AMACon 3: Oikos - Children

Eros - Chapter Five

April 1995

"Why are we going to the hospital mama?"

"We need to have your blood tested, Maine."

"Why mama? Am I sick?"

"No, it's so we can avoid you getting sick. So be brave ok? I know you don't like needles."

"Ok, mama."

-----

June 1995

Maine arrived from school and noticed the van parked outside their house. It was one of those black Chrysler Suburbans with darkly tinted windows, the kind associated with the CIA or any espionage movies. She entered the house and heard the voices of her parents talking to someone.

She went to the living room and saw a visitor. He seemed tall, his legs were long and lean. He looked like he was in his early thirties, seemed to be well-to-do, judging by the clothes he wore and the watch on his wrist. He had a cleft on his chin, dark eyes and an aristocratic nose, thick dark hair and skin that seemed to enjoy the sun.

"Maine, come here and sit with us."

She approached and kissed them both on the cheek, then sat beside her papa on the two-seater. She leaned her head on her papa's arm, which seemed to have affected their visitor because his eyes glistened. Richard Sr. introduced them to each other.

"Maine, this is Teddy Mendoza. Teddy, this is Maine."

"How are you Maine," He asked, reaching out a hand. Maine shyly extended a hand to shake his, surprised when both his hands engulfed hers. There was a pleasant feeling of familiarity in his grasp, a feeling as though they knew each other for a long time. Reluctantly, she pulled her hand away.

"Teddy will be having dinner with us Maine. Better get changed for dinner and join us, ok?" Giving her a kiss on the temple, Richard Sr. gently pushed her to go to her room. She took one last look at Teddy, meeting his gaze. Her instincts told her he was a good person.

Dinner was a bit awkward for them, as they seemed to run out of things to talk about. Maine tried to compensate because she couldn't stand the silence.

"Papa, when will Richard come home? Can I go with you on your next visit to New Jersey?"

"Maine, kuya cannot come home because he's managing our restaurant there. We're opening another one in New York, that will mean more work for him."

"But he hasn't come home in seven years, Pa."

"Maine, this is not the right time to talk about him. Teddy you'll have to excuse Maine, she's just attached to her kuya."

"I don't really mind."

Maine was quiet for the rest of dinner. She finished her food ahead of them and went out to the patio on the wooden swing, breathing in the night air to calm herself.

"May I join you?" Teddy asked, standing by the side of the swing. She nodded and stopped the swaying, to allow him to sit in front of her.

"Who are you?" She asked, unable to contain her curiosity. He smiled at her.

"You're just like your mom, dear. Same inquisitive nature."

"You know my mom? My real mom?"

"Yes. Maine, I'm your father."

She looked at him, sizing him up, wondering if he was joking. But he was serious, looking at her a bit uncertainly, waiting for her to respond to his revelation. How was she supposed to respond to that? Her parents, or those she believed were her parents, never gave her reason to be curious about her real father. She knew she was adopted, but never felt she was treated as such, they loved her like she was their own. Then a thought filled her with dread.

"Are you taking me away from them?"

"Maine......Your parents and I talked. We've been discussing this for a few months now. They've agreed to let you go with me."

"No!" She left the swing and rushed inside the house to confront her parents. Both seemed to be waiting for her, expecting this outburst.

"Papa, is this true? You and mama are giving me to this stranger?"

"Maine, he's not a stranger. He has proof that he's your real father. " Her mama showed Maine the results of the blood test, showing that Teodorico Mendoza was 99.99% her father. She remembered that visit to the hospital, when her mama told her they needed to check her blood to find out what vaccines she needed for immunization. She felt the betrayed, looking at her mama who seemed uneasy.

"Mama, you knew about it this, didn't you? That blood test was really for this. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Maine, how could I tell you? I didn't want to get your hopes up that your real father found you. We needed to know first if he really was your father. "

She stomped her foot in frustration, close to tears. "Mama, I never wanted to look for my real father! I am happy with Papa and you. And Richard. Please don't allow him to take me away."

"Maine.....I'm sorry." It was her Papa speaking. "We no longer have the right to keep you with us. By law, he has the legal right to be with you. It's not so bad, sweetie, Teddy is a good man. He can provide well for you, he has no children or wife, all he has is you. He needs you, dear."

She looked at one adult to another, confused how they can be so rational about everything. Won't they miss her? For 14 years, she knew she was not a blood relation, but they treated her like one of them, and she thought she was considered as one of them. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, knowing that this was a losing battle.

"Can I at least call Richard first? Just to say goodbye?"

"Of course, Maine. Yaya has already packed your things, just call Richard, we'll wait for you."

She walked up the stairs to her bedroom, bringing the cordless phone with her. She was never allowed to call Richard, always told that he might be busy working. It was 9:40 in the evening, making it 8:40 in the morning in New Jersey. It was a good time to call.

"Hello....Prince?"

"Hello, Maine? Maine! How's my girl? I miss you......"

She sobbed, unable to speak. Of all the people she would miss, Richard would be the one she would keep pining for. Her prince, her hero, the man she looked up to since she was a toddler. Her voice broke as she spoke.

"Richard.....there's someone here who says he's my father. Mama and Papa wants me to go with him."

"What? No! That's impossible, they would never let you go. Who is this man?"

"I'm scared, Prince. He has proof and mama is convinced he really is my father. Save me, Richard. Please don't let them do this to me."

"Maine, give the phone to mama, let me talk to her."

She was filled with hope. Richard, as always, would save her. She ran down the steps yelling for her mama. She tripped and fell but she didn't care, she got up and rushed to her mama, but the line was cut by the time her mama got the phone.

She didn't see her mama sever the connection repeatedly, when Richard tried to call back. Her mama finally got what she wanted. Richard and Maine would now lead separate lives.