"A–ano pong ipinanggalan ni Spencer sa bata?" I stammered as my mind is already in chaos.

"Mother Josie!"

My voice became inaudible because of someone who called Mother Josie. Napabaling ako sa direksyong pinanggalingan ng boses at natanaw ang batang madre na papalapit sa aming direksyon. While behind her is a middle-aged couple.

"Narito na po ulit ang mag-asawang Hernandez," sambit ng madre nang huminto ito sa aming harapan.

May madreng sumalubong sa mag-asawa bago pa makalapit ang mga ito sa amin at iginiya ang mga ito sa kung saan.

"Ang mag-asawang Hernandez?"

"Yes, Mother Josie. 'Yung mag-asawang umampon kay Amethyst."

Napakunot ang aking noon nang marinig ang usapan ng dalawang madre. Ang dating umampon kay Amethyst? Why are they even here?

Mother Josie turned to us. "Naku! Maverick, Amaryllis, maiwan ko muna kayo at kakausapin ko lang ang mag-asawang iyon," matabang na sambit ni Mother Josie na tila hindi rin nagustuhan ang pagparito ng mag-asawa.

"Wait, Mother Josie."

"Babalikan ko kayo mamaya."

"Ano po ang ipinanggalan—" Nabitin ang aking mga salita nang nagmamadali kaming tinalikuran ng dalawang madre.

Mariin akong napapikit at suminghap. The side of my are eyes burning as I opened it. I turned on my back to face Maverick and saw him looking at me. There's this knowing look in his eyes, telling me we're thinking the same thing.

"Its Hetty. Right?" I nodded, encouraging him to do the same. "M–my daughter is—"

"We're still not sure. We have to confirm it with Spencer or run a DNA test."

"W–what if it's her?"

He reached for my hand as his fingers slowly intertwined with mine. "Then we'll get her and Amethyst. That's what you want right?"

"D–do you want that?"

His lips stretched for a smile. "I want it, too."

"Tita Rylli!"

Agad kong hinanap ang pinanggalingan ng maliit na boses na iyon. And at the entrance of the orphanage, the place where Mother Josie entered, I saw Hetty waving at us.

Patungo ito sa aming direksyon habang malawak ang ngiti sa mga labi. Her hair is in its usual style, nakatali ang mga ito kaya't malayang nakikita ang ngiti ng bata.

I tightly pressed my lips unto each other while staring at her, watching as she run near us. Nanlalabo ang aking mga mata dahil sa mga luhang nagbabadyang lumabas dito. Kaya naman ilang ulit akong napakurap upang bumalik ang aking normal na paningin.

"I missed you two, po." She pouted while alternately looking at me and Maverick who's behind me.

Mav took a step forward and bended his knees to reach the kid's arms. "We missed you too, Rylli," marahang sambit ni Maverick habang ako ay hindi pa rin makagalaw sa aking kinatatayuan.

I caught her eyes lit up but it suddenly lose its color like she remember something. "Narinig ko po noong nakaraan na nag-uusap sina Mother Superior at Mother Josie. Sabi nila, kaya raw po kayo laging bumabalik dito dahil binabalak niyong ampunin si Amethyst at gusto niyo siyang maging anak."

"Paano po kapag anak niyo na siya? Hindi na po kayo babalik dito?" She pouted her lips as her shoulders fell. "P–pwede niyo po ba 'kong dalawin? Kahit minsan lang kasi mamimiss ko po kayo."

"Hetty," Maverick tried to get her attention. His hand cascaded towards Hetty's wrist while a smile is in his lips. "You'll miss us, huh?"

She repeatedly but quietly nodded her head. Hindi na nagsalita si Hetty at nabakas ko sa mga mata nito ang panggigilid ng mga luha.

"H–Hetty," I breathlessly whispered. Something got stuck in my throat as I felt the side of my eyes burning too. Marahan kong pinantayan si Mav at si Hetty.

Her lips turned in a line as her innocent eyes widened a fraction. "Tita, are you crying?"

I shook my head. "Ikaw kaya. You're crying because you'll miss me and your Uncle Mav."

