It was almost Sunday afternoon but the sun is still out of sight. I can still feel the storm from the last night as the wind kissed my skin with a bit mist in it.

Mula sa aking kinatatayuan, sa labas ng aming mansyon ay nasa harapan ko ang mansyon na tinutuluyan nila Maverick. I don't know who's living here but as far as I can remember, Maverick's mother and his step father isn't here. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay lumipat na ang mga ito sa probinsya. I don't know where, hindi ko naman naitanong kay Maverick at wala rin naman siyang nabanggit sa akin.

Ang alam ko rin ay ibinenta na ang mansyong ito, hindi ko lang alam kung natuloy. Ngunit siguro ay oo dahil ilang beses ko ring nakitang bukas ang ilaw ng mansyon.

Inalis ko roon ang aking mga mata at tinuunan ang aking phone. I searched for Maverick's number and pressed it to call him. My eyes set on my feet while waiting for him to answer.

"Rylli, babe."

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang marinig siya mula sa kabilang linya. "Mav!" I called and nibbled my lower lip as my voice raised a bit.

I heard a low chuckle from him. "Yes, Rylli. How are you?"

"Doing good! Are you busy? May gagawin ka ngayon?" sunod-sunod na tanong ko dahilan kung bakit mariin akong napapikit. Tila may sariling bibig ang aking isip at hindi ito masupil.

"Still not sure if..." marahang sambit niya ngunit hindi itinuloy ang sasabihin. "Why? You busy?"

"No, uhmm. Magpapasama sana 'ko. But if you have commitments for today, it's alright. Sa ibang araw na lang siguro."

This can wait. Besides, I'm still not sure if I can tell it to Mav already or... not. Ni hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan ang mga balak sabihin.

Mula sa mansyon ay nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Sa pag-iwas ay nahagip ko ang pamilyar na kotse papalapit sa akin kasabay noon ang muling pagsagot ni Maverick mula sa kabilang linya.

"I'm actually here already. I'm planning to fetch you and we'll go out if you're not busy."

I gasped in excitement. Ngunit agad ko ring tinutop ang mga labi. "I'm not. I'm free for the whole day." Napako sa paparating na kotse ang aking nga mata.

He silently hummed. "You have a place in mind?"

"Meron sana. Ikaw? May... iba ka bang planong puntahan?"

"I have but we can compromise."

Bago pa ako makasagot ay huminto na sa aking harapan ang kotse na kaninang tinititigan. The engine of the car died and Maverick went out of it.

I glanced at my phone and ended the call before turning to him who's now standing in front of me with a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

Bahagya pa akong natigilan at napakurap ng may ngiti sa mga labi.

"For the woman named Hermione Amaryllis," he muttered as he handed me the bouquet that I immediately accepted. Nahuli ko ang nakakalokong ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

Nahihiwagaan ko siyang sinulyapan. I tried suppressing the smile forming in my lip but I failed. "A bouquet? For what?"

My mind even started thinking of the date today, remembering if there's an occasion but I found none. Bahagya pang kumunot ang aking noo nang walang maalala ngunit hindi pa rin nawala ang bakas ng ngiti sa aking mga labi.

"What? Can't I buy a bouquet for my girlfriend? I just want to thank her."

"Huh? Why? For what?"

"For being strong. For not giving up, Rylli."

Hindi niya direktang sinabi ang tinutukoy niya ngunit tila para bang alam na namin pareho iyon. Like he doesn't have to elaborate because we both understand.

"I'm still alive... so, guess I'm strong enough to fight and live?"

We have to be. Because living is a constant battle. You have to be brave enough to continue, to win, to live.

"You are, Rylli. You are."

And I'm thankful I am. That no matter what happened I'm still here, breathing. That after everything, I grew and I learned.

"Where are we going again?"

I tilted my head and shifted the bouquet in my arms, remembering he has a plan for us. Papunta na nga siya sa mansyon bago ko pa siya tawagan. "Saan ba ang plano mo?"

