*Alexander Santos POV*
It's been five years since I adopted Adam and met the woman who changed my life. Almara. Like me, she was also left by her mate who chose to be with someone else. Her child was only one year old when we met at the hospital. While my eldest was being operated on and I was holding Adam in my arms, she was begging them to save her child. While her former husband didn't care if the child died. All that mattered to him was his mistress who pretended to be weak.
Even Adam, who was just a baby then, couldn't stand it. So even as a baby, he already made us feel his strength. That's what I thought was the reason why his own uncle wanted him killed. What we felt wasn't the strength of an Enigma. He was even stronger than that. But since he was just a baby, no one could tell what his intentions were then. Except for Nathan, Almara's son.
"Atatak-an in mama to." _(My mama is hurting too)_
"Payo ka akakatiguyo?" _(How can you be sure?)_
"Ami di hinga ta yakas mo." _(Many can't breathe because of your strength.)_ he said with a lisp, as if he was talking to someone no one else could see.
"Son, who are you talking to?" Almara asked, even though she was getting weak from the power surrounding the area that seemed to show authority.
"Iya." _(Him)_ He pointed to the baby I was holding. "Itatama nya ta yibingan to nag apanggap na mahina. Piyatot yang kapangyayihan nya. Bi ang uttima kaya wag yo ta hamunin." _(He will take to the grave the one pretending to be weak. That's just a fraction of his power. He is the Ultima so don't you dare challenge him.)_ Even though Nathan was struggling, he forced himself to tell everyone what Adam was saying with every cry of the baby. They say only children understand each other.
Now in this view I see, I'm happily watching our children — mine and Almara's — flying kites. If I could, I want them to stay as kids forever. But I know the day will come when Adam's uncle will discover that he is alive.
"Papa!" Adam shouted while waving at me. "Look, Nathan's kite is higher than Alex's!" he shouted happily while pointing at the kites. He was wearing Alex's old clothes that should have gone to Nathan, but he cried for it because it had an Astro Boy design printed on it.
"Kids, stop that for now, come have some snacks!" Almara shouted, carrying a pitcher of juice and glasses. You couldn't really call them glasses because they used to be instant noodle cups. She placed the juice and the glasses on the small bamboo bed I made. Next to the plate of boiled sweet potatoes.
The things I can give him now, I know he would get triple if he were with the Villamors. Triple the food. Triple the clothes. Triple the toys. But not triple the love. Because here on this small bamboo bed I made, Adam has no fear of showing his strength. No one will try to kill him just because of what he is.
Nathan gave his kite to Adam and quickly ran to his mother's arms. I watched Almara as she fixed Nathan's hair that was messy from playing. Even though she was tired, she was still smiling. The smile I didn't see before when she was at the hospital — the woman who almost knelt down just to ask for blood for her child.
"Papa, you hold it!" Adam shouted, running towards me carrying his kite that was almost as big as he was. The old Astro Boy shirt from Alex was loose on him but he was so happy.
"Oh slowly, you might trip," I said as I caught him.
He hugged me. So warm with sweat. So light. But when I hugged him back, I felt it again — that slight flicker of his power. Not scary. Like... just the breathing of a child sleeping peacefully.
"My kite is so high, right," Nathan bragged.
"It is high! Because you're good at flying kites!" Adam answered, so proud of his older brother.
I looked at Almara. We looked at each other. I know we were thinking the same thing. How quiet it is now, is how quickly it will disappear once Adam's uncle finds out he's alive. That the baby he ordered to be killed out of fear — has grown up. And not an Enigma. Not an Alpha. Ultima.
I carried Adam and held Alex's hand. We walked towards the bed. Almara got some sweet potatoes and divided them.
"Let's eat, kids. You can fly kites again later," she said.
The five of us sat on the small bed. Crowded. Hot. The juice was in glasses that used to be instant noodle cups.
_How long will we be complete? If the day comes that the Villamors come looking for him, I hope it's no longer a helpless baby they will see when they find us. I hope by that day my children can already stand up for themselves._ I prayed in my mind.
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*Ashton Dela Cruz POV*
I am here now in the province to look for the exact location where the new factory will be built. And the only obstacle on that land is the small hut in the middle that refuses to accept the company's offer of 200 thousand pesos.
As the owner of the project, I thought of going there personally without informing the people in the company. From afar, I saw three children flying kites. My eyes were fixed on the child wearing the Astro Boy t-shirt. If he wore a princess dress, he would look exactly like Alice when we were kids. But that's impossible. No one would dare replace the third branch of the royal family. Especially among the other branches, me and my sibling are the strongest because we are the only Enigmas. So it's strange that Emanuel is only a Class S Alpha. I need to observe and investigate first. While I haven't proven anything yet. This is not a small matter.
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