I knocked on the door, a few blocks away from our house, to a house that is very familiar to me since when I was young. I waited for them to open the door for me. I've got a good feeling that this day would be good for me and Cory. This is what I have been thinking for the past couple of days about how I will tell Cory about it. This is how I planned for it and hopefully, the result I was hoping for.

After touring her around yesterday to touristic spots here in Cuyo and an interview with my father, I guess it's time. Ayoko nang patagalin pa. She doesn't have any idea about it. Ako lang ang nagplano, that's why I also pushed going to Cuyo because of this plan.

I left Cory at the house in the meantime and she doesn't have any idea at this moment. I think she was talking to her friend, Danny, over the phone right now.

I waited until I heard footsteps come closer to my direction and a second later, Hayley opened the door for me. Ngiti naman ang ibinungad ko habang nagtataka naman siya nang makita ako nang ganitong kaagad.

"Douglas, ang agad mo, a?" aniya.

"Maaga talaga," tawa ko pa.

"May kailangan ka ba?"

"Meron, actually..."

"Okay..." Hayley said and was about to step out of the house and closed the door behind. "Ano 'yon?"

"I... I actually need to talk to your parents, too. Nandiyan din ba si Onat?"

Kumunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko saka ito tumango. "Yes, nandito sila. Anong meron?"

"If okay lang, sama kayo sa akin sa bahay ngayon," aniko.

"May handaan ba? Nasaan si Ate Cory?"

"She's back at home," aniko. "Mamaya ko na lang ipaliliwanag kung bakit. If you guys are free at this hour, sama muna kayo sa amin. Wala naman sina mama at papa ro'n now so don't worry about it. Okay lang ba?"

Dahan-dahang tumango si Hayley kahit halatang gulong-gulo pa sa kung anong nangyayari. Muling binuksan ni Hayley ang pinto at tinawag ang parents niya pati na rin ang kapatid niya. She let me inside while gathering everyone. Sooner, they all gathered in the living room guessing what this is all about. Nang makita nila ako, they were curious and wondering why I was here.

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko dahil hindi ko alam kung pa'no ko na 'to sisimulan sa kanilang apat. This news is big enough to stir everything and this might caught a trouble that I don't want to happen. 

I took a deep breath just to get enough courage to speak.

"Alam niyo naman na matagal ko na kayong kasama at kakilala," panimula ko. "Since I was a child, kayong dalawa, Hayley at Jonathan ang kasa-kasama ko. We've known each other for most of our lives and I couldn't be more grateful na kayo ang kasama ko sa paglaki ko. I've also known the story about your another sibling na nasa Manila, na never niyong nakilala at nakita... I don't want to rub this to your faces and I'm sure this is a lot to process, but I think I've found her..."

"Teka..." ani Hayley. "Hala..."

Nagkatinginan lamang ang kanilang magulang at nag-abot ng kamay upang hawakan ang isa't isa.

"I'm not sure if she was really the person you were looking for, but I think I've brought her..."

"Niloloko mo lang kami, Douglas, e," ani Jonathan.

I shook my head. "I wish, pero hindi, e."

"Napaka impossible naman kasi?" komento pa ni Hayley.

"I thought about that," sagot ko. "I knew the Vilacarte's lost sibling my whole life, and then I met this person and I've got to know her. Every single day, I get to know her and discover interesting things about her life. She was orphaned. She was adopted. She gets to live her life alone again now. This time, I want to complete that missing pieces for her, even though I'm not sure what she will say..."

"Nabanggit niya ba kung saang ampunan siya nanggaling?" tanong ni tita.

Tumango ako. "If I remember it correctly, it was Bukang Liwayway Foundation."

They both gasped as soon as answered her. At that moment, I knew I was right based on the reaction they gave to me. Kahit naguguluhan ang magkapatid, they will understand it. 

"Can you all come with me to our house and meet her?" I asked. "I know you guys met her already, but you didn't know it yet. This time, meet her again... as a sibling."

Hayley swallowed and was speechless, same for Jonathan. Their parents were emotional and I understood where they are coming from. 

When we left their house to go mine, pinahintay ko sila sa salas kung saan nila kikitain si Cory. I panicked upstairs to get Cory. Before I knock on the door, I took a deep breath. 

I know this would be for the better—her biological parents needed this. She needed this.

I knock on the door and later on, I open the door to see Cory lying down on the bed.

"Tara na, babe," tawag ko sa kanya.

Nagpaalam siya saglit kay Danny at ibinaba nito ang tawag. She got up, grabbed her things, and joined as we walk downstairs. Siguro akala niya'y may pupuntahan kaming dalawa ngayon, but I intended for this day to be that day.

When we were bound to the living room and she found them there, she was a little confused. 

"May celebration ba?" Natatawang tanong pa ni Cory. She looked at me waiting for my response.

I pressed his lips together then shook my head. "Walang celebration, Cory. Uh..." Napakamot ako sa ulo at napangiwi na lamang. "Meet the Vilacarte Family... your biological family."

She smirked at what I said and laughed at it. Hinampas pa niya ako sa balikat ko and I think she thought I was joking about it. But I didn't share the same laugh with her. My face fell straight just to show her that it wasn't a joke. Matapos niyang ma-realize 'yon ay natigil siya at tiningnan ang mga Vilacarte at magkakatinginan lamang sila.