"Somewhere." He grinned. "Tell me first on where do you plan to go?"

"To an..." Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili kung kaya ko na bang aminin kay Maverick ang ginawa ko. "Orphanage," I continued when I felt that I can. "Kung ayos lang sana?"

"Orphanage." Marahan siyang tumango. Maybe he's thinking why would I ask him to go with me in an orphanage. I waited for him to ask but in the end, he didn't.

"To the orphanage, then."

Agad siyang pumayag kahit na walang alam sa dahilan kung bakit nais kong magtungo roon.

"Saan nga ang plano mo?" I asked as we walked near his car and he opened the passenger's door for me.

Marahan akong pumasok sa kotse niya habang siya ay nanatili sa labas at hawak ang pinto ng kanyang kotse.

He lifted his shoulders for a shrug. "Later, after going to an orphanage. It won't be a surprise if I tell you," sagot niya bago tuluyang isinara ang kotse at umikot patungo sa driver's seat.

"Tell me, is there a specific orphanage you want to go to?" He glanced at me when the engine of his car started.

His hand is now resting at the steering wheel while his eyes were on me.

"Haven of Hope Orphanage. Do you know where?"

Ilang sandali siyang natigilan, tila iniisip kung saan ang daan patungo sa bahay-ampunan na sinabi ko. "That sounds familiar but I can't really remember where."

Malawak akong ngumiti. "I know where. Do you want me to drive?"

"No way! Just tell me the directions."

Pabiro kong inikot ang itim ng aking mga mata. "Mahirap ituro."

"Madali akong matuto." Napangisi ako sa tigas ng sambit niya.

"Ako na—" My words were cutted when the car started moving. Palabas ito ng aming subdivision.

After a few minutes we're already outside the subdivision and Maverick glanced at me, waiting for me to tell where should we turn next.

Ngunit patay malisya kong ibinaling ang tingin sa harap ng daan na para bang walang alam sa kung ano man ang tinitingin tingin ni Maverick. My lips pursed as I suppressed the smile forming in my mouth.

"Tell me where, Rylli."

"Let me drive? Since I planned this, I'll drive. And you'll drive later, huh?" I negotiated. He shook his head on me.

I gave the road a quick glance and after seeing that his car is now beside the road, I lifted myself and leaned on Maverick.

"What the hell are you doing—"

Naputol ang salita niya nang lumipat ako sa driver's seat habang naroon siya. I heard him uttered a low curse and stilled when I sat on him. I even shifted to find a comfortable position.

I held the steering wheel and looked back at him. "You, go there. I'll drive."

"Rylli, I can drive—" Muli akong gumalaw dahil naramdaman ko ang pagdulas ng aking pang upo sa kanyang mga hita. "Don't fucking move."

"Have you forgot?" I asked, ignoring him. "Your girlfriend is a racer, I can drive, too."

Muli siyang napabulong ng mura.

"Since you don't know where we're going, I'll drive."

"Rylli— shit," he cursed as he lifted my body before he heaved a deep sigh and moved hisself towards the passenger's seat.

Agad niyang itinuon ang pansin sa bintana nang makaupo roon. I started maneuvering the car while occasionally glancing at him.

Nanatili siyang tahimik at walang imik habang ang mga mata ay naroon pa rin sa bintana.

"Mav," marahang untag ko. "You mad?"

He groaned. "Drive first, Rylli."

Bahagya akong napanguso sa sagot niya, pigil ang aking mga ngiti. I shrugged my shoulders off and focused on driving.

Sandali kaming dumaan sa hypermarket upang mamili ng mga pagkain para sa mga bata. We also took our lunch at the restaurant first before finally going to the orphanage.

Pinapansin na ulit ako Maverick. Ngunit hanggang ngayon ay natatawa pa rin ako tuwing naaalala ang reaksyon niya kanina sa loob ng kotse.

The moment we arrived at the orphanage, that's when I remember why I asked him to come with me.

Natahimik ako habang patungo kami sa entrance ng bahay-ampunan. Maverick's carrying some snacks and sweets for the kids.

