Love is Beautiful the Second Time Around

"Xandro, please don't do this to us. Don't leave us, please. We need you," Maricris was begging to her husband.

Her eyes were already blurry, and she felt like her heart was going to explode because of everything that suddenly happened.

But instead of listening to her, Xandro pulled out her hand that was wrapped around his waist.

"Oh, please stop this. You can take care of them. You should know that I love someone else," Xandro mumbled after he removed her hands from his waist and without turning his back, he went outside of the house.

He left her alone with her children.

The twins were quietly sleeping in their crib without knowing what was happening around them.

They were so young and innocent.

She followed with her eyes her husband who was coming out of their house.

She couldn't imagine that their marriage would turn out like this.

Last year, she was impregnated by Xandro after a one-night stand.

She hated that night. It was the night that she wished had never happened in her life. She was invited by her best friend to go to a birthday party.

It was supposedly a fun night but turned out to be her greatest nightmare.

Xandro had been her crush since they were in grade seven. He was the son of their barangay chairman.

He was quite popular in their place because of being handsome on top of being the son of their barangay leader.

When they reached Grade nine, she was the happiest when Xandro courted her. Since she liked him, he became her boyfriend and when they reached grade twelve, that night at the party, Xandro forced her to make love to her.

Though she got pregnant because of that, she did her best to finish high school. Since they were still young, they didn't get married as they were still underage.

But she was looking forward to the day that she would be married to the man. It would be her greatest dream. To be called his wife and him to be her husband.

Xandro was just a year old from her. She was seventeen while Xandro was eighteen that time.

After a year and their children were three months old, Xandro finally left them because he had a new girlfriend.

She saw her mother get inside at the door where Xandro came out.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" Her mother asked with curiosity in her face.

She could see the worry in her face while her eyebrows were drawn together because of

She was sobbing and she felt like it was so hard for her to speak up. She felt like she had lost all the strength that she had.

Her knees were softened like jelly.

"Mom, Xandro already left. He left me and my children," she said between her sobs. Her mother pulled her into her embrace. "What will happen to me and my children?" She added.

Maricris broke down on her mother's shoulders.

She only had love but why did it come with so much pain? She only followed her heart. And Xandro told her that he loved her too. So, what happened?

Why did the man walk out of her life? Why did he shut her out of his life including their children?

Did it mean that what they shared was just meaningless for him? And she and their children didn't mean anything to him?

She felt like her heart was stabbed by a sharp knife.

She couldn't believe that her story with Xandro would end like this.

"Shh... Don't think so much. I am here for you. Just be strong for the sake of your children. You know that I am against this relationship because you are young, and you are still studying. Temptation is always there. But what else can I do? If I disown you that wouldn't change a thing," she said while she was rubbing her back. "I am already seeing this happen because you and Xandro are still young. You are just being carried away by your emotions. On top of that, sweetie, there's nothing we can do about it because you are not married to him," her mother added.

Maricris knew that everything that her mother said was right. She never failed to tell her that she was so young to be in a relationship, but she insisted. Because she felt like her love for Xandro was so strong and she couldn't stop herself from falling in love with him every day.

And that night came, she got pregnant. She was still grateful though she had committed this mistake, her mother didn't send her out of their house.

Instead, her mother made her feel love despite what she had done. It was true that a mother's love was unconditional because of what she had seen from her mother.

She had accepted her without any questions even if she could see the hurt in her eyes when she learned that she got pregnant despite her reminders to her.

She knew that her mother was disappointed because of her untimely pregnancy but she didn't say anything that could break her heart and she was thankful to her because of that.

Maricris was still living with her mother. When she got pregnant, she moved in with Xandro and they lived with the man's family. Unfortunately, an incident happened, and her mother didn't let her stay in Xandro's family house.

It was still clear in her mind. She was a month pregnant back then when she almost had a miscarriage because Xandro's sister pushed her in the staircase.

She obviously didn't like Maricris. Xandro's family felt like she had forced Xandro and she intentionally got herself pregnant so that she could be a part of their family. Xandro's sister thought that she was ambitious, and she didn't deserve to be her brother's girlfriend.

