XIBEL woke up with a heavy head. If only Imris wasn't knocking on the door, he wouldn't go out of bed.

Naglakad na siya palabas at binuksan ang pinto.

"Good morning, Papa!" Tinaas nito ang dalawang kamay na kaagad naman niyang kinarga.

"What good can you see, Imris?" He rolled his eyes and walked down the stairs.

Pinagmasdan siya ni Imris dahilan para magtaka siya. Tumigil muna siya sa paglalakad at sinalubong ang mga tingin nito. "What?"

"Is Papa not okay? You look sad." Nag-aalala ang mga mata nito. Bigla nitong hinawakan ang kaniyang noo upang ikumpara sa temperatura na mayroon ito. "You're not sick, Papa. Why are you sad?"

"I'm not sad. This is just how I look."

"No!" Mabilis itong umiling. Sinundot-sundot nito ang kaniyang pisngi. "Papa is frowning all the time but today, it's different."

"What is different?"

Imris touched the skin below his left eye. "It's dark, Papa. It's like you are very sad."

His gaze softened when she started caressing his cheek. The soft little palm was patting him with the utmost care. It was gentle as though telling him everything was okay.

"Don't be sad, Papa. Imris is always here for you." Niyakap siya nito. Imris rested her head on his shoulder while the hands never stopped patting his cheek.

A small chuckle let out from his mouth before continuing to walk down. This child was never any of the children he met in Fort Galron. She never faltered nor even took a step back even if she was faced by this hideous monster she was calling as a father.

She was trying to make his heart warm again, making him remember the days she used to adore the humans.

He landed a kiss on top of her thick, black hair. "Did you have a good sleep, Imris?"

Mabilis naman itong tumango. "Hm-hmm! I dreamed about a ballerina, Papa. I was dancing!"

"You are really fond of this dancing thing, huh?" Nagtungo sila papunta sa kusina para mag-umagahan. Naabutan nila si Stone na hinahanda na ang kanilang pagkain.

"Yes! I want to be like Mama!"

Napakunot naman kaagad ang kaniyang noo. The image of that crying woman last night rolled inside his head again. How she slapped and reminded him that he was a monster circulated around his mind. It was still too early to get another attack.

"Papa, try this!"

Napunta ang tingin niya kay Imris na nasa kaniyang tabi. May hawak itong tinidor. At sa dulo nito ay isang kamatis.

Napangiwi naman siya at bahagyang tinulak ang tinidor. "No. I do not like that."

"It's yum-yum!"

"No, it is not." Nagsimula na siyang kumain. Inalis niya lahat ng kamatis na nilagay sa itlog dahil hindi niyo gusto ang lasa nito.

"Try it, Papa."

"No."

"Please?"

"Not a chance, Imris." Hindi niya nilingon si Imris dahil paniguradong hindi na naman niya matitiis ang pagmumukha nito. The silly litte human already had accessed to his soft spot, he had to be careful or else he would give in to everything she says.

"Hmp! Okay." Sumuko naman kaagad ito. "Ikaw na lang, Uncle Arator."

Sinulyapan niya naman ang dalawa. Pinanood niya kung paano subuan ni Imris si Arator. Tuwang-tuwa ang mukha nito dahil tinanggap ng kaniyang alagad ang kamatis.

Somehow, he felt a little annoyed.

Tinusok niya ang mga kamatis na inalis niya kanina at binigay kay Imris. "Here."

Nilingon naman siya ni Imris at mabilis nitong nilamon ang kamatis. Muli siyang tumusok ng isa at sinubo itong muli. Imris cheeks puffed out because of the food.

Mahina siyang napatawa. Muli niya itong sinubuan pero sa pagkakataong ito ay pati na ang kanin at itlog.

"Don't forget the tomato, Papa!" sabi pa nito bago lamunin ulit ang binigay niya.

"You sure are a big eater," natutuwang komento niya habang pinanood itong ngumuya.

Naubos nito ang isang plato habang siya naman ay nakalimutan nang kumain. Masiyado siyang nawili kay Imris.

"Here, boss lord. Don't forget her milk." Nakangiting inilapag ni Arator ang tinimpla nitong isang basong gatas. Inabot niya iyon kay Imris.

Mabilis naman nitong tinungga ang gatas habang ang mga paa sa ilalim ng lamesa ay sumasayaw sa tuwa. Kahit isang patak man lang ay walang tinira.

"I'm full!" Binigay nito ang baso sa kaniya.

Pinahid niya ang gatas na naiwan sa bibig nito. "Sure, you do."

"When is Mama coming? Isn't she going to take me to school?" tanong nito.  Ganitong oras pa lang, dumadating na si Jasia kaya nakapagtatakang wala pa ito.

After what happened last night, Xibel doubted she would show her face today. There was a part of him glad he would not see her, but he didn't want Imris' education to be affected.

"You'll be playing with Uncle Arator." Nilingon niya si Arator na nakatayo sa kaniyang tabi.

Ang akala niya'y malulungkot ang mukha nito pero nagmukha na namang bituin ang mga mata nito sa kinang. "Yey! No school!"

Patalon itong bumababa sa upuan at hinila ang kamay ni Arator. "Let's go, Uncle. Let's play with Elia!"

"Okay!" Abot-tainga rin ang ngiti ni Arator at nagpatangay sa hila ni Imris papunta sa salas.