I roamed my eyes around the place and saw lots of kids playing. Ang iba naman ay nakaupo lamang ngunit bakas ang ngiti sa mga labi. But there's one girl who's seating far from everyone. Walang ngiti sa mga labi at nakatitig lamang sa kawalan.

Isang babaeng naka pang madre na sa tingin ko ay hindi nalalayo sa akin ang edad, ang agad na nakakita sa amin at agad kaming sinalubong.

"Magandang araw," bati namin ni Maverick nang tuluyang huminto sa aming harapan ang madre.

"Magandang araw din." Sinalubong niya kami ng palakaibigang ngiti. "Ako si Shelly. Anong maitutulong ko sa inyo?"

"I'm Amaryllis and this is my boyfriend, Maverick—"

Her eyes widened a fraction, like an idea came in her mind. "Ah, mag-aampon kayo?"

My lips parted a bit. Matapos ay makailang ulit akong napailing. "Hindi. Hindi. Napadalaw lang. My friend brought me here the last time. Kaya... naisipan ko lang na dumalaw ulit."

"At... matagal ka na ba dito?" I asked though it is an obvious already that she isn't because she looks still young. "May gusto lang sana akong itanong tungkol sa mga bata."

She tilted her head. "Bago lang ako rito kaya't baka hindi ko masagot ang mga tanong niyo," she hesitantly answered. "But I can call Mother Josie. Matagal na siya rito at siguradong masasagot niya ang anumang mga tanong niyo."

"Alright, thank you." Agad akong napangiti nang matantong may nakilala akong Mother Josie noong isinama ako rito ni Spencer.

I glanced at Maverick and saw the foods we bought. "Ito nga pala, para sa mga bata." Pahabol ko bago umalis si Shelly upang tawagin ang madre.

Marahan niyang kinuha iyon ng may pinong ngiti sa mga labi. "Salamat, magugustuhan ito ng mga bata."

Iginiya niya kami sa hilera ng mga bench bago tuluyang nagpaalam. Ilang metro din ang layo noon mula sa mga naglalarong mga bata.

I didn't seat and just roamed my eyes around. Nang mahagip si Maverick ng aking mga mata ay nakita kong ganoon din ang ginagawa niya. Hindi naupo ay inilibot ang mga mata. An amusement is evident in his face as he stared at the kids playing at the swing.

Sa ganoon namin inubos ang aming oras habang hinihintay si Mother Josie. But my eyes shifted when I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

"Tita Rylli!"

Sinundan ko ang pinanggalingan ng boses at mula sa aking gilid ay napansin kong napalingon din si Maverick.

"Tita Rylli!" That's when I saw a familiar kid running towards our way. She's waving her hands as her hair's dancing as she run.

Agad akong napangiti nang makilala ang bata. "Hetty!"

Umupo ako sa bench upang magpantay kami nang huminto siya sa aming harapan.

"Hello po! Tito Spencer's here last day. Tinatanong ko nga po siya kung bakit hindi ka sinasama. Sabi niya, kapag hindi ka na raw po busy ay isasama ka niya rito. Hindi ka na po ba busy? Are you with Tito Spencer?"

"I'm not and... hindi ko kasama ang Tito Spence mo. But I'm with someone. You can ask him if he wants to be your uncle too," malawak pa rin ang ngiting sambit ko.

Namilog ang kanyang mga mata kasabay ng pagkislap nito. She glanced at Maverick and waved at him. "Hello po!"

Mav bended his knees. Pinantayan niya si Hetty. He offered her a warm smile. "Hello, Hetty."

"I have no mother and no father too. But I have Tito Spencer, Tita Rylli, and lots of family..." She pointed the kids and some the nuns she saw. "We're not blood related but they're my family. Do you want to be my family too?" Her eyes looks so innocent as she asked Maverick.

The corner of my lips remained stretched in a smile as I watched them.

"Of course, Hetty. Of course, I'll be your uncle too. Do you want that?" 

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