XIBEL remained on his spot as he watched Rasheed leave. Hindi kayang tanggalin sa isipan niya ang sinabi ng lalaki. Ano ang ibig nitong sabihin? At bakit bigla na lang itong sumulpot sa harapan niya na animo'y alam nito lahat ang nangyayari sa kaniya sa dimensiyong ito?

"Papa!"

Napayuko siya nang maramdaman ang maliit na kamay na humihila sa kaniyang manggas. She was signaling him to open the pizza.

He sighed and stole it from her hands. Naglakad siya papunta kung saan nakalapag ang bowl ng fried chicken at doon binuksan ang binigay ni Rasheed. Hugis pabilog ito at may kung ano-anong nakapatong sa ibabaw.

"It looked messy. Do you still want to it that?" Turo niya.

Tumango kaagad si Imris at kumuha ng isang piraso. "This is a pizza!"

Naupo siya. Pinanood niya nang may ngiwi sa mukha ang anak niyang animo'y hindi pinakain ng isang taon dahil sa kung paano ito lumamon. Nilantakan din nito ang tatlong piraso ng fried chicken. After her discharged, she had been eating so well. Siguro ay bumabawi ang katawan nito.

Kaagad niyang tinawag si Arator nang mapansing nabubulunan si Imris.

"Can you calm down? It's all yours," inis niyang saad habang pinupunasan ang madungis nitong bibig.

"Why is Ate still sleeping? Can't she smell food?" she asked after burping.

"She's tired." Nakakrus ang mga braso niyang pinagmasdan si Imris na patuloy pa ring ngumunguya. He still couldn't believe that the child he found was the child of his creator. Siguro kaya rin hindi ito natakot sa kaniya at hindi rin siya nakaramdam ng pagkamuhi dahil magkadugo sila.

Maybe Imris was also given a token from the writer's privilege.

"Imris, aren't you curious about your parents?"

"Parents?" Pinilig naman nito ang ulo. "Aren't you my parents?"

"Yeah, but the real one." Pinagsaklop niya ang dalawang kamay at inilapag sa kaniyang tuhod. "Say, Imris. What will you do if you find out who you real mother is?"

"Hmm." Napatigil ito sa pagnguya. Her eyes glued on the ceiling, thinking of what she must do. In a while, her lips formed a smile. "Imris will be happy!"

"Really?"

"Hmm-hmm!" She raised two of her fingers. "Because I will now have two mama."

Napangiti naman siya. "It looks like it."

Mukhang hindi na siya kailangan pang mag-alala kung sakali mang tuluyan na siyang maiuuwi sa Fictosa. Bawat araw na lumilipas ay ang pag-angat din ng mga numero sa kaniyang progress bar. Sana sa pag-alis niya, makita niya pang tanggapin ni Isabella si Imris.

"Papa!"

"Hmm?"

"How about my real Papa? If I have two mama, then I should have two papa, right?" Tinaas nito ang kaliwang kamay upang ipakita sa kaniya ang apat at nakatayong mga daliri.

His forehead immediately frowned. Bumalik sa isipan niya ang mga nalaman patungkol kay Isabella. Just the thought of him treating her like an animal made Xibel want to break his neck and never allow his eyes to see the world again. The man was a worthless asshole undeserving to be the father of his child. He would never accept him even if he begged.

"You don't have a father." He poked her forehead gently. "I am your only father, Imris."

"Okay! Then I'll have three parents." Ngumiti ito sa kaniya bago kinuha ang baso at ininom ang natitirang tubig.

"I heard that."

Napalingon siya sa babaeng nakasandal sa pader na nagbubuklod sa salas at kusina. Gumuhit ang maliit nitong ngiti na nakatingin sa kaniya. He was late to notice her presence.

"Practice is over already?" bati niya kay Jasia.

"Mama!" Binitiwan nito ang manok sa kamay at tumakbo kaagad papalapit nang mapansin ang babae. Nagpakarga ito.

"Wow, you're eating so well. Your cheeks are getting more and more plump." Pinisil nito ang pisngi. Binalik nito ang atensyon sa kaniya. "But don't overfeed her, okay?"

"I can't let the child eat what she wants?"

"That's not what I mean. She can eat anything she wants. Ang akin lang, huwag pasobrahan. Mahalaga pa rin dapat na unahin ang health ni Imris."

"Mama, I'm busog na." She yawned and put her head on Jasia's shoulder. "I want to sleep."

"Let's have you sleep then." Hinalikan nito ang tuktok ng ulo bago naglakad paalis.

Naiwan siyang mag-isa roon habang tinitingnan ang likod nitong papalayo na sa kaniya. Isa pa niyang inaalala ang nararamdaman ni Jasia para sa kaniya. Although the system said it wasn't a bother, he still couldn't get it out of his head. The depth inside his heart fell ill for not being able to reciprocate her feelings.

