"ANG sabi ko, I don't have one. Wala akong asawa."

Para siyang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa narinig. Jyrelle didn't answer his questions, basta na lang nito pinatay ang tawag niya and let himself jump into conclusions. Light rubbed his palms against his face, how dare he...

Was Jyrelle right all along? That he's doubting his sister's feelings for him?

Light suddenly had the urge to smack himself.

"Mukhang hindi nasabi sayo ni Kuya. Well, I did tell them not to tell anyone, but at least, after a year I expected my brother to tell you about my whereabouts." She shrugged nonchalantly.

He doesn't want to jump in any more conclusion. Kaya kahit nahihilo na siya sa dami ng alak na nainom niya, simula nang makita niya ito na may hawak na bata, Light started asking her.

"Then, how?"

Vyrlle smiled at him.

"I was getting lonely. I need a companion but I don't want to have a man other than the man whom I really like. I started to think if maybe I should adopt a baby or  a toddler? Opportunity knocked in front of me and so, after I saw the baby, my daughter, without thinking so much... I adopted her."

"Wala kang... naging boyfriend?"

"I guess too much alcohol can affect your hearing too? Yes, wala." She answered sarcastically.

Light felt his chest tightened and a half second, his heart exploded in happiness that he couldn't help himself but to laugh so loud. Nahiga siya sa sahig habang tumatawa.

He was laughing because of how pathetic he was a while ago. Thinking that maybe... he has no chance. But, laughing his ass off here wouldn't give him a chance either. It's up to Vyrlle.

Wala siyang balak na samantalahin ang pagkakagusto nito sa kanya. He wanted to give her everything, his love, his care, lahat lahat ng mga bagay na hindi niya naiparamdam noon sa dalaga.

"A while ago you looked hopeless, and now, you're laughing. Wow, I'm amazed how fast your mood changes, Mr. Perez!" Vyrlle uttered. "Anyway, I need to go back. Kaya mo naman ang sarili mo no?"

Light smiled and nod his head a little. He wanted her to stay a little longer, pero inaalala rin niya ang anak nito na naiwan sa bahay.

If he's inside the Lust community, sigurado na hindi siya titigil sa pag inom ng alak hanggat hindi siya bumabagsak. Yves and Isabella were taking good care of them. Marahan siyang bumuntong hininga, bago niya iniligpit ang mga nagkalat na bote sa sahig, inubos muna niya ang pagkain na binigay ni Vyrlle sa kanya.

How can a simple food reminds him of the past? Light was blinded by his love for Vyel that he didn't noticed he's hurting Vyrlle. Noong mag confess ito sa kanya, unti unti na bumalik sa kanya ang mga ngiti sa labi ng Papa niya, Rayos words, Vyrlle's cold treatment for him. Lahat.

Those memories were the ones he used to remind himself that he's not worthy of Vyrlle's love, and in order to be a deserving man, he made himself better throughout the years. With the help of Ryker's cousin, nagpalagay siya ng tattoo sa pulsuhan niya, it was a small Sun connected to a calligraphy acronym VIC. It was to remind him that there's a woman who loves the Sun, that every day was a blessing and that there's someone who can make him shine even if they're both swallowed by the darkness.

It took him almost an hour to clean his mess. After that, he took a cold shower and threw himself on his bed. Nakatulog siya na walang iniisip. Because he knew that Vyrlle was right next to his house. The next morning, he woke up because of a loud knock on his door.

Hindi na siya nagabala na mag t-shirt man lang. With his head aching, Light ran, para mapag buksan ang kumakatok.

"Morning," he greeted as soon as he saw Vyrlle's face.

Karga nito ang anak at may dalang bag.

"What's up?" Light asked.

Vyrlle softly smiled at him and handed him her baby, kumunot ang noo niya pero kinuha pa rin naman niya ang bata, feels like he's carrying Jyrelle's daughter.

