The Serranos were intimidating because of their name, influence, and money. Kilalang-kilala talaga sila sa mundong ginagalawan ko. But the Gracianos were completely foreign to me. Hindi ako pamilyar sakanila kaya wala akong naramdaman na kaba nang makilala sila. Kahit na ex-fiancee pa ni Vince ang anak nila, I remained calm and collected.

"Tessie, apo ko, si Gabriel," pakilala ni tita sa mga Graciano.

The older lady smiled and greeted Gabriel. Hindi ko alam kung plastic ba 'yun o ano, pero wala naman akong problema doon. Hindi naman sila importante sa'min.

"Hi, Gabriel! Nice to meet you," bati nito.

"Gabriel, this is Mrs. Graciano, one of lola's best friends," pakilala ni tita at inakbayan si Gabriel.

Tumango ang anak ko at binati ng pormal si Mrs. Graciano.

"This is my husband," sabi ni Mrs. Graciano at tinuro ang asawa niya. "And my daughter, your tita Serena."

Tita? Pinigilan ko ang pag-taas ng kilay ko.

Serena Graciano was beautiful. Hindi ko p'wedeng ipagkaila 'yon. She was slim but had curves, too. Matangkad rin siya at papasa siguro na model kung ginusto niya. And she carried herself with class and sophistication that rivaled the Serranos.

Sinulyapan ko si Vince na seryoso lamang habang nanonood. I will admit that they will look good next to each other, pero nasa tabi ko si Vince at 'yun ang importante.

"Hi, Gabriel! I'm happy to finally meet you. Your dad was always excited," sabi ni Serena sa anak ko.

Ngumiti si Gabriel. "Thank you, tita. Are you my papa's friend?"

Nawala saglit ang ngiti ni Serena pero bumawi rin. "Oh. Yes, I'm... I'm your papa's friend."

"And this is Luna," baling sa'kin ni tita kaya napatingin sila sa gawi namin ni Vince. "She's Gabriel's mom."

Tumawa si Mrs. Graciano. "Eliza, you mean his adopted mom, correct?" Bumaling siya sa'kin. Nakangiti pero may kakaiba sa mga mata niya. "You're not the real mom, right?"

Pilit akong ngumiti. "I'm his adopted mom, but it doesn't mean I'm not his real mom, Mrs. Graciano. I'm Attorney Luna Madrigal, by the way. Nice to meet you."

Tumikhim siya at pekeng ngumiti. "Well. Anyway. Vince, hijo, how are you?"

"Tita, hi. I'm fine. Excited to have my family all together," sagot ni Vince.

"That's nice! Buti nga at nakasama itong si Serena. She's been so busy with managing her business, kaya kinailangan ko pang pilitin na sumama," sabi ni Mrs. Graciano habang naglalakad kami patungo sa dining area.

"Mabuti 'yan. That means her business is a success," sabi ni tito. "Let's sit. They'll prepare the food now."

Umupo kaming lahat. Tumabi sa'kin si Vince at sa kabila ko naman si Gabriel, who was also seated next to his lola. Katapat tuloy ni Gabriel si Serena habang wala kaming katapat ni Vince dahil sa kabilang dulo naupo si Mr. Graciano.

"Vince, dear, why don't you sit next to Serena?" biglang sabi ni Mrs. Graciano. Everyone became quiet kaya natawa ito. "I'm just suggesting. So the table is equal."

Hinawakan ni Vince ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng lamesa. "This is fine, tita. I'm sure everyone is okay with this."

"And papa likes sitting next to mama," singit ni Gabriel.

"Oh. That's good." Isang pekeng ngiti ulit mula kay Mrs. Graciano.

"So, Luna Madrigal, right?" tanong ni Mr. Graciano. "That name is quite familiar. Saan ko nga ba 'yun narinig?"

"She's from the famous Madrigal siblings, David," sagot ni tito kaya napangiti nalang ako.

"Really? Kaya pala pamilyar! Laman kayo ng mga balita."

"Which I think is too much, right?" singit ni Mrs. Graciano. She chuckled. "I mean, you won that award months ago. The news really likes to milk rags-to-riches types of stories."

What the heck?

"I think it's really impressive, Tessie. After all, they were raised by a single mom. At lahat sila ay naging successful," singit ni tita na inaasikaso si Gabriel.

"And they raised Gabriel so well. It's really commendable," sabi ni Vince. Tinignan ko siya at pareho kaming napangiti.

Saktong pagsulyap ko kay Mrs. Graciano ay pilit itong ngumiti. Hindi na ako nagulat nang baguhin niya ulit 'yung pinaguusapan. She started talking about Serena and her business at hindi na ako masyadong naging interesado.

