SPECIAL CHAPTER 1: THE ADOPTION OF RYO AND JOHN

CUTE little John was playing outside the orphanage with other orphan. He was holding a red toy car and scrubbing its little wheel on the cemented ground. It made sounds that little John found good in his ears.

He’s two and half years when he came at the orphanage. His biological mother was killed by his drug user biological father. His father was killed by those bastard in jail. He completely became an orphan in a very young age.

Nang magsawa ito’y kaagad na tumayo ang batang John saka pumunta sa may hardin, kung saan may iba’t ibang halamang bulaklak. Hinawakan nito isa-isa ang tangkay ng mga bulaklak saka pinagsisinghot.  Napapapikit pa ito dahil sa halimuyak na hatid ng mga bulaklak.

Tumigil lamang ang batang John sa ginagawa nang may marinig siyang humintong sasakyan.

“Mama... Papa...” a five years old John uttered. He repeated it, with much longing in his voice.

Evey time a car stopped in front of the gate of the orphanage, little John thought it was his parents but a disappointed face drawn in her eyes when his so-called parents doesn’t hug and even hold him. Instead, they’re lifting other child and brought them home.

At his young age, he already understands it. Wala siyang mama at papa na kukuha sa kaniya. Alam niya na rin na ang mga kumukuha sa mga kalaro niya ay ang bago nitong magulang. Siya? Kailan kaya siya magkakaroon ng bagong magulang — bagong mama at papa?

Maya-maya lang ay nakita na ng batang John ang nagmamay-ari ng sasakyang huminto. His forehead creased. He just stared at them innocently. At his age, he's already aware in his surroundings. He already knew what’s lacking in him — a parents’ love and care.

A familiar face came out at the door of an orphanage. John immediately ran after her.

“Mama!” he shouted as he saw Sister Lorna, the head  of the orphanage.

Nang makalapit ang batang John kay Sister Lorna, kaagad itong yumakap sa hita nito.

“Mama, gutom na po ako!” he uttered. At his age, he can talk clearly. Nabubulol na lamang ito kapag mahirap ang salitang kaniyang binibigkas.

Ibinaba ni Sister Lorna ang kaniyang katawan nang sa ganoon ay magtapat ang mukha nila ni John.

“Mamaya na, John, ah. May kakausapin lang si Mama.” Sister Lorna patted John’s head. Tumango na lamang si John bilang tugon.

Ngumiti si Sister Lorna sa umayos ng tayo para pormal nang kausapin ang kanilang bisita. Ang mag-asawang Lourdes at Hipolito Ruiz.

“Magandang umaga po sa inyo, Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz! Ano po ang maipaglilingkod ko?” tanong ni Sister Lorna.

“We’re here to adopt a child. Mayroon kaming anak but my wife want to have another one. Hindi na kasi siya maaari pang mabuntis,” Hipolito Ruiz retorted then he looked at his wife.

Ang atensyon ni Lourdes Ruiz ay nasa batang nakayakap sa hita ni Sister Lorna. Hindi nito ang maalis ang kaniyang tingin sa batang John.

“Hello, baby? Ano’ng pangalan mo? Ang cute mo.” Ibinaba ng ginang ang kaniyang katawan para magpantay ang kanilang mga mukha.

“Mama, ayos lang?” ani batang John na iniangat pa ang mukha para makita ang magiging tugon ni Sister Lorna.

He asked for Sister Lorna permission because she strictly instructed them not to share any information about them with strangers.

Sister Lorna smiled. “Okay lang.”

Ngumiti na lang din si John dahil sang-ayon ang kaniyang tinatawag na mama.

“John po. Five na po ako.” John shown his five finger to Lourdes.

Lourdes chuckles. “Ang cute mo, baby.”

Umayos ng tayo ang ginang saka hinarap ang asawa.

“Hon, I want him to be our child. Siya na lang ampunin natin,” masiglang usal ng ginang.

Hipolito just nodded. Even him, he wants John to be their child.

John thinks maturely so he knew what Lourdes was telling.

“I want him too but we can’t adopt him quickly. We still need to have a legal documents. We have to follow the adoption process,” ani Hipolito Ruiz.

Dahil sa sinabi ng asawa, biglang nalukot ang mukha ni Lourdes. Kaagad na bumalatay sa mata nito ang lungkot.

Ibinaba ni Lourdes ang kaniyang mukha para pantayan ang batang John.

“Gusto mo ba akong maging mama?” tanong ng ginang.

“M-Mama? B-Bago mama?” Lourdes nodded. “Opo. Gusto ko po bagong mama. Mama! Mama! Mama!” John added and he repeatedly chanting the word ‘Mama’.

A lone years escaped on Sister Lorna's eyes as she heard the tone coming from little John’s voice. The longing was evident. Little John was longing for a mother care and love.

Lumuhod naman si Hipolito Ruiz para pantayan ang tangkad ng batang John.

“Gusto mo ba ng Papa, kiddo? Gusto mo ako na lang?” he uttered.

“Papa?” Hipolito nodded. “Papa! Papa! Papa!” A lone tears escaped from little John’s eyes. Finally, his wish to have a parents has been answered.

Hinarap ni John si Sister Lorna, ang tinatawag niyang mama. “M-Mama, mewon na ako bagong Mama at Papa.” Sunod-sunod na luha ang pumatak mula sa mata ng batang John. Nababasa na ang kaniyang mukha dahil doon.

Lumuhod si Sister Lorna para tapatan ang batang John. “Masaya ka ba?” John nodded. “Smile ka na.” Sister Lorna dried John’s face using the back of her hands.

John calmed himself then smiled genuinely.

“Yakap. Yakap ako, Mama, Papa,” ani batang John.

Lourdes opened his arms widely. Little John hurriedly ran after him. Subsequently, little John felt a warm embrace. There’s no longing anymore. He felt like there’s something in him that has been filled up. Hipolito joined the hugging session.

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OPPS! Hanggang dito lang. This is unedited. The edited and uncut version is available only in physical book.