"I will be busy and of course, my secretary will be unavailable too. I can't contact our babysitter so, for the meantime, sa iyo muna ang anak ko ha? Alaagaan mo 'yan, patay ka sa akin kapag umuwi ako na may bukol ang anak ko!" Natataranta na sabi nito at basta na lang din inabot ang bag at tumakbo papunta sa sasakyan nito.

Light was stunned as he watched her car go.

"Your mom didn't even introduce you to me. Now, I have to figure it all out by myself, what's your name?" Mahinang tanong niya sa bata na karga niya.

The baby just looked at him. Her eyes caught his attention. Kakulay nito ang mga mata ni Mikael. Enticing.

Light found himself smiling like an idiot as he walk towards his room. He needs to shower first before he'll start the day. Wala siyang crib kaya inilapag niya muna ang bata sa sahig at pinalibutan ito ng mga unan, he also tidy up his bed.

"Hey, little miss. I'm just going to take a quick shower, behave ka lang dito ah? We're going to have a breakfast after and play all day." Aniya at ngumiti lang sa kanya ang bata na parang naiintindihan na siya nito.

Hindi siya nagtagal sa CR, if he's alone, he'll probably took a hour inside. Light simply choose a shirt and pants, and didn't even bother to gel his hair. Mahaba na ang buhok niya pero wala siyang balak na magpagupit man lang.

Nang makalabas siya sa banyo, napailing na lang siya nang makita ang bata na gumagapang. He immediately picked her up, kasama na ang bag nito. Dumeretso siya sa sala at inilapag ang bata sa sahig, hinayaan ito na maglumikot. While he, on the other hand, scanned her small bag.

It contains her milk, 3 bottles with water, extra clothes, diapers, wipes and her breakfast.

He was in awe. Vyrlle was now a real mom. Malayo na malayo ito noon sa Vyrlle na kilala niya, that sweet, cold hearted little miss.

Kinuha ni Light ang maliit na lunch box at nilagyan 'yon ng maligamgam na tubig. His brows twitched when he saw the name written on the lid.

"Luca?" He uttered.

Sumulyap si Light sa bata na malayang gumagapang sa sala. Wala siyang dapat ipagalala dahil nalinis niya naman 'yon ng mabuti kagabi.

"Her name is Luca?" He asked himself.

If his memories serve him right. That night. When Vyrlle confessed to him. She called him Luca. And now, she named her daughter Luca...

His heart was swelling with happiness as he stared at the baby.

The highlights on her Instagram account were not for its Sunset and Sunrise's collection. It was for him.

Light can't imagine how hard it is for Vyrlle to hide her feelings for him.

After preparing his and the baby's breakfast, kinuha niya ang bata at ito muna ang una niyang pinakain. That's how he usually do it when he feed Jyrelle's daughter and Kyst twins before.

"You love the food?" He asked and Luca started to waggle her cute feet.

Walang iniwan na stroller si Vyrlle sa kanya, so, he assumed that if she left her baby to a babysitter, sa bahay lang ang mga ito. Which was not good for him and for the baby.

"Alis tayo?" Tanong niya ulit.

Kahit naman na hindi ito sumagot sa kanya, siya pa rin ang masusunod. After eating his breakfast, nagbihis lang siya at lumabas na ng bahay. His car doesn't have a carrier for baby, so, he took the cab. Hindi rin naman niya feel ang sasakyan na pinahiram sa kanya.

"Let's buy you new clothes and toys, Luca!"

San Diego was a new place for him. Buti na lang at nakakapag research siya sa mga lugar dito, hindi siya maliligaw. They went first to the nearest Mall to buy a carrier, hindi naman sa nagrereklamo siya pero mas may timbang ang anak ni Vyrlle sa pamangkin nito. So far, si Era, ang anak pa lang nina Angel at Ranger ang pinaka may timbang na batang nabuhat niya.