He still loved and was still in love with Celestialiana. There was no way of changing that.

Nagpunta siya sa kusina at naupo sa upuan ng lamesa. Nanatili lang siyang nakatunganga at doon nagpalipas ng oras. He got nothing to do, anyway, and he didn't want to sleep yet. Gising na gising pa ang utak niya dahil sa maraming bagay na iniisip.

"System, the progress."

[Character Restoration progress: 60%]

Forty percent and he had to bid his goodbye to this odd place. He was supposed to be happy yet an ambivalent feeling resonated instead.

"Xibel!"

"What?" Hindi niya nilingon ang papalapit na si Jasia. He put his head down on the table to cover his face. Jasia might comment again how his curse disappeared or maybe everything had already gone from her sight.

"Tulog na si Imris." The rustling of the chair echoed in his ears.

"Job well done, then."

"Tingnan mo 'to. May ipapakita ako sa 'yo."

Inangat niya ang tingin. Nakaupo ito sa upuan na nasa harapan niya. Hawak-hawak nito sa kamay ang cellphone at may imahe sa loob n'yon. Isa itong damit na sinusuot ng mga ballerina. Itim ang buo nitong kulay subait may kumikinang na pula at dilaw sa bawat dulo nito.

"I'll be playing Kitri next week. Tapos nag-send sa akin ng mga photo ang designer, pili raw ako kung anong gusto ko." She swiped the screen to reveal the other dresses. "Hindi ako makapili, so what do you think? Ano mas maganda sa lahat?"

He sat up straight and crossed his arms. "Stand up."

"Huh?" Kahit na nagtataka ay ginawa pa rin nito.

Tinaas niya ang isang daliri at inisip sa isipan ang imahe ng unang damit na nakita niya. "Thy art, come fill my desire."

He snapped his finger, releasing tons of black dust. It encircled Jasia and turning the dress on the phone a reality. Kaya niyang gayahin ang itsura nito dahil lumalamang ang itim nitong kulay. Napasinghap ito nang makita ang damit na suot-suot na nito ngayon.

"Whoa!" Umikot ito upang ipakita ang tuwa. "Why did you do this?"

"I can't decide without you wearing it." He looked at her from head to toe. The dress complimented her skin, however, it didn't made her look like the star of the show. He wanted her to be prettier than the swan she once performed.

"Don't move again." He snapped his finger again and new dress appeared. This time, it was a tube dress but the texture was looking thick. "Not this one."

He snapped his finger one more time, and another dress had come to life. Painted with the same color, it had straps encircling her neck. The end of the dress resembled the wave, imitating the flow as Jasia turned. It made her look fierce but soft at the same time.

A smile escaped from his lips. "I like this one better."

"Really? Does it suits me?"

"Yes."

Tumakas din ang ngiti nito sa labi matapos ng kaniyang binitiwang salita. Her cheek was a little flushed yet she remained her composure.

"Then, I'll be wearing this next week." Hinawakan nito ang saya ng damit habang parang dinuduyan upang makita ang kalambutan nito.

"Suit yourself." Muli niyang sinaklob ang ulo sa lamesa. He couldn't stare at her for too long; that was--he thought--the longest time he looked at her.

Breath-taking, if he could describe the beauty he just stared at.

"Jasia," bulong niya sa pangalan nito.

"Bakit?"

"Do you promise not to leave Imris again?" He knew well how promises, most of the time, tied people down that some would choose to break them if it becomes a burden. Despite that, he wanted reassurance. "Will you take care of her this time?"

"I will. I promise."

He glanced at her. "You better not forget about it."

"Bakit mo pala naitanong? Para namang mawawala ka." Bahagya itong tumawa.

Natahimik siya sandali pero kaagad ding napalitan ng isang buntonghininga. "Because I will. I cannot stay here for long."

"What?" Nawala ang ngiti nito. "What do you mean?"

"I am not from here, after all. The system malfunctioned, but it has started to operate well again." Pinagmasdan niya ang hologram sa kaniyang harapan. "And it's already transporting me back to Fictosa."

"That does mean maiiwan mo si--" Biglang napasinghap si Jasia dahilan para maputol nito ang sasabihin. Nagulat ito sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Stone sa kaniyang tabi.

"I have returned, my lord." Yumuko ito bilang pagbati. Duguan ang braso nito kaya hindi nito maangat ang kanang kamay.

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. "What happened?"

"Are you okay?" alalang sagot ni Jasia.

"I am fine, miss." Tumango ito. Tinaas nito ang isang kamay at ipinakita sa kanila ang hawak. "I successfully infiltrated Drake's household and got these tapes."