SAUDADE

tatlong pu't walo

Third Person

Irene and Issa with Anna on her arms, feeding her daughter. "Bakit mo gustong malaman?" She asked her daughter while watching her.

Issa shrugged, "It just came to my mind... When I had Anna... I felt a like, ito yung time na I felt the closest to you." She smiled. "You never told me what happened when you lost Yana."

Her mother smiled at her and stroked her cheek by her thumb, "Yeah, you told me about the decisions you made but... what happened after?"

"You really want to know?" Irene asked her, making sure of it. Issa nodded, "Mhmm... I'll listen..." Issa smiled.

"Okay..." Irene took a deep breath, tucked her stomach in, and nodded.

❘༻༺❘

They were waiting for the surgery to finish, hoping it would be successful. Irene and Greggy were sitting on the bench, two seats between them.

Both just signed everything for Yana's death. It was all already settled. Now, the problem they have is to legally adopt the new Yana.

"Once we sign the papers, Ai... There's no turning back." He looked at her, resting his chin on his palm.

Irene turned her head to the side, "Alam ko..." She uttered. "I want to, Greggy... She has Yana's heart... She looks just like Yana... Don't you think it's a sign?" She asked him.

"Anong sign, Irene?" He frustratingly huffed. "We just lost our daughter and now you're thinking to adopt someone else right then and there!"

She furrowed her brows. "The child needs help, Greggy. She doesn't have a family, she doesn't have someone else." She reasoned out.

"I don't know, Ai... Can you think of it more muna? You're emotional, we're emotional. And if we are, it's too dangerous to make decisions..." Greggy leaned back to his seat.

"Tulogan muna natin... Please? If your decision stays the same, then okay... I will support it and open her with open arms." He continued and looked at Irene.

"Okay..." Irene nodded. She was confident that her decision is the same. That it won't change.

"Good Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Araneta... Miss Clarissa is awake." The nurse informed them. They looked at him and nodded before standing up to follow him on the way to the recovery room.

The nurse opened the door for them and led them inside. "Hi..." Irene gave her a small smile. "I'm... I'm..." She introduced herself quite hesitantly.

"Mama? Are you my mama?" Clarissa narrowed her eyes. Irene's head snapped at Greggy as she widened her eyes, "I didn't say anything..." She whispered.

Greggy furrowed his brows and then looked at the child, "Clarissa..." He went to her. "Are you my Papa?" She innocently asked. He closed his eyes and looked down, swallowing a lump on his throat.

"Mama... Papa..." Clarissa smiled at them. "I've got a heart now... And I think it's stronger than before." She smiled.

Irene pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. "You're not happy, Mama?" She asked her. "Lala said you will visit me here and I waited." She smiled weakly.