Chapter 3 Prostitute

That evening, Zav and Zoe decided to spend the night. During dinner, a heavy silence hung over the table. I wasn't angry with either of them; I had no right to be. In fact, I owed them a debt of gratitude for sticking by me during the times I wanted to give up the most. All I asked was that we leave Rihav out of our conversations, especially with the twins around.

I was willing to do whatever it took to keep Rihav from ever laying eyes on them. It was impossible to completely stop the twins from asking about their father, but I always offered vague excuses, or Amer would tease them, saying their dad had drowned in a bowl of soup. That at least gave me a moment to breathe, as they didn't press the matter further.

Right now, I was sitting on the balcony of our house. It wasn't particularly large, but it was enough for the three of us. The ground floor was made of concrete, while the upper level was built of wood. It remained unfinished because I had left my job at the Madreal Mansion. The money I earned taking in laundry wasn't enough to complete the construction; I couldn't even afford my mother's medical treatments.

I sat in silence, taking in the surroundings. We lived in La Meyanda, a quiet corner of Isla Fera. Most of the locals here were farmers. We resided in a part of the island that was largely overlooked. Tourists rarely visited our area, as its natural beauty had yet to be fully discovered. It was also quite far from the main town center, La Fera.

Even so, it was peaceful and far removed from any chaos. The place might not have been famous, but what truly mattered was that we lived a quiet, decent life. With the upcoming school year approaching, I hoped to enroll the twins in a local school, though I worried about who would watch over them. There were only three of us left in the house, and there was no telling whether Amer would stay or move on.

Lost in thought, I sensed someone sitting beside me. It was Zoe.

I heard her take a deep breath before speaking. “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m really sorry for what I said, Fay. I know everything you've been through these past few years. I watched you cry so many times, watching you reach your breaking point over and over again.” She paused, gently reaching out to take my hand. “But please remember, Zav, I will always be here for you. I know how terribly Kuya treated you back then, and I know he doesn't deserve to see the twins... but I just hope they don't grow up feeling deprived.”

“They aren't deprived of anything here, Zoe. They eat three meals a day, and whatever else they want, I work hard to save up for. I know the blood running through their veins isn't ordinary, their eye color alone makes it obvious who their father is. But Zoe, it hurts...” I pointed to my chest. “The pain is still right here. I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive him for everything, or if time will ever truly heal this wound.” I tried to hold back my tears, but in the end, I broke down.

The ache in my heart remained as sharp as ever. The cruel words he hurled at me were still deeply etched into my soul. Rihav was the only man I had ever loved, even though I had once promised myself never to fall for a wealthy man because I was just a simple girl from the province.

It was difficult to accept; people around us would judge. I wasn’t wrong about that, anyway.

I broke that very promise because of how deeply I loved him. It wasn't because of his handsome face, his money, his wealth, or his family's power, I loved him because I believed he was a good man. He possessed every single quality I had ever wanted in a partner, only for me to realize too late that he was hiding a dark side, that he was nothing more than a hypocrite.

That was what cut the deepest.

You pour all your love into someone, only to end up with nothing but heartache in the end. Perhaps that was just the reality of love, to open your heart meant risking it being broken.

“If the day ever comes when you have to face Rihav again, I just hope you'll give him a chance to speak. No matter what happened between you two, those children are still his. He may not deserve them, but I hope you two can finally get some clarity if your paths ever cross again.”

I shook my head firmly. “We are never going to see each other again, Zoe.”

Zoe let out a long sigh before nodding softly. “If that's what you want, Zav and I won't do anything against your wishes. We know your pain and struggles, Fay. I'm so sorry for bringing him up again, I know it brought back a lot of painful memories.”

I remained silent and wrapped Zoe in a tight embrace. I often wondered if she and Zav even considered Rihav their brother, given how much they cared for me. They treated me like a sister of their own. I couldn't imagine where the twins and I would be without the two of them.

As we pulled back from the hug, I was about to say something when a burst of squealing echoed from downstairs. Zoe and I immediately stood up and hurried down to the first floor.

Reaching the stairs, I clutched my chest and let out a sigh of relief, realizing nothing was wrong with the children after all.

“Fay!” Amer’s voice boomed with excitement.

