5 YEARS LATER...

One day, si Jane na ang nagtakeover ng meeting with Freen's European Investors when the latter got very sick. It was the time when Freen was planning to build another branch of foundation in Europe. As Jane was presenting, the Europeans were amazed by her elaborate presentation.

Jane: And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is Diversity Royalty. An investment of the lifetime.

Investor 1: Wow. That was an amazing and elaborate presentation, Mrs. Vanguardia.

Investor 2: It seems Mrs. Freen Sarocha taught you very well.

Jane nodded.

Investor 1: Well, we will be getting to the point now. Of all the companies here in Thailand, your vision is the top of them all until now. But we would like the numbers, please.

Jane: Of course. Net income 84%. Surveyed satisfied customers, 90%. Preliminary estimate success of projects, 74%. The length of the feet of the yacht with the investment project also 74% if you'd like to buy it. And as for the private planes, 72%. Also includes the investment project.

Investor 1: Great. Then we'll take the deal. Congratulations, Mrs. Vanguardia. Freen would have been happier when she sees you presenting now.

Jane nodded very happily. Then she told Freen's secretary to gather the papers for the investors to sign. Noong inabot na ng secretary, doon na pumirma ang matandang European investors habang itinuturo ng babaeng secretary ang part ng papers.

Investor 1: Ok. Done. Please, give our regards to Mrs. Sarocha. We hope she gets well soon.

Jane: Of course, sir.

Then they shook hands and left the company.

----

Pag-uwi ni Jane ng bahay, hinanap niya si Mikha, pero ang sabi ni Auntie Mhee na maid ni Freen ay may project na kailangang tapusin. Agad na tinungo ni Jane ang kwarto ni Freen para kumustahin at nakita si Chantal na pinupunasan ang young grandma. Sinalubong ni Chantal ng kiss ang kanyang mom saka umupo si Jane sa tabi ni Freen.

Freen: Hi, my daughter. How are you?

She weakly said.

Jane: I am more than okay.

Freen smiled. Dito na ikinuwento ni Jane ang tungkol sa kanyang naging presentation kanina. At lalo namang ikinatuwa yan ni Freen. Then Jane gave her a hug and kiss. As well as Chantal.

Chantal: Wow! Congrats, Mom!

Freen: Good work, Jane. It seems you'll be arranging the brunch for our staff tomorrow morning.

Jane: You taught me, Mama Freen. Yes, I would love that.

Freen: It's up to you to buy the brunch for them. Use my credit card.

Jane: Thank you.

Freen: Oh, no. Thank you. 

Jane: Anyway, have you eaten already?

Chantal: Yes po, Mommy. Nabigyan ko na po ng mushroom soup si Mama Freen.

Jane: Well, why don't you go to Mommy Becky first? Ako na lang muna bahala kay Mama Freen.

Chantal nodded and went to her Mommy Becky. Saka na tinuloy ni Jane ang pagpunas kay Freen after piniga ang basang face towel ng cold water and then nilagay sa noo. Hindi pa nagsasalita si Jane, alam na ni Freen kung ano ang sasabihin niya.

Freen: Jane, I know you want to retrieve Janella and your other daughters. But are you sure you are ready to face your old family now?

Jane: It's been five years, Mama Freen. And I can't bear losing them, if our homophobic family did something bad to them. I can't just sit here thinking and worrying about them.

Freen: Just be careful, my dear.

Freen caressed Jane's cheek.

Freen: Thank you, my Jane. Remember what I taught you. Money is like the magnets. Even rich people can be bought, so trust no one. And look for Engfa and Charlotte first they will be of great help.

Jane nodded saka ito humiga sa dibdib ni Freen. Mainit man ang katawan, but she didn't bother. Freen kissed Jane on her forehead.

Freen: Oh, and Jane?

Jane: Yes?

Freen: I am so sorry that I didn't immediately tell you, because you were on therapist. But the last call from Julia while they were helping Jea, Belle and Francine escape, Engfa and Charlotte successfully saved Jea and your daughters, but Julia and Joshua's SUV exploded after Rex's men shot it.

