"Ang peaceful ng paligid noh? Lalo na pag naririnig yung alon ng dagat" napalingon agad si Eli sa tabi niya nang may biglang nagsalita na boses ni Irene.
Irene smiled at her as she sit on the sand next to Eli.
Hindi makapagsalita agad si Eli dahil sa gulat na makita ang nanay niya kung saan siya pumunta.
"Hannah told me that you were outside of my office kanina so I went to see you right away to talk to you but hindi na kita naabutan. Pinuntahan kita sa bahay niyo kasi akala ko umuwi ka na but hindi ka pa daw dumating so I tracked your location and tada here I am" she said while they are both facing the beach.
"I just wanna breathe for a while" Eli said.
Yakap yakap niya ang tuhod niya habang pinagmamasdan nila ang mga alon.
"How are you?" Irene asked her in a low tone. Nilingon niya saglit si Irene bago ibaling nanaman sa mga alon ang tingin.
"Im fine na, I already understand why you keep that from me. I had a talk with Martina and she told me everything"
Irene softly chuckles.
"That little girl talaga, pardon her for being so madaldal"
"Nah, I asked her things naman so Its fine"
They became silent for a while, "Im sorry El, I didn't mean to hide it from you. I mean, i mean it because I don't want you to think that its your fault" Eli nod her head.
"I know, i had a fault there to be honest. I am awake when you went to my room that night but I don't know how to face you so I act na natutulog" mukhanh gulat pa si Irene but tumango nalang siya.
She wants to settle everything, she's getting tired na palagi silang nagkakatampuhan ni Eli and she's sure na ganun din ang nararamdaman ni Eli.
"Sorry Doc, I let my attitude consumed me that day---"
Hindi niya na pinatapos ang sasabihin ni Eli, "Naiintindihan kita anak, mali rin ako sa paghandle ng mga bagay nung araw na iyon. Pasensya ka na anak kung hindi ko naisip yung nararamdaman mo. I became insensitive that day, natakot lang ako for Martina dahil takot yun sa dugo mahirap yun patigilin sa kaiiyak tuwing nasusugatan at nakakakita ng dugo" tumango ng unti si Eli.
She smiled kahit na may kurot sa puso niya.
"I have a question Doc, but you're free to remain silent or not to answer if you don't want to" she said.
"What is it anak?" Irene looked at Eli, hindi siya nito nilingon at sa dagat lang ang tingin niya.
"How are you related to Martina? I mean, I asked her kanina if she's your daughter and she said she's your mimi. Is she your daughter? And Doc Lawrence is her father?"
"She is Lawrence's niece to her cousin but sadly Martina's mom died while giving birth to her. Yung daddy niya naman wala rin, may iba ng pamilya at hindi siya pinanagutan"
"Did she know about that?" Irene nods
"We're open to her about that. I feel so lonely years ago, so when Lawrence told me that story about martina I tried to adopt her. I stood up as her mother for years since wala na ring mag-aalaga sakanya na iba bukod kay Lawrence. She became a ray of sunshine to my life El, para bang nabigyang kulay muli yung buhay ko nung napunta siya sa akin" pagkwento ni Irene.
Now Eli starting to solve the pieces of puzzle.
"Did you totally adopt her? I mean in birthcertificate"
"No anak, we decided to still put her mom's name on her birth certificate"
"Sorry El kung hindi ko siya nakwento sayo---"
