ELVIRA'S POV

PAGDATING SA hotel ay sabay pa kaming nagulat nang makita si Aries na nagiintay sa labas ng hotel room namin.

"Daddy Aries!" Agad na tumakbo si Fate at sinalubong naman siya ni Aries at kinarga.

"How are you?" Aries asked.

"I'm fine, Daddy. You? I thought you are in Korea, right now. We are planning to surprise you there but you are the one who surprised me." She said.

"Daddy finished all his works in Korea so that I can see you and your Mom already."

I don't know why Fate isn't asking about her real Dad. Maybe because Aries was there for us, and he's the one who's taking care of us, especially Fate.

I am currently working on his company and Fate is staying on his office sometimes.

And nakatira kami sa village na pagmamay-ari rin ni Aries.

"Then how did you know we are here?" She asked.

"I asked your Mom yesterday." He simply answered bago kami pumasok sa hotel room namin nang buksan ko iyon.

"Ahhh. And you are here already. You have to rest, Daddy." She said.

"Yes I will." He said. "Ohh is that your dog? He is so cute."

"She's a girl Daddy. And her name is Eli. And yes she really is so cute." Pagtatama nito kay Aries.

"Opps, my bad. Let's feed her." Sabi naman ni Aries kaya tumango si Fate.

NANG MAKATULOG si Fate dahil sa pagod ay kinausap ko si Aries.

"He saw her, and yet he didn't recognize his own daughter." Natatawang sabi nito habanh umiinom ng wine.

"Yes. I don't know how he did not even recognize her but it's good to know also." Sagot ko kaya tumango siya.

"Then what will you gonna do now? Are you still going to your Dad?"

"I have to. It's been 5 years since I left and they thought that I am dead. I feel bad everytime I am thinking that they are still moving on. They thought that he lost her daughter with her granddaughter. And I miss my Dad so much. Same with Cindy." I said so he nodded.

"I'll help you. When are you going to go in your Dad's house?"

"I want it tomorrow because it's Fate's birthday and I promised her that on her birthday he'll gonna see her Grandpa." I answered then uminom rin ako ng wine.

"Are you gonna stay there if he wants you to stay?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Maybe a month or two? Maybe yes, for my daughter."

"What if, Jax find out that you are staying in your Dad's house?"

"I don't know. I'll run away, again. I guess. You are still gonna help us right? I mean, I am not yet ready to face him. I don't even know what happened between him and Elena."

"Yes I will help. I am your friend, and I will always be here to support you." He said kaya lumapit ako sa kaniya at niyakap siya.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything and for your support." I whispered.

He patted my head. "It's my pleasure."

TODAY IS Fate's birthday so we bake a cake for her.

In the past 5 years natuto ako magluto at magbake. Staying in Australia thought me how to be a responsible and independent mother to my child.

That's why I am doing everything I can to give her everything she wants. Of course there's still a limitations.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday my baby! Happy birthday to you!" Pagkanta namin kay Fate kaya nagising ito na may ngiti.

"고마워요, 엄마! gomawoyo, eomma!"

"Make a wish and blow your candle, baby." I said at nilapit sa kaniya ang cake.

Nagvivideo naman sa likod ko si Hazel at si Aries ay nagpipicture.

She made a wish and she blew the candle.

"Yehey!" We all cheered kaya napapalakpak ito.

Kinuha naman niya si Eli na katabi pa namin matulog kagabi.

"Let's eat first. And then later we'll go to grandpa." I said that made her happier than earlier.

"Really? Muchas gracias, mamá."

Excited naman siyang kumain at nauna pa nga siya sa banyo para mapaliguan ko siya.

You know what I love about my daughter? Her taste pagdating sa fashion.

Matapos ko siyang paliguan ay siya mismo ang naghanap ng susuotin niya.

After she took a bath ay ako na ang sumunod naghanap lang ako ng medyo malapit sa outfit niya para matchy kami.

Nang masuot ko yung mga damit ko ay feeling ko bumalik ako sa pagiging college student.

Simula kasi nang grumaduate ako sa Australia ng college at nagtrabaho sa company ni Aries ay yung mga outfits ko pang office attire.

"Oh my god, Mommy! You looked younger." Pambobola pa ni Fate.

"Really?" Sinakyan ko na lang ang sinabi niya.

"She's not joking. You really looked younger with that outfit." Aries said kaya napangiti na lang ako.

Nagpicture muna kami ni Fate bago umalis.

Kasama namin si Hazel and si Aries ay ihahatid lang kami kasi saktong may ime-meet rin siya na investor dito sa Pilipinas.

"Call me if something will happen." Bilin nito kaya tumango ako.

Bumaba na kami ni Fate at nag-doorbell.

Hawak ni Fate si Eli na may tali. And si Hazel ay nasa likod lang namin.

Nang bumukas ang gate ay nanlaki ang mata ng guard na sinasabi ko noon na naging adik sa droga pero maayos na ang buhay ngayon. Hanggang ngayon ay nandito pa siya.

"B-buha-"

"Sshh. Yes I am. Now can we get inside? Nandyan ba si Dad?" I asked.

Gulat man ay tumango ako.

Pinapasok na kami nito at pinagbuksan ng pinto.

"Hi people! The princess is back!" I shout all I can do, that made the house shake. Just kidding.

Sapat na yung sigaw ko para maglabasan ang mga maid. Napatingin ako sa hagdan nang marinig ang yapak doon.

"Cindy! My bestie!" I shouted at tumakbo palapit sa kaniya at niyakap siya.

Natulala pa siya ng ilang minuto. Nang bumitaw ako ay kita ko pa rin ang gulat nito.