Nakaramdam ng galit si Jane sa sinapit ni Joshua at Julia. Sinacrifice nila ang mga buhay nila para kela Janella, Belle and Francine. Sila ay first supporters sa relation ni Jane at Janella. Kaya nun, dito nangako si Jane na bibigyan din niyang hustisya ang pagkamatay ng mag-asawang yun.

Freen: I didn't just treat Julia like my client and friend. But she was also like a daughter to me as we always have meetings together. I won't ask you to put her name on the clocktower. She and Joshua were your very close friends. She was very kind that she and her husband don't deserve to die. Anyway, go on. Eat your dinner. Mommy Becky cooked your favorite.

Jane: I would like to see your Little Mon. Can I?

Freen: Of course.

Freen took her phone out and showed their baby daughter's very cute picture. Little Mon had Freen's eyes and Becky's nose and mouth. Jane was smiling as she was looking at the cute baby's picture.

Jane: She was so beautiful like you and Mommy Becky.

Freen: Beautiful like your daughters.

Jane smiled.

Jane: Anyway, I would like to stay here first until Mikha goes home.

Freen: Well, you are not Darna who can hear her arrive.

She said as she touched Jane's hand na nakapatong sa bedside ni Freen. They laughed at the joke.

Freen: Just wait for her downstairs. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Chantal just fed me and gave me medicine.

Jane: Are you sure?

Freen nodded.

Freen: Go on.

Jane: Okay. Rest well, Mama.

Jane kissed Freen on her forehead then went downstairs. Pagbaba niya, tama nga si Freen. Kakarating lang ni Mikha na agad namang sinalubong ng yakap ni Becky after preparing their dinner table. Masayang ikinukwento ni Mikha kay Becky ang kanilang project, while Jane was watching from upstairs. When she went down, Mikha saw her and sinalubong siya ng yakap. Jane as usual kissed her daughter on her forehead. Then they settled down on their long dinner table and started eating.

Becky: So, Jane. How was the meeting?

Jane: It was great.

Ikinuwento ni Jane ang lahat at natuwa naman ang lahat sa magandang part.

Becky: Wow! It seems Mama Freen taught you very well, my sweet Jane. Which is why I cooked your favorite. For a little celebration.

Saka na sila umupo at nagsimula nang magsalo-salo.

Jane: Thanks, Mommy. Tomorrow I will be giving our staff our brunch for their hardworking.

Becky: I am so proud of you, honey.

Jane nodded happily as Becky held her hand. Saka na ito bumaling kay Mikha.

Jane: And Mikha. Kumusta ang project mo?

Mikha: It was good, mommy. But very hard. Yet, my classmates are very great help to me. It was tiring, but yes, it was good.

Jane: Well, no wonder you eat like a wolf.

Chantal and Mikha laughed.

Mikha: You have no idea.

Jane: And you, Chantal?

Chantal: We just finished it. We just need to polish it. But don't worry, my classmate asked me to just let her do it herself.

Jane: I am so proud of you two. I, Mama Freen and Mommy Becky are very proud of you.

Becky held Chantal and Mikha's hands as a proud young grandma to them. Mula nga noong inadopt sila ng Sarocha couple, mabilis silang naging close lahat. Bukod sa kanila, ang mga Thai friends nila Freen and Becky gaya nila Looknam, Baitoey, Yuki, and Noey ay sobrang naging kaclose nila. May time na si Baitoey ay ginagala si Mikha every time na magkakasalubong sila after school, of course. While Looknam is doing the same for Chantal, kasama ang kanyang newborn baby. There were times when Chantal would visit her Auntie Looknam to baby her baby, while the mother washes her dishes.

Matapos ang kwentuhan, dito na sinabi ni Jane ang kanyang planong bawiin si Janella, Belle and Francine. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Becky sa tugon ni Jane.

Becky: Jane. Are you listening to yourself?

Tugon niya, pero hindi galit.

Jane: Mommy. It's been 5 years since the last time we saw each other. I already talked to Mama Freen about it. She just told me to trust no one.

Becky: Exactly. Listen to me. Before your arrival here five years ago, we tried to call Julia, Engfa and Charlotte, but we couldn't reach them. I suspect that your family jammed the transmission from Thailand to Philippines.

