"You did great today for a first timer,"I complimented Yvonne after we get out of Vermont.

"It's not my first time to dance and act,"she bragged,"And I still haven't done most of the good parts."

"Can't wait to practice again tomorrow, right?"I asked excitedly.

"Hmm. Not really. I want to quit,"she said then my expression just changed in a quick second.

"What? Why? I mean, the choreographer isn't mean to you, does he?"

"No. He's nice. I just find the whole performance boring,"she said then we continued walking towards the bus station.

"Dad isn't going to pick me up from now on, right?"she said.

"I don't think so."

"Well, that's one of the reasons why I want to quit,"she said. I can sense that she's upset about Aluminus not being present with her right now. If only she knew that she is not the only kid that Aluminus takes care of in that household.

"Well, I'm here. I can be your bodyguard or guardian for a while,"I said with positivity. But she just remained looking upset. I just have to continue doing this until I gain her trust.

When we got home, everyone is already there.

"Hey Honey! How's practice?"Aluminus greeted Yvonne but Yvonne just ignored him and went straight inside the house.

Aluminus gave me a suspicious look,"What happened?"

"She's upset that you're not with her today,"I told him.

"Well, what did you told her?"

"I told her that I'll be with her instead. But it turns out that she doesn't like me so..."

Aluminus nodded then walked away.

"Aren't you going to talk to her?"I asked him.

"Of course. Go prepare our Dinner,"and here he is again. Being cold and distant at me. Ordering me like I'm their maid. I still don't feel that he's my husband.

"Okay. Of course,"I mumbled then I went inside the house.

I started preparing our Dinner then I caught Natalia smiling while texting on her phone.

"So you and Gary are back together, huh?" I said with a wide smile.

Natalia's smile faded and turned into frowning,"What do you know about us?" Then proceeds texting on her phone.

"I know a lot,"I said then I winked at her.

"Whatever,"she said then continues ignoring me like she always do.

I noticed that the twins are on her back peeking at her phone,"Natalia has a boyfriend?!" One of them that has more freckles said in a loud voice like he's announcing.

Natalia almost beat her sibling but they avoided it and laughed,"Shut up, dicks!"

The twins laughed then they ran away as Natalia threw a pillow at them. I just secretly smiled after I just witnessed their sibling love fight. Then as I turned back to the steak that I'm cooking on the pan, I found Terine standing beside me while watching the steak searing.

"You have to balance the fire or you'll burn the steak,"she advised then I noticed that the fire is strong and the cooking oil is about to fade so I quickly adjusted the fire.

"And you don't have to add the cooking oil since your steak will produce it's own fats,"Terine added when I was about to grab the cooking oil to add on it.

"Wow. You know a lot about cooking. Why aren't you the one cooking here?"I told her,"It never felt like cooking is what I always do before I had the accident."

Terine just smiled at me like in a sarcastic way then walked out. I think I said something offensive to her. In which I think I didn't.

"She used to cooked before,"Cecilio said who just suddenly appeared at the door of the kitchen area.

"Why? What happened?"I asked.

Cecilio is about to answer my question when Aluminus went in and brought in a chocolate cake then put it on the long table. The kids gathered around while I turned down the heat of the steak that I'm cooking. I looked at the cake and it has a writing on it that says,"Happy Birthday Yvonne!"

"Oh. I didn't know it's your birthday,"I told Yvonne who is beside me. She remained looking at the cake with a small smile on her face. I think that explains why she is also upset earlier. Maybe she and Aluminus has plans of celebrating her birthday. It's just that Aluminus can't take a day off.

"I'm sorry if I didn't take you to see the carnival today, Yvonne,"Aluminus told her. Yvonne picked up a flower that is made of candy and ate it.

"It's okay, Dad. I love this anyway,"she said with a smile. Then Cecilio appeared with a camera. They started taking a place for a picture when Cecilio gave me the camera that I thought that I am going to be included in the picture at least.

I didn't say anything and just walked from a distance to take them a picture. The siblings are arguing lightly and laughing while Aluminus is instructing them where to stand up.

"Okay. Now let's sing Yvonne a song!"Terine excitedly said.

"Mama!" Zan said, the only word that she can only say. Then followed by Doug's bark.

They sang the happy birthday song while I took them a video. Watching them being together and be this happy warms my heart. Why does it feel like it's my first time witnessing this wonderful event?

After the song, they cheered and Yvonne blowed the number 7 candle. Then they clapped their hands with joy.

"Let's take a picture!"Cecilio said then he signaled me to get ready. I struggled a bit but I still managed to take them photos with different poses. Even if it's hard for Zan to look at the camera, they still engaged with it by having different smiles and wacky poses.

Then Natalia walked away and quickly returned with a selfie stick,"Here. So that you'll be atleast included in our picture."

I am shocked for Natalia to initiate in inviting me to be in the picture,"But I don't know how to use this thing."

Cecilio grabbed the stick from my hand,"I'll do it."

"What does that thing do?"Aluminus innocently asked.

Cecilio put the phone on the stick and raised it above us. The camera showed our faces as the siblings compiled together. I can see my face that is at the end of the frame.

