SPECIAL CHAPTER: Ashton and Braxton

"ANOTHER BORING year..." Ashton groaned as he slumped in his seat and rested the
side of his face on his table. School was always boring for him and his twin, Brax,
but today was duller and blander than usual even though the school year just
started.

Unlike everyone else who was excited at the start of the school year and doing
their all to get to the college they wanted since they were graduating this year,
Ashton was bored out of his mind and grumbling to himself as he sat on his chair in
their classroom.

"I want to go home..." Ashton whined. "I want to eat Papa's food."

Braxton, who was sitting on the chair in front of Ashton's table, sighed at his
twin. "You just did earlier at breakfast. Stop whining, Ash. We'll be in college
next year. Just hang on. And we're here for Papa and Dad, remember?"

Ashton groaned again but didn't say anything. This was their decision, after all—to
have a normal life—well, as normal as possible—and go to school because they knew
their papa and dad wanted them to experience a normal and happy life... which
included going to school and graduating.

And it was always fun seeing their papa and dad's proud faces when they got a medal
or an award at school. They lived for it—to see their parents proud of and happy
because of them.

"Bored already?"

Parehong napatingin si Brax at Ash sa nagsalita.

It was KN in his black school uniform, just like them. KN was younger than them,
but KN had been accelerated, so they were classmates since last year together with
NK—KN's older brother.

Though that was not the only reason why they were close. The twins had met Cloud
and Jacques, KN's beloved second parents, and the Velasquez's were also connected
to Kamden, so their relationship could be considered pretty close.

"You know why..." Ashton clicked his tongue, an action that he got from his Papa
Keiran after years of living with them. "What could they possibly teach us that we
don't know? We can even teach our teachers."

Napailing si KN saka umupo sa lamesa na katabi ng magkambal. "That is the reason

why our teachers are very wary of you two. This is an international school and the
teachers here are all brilliant, but when they're dealing with you two, they're
always reserved. A teacher even quit last year because he couldn't take the
pressure of teaching while you were in his class."

Braxton shrugged, indifferent to the teacher's suffering. "Not our fault. We don't
even say anything when they sometimes get it wrong."

"But you talked to them privately," KN pointed out.

"Well..." Umalos ng upo si Ashton saka humilig sa likod ng kinauupuan. "We had to
correct them somehow. Wrong information can be dangerous, and we always made sure
not to do it in public."

KN sighed. "Still... imagine being corrected by a seventeen-year-old."

"Not our problem," Braxton said in an indifferent voice.

KN sighed again and was about to say something when Sweet Mint just appeared behind
KN's back.

"Kuya KN!" With a wide grin, she hugged KN from behind before she went to sit on
Braxton's lap with no care whatsoever. "Kuya Brax, let's play chess later at lunch.
I have my chessboard with me. I'll defeat you this time for sure!"

Brax sighed before he placed his elbow on the table and rested the side of his face
on the back of his hand while looking at Sweet Mint. "Little Mint, how many times
do I have to tell you that you shouldn't sit on a boy's lap so easily?"

Mint pouted. "But it's you, Kuya Brax. We're like family."

"Even so. That's unbecoming of you." Hindi na bago na palaging pinapangaralan ni

Brax si Mint. The twins were friends with the Velasquez's siblings, and it had
become the twins' habit to look out for them since they were an interesting bunch.

"I keep telling her that." Beside KN, Maple appeared. "But she won't listen."

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Mint. "What the fuck is wrong—"

"Language, Mint!" Maple snapped at Mint.

Mint looked down. "Sorry, Ate."

Braxton flicked Mint's temple. "I know you're one of the boys, but no sitting on a
boy's lap, okay?"

"But—"

"And I don't want to be glared at by Niccos every darn summer. It's getting
annoying," dagdag ni Brax.

"Ano naman ang kinalaman ni Kuya Niccos dito?"

Brax sighed, knowing if he explained, it would only become bothersome. "Nothing

that you should know. Now, stand up. Mag-uumpisa na ang klase."

