"We have already contacted the name given by the child and he will be arriving soon, ma'am," announced PO2 Armando Benitez to her. He was the policeman she faced earlier who mistook her for Chelsea's mother.
She was struggling to explain to the police that she was not the child's mother until now. She was forced to go to the station because Chelsea would not let her go and insisted that she was really her mommy.
Her difficulty was compounded because she did not want to hurt the child. She did not understand why the child had a strange effect on her. She felt like she was falling under its charm. She couldn't express her refusal directly to the child.
She sat on a monoblock in front of PO2 Benitez's desk and was running out of things to say to convince the policeman.
She already looked like a liar. Or maybe the policeman was thinking worse of her.
She could not tell her life story, except for the misfortune of getting pickpocketed while crossing the street. The policeman asked her why she was crying when he saw her earlier.
A teenager arrived carrying a fast food bag and a bottle of mineral water. Helga smelled the delicious food and remembered her hunger. She swallowed.
The teenager placed the bag and water on PO2 Benitez's table.
"Ma'am, why don't you and your child eat first while waiting for your husband?" The policeman pushed the bag towards her. "Maybe it's just hunger. You even forgot your husband's name."
She blushed slightly at what the policeman said.
He stood up and left them alone with Chelsea.
"I am hungry, Mommy," Chelsea said to her. The child's innocent face looked up at her.
If she had a child, she would want it to look like this one. She didn't know why she felt so comfortable with the child. If she were the mother, she would not deny it.
"Okay, baby. Let's sit down so I can arrange our food." She was also hungry and, although embarrassed by the policeman, she was grateful that he was thoughtful.
The child obeyed. She smiled at her.
She took out two paper boxes from the bag. She opened it. It was a chicken and rice meal from a well-known Filipino fast-food restaurant. The gravy container was separated.
"Do you want this?" she asked the child.
"Yes, Mommy. I love chicken!"
She sat the child in the other monoblock chair. She placed the box in front of her. The child was very happy. She knew how to eat on her own again.
"How old are you, baby?" she asked the child as they ate.
"I'm seven," the child replied while still chewing.
"You are very beautiful," she said as she looked at Chelsea's face.
"Of course, I look like Mommy!" the child replied happily.
Helga smiled. She had a heavy problem, but her feeling seemed to be getting lighter. She would just think about the problem later when it was solved. When Chelsea's father arrived and took the child, she would talk to PO2 Benitez. She would ask for his help to go back to Sampaloc. Venirose would not turn her away.
She would leave it to fate.
"Mommy, I miss Robin." Chelsea stopped chewing and seemed sad.
"Who is Robin?" She looked at the child innocently.
"Mommy, stop kidding. How can you forget about Robin?" Chelsea pouted.
"Oh, yes! Mommy is kidding. Of course, Robin is your pet."
"Mommy, Robin isn't my pet. He's my brother. He's your son."
Helga's eyes widened, "Oh, okay. Mommy was just joking. I just wanted to see your beautiful smile."
Chelsea sweetly smiled.
"Finish your food now. Later, your daddy will arrive and you can see Robin again."
Chelsea's face became serious once more. "You're not going home with us?"
Helga struggled to answer. "I'll follow later."
"But I want you to go home with us, Mommy. Please." Chelsie clasped her hands together as if praying.
Helga swallowed. "Okay." She'll just have to let the children's father explain everything to Chelsea later.
After finishing her meal, Chelsea hugged Helga. Her eyes were droopy and tired. Her head rested on Helga's shoulder, and soon enough she fell asleep.
They waited for almost half an hour before they heard PO2 Benitez's voice again.
"Ma'am, your husband is here."
Helga had her back turned, so she had to turn around to see who her supposed 'husband' was.
Her lips parted in awe.
Standing beside PO2 Benitez was a tall, mestizo, and a handsome son of Adan. His blue checkered dress shirt and dark pants accentuated his good build. She looked back at his face. Was he Korean or Filipino? His eyes were slanted, his nose was sharp, and his lips were reddish. He looked like an actor or a model.
A pair of those brown, attractive eyes met her gaze. She felt weak in the knees. She had to avert her gaze. There was something wrong with her.
Helga felt Chelsea's head lift up. The child seemed to sense her father's arrival. She rubbed her eyes and looked towards the newcomers.
"Daddy!" The drowsiness was gone from Chelsea's voice.