She pursed her lips. "Umiiyak ka rin po. Maybe because you'll miss me too."

I let out a low chuckle and lowered my head, trying to hold back my tears. Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang maramdaman ang paglapat ng kamay ni Maverick sa aking balikat. The moment our eyes met, he nodded at me like he's encouraging me to do something.

Lumipat kay Hetty ang aking mga mata. "W–what do you think about your parents? O–or your mother?A–are you mad at her? What will you do when you saw her?" I stammered.

She stared at me and blinked. The long silence between us stretched of a quite while before she finally answered.

"Maybe I'll ask her why did she do it. Bakit niya 'ko iniwan dito at kung a–ayaw niya ba sa 'kin?"

Napalabi ako nang makita ang malungkot na mga mata ni Hetty.

"If I'll get a chance to see her, I'll be a good girl and I won't make her head ache," she stated excitedly like she's imagining the things she'll do when she finally meet her mother. "I'll ask her if she can take me with her. Not that I don't want to stay here, my family here is great but I still want to be with my parents, to be with my real family."

I almost choked when the sob I'm suppressing came out of my mouth. Maverick remained staring at Hetty with a faint smile in his lips, mirroring the kid's gloomy eyes. Kahit na kay Hetty ang mga mata nito ay tila malalim ang iniisip niya.

"C–can you tell me what's your full name again, Hetty?"

Her eyes blinked. "My full name?"

"Hmm," I hummed.

There's question in her eyes but still answered in the end. "Henrietta Amity is my name and my surname is Lofranco. It was Tito Spencer who gave me that name according to Mother Superior."

Agad aking napasinghap sa narinig. Namimilog ang mga matang hinarap ko siys. My mouth hung opened upon hearing her. My heart started pounding against my ribcage.

"L-Lofranco?"

Why would he even use Lofranco as Hetty's surname? Shit! I don't need a confirmation but I want to! I want to know from Spencer's mouth that Hetty's my daughter!

"Yes, Tita—" Her words stopped midway. Lumagpas sa amin ang nga mata niya at nahuli ko ang pamimilog noon. "Tito Spence!" she shouted as her eyes lit up.

Nilingon ko ang direksyong tinitignan niya. There, I saw Spencer nearing us, still with paperbags in his hands.

His eyes widened a fraction upon seeing me as his mouth hung open. Napalingon sa direksyon ni Maverick.
Tumayo ako upang harapin si Spencer at ganoon din si Maverick.

Sinalubong siya ni Hetty at agad na nagbatian ang dalawa. I wiped the tear who rolled down my cheek before someone even notice it.

"What are you both doing here?" nahihiwagaang tanong ni Spencer nang makalapit sa amin.

"Can we talk later?" I asked instead of answering.

"Talk," he repeated and glanced at Maverick, lowkey asking him why before looking back at me again.

"You two should now talk. I'll take Hetty with me for a while," Maverick insisted.

A frown formed in Spencer's forehead. "About what?"

I didn't answer and just waited as Mav and Hetty walked away. Hindi naman umanggal si Hetty at sumama na lang din kay Maverick.

My eyes followed the two as they turned their back on us. Lumayo sila at abot tanaw pa rin ang dalawa ngunit nasisiguro kong hindi na maririnig ni Hetty ang kung ano mang pag-uusapan namin ni Spencer.

The two stopped walking and Mav caught my eyes. From the distance between us, he smiled at me.

I heaved an audible sigh and set my eyes on Spencer.

"I didn't know you're visiting here." His head tilted a bit. "Madalas kayo rito?" he asked and even pointed Maverick using his head.

I fidgeted my fingers before hiding it behind my back. "We... started visiting since last month, when Draven got convicted. I'm sorry, I haven't told you."

Marahan siyang napatango. "No problem. You alright now?"

"Yeah, I am." I gave him a quick smile. "I told Maverick that I have a daughter."

"You told him?" Mabagal siyang napakurap matapos ay namilog ang kanyang mga mata na tila may natanto.  "And did I heard right? You said, you have..."

