"What do you mean?" Veira coldly asked Teresita, Clara's mother.
Kakatapos lang nitong sabihin sa kanila na hindi nila kailangang pirmahan ang mga papeles na inihanda ni Juan para maiuwi niya ngayon ding araw si Clara.
"I-I mean... h-hindi ko isasama si Clara pauwi. You can bring her home and your family can continue take care of her." Teresita couldn't look at Veira as she was saying this. She knew she was being shameless but she believed this was what best for her daughter.
"Ehem... Ginang Teresita, ang sinasabi mo ba ay pumapayag kang ampuning tuluyan ni Binibining Veira si Clara?" Juan was forced to ask clearly because he could clearly see the darkening expression of Veira.
Unfortunately, that didn't fare well, dahil mabilis na umiling si Teresita.
"N-no... No... No adoption! I still want my daughter." Teresita was sobbing as she expressed her disagreement.
Veira raised an eyebrow. "So gusto mong patuloy na alagaan at palakihin ng aming pamilya si Clara on your behalf, is that what you are saying?"
Teresita nodded her head shamefully.
The younger lady punched her fist on the door at once. The loud thump caused Teresita to jolt and shiver in fear.
"Do you think I am dumb? I am willing to take care of these children because we cannot find their families. You, on the other hand, are fortunate dahil natagpuan mo na ang anak mo. Now you are saying na gusto mong palakihin ng iba si Clara?
"You better have a good explanation for this. Otherwise, your only option is to take Clara away or I will bring her home today as my adopted daughter!"
Veira was indeed annoyed at this woman's words. Anong akala niya sa pamilya nila, day care? Na iiwanan niya ang bata sa puder niya para alagaan tapos ay babalikan niya ito at kukunin din?
Kung hindi nga lang niya narinig ang mga kwento ni Clara tungkol sa mama niya at kung hindi rin niya nawitness ang relasyon ng dalawa ngayong maghapon ay baka pinwersa na niya ang babaeng ito na pumirma ng adoption paper.
However, Clara was obviously very happy with her mother. And this woman obviously really loved Clara.
So for her to not bring Clara home herself, there must be a reason.
Yes, sometimes, she also hated her clearmindedness.
On the other hand, Teresita was shaken after Veira punched the door and left a fist size hole on it. At hindi rin niya nakakalimutan kung nasaan sila. To act like this here in Law Enforcement Office, Veira must be very fearless... and very angry.
Realizing this, she quickly dropped on her knees and began asking for mercy to Veira. But the young lady simply looked at her coldly.
She finally had no choice but to confess.
"I beg you, Binibining Veira. I can't bring Clara home with me kahit gaano ko man kagustong makasama ang anak ko. At hindi ko rin kayang ipaampon siya ng tuluyan sa iyo. I just need more time, Binibining Veira. Nakikiusap ako sayo.
"Hindi ninakaw ng mga human traffickers si Clara. She was sold by my husband's family. You see, patriarchal ang mga ito so mas priority nila ang mga lalaki sa pamilya. Nagkakomplikasyon ako ng ipinanganak ko siya. After that, I can no longer get pregnant again so my status in the family is very low.
"Noong araw na iyon, pinapunta ako ng bayan ng mother-in-law ko para mamili ng mga kailangan sa bahay. Pag-uwi ko lang narealize na paraan nila iyon upang mapaalis ako habang binebenta nila ang anak ko sa mga human traffickers!" Teresita's anger and pain was very apparent as she was crying loudly while telling this story.
Veira had no words to say after hearing that.
She somehow felt the agony of Teresita. Akala niya ay sa I Country lang talamak ang pagiging patriarchal. Unfortunately, even here ay may ganito din pala.
What's more, the divorce law, in whichever country, was very biased towards men. Kung sila ang magffile ng divorce, basta may ebidensya, mabilis lang na maproseso ito. Pero kung babae ang gusto ng diborsyo, men still needed to agree for it to be considered in the court. Matapos ng madugong labanan sa korte para sa diborsyo ay sirang sira pa ang reputasyon ng babae sa huli.
Because in the eyes of many, sino bang matinong babae ang kayang abandonahin ang sarili niyang asawa at anak?
Veira was fortunate because the original owner and that Duke Heir had no children plus that man was impotent. She was also smart to expose that fact in front of those people so mas napagtuunan nila ang eskandalo ng Duke Heir kesa sa kanya. But then again, wasn't that divorce finalized in expense of her own chastity? She had resorted to showing everyone her red marking just to prove her innocence, which was almost like being naked in front of them.
Anyway, naputol ang iniisip niya when Ginang Teresita once again grasped her leg.
"Binibining Veira, I just need a little bit more time. Gagawa ako ng paraan para makasamang muli si Clara. But right now, I cannot bring her home and can only let you continue take care of her on my behalf. Kung hindi, malamang sa malamang ay maibenta lang siyang muli ng aking biyenan.
"Gusto ko mang mangako ng kapalit sa pag-aalaga ninyo sa kanya, pero sa ngayon ay wala naman akong kahit na anong mahalaga sa pangalan ko. Lahat ay nasa asawa ko.
"But I swear, I will find a way to get out from that family and be with Clara again!"
At this point of time, Veira's anger had already dissipated. Instead, she was now pitying this woman who was failed by the law.
"Are you going to divorce your husband?"
"Yes. Iyun lang ang paraan para makalaya kami sa kanilang pamilya."
"How are you planning to make your husband agree to divorce then?"
Teresita didn't respond. Of course, it wasn't easy to that thing. That husband of hers would only be amiable kapag may benepisyo siyang matatanggap. Right now, the only value she had in that family was the fact that she worked hard in the farm as well as in their house. In short, she was treated as their maidservant.
She knew, if she couldn't offer anything valuable to her husband, he would never agree to divorce. So she was planning to work harder, save money and then offer them to him kapalit ng nais niya.
Meanwhile, Veira was still relieved dahil kahit papaano ay matinong tao din naman itong si Teresita.
Maybe, asking her to continue taking care of Clara without adapting her was her last act against her conscience.
Dahil kung talagang gusto nito na budulin siya ay ginamit na sana nito ang halaga ni Clara laban sa kanya upang makahingi ng pera na magagamit niya para sa divorce.
***
