The Warmth Of Her Soul [Completed]

Chapter 1

Hera Marie

"Alright... How about Mr. Carillo? Did he already agree to our deal? " tanong ko sa sekretarya ko. I'm on my way now to my unit. I feel so exhausted because of too much work.

[Yes, Ma'am,] sagot ng sekretarya ko sa kabilang linya.

"That's good. Do I have any appointments for tommorow?" I asked again.

[Yes, You have a meeting with the board tomorrow,] sagot niya.

"Okay. "Thank you for informing me," I said and ended the call.

Papasok na sana ako sa unit ko nang biglang may sumigaw sa pangalan ko. "Mommy Hera!"

Nilingon ko ito at nakita sa gilid ko ang isang napakacute na bata. Nakatingala at nakangiti ito sa akin ng malaki. Nakasuot siya ng kulay puting blouse at kulay pink na jumper na tinernuhan ng puting rubber shoes. Nakasukbit sa likuran niya ang kulay pink na backpack niya. Nakatirintas naman ang may kahabaan at kulay tsokolate nitong buhok na nakapatong sa kaliwang balikat niya. Namumula ang malaman nitong pisngi at ang may kanipisan nitong labi. May katangusan ang ilong niya at may mahahabang pilik-mata. Hindi ko naman maiwasang mapatitig sa kulay lila nitong mga mata. Her face reminds me of someone.

Teka nga, ano raw? Sino 'to? Bakit niya 'ko tinawag na mommy?

"I'm not your mom," I said.

"Don't be a meanie! You're my mom!" Masama itong tumingin sa akin pero kaagad ding nawala at napalitang ng tuwa. Tumakbo ito palapit sa akin saka yumakap at lumambitin sa paa ko na ikinagulat ko.

"You must be mistaken. I'm not your mom, okay? I don't remember having a child, " sambit ko.

"But you are really my mom! I know that you are my mom because mama showed us your picture, so I can't be mistaken! " pilit niya.

Huh? Paano naman ako magkaka-anak? Did I impregnate someone without me knowing? Oo, meron ako parehas ng kung anong meron sa babae at lalaki, pero hindi naman na ako nag-entertain ng ibang babae after my former lover broke up with me. Useless din naman ang matress ko dahil mas active ang cell ko sa panlalaki. And I don't remember having a one-night stand.

"Baka kamukha lang ako ng mommy mo," ani ko.

"You are my mom, mommy Hera!" sigaw niya, naiinis na.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang mahiya nang marinig ng isang dumaan ang sinabi ng bata.

I sighed. "Let's go inside and talk there. I want you to show me your mama and mommy's photos," sambit ko bago siya binuhat papasok sa unit ko.

"So, what's your name?" I asked as soon as we got inside of my unit. Ibinaba ko siya sa sofa ko at naupo sa tabi niya.

"Amarie Eloise," she answered.

"Your age?" I asked again.

Ibinuka muna nito ang kanang kamay at saka nagbilang. "Four," she said, and showed me her four little fingers.

So she was created four years ago. Graduating pa lang ako no'n at wala naman akong naaalalang naka-ano ko maliban sa ex-girlfriend ko. Imposible rin namang ang ex-girlfriend ko ang nabuntis ko dahil lagi niyang sinisiguradong gumagamit kami ng proteksyon. I'm confused.

"How did you get here, by the way? Where's your mama? And who's with you? Wala akong nakitang kasama mo kanina, " tanong ko.

"I'm with my lola and my mama's brother. They are here, but they are waiting for me downstairs. My mama is in our house; she's taking care of my twin sister, " she answered.

She has a twin? I stared at her. She really looks like someone I know from the past. "Can you show me your mommy's photo?" I asked.

Tumango naman siya at inalis ang pagkakasukbit ng bag niya sa likuran. Binuksan niya ito at hinalungkat. Puro laruan at coloring materials ang nasa ng loob ng bag niya, hindi ba siya nabibigatan?

Hindi nagtagal ay inilabas nito ang tatlong litrato at gumapang papalapit sa pwesto ko. "Where are you? Ah! Found it!" she said and handed me the photo.

My eyes widened when I finally saw the photo. It's a photo of me. This pgoto was taken when I graduated in college. It's really me. "Do you believe me now? Kung hindi pa po kayo naniniwala, meron po akong picture niyong dalawa ni mama," she said and handed me the other photo.

Tila naghalo-halo ang emosyon ko nang makita iyon. It's a photo of Grace and I, wearing a white toga and holding our highschool diploma while smiling happily at the camera. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang mapangiti nang makita ulit ang napakagandang ngiti ni Grace. God, I suddenly miss her.

Wait a minute. Does this mean Grace is their mother? Napalingon ako kay Amarie at nakita itong nakaluhod sa tabi ko habang nakatitig sa akin. Right. I knew it. Amarie resembles Grace. Napatingin naman ako kamay nitong may hawak na isa pang litrato, hindi ko masyadong maaninag dahil medyo nakaharap ito sa kaniya.

"Can I take a look at that photo?" I asked. She nodded and handed me the photo that she was holding.

"Who is this?" tanong ko bago itinuro ang batang babae na katabi niya sa litrato.

"She's my twin sister, Amara Louise," she answered while looking at the photo. "She looks so adorable, right? But she's so boyish and stubborn, maybe because she inherited it from you," she added.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa litrato. Kumpara kay Amarie na kulay tsokolate ang mahabng buhok, kulay itim naman at maiksi ang buhok ng kakambal niya. Namumula rin ang malaman nitong pisngi at labi. May katangusan ang ilong at may mahahabang mga pilik-mata. Kulay lila rin ang mata ng kakambal niya katulad niya.

They are both wearing a white floral dress and a cute doll shoes. Nakasukbit sa katawan nila ang maliit na shoulder bag na may designs na bulaklak. They are both holding a sunflower. I can't help but chuckled when I saw Amara's stoic face. It seems like she's not fond of wearing dresses and girly stuffs.

Napalingon naman ako kay Amarie at napatitig saglit bago ibinalik ang tingin sa hawak kong litrato. Napatigil naman ako nang may marealize. Dali-dali kong kinuha ang litrato namin ni Grace at ipinagdikit ito sa litrato ng kambal. Ipinagkumpara ko ang dalawang litrato.

Amarie inherited most of Grace's features, while Amara, on the other hand, inherited most of my features. They also both inherited my lilac eyes so there's no doubt that these two are my daughters. I mean, having this kind of eye color is very rare.

But how did that happened? Did Grace lied to me? No, it's impossible. I asked her if I'm the one who got her pregnant, but she said directly to my face that I'm not because she always make sure that we're using a protection. She told the truth that she got pregnant by a guy she met at the bar. Of course, I was so devastated that time. Who would be happy if your girlfriend told you that someone she met at the bar got her pregnant? She broke up with me after that and left. Hindi ko na siya kailanman nakita pagkatapos no'n. We don't even have a closure after that.

I let out a deep, heavy sigh. Pabagsak akong nahiga sa kama at itinakip ang kaliwang braso ko sa mata ko. I feel so exhausted. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nalaman ko kanina. Ang daming tanong sa isip ko na gusto ko ng masagot. Maybe I'm just dreaming because of exhaustion. That's right. Maybe it's just a dream.

_____