, Daddy! I'm hungry!"

"Daddy! Breakfast!"
Nangingiting nagpaubaya naman si Raiven at hinayaan ang dalawa na
hilahin siya.

Nang makarating sila sa bahay, kaagad na tumakbo ang dalawa patungong

kusina habang tinatawag si Mama Stella.

"Grandma! We're here for breakfast!"

"Grandma! Grandma!"

"Okay, you two, settle down," natatawang sabi ni Mama Stella habang
tinutulungan ang dalawa na makaupo sa upuan.

Pumasok si Raiven sa kusina. "Sorry, Ma. Keiran's at work. Ayaw nila sa

luto ko."

"Sino ba may gusto sa luto mo?" Mama Stella pinched Raiven's cheek and
pushed him to sit. "Upo na. Maghahain na ako ng agahan. Johan, make
some milk for the twins."

"Ma, ako na—"

"No, Raiven." Stella glared at her husband. "Go, Johan. Make some milk.
Para naman masabi mong may ginagawa ka rito sa bahay. Every since
Sandy graduated, you seldom go to work and visit your company. Si Sandy
na lahat ang gumagawa."

Johan shrugged. "Because Sandy is a capable girl."

"I know that, so go and make some milk for your grandkids."

Mahinang natawa na lang si Raiven ng tumalima ang ama ni Keiran ay

pinagtimpla ng gatas ang magkambal.

"Thanks, Grandpa."

"Thank you for the milk, Grandpa."

Johan's face softened as he pinched the twins' cheeks. "It's really nice to
have grandchildren. So sweet and adorable."

Ashton and Braxton both smiled, but their smile widened even more when
Mama Stella placed the breakfast on the table.

Magtatanong sana si Raiven kung hindi ba napapagod si Mama Stella sa

pagpapakain sa kanila ng agahan kapag wala si Keiran ngayong tatlo na
sila, pero nakikita niya ang kasiyahan sa mukha ng ina ni Keiran.

Stella was spoiling the twins and Raiven, of course. And she was happy
that little ones were added to her family. She missed taking care of kids.
She missed playing with them. That's why she babied Raiven all the time,
and now she had another one to spoil. She was happy.

"Grandma, we really love your food."

"Aww." Pinanggigilan ni Stella ang pisngi ng dalawa.

"Yes, Grandma. And we also like the milk you made us, Grandpa."

Kaagad na napangiti si Johan. "We're blessed with such adorable babies."

Lihim namang napailing si Raiven. Really, these two already know how to
sweeten people up.

The whole breakfast, Ash and Brax were just being adorable, even Raiven
couldn't help pinching their cheeks, which the two seemed to like.

"We need to go, Ma," paalam ni Raiven sa ina ni Keiran na ayaw silang
paalisin pagkatapos mag-agahan at maglaro ng mga bata. "I need to give
them a bath."

"I can do it," mabilis na sabi ni Stella.

Raiven smiled softly at Keiran's mother. "I know, Ma, but I'm trying to
learn." Ginulo niya ang buhok ni Ashton at Braxton. "I want to learn how
to take care of them. Keiran had been busy these days. And I'm a dad. I
need to act like one."
Masuyong napangiti si Stella sa sinabi ni Raiven. "If you need anything,
call. Nandito lang naman kami."

Tumango si Raiven saka giniya ang dalawa pabalik sa bahay nila.

"Daddy, we taking a bath?" Braxton asked.

"Yep."

"Then can we use the bathtub and not the shower?" Ashton asked. "It's
more fun in the bathtub."

"Sure." Raiven grinned. "Your papa bought bath bombs. Let's try them."

"Yes!"

"Yey!"

The two were back to being excited again. They even picked their own
clothes and towels, and then they happily went into the bathtub Raiven
prepared for the two.

"Daddy, when are we going to visit a mall?" Ashton asked.

Napaisip si Raiven. Ever since the twins arrived, they haven't really gone
to crowded places because of their trauma. "Would that be okay with you?
I know you're still scared of women."

"If we're with Daddy, we're okay."

Braxton nodded. "As long as Daddy is with us."

Raiven smiled. "Okay. How about you accompany me to buy groceries?"

Ashton's and Braxton's eyes sparkled.

"Really?!"

"For real?!"
Raiven laughed at how excited they looked. "Really. For real," aniya na
natatawa. "After here, we'll go buy groceries."

Ashton and Braxton looked really excited, it could be seen in their

adorable doe green eyes.

And then randomly, Ashton asked, "Daddy, when are you going to teach us
how to speak Tagalog?"

"Just give us some books, Daddy. We'll learn for sure in a week," dagdag ni
Braxton.

Being with the twins, Raiven knew they have brilliant minds. They could
understand complex situations and words, and they could communicate
very well. Raiven just didn't know the extent of their brilliance, so he
thought that, maybe, if he gave them a book that could teach them to speak
the Filipino language, he'd find out how brilliant these two were.

