The Virgin Stripper

13

VV

I was walking with Elijah down the hall of the orphanage. I had told him not to accompany me, insisting I could manage on my own, but he had insisted nonetheless. Sister Janette hadn't mentioned why she wanted to see me today.

"Ate Valerie!" the children shouted when they saw me.

"Ate Valerie, hindi niyo po tinupad yung sinabi niyo noong umalis kayo! Hindi niyo po kami binisita," said a girl with long hair.

"Sorry, naging busy lang kasi ang ate Val niyo, pero nandito naman na ako, di ba? Wala bang yakap diyan?" I opened my arms.

"Wait!" Elijah interjected as the kids rushed toward me.

"Bakit?" I asked, slightly annoyed.

"Mga kids, huwag masyadong mahigpit, ha?" he warned.

I rolled my eyes at him, turning back to the kids. "Ang sarap naman," I giggled.

"S'yempre naman po, namiss ka namin," said the boy standing in front of me.

"Talaga ba?" I giggled again.

"Oh Valerie, nandito ka na pala," Sister Janette said, approaching.

I stood up and followed Sister into her office, Elijah's hand resting lightly on my waist for support.

We both took a seat.

"Ah, Sister, ano po kailangan niyong pag-usapan?" I asked once we were settled.

"Ah, kasi—" she began but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in," Sister said.

"Good morning." A pretty woman entered, accompanied by a man.

"Sit down, please." They took their seats, and the woman with long hair looked at me with teary eyes before glancing away.

"Who are they?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Look, they reached out to me last week and told me a very shocking truth. They are your birth parents. Remember the day they left you on the doorstep? It came with a note that said, 'Please take care of her and don't let her be adopted. I will be coming back.' That's why we didn't let you leave on your own yet; because of this matter," Sister Janette explained. I was shocked by how fluent she was in English.

Anger bubbled inside me, and tears began to pool in my eyes.

"Valerie," the woman smiled, extending her arms as if to touch me.

"Dont touch me!" I shouted, getting up and storming out of the room.

"Val, wait!" Elijah called, catching up to me.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"I want to go home."

"Val, love. Are you not gonna talk to your parents?" Elijah pressed.

"Don't call them my parents. They were never there for me," I shot back, staring out the window.

"Are you not happy that you finally met your paren— them?" he asked. Not knowing how to respond, I looked him in the eye and sighed.

"What do you think I should do?" I asked, looking down and letting out another sigh.

"Well, I think you should talk to them and let them explain everything... maybe?"

I didn't respond, and he turned the car back toward the orphanage. I looked at him, lost for words. He took my hands and smiled reassuringly.

"Love, talk to them," Elijah urged, nodding toward the woman and man who were exiting the orphanage.

I lowered my gaze.

"Love?"

"Please? So our baby can get to know her grandparents, hmm?"

If not for the baby, I wouldn't even consider talking to them. Why did they show up now, when I didn't need a family?

I opened the car door but hesitated to step out. Finally, I started walking toward them, with Elijah trailing behind.

"Valerie? Anak?" the woman—my birth mother—gasped, shocked at the sight of me.

"Can we have lunch together? To explain everything... please?" the man—my father—said softly.

"Love?" Elijah whispered to me.

"Okay," I said bluntly.

"May I ask who he is, Valerie?" the man asked again.

"Uhm, her fiancé po," Elijah said, extending his hand for a handshake, which the man accepted.

"Oh," the woman smiled awkwardly, her hesitation clear.

"Well, okay then. I see you have a car. I heard there's a famous restaurant around here."