"Yes, Gabriel. After the angel," malumanay kong sagot nang matanggap na magiging parte na siya ng buhay namin. Takot man ako sa posibilidad na kunin niya si Gabriel mula sa'kin, hindi ko p'wedeng hayaan na 'yung takot na 'yun ang maging dahilan para pagkaitan ko sila pareho. My son deserves to know his dad. And Vincent deserves to meet his son.

He nodded, looking a bit emotional. Napayuko rin siya at mabilis na gumalaw ang mga daliri sa mata niya. Huminga siya ng malalim at muling tumango. My heart broke for him. Hindi ko maisip kung gaano katindi ang pangungulila niya para sa anak niya nitong mga nagdaang taon. To know your child is out there... that must have been so devastating.

"Uh, are you okay, Vincent?"

Tumango-tango siya at sinalubong ang tingin ko. His eyes were bloodshot, but they looked softer than a while ago. "Pasensya na, attorney. Kaninang umaga lang din binalita sa'kin ang tungkol sa anak ko. I haven't had the time to really let it sink in."

"No, it's fine, naiintindihan ko..." Napalunok ako at nagiging emosyonal na rin. "I want to know... Ano'ng plano mo? Are you here to... take him away from me?"

Nawala agad ang paninikip sa dibdib ko nang umiling siya. I felt so relieved when he did that. Iniisip ko palang na kukunin niya si Gabriel ay parang hindi ko na kaya. I won't give up my son without a fight, but the possibility of losing him was so scary. Gabriel gave me a new purpose in life. I will be lost if I lose him now.

"No, no, I won't, attorney," sabi niya nang makita siguro ang takot sa mga mata ko. "Pinalaki mo siya at minahal ng lubusan. I may be ruthless, but I am not heartless. You are his mother and he is your son. Hindi ko magagawang sirain 'yon."

I nodded, accepting that. "But you want to meet him."

Napatiim-labi siya. "I won't take no for an answer on this, attorney."

Bumuntong-hininga ako ng malalim at napatango. I figured as much. Tama nga siguro ako sa hinala ko sakanya. He was for sure a businessman. Pero hindi rin 'yun ang iniisip ko ngayon. Now that I'm not too worried about him taking my son, kinakabahan naman ako kung paano ko 'to sasabihin kay Gabriel.

He has always known he was adopted. Isa 'yun sa mga bagay na sinabi ko sakanya nang alam kong maiintindihan na niya ito. Gabriel was smart for his age and he was really curious. Ilang beses din niyang tinanong ang tungkol sa mga totoong magulang niya, pero nang mapansin siguro na wala talaga akong alam ay hindi na siya nagtatanong pa. He knows his biological mom is dead and that I didn't know his dad. 'Yun rin siguro ang dahilan kung bakit malapit siya kay kuya Sol. He craved a father figure in his life.

I can already imagine his joy when he finds out his dad is here. Naiisip ko palang ang pagliwanag ng mga mata niya ay hindi na ako nagdadalawang isip pa. No matter how scared and unsure I am, kailangang makilala ng anak ko ang ama niya. Hindi ko kilala itong Vincent Serrano na 'to, but I have to put my faith in him. He is, after all, Gabriel's dad.

"Don't worry. Hindi ko 'yon ipagkakait sainyong dalawa," sabi ko. His shoulders visibly relaxed. "But... I need some time to tell him about it, Vincent. Matalinong bata si Gabriel at sigurado akong marami siyang mga tanong. I don't want to overwhelm him too much."

"Naiintindihan ko," sabi niya at saglit na natigilan. His unsure expression was a huge contrast to his confident aura. "Pero sana... huwag mo masyadong patagalin, attorney. I've been waiting seven years to meet my son. And even now, hindi pa ako sigurado kung siya nga talaga."

I stared at his handsome face. From his dark eyes, pointed nose, and thin lips. Ngayon palang, alam ko nang lalaking gwapo ang anak ko. I am suddenly so determined to raise him as a gentleman.

Napangiti ako ng wala sa sarili. "I can bet my license that you are Gabriel's dad, Vincent."

Kumunot ang noo niya, nagtataka sa sinabi ko.

"Kamukhang-kamukha ka niya," I softly said.

His eyes, still bloodshot, watered a bit. "Thank you, attorney."

Dahan-dahan akong tumango. "Please. Call me Luna."

"Then call me Vince."

We talked for the most part of the day. Marami akong tanong tungkol sakanya at walang pagaalinlangan naman niya akong sinagot. He really was a businessman from a very well-known family. Their business was focused on transportation and construction. Naririnig ko na rin ang kumpanya nila kaya madali ko siyang nakilala. If I wasn't mistaken, he was the only heir to their company.