"Hmm. Tomorrow. We'll ask your papa first if he could recommend a book
that could help you two."

"Really?!" The twins were excited again.

"Really. Now let's finish bathing so we could leave immediately."

The twins were so happy and excited that they wanted to finish the bath
already. Natatawa naman si Raiven na tinapos ang pagpapaligo sa dalawa
at binihisan ang mga ito. Pagkatapos ay si Raiven naman ang naligo at
nagbihis.

After that, the three went to Raiven's car, and they drove to the nearest
grocery store. And with two kids by his side, holding his hand, they
entered the supermarket.

Ashton's and Braxton's eyes were full of curiosity as they looked at

everything they passed. Raiven could even feel the twins squeezing his
hands.

"If you want anything, just tell me," ani ni Raiven sa dalawa.
Mabilis na nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya ang dalawa. "Really?!"

Tumango si Raiven habang may ngiti sa mga labi. "Really. So let's start
our grocery shopping?"

"Yes, Dad!"

"Yes!"

Raiven smiled again, and he blinked when he realized something—he had

been smiling a lot lately because of the twins, and Raiven was happy that
he found another reason to smile and be happy.

Kapag kasama niya ang magkambal, walang minuto na hindi siya

ngumingiti. Gano'n siya kasaya.

I really have to talk to Kamden.

"Dad! Dad! We want that!"

"Daddy! That too!"

"And that, Dad!"

"Me too, Dad!"

With a smile on his face, Raiven put everything the twins pointed at the
cart. He wanted to spoil the two, knowing what they had been through at a
young age. Gusto niyang ibalik ang kasiyahan na pinaparamdam sa kaniya
ng dalawa.

"Aww. So adorable!" Two women cooed Ashton and Braxton, seeing them
reaching for the chocolates before they looked at Raiven. "Are they
yours?"

Napatigil ang magkambal sa pag-abot ng chocolate saka napatingin kay

Raiven. Ashton and Braxton understood the question, and they were
waiting hopefully for Raiven's answer.
Raiven and Keiran's acknowledgment and praises were the twins'
happiness.

"Yeah." Raiven smiled at the twins whom he consider his already after
months of living together. "They're mine."

"You have cute sons." One of the women cooed the twins again.

Raiven's smile widened, and he looked so dazzling in the two women's

eyes that the two forgot about the twins and just stared at Raiven's
handsome face.

Ashton and Braxton saw that, and they didn't like it.

And for the twins, they already understood that their daddy was only for
their papa.

So they did the thing that would make Keiran happy and applaud—they
pulled their daddy away from those women who stared at their daddy.

"Come on, Daddy!"

"You're in danger, Daddy!"

Nagpaubaya naman si Raiven dahil natatawa siya sa dalawa na alam

niyang gusto siyang ilayo sa dalawang babae.

"Your chocolates are over there." Nilingon ni Raiven and pinanggalingan.

Nandoon pa ang dalawang babae at nakatingin pa rin kay Raiven. "Don't
you want chocolates?"

"We don't want chocolates!"

"Yes. We don't like chocolates!"

Tumawa lang si Raiven saka ginulo ang buhok ng dalawa. "Okay. Let's go
back later."
The two nodded, and they continued buying groceries. And just like what
Raiven said, they went back for the chocolates while the twins were alert,
making Raiven shake his head.

"There." Raiven took a deep breath and sighed. "We'll just have to pay, and
then we'll go home."

Mahigpit ang hawak ng magkambal sa kamay ni Raiven habang pumipila

sila sa cashier.

"You two okay? Not tired?" tanong ni Raiven.

Mabilis naman na umiling ang ulo ng dalawa.

"We're okay, Daddy."

"Hmm. Not tired at all."

Napangiti si Raiven dahil alam niyang pagod na sa paglalakad ang dalawa

at nagpapanggap na okay lang. Kaya naman binuhat niya si Braxton at
pinaupo ito sa push cart at kinarga naman si Ashton na kaagad yumakap sa
leeg ni Raiven.

Brax was pouting at Ash. He wanted to be carried by their daddy too, but
he kept quiet because he knew their daddy couldn't carry the two of them
at the same time.

If it's Papa, he could, naisip ni Braxton saka tahimik na lang na hinintay

na makapagbayad sila.

After the cashier, Raiven and the twins were about to leave the grocery
when Raiven's phone rang.

It was Keiran.

"Hey, hun—"

"Don't leave the grocery store, kara. Stay there with the kids." Keiran's
voice had a hint of urgency, and Raiven immediately understood.
"Okay. Call me when it's safe to leave."

"I will, kara."