Jane: One way or another, I will get them all back.

Muntik nang magtalo nun si Jane at Becky, pero napapayag din ni Jane si Mommy Becky. Especially sa part na sa oras na gumaling na si Freen. Saka na ito niyakap.

Becky: You just made me worry, my daughter.

Mikha: I wanna come with you, Mommy.

Jane: Mikha. No. It's very dangerous.

Mikha: I know, Mommy. Kaya gusto kong sumama sayo, dahil may kailangan kang kasama sa tabi mo. You need someone by your side, Mommy. We can't risk also losing you. And you forget I am a techie here, so I might find the way to locate Mommy Jea, Belle and Francine.

Jane sighed. Meron ding pagkastubborn si Mikha at minsan na din silang nagaway ni Mommy Janella niya, pero agad namang nagkakaayos. Minsan din nagkaroon sila ng pagtatalo ni Francine. Pero hindi umabot sa punto na pagsisigawan nila. Lahat sila ay tinuruan nila Jane and Jea na maging mahaba ang pasensya. Kaya nun, pumayag na si Jane na isama si Mikha. But Chantal chose to stay with her young grandmas since siya ay mas busy pa sa school more than her sister.

----

The next morning, abala ang mga staff ni Freen sa kani-kanilang mga work. At dumating si Jane suot-suot ang isa sa mga blazers and casual clothes ng katulad ng kay Freen. Habang ito ay patungo sa office ng kanyang Mama Freen binabati siya ng mga staff.

Secretary: Jane. Wow! Much like your Mama Freen!

Jane: Thank you, Tawon. Anyway, can you tell everyone that they won't be buying their own lunch today?

Ipinaliwanag ni Jane ang kanyang pagbibigay ng brunch sa mga employees ni Freen at laking tuwa ng secretary.

Jane: But it's a surprise.

Kaya dito inannounce niya ito sa mga employees niya. Lahat ay takang-taka sa surprise sa kanila ni Jane. Tapos nag10pm noong dumating ang tatlong delivery na dala-dala ang mga brunch galing sa Cafe malapit sa company ni Freen. Na sobrang ikinatuwa naman ng mga employees. Kasabay nun, lumabas si Jane ng office at nagbigay ng tip sa mga delivery.

Jane: Thank you. You can go now.

The delivery guys nodded and left the office.

Jane: So, everyone, I would like to tell you how Lady Sam is grateful for your hardwork. Which is why she asked me to generously buy the brunch for you as your reward. Because the investors said yes. And we can't wait for the new Diversity Royalty to be built in Great Britain.

Nagpalakpakan ang lahat ng mga employees. At nagaapiran sa isa't-isa.

Jane: Come on, what are you waiting for? Get them while they're hot.

Saka excited na pumila ang mga tao para sa mga kani-kanilang mga kakainin. Ang tumambad ay mga American Breakfast na laging reward ni Freen para sa mga employees niya every time the investors/clients say yes and accept the deal.

Dinala ni Jane ang kanyang brunch sa office ni Freen at doon kumain ng kanyang brunch. Kasalo niya ang secretary ni Freen na kanyang pinakamalapit na friend tulad ni Julia and Joshua.

Ang secretary lang ni Freen ang nakakaalam ng tungkol na si Jane ay adopted daughter ni Freen at merong 4 daughters with her wife whom she hadn't seen for five years.

Secretary: You know, I had been wanting to meet your wife and daughters.

Jane smiled.

Jane: If only it were that easy to bring them here to Thailand to finally live our lives peacefully. But our homophobic families are very dangerous. There were many lesbians who died in our country. And I have a strong feeling that it is their homophobic community who were responsible for these incidents, accidents, suicides, homicides. Every death.

Secretary: I may not know everything, Jane. But all I can tell you is you have to be strong for your family. Your wife and two daughters still hope for your return.

Jane: Thank you, Tawon.

Tawon: Ok. Well, let's just enjoy our food while they're hot.

Saka na sila nagstart na kumain ng kanilang American Breakfast saka ng tig-isang milkshake.

----TO BE CONTINUED----