We exchanged contact information before the day ended. Mas naging panatag rin ako sa desisyon ko na ipakilala siya kay Gabriel dahil napansin ko naman na mabait siya. Medyo seryoso, pero normal naman 'yon dahil sa trabaho niya. He seemed like a decent guy so I wasn't too scared anymore. Naramdaman ko rin ang matinding pangungulila niya kaya alam kong kailangan ko talaga itong gawin.

When I arrived at my condominium, agad akong binati ni Gabriel. I went down on my knees and hugged him tighter. His smell instantly calmed me down and erased all the stress from today. Ibang klase rin ang araw na 'to, pero ngayong yakap-yakap ko na ang anak ko ay alam kong magiging okay din ang lahat.

"Mama, pagod ka?" malambing nitong sagot nang humiwalay na ako ng konti sa yakap namin.

I exaggerated a pout before nodding like a child. He giggled. "Super. Mama had a crazy day."

"Hug nalang kita, mama," sabi niya at muli akong niyakap.

Pumikit ako ng mariin at mas ninamnam ang yakap niya.
"Love you, baby."

"Love you, mama," came his muffled reply.

Sinubukan kong pigilan ang iyak ko pero hindi ko rin nakaya. Humiwalay siya sa'kin at napasinghap nang makita siguro ang mga luha ko. I chuckled at his cute reaction. He's always been so protective of me.

"Mama, bakit ka umiiyak?" nag-aalalang tanong niya at pinunasan ang luha ko.

"Nothing. I'm just so happy that you're my baby." I smiled and stared at him. Ngayon alam ko na kung kanino siya nagmana. Sa ama nga niya. Kuhang-kuha.

"You shouldn't cry, mama, kahit happy ka," malumanay niyang utos habang pinupunasan ang mga pisngi ko.

I nodded and composed myself. "Okay, baby. I won't."

He suddenly grinned. "Nagluto si yaya ng carbonara, mama! Your favorite! Let's go!"

I chuckled and stood up. "Okay, okay. Shower lang saglit si mama. Help mo na si yaya na magprepare ng table."

Masigla siyang sumunod at pinanood ko siyang tumungo sa dining area. Ilang segundo pa ako bago ko naisipang mag-ayos na. I was mentally drained today and maybe a quick shower will help me relax a bit.

I went through the motions of showering and getting dressed. Sakto rin na pagpasok ko sa dining area ay tumunog ang phone ko. It was a text from Vince.

From: Vince Serrano
Thank you so much for today. I apologize if I caused you discomfort, Luna. But thank you. Thank you.

"Mama, kain na!" excited na aya ni Gabriel.

Ngumiti ako at tinago na muna ang phone ko. I'll reply later. For now, I get to enjoy dinner with my son.

"Kumusta naman siya ngayon, Jelai?"

"Okay naman po, ma'am. Maagang natapos sa assignment niya kanina," sagot naman niya.

Tumango ako at hinarap si Gabriel. "What did you do after assignments then?"

"Yaya and I went to swim sa rooftop," sabi niya. Our condominium building had a pool at the rooftop kung saan rin siya madalas. Other kids went there too kaya gustong-gusto niya. "And tito Sol called so I talked to him."

Napangiti ako. Of course. Araw-araw naman atang tumatawag sakanya si kuya.

Nang maalala ko sila ay napawi rin ng konti ang ngiti ko. Gabriel continued talking about his day and I tried my best to actively listen and respond to him. Hind ko lang talaga magawang ibigay ang buong atensyon ko sakanya dahil kinakain na naman ako ng kaba.

I suddenly realized I have to tell my family about this. Wala naman sigurong problema para sakanila dahil maiintindihan nila ako, pero hindi ako sigurado kung paano ko sasabihin sakanila ng maayos. How do I even bring up the topic?

"Mama, I'm so excited for Disneyland!"

I almost groaned. Hindi ko nga pala nasabi kay Vince na aalis kami! Halos isang buwan rin kami sa California! How cruel that he just found his son, tapos mawawalay din agad ng halos isang buwan? Ayos lang sigurong iwan ko nalang si Gabriel dito para mabisita parin siya ni Vince kina mama, pero excited na siya sa Disneyland at hindi ko na p'wedeng bawiin 'yon!

After the most stressful dinner I've had, I was more than happy to tuck in Gabriel early. Mukhang pati siya ay napagod sa pag-swimming niya kanina kaya madali rin siyang inantok. I kissed him good night and turned off his lights before heading to my room.

Agad akong nahiga. Inabot ko ang phone ko at naisipang mag-reply na rin kay Vince. Dalawang oras na rin kasi ang lumipas.

To: Vince Serrano

No worries, Vince. I understand. Let's talk soon. May mga hindi rin pala ako nabanggit sa'yo.

