Chapter 18: Finding Belle's Home

<p>"Ate Via!" masayang salubong ni Belle kay Via nang makasalubong niya ito sa hallway. Ito ang unang araw ng rehearsals ni Belle na gaganap bilang cursed Princess Allurah. Belle has been doing her workshop under Matt's mother's management. Kasabay ng pagfoster ng mga ito, ito na rin ang tumayong manager ni Belle. <br/><br/>Napayakap siya rito nang makalapit. She's happy to see her. Almost a month din itong nakatira kila Luisa Aragon. And she missed her a lot.<br/><br/>"I missed you alot, princess! How are you doing?"<br/><br/>"I miss you too, Ate Via. Hindi mo ko dinadalaw kila Kuya Matt," may himig pagtatampo nito.<br/><br/>"I'm really sorry about that. But andito ka na today. And madaming araw tayong magkikita."<br/><br/>"It's good to finally meet you, Ms. Via. Luisa Aragon," turan ni Luisa na hindi niya napansing dumating pala. Lumapit si Via rito at nag-abot ng palad upang makipagkamay.<br/><br/>"It's been a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Aragon. I'm a fan!" Via exclaimed. <br/><br/>She's been friends with Matt for almost 3 months already, but she didn't get the chance to meet his Mom. She knows that Matt is a son of a legend. And she knows as well na si Mrs. Aragon ang nangangalaga kay Belle. But to avoid controversies, hindi niya ito nameet ng personal. In behalf of Belle's welfare. <br/><br/>"Matt is not lying. You are definitely gorgeous," puri sa kaniya ng ginang. <br/><br/>"Oh my, I think I'm gonna cry. A compliment coming from another Beauty Queen. Well, I have to be humble about it," pabirong turan ni Via. Na pahapyaw namang tinawanan ng buting ginang. Tagpong inabutan ni Matt. <br/><br/>"Mukhang BFF na kayo, what did I miss?" bungad ni Matt. <br/><br/>"San ka ba nanggaling? I arrived early." Tanong ni Luisa. <br/><br/>"I didn't know you'll arrived earlier. 10am is my call time," simpleng rason ni Matt sa ina. "Oh! Hi, Belle!" pansin ni Matt kay Belle na nakapit pa rin kay Via. Pumantay siya rito para makausap ito. <br/><br/>"Sabi mo kagabi sabay tayong pupunta dito. Pero wala ka sa bahay kaninang umaga," ani Belle pouting as well. <br/><br/>"I'm sorry. But Kuya had to leave last night. Ginawa na kasing bodega ni Mommy yung kwarto ko sa bahay. So there's no place to sleep. Umuwi na lang ako sa bahay ko," diretsang amin ni Matt sa batang si Belle. <br/><br/>Napangiti si Via sa inosenteng usapan ni Matt and Belle. Tila magkakilalang-magkakilala na ang dalawa. <br/><br/>"Pwede ka naman matulog sa kwarto ko," rason pa ni Belle. <br/><br/>"She was looking for you when she woke up, I just have to tell her na magkikita din kayo today. Next time don't give falls hope sa bata," turan ni Luisa. <br/><br/>"You told me to leave last night. I said I'm sleeping over. Ayaw mo. You said, you'll be sleeping beside her. And you want me to sleep with Dad. So I have to leave!" reklamo ni Matt sa ina. <br/><br/>"It's ok to sleep with Dad. Pareho naman kayong lalaki."<br/><br/>"Yeah, Mom. That's ok if I am 10years old. Mom, 27 na ko!" <br/><br/>Sabay na natawa si Luisa and Via sa debate ni Matt.<br/><br/>"You maybe, but you act just like Belle," gatong ni Via. Matt faced her. He gave her a look as if telling her 'really?'. She just smiled widely. "Perhaps, we can start the rehearsals? Today is Belle's first day." Muli siyang humarap sa batang si Belle. "Ready ka na ba?"<br/><br/>"She's a natural. I've been personally running her the script. She's doing it good actually. The workshop seemed to be enjoyable for her age. She's 9 years old. But she speaks like older," komento ng ina ni Matt.<br/><br/>"That's perfect!" Iminuwestra niya ang palad na makikipag-appear sa bata. "Sabi ko na nga ba, perfect ka eh!" Humagikhik lang ang bata sa tinuran niya.<br/><br/>"By the way, Via. I am also here for something else," seryosong turan ng Ginang. Napalingon si Via kay Matt but Matt seemed confused as hers as well. "Can we talk first in private?"<br/><br/>****<br/>DINALA ni Via ang butihing ginang sa conference room. Tila napaka-importante ng pag-uusapan nila. Matt, joined in. Mrs. Aragon sat silent for awhile. Tila nililimi nito ang nais sabihin. Via looked at Matt. He has the same puzzled expression like her's.