Naiwan siyang mag-isa sa kusina. Sumandal muna siya sa upuan habang iniisip kung ano ang gagawin niya sa edukasyon ni Imris. Paniguradong matagal pang magpapakita o hindi na nga magpapakita sa kanila si Jasia.

That sounded good to him, but it would not be the same for Imris.

Gustuhin man niyang itanggi, alam niyang natutuwa si Imris sa tuwing nakakasama si Jasia. Kaya paniguradong magtataka ang bata kung hindi na babalik pa ang babae.

"Of all kinds of people, why does it have to be a woman?" He heaved a sigh. Maybe he should start looking for a new human to do the job.

Ilang sandali pa siyang nanatili roon bago napagpasiyahang pumunta sa salas kung saan naroroon ang dalawa. Natutulog si Elia sa sofa habang ang dalawa ay may pinapanood sa cell phone. Nakaupo si Imris sa lap ni Arator at tuwang-tuwa ang ekspresyon nito sa pinapanood.

"Mama is really like a princess!" komento pa nito.

"Right? She's shining!" sagot naman ni Arator na animo'y nakakakita.

His forehead creased because of their comments. They were talking about Jasia.

Naglakad siya papalapit sa likod ng sofa kung saan nakaupo ang dalawa at sinulyapan ang pinapanood nila. It was Jasia on the video, wearing a shining beige colored dress while turning as if her life depended on the dance.

He couldn't see her expression, but the graceful movements as she glided across the stage were already enough to tell she was passionate about what she was doing.

She was a ballerina who loved to dance on the stage while many people were admiring her.

Tatalikod na sana siya pero may nahagip siya sa screen. Sa gilid ng video ay may iba pang imaheng nakalinya at may mga pamagat na nakalagay. Nakuha ng kaniyang atensyon ang isa sa kanila dahilan para magsalita siya.

"Arator, click that image." Tinuro niya ito.

Imbes na si Arator ang gumawa ay si Imris mismo ang pumindot. Nang magsimulang maglaro ang video at marinig ang mga boses, pinaliwanag ni Arator na hindi ito isang performance kundi isang pahayag.

'Jasia Jasmine Cecora filed a lawsuit after she slapped the president of the Portal Shoe Company' was the title of the video. Nobody spoke between them as they watched the content unfold. Jasia was on the video as many flashes of the camera trying to get her scoop. The people were pushing but the woman refused to say anything.

However, there was a voiceover, reporting what was happening.

"Jasia Jasmine Cecora, the rising ballerina from the most famous ballet company, filed a lawsuit against the president. The ballerina claimed she was harassed and trying to bribe her of fame."

Inagaw niya ang cell phone sa dalawa at naglakad palayo. Nagtaka si Imris sa kaniyang ginawa pero hindi muna iyon pinansin. Ayaw niyang marinig ng bata ang ganitong usapin.

Salubong ang mga kilay niyang pinagpatuloy ang panonood.

"However, the president protested that he never touched Jasia. In fact, it was the ballerina who proposed to him with such preposterous deal. Since he is a man who values fairness, he didn't entertain her request to be a prima ballerina. Which in turn, made the ballerina mad and framed him of harassment. Because of this, the rising ballerina received several backlash from the public, calling her names." Sumunod kaagad ang mga pinakitang komento sa video at halos manginig ang kaniyang kamay nang makita ang nakasulat doon.

'What a slut!"

'No'ng una ko pa lang talaga siyang nakita, alam kong may problema na sa babaeng ito. At 'di nga ako nagkamali. Napakadesperada.'

'Ang kapal namang magdemanda ng babaeng 'yan. Akala mo naman kung sinong magaling at pagiging prima ballerina pa ang gusto. Kapal sobra!'

'Siguro ang sinabing deal ni Jasia ay makipag-sex sa president para gawin siyang prima ballerina HAHAHAHAH slutty bitch things.'

'Mga babae nga naman. Kayang ibigay ang katawan kapalit ng mga gusto nila haha sus pero kung ako siguro 'yan, papayag ako agad. Kay ganda naman kasi.'

'Whore! Ang dumi-dumi mo!'

Nabitiwan niya ang cell phone dahil hindi niya kinaya ang mga komento. Why were they all pointing at Jasia? The report showed two sides and yet, their unpleasant comments were all directed to her.

Napatakip siya sa kaniyang tainga nang muling marinig ang nakakarinding ingay sa kaniyang utak. Wala si Jasia ngayon subalit ang sigaw ng pagmamakaawa at galit nito kahapon ay muling naglaro sa kaniyang isipan.

"Ah!" Napadaing siya nang ayaw itong mawala. Nawalan ng lakas ang kaniyang mga tuhod dahilan para mapatakbo palapit si Arator at Imris sa kaniya.

"Papa!"

"My lord, what's wrong?" Inalalayan siya nito.

He couldn't understand why he was hearing the voices, but somehow, there was a jolt of pain throbbing right into his heart.

Jasia's situation reminded him of his.

It wasn't just Jasia's voice, but also his. From the night he pleaded but was only laughed at, from the moment when he tried to protect himself and couldn't resist, everything was all coming back from his mind.

A tear fell from his eyes as his hand shook in rage, but it immediately ran down. His entire body felt weak; his shoulder down and his gaze softened when he remembered what he said to her last night.

He was never better than those people who struck her with foul words.