He bought the hip seat baby carrier, he forgot to ask Vyrlle how old her baby was. Ayze, the twin, and Archer were all turning 4, buwan lang ang pagitan.

"Is that your daughter? She's pretty," a woman approached him.

Pilit na ngumiti si Light at nagpasalamat. He doesn't want to involve himself to any woman here other than Vyrlle. Ito naman talaga ang pinunta niya rito.

Tahimik ang anak ni Vyrlle habang naglilibot sila sa Mall, she didn't even cried, panay ang tawa nito at kung minsan naman ay tahimik na nagtitingin. She even ate happily.

Going to the mall alone, shopping, with a baby, and holding a lot of paper bags was surely hard.

Hindi na napansin ni Light na sa kada store na dinadaanan nila, may nabibili siyang damit para kay Luca. His past self would smack him down for sure! Hindi siya ganito ka gastos noon!

"One more and we'll go home." Aniya sa bata.

Sa Toy store ang sunod na pinasukan nila.

"Welcome to our store, Sir!"

Tumango lang si Light at dumeretso sa mga stuffed toys. Luca immediately glance at him and pointed a huge size of bear, halos kasing laki na 'yon ng nanay nito.

"Excuse me, we'll get that one," he said and turned his head to the human sized bear.

Kinagat niya ang pangibaba na labi nang makita na pumalakpak ang batang hawak niya. She's not hers. Pero bata pa lang ito, may mga similarities na ang mga ito pagdating sa ugali.

If his memories served him right, Vyrlle always claps her hands, lalo na kapag binigay ang gusto nito.

"You look like your mother," he whispered softly.

A staff helped him carry the human size teddy bear, hanggang sa makasakay sila ng cab. Pilit 'yon na inaabot ni Luca kaya ibinababa niya ito at hinayaan na laruin ni Luca 'yon. Light was watching her and his heart was thumping loudly. Just like her mother, this little sunshine, got him wrapped around her fingers.

Nang makarating sila sa tapat ng bahay, doon niya lang napansin na tulog na pala ang bata at yakap ang kamay ng teddy bear. He quickly get his phone and took a picture of her and used it as his phone lock screen.

Hindi niya rin namalayan na pagabi na pala.

"Where the hell have you been?!" Narinig niya ang galit na boses ni Vyrlle.

Light licked his lower lip and glanced at the paper bags plus the human size teddy bear. He was about to answer her when he caught her wiping her own tears.

"Damn you! Akala ko nasaan na ang anak ko!" Vyrlle yelled.

"Hey, wala naman ako balak na itakas ang anak mo..." Aniya at nilapitan ito. She was sobbing nonstop.  "Stop crying, please?" He asked and using his free hand, he helped her wiped her tears.

"Saan ba kasi kayo galing?!" Galit na tanong nito.

Light chuckled softly, she's not scary at all, she's cute.

"Mall, I thought if we're going to stay inside my house all day, she'll get bored." He answered honestly.

"Ano 'yan?" Kunot ang noo nito at tiningnan ang mga paper bags na na baba na pala ng driver at basta na lang inilapag sa tabi niya. Even the bear.

"Oh, I bought her clothes." Light answered nonchalantly.

Sanay na sa kanya ang mga kaibigan niya kapag umuwi siya na maraming pasalubong sa mga anak ng mga ito, at natural na rin para sa mga ito na marami siyang dalang paper bag kapag lumabas siya na may kasamang bata.

They always thought na uhaw si Light sa mga bata.

"Bakit ang dami?" Vyrlle asked again and get the human size teddy bear, tsaka nito 'yon pinagpagan.

He raised his brows, "kaunti lang 'yan?"

Vyrlle sighed and shook her head. Light stilled when he noticed that she's still shedding tears, pasimple lang nito 'yon na pinupunasan.

Light caressed her cheek as he wiped her tears using his thumb.

"Hindi na ulit ako aalis na kasama ang bata na hindi nagpapaalam, stop crying now, please? It hurts, Ion."

☕