Chapter 3 My Kids

• She left Northhill instantly for Alaska, a city far away from where Brant could think of. A part of her regretted the fact that she fell in love with Brant and she gave him access to her body. She would have loved to bade him farewell if not for the notes she found on the table when she woke up, giving her no other interpretation than say she's a slut.
• Her initial plan was to stay back in Northhill even after her internship programs were over since interns were offered the opportunity to keep on working with the company as employed staff.
• Even if Brant had simply rejected her, It wouldn't have been a problem, if not for the harsh words and the notes he left behind. Those notes gave her the slightest clue to how he beheld her all this while.
• She decided to avoid him at all possible best. And the only way to do that was to leave for another city. Being a very popular person, she wouldn't wish to run into him at the slightest opportunity. That's how much she now grew hatred for him in her heart.
• When the train came to a halt at her stop, she rise to her feet, pulled the suitcase that lay beside her, and made her way out of the vehicle leaving a few passengers in.
• As the transit bus drove away, she stood still, closed her eyes, and inhaled the fresh breeze. It seemed different from that of Northhill. Inhaling the breeze made her feel relieved. She had long craved for her return and here she was, within the four walls of the most beautiful city in Alaska.
• After what seemed like forever, she continued her journey to her quarters which were a stone's throw from the bus stop. She returned the greetings of some familiar faces and stopped to say HI to some little kids who could not stop but stare and smile at her.
• When she got to her apartment, she carefully opened the brown iron gate with the aid of a key. The environment looked dull and gloomy since no one lived there all this while.
• It was still the same as ever. A cream-colored bungalow with a short fence and gate that separated hers from that of neighbors. Short grasses in the front yard with a pathway in the middle leading to the front door. She loved the aura around her apartment.
• The place was always quiet, cozy, and neat. She opened the door with the aid of a key and she was welcomed with a woody smell. You could easily tell that it's been a while since anyone lived here.
• She flung her bag across the room and lay on the sofa with a fallen expression.
• All that ran through her mind was a quick means to get a job.
• ***
• She soon started feeling nauseous and puked her gut out at the slightest opportunity. The feeling grew so much that she decided to see a doctor. It was then she received the news that she was pregnant. She received the news with mixed feelings that she wasn't even sure if she should cry or rejoice.
• She bolted into the house after arriving from the hospital. Throwing her bag over the bed as she felt uneasy. She was pulling off her clothes when she felt she needed a shower.
• All that ran through her mind was how she would survive with the baby. She just graduated and she was yet to find a job.
• Stepping out of the shower, she moved close to the make-up mirror, admiring herself, the woman in the mirror had become pale and thin. She searched for any changes in her body but there were hardly any she could find, even though her stomach was still as flat as ever.
• She examined her boobs, but they were still much the same except for her nipples which had become sore.
• A cord of ease struck within her that she placed her hand on her belly to acknowledge the human growing in there.
• She had the choice of getting rid of the child but she would never want to do that, being that the baby was a part of her and even the man she loved.
• "Hi baby," she whispered as tears trickled down her cheeks.
• "We will be fine, I promise. As long as we have and love each other, we will survive. I love you pumpkin."
• ***
• Five years later…
• She was silently working on her laptop in the room when her eldest son, Anthony ran into the room.
• "Mum, can we go play in aunt Annie's compound?"
• Carried away with her work, she refused him an answer. Anthony didn't give up, he instead went to call on the other two boys and they all flocked to harass their busy mum. By dragging off the laptop from her lap, only then did she notice their presence.
• Looking at her five children, she felt sweet but anxious. She could remember back then she noticed her belly protruded more than normal. On her usual antenatal checkups, the doctor reported that she was an expectant mother of five.
• She struggled with the feeling when the doctor broke the news to her that she was pregnant with five kids but she believed she would survive and get a better-paying job since she had a degree.
• She almost fainted, she couldn't believe herself, until the day of her delivery.
• And the babies were counted one after the other, from one up to five, it was then she concluded the doctor who reported her scan result back then wasn't drunk.
