AVIS WAS tired after her shift, halos kakatapos lang din niyang magpaanak, and now that it's her time to rest, for a minute, tsaka niya hindi mahanap ang asawa na si Caleb. They have some appointments to attend. Caliber was always around the corner of the Hospital, nagsasawa na siya sa mukha ng brother in law niya.

As if on cue, her little Maki entered her clinic together with her baby sitter. Maki is now 4, gusto niyang maiyak dahil masyadong mabilis ang paglaki nito. Parang kailan lang palagi niya itong karga.

"Hey little Maki! Mommy missed you so much!" Avis exclaimed, she kneeled down on the floor and spread her arms. Maki immediately ran towards her, and the moment her face buried on her chest, her cute daughter started sobbing. "What happened?" Agad na tanong niya sa anak habang hinahaplos ang buhok nito na magulong nakalugay.

Maki always and loves messing up her hair. But it's different today. Mas magulo ang buhok niyo kaysa sa mga nakaraan na araw na umuuwi ito galing sa kindergarten.

Walang kindergarten ang school na pinatayo ni Yves at Angelyn, so they decided to enrolled their kids to the previous school where Angelyn and Krizzia used to work. It's a good environment for their children, kaya madali siyang napapayag.

"Baby, care to tell mommy what happened to School today?" Avis baby talked her daughter while combing her messy hair. Hindi na siya nag-abala na itali ang buhok ng anak dahil tatanggalin din naman nito. Maki was still sobbing while wiping the tears flowing in her cheeks.

She waited for a minute and let her daughter calm first. Pero imbes na magkuwento ito, mahigpit lang itong yumakap sa kanya. Her tiny arms were wrapped around her neck and her face buried on her chest.

Avis glance at the baby sitter but she just shake her head. Hindi nga pala pwedeng pumasok ang mga baby sitter sa loob ng room.

"Maki, can you tell mommy what happened?" She tried to asked her daughter again, as calm as she can. Seeing her daughter sobbing, her hair was a messed and now Avis was seeing a mud on her skirt. This isn't normal for her.

Tumikhim agad ang baby sitter ng anak niya. "Ma'am ang sabi po noong anak ni Mrs. Clemente, tawagan niyo daw po agad 'yung nanay niya. Kakausapin ka daw po."

Bahagyang umangat ang kilay ni Avis. Isabella's daughter wants to talk to her? Sometimes, Ayze loves acting like how a grown up woman should act, ilang beses din nila itong pinagsabihan na enjoy-in muna nito ang pagiging bata. She picked up her phone and dialed Isabella's number.

While waiting for Isabella to answer her call. Umupo siya sa sofa habang nasa kandungan niya ang anak na ayaw na bumitaw sa kanya. Avis was actually savoring the moment, dahil kapag nakita ni Maki ang Daddy nito, hindi na siya nito papansinin.

"Hello?"

[Kanina pa ako kinukulit nito, kausapin mo, importante daw. Ayze, talk to Tita Avis with respect. Isusumbong kita sa Tatay mo!] She chuckled softly.

Isabella loves to spoil her daughter so much, so, si Jyrelle ang nagdidisiplina sa bata.

[Good afternoon, Doctora Carson. I asked Maki's baby sitter to set an appointment for me so I can talk to you. It's a serious matter, Tita! Sobra po!] Avis blinked when she heard Ayze's talking so formal to her. She crinkled her nose and softly chuckle.

"What do you mean serious? Masusundan ka na ba?" Pabiro niyang tanong sa bata. Ayze's voice were cute and sometimes high pitched, pero hindi naman ganoon kasakit sa tainga.

[Tita— I mean, Doctora Carson. I saw some of our classmates parent's bullying Maki, saying that and I quote, "Hindi porket doctor ang mga magulang mo aangasan mo na ang mga anak namin" something like that? I wasn't sure tho. Basta po! And then Tita! Blike, our classmates pushed her po! Pero hindi po nakita ni Teacher and then yung mama po niya she told our teacher that were lying!]

Mariin na napapikit si Rion sa narinig niya. Tila umakyat lahat ng dugo niya sa ulo. She's a respected OB-Gyne here in Carson Hospital, she can't act recklessly, but she's also a mother and she can't just seat here inside her office, cooing her daughter.

"Can I talk to your mommy now?" She asked calmly.

[What is it? Ano na naman ang chinika sayo nitong anak ko?]

"I want to transfer my daughter. If you want to know the reason, call the gang and we'll meet at the school." She fiercely said before dropping the call.

"Julian! Kapag pinatawag ako ni Caleb sabihin mo um-attend siya mag-isa sa lintek na appointment na 'yon! May pupuntahan ako." Avis said and slowly give her daughter to her baby sitter.

Masyadong mainit ang ulo niya ngayon para um-attend sa appointment nilang dalawa ni Caleb. She'll messed up for sure.

"Kayo na muna po ang bahala sa anak ko, kung may kailangan po kayo sabihan niyo lang si Julian." Habilin niya sa baby sitter ni Maki.