"Who the hell shouted in my-fuck." Napatingin ako kung saan nanggaling iyon at di ko napigilang maluha nang makita si Dad.

Agad akong tumakbo paakyat at yumakap. Tumalon pa ako ng bahagya para mabuhat ako nito na parang batang sabik sa ama.

"I miss you so much, Dad! Sorry ngayon lang ako bumalik." Sabi ko.

"A-are you f-for r-real? You are n-not dead?" Utal na tanong nito.

Bumaba na ako sa kaniya at tinignan siya sa mata.

"Alive and kicking, Dad." I said kaya napangaga ito at bigla akong niyakap.

"Ahhh! Ang anak ko. Na-miss ka ni Daddy! Jusko, akala ko wala ka na." Paghagulgol nito kaya nahawa na ako.

"Elvira? Totoo ba ito?" Bumitaw ako sa yakap at hinarap si Cindy.

"Yes bestie. I am alive. How dare you believed that I am dead?" Pagtatampo-tampohan ko pa.

"AAHH! Aww! It hurts!" Sigaw ko dahil bigla ako nitong kinurot sa pisngi.

"Totoo nga! Buhay ka!" Sigaw nito pero ang mas ikinagulat ko nang sampalin ako nito.

Hindi naman malakas yun.

"How dare you?! Alam mo ba kung gaano kami nag-alala sayo?! Alam mo ba kung ilang beses kaming nagdusa dito? Kasi akala namin wala ka na! Sabi mo sabay tayong magpapa-maternity shoot pero ginawa ko yun na mag-isa lang! Tapos umalis ka pa nung eksaktong friends anniversary natin! Tapos sabi mo babalik ka, then lalabas sa balita na may na-plane crash! Tapos nandito ka ngayon!" Pagmamaktol nito kaya agad ko na siyang niyakap.

"Eh bakit kasi kayo naniwala doon? Wala bang DNA dito?" Sabi ko.

"Positive yung resulta eh!" Sigaw niya.

"Malay mo nagkamali lang!" Sigaw ko rin pabalik.

"Namiss kita, Elvira-"

"Mom! Dad! Oh god! Shoo! Don't! Stay away from me!"

"How dare you kicked her! Who are you to kick my dog!"

"You! Who are you?! This our house so why are you here?! Get that shit away from me!"

"Vince Loviro, language!" Dad warned him.

Bumaba kami at nakita kong naiyak ang anak ko kaya agad akong lumapit sa kaniya.

"Hey baby, why are you crying?" I asked.

"He kicked my Eli!" Sigaw nito kaya tinignan ko si Eli at mukhang ayos naman siya.

"Okay stop crying. Late we will take her to a vet to chech her." I said.

"Hey kiddo, why did you do that?" Dad asked.

"Because I hate dogs. Tu sais à quel point je déteste les chiens, vieil homme, éloigne cette merde de chez nous!"

"Ce n'est pas comme ça qu'on parle à un gars plus âgé que nous?! vous ne me respectez pas! et il ne m'a même pas l'air si vieux. alors comment oses-tu l'appeler vieil homme?!"

"Hey, that's enough." Pagpigil ni Dad.

Ako naman at si Cindy ay naguguluhan dahil di naman yata kami nakakaintindi ng French.

"Mommy, he called him old man! He is not even that looked old to me!" Pagprotesta ni Fate.

"What?! You called your Dad old man? I better teach you a lesson! You are grounded! We'll talk later!" Sabi naman ni Cindy kaya natakot yung bata.

"Are you tolerating him, Dad? I know how much you love kids. But that kid doesn't have any respect to you." Sabi ko kay Dad kaya napanguso naman ito.

"By the way, this is Fate Elixera La Cuesta, my daughter." Pagpapakilala ko.

Napatingin naman si Dad sa kaniya ganun din si Cindy at yung bata.

"Hello! I am Fate. But only my Mommy can call me Fate, so I suggest you to call me Xera or Elixera." She said. "And this is my dog Eli." She added while emphasizing the word my.

"Hi, Xera. This is Vince Loviro La Cuesta, my son." Sabi naman ni Cindy.

"What?! He's also a La Cuesta?!" Gulat na tanong ni Fate.

"Of course, idiot! My Dad is a La Cuesta and your Mom is my Dad's daughter. Sk basically, I am her younger brother. So you better respect me because I am your uncle." Sabi naman ni Loviro.

"What? Respect you? You did not even know how to respect your Dad. So why would even respect you? I'll respect the person who deserve it, and that is not you obviously." She answered back.

"That's enough. Me and my daughter better have some bonding. Xera my... granddaughter... You can play here in the living room with Eli." Sabi ni Dad.

"Dad! I said get her dog out of the house!" Pagrereklamo naman ni Loviro.

"Shut up, Vince. Just go to your room and read your books. I'll check you every minute to see if you are using your gadgets. Kung noon you are using french so that I can't understand you, I believe that Xera will tell me what you said. Right, Xera?" Sabi naman ni Cindy at nakipag- associate pa kay Xera.

"Yes I will. It's my pleasure."

"私はあなたを殺す。" Loviro said. Obviously I can't understand.

"できるならやってみて。 私は怖くない。" Sagot naman ni Fate na ikinagulat ko.

"You said you were just learning Japanese!"

"I lied, Mommy. Sorry!" Sabi pa nito at tumakbo palayo sakin. Agad naman sumunod si Eli at si Hazel.

"By the way he said he will kill me!" Pahabol pa nito na ikinalaglag ng panga ni Loviro na akala mo'y na-betrayed.

"That's it, Vince Loviro La Cuesta! You"re done. Go back to your room now! Puputulin ko ang wifi sa kwarto mo!"

"Mom!!"

"Shut up! Go to your room!"