As per Xandro's sister, she was so ordinary to belong in their family. It hurt like a thousand needles were inside her chest, but she kept her mouth shut because of the love that she had for Xandro. She would accept everything that they would say just for her to be with him.

Maricris was glad that the staircase was just three steps high before the floor, if not, probably, she already lost her children. Though she had an injury to her ankle that time.

When her mother knew about it, she rushed and took her back with her to their house even if she said that she was okay.

Xandro's family made her like their housemaid. She did all the household chores. Everything that they had done to her came to her mother. So, she took her away from Xandro's family house.

She hated the fact that they had made her like their slave. She was willing to do anything that they asked because she wanted them to accept her as Xandro's future wife but no matter what she had done was never enough for their family.

She didn't do anything right. And everything was simply not enough for them to be pleased with her.

She was glad that she was already out from them because her hardship had ended. She patiently endured everything because she loved Xandro. She had loved him unconditionally because even if they were living together, it was not beyond her knowledge that he was courting another woman in their school.

It was as if the man was even showing off to her that he could still flirt with another woman even if they were already living together and already have children.

She had endured and let herself suffer in silence.

Because of her love for him, she acted blind with everything that the man was doing. Since she gave birth to the twins, she was unable to attend college while Xandro was taking a business management course in one of the prestigious schools in town.

Her family was not rich or poor. She could say that they were in the middle class. She was an only child of her parents. Her mother was a plain housewife while her father was an OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Saudi.

His father's earnings were enough for her to go to a decent school and for her mother to buy what she needed.

Maricris' parents were against the idea that she was living with Xandro. The man had a reputation of being a playboy and that was not hidden from her parents but what could they do? She was blinded by her love for him.

Just after a week, they received a letter from her father that made her, and her mother's heart shattered into pieces. It was a letter of apology from her father.

In his letter, he made a confession that he was living abroad with another woman. He shamelessly admitted that he got the woman pregnant. She felt like her whole world was on her shoulders, especially seeing her mother hurting.

She had failed her and now she was betrayed by her father.

Maricris felt guilt because she was a part of her mother's pain.

Her mother was sitting in the corner crying while staring at her children. She felt like she totally disappointed her mother.

She was a single mother to her twins at a very young age. And her mother was already getting old, and she couldn't even do anything to make her proud of her.

Maricris hugged her mother and then she whispered.

"Mom, I am sorry," she said in a cracked voice. She apologized for everything as her mother had suffered from everything that happened to her and then her father added up to this.

She knew that her mother's heart was broken into pieces.

If only she could take her heart and put all her pain inside her chest, she would have already done it. She was so good to be in such pain like this.

She knew that her mother didn't deserve what her father had done. She wanted to get angry at her father because he was unable to control himself. How could he cheat on her mom when he said that he went there so that their lives would change? So, was this even the change that he was talking about? She wanted to shout at him for being so weak and failed to keep his promise.

There were a lot of questions inside her head and she felt like she was going to lose her mind but she had to be strong not only for her mother but for her children. No one else would do that except for her.

"It's okay, sweetie. We cannot do anything about everything that is happening. We can never control how other people act but the only thing that we can do is to stay strong," she said and then she looked at her.

She saw the pain in her eyes and that was like making her heart feel like it was being squeezed.

Maricris failed to fight the tears that were already in the corner of her eyes.

"You have to be strong and think of your children. Please, I am begging. Don't be stupid. I hope this is the last time that you will be making this kind of mistake. Focus on your children. Do not just think about yourself and about your emotions like your father. When you give birth to your children, you should know that you are not living your life anymore for you, but you live because of them," her mother said and then she sobbed on her shoulders.

It was heartbreaking to see that her mother was crying because of her and her father. She had been a good mother and a responsible wife. And she couldn't imagine that her father would be able to do this to her mom.

There's only one promise that she made to herself. She would be strong like what her mother asked for the sake of her children and her mother.