Mahaba ang nguso na umalis si Mint sa pagkakaupo sa hita ni Brax saka dinuro nito
si Brax. "But you're playing chess with me. Got it?"

Just so Mint would leave, Brax nodded.

"Yes! Okay! Bye, everyone!"

Mint left and Maple followed since Maple was in a different section.

Napailing naman si KN nang makaalis ang dalawa. "Hindi pa rin matanggap ni Mint na
hindi siya nananalo sa 'yo."

Brax shrugged and looked at the front of the classroom where their teacher just
arrived.

Nang makitang nandoon na ang teacher nila, umayos din ng upo si KN. They were not
model students, per se, but they tried to be decent in class.
Like always, at first day of school, it was introduction time since their teacher
was new and they had transferees. It was Brax and Ash's most hated part of the
first day of school.

Introduction.

Because everyone was always curious why the twins had different surnames, and when
they explained, their classmate always had something awful to say about their papa
and daddy. It had become too annoying that Braxton and Ashton sometimes ended up
beating up their idiot classmates who dare say bad things about their parents.

If not for NK and KN always defending the two and explaining things to the school's
dean so the school wouldn't call the twins' parents, it would have been a disaster
for Brax and Ash.

"Braxton Sanford," pagpapakilala ni Brax habang nakatayo. "Eighteen years old."

The teacher waited for more, but Braxton already sat on his chair and Ashton
already stood up.

"Ashton Valiz. Eighteen."

Anyone could tell that Braxton and Ashton were twins because they were identical,
so to hear that they had different surnames boggled everyone's mind, especially the
teacher—except for their classmates before—but the twins didn't offer an
explanation and went back to their seats like it was nothing.

To Braxton, explaining was bothersome. His idiot classmates wouldn't understand,

anyway. And to Ashton, explaining was just a waste of time. He'd rather sleep.

The next class was no different, they were to introduce themselves as well. But the
class before lunch, the teacher gave the students' assignments. As usual, the
teacher was wary of the twins—well, every teacher was. Even the new ones.

The twins' reputation at school was well-known even to new teachers and
transferees. It may not be a good thing, but when the twins were asleep in class,
the teachers actually preferred that than have them awake and listening.

Both twins were geniuses beyond belief and the only reason why they didn't top the
class and occupied the top three and four spots, just below NK and KN who were top
two and top one, was because they were lazy as hell—which their parents always
pointed out.

But knowing the twins' real mental capacity, their parents, Keiran and Raiven,
didn't like asking them to study. They just asked the twins not to have failing
grades and also to have fun. They could be as lazy as they wanted, but no failing
grades—which was an easy-peasy request to the twins.

"Finally!" Ashton groaned and slumped in his seat, his head falling back. "Half of
this boring day is over."

"Come on." Tumayo si Braxton. "Let's go to the cafeteria."

Yawning, Ashton got up and followed his twin out.

Braxton had his hands in his pockets as he walked to the cafeteria while Ashton was
busy on his phone, reading a new scientific study that Kamden sent them days ago.

Ashton was so immersed in what he was reading on his phone that Braxton had to
literally guide him so as not to bump into anyone.

"That's an interesting find." Ashton yawned before putting back his phone in his
pocket.

"Done reading?" Brax asked.

"Yep. It was only a twenty-five-page report."

"Oh. What did it say?" Brax was curious as well, but didn't want to read it.

"It's an interesting cells study," sagot ni Ashton. "Using cells as medicine. More
and more scientists are already using it as we speak. There's already breakthroughs
when it comes to using cells as medicine."

"Yeah. I've been following the stem cell research for some time now, and it had
become recognized in a way since there are research backing it up, but it's still
not widely acknowledged since the risks are hard to ignore. ."

Ashton nodded. "But Tito Kamden's team wants to push the research deeper to further
advance the cell medicine. According to the study I just read that Tito Kamden
sent, they're trying to develop artificial cells that mimic living cells that could
be used as treatment, but it is still in its early stage, so there is still no
auspicious verdict on that."

"Damn. My head hurts just listening to you two."

"Parang nawalan ako ng ganang kumain."

