After two days, the twins got well and Olivia can take them home. She was able to take another two days leave from work.

In as much as Amanda wanted to visit her friend and offered to help babysit, she also has problems of her own to deal with.

It's the last weekend of August and it has been her advocacy to lend a helping hand at the orphanage whom she had grown up to as a child.

Even with her small salary, she managed to save an amount for the kids to enjoy every quarter of the month.  Since she isn't available this coming September because of office retreat, she decided on an earlier date.

When Amanda was seven years old, her parents got themselves involved in street children. She used to play with them everytime she visited them.

As she grew up, she never failed to remember and ask how everybody and everything was in the orphanage.

She got really close to the three of them that when her parents decided to leave for Manila for better opportunity, she cried and begged to stay.

Amanda smiled as she take a look at their childhood pictures.

Eight-year old Amanda playing dress up with two kids her age, Ayah and Oniboy, at the playground of the orphanage. A younger kid whose name is Ivy sat at the swing across from them while they smiled for a picture.

It was dated December 17, 2001 which was written at the back of the picture.

"'Asan na kaya sila? Naalala pa kaya nila ako?" Amanda asked out loud as she closed her secret box of childhood memories.

Amanda sighed and counted her savings for her second home.

Four thousand five hundred pesos.

Ano kaya mabibili ko para sa labindalawang bata at apat na matanda na ikatutuwa nila ?

Nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip si Amanda ng tumunog ang kanyang cell phone.

Leni calling..

Curiosity got the best of her when she picked up her friend's call..

There was no answer from the other line.

"Hello, friend?" Amanda asked and stared at the wall clock.

9:30 in the morning, it says.

Still, there was no answer.

"Bakla?" Amanda asked again and began to worry.

"Ano pa ba kailangan kong gawin?" Amanda heard Leni's voice talking to someone else.

Then Amanda heard a loud thud.
She jumped in her seat in surprise.

Still holding her phone, Amanda tried calling Leni's name again.

"L-leni?" Amanda asked almost a whisper. Worry sounded in her voice.

Amanda heard something like a glass broke in the distance and Leni's cry for fear strained her ears.

Amanda's hands trembled and got up. With her sling bag and money with her, she grabbed her jacket and rushed outside.

She walked past her mom and asked for her other cell phone.

"Hello, Jessica?" Amanda asked using her other phone with Leni's voice on the other line.

"Yes, baks?" came Jessica's cheerful voice.

"On my way ako sa bahay ni Leni. I think something's wrong. Tumawag ka ng pulis." Amanda stuttered as she ran for the gate.

"What!" Jessica shouted. "I'm on my way too. Kita tayo sa bahay ni Leni." Jessica dropped the call and Amanda called for taxi.

"Sa Commonwealth po, Kuya." Amanda said and went inside.

The driver immediately nodded and drove the car.

Amanda pressed the phone to her ear more hoping to hear Amanda's voice to comfort her and assure her she'll be coming.

"Shit. Manong, pakibilisan po." Amanda's voice wavered in desperation.

"Leni. Ano na ba nangyayari sayo?" Amanda asked noone and asked for her friend again.

All she could hear was Leni's cry for fear and help.

"Hindi ako nanlalalake!" Leni shouted and cried harder. "Ayoko na! Tama na!"

Leni seemed to be hurting because Amanda heard something being slapped and glasses breaking.

Napapikit si Amanda upang pakalmahin ang sarili. Namumuo ang galit sa puso nya.

How could that man hurt her friend? Sino ba siya para gawin yun? And Leni? She's one of the nicest and most down to earth persons she knows. Wala syang karapatang saktan ang kaibigan nya!

Her hands clenched in anger as she listened to Leni's cries.

Walang magawa si Amanda dahil malayo pa sya. It will take thirty minutes for her to reach her friend.

Kamalas malasan pa, matraffic dahil rainy season na.

Ten minutes away nalang ang layo niya sa bahay ni Leni. Dalawang kanto nalang at street na niya iyon.

With exasperation and desperation, Amanda pulled out a few bills and handed it to the driver.

"Keep the change, Kuya. Salamat." Amanda said and hurried out.

Thankfully, nakapula ang stoplight at madaling nakapunta sa sidewalk si Amanda matapos makipagpatintero sa kalsada sa mga sasakyan.

She walked briskly instead of running dahil ayaw nyang mapagod pag dating nya sa bahay ni Leni.

After fifteen minutes of twists and turns, nakarating si Amanda sa front gate ng kaibigan.

Eksaktong dating din ni Jessica kasama ang mga pulis. Lumabas ito at sabay nilang pinasok ang bahay ni Leni.

The gate was opened at dire diretso silang pumasok sa front door.

The living room was a mess. It was obvious that somebody made a commotion inside dahil ang dating lamp na matayog na nakatayo sa tabi ng sofa ay nabagsak at ang ibang kagamitan katulad ng glass drawer kung saan nakalagay ang mamahaling koleksyon ng crystal plates ni Leni ay nabasag.

Paakyat na sila ng kwarto ng may madinig silang hagulhol. Nagmadaling umakyat sila Amanda at Jessica kasama ang dalawang pulis. May naiwan pang tatlong pulis sa ibaba at naghahanap ng posibleng ebidensya.

Nadatnan nila Amanda at Jessica na nakasalampak sa sahig si Leni at umiiyak.

Mabilis na niyakap at inalo ni Amanda si Leni. Si Jessica naman ay abala sa pagtitingin sa mga sulok sulok ng malaking kwarto ni Leni upang hanapin ang nobyo nitong suspetsa nilang may kagagawan ng kasamaan kay Leni.

"Si Stuart yun, tama?" Jessica asked in irritation, her hands on her waist. Leni looked up and nodded, tears flowing from her eyes.