"A daughter," I continued his words. "I'm sorry. I know you're mad for what I did."

The angle of his jaw sharpened as it clenched. "I can't afford to just watch and let you do what you want. But I understand why you choose to leave her. I now understand what you feel." The corner of his lips rose. "I'm sorry it took me this long to understand."

I shook my head. He shouldn't apologize. He doesn't have to.

Marahas siyang nagpakawala ng hangin. "Hindi mo 'yon ginawa dahil lang gusto mo. Ginawa mo 'yon dahil nasasaktan ka na. I understand, I'm sorry for being insensitive. But if that happens again, I won't hesitate to do the same. I'll still go against you, Rylli." A smile formed in his lips, like he's telling me he's serious on what he's saying.

I nibbled my lower lip as my insides clenched. "And I'm thankful for that, for what you did to my daughter. Thank you for taking care of her."

Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi at bumakas sa kanyang mukha ang bahagyang pagkagulat. His lips parted. "What do you mean?"

"Tell me, is Hetty my..." Sinadya kong bitinin ang sasabihin. I bit my lower lip as I glanced at Mav and Hetty. "Is she my daughter?"

Wala akong nakuhang sagot mula kay Spencer kaya't nilingon ko siya. Bakas pa rin ang gulat sa mga mata at napapakurap habang tila nangingiti. "You figured, huh?"

I gasped when my knees wobbled. Spence immediately reached my arm to support me. "You alright?" he asked as he slowly removed his hands on me, tila tinatantya kung makatatayo ako sa sariling mga paa.

"She really is?"

He simply nodded. "Yes, Hetty is your daughter, Rylli."

I tightly shut my eyes closed when a lone tear rolled down my cheek.

"What's your plan?"

Marahan akong napadilat at nananantyang sinulyapan si Spencer. "I want to have her back. C-can I?"

"You should ask Hetty and not me. Its her decision to make. Though, I know she's longing for a family. She'll accept you."

"Is that alright with you?"

For years, it was Spencer who took care of my daughter because I failed to do it. Narito man sa bahay-ampunan ay nasisiguro kong nabantayan ni Spencer ang paglaki ni Hetty. And I can see that he cares for her. Mas tumayo pa siya bilang magulang ni Hetty kaysa sa akin kaya't may karapatan siya sa bata. And if he won't let me have my daughter back... I'll respect it. But that doesn't mean I'll stop. I'll convince Spencer to prove him that I can now be a mother to Hetty.

"I have no problem with that, Rylli. Besides, I can still visit her in your mansion," he smirked. "Come on, let's talk to her."

Iginiya niya ako patungo sa direksyon nila Maverick. When Mav saw us approaching, he started walking too towards our direction with Hetty on his side.

Dumiretso ako kay Maverick at agad naman niyang inabot ang aking kamay. He slightly gripped it like he's telling me he's here for me. "I love you," I mouthed.

He pulled my hand closer as he leaned and let his lips touched my temple. "I love you, too," he whispered near my ear.

"Hetty," Spencer called after bending his knees to reach my daughter. "Do you want to meet your mother?"

Namilog ang mga mata ng bata sa biglaang tanong ni Spencer. "My mother? Do you know her? Do you know where she is? Yes, I want to meet her!" Sunod-sunod na tanong niya habang bakas ang kasiyahan sa kanyang mga mata. But it instantly vanished as she blinked. "B-but does she wants to meet me too?"

Spencer's eyes darted at me as he continue talking to Hetty. "Why don't you ask Amaryllis if she wants to meet you too?"

Matamang dumako sa akin ang mata niya. It was full of questions while she's tilting her head. "T-Tita Rylli? Why?"

"H-Hetty, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I reached her hand and bended my knees. Kasabay noon ang paglagaslas ng mga luha sa aking pisngi. I tried to calm myself but I'm failing miserably. Sunod-sunod ang aking mga hikbi habang pinapanood ang nagtatakang mga mata ng bata.

Confusion is evident in her eyes as she tilted my head to speak. Bahagya pang nakabuka ang mga labi. "A–are you my mother?"

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