Sabay na napalingon si Brax at Ashton.

"Oh, hey Ace," ani Brax.

"Hi, Seth," ani Ashton.

"Where's Pharaoh?" It was weird not to see Ace and Pharaoh in one place even though
Ace was now a senior and Pharaoh was still in high school which meant different
buildings.

Ace sighed. "He wanted to sleep, so he's skipping lunch. That bastard asked me to
buy him food. Baka nakakalimutan niyang mas matanda ako sa kaniya. I'm gonna smack
his head later."

Seth clicked his tongue. "The triplets also asked me to buy them food. I'm gonna
tell Mom later that they're just playing around at the first day of school."

Brax and Ash just chuckled and the four walked towards the cafeteria together. It
was a slightly long walk, and almost everyone the four passed couldn't help looking
at them. Well, the twins, Ace, and Seth were part of the heartthrob list, so it was
not shocking and they were used to it already.

"Seeeth!" Suddenly, Snow Valcarcel appeared and hugged Seth from behind.

Ace and the twins chuckled when they heard Seth let out a groan. They all knew what
that groan meant.

"Oh!" Snow smiled at Brax, Ash, and Ace. "Hi! I'm taking my best friend away now."
And Snow just dragged Seth away and Seth just lets her.
Napailing naman ang naiwang tatlo saka nagpatuloy sa cafeteria.

Nang makapasok sa cafeteria, kaagad na kumaway si NK sa tatlo nang makita ang mga
ito ni NK. May bakante pa sa pahabang mesa na inuukupa ng mga ito.

The twins took some food that suited their liking from the buffet before going to
NK's table, while Ace got some food for himself and Pharaoh before he went back to
Pharaoh's classroom.

The twins, however, stayed in the cafeteria and had lunch with the Velasquez's,
Kim's and Volkzki's. Ilang taon lang ang pagitan ng mga edad ng mga naroon kaya
halos halo-halo ang nasa mesa—senior at high school.

And their conversation started with Mint saying, "It's only the first day of
school, but I heard a rumor that a girl from the junior department has a crush on
Kuya Brax."

It was Saito, who answered. "Nothing new. Brax will just break her heart."

Brax shrugged. "It's not my fault. If I drop her, that's because she turned out to
be boring."

NK said, "Everyone is boring to you, Brax."

"Hmm. I guess..." Brax didn't even deny it.

"Well, one of our classmates—a male transferee—fell for Ashton today." KN grinned,
as if happy to annoy Ashton. "He asked for my help before lunch, and guess what? He
comes from an affluent family. He said Ash is too pretty and he just fell for his
sexy, silky, long, and dark blonde hair."

Saito chuckled. "Tell him we'll answer him on Ash's behalf since we already know
our Ash here will reject him."

RV, who was eating silently, interjected, "Yeah, you should tell him, KN. After
all, Ash is savage when rejecting admirers. Kawawa naman. Let's save him some
face."

Ashton shook his head. "You make it all sound like I'm a heartless guy—"

"You are!" everyone at the table agreed.

Then RV added, "You always have a smile on your face, making people very
comfortable with you, and you seem like a good and happy guy compared to your
indifferent twin, Brax, but really, you're more savage than him. You're more bored
than him too."

Ashton frowned, then shrugged. "I guess..."

Napailing na lang ang lahat saka nagpatuloy ang lunch. Naunang natapos kumain si
Mint na kaagad hinamon ng chess si Brax na pinagbigyan naman kaagad ni Brax.

When the bell rang, signaling them to go back to their classroom, Mint already lost
to Brax for two rounds.

"Argh! I'll defeat you tomorrow!" Mint snapped, packing her chessboard and leaving
the cafeteria running.

Meanwhile, the twins returned to their classrooms with NK and KN. And their boring
first day of class continued.

Brax and Ash only became excited when the first day of school ended.

Time to go home.

"What a boring day," Ashton muttered while walking towards the building's exit.

Ashton was about to grumble another complaint when a woman blocked his and Brax's
way.