<br/><br/>"When we took Belle sa Sta. Clarita, it's clear to me that my role will just as temporary foster parent. And I know I can't adopt her since there are restricted conditions. But Via, I know you'll understand how I feel," turan nang ginang na direktang tumingin sa kaniya.<br/><br/>Via understood well ano ang gustong tukuyin ng ginang. Yet, she knows she couldn't decide for it. Legally, wala siyang pananagutan kay Belle. The decision will matter solely from the orphanage themselves. <br/><br/>Kahit pa gusto din niyang bigyan ng maayos na pamilya si Belle, maliwanag sa kaniya ang kondisyon ng mga madre. Belle cannot be adopted. Iniwan ito ng di nila nakikilalang lalaki sa orphanage na iyon, mahigpit ang bilin na wag ipapaampon at babalikan ito kahit gaano katagal. For 9 years, tila impossible nang mabalikan pa si Belle ng tunay na pamilya nito. Ayaw niyang ipagkait sa bata ang magkaroon ito ng magandang bukas, yet hindi din nila gustong ikaila rito na may totoong pamilya ito na pwede pang bumalik.<br/><br/>Kung tutuusin, the Aragons can provide everything for Belle. A beautiful life that anyone can wish for. And Via knows, Luisa can be a wonderful mom for Belle. But then, what they can only do was to take care of her like a family.<br/><br/>"The mothers told me everything," patuloy ng ginang. "I can't adopt her legally. But I'm willing to give everything for her," puno ng devotion na turan pa nito.<br/><br/>Ngumiti si Via. She reached out to held Mrs. Aragon's hands. "Thank you for loving Belle, Mrs. Aragon. I know how it feels to have someone who cares for you a lot. I know how wonderful mother's love is and I am happy for her."<br/><br/>"Ma, when you say give everything for her, what do you really mean?" singit ni Matt. Tila may gustong tukuyin ang ina na hindi pa nahahalata ni Via.<br/><br/>Luisa looked at Matt first saka sinalubong ang nagugulumihanang tingin ni Via. "I want to open up an investigation," direktang sabi nito. "I want to find Belle's real family."<br/><br/>"Ma!" bulalas ni Matt.<br/><br/>"Don't worry. The investigation will just be secret. It won't affect Belle's welfare."<br/><br/>"It will, Ma." apila ni Matt. "It's the child's life!"<br/><br/>"Aguimatt, I want to know her roots. I can't just sit down and wait. Kung hindi nila kayang alagaan si Belle. I'll take her once and for all!" determinadong turan ng Ginang.<br/><br/>"This isn't about Belle, isn't it?" tiim-bagang na turan ni Matt.<br/><br/>Nanatiling nakatitig lang si Via sa nagtatalong mag-ina. Napailing ang Ginang sa tinuran ni Matt. Matt stared at his mother with accusations. Hindi iyon maintindihan ni Via.<br/><br/>"Whatever you say, hijo." kalmado namang sagot ng ginang.<br/><br/>"I'm with Mrs. Aragon on this!" singit ni Via nang akmang aapila pa si Matt. Tumingin si Matt sa kaniya and Via stared at her determined. "What? I want Belle to have a better family. That is not a question!"<br/><br/>"You don't understand. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang totoo," ani Matt.<br/><br/>"What's there to understand? We all want the best for Belle. Hindi dapat pinagdedebatehan yun," ani Via, smiling. Muli siyang humarap sa ginang. "It's best po if we inform the mothers. Belle always long for a family. I know she will love this."<br/><br/>"Thank you, Via. You don't know how much this means to me," Mas lumiwanag ang aura ng Ginang when Via declared her allegiance with Mrs. Aragon.<br/><br/>Pareho silang lumingon kay Matt. As if pushing Matt to agree since wala na itong magiging kakampi. Matt just stared at both of them as if hopeless.<br/><br/>"I am not agreeing to this. But as if I can do anything. You do what you want to do. But if this turned out wrong, don't stop me from hating both of you," deklara ni Matt. He may not agree but he won't stop them.<br/><br/>Nagpalitan ng malapad na ngiti si Via at Luisa.<br/><br/>"That's ok for me, hate all you want. This is for Belle," turan ni Via. "Please let me know, what more can I do Mrs. Aragon."<br/><br/>" Ah! By the way, another thing...," biglang sabi ni Luisa nang tila may maalala. She looked at straight in Via's eyes and stared at her authoritatively. "Please call me, Mama Luisa," turan nito saka nag-iwan ng makahulugang tingin kay Matt.<br/><br/>Via's eyebrows twitched high up with surprise expression. Bahagyang napatanga sa sinabi ng ginang. Tumayo na ang Ginang at lumabas ng conference room. She looked at Matt's with doubtly expression. Matt was smiling broadly.</p>