"You must be joking Douglas," anito.

"I hope I am pero sa mga nalaman ko rin sa 'yo at dahil alam ko rin ang kwento ng mga Vilacarte, I got it all connected so maybe tama nga ako. But I'm trying to do this at hindi ko ipinamumukha ito sa 'yo. I'm helping both of you..."

Hindi siya sumagot sa sinabi ko. I reached out and hold her shoulder to pull her closer to me.  We went to sit next to them, and Cory was still not talking. She was just looking at them as if she was examining everything.

"Corentienne..." tawag ni tita. "Ilang taon ka na nga ulit?"

"24 po," tipid nitong sagot.

Pansin ko naman na pinipigilan ni tita na huwag maging emosyonal pero kitang-kita naman iyon sa kanyang mga mata habang tulala pa lamang si Cory.

"Naalala mo pa ba na ang ampunan sa Maynila no'n na ang tawag ay Bukang Liwayway Foundation?" karagdagang tanong nito.

Tumango si Cory kahit pansin sa mukha niya na naguguluhan siya. For sure, hindi niya inaasahan na mababanggit iyon ni tita.

"Prank lang ba?" tanong ni Cory. "Nasaan ang hidden cameras?"

"Walang hidden cameras..." sagot ni Hayley. "Hindi rin ito prank..."

"Welcome home to Cuyo, Ate Cory," pagbati pa ni Jonathan na may kasamang malawak na ngiti sa labi niya. Hindi alam ni Cory kung anong reaksyon ang ipahahatid niya.

They all went to her and started hugging her while she was still confused and showing no emotion. I was looking at them and I think I did a great thing.

When she looked at me, she mouthed, Did you plan for this all this time?

I shook my head and mouthed, We'll talk later...

"Teka lang po," pagpigil ni Cory at kumalas ito sa pagkayayakap sa kanila. Tumayo ito sa kanyang kinauupuan. "Lalabas po muna ako."

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ni tita.

Umalis si Cory sa pwesto niya nang hindi niya sila sinasagot. Sinundan ko ito at hinawakan sa braso.

"Saan ka pupunta? Don't you want to talk with them?"

Umiling ito sa akin na tila ba'y may pinalidad. "Aalis muna ako. Gusto ko munang mapag-isa..."

"Cory..."

"Sorry, Douglas... at least you tried."

She jerked my hand off of her and stormed out of the house. I followed her as she was walking away, pero hindi na niya ako nililingon hangga't sa tuluyan siyang nakalabas ng gate. Natigilan ako at naisip na bigyan muna siya ng space gaya ng sabi niya.

Napabuntonghininga ako dahil hindi ito ang inaasahan kong mangyayari. Ang daming tumatakbo sa isipan ko kung tama nga ba ang ginawa ko. I know I tried my best, but wasn't she happy about it?

She was talking about it to me and I thought it would be a good thing to reunite her with her biological family. Did I make a big mistake? Does this affect our relationship? Will she hate me? 

I went back inside to check in on them. I looked at them and they were emotional and I did this to them. Napahilamos ang palad ko sa mukha ko at napabitaw na lamang nang malalim na hininga.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I just wanted to help... I thought..."

Lumapit si Onat at Hayley sa akin at niyakap ako.

"You did the right thing, Doug," ani Onat sabay tapik sa braso ko. "Alam mo, medyo overwhelmed pa rin ako, pero sinusubukan ko namang tanggapin ang lahat ng ito. 'Wag ka mag-sorry dahil wala ka namang kasalanan."

"Tama..." komento ni Hayley. 

"She'll come around," aniko. "Babalik siya mamaya. Alam kong mabigat din iproseso ito para sa kanya so hayaan muna natin siya. Kapag maayos na siya ang pakiramdam, I'll talk to her again and let you guys talked to each other again."

"Thank you, Douglas..." ani tita.

Lumapit ang mag-asawa at niyakap ako.

Saglit lang din ay dumating sina papa at mama at naabutan nilang emosyonal ang lahat. When mom looked for Cory as she wasn't around, I told her about it. She was also surprised about it, pati na rin si papa na hindi inakalang si Cory pala ang pinaampon na anak ng mga Vilacarte.

When they left the house and told them once Cory's available to talk to them again, I'll call them.

Nang maiwan ako kasama ang magulang ko, I talked to them in the kitchen.

"Sa tingin niyo, tama ba 'yong ginawa ko? Did I overstep? Dapat ba hindi na lang ako nangialam?"

Inabot ni mama ang kamay ko at pinatong ang kamay ni mama sa ibabaw ng kamay ko. "You did nothing wrong... I think it was just the timing. It was very a long time rin naman so I think what Cory felt is valid. She was overwhelmed, confused, and all that, if she wanted some space, give that to her for now... don't force her to do it. Let her come around, alright?"

I nodded as I also agree with what my mom said.

"Did you really meet her to bring her here?" Father asked.

I shook my head. "No. It was an accidental meeting and then everything fell right into place. I really don't think it was accidental as there was a purpose for why she was on that beach on that day... I was also confused at first, but it all makes sense when stories weaved together at once."

"She's lucky to meet you, I hope she realizes that..."

I hope she will... she never knows what kind of wonder awaits her.

***