The woman was looking at Brax while glancing at Ashton, as if telling him to leave.
But Ashton knew better when it came to these women and his twin, Brax, so he
stayed, annoying the girl.

"Can I talk to you in private, Braxton?" the girl said meekly, as if playing
innocent—contrary to the look the girl gave Ashton when he didn't leave.

Namulsa si Brax. "If you have something to say, say it. I don't have time."

"But..." The girl glanced at Ashton.

Ashton sighed and showed his fake smile. "Miss, I'm not going anywhere. If you want
to say something, then say it. We want to go home."

The girl blushed before she looked down and said to Brax, "Um, Braxton, um, I
really like you a lot. I hope you accept my confession."

"What do you like about me?" Brax asked and Ash stifled a chuckle.

Classic Braxton, Ash thought as he listened.

"Um..." the girl stuttered. "Y-you're smart a-and handsome and—"

"Sorry, I'm not interested," ani Braxton saka nilampasan ang babae.

Napabuntonghininga naman si Ashton saka humabol sa kakambal.

"What did you expect she'd say?" tanong ni Ash kay Brax nang maabutan nito si Brax.
"That she likes your personality? Your personality sucks, Brax."

"Likewise, Ash."

Ash chuckled. "I have a good personality, thank you very much."

"You mean your fake personality?"

Ash pouted at his brother before he chuckled and wrapped his arm around Brax's
shoulder, pulling him to the exit.

"Oh, good, you're here!" It was NK who said that when he saw Ash and Brax. "Come
on, idaan na namin kayo sa bahay n'yo. It's dangerous out there."

Knowing that what NK said was true, Ash and Brax agreed to ride home with the
Velasquez's, Volkzki's, and Kim's.

Brax and Ash silently followed NK towards the back of the school where there was a
wide clearing and a helipad in the center. And on the helipad was a helicopter that
could transport more than ten people at once.
Brax heard that it was made to order by their Tito Jacques. Not shocking, really.
Their Tito Jacques was a big spender, always coercing their dad to buy expensive
stuff. Good thing their dad was too thrifty to be coerced.

Stepping inside the helicopter and riding it home, in no time, Ashton and Brax
arrived.

"Take care!"

"See you tomorrow!"

"Don't be late!"

Ash and Brax just saluted everybody before they rappelled down from the helicopter
to the ground. It was very high and also inconvenient because there was no helipad
nearby, but it beats riding a car and experiencing traffic for hours.

Pagkalapag ng mga paa nina Braxton at Ash, saka lang unti-unting hinugot pataas ang
lubid na ginamit nila para bumaba. At nang tuluyan nang makaalis ang helicopter,
sabay na naglakad patungo sa pintuan ng bahay ang magkambal.

But before they could use their key, it opened, showing their dad who was still in
his suit.

"Helicopter?" Raiven asked his sons.

Brax and Ash nodded before greeting their father.

"Hey, Dad."

"Daaaad! I missed you!" Ashton immediately clung to Raiven after Brax gave Raiven a
small hug, making Raiven smile and mess up Ashton's hair.

"How's school?"

Simultaneously, Brax and Ash answered, "It was fun."

"Uh-huh. Keep lying to me and I won't let you eat your papa's cooking."

Ashton pouted, and like a kid, he grumbled and whined while hugging his dad. On the
other hand, Brax had a smile on his face, far from the bored Brax in school.

"It was boring," Brax answered honestly, "but we'll manage. Don't worry, Dad. We'll
graduate like we promised."

Raiven's face softened before he reached out his hand to mess up Brax's hair, and
Brax closed his eyes to feel his dad's affectionate hands.

To Brax and Ash, there were only a handful people that they cared about, and their
papa and dad was on top of the list.

"Come on, Keiran cooked early so we're having an early dinner," imporma ni Raiven
sa dalawa.

"Yes!" Ashton jumped and Brax ran hurriedly to the kitchen together with Ashton.

Napailing na lang si Raiven at sinundan ang dalawa sa kusina pagkatapos isara ang
pintuan.
When Raiven entered the kitchen, his husband and two sons were already preparing
the table and food with so much enthusiasm that no one would believe that these was
the bored twins in the classroom earlier.