"Say cheese!" Cecilio said.

"Cheese!" And then we heard the camera shut. I stare at the picture after each sibling stare at it. And I can't help but smile to see myself in a picture with my Family.

After washing the dishes, I had a quick clean up at the ground floor then went upstairs to take a bath. Then I saw Aluminus that is about to enter his room. I gave him a smile as a greeting then he just gave me a questioning look.

"Wait a minute,"I said as I stopped going to stairs because I remembered something,"Aren't we supposed to he husband and wife? Why Am I still sleeping at the rooftop? I mean, shouldn't you be the one who will do everything to make me remember who I am before?"

Aluminus closed the door and faced me,"Why? Do you want me to sleep with you so you can have your memories back?"

My face suddenly heated up,"What?! No! Pft! I mean, maybe?"

Aluminus laughed. It's the first time I see that,"Maybe?" Then he gave me a weird stare,"Or do you want it to?"

My face turned into disgust,"Ew! You sounded like you're going to rape me."

Aluminus laughed once again,"I was just kidding."

Well, atleast he's happy. Celebrating his daughter's birthday gave him the happy vibes I guess.

"What you did to this house..."he said then he paused,"Thank you." Then he quickly went inside without hearing my reply.

Aluminus finally thanked me! But why does he still doesn't treat me like his wife? It's so weird. I thought that he's just angry at me because I'm a bad wife and mother before I had the accident. But I guess cleaning the house and do a lot of household chores still don't covers up my mistakes before.

The next day, I got up early to prepare breakfast and packed the kids and Aluminus' lunches for their school and work. Since they are so many, I have to improvise a little bit to make the cooking process a little bit quicker.

"What's up with these?" Natalia asked when she saw the packed lunches on the table.

"Your lunch for school,"I said while cooking.

The other kids checked on the packed lunch too and didn't say anything. Then Yvonne grabbed hers and approached me in the kitchen.

"Thank you. I never had packed lunch before,"she said,"And I love nuggets!"

I smiled after seeing Yvonne's reaction so early in the morning. Atleast she's not grumpy like she always do.

"You're welcome, birthday girl,"I teased her.

"It's not my birthday anymore,"she said while pouting.

"For me, it is,"I said with a grin. Then she smiled and walked away. Aluminus appeared in the area looking over at the packed lunches that I prepared.

"That one's for you,"I told him, pointing to the big one.

"Whoa,"he just said,"By the way, I'm going to tell you something."

Judging by the tone of his voice, he sounds really serious. Is he going to tell me of who and what I am before?

"Okay. I'll just turn this off,"I said then I turned the knob on the stove and walked outside with Aluminus.

"So, is it about who I am before? Am I a bad wife or mother?"I asked right away. I can't help it anymore since I've been wondering for two weeks already.

"Uh...no,"he said,"Well, sort of."

Wait. So it's true? That makes sense.

"Anyway, that's not what I was going to tell you. It's about Zan."

"Oh. Why? What's up with her?"I asked.

"Zan's teacher can't handle her anymore and she's not keeping up like the other kids in her school. So I had to stop her from there. So that means she'll be staying at home for a while until I get an appointment for her Pediatrician."

"Wait. I get it that she has to stay home. But what's with the Pediatrician? Is she sick?"

"No. Definitely not,"he said, looking frustrated,"I know this must be crazy but I think she has a developmental delay. She's 4 and she hasn't spoken a word ever since. And she also lacks attention and is hyperactive most of the time. That's why the teacher can't handle her anymore."

"She shouldn't be a teacher in the first place if she can't handle kids like her. No offense," I commented.

"Well, can't blame her. Her area of expertise is not holding with Zan's behavior. Plus, I observed the other kids there. They are more improved than Zan. Or Zan's behaviors are a bit far than them. So there's that."

"Oh I see,"I said then I think about this innocent and cute Zan who is just different from others. Sitting around the corner with no one to talk to since she can't talk."

"So for now, you have to be with her while at home. And when you're going to Yvonne's practice, you have to bring her along with you."

"Hmm...two kids in one day? Okay,"I said positively,"I guess I'm already doing what Moms are supposed to do."

Aluminus slighly smiled,"Why are you so positive? I mean, we treated you horribly and gave you a lot of things to do in your first days here but you were able to do it like you're not..."he said then he stopped. Not finishing his sentence.

"I'm not what?"I asked. His eyes looked away and then he shook his head with a slight nervous smile,"Nothing. Just keep doing what you're doing. And watch over Zan. We're going to be late." Then he walked back inside again without hearing me replying again. Like he always does.

Why does he act so strange? And what does he meant earlier? Why don't he just gave me the answers already of who I am before?

I was about to ask him but he purposely ate quickly and hurried to get his stuff with him. He told the kids to hurry too and they did. I just watched over Zan who is crying for not getting the chocolates which it's already out of stock in the pantry. So I have to do some grocery shopping again.

"Wait. What are the pointers—"I was about to ask Aluminus but he is already gone.

"Sorry. He's late for work,"Terine said as she was about to get out of the door,"I'm sure you can handle her,"then she winked and closed the door.

And here it is again. Another new challenging task that is given to me.