Chapter 2

Time had flown so fast and Maricris didn't notice that it was already her children's first birthday.

So, they decided to go to the church and from there, she saw Xandro and his sisters with another woman.

Even if she wouldn't ask, it was obvious that the woman was Xandro's girlfriend the way that she was clinging on Xandro's forearm.

"Well, look who's here?" Xandro's sister mumbled which didn't escape from her ears.

It seemed that she really raised her voice so she could hear her.

But she just kept quiet. There would be no sense to pay attention. She had no plan of stooping down her level because she knew that these people were deaf with her words. No matter what she would say meant nothing for them.

So, it would be best for her to keep silence. She had to choose her battles and save up her energy for her children.

"Yes, a flirtation woman. She wanted to hook with my brother," she said in disgust. "I am glad that my brother didn't marry you because you don't deserve to be a part of our family," Sarah added.

Her words called the passers-by's attention.

But the woman didn't even care. She looked at her from head to toe.

"That's enough," Xandro pulled Jenny's forearm. "Let's go."

Maricris was just looking at them while they were heading to his car.

She was holding her twins and her best friend Ariana was next to her.

"Why didn't you answer her back? I couldn't believe that you just let them say everything that they wanted to say to you. They couldn't just look down on you like that!" Ariana said and she was obviously angry like her.

But she chose to keep quiet. There's no use fighting them back with words. There was something inside her mind. She'd fight back but not by bickering with them. She would do something else, and she needed a lot of dedication and hard work for that.

She just shrugged it off. She wouldn't let her emotions overcome her. She was angry because of what they had done to her but she knew that she wouldn't win over them with word war so she would make them see what she could do even with the help of Xandro.

She would see to it that he would regret the day that he left her and their children.

Maricris and her children arrived home after they attended the mass. They were happily entering their house when suddenly she stopped from walking.

She felt like her heartbeat was pounding so fast when she saw the people who were in the living room.

What were they doing inside their house? She couldn't believe that they really had the face to come to their house after everything that happened.

She was surprised because she knew that those people were obviously waiting for them.

It was Xandro's parents with her mother sitting in the couches in their living room.

"I am glad that you finally arrived. Xandro's parents are her to visit you and your children," her mother said but she could sense something else in her voice.

Her eyebrows were drawn together. She couldn't help but wonder what brought these people here in their house.

She was looking at her mother, but she only pointed Xandro's parents got up as soon as they entered the house, and they even took her children to her. Xandro's father carried her son while Xandro's mother carried her daughter.

She couldn't help but be shocked because of their gestures. They never showed interest with her children so why all of a sudden, they would show up and do this?

Maricris could smell something. She knew that Xandro's parents wouldn't go at their house without any intention. She knew very well that these people were up to something.

"My dear, we are not going around the bush with you. We are here to take you and your children," Mr. De Guzman said while looking at her. "I am running for mayor this coming election and I don't want any rumours to be heard against me because we have abandoned my grandchildren," he added.

Maricris held herself from having any violent reaction. She was not mistaken that these people were here because of their selfish intention.

She felt her heart stung after what she heard from Xandro's father. They just came to their house because they didn't want their reputation to be ruined.

They were going to take them with them because of their selfish interest.

She felt like they were just going to use her children on their own interest. It was just for them to show the people that they had looked after her children.

They wanted to hide the truth that they didn't care about her and especially to her children, who were their flesh and blood.

Nine months had passed, and they didn't even pay them a visit. None of them were interested to check on her children and now, here they were shamelessly asking her to come back with them with her children as if nothing happened.

She could still clearly remember that when she gave birth to her children and Xandro was not even there. She didn't say anything because she tried to understand the father of her children. He was studying the in the main city and it would be hard for him to get to her.

She understood him and she didn't bother him since he was studying. Maricris didn't even care if it was the truth or not. She had loved Xandro so much to think anything bad about him.

Though she had sent him a message that she was giving birth to their children.

A month had passed when Xandro arrived after she gave birth to their children. He told her that he had an exam and that's why he was unable to come when she was giving birth to their children.