Hindi rin nakatakas sa'kin ang pagtitig ni Serena kay Gabriel. Pabalik-balik ang tingin niya mula sa anak ko at kay Vince, na para bang may hinahanap. My brow twitched. Nahasa na ako na obserbahin ang kilos ng isang tao. I am a seasoned lawyer despite my young age, at alam ko ang pinapahiwatig ni Serena sa tingin niya. Akala ba niya hindi anak ni Vince si Gabriel? Hindi 'yon p'wedeng ipagkaila. Unang tapak palang ni Vince sa opisina ko, alam ko na agad kung bakit siya ando'n noon. I doubt Serena Graciano was stupid.

"A doctor?" tito chuckled heartily. "I will support you, hijo, but I hope you eventually change your mind and follow your dad's footsteps."

"To be a rich businessman, lolo?" inosenteng tanong ni Gabriel.

Nakita ko ang pagarko ng kilay ni Mrs. Graciano at palihim kong hinigpitan ang kamao ko.

Mas lalong natawa si tito. "Yes! I'll tour you around our factories when you're older!"

Ngumiti si Gabriel. "Okay po, lolo. I'll go with you."

"Ang cute niya!" parang nanggigil na sabi ni tita at kinurot ang pisngi ni Gabriel. "Nakakatuwa siya, hindi ba, Tessie?"

Mrs. Graciano smiled tightly. "Oo nga. Naisip ko tuloy... I wish I also had a grandson just like him."

Tita chuckled. "Hopefully Serena will marry soon and give you one, Tessie. Tutal ay sabi mo naman, maayos na ang negosyo ni Serena. She can focus on starting a family now."

"With the right man, of course," Mrs. Graciano said and glanced at the man beside me. "Ikaw, Vince? What are your plans?"

Umangat ang tingin ni Vince sa biglaang tanong. "My plans?"

"On starting a family, of course!" Mrs. Graciano chuckled.

Sinulyapan muna ako ni Vince bago sumagot. He shrugged then replied, "My plans are whatever Luna's plans are."

Mrs. Graciano's brow twitched while Serena looked a bit disappointed. Pero saglit lang 'yon dahil naitago rin agad nilang dalawa ang mga ekspresyon nila. Tita clapped excitedly, unaware of her best friend's inner turmoil. Gusto ko tuloy matawa pero pinigilan ko talaga.

"That's good to hear, anak! I'm sure you'll both decide well," nakangiting sabi ni tita at bumaling sa'kin. "Luna, we should go out with your mom one of these days. Gusto ko rin siyang makilala dahil kanina pa na bukambibig ni Gab!"

I smiled and nodded. "Sasabihan ko po si mama, tita. Matutuwa po 'yon."

"So, attorney," came the forced voice of Mrs. Graciano. May hindi ako gusto sa kinang ng mga mata niya. "How lucky, huh? To adopt a Serrano child."

Hindi ko nagustuhan ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig, pero bilang respeto sa mag-asawang Serrano, sinubukan kong huwag maging bastos.

"Ah. Si Gabriel po ang pumili sa'kin."

"Oh, you should hear the story, Tessie! It was basically fate!" tuwang-tuwa na sabi ni tita.

Even tito laughed. "Hon, ilang beses mo na siguro naikwento kay Tessie. And to all your friends, actually."

Tita Eliza smiled. "Well, it just makes me so happy. And I'm always so grateful na si Luna ang naging nanay ni Gabriel! Just based on my son's stories, I can't imagine a better mother for my grandson!"

Sinulyapan ko si Serena pagkatapos sabihin 'yon ni tita. She bowed her head and I felt a little bad. Sigurado akong walang malisyang sinabi 'yon ni tita, pero masakit parin siguro na marinig 'yon. Lalo na't siya 'yung muntik nang ikasal kay Vince. Muntik nang maging nanay ni Gabriel kung nagkataon.

I have no anger or resentment towards Serena, dahil wala naman siyang ginagawa o sinasabing masama. May problema ako sa nanay niya, but that had nothing to do with her. From my perspective, she was just someone who fell in love with Vince.

"Retirement is treating you well, Alex," sabi ni Mr. Graciano nang mapunta na sa negosyo ang usapan.

"If he actually retired, tito." Ngumisi si Vince at sinulyapan ang ama. "He's still meddling with work."

Tito chuckled wholeheartedly. "Well, now that my grandson is here, I'll be busy with retirement. Do whatever you want with the company, Vincent. Your girlfriend is a competent lawyer, anyway."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita dahil sa hiya. I knew the mother-daughter tandem looked at me with venom, but I didn't care. Hindi ko in-expect na gano'n ang itatawag sa'kin.

Vince reached for my hand under the table and squeezed. Pasimple ko siyang tinignan at may malumanay na ngiti sa labi niya habang nakadungaw sa'kin.