"So...how's school?" Keiran asked the same thing as they enjoyed the meal he
cooked.

Nagkatinginan muna si Ash at Brax bago sumagot si Ash.

"Boring."

Brax nodded. "But we'll manage. We made a promise to you and Dad."

Keiran smiled at that. "Just... don't force yourselves, okay?"

Sabay na tumango si Brax at Ash saka nagpatuloy ang hapunan ng buong pamilya.

Ash and Brax were happy, their faces said it all. And after dinner, Ash did the
dishes and Brax cleaned the dining table. After that, they fixed their beds, took a
bath, and waited for their parents to come to their room while reading research
studies sent by Kamden.

Brax and Ash were still sharing the same room, but their beds now become two
singles instead of one queen bed like when they were small. Their room had also
been upgraded in terms of size and design.

Sabay na napatingin sina Brax at Ash sa pinto nang bumukas 'yon at sabay na
napangiti nang pumasok doon ang mga magulang.

"You two are already eighteen years old and we're still tucking you to bed,"
nailing na sabi Ni Raiven.

Ashton smiled. "Because it repeals bad dreams, Dad."

"And it's not really tucking to bed like when we were kids," Brax muttered. "Just a
good night from Papa and Dad."

Raiven sighed and messed up Ashton and Brax's hair. "Yeah, yeah. If you need
anything, just knock on our room, okay?"

Brax and Ash nodded. Their dad always said that every night. He never missed a
night because that was what the twins always wanted to hear—that their papa and dad
were just there for them, just like when they were kids—never changing.

Raiven smiled at the two and kissed their foreheads. "Okay. Good night, you two.
You still have an early day tomorrow. If you're gonna play video game, don't stay
up late."

Keiran did the same and kissed the twins' temples. "As your dad said, don't stay up
late and don't disturb us until tomorrow. You two know what I mean?"

"Papa!" Brax and Ash exclaimed because they knew what their papa meant.

"TMI! Just TMI!"

Keiran just laughed at his sons. "Yeah, yeah. Good night, you two."

"Good night, Pa, Dad."

"G'night, Dad, Pa."

"Good night, you two!"

"See you tomorrow!" Keiran smiled at his sons and reminded them, knowing how his
sons easily got bored, "It's going to be another interesting day."

When Raiven and Keiran left and the door to the twins' room closed, the twins still
had a smile on their lips as they leaned on the headboards of their beds.

"Interesting day, huh..." Ashton muttered under his breath and glanced at Brax.
"Except for being with our papa and dad, is there anything more interesting to look
forward to?"

"Beats me." Brax closed his eyes. "I don't know. Though as long as we're with Papa
and Dad, there's always something interesting to look forward to. School is boring,
but we do have interesting friends there. I think... that's enough reason to look
forward to tomorrow."

Ashton took a deep breath and smiled. "You're right. It's not just Papa and Dad and
our family, we have lots of interesting friends too. Interesting enough to lift our
boredom away."

Brax nodded as he chuckled. "I wonder if NK will finally snap at KN tomorrow."

"And if he does, what will Mint do?" Ashton asked before chuckling as if something
interesting was about to unfold.

"And I wonder if Seth finally confesses his affection for Snow...hmm," Brax added.

"Interesting." Ash smiled. "Observing them is fun. Like research."

"Their reactions are fun to watch, too."

"Yeah." Ash's smile widened. "It's not so boring if you think about it. Dad and
papa was right, we could have an interesting life outside the family too."

"Indeed, though I still prefer spending time with our family."

"Same."

Ashton and Braxton both sighed and yawned before deciding to finally sleep.

Tomorrow was the second day of school. It would certainly be boring again for Ash
and Brax, but who knew, maybe something interesting would happen.

Who knew, really?

That was the beauty of tomorrow. No one knows. And all Ashton and Braxton could do
was believe in their papa and dad that tomorrow would be more interesting than
today.

CECELIB | C.C.