"I don't think she's still there," I replied to Spencer after a quite while thinking about the possibilities. "Someone might adopted her already."

Sanggol pa ang bata nang iwan ko ito sa ampunan at siguradong may pamilyang umampon na rito.

And Maverick, I don't know how he will react but he will probably hate me when he finds out what I did to my daughter.

We're both aware on what happened to his mother reason why she got pregnant. Her mother was raped too but she choose to keep her son.

Ganoon din ang nangyari sa 'kin. The only difference between us is I attempted to get rid of the baby. Hindi iyon natuloy ngunit iniwan ko naman sa ampunan ang bata.

Tila isang insulto iyon sa parte ni Maverick kung malalaman niya ang binalak kong gawin sa bata.

"You can't assume that until you try and see it yourself. Paano pala kung naroon pa ang anak mo?"

I nibbled my lower lip as scenarios started rushing on my mind. Kaya ko nga ba? I don't know if this time, I can finally be responsible. I'm not sure if right now, I can finally be a good mother.

Baka imbis na nasa magandang kalagayan ang bata ay mapasama pa ito kung kukunin ko.

"But I'm not forcing you, Ry. If you think you're still not ready then it's you decision. Ipinapaalala ko lang na kung gusto mong balikan ang anak mo, alam mo kung saan mo siya kukunin. She'll always b–"

Naputol ang salita niya nang may marahas na kumatok sa aking pintuan. Tila nagmamadali at agad na bumukas iyon.

Chaileigh held the door while a phone is in her free hand. Diretso sa akin ang mga mata at hindi man lang nilingon ang aking katabi. "Rylli, there's a commotion at the lobby. Tita Dahlia's there, she's... scolding some of the employees."

My eyes widened a fraction at the thought of mom in the company. What is she doing here? And she's what? Napatuwid ako ng tayo at saglit na sinulyapan si Spencer.

"Scolding some of the employees? Why? What happened?" I moved my head and frowned a bit, confused on what she's saying.

"Hindi ko rin alam, itinawag lang sa akin." She lifted the phone in her hand. Para bang pinapakita sa akin iyon. I caught her tapping her foot on the floor, tila hindi na mapakali. "I'm not sure but I think she's firing someone."

"What?" Itinaas ko ang aking kamay upang abutin ang aking sentido. Matapos ay hindi na nakapaghintay at nagsimula na akong humakbang palabas ng aking opisina. I felt Spence and Chaileigh followed.

Sa elevator ay walang nagtangkang magsalita sa amin. Marahil pare-parehong nasa komusyon ang isip namin.

The moment we arrived at the lobby, it wasn't hard for us to find my mother. I immediately saw the commotion and assumed that mommy is in the middle of it.

Hindi naman ako nagkamali dahil oras na makalapit ay narinig ko ang boses ni Mommy. Limang empleyadong babae ang nasa harapan ni Mommy at kapwa nakayuko ang mga ito. Some employees were near them but no one dares to go against her or even stop her from whatever she's doing. Dahil na rin siguro sa takot na sila ang mapagbuntungan ng galit ni Mommy.

"I can't believe our company hired people like you..." Nahuli ko ang pag-libot ng tingin ni Mommy sa mga empleyadong nasa harap niya. "Is it right to speak ill behind your boss's back?"

Marahang umiling ang ulo ni Mommy nang walang nagtangka kahit isa na sumagot sa kanya.

At dahil palapit na kami ay rinig na rinig na namin ang bawat salita niya. "Where are your fucking manners? You are women too yet you all are speaking ill behind my daughter's back? Because of what? Her video?"

"Mommy." Agad kong inabot ang braso niya ngunit hindi niya ako nilingon.

"You are all fired!" she declared.

At doon naalerto ang limang babae sa aming harapan. Napaangat sila ng tingin at ang tatlo pa ay nanginginig ang mga mata sa luha.

Kanya kanyang pigil at hingi ng tawad ang mga ito kay Mommy but my mother remained stoic. Matigas sa kung ano mang napagdesisyonan na niya.

"Tita," pigil ni Chaileigh ngunit may pagaalangan din ang tono niya.

Marahas akong napahilot sa aking sentido. Spencer's standing behind me. Walang naging imik at hinayaan lamang si Mommy sa ginagawa niya.

"Mom, what happened?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi makialam. Because the five employees in front of her is now in the verge of crying.