Then the call ended.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Raiven saka giniya ang dalawa patungo

sa isang food stall na nasa loob lang din ng grocery para libangin ang
dalawa. Kapagkuwan ay umupo sila sa bakanteng mesa at kumain.

The twins were oblivious to what was going on outside until there was a
commotion. Someone was screaming "someone was shot." And more
screams.

Immediately, Ashton and Braxton went to hug Raiven, and Raiven hugged
the two back to calm them down. "It's okay. It's okay. It's probably just
your papa keeping us safe."

"Papa?"

Raiven nodded. "Don't worry about it. We'll go home in a moment."

The two nodded before sharing a look. In their minds, they were thinking
the same thing—Did the bad guys find us?

Moments later, Raiven received a message from Keiran.

Took care of it. You're safe to go home now. See you at the house. I'll
be home early.

"Okay, let's go home," ani Raiven saka tumayo.

Kaagad pinigilan ng dalawa si Raiven.

"But, Daddy, the bad guys—"

"Your Papa already took care of them." Raiven smiled reassuringly at the
two. "Don't worry. We're safe."
Trusting Raiven, the twins nodded, and together with Raiven, they left the
grocery store.

"Don't look around," utos ni Raiven sa dalawa. Ayaw niyang makita ng

mga ito ang nangyari sa labas. "Look down, hold my hand, and follow
me."

Sinunod naman si Raiven ng magkambal hanggang sa makasakay sila sa

sasakyan.

"Sorry about that," hingi ng paumanhin ni Raiven sa dalawa nang

makarating sila sa bahay at makapasok sa salas. "I just don't want you two
to see that horrible scene."

"We're used to it," sagot ni Braxton saka humawak ito sa kamay ni Ashton.
"Before we came to your house, we're surrounded by bad guys all the
time."

Raiven's eyes widened.

Ashton nodded. "We're so scared, but we're too important to them, so they
won't kill us, but they always beat us."

"I'm sorry, Daddy. Looks like we brought those bad guys to you." Nanubig
ang mga mata ni Braxton.

"Please don't throw us out!" Ashton was now in tears as he hugged

Raiven's legs. "We love you, Daddy! We want to stay with you and Papa!"

Braxton hugged Raiven too. "Please don't give us back."

It hurt Raiven's heart to see his little ones like this, so he nonchalantly
replied to calm the two, "Don't worry about it. Your papa is an amazing
man, you know. He could handle those bad guys even in his sleep."

The twins were still not convinced, so Raiven explained further.

"Remember the good guys who saved you from those bad guys and took
you two to us?"
Brax and Ash nodded.

"Well, your papa is part of them, and he's a badass fighter. So don't worry,
okay?" Raiven kneeled and hugged the two. "We're going to be fine. Your
Papa and I won't let anything happen to our family. Daddy promised."

"Y-you're not going to throw us out?" Ashton asked.

"Silly! Why would I? You two are my babies, remember?"

Brax and Ash hugged Raiven back while they cried, feeling relieved
because their daddy would not throw them out.

Halos ayaw humiwalay ng dalawa kay Raiven. Hanggang tanghalian at

pagtulog sa hapon, katabi ng mga ito si Raiven. Umalis lang si Raiven sa
tabi ng dalawa nang makatulog ang magkambal at dumating si Keiran.

"What happened?" kaagad na tanong ni Raiven habang nasa kusina sila.

"The twins are scared. May kinalaman ba sa kanila ang nangyari sa labas
ng grocery store?"

Tumango si Keiran saka nagpaliwanag, "Kamden sent me on a mission.

Later I found out that those men were the ones going after our twins. We
disposed of every last one of them, so for now, they're safe."

Bumuga nang marahas na hininga si Raiven. "We need to talk to Kamden."

"Yeah." Keiran took out his phone and called Kamden who immediately
picked up, and Keiran put the call on loudspeaker.

"Yes, sweet—" Tumikhim ito at hindi na tinapos ang endearment na balak

itawag kay Keiran. "Fuck. That was close. Raiven will use my ass."

"I'm here, you know."

"Oh." Kamden chuckled nervously. "Hi, Raiven. Long time to see."

"I'm not in the mood for pleasantries, so I'll get to the point. What's the
deal with the twins in our care? What's going on, Kamden?"
Kamden sighed heavily. "Well, it's a long story."

"Make it short then."

"Keiran, have I told you that your husband is always mean to me?"

"Please, Kamden."

Hearing Raiven say please, Kamden knew the attorney was not fooling
around, so he answered truthfully.

"At the age of one, they could read books, understand conversations,
comprehend adults, and could already communicate well. At the age of
two, they could solve complex mathematical problems. At the age of
three, they became experts in science and physics. At four, their
photographic memory was discovered and so on. I can go on and on, but
basically, they're called geniuses."

Keiran and Raiven's lips parted in shock, but they were not ready for the
next information from Kamden.