She loves her daughter and took a leave on her work for a year, para lang matutukan niya ito. Ni lamok ay hindi niya pinapadapo sa balat ng anak niya, at mas lalong hindi niya hinahayaan na magtagal ang sugat sa katawan nito kapag nadadapa ito, they took care of Mavis like a porcelain doll.

Avis never raised her hand on her daughter. At ganoon din naman si Caleb.

She called Caliber and then her mother in law and told them what happened.

Avis saw Caleb doing rounds pero hindi niya ito tinawag, he'll just calm the shit of her. Hindi pwede 'yon! Lumihis siya ng daan para maiwasan ang asawa niya, she's furious, pero hindi niya maiwasan na hangaan ang kagwapuhan ng asawa niya kahit na pagod ito. Ang hirap talaga kapag saksakan ng gwapo ang asawa!

"Sinabi mo ba sa kapatid ko?" Caliber asked when she saw her on the parking lot.

Avis eyed her from her to toe. Pawis na pawis ito at amoy alcohol. Amoy Hospital. Well, hospital was their second home.

"Hindi, pakakalmahin lang ako non." Dahilan niya.

Nag thumbs up sa kanya si Caliber. "Tama behavior! Mauna ka na sa School, huwag ka muna magwawala habang wala kami ah? Susunduin ko si Mama."

She waved her hands and slid herself inside her car. Well, it was Caleb's car. Pero dahil kasal sila, technically speaking, sa kanya na din ito. She drove towards the School furiously.

Nang makarating siya, nakita niya ang iilang sasakyan na naka park. From Isabella to Jillian's car. Mabilis siyang nag park at bumababa ng sasakyan, her friends were asking what happened pero wala siyang sinagot at basta nalang pinasunod ang mga ito sa kanya.

She walks like a model towards the teacher faculty and open the room's door without knocking. Inilibot niya ang mga mata at nang makita ang teacher ng anak nila agad niya itong nilapitan. With her sharp eyes and boiling blood, she leaned against the teacher table.

"D-Dra. Carson? What brings you here? Ano ang maipaglilingkod ko sa — inyo..." The teacher trailed off and her face paled when she saw who's on her back.

"It's nice to see you again," Krizzia mockingly said and wink at the teacher. Sa school na din 'to nag-aaral ang anak nito pero palaging si Killian okaya naman ay si Kyst ang naghahatid sa anak nito.

"What's happening here?" Nagtatakang tanong ng ibang teacher.

Avis smiled sweetly at the teacher, but her eyes were sharp that could pierce the teacher in front of her. "I heard my daughter was getting bullied?" She asked.

"What? There's no such things, Dra!" Tanggi nito at pilit tinatakpan ang kaba nito ng tawa. Which irritated her more.

She sighed and pursed her lips together. Avis gritted her teeth, remembering how her daughter looks like a while ago, how Maki sobbed on her chest, it was a heartbreaking sight for a mother like her!

Avis slammed her hands against the teachers table. "It wasn't something to be laughed at! Anak ko ang pinag-uusapan natin nito. Umiiyak na umuwi ang anak ko, Ma'am!" Madiin na sabi niya rito.

"Dra. Carson, maybe you're just overreacting? Malay mo na miss ka lang ng bata, hindi ba ganoon naman talaga ang mga bata?"

Avis scoffed as she put her tongue on her cheek. Looking sarcastically at the teacher in front of her. "Alam niyo din na hindi nagsisinungaling ang bata diba? I heard they installed a surveillance cameras, sa buong school, sa bawat classroom."

"What's happening? Baka away bata lang, Avis?" Angel said.

Marahas siyang umiling sa mga ito. "Ayze said she saw this Blike kid pushed my daughter and then noong magsumbong na ang anak natin sasabihan na sinungaling? Bakit? Dahil Doctor kami at bawal angasan ng anak ko ang ibang bata dito? Sabihin niyo nga sa amin, kailan inangasan ni Maki ang mga bata na kasama niya? My daughter is a softy, palagi pa 'yang nagdadala ng prutas para sa mga kaklasi niya! Nasaan doon ang angas?!"

"Dra. Calm down, you're a doctor—"

Avis cut her off.

"And you're their homeroom teacher! Hindi ba dapat binabantayan niyo ang mga bata habang nasa poder niyo? Bakit niyo hinahayaan na makasakit? May special treatment ba kayo dito?" She scoffed.

"Avis! Goodness!" Her mother in law came in and caressed her arms to calm her.

As if on cue, someone entered the faculty room, with a cake on her hand. May ngiti ito sa labi nang makita ang mga kaibigan niya, pero agad ding nawala nang makita siya nito. Tumikwas ang kilay ni Avis, she knew the woman. It was her rival's woman. Hindi siya makapaniwalang natawa si Avis nang ilapag nito ang cake sa mismong lamesa ng teacher na inaaway niya, and when her gazed went to the teacher, mas maputla pa ito ngayon sa papel.