"My decision is final, Ladies," taas noong sambit ni Mommy bago nilagpasan ang lima at naglakad patungo sa elevator.

Sinenyasan ko si Chaileigh na siya na ang bahala sa mga empleyadong naiwan at akmang susunod na nang muling humarap sa amin si Mommy.

"They're fired, Amaryllis..." she muttered while looking at me before turning her eyes on Cha who's beside me. "Chaileigh," tawag niya kay Cha na tila nililinaw din dito ang sinabi niya. "Are we clear?"

From the side of my eyes, I saw Chaileigh repeatedly nodded her head. "Y-yes, Tita."

Bumuka ang aking mga labi nang walang pag-aalinlangang sumagot si Cha at bahagya pang nanginig ang boses.

Bahagyang tumaas ang aking kilay nang maalala na kanina lang ay tila kayang kaya niyang sagutin si Mommy ngunit ngayon na kaharap na niya ay para bang naging isang maamong tupa siya.

"Make a document to officially terminate their contract," utos ni Mommy kay Chaileigh at agarang naman siyang tumango.

Then Mom glanced at me. "Sign it and follow me at your office."

Oh, Mom! Believe me, I'll go to wherever you'll go and you don't have to ask me. I still don't know why she fired these employees. But Mom mentioned that they're talking behind my back?

I suddenly got a hunch on what is it about. Kaya't ganoon na lamang ang galit ni Mommy at walang pag-aalinlangang tinanggal ang lima.

Bumaling kay Spencer ang mga mata niya. "You too."

Mom continue walking towards the private elevator again. Sumunod na rin ako kasama si Chaileigh at pati na rin si Spencer.

"What happened? Why did you fired them?" I asked the moment the elevator's door closed.

Kahit na may hinala na ako kung bakit niya ginawa iyon ay gusto ko pa rin ng kumpirmasyon mula sa kanya.
Tahimik si Spencer sa aking tabi habang si Chaileigh ay napagigitnaan namin ni Mommy ngunit bahagya itong nasa aming likuran.

Sandaling sumulyap sa akin si Mommy bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa pinto ng elevator at doon ako tinitigan gamit ang repleksyon. "I heard them talking ill about you because of your video."

Napalabi ako. "Mom, we can just talk to them instead of—"

"It's better than suing them," she cutted my words. And that is enough for me to stop because her decision is final.

Wala ng nagsalita hanggang sa bumukas ang elevator kung nasaan ang aking opisina. Chaileigh immediately went on her post. Habang ako ay dumiretso sa loob ng aking opisina kasama si Spencer at si Mommy.

"What brings you here, Mom?" I asked when she settled on my swivel chair.

Tuluyan ko siyang natitigan at noon ko lang napansin na bahagya pa ring maga ang kanyang mga mata. Though right now, she's on an elegant updo with her emerald dress. Strikto ang mga mata tulad ng laging paraan ng pagtingin niya.

"We'll talk about the case we will file against Draven Ynares." She tilted her head on me. "That's fine with you, right?"

"Yes. I would like to see him behind bars."

Mataman akong tinitigan ni Mommy. I caught her heaved a deep sigh. Her eyes softened as it looks like she's drowning with emotions again.

"Mommy," untag ko na nakapagpakurap sa kanya, dahilan kung bakit naglaho ang mga emosyong iyon sa kanyang mga mata.

"Let's wait for your father and your boyfriend."

As if on cue, the door opened and Dad with Mav came inside the office. Hindi ko alam kung sabay silang nagtungo sa kompanya o nagkataon lang na nagkasabay sa elevator. Sa huli ay naisip kong, para bang imposible ang una kong naisip.

Agad na nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Maverick. Ginawaran ko siya ng isang ngiti na agad naman niyang sinuklian. He started walking towards near me and I caught him nodded at Mom. Ganoon din kay Spencer bago ako binalingan at ginawaran ng halik ang aking sentido.

"You alright?" he asked while his hand rested at my back.

I nodded while the side of my lips were in a small curve. "Hmm. You?"

"I'm good," he replied before adverting his eyes towards my father.

Noon ko napansin na bukod kay Dad ay may kasabay pa siyang dumating.

Sa likod ni Dad ay isang hindi pamilyar na lalaki ang naroon. Dad immediately took a step sidewards to give way to the man. The man's wearing a formal coat and tie. Tuwid ang tindig habang nasa isang kamay ang isang briefcase.