He had brought presents for the twins, which explained their thrilled cheers. Goodness…

“Amer, I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow?” I asked as I stepped off the stairs.

He handed the twins their respective gifts before turning to me.

“Excuse you! My name isn't Amer, it’s Amera!” he declared dramatically, rolling his eyes at me. “You’re unbelievable, girl! How many times do I have to tell you that I am a woman? I might dress like a guy, but I am Amera!” he added in a high-pitched voice, ending with a squeal.

Having known Amer since childhood, I had always known he was gay. He walked with a noticeable sway in his hips, and whenever we played as kids, he preferred hanging out with the girls instead of the boys. Over the years, his outgoing personality only brought us closer together.

Despite his identity, Amer dressed in typical men's clothing. He was handsome, tall, and well-built, so no one would ever suspect he was attracted to men.

“Whatever you say, Amer,” I chuckled, taking a seat on our bamboo chair.

“Aunt Amera, this is so pretty!” Hera exclaimed, proudly showing off a standard-sized Barbie doll.

Amer clapped his hands in delight at Hera’s words, not just because she liked the gift, but because of what she had called him.

“See? Your little girl actually respects who I am! Unlike you, calling me Amer all the time—” He cut himself off when he caught sight of two familiar faces. “Oh! You’re here, Madreal Twins! Are you sleeping over?” he asked casually.

They had first met during my mother's funeral four years ago. At the time, Amer could hardly believe that two Madreals were visiting our humble home in Fera Island. Fast forward to today, Zoe was helping manage their family business, while Zavia pursued her passion for modeling.

“Yes, we’re staying the night. I have some juicy gossip for you, Amera, a new model. Total eye candy...” I missed the rest of their conversation as Zavia dragged Amer toward the patio.

Amer never missed an opportunity when it came to handsome men. It was ironic considering how he used to avoid boys as a child. It almost felt like a waste given how tall and handsome he was, but his heart simply lay elsewhere.

“Mommy,” Hacov called out, sitting beside me and wrapping his arms around my waist. “Do you know what a cellphone is? I want to watch the videos Obet watches, but he said you can only see them on a cellphone,” he said softly.

I gently stroked his hair. “Do you even know how to use one? You’re not even four years old yet, Hacov, staring at a screen like that will ruin your eyes,” I murmured, kissing the top of his head.

“I want to try learning. The other kids won't let me watch with them because they say I’m the child of a monster,” he mumbled, burying his face against my chest.

I knitted my brows at his last words. “A monster? What are you talking about?” I asked, confused.

Ever since I returned to Fera Island pregnant, the entire neighborhood started gossiping about me. People mocked me, saying I put on a saintly act only to end up getting pregnant out of wedlock. I chose to ignore them because they didn't know the truth. They didn't know me, and only I knew my own story.

The only opinions I truly cared about disappointing were my family's and my own…

Whenever the twins played outside, there were days when they would come home in tears because the neighbors' kids teased them. Hera once even asked me what a "prostitute" was because someone had called me one. I chose to remain silent and instead taught my children about self-respect and ignoring hurtful words.

We might not have money or wealth, but we certainly understood the meaning of respect.

“Because of our eye color,” Hacov explained, letting out a soft sigh. “Obet’s mother said our dad is a half-baked American. Where is Dad anyway, Mommy? Maybe if he were here, people wouldn't say mean things about us...”

I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath, struggling with how to answer.

“You’re not the child of a monster, Hacov. And your father isn't some foreigner either. He’s just far away—”

“Your dad drowned in a bowl of soup, Hacov!” Amer interjected, having overheard us from nearby.

Thank goodness Amer was always around to save me whenever the twins asked about their father. Amer knew the whole truth about who their father was. He used to visit the Madreal Mansion to update me on my mother's health, and he would occasionally run into Rihav there, putting on a tough, manly persona whenever they spoke face-to-face.

“Since you two have been such good kids, we’re going to La Fera today!” Amer announced, swooping both of them up into his arms.

Hera’s jaw dropped in delight at the announcement. I couldn't help but smile at her reaction, she looked absolutely adorable.

The twins burst into happy laughter, squirming playfully in Amer’s arms. When my eyes met Amer’s, I shot him a stern look, but he just flashed me a playful wink and blew kisses on the kids' necks.