"Cake? Ma'am sana sinabihan niyo kami. Mas masarap ang gawa ko." Nakangiwing sambit ni Rion.

"Shh!" Suway ni Devi rito.

"Dra.Carson, bakit kayo nandito?" Tanong nito at pilit na ngumiti sa kanya. Sana mawalan siya ng labi.

"E ikaw?" Maangas na tanong niya rito.

"Ah! I'm here to thank teacher for taking care of my baby Blike." The woman smiled brightly.

Napa 'O' ang bibig ni Avis. God! She can't believe this!

"Mahal!"

Avis rolled her eyes when she heard Caleb's voice. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makitang karga karga nito ang anak nilang dalawa. Kasunod nito si Cj na iwinawagayway ang flashdrive na hawak nito. Avis licked her lower lip. Nice.

Namumula ang ilong ni Maki at maga ang mga mata, halatang kakagaling lang sa pag-iyak.

"I'm sorry, we can handle this one." Caleb said to her their friends, Isabella just nod her head, bago isa isang lumabas ang mga ito. Caleb lost the smile on his lips and faced the teacher, tahimik ang buong faculty room, wala ni isa sa mga teacher ang naglakas loob na kumibo.

Caliber chuckled and mumbled something under his breath.

"I'm sorry if my wife here acted recklessly, however, if we saw the CCTV footages and proved that my daughter is being bullied and you're letting it slide, I'll make sure you will lose your license." Caliber smiled, the kind of smile that she doesn't want to see. Nakakapanlambot 'yon. Kapagkuwan ay tumingin ito sa babaeng kanina pa masama ang tingin sa kanya.

"And the next time you look at my wife like that, your husband will suffer, you don't want that... Do you?" Caleb threatened her.

Hindi na nag-abala si Avis na tignan ang babae at umangkala nalang sa braso ni Caleb palabas ng faculty room. Maki was still sniffing.

"Stop crying na, baby. Lilipat ka namin ng school 'yung wala na mang-aaway sayo ha?" Kausap niya sa anak at tumango lang ito sa kanya.

"Maybe we need to do a background check first? Pati 'yung mga magulang ipa background check na din natin. Mahirap na!" Caliber suggested.

"That's too much, Kuya." Caleb groaned. "And you, sa susunod na lulusob sa siguraduhin mo na ako nalang ang isasama mo. 16 people? Really? Avis?"

Ngumuso lang siya sa asawa. "Back up?"

"I'm your husband and I am Mavis father. I can back you up, Love." Giit nito.

"Yeah? More like you will calm me down first! Edi hindi ko na masusugod ang teacher na 'yon!"

"Mahal, hindi makukuha sa ganoon ang mga 'yon. Let me handle this and don't stress yourself, just look for our daughter while I'm sending those to hell." Caleb said coldly. It means he's really angry. "I don't want to see someone pushing my baby and calling her liar."

Avis smiled and kissed her husband kiss, sunod niyang hinalikan ang pisngi ni Maki. Their greatest treasure.

Maki was lucky to have a father like Caleb. He likes spoiling her but not too much, alam ni Caleb kung kailan nito lilimitahan ang anak. They we're always gentle with Maki. Kapag may hindi sila pagkakaintindihan na mag-asawa, they always locked themselves inside the room and talk as calm as they can. They both avoid rasing voice to each other. Especially Caleb.

Maki grew up in a gentle and loving family atmosphere. Hindi nila tinuruan ang anak na lumaban pabalik, kasi silang dalawa ni Caleb ang gagawa non para rito. It was their job to protect Maki at all cost.

"I love you two," she whispered.

"I love you and our treasure. Can we add another one to the family now?" Caleb asked, looking at her hopefully.

He wanted to have another child, siya lang ang nag-insist sa family planning. Not because they're financially stable, hindi na sila maghihinay hinay.

"Maki? Gusto mo na ba magkaroon ng kapatid?" She asked her daughter.

"Yes, mommy!" Maki cheerfully answered. "Two po."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Avis sa gusto nito habang humalakhak naman ang magaling niyang asawa.

"Daddy will work hard so mommy will going to have two babies in her womb." Natatawang sabi pa nito sa anak nilang dalawa.

Avis massage the bridge of her nose and glance at her mother in law, nagkibit balikat lang ito sa kanya na parang sinasabing 'pagbigyan ko na'. Pinagmasdan niya ang mag-ama niya na masaya na ngayong nagk-kuwentuhan tungkol sa posibleng maging gender ng magiging kapatid ni Maki.

She took her phone out and took a picture of them. What a sight to behold. She smiled as she forgot how stressful her day was. One smile from her husband and her daughter, nawawala lahat ng pagod niya sa katawan.

"After we fixed the issue here, let's talk about our treasure number 2." Bulong niya kay Caleb na mas lalong ikinalawak ng ngiti nito. 

☕

A/N:
To more months with y'all coffees :)