Innocently Mischievous (Finished)

[27] - Maybe one day you'll understand why

[27] - Maybe one day you'll understand why 

One year later.

"Attorney, nandiyan na si Nanay." Sabi sa akin sa isa sa mga staff ko. Isa-isa naman kaming pumunta sa gitna ng opisina hawak-hawak ang mga balloons at cake. Iyong iba kong staff naman ay may hawak na tarpaulin kung saan nakalagay ang 'Happy Birthday Nanay!'

"Sige, dito na tayo lahat sa gitna."

60th birthday na kasi ni Nanay Lucianan at napagdesisyunan namin ng mga staff ko sa Public Attorney's Office na bigyan siya ng sorpresa. Mrs. Luciana Ponce has been our mentor and adviser in the office kaya naman lahat talaga kami ay nirerespeto siya. She's a mother to all of us.

Nang bumukas na iyong pinto ng office at bumungad na sa paningin namin sa Nanay, kaagad pinasabog ng isang staff ko ang confetti na hawak nito.

"Happy birthday, Nanay!" We all shouted and clapped our hands. Nagulat naman siya sa sorpresa namin at natawa. All of us went near to her and sang her a birthday song. Everyone was really lively and cheerful.

"Naku! Kayo talaga! Hindi ko inasahan 'to!" We all laughed at Nanay's comments. Isa-isa naman siyang niyakap at binati ng mga staff ko. All of them gave her their birthday presents too.

"Alonso, anak," Nanay called me as I approached her as well. Niyakap naman niya kaagad ako.

"Happy Birthday, Nay," I greeted her sincerely as we hugged. She giggled.

"Senior citizen na talaga ako. Hindi na talaga mapipigilan," She joked as we finally freed ourselves from the hug. Ako naman iyong natawa. Ibinigay ko naman sa kanya ang regalo ko. It was silver necklace. She looked amazed the moment she received my gift.

"Nag-abala ka pa talaga," She said as she was still staring at my gift. She really deserves all the good things. To me, she's like my second biological mother that I never have.

Napangiti naman ako sa reaksyon niya.

For those months, I tried my very best to just concentrate on my work. Even though it was hard for me, my work and my staff in the PAO as well in the underground club helped me to cope up with my life. I also asked help again from my therapists to guide me in everything. They were all my support system now after all that happened before.

I'm helping myself to get better in my life.

I'm starting to see life as a different view now. I'm trying my very best to forgive myself for all the mistakes I have done with my life.

"Saka nga pala, anak," Bigla naman niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko at pinisil iyon. She smiled tightly, "May gustong kumausap sayo." Aniya sa 'kin kaya naman napakunot-noo ko. I didn't have an appointment that time.

Parehas naman kaming dalawa ni Nanay na napatingin sa may pintuan ng opisina. From there, I saw a man. A very familiar man.

And it has been more than a year since I last saw him.

Mas lalo naman akong napakunot-noo.

●●●

"I miss this place," Darius Abel Harrison broke off the silence. We were currently on one of the benches inside an empty court room in the hall of justice. Mahigit kalahating oras siguro kaming tahimik lang at nakaupo lang doon. I didn't expect this meeting of ours.

Nor did I expect to see him again.

It has been a year since they left the country and went back to USA.