Given that fact, there was none of his family members came and visit her nor their children. But she remained silent despite those incidents that happened. She knew for a fact that they never treated her as a part of their family so there was really no sense of thinking about them.

So, it was truly surprising to see them at their house.

Maricris looked at her mother. She couldn't see anything in her face.

There were no words came out from her. She was just looking at her as if she was saying that she was leaving to her what would be her decision.

She had to decide wisely so she averted her gaze to Xandro's father and then she spoke.

She plastered a smile on her lips even if she didn't feel like smiling. She felt like she was pretending to be somebody else because of these people.

She didn't want to be rude. Despite of what they had showed to her, these people were her children's grandparents. Yes, that was right. These people were still her children's family and that was something that she couldn't change no matter what she would do.

"Sir, can we come to your house tomorrow or after tomorrow? They are going to have their vaccine at the health center tomorrow. I hope you understand," she said in a low voice. She was hoping that they would accept her reason and would leave as soon as possible.

She felt like she couldn't stand in their presence.

The couple looked at each other and they nodded their heads.

She felt relieved when she saw their reaction.

"Alright, if that is the case, we will not stay long because we have a lot of things to do," Xandro's father said and then he gave her son to her while her daughter was given to her mother.

They just left not knowing that today was their grandchildren's first birthday. She was just looking at them until they disappeared from her sight.

These people only think about themselves, and they never really cared for her or for her children.

They were there because they didn't want them to be a hindrance with his political career.

As a mother, she was disappointed with this people and at the same time hurt because of what they were doing.

What do they think about her children and to her? They went at their house as if she was not hurt by their son. As if they had not abandoned her since the very beginning.

She looked at her mother.

"Mom, I don't want to give my children to them. I don't want to go with them," she murmured as the teras flowed in her eyes. "I know that they just wanted us to be with them because they didn't want people to think that they had abandoned us. They wanted them to keep the truth away from the people so they could get their sympathy and their vote," she added.

She couldn't hide the anger that she felt inside her on her voice.

She knew to herself that when she goes there, it was the same as dragging herself in hell.

Even if she was not yet at Xandro's family house, she already knew what life was waiting for her and for her children. She would become their slave again. It was like making her life a living hell especially that Xandro never really cared for her and her children.

Suddenly, she felt her mother hold her hand.

She looked at her directly in her eyes.

"Listen, my dear, follow your heart. If you don't want to go with them then don't go. At the end of the day, it would always be your decision that should be followed," she said.

She looked at her mom full of worry. She couldn't help but feel that way because of what Xandro's parents could do to her if she refused to do what they wanted.

She shook her head.

"Mom, you know what will happen if I am not going with them especially since he is running for mayor this coming election. I know what they are capable of," she uttered in between her tears.

Maricris couldn't help but feel anger and fear at the same time inside her heart. She was angry because this people were trying to manipulate her life and her children's life.

She couldn't believe that they really had the audacity to show up to their house after everything that happened between her and Xandro.

"Don't worry, my dear. I am just here for you and my grandchildren," she said and then she pressed her palm. "I will do my best to protect you and your children," she added.

Ariana's hand was on her shoulder.

"Best, if you need help just remember that I am just here with you as well," she said.

She looked at her mother and her best friend with tears in her eyes. She wouldn't know what would happen to her if they were not beside her.

Maricris took a deep breath. She had already decided. She had to be brave for her children because she knew that this would be the best thing that she could do for them.

She looked at Ariana. Then, she looked at her mother and spoke.

"Mom, I want to run away with my children," she mumbled.

Her voice was firm, and she was determined to go as far as she could from Xandro's family.

She saw how shock crossed her mother's face when she heard what she said.

But that was just quick because she smiled after that.

"Well, I think that's a good idea. You have to promise me that you will take care of your children and wait for me. Just stay there while I am still here. I will follow you," her mother said to her which added to her courage.

Her mother said gave her hope and also when she heard her best friend's voice.

"I am coming with you."