He looks younger than Maverick and we probably have the same age but there's something in him that's screaming authority. Tila sa isang salita niya lamang ay kaya niyang pasunurin ang lahat.

Mommy rose from her seat the moment she saw the man. Umalis siya sa aking swivel chair at umikot patungo sa gawi ni Spencer. Akala ko ay sasalubungin niya sila Daddy ngunit huminto siya sa tabi ni Spence.

"This is Atty. Archer Fonacier. He will help us win our case," Dad announced the moment they stopped in front of us.

Napakurap pa ako sa sinabi ni Daddy. We'll win our case? Does that means he'll go against his friend? Bahagyang bumuka ang aking mga labi upang magtanong ngunit muli nang nagsalita si Dad.

"Attorney, this is my wife, Dahlia," pakilala ni Daddy kay Mom.

The lawyer offered his hand towards Mom and she immediately took and shake it. "Thank you for accepting my daughter's case, Attorney." Mommy let out an emotional smile.

"My pleasure, Madame."

"And this is my daughter, Amaryllis."

I shook Mr. Fonacier's hand too. Matapos ay si Spencer at Maverick naman ang ipinakilala ni Daddy sa abogado.

"Yes, I know him," sambit ng abogado matapos ipakilala ni Dad si Mav. "Its been a while, Maverick."

My brow raised a bit when Attorney smiled at Mav. Pasimple akong tumagilid upang sulyapan si Maverick at nakitang bahagya rin siyang nakangiti. And what? They know each other?

Mav cocked his head for a nod. "Yeah, thank you for accepting the case."

Attorney shook his head. "Nah, don't mention it."

Mommy interfered after the short introduction. "Let's settle there." She pointed the couches at the side of my office. Doon ay may magkaharap na mahabang couch habang sa gitna ay isang maliit na coffee table. "Do you want anything, Attorney? Coffee, juice, tea? Anything?"

"Coffee will do, Madame," magalang na sambit ng abogado at agad namang lumapit sa intercom si Mommy at nagpakuha ng kape kay Chaileigh.

We settled at the couch. Ako ang kaharap ni Attorney habang si Mommy ay naupo sa aking tabi. Mav went behind the couch when I am seating and remained standing there. Ganoon din si Spencer habang si Daddy naman ay nakatayo sa tabi ni Mommy.

"Tell me what really happened? What did the man do to you, Miss?" Attorney started while directly looking at me.

Sandali pa akong napakurap dahil sa diretsong tanong niya. Ni hindi na hinintay ang kapeng inialok ni Mommy.

I heaved a deep breath before answering. "Draven drugged..." Mataman akong napalunok. "And raped me."

Sandaling umigting ang kanyang panga bago tumango. "Consider this case done then."

My lips parted at his confidence. "It happened seven years ago, Attorney," paglilinaw ko dahil mukhang akala niya ay ilang linggo o araw pa lamang nangyari ang ginawa sa akin ni Draven. Na tila akala niya ay ganoon lang kadali siya makakukuha ng ebidensya.

He nonchalantly nodded his head. "Hmm. Your father told me that. But since he's really guilty, I can do something about it. I surely can dig an evidence for his crime," dire-diretsong sambit ng abogado. "This case won't take long, I'll make sure of that."

"There's no police report, Archer," Maverick stated. "Or any other records to prove what that fucker did. The only thing we have is the video."

Matamang tumango tango si Attorney. "I'll take care of that. The goal here is to send Mr. Draven Ynares in jail, right?" he confirmed and set his eyes on me again. "You sure you just want him behind bars and not in hell?"

"Jail is hell for him." He'll surely become miserable behind bars. That's enough for me.

"I'm pertaining to a literal hell, Miss. I can send him there for you, if you want," he muttered before giving me a smile.

Nawala ang bahagyang ngiti sa aking mga labi at tila tinakasan ng dugo ang aking mukha dahil sa ngiti niya. That immediately sent shiver down my spine, but not in a way like how it feels like every time Draven's smirking at me. Hindi tulad ng pananayo ng aking mga balahibo tuwing ngumingisi si Draven na para bang laging nangbabastos.

Atty. Fonacier's smile felt different. There's something in there that's telling me he really can do what he said.

"I was just kidding," bawi niya nang matantong natahimik ang lahat sa kanyang paligid.

__________