Itatapon ko na sana palayo ang phone ko nang agad itong nagvibrate. Nagulat pa ako sa bilis ng reply niya. It was almost instant.

From: Vince Serrano

Tulad ng? May nangyari ba?

Even in text, he sounded worried. Mali naman ata kasi pagkakasabi ko kaya mukhang nagpanic pa siya!

Damn it, Luna! Get your head together!

To: Vince Serrano

Nothing alarming, sorry! I forgot to mention we'll be going to California in two weeks. Isang buwan rin kami doon.

This time, medyo natagalan ang reply niya. Despite the suddenness of everything that has happened, I find myself calmer than I expected. Siguro dahil sanay na rin ako na laging under pressure. Kaya kahit papano ay kalmado ako.

Besides, worrying and panicking won't help me. Baka mas lalo ko lang magugulo ang sitwasyon kapag inuna ko ang emosyon ko.

From: Vince Serrano

Can I come?

Agad akong napaupo nang mabasa 'yon. Napangiwi pa ako dahil sumakit ng konti ang ulo ko sa biglaang paggalaw ko. Okay. Calm, Luna. Calm down. Be logical.

To: Vince Serrano

We'll see. Depends on how he'll be when you meet.

Gusto ko sanang i-text na masyado naman ata siyang excited! Na nagmamadali siya masyado! But then that would be a bit insensitive and cruel of me. It's a weird situation, but I'm not entirely uncomfortable with it. At kailangan ko ring isipin kung ano ang pinanggagalingan niya. Siguro kung ako rin ang nawalay sa anak ko ng pitong taon, magiging atat rin ako.

As long as he doesn't become unreasonable, walang dahilan para hindi ko siya pagbigyan. Besides, I highly doubt Gabriel won't be happy to see him. Ngayon palang, alam ko nang hindi rin magpapapigil 'tong anak ko sa oras na sabihin kong andito na ang ama niya.

I can already imagine trying to mimic his father!

The week past by quickly. I was so grateful that Vince was patient throughout the whole week. Naging abala rin kasi ako sa trabaho dahil may kaso akong inaatupag kaya hindi ko siya masyadong nakakausap. We text frequently about our plans of meeting at madalas ay nagtatanong siya tungkol kay Gabriel. I responded as best as I could whenever I had the time.

Pero dahil nga mawawala ako ng isang buwan, lunod rin ako sa trabaho. Buti nalang at naiintindihan rin 'yon ni Vince, who also said he was trying to finish most of his work para hindi masyadong aabalahin sa pag-alis.

Despite no official talk of him coming, kung mag-usap kami ay parang sigurado na siyang sasama. Mas lalo nga akong nai-stress dahil ni hindi ko pa nasasabi sa pamilya ko, lalo na kay Gabriel! And I can't delay any longer dahil malapit na rin kaming umalis. I need enough time for them to trust Vince because... frankly... I already do.

Thankfully, today was Friday. Off ko bukas kaya p'wede akong magpuyat ng konti. It was also game night with Gabriel dahil uwi rin ngayon ni yaya Jelai. She had the weekends off starting on Friday evenings kaya kami lang ni Gabriel. Wala namang kaso dahil madalas naman kaming umuuwi kina mama.

To: Vince Serrano

Telling him about you tonight. Wish me luck!

His reply was instant. Off na rin siguro.

From: Vince Serrano

Good luck! Tell me how it goes.

Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Mama, what should we play tonight?" tanong ni Gabriel habang tinitignan ang cabinet kung saan 'yung mga board games namin.

"How about Snakes 'N Ladders, baby?"

Agad niya itong kinuha mula sa cabinet. Dinala niya 'yon sa center table kung saan ako ngayon. He set it up and I just stared at him. Hindi ko parin alam kung paano ko sasabihin sakanya, pero umaasa ako na gagabayan Niya ako sa kung ano ang tamang gawin.

But while watching him unfold the board and fix the creases, I am hit with the realization that he's so big now. Baby pa rin ang tawag ko sakanya, pero hindi na talaga siya baby. He just lets me call him that but he's so independent now.

Napaisip tuloy ako. When did I stop helping him brush his teeth? When did he stop sleeping next to me? When did he stop crying for every booboo he gets? When did he start fixing our board games on his own?

I realized that while I was so busy trying to raise him, I've stopped paying attention to the little things. Napakabilis pala talaga ng panahon. Next thing I know, he'll be even more independent. I just pray that when that time comes, when he no longer needs me for every small thing, he will still want me to be a part of his life.

"Mama, I'm ready!"

And I have nothing to worry about. I trust his love for me. Ano man ang mangyari, Gabriel Madrigal will always be my son and I will always be his mother. Hinding-hindi ako iiwan ng anak ko. Because that is the love I have taught him.

I smiled. "Okay, Gab. Me too."