Traces of Her

Chapter 3 Past

Summer 2005 Bukidnon

"So this is already Stephen eh, you've grown up fast," Joel says while took a glimpse of him on the rear view mirror while driving. "Can you still remember me?"

"A bit," he replied.

"So how's the place Jo?" his mother Katrina interrupted. They were heading to the life haven orphanage which is 35 km located from the city.

His mother doesn't have any plans on coming back on this place but since his uncle Philip, his father's younger brother,told her that she will be given a fifty thousand pesos a partly gift for winning in lottery, she agreed. And part of the condition is to tag him along.

"Jo, why is he insisting that I must bring Stephen? It's bugging me,"

"Yeah, why me Uncle? He could have asked my other siblings," Stephen curiously asked since actually he is not blood related to him, he just became his "nephew" in papers since Philip's elder brother is his mother's second husband.

"Might be there's a purpose," Joel simply replied.

"If it is about that man I'm going to kill him! "

Stephen knew about the man she was talking to. It is about his biological father. And the only thing he could remember about him is how cruel he is.

"At last we're here!"Joel said while giving a "honk" on a black gate. On the upper part of the gate was written Haven Orphanage. The place was surrounded by mountains and trees. The breeze is cool unlike in the city it was full of noise and smoke. The gate opened and it has still fifteen meters before they reach the entrance door.

Philip was already waiting at the entrance when the car parked."How was the trip?" greeting his mom when she went out of the car. I followed next.

"It's fine," she simply replied.

"So, this is Stephen now!" he exclaimed when he noticed him."You've grown taller than me. The last time I saw you when you was still twelve years old and you were just under my chest. That was when I attended Rey's funeral," he said pertaining to his brother's funeral,Stephen' Stepfather. He gave him a hug.

"Come inside," he says while helping us with our luggage. They walked inside when suddenly, a kid was rushing out from a door full of mud on its face and it's body, run passed them. Stephen was shocked to see the kid.

"Hey you...."a lady went out rushing after the kid out of breath, calling after the kid "stop!"

Philip stopped for a moment and faced the lady. "Is it Mute again?"

The lady nod in response.

"Let her be Aida. Our savior has already arrived,"says Philip while patting her shoulder.

When it was time for Stephen to pass by the lady, she was stunned when she saw him,"Eh...in the flesh?"

Philip looked back at her and smiled."yeah..."

When they arrived at Philip's office, Katrina slumped on a couch exhausted and Stephen on the other. Joel brought their belongings on their own room.

"So where's the money?" Katrina asked Philip.

"Eh...do you really need it now?" Philip asked nervously."Why don't you take a rest for a while...."

Katrina frown and looked at him directly in the eye. Phillip looked away as if he was keeping something.

Katrina stood up and walked closed to him.

"What?" Philip asked innocently.

"Don't pretend....spit it out,"

"Am I that obvious?" He asked while scratching his head.

"Uncle, you're really a failure in making lies. It shows all around your face,"Stephen butt in while watching the two.

"He he he, seems I'm not a good actor,"

"Philip...."Katrina warned.

"Um..." Philip gulped. "Promise me Kat you won't strangle me cause I really need-"

"Philip!" Katrina shouted impatiently.

"Alright! I lied. I don't have the money," Philip said with a sigh.

Katrina felt a boiled went out from her and grab Philip on his shoulder.

"Do you know what we've been through just to get a ticket to get here!?" Katrina said while shaking him. "You know how expensive to travel here! We've loaned money from bank!"

Katrina put her arm around Philip's neck.

"Kat! You've promised!" Philip gaze went to Stephen " Stephen don't just stand there! Help me!"Philip shouted.

Katrina didn't listened to him and continued to strangle him jokingly.

Stephen laughed while watching them " K-Kat, I can't breath!" Katrina let him go.

"Alright I am sorry for the lies I made," Philip explained to both them. Stephen shook his head, smiling while watching them. They sure look like children playing around.

"I will refund your fares back and forth,"

"You should be!"

"So what's the real purpose?" Stephen asked.

"Well...." Philip walked close to him, "the real reason is you," and put its hand on both his shoulder.

" Me?!" Stephen asked astonished.

"Do you recall the kid that was full of mud a while ago?"Philip went to his study table.

Both Katrina and Stephen nod in curiously while standing already in front of him.

Philip sat on his chair and took a white folder on his drawer and put it out for them to look.

" That kid was a victim of human trafficking. That kid was rescued in Malaysia when the youngest boy of the gang secretly reported to us about their situation. Actually, they were six of them who was kidnap out from no where here in our country but only this kid survived," he explained.

"How about the boy who reported the situation to you?" Katrina asked while scanning the papers on the folder.

"...was killed in front of the kid,"

Stephen and Katrina froze for a moment.

"Anyway, since that day, the kid never spoke. We need that kid  to speak about what really happened because the kid is the only sole survivor of that incident. Aside from that, the kid was starting to act  aloof to other children and they  can't get along,"

"Did you try sending this to an expert? The kid might have problems in speech?" asked Katrina with concern while reading the information about the girl.

"Well I don't think it needs it,"

Katrina paused,looked up to him while her left brow went up," and why is that?"

"I heard the kid  speaking while sleeping. While the kid  was screaming the name Tyler,"

"And what is it going to do with me?" Stephen asked still confused.

Katrina paused in a certain paper and looked up to the picture. "Oh my!" she exclaimed. Stephen peep out of curious.

"That is the picture of the boy named Tyler who was killed in front of the kid,"Philip answering all the confusion.

"Stephen....the boy looks like you! The only difference is the color of the eyes and skin!" Katrina said in shock.