I pouted a bit dahil mukhang tuwang-tuwa siya sa sinabi ng tatay niya. Ni hindi man lang siya umapila. And I won't contradict tito either. Nakakahiya! At isa pa... I'm okay with Mrs. Graciano thinking that.

"Yes, Luna is, dad," aniya na mas kinahiya ko. Pasimple ko siyang kinurot pero ngumisi lang siya at kaswal na kumain.

Girlfriend, huh?

"Mama, ang laki na ng family natin, 'no?" mahinang sabi sa'kin ni Gab habang nasa sala kami.

Nakauwi na kami at imbes na matulog ay mukhang marami pang energy ang mag-ama. Manonood daw muna kami ng isang Marvel movie bago matulog. Vince was taking a quick shower while Gab and I waited for him.

Sinilip ko siya at nakita ang ngiti sa labi niya. I smiled too and pulled him closer to me. "Happy ka ba, anak?"

He nodded repeatedly then sighed in contentment. "Alam mo, mama, sinagot ni Papa Jesus 'yung mga prayers ko. And He even gave more."

I kissed his forehead and instantly felt my eyes water up. "I know... He answered both our prayers, Gab."

Nag-angat siya ng tingin. He had wonder in his eyes as he looked at me. "Talaga, mama? Pinag-pray mo rin na dumating si papa?"

Hinaplos ko ang noo niya. "Well, I prayed that He grants all your wishes. 'Yun pala ang wish mo."

Gab just stared at me. Naasiwa pa ako dahil ilang buwan palang ay masyado na niyang nakukuha ang galawan ni Vince. At minsan ay hindi parin ako makapaniwala kung gaano sila magkapareho. Their eyes were basically the same.

"Gab! Bakit, anak?" Bigla akong nataranta nang mapansin ang pag-iyak niya.

Sinubsob niya ang mukha niya sa leeg ko at mahinang humikbi. Hinayaan ko siyang umiyak dahil minsan lang 'to, at ayoko na pagbawalan siyang ilabas ang nararamdaman niya. He was gripping me tight and freely crying on my shoulder. Tinatawag-tawag niya rin ang "mama" habang humihikbi parin.

"What happened, Gab?" tanong ko nang napansing kumalma siya ng konti.

He was still hiccuping from crying. Inangat ko ang baba niya at pinunsan ang mga pisngi niyang basang-basa dahil sa luha. Parang may pumipisil sa puso ko habang nakikita ko ang pag-iyak niya. To see my child cry... it was a physical pain to mothers, for sure.

"Mama..." he called for me weakly.

"Yes, Gab..."

Tumulo ang luha niya. "Mama, thank you for loving me so much. I didn't know you prayed for me, too."

Nang marinig 'yon, parang ako naman ang maiiyak. "Gab, of course. I love you. I will always pray for you."

"I prayed for papa to come because I wanted to meet him. Pero, sabi ni tito Sol, okay lang kahit 'di siya dumating kasi love niyo parin naman ako. So I think Papa Jesus granted my wish because you, tito Sol, tita Estrella, and mamu prayed for my wish to come true. Thank you, mama..." Humikbi ulit siya at yumakap sa'kin. "I love you so much..."

Pumikit ako at dinamdam ang yakap niya.

There are days when I'm not sure if I'm a good mom, or if I'm doing my best. Minsan, pakiramdam ko ang dami kong pagkukulang at hindi naibibigay sa anak ko. Sometimes it's material things, sometimes it's quality time. At araw-araw... hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang mga tinuturo ko sakanya. What I think is right might not be right in Gab's eyes. Ang hirap na hindi magkamali.

But then Gab hugs me and tells me he loves me and all those worries vanish. Dahil alam kong hindi naman ako perpektong ina, ang dami kong pagkukulang at pagkakamali. There was no blueprint for motherhood and it's a learning experience every day. 'Yun ang natutunan ko.

But as long as my child loves me and is confident in my love for him... alam kong may ginagawa akong tama. Alam mong ginagawa ko ang mga dapat gawin. Alam kong mabuti akong ina.

I cannot provide Gab with everything he needs and wants in this world—walang ina na kayang ibigay lahat ng 'yon. But I give him all my love and the promise that I will always be there when he needs me. To pray for his wishes to come true. To hug him when he cried. And to always be his mom.

Because this... this was the path He chose for me. And the path I will choose to stay on forever.

"I love you, Gabriel, my little angel," I whispered to him.

I opened my eyes and saw Vince across from us, silently watching. Ngumiti ako sakanya at napayuko siya. Pinanood ko siyang nagpunas rin ng luha kaya mas napangiti ako.

And now I get to thank Him again. For blessing me with someone to share this path with.