• Tears trickled freely down her cheeks, she never believed she could be a mother at age 24.
• Sometimes she earnestly wished Brant was there for her and the babies. She tried hating him but it seemed impossible.
• Since the babies were five all identical, three boys and two girls, she named them in alphabetical order to make them very easy to differentiate.
• Anthony, Bernard, Callan, Debby, and Emma.
• "Babies, what's the problem? You see mum is busy," she tried borrowing her brows but soon turned it into a smile, she knew the children needed something whenever they tried frustrating her.
• "Mum, we request to go play in aunt Annie's compound." Anthony the eldest and most intelligent spoke up giving room for others to join.
• Bianca's ear tickled from their enormous baby voices. She had to hold on to her ears with her palms.
• "Alright, that- is fine," she finally voiced out from frustration. "You all should go but play carefully okay."
• "Thanks, mum," they were about to leave when she called them back.
• "Anthony, take good care of your brothers, not a single scratch, okay!" She noticed Anthony was a really smart kid, she needed not to explain further before Anthony got to understand what she was driving at.
• At the end of her words, they all bolted out with loud yells jamming the door behind. She slightly sighed, needing no one to tell her that raising kids not to mention five kids wasn't an easy job.
• The boys were out, she knew the girls were also coming for her. She had barely returned to her work when she noticed a twist on the door handle.
• "As anticipated," she mutters to herself.
• "Mum- - I can't find my towel with the Pepa pig," Debbie announced followed by Emma.
• "Mum, I want some strawberries." Bianca felt like crying but these kids were her only source of joy. Seeing them every day made her appreciate her mum. Motherhood wasn't an easy job. Thankfully, she hired a nanny to watch over them whenever she wasn't home.
• The two girls walked in so identical and with long and uniform hairstyles, clothed in the same dress although in different colors. Debbie took preference In Yellow while Emma loved pink.
• She stared into the eyes of both girls which were already watery, it dawned on her that if she refused then what they wanted now the whole room would be filled with cries. Over the years she had taught them to do with it when there's nothing and cope with life when they get something great. She knew she could afford what they requested this time around.
• "Alright girls, you know what, go to the fridge and serve yourselves some nice ice cream. When mummy gets back from work, she's going to get a new towel and strawberries. Is that okay?" She tries to reveal some smiles on her lips.
• "Yes, thanks mum you are the best." Both of them leaped for joy, planted a kiss on Bianca's cheek on both sides, and headed for the fridge as requested.
• Humming the words, "Mummy is the best," as they took their exit. Bianca fell back into the bed placing her head against the bed rest with stress well written all over her face.
• She needed to take a little rest when her phone rang. It was her secretary, she wondered why her secretary would call her on a weekend. She let the first time go such that it was a missed call, but the secretary was insistent and kept calling.
• It seemed urgent. She picked up the call only to get informed that her presence was needed at the office as soon as possible. The secretary's voice conveyed nothing else but panic.
• She changed into a more suitable outfit and picked up her bags and her car key. "Anthony," she called. She knew he would certainly hear her voice since aunt Annie's house was just beside theirs.
• Just as expected, he came running in with his brothers. "Mum, are you going out?" Anthony scowled, it was a custom that she stays at home during the weekend to spend some time with them.
• "She leaned forward before them. "It was an emergency call, okay, mum will be back soon."
• Lifting her head she could see the girls afar off too. Peeking into the face of each of them, she saw displeasure, they all frowned.
• "Gosh! What do I do?" She leaned forward planting a kiss on their forehead. "How about I get you all new caps on my way back." All of them yelled in jubilation. Making them happy was her priority.
• "Bye mum," they echoed. It was after they smiled she felt free to drive out.
• "Mummy is always working, always too busy and I hate it so much. Busy at work, busy at home," Callan toothed his mouth and puffed his cheeks like a little puffer fish.
• Anthony was quick to caution him, placing his hand on his head, and speaking softly. "Mum works day and night not just for herself but for us. She always wants to give us the best. We all have to satisfy her by being obedient."
• "Everyone march in right now!" Anthony commanded.