Kabanata 1

“Nanginginig ka na naman.”

Wala sa sariling napatingin si Lorraine sa nagsalita at bumungad sa kanya ang lalaking tumulong sa kanya sa panahong kailangan na kailangan niya ng tulog. Tipid siyang ngumiti rito at tinanggap ang inalok nitong isang tasa ng gatas.

“Thank you,” she said. “Wala lang. I just remember what exactly happened to me way back years ago. It just came flashing inside my head. It's awful.”

Everything is still vivid. Lahat ay parang kahapon lang nangyari. And those memories are hunting her day and night. Ngunit sa halip na panghinaan ng loob, ito ang nagbibigay sa kanya ng lakas para bumangon.

Babawiin niya ang kanyang anak. Babawiin niya ito.

“Take a seat.”

Umupo naman sila sa couch at agad na sumimsim siya sa kapeng pinagtimpla sa kanya ni Aldrin. He was the doctor who saved her from hell that day. Ito ang lumigtas hindi lang sa kanya ngunit pati na rin sa anak niyang isa.

Nilapag niya ang tasa sa mesa at tumingin kay Aldrin. “How was the Philippines?”

Kakauwi lang nito galing sa Pinas dahil abala ito sa pag-aasikaso sa negosyong naiwan nito sa bansa. He stayed there for almost month. Matagal-tagal na rin. Negosyante si Aldrin at marami na rin itong napatayong negosyo sa ibang panig pa ng mundo. But mostly, it’s all about hospital. He’s a doctor and that explains everything.

Aldrin heaved a deep breath. “It was still the same country we left years ago.”

Mapait siyang ngumiti. “I see.”

“Mommy…”

Sabay na dumapo ang kanilang paningin sa nagsalita at bumungad sa kanya si Bullet. Mukhang kakagising pa lang nito at busy pa sa paghikab. Lorraine immediately composed her smile as he walked up to her. Niyakap niya naman ang bata at hinalikan ang buhok nito.

Yumakap pabalik ang batang na sa apat na taong gulang pa lang. Humilig ito sa kanyang balikat at agad niyang hinaplos ang buhok nito.

After giving birth to Bullet, it was Aldrin who helped her escape that hellish life-like in the Philippines. Dito siya tumira sa California at dito niya na rin pinalaki ang anak niyang si Bullet. Katulong niya si Aldrin sa lahat ng bagay and to be honest, hindi na niya alam kung gaano na kalaki ang naitulong sa kanya ng binata.

But she’s thankful. Kung hindi dahil dito, hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupulutin. Hindi siya makakabangon. And now that she’s finally awake to the fact that she was used, not just by her so-called husband, but also her family, she wanted justice.

And she wanted her baby girl back. She wanted Bullet’s twin back. And she’s going to get her, by hook or by crook.

“Are you going to take me to school today?” mahinang tanong ng kanyang anak.

She hummed. “Do you want me to take you to school?”

Agad na tumango ang bata. Napangiti siya dahil doon. Ramdam niya ang tingin na ginagawad ni Aldrin sa kanya kaya siya nag-angat ng tingin dito. Aldrin smiled at her.

“Do you want me to make you some milk, Bullet?” tanong ni Aldrin.”

“No need. Nanny is making it for me,” kaswal na sagot ni Bullet.

Mahina siyang napailing at hinaplos ang buhok ng anak. “Go and take a bath. I’ll be the one to take you to school today.”

Tumango si Bullet at humalik sa kanyang pisngi bago ito umalis sa kanyang kandungan at bumalik sa silid. Nang sila na lang maiwan ni Aldrin ay muling bumalik ang seryoso niyang ekspresyon sa mukha.

Napansin ito ng binata dahilan para mapahugot ito ng malalim na hininga. “Are you still going to get back to them?”

“I have to,” she said. “Kukunin ko lang ang anak ko.”

“But isn’t it too dangerous? Kakalabin mo ang pamilya mo, Lorraine. And your twin… makakaharap mo silang muli.”

Mahina siyang natawa at tumingin sa kawalan. “Hindi ako naghanda ng ilang taon para lang matakot na makaharap silang muli. In fact, I’ve been waiting to meet them again. Hindi na ako ang Lorraine na tinatapak-tapakan nila noon. A tool to fill what my twin lacks of. Not anymore.”

“You’re scaring me,” sambit ni Aldrin at natawa. “But I’m always behind your back. And I’ll support you for whatever you want to do.”

“Thank you.” She smiled sweetly. “Kukunin ko lahat ng kinuha sa ‘kin. And fortunately, may interest.”

Napailing na lang ang kaibigan niyang si Aldrin sa kanya. Muli siyang sumimsim sa kape at tumingin sa kanyang pambisig na relo.

Right after a year, after her postpartum stopped, she immediately took a step to rise back again. She started a small business and now… it’s globally known. And right now, she’s planning to visit the company she invested in using her new identity.

Rain Farren.

And guess where that is?

“Anong gagawin mo sa kanila?” tanong ni Aldrin. “Your smile is creeping the hell out of me.”

“Ruin their life,” she whispered and smiled as she looked at him. “Like how they ruined mine.”

“Kailan ka aalis?”

“Bukas,” she said and smiled. “Hinintay lang kitang makauwi para mabantayan mo si Bullet.”

Napatango ito. Kahit papano ay malapit ang loob ng bata kay Aldrin kahit na minsan ay sobrang lamig nito makitungo. Something na namana nito sa ama. Ang pagiging malamig.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Aldrin at ngumiti sa kanya. Muli silang binalot ng nakakabinging katahimikan. But that silence is very comfortable. Kasi alam niyang naiintindihan siya ng binata. Naiintindihan nito kung saan siya nagmumula. And she appreciates that. So much.

Tumingin siya rito. “Thank you, Aldrin.”

He looked at her and frowned. “For?”

“For everything you did. For saving me. And for always having my back.”

“Don’t mention it.” Tipid itong ngumiti. “Because just like you, you’re the only family that I have. I’m going to do anything to take good care of you and Bullet. Until my very last breath, Lorraine.”