Chapter 3

"Where do you think you are going?" A voice from her behind was filled with anger.

The voice was so familiar to her, and it made her startled. She was shocked that she was frozen, and she couldn't turn her head to look and confirm who was the owner of the voice that she heard.

She couldn't say anything else but the words," Please, let us go," she said in a low and pleading voice.

She was wondering how Xandro was able to follow her at the bus station. Her heart was beating so fast and she felt like she had difficulty breathing.

Maricris was in the queue for buying tickets in the bus station going to Manila. She was ready to change her life and her children but moving far from this place.

She was determined to go far from this place even if it means being away from her mother. She would endure that than her children to be used for the selfish ambitions of Xandro's family. She couldn't believe how they could even take everything that they had done to her and her children.

His parents' gesture just gave her more reason not to get associated with their family.

It was clear that they didn't care about her and her children but only the image that they had in the public. Based on his father's words, it was obvious that they were just there to show everyone that they had been on good terms with them, and they had tried to reach out.

Though she couldn't see Xandro, she could feel his sharp gazes at her. She couldn't believe why he was here when he was mainly the reason why she wanted to go away from this place. He walked out of their lives and why was he stopping them now?

"No, you can't! So, you are running away, and you will bring my children with you? Is that right?" He said in a growling voice. It was as if he was ready to wreck her neck if they were not just in a public place.

She was thankful that there were a lot of people on where they were. At least, the man would not be able to hurt her. She knew that it would be the least thing that he could do because if he would lay a finger on her then it would mean the end of his father's political career.

"Please, let us go far away from here. I promise that we are not going to disturb you for the rest of our lives," she said in a crack voice. She tried to act as if everything was fine so they wouldn't call everyone's attention at the place.

She wanted to stay calm so she could think of what she should be doing.

"No, if you want to go far away then leave alone. Give my children to me," Xandro said in a firm tone and then he went in front of her where she was pushing the twins' stroller.

"No, please, no. Xandro, I am begging you. Please leave my children along with me," she said in a begging voice. "Isn't it what you wanted?" She asked him.

As she remembered that day when he left saying that he loved someone else, and he couldn't stand a day with her presence anymore. She couldn't understand the reason why he was stopping her from going away.

All she wanted was to forget everything that he and his family had done to her. Was that even difficult to give to her?

"No, you cannot get any of them," Xandro picked up her son and she pushed him. She didn't let him take her daughter. So, she took her daughter from the stroller and they both ran away.

With a heavy heart, she left her son to Xandro. She could feel her tears flowing from her eyes, but she didn't stop from running away from the man.

She continued running without knowing where she was going. She had no idea if someone was next to her or not. She just wanted to run away from Xandro and his family. There was a bus suddenly stopped and without hesitation she ran inside as soon as the door opened.

"Miss, where are you going?" The barker asked as soon as she sat down.

She didn't know what to say because she didn't know where it was heading.

"Please take me wherever this bus is going then I will go there," she replied and tried to calm herself.

She didn't want anyone to know that she was running away because they might point her to Xandro.

Though confused with what she said, the barker just nodded. His face was full of confusion while he was giving her a ticket, but she didn't care.

At that moment, all she wanted to do was for her to get away from the place. She would just inform her mother about what happened.

Suddenly, she felt like there was a pinch in her heart when she remembered that her son was with Xandro.

"This bus is heading to Baguio City."

She just nodded. It didn't matter to her where she was heading and what was waiting for her to the place where the bus would take her.

There's one thing for sure, wherever they were heading, she would do her best to change her life and her daughter.

"Okay, I don't mind. Let's go there," she replied to the barker and the bus driver. The determination was in her voice and she couldn't help but close her eyes.

She didn't want to cry anymore. She had shed enough tears because of Xandro and his family. This should be the start of a new beginning for her. A sweet bitter new beginning because she had lost her son.

Maricris could feel her heart beating so fast while she was already seated on the vacant chair. She was hoping that Xandro already stopped following her.

She didn't mind where this bus was heading. All she wanted to do was to run away from the place.