"We were told that the babies were part of a Triad experiment to heighten
one's intellectual capacity while they're still in their mother's womb. As
you guessed by now, their parents are Triads. They don't really give a shit
about the two. For them, the twins are just a 'job.' The Triad wanted to
continue the experiment by giving the two a 'family' to see how they'll fare
in the real world, but their parents, as you know, are both assholes, so that
didn't go well. And then the twins got taken by another group who have
heard of the Triad's experiment and wanted to take it for themselves—the
Syndikos—and the twins' lives just became darker. They were rented for
their brains and, of course, sold to the highest bidders, wanting to add the
twins to their 'pets' list. When we heard about it, we tracked the twins
down, took them, and sent them to you two.

"Some Arkhontes actually wanted to keep the twins in the Orgánosi to 'use'
them, they said, but the two queens of the Orgánosi decided to give them a
chance to live a normal life. They're just kids, they said. The queen asked
me to find a family for them, and I thought of you two. They're scared of
women because of what their mother did to them, and you two could also
protect them if the time came that their life became in danger. So, yeah, I
sent them to you."

Kumuyom ang kamao ni Keiran. "The mark on their necks when they first
arrived, what was that?"

"Oh, that?" It took Kamden a while to answer. "Well, um, before we could
save the twins, their mother got a hold of them somehow. She was
punished by the Triad for losing the experiment subject, and to express her
hatred, she tied a rope to their necks and tried to hang them. Good thing
we arrived at the nick of time."

Nagtatagis ang bagang ni Raiven sa narinig. He wanted to beat up that

bitch who did that to his adorable twins! He was seeing red until he heard
Keiran's voice.

"We want to keep them, Kamden. Not just temporarily. Anong puwede
naming gawin para mangyari 'yon?"

Kamden didn't answer Keiran; instead, he asked them a question. "To keep
the twins, your life will not be so peaceful. Are you two ready for that?
Keeping them is a decision that you two should think carefully—"

"We already decided, Kamden," putol ni Raiven sa iba pang sasabihin ni

Kamden. "We want to keep them, love them, care for them, protect them,
and keep them safe. Keiran is under your command. You can immediately
inform him if someone was planning to hurt our twins. And I'm not maybe
an expert, but I could hold my own. I can fight if I needed to."

On the other line, Kamden smiled at Raiven and Keiran's determined

voices. "So that's your decision..."

"Yes." Keiran.

"It is." Raiven.

Kamden took a deep breath. "Give me a few weeks to process their papers
so you could keep them and adopt them legally."

Raiven and Keiran both sighed in relief.

"The process is not going to be easy." Kamden clicked his tongue. "But no
worries. I'll pull some strings. Just relax and let me do everything since
I'm awesome. By the way, what are the twins' names?"

"Braxton Sanford," Keiran answered.

"Ashton Valiz," Raiven answered.

Kamden smiled on the other line. "An identical twin with different
surnames, huh?"

That made Raiven and Kieran smile too.

"By the way," Raiven drawled, "thanks, Kamden, for giving us two
adorable angels."

Kamden grinned. "Does that mean you forgive me? You're not mad at me
for taking all your money?"

Raiven sighed. "Yeah. Forgiven."

"Yes!" Kamden laughed heartily. "Okay. Leave it all to me. I'll call you
once it's done. Bye."

The call ended. and Raiven immediately hugged Keiran. "Thank God we
could keep them, hun. I don't know what I'll do if someone took them from
us."

"Yeah." Keiran hugged Raiven back and kissed his temple. "We could
finally call them our twins after Kamden settled everything."

Raiven nodded with a happy smile. "Yeah. Our twins. Ashton and
Braxton."
Keiran smiled too, happy at the thought that they'd finally have someone
they could call their sons.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, beside the door's frame, two identical and
small bodies were sitting on the floor and holding each other's hands. They
heard every word, and the twins were smiling while leaning against each
other's heads.

Happiness filled their faces.

"I can't wait to be Ashton Valiz, Brax," Ashton whispered.

"I also can't wait to be Braxton Sanford," Braxton whispered back. "We're
lucky, aren't we, Ashton?"

"Hmm. I hated our life before, but if going through all that means meeting
Papa and Daddy at the end, I will choose to go through it again."

Braxton nodded and patted Ashton's head. "We have to make Papa and
Daddy proud, Ashton, so they won't regret keeping us."

"Hmm." Ashton nodded. "Let's."

Still holding hands, Ashton and Braxton returned to their room with a
happy smile.

It did not bother them one bit that they would have different surnames
because they knew the truth—they were family, and whatever surname
they'd have, they had their daddy and papa who loved and cared for them.

Because that's what mattered to Ashton and Braxton—their papa and

daddy's affection.

CECELIB | C.C.

A/N: One more SC before 'THE END'.