2. Be careful.

"Mommy." Lumapit sa kanya si Elisha but her eyes were fixed on Olive.

Napatingin siya kay Olive. Her friend was surprised, stunned even. Then she smiled at Elisha with tears in her eyes when she realized who the little girl was.

"Hi," Olive said.

"Elisha," sabi niya. But it was more to remind Olive of her daughter's name. "I'm sorry, baby." Binuhat niya ito at iniupo sa kandungan niya, directly facing Olive.

"Ang laki na niya," ani Olive na umiiyak.

"Go ahead, Liv. You can hug her." She smiled kahit sa puso niya ayaw niya sa tagpong iyon. What if Olive changes her mind tapos kunin na nito si Elisha? Makakaya niya ba iyon?

"Hi, Elisha!" Olive didn't move. "I'm Tita Olive."

Hindi malaman ni Hannah kung matutuwa siya sa pakilala nitong Tita Olive. At least she spared her the trouble of telling the young fellow about her real mother at the moment.

"Hello," was Elisha's short reply in between yawns.

"I see you're still sleepy. Want me to put you back in the bed?" Marahang tanong ni Olive sa anak nito.

"No... I want my mommy."

Olive smiled at Hannah. A bit hurt, she knew pero hindi na nito isinatinig iyon.

"Be back." Tumayo siya para ibalik sa silid si Elisha at patulugin ulit.

"Who's she mommy?"

"My friend." She kissed her good night again.

"Okay... Please say good night to your friend for me." Pumikit na ulit ito.

"I will, Eli." Kung alam lang ni Elisha na nagsisinungaling siya, baka hindi siya nito mapatawad.

She just met her real mother and Hannah didn't tell her... A tear threatened its way down her cheek. She hoped Olive wouldn't take Elisha back. Ito lang ang mayroon siya.

"Don't worry, Hannah. I don't intend to tell Elisha that I'm her mother." Olive assured her when she returned to her, parang nabasa nito ang isip niya para ibigay sa kanya ang assurance na 'yon.

"Are you sure?" Hindi niya itinago ang takot.

"Of course... You are my friend, Hannah. Besides, you played that mommy role very well when I was too coward to even think of the idea."

"Thank you, Liv!" She hugged her friend.

That was what she needed to hear. Na na-appreciate ni Olive ang ginawa niyang pagpapalaki sa anak nito. Sana lang maging sapat iyon para hindi nito bawiin si Elisha.

"Magpahinga ka muna, Liv."

"Salamat, Hannah."

-----

"What's your name?"

Sabay na napalingon sina Olive at Hannah sa tanong ni Elisha sa una. They were having breakfast and the moment they sat to eat, Elisha never once tore her gaze from Olive.

"I'm your Tita Olive." Olive smiled at her daughter. "I told you last night, don't you remember?"

"You were here last night?" Umakto itong nag-iisip by putting one finger on her right temple. "I don't remember."

"Because you were too sleepy, Eli," sagot ni Hannah.

"Why do you have black eye?" Tanong ulit ng bata.

Nagkatinginan sila. Of course they couldn't tell the child na kagagawan iyon ng ama nito. So instead, Olive told her an answer that was way too far from the truth.

"I slipped and hit my eye."

"Oh... Does it hurt?" May bahid ng genuine concern ang mukha ni Elisha.

"Not anymore." Olive smiled and that satisfied the little girl.

"Okay." She resumed eating.

Hannah and Olive continued catching up. Too careful na hindi makabanggit ng kahit na ano tungkol sa pagkatao ni Elisha.

"Don't let Nate see her." Tapos na silang kumain, Hannah was doing the dishes nang lapitan siya ni Olive. "She looks so much like him... Like his female version actually."

"H-he doesn't know about her, right?" Nag-aalalang tumingin siya sa kaibigan. Kakaiba rin ang kabang bumangon sa dibdib niya at the mention of Elisha's father.

"Yes. But I'm positive that once he sees her and connect the dots, he'll know. Be careful, Hannah. He's a dangerous man," she warned.

"Well, he won't see her." Pagpapatatag niya sa sarili.

It's not like she and Nate already met before. Her friendship with Olive just lies in the background. Magkababata sila. Became good friends when they went to school together, developed a one of a kind bond when they attended high school but were separated when Olive started her career in showbiz.

Noong palayasin siya ng kanyang ama, it was Olive who helped her. Malaki ang utang na loob niya sa kaibigan that when she got pregnant with Elisha, Hannah couldn't just watch her commit the sin of having her own child aborted.

"By the way, Josh will pick me up tomorrow. I don't know if I'll see you again or Elisha."

"Sigurado ka na ba sa desisyon mo?" They sat in the living room, Elisha on the other hand was busy with her dolls.

"I've never been sure in my entire life." She smiled. "Thank you, Hannah. For everything and for taking care of Elisha. You've done a great job in raising her. She's a wonderful girl."

"Thanks, Olive... I just hope we'll see each other again. Hindi ko pwedeng itago kay Elisha ang totoong pagkatao niya. She will hate me if I'll let her live a lie. So I hope you're here when I'll tell her the truth. That would mean so much to her."

"I appreciate that you still intend na ipakilala ako sa kanya." Olive held her hand "But I'm not really sure about coming back. Hindi alam ni Josh ang tungkol sa anak ko."

Hannah realized how Olive's life was such a mess. Taliwas sa kasikatan at karangyaang iniaalok ng show business, napakagulo ng buhay ni Olive. She was so scared and full of secrets.

"Still, I'll tell Elisha about you."

"Thanks, Hannah. You're the only right thing in my life."

"You've helped me a lot, Liv. And know that I’ll always be here for you."

They spent the rest of the day trying to make out the best of it. Nakipag-bonding si Olive sa anak without Elisha having the slightest idea about her mother.

The next day, Josh picked up Olive. They bid each other good bye.