Though her heart was bleeding because she had to leave her son. But, she had no choice but to run away from Xandro. She would rather take her daughter away than to stay with him and make her life like a living hell.

She was just praying that they wouldn't mistreat her son because after all, he was their own flesh and blood. She was silently hoping that Xandro would take care of their child even if he found a woman he would marry.

A woman that was deserving as per his family's qualification. Unlike her, she was just an ordinary person and didn't deserve to be a part of their family. They looked so high of themselves, and she hated them.

She felt like she was stabbed right in her heart. She fell asleep with tears in her eyes.

She felt so exhausted because of running away as she carried her daughter. She looked at her little girl and she was sleeping peacefully in her arms.

She felt a pat on her shoulders, so she slowly opened her eyes. She saw that it was the barker, and he was looking at her.

Her eyebrows were knitted together wondering why the man had awakened her up.

"Miss, we are having a stopover and you might want to use the washroom. We still have to travel for a couple of hours," the man said as he woke her up.

Maricris roamed around her gaze, and she saw that the bus was already empty. Some were still sleeping while some were outside of the bus heading to restaurants and some people going to the washroom since they would still have a long journey before they reach their destination.

She looked at the man and then her innocent daughter who was quietly sleeping.

"Can I leave her to you?" She asked while looking at her daughter.

The man smiled at her and then he nodded his head.

"Sure, since she's sleeping. It should be okay," he said.

"Thank you," she said and then smiled at the man.

Maricris let the man take her child and then she stood up. The man sat on the chair that she left.

She walked out of the bus and when she was already in the midway, she turned her head and she saw the man was touching her daughter's face.

She could say that the barker was trustworthy, and she should not get worried.

After that she continued her way out of the bus as she tried to calm herself down.

Maricris used the washroom and then she bought everything that she needed for her journey while she was still in the bus and until they reached their destination. She was grateful that she had her children's bag with her when she ran with her daughter.

She fished out her phone from her pocket but from her dismay it was already out of battery. She just decided to get a place where she could charge it as soon as they arrived in Baguio.

After she got everything that she needed, she went back to the bus.

Her eyebrows were knitted when she couldn't see the man and her daughter in the place where she had left them.

She could feel her heart start to pound inside her ribcage. Fear overwhelmed her and she couldn't help but think that Xandro had caught them, and he took her daughter away from her as well.

She felt like she was getting drained, but she tried to keep herself strong. She had to calm down so she could think clearly.

Maricris roamed her gaze around and then she heard her daughter's little giggles. She felt relieved because she was just around, and she was not taken by her father.

She saw her daughter and the barker were playing in the backside of the bus where the other barkers were also there. They were not on duty and sleeping.

She felt relieved when she found her child. She put all the stuff that she bought in the corner and then she went to the backside of the bus.

Her daughter was the only one left to her and she couldn't imagine what would happen to her if she would lose her.

"Oh, here's your mommy, sweetie," the barker said, smiling at her.

"Thank you for taking care of my daughter," she said and then smiled at the man.

She was thankful that there were still people like this man who would be willing to help a stranger like her.

"No issues. I am happy to help beside you have an adorable daughter," he said.

"Thank you. You are right. She's indeed so adorable," she said while looking at her little girl's innocent face. She had no idea that she was just separated from her twin brother.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but I just saw you earlier like you are running away from someone. Is everything okay?" The man asked full of concern.

She nodded her head and then she smiled.

"Yes, everything is okay. I am just in a hurry to catch the bus," she replied.

Maricris couldn't tell him her situation. At this point, she couldn't just easily trust anyone. She didn't want to reveal to anyone her identity because she was afraid that Xandro and his family might be able to track her.

She had no idea how safe it would be to trust people she just met, especially a man. Though she had trusted her earlier because of the call of nature and thinking that they were in the bus station.

But what happened when she came back, she almost had a heart attack. She promised herself that this would be the last time that she would entrust her daughter and leave her to a stranger.

Though she didn't do anything wrong but just helped her.