In another lifetime

TWENTY ONE

"Mommy Tita!"

"Yes baby?"

"Mommy and Mama's coming right?" I nodded, of course pwede ba naman nila makalimutan ang graduation ng pinaka makulit na baby namin.

"Yehey!" she hugged me, she's been my bundle of joy for the past six years. Ate Piper and Gwen decided to adopt her as their legal child. And of course I was ecstatic when they told me na dito nila palalakihin si Mia.

Graduation n'ya today, ang bilis ng panahon parang kailan lang sanggol pa lang s'ya, ngayon she's entering Primary school.

I've been her guardian, kailangan kasi magpabalik-balik nila Ate sa Pilipinas because of their businesses. And you law firm ni Gwen.

"What do you want as graduation gift?" I asked her while fixing her hair.

"Hmm...Can I have a Daddy Tito from you?" Growing up without a father figure, Mia's always been wondering what it feels like to have one. As early as four she already asked about her true identity.

She's one bright child, kaya we already told her about the adoption. syempre she didn't take it lightly. Hindi naman kami nagkulang sa pagpapaalala at pagpaparamadam sa kanya na mahal na mahal namin s'ya.

And I thanked God everyday kasi she seems okay with the idea of having two Moms and a Mommy Tita.

"Why? Am I not enough?" I pouted

"Of course you are enough, but I want you to be happy" nakakagulat na isang 6 year old na bata nanggagaling ang mga salitang ito.

"I am happy, because I have you"

"I know but, Mommy has Mama and Tita Dan has Tito Axel " she pointed out. "You don't have one, it's sad"

"I have you and your mothers, and you all are enough, I am happy," I assured her, I am genuinely happy to have her. "Now now baby, pick your dress and we'll get going, you don't want to be late on your graudation day aren't you"

She joyfully oblige.

All these years si Mia ang source of strength ko, kay Mia ko binuhos lahat ng oras at pagmamahal ko.

But I still can't forget him.

Wala akong balita sa kanya ever since that day. Ang sabi nila bigla nalang din s'ya nawala, pinanindigan n'ya yung sinabi n'ya sa akin na hindi n'ya pakakasalan si Ali.

As for Ali pinagpatuloy n'ya ang buhay n'ya sa Italy pagkapanganak nya kay Caleb.

My phone rang, "Hello, yes Ate almost done, yeah yeah she's excited to see both of you, okay ingat din" nasa venue na raw sila, "Mia hurry up your Moms are waiting" I shouted happily.

Sabi nila sumama raw si Mommy, matutuwa si Mia pag nakita n'ya ang Mamita n'ya. Hahabol nalang daw si Dad, my real one.

While on our way Mia keeps bugging me about how badly she wants a Daddy Tito.

"I'm gonna introduce you to our school President, I want him to be my Daddy Tito" natatawa nalang ako, she's too cute. Pati School President n'ya dinadamay n'ya.

"Please Mommy Tita, he's kind, he always gives me chocolates"

"Kaya pala madalas kang may toothache"

"Opps, busted"

Nang makarating kami sa venue agad naman namin nakita sila Ate. Tuwang-tuwa si Mia, then I saw a little boy nasa tabi lang ni Mommy. I knew who he was.

"Hi Mom" bumeso ako kay Mommy, "Hi Caleb" I held his hand"

"Hello Tita" he's about the same age as Mia. He got his Mother's malambing na boses, and his father's dimples.

"Caleb! Come on I'm gonna introduce you to my friends" hinila naman s'ya ni Mia.

"How's life anak?" tanong ni Mommy.

"Well good, lalo at nandyan si Mia"

"Wala ka pa bang nakikitang Daddy Tito?" Singit naman ni Gwen.

"I wonder where Mia got the idea"

"What? to be clear, she asked us about that also, she keeps bugging me to find you a husband para daw may Daddy Tito s'ya at para raw magkaroon s'ya ng kapatid"

"Why don't you adopt another kid?"

"Nah, hindi nga kami maka focus kay Mia, nakita mo naman halos sayo na lumaki yung bata" Ate Piper butted in.

"Tigilan nyo na yang kapatid nyo magstart na yung program"

Nagsalita na yung isang teacher, she's about to introduce the school president. Come to think of it, hands-on ako kay Mia, ako ang naghahatid at sumusundo sa kanya, since I am a professor sa isang prestigious Uni dito sa Sydney at isang subject lang ang hawak ko, Art class, maluwag ang schedule ko, ay hindi ko nameet yung school president, sa dami ng event na school nila ni minsan ay di ko pa s'y nakita.

"Please welcome our beloved president, Mr. Yael Ezekiel Madrid"