That night, it was inevitable that sadness was within the Tan's household.
Especially to the children...
They even cried when the twins had to depart in the afternoon.
But it was apparent na ang pinakaapektado sa kanila ay si Luna.
In fact, after she helped in the kitchen after dinner, she went alone outside atsaka naupo sa baitang ng hagdan sa harap ng bahay nila. Veira even saw her looking up the sky, trying not to let her tears fall completely. She felt heart hurt seeing her like this.
"Luna?" She called out.
The little girl panicked a bit at mabilis na pinahid ang kanyang kamay sa mga mata niya.
"En, Mama Veira?"
To her surprised, Veira sat beside her and then carried her towards her lap.
She instantly blushed.
Magmula ng magkamuang siya, wala siyang maalala na may kumalong sa kanya. And during their stay in the Tan's home, she had witnessed Veira carried and kissed her other foster sibling, especially Angel.
Deep in heart, she wanted those gestures too.
But she was also shy because she was already nine years old and with the rough environment she had grown up with, such childish thoughts should never appeared in her mind.
Though, from time to time, she couldn't help feeling like that. Most especially kapag hinahaplos ni Veira ang buhok niya o di kaya naman ay tinatapik nito ang ilong niya.
Veira was the closest thing she ever had as a mother.
However, with what had happened today, Luna felt she was splashed by cold water and was suddenly awake from a very nice dream.
The Tan's house cannot be her permanent home.
"Little ancestor, what are you thinking about, eh? Why is your forehead frowning? Tignan mo at magdidikit na ng husto ang iyong dalawang kilay." Veira even massaged her eyebrow. Then the massaged ended up in tickling her side.
Luna's laughter suddenly disturbed the silent night.
After a while...
The little girl was hugging Veira's neck and her head was even leaning on her shoulder. Matapos siyang patawanin ni Veira, that somehow alleviated her heavy feelings.
"Mama Veira..."
"En?"
"Mama Veira..."
"You..." Veira pinched her nose as she knew the kid was being mischievous. Luna couldn't help chuckling.
Then...
"Mama Veira, Rodelito and Emilio are lucky. Their parents cherish them."
"En... They are indeed."
"Mama Veira, hindi po ako kasing swerte nila. My family... my family..." Luna's eyes began to tear up.
When Veira heard the little girl's sobbing, para bang hinihiwa ang puso niya, at the same time, anger was flooding inside her. This child's family was definitely not good people. The fact that in her very young age ay gamay na gamay na niya ang mga trabaho sa bahay at sa palayan ay enough na na pruweba para kay Veira na inaabuso ng mga ito si Luna.
Her resolve had firmed that moment then. If these people come at her, she would never let them have Luna.
"Shhhh... It is okay, Luna. I am here. If you can't have luck with them, then I will become one for you."
"Mama Veira, pwede po bang wag niyo akong ipamigay? Pwede po bang manatili na lang ako kasama ninyo at nila Nanay Onang?"
"Of course! You can stay with us hanggang sa ikaw na lang ang magsawa sa amin."
"Mama Veira, hindi po ako magsasawa sa inyo. Paglaki ko po, ako naman ang mag-aalaga sa inyo."
Nanay Onang, Lili and Lulu, who had been secretly listening to their conversation, had tears on their eyes upon hearing this promise from the little girl.
***
The next day, Veira was at the Law Enforcement Office again. This time, she just brought Clara with her.
Sinabihan na siya ni Chief Dimayuga kahapon na bukod sa pamilya nila Rodelito at Emilio, they also got in touched with Clara's family. And today, they scheduled to meet up.
Clara, as per her and the children's doctor's observation, was somehow alike with the twins.
There were obvious signs in the children's psychology kung sila ay sanay sa alaga ng kanilang mga pamilya. You could aay that they were more playful than the others.
This little girl was actually both timid and playful. Sa una ay hindi agad ito makahalubilo sa ibang bata. But she was easy to coax with food or toys. Once na masanay na siya sa presensya ng iba, she would be playful.
The doctor told Veira na kapag tinatanong niya si Clara tungkol sa pamilya niya, she could even happily tell stories about them, most especially her mother. Kung hindi nga lang ito batang bata pa at hindi pa makatanda gaano ng mga impormasyon gaya ng buong pangalan kaniyang pamilya at address ng kanilang tahanan ay baka matagal na nilang nahanap ang mga ito.
"Mama!" The childish voice of Clara echoed around the office ng makita nito agad ang isang babae na nakaupo sa harapan ng mesa ni Juan.
The woman also stood up and quickly hugged Clara. She was even crying and laughing at the same time.
"Clara! Salamat sa Diyos! Anak ko! Natagpuan din kita!"
While the mother and daughter were having a reunion, Juan approached Veira.
"I thought you will not arrive early."
"Lieutenant, are you questioning my morality?"
The lad chuckled by her defensive stance.
"No. Iniisip ko lang na hindi madali para sayo ang sitwasyon mula pa kahapon."
"This matter is not about me, anyway. I am just glad na umuusad na rin ang kaso ng mga bata at makakauwi na sa kanilang pamilya ang ilan sa kanila."
"You are too magnanimous, Binibining Veira."
"En, I know." Then she faced the young lieutenant to ask. "What about the family of the other kids?"
Juan shook his head. "Sila pa lamang ang natatagpuan namin."
"I see. Lieutenant, kahit na gusto ko ring manatili amg ang mga bata sa puder ko, pero iba pa rin kung totoong pamilya nila ang makakasama nila. This is what I've realized after seeing the twins and Clara with their own parents.
"So if you can search for the other's family thoroughly and sooner, it will be much better."
"Wag kang mag-alala. The Chief has already assigned some officers to manage your case. Plus, with the fund you've given up, we are hopeful to find them as soon as we can.
"But, of course, Veira, you must also prepare some of them. There might be some of them na baka hindi na talaga matagpuan ang kanilang pamilya. Gaya na lang niAndres. He had stayed with the traffickers for the longest time. It might be possible na hindi natin talaga matagpuan ang pamilya niya. If that's truly the case, you and the doctor have to work together to adjust their psychology."
Veira nodded.
She had also thought about that too and was deeply concern towards that kid. With his young age, maaga na siyang naexpose sa dark side ng mundong ito. If she wouldn't be able to guide him well, he might end up in worst situation in the end.
She didn't want that to happen, of course. That's why aside from Luna, she also had a conversation with him last night.
***
