Way Back Home Page #3

taught me that song, right?

Even if I don't look like you,

you gave birth to me, right?

Ma,

you are my mother, right?

Ana...

Ana!

Sister!

Excuse me, do you know

where Ana Bartolome lives?

Ana? That's her.

Ana!

Sister, is that your classmate?

Thank you, Lerma.

Joanna is really small for her age.

Actually, she and Jessica

are just months apart.

We asked her for her name.

We only heard "Ana".

We didn't know it was "Joanna".

Didn't you try looking for us?

Ana could only give her name then,

but not her surname.

And we didn't know when and where

Ana got in in our jeepney.

We had stopovers in Manila...

- and Pampanga as well.

- We did.

Thank you for taking care

of Joanna, Lerma.

Where's Berto?

He's dead.

My son died six years ago.

Ana hadn't come home yet.

So, my son went out

to sea to find her.

Little, did he know he'll die...

Are you sure..

that Ana..

is Joanna?

It's the same child in our pictures.

And I'm sure a DNA test

will prove that Ana is Joanna.

- We can do that.

- Amy.

Lerma, you're a mother, too.

If it's your child, you just know.

For Mama, for Buboy!

For Junior! For Grandma!

And, of course, for Papa!

They play with your medal

like it's a toy.

Aren't you worried

they might lose it?

It's okay.

Contests and prizes

are not important to me.

What?!

Then, you didn't deserve to win it.

You shouldn't have joined the race...

so that the medal could have gone to

somebody who actually wanted it.

I'm sorry.

You really don't remember us?

I'm sorry.

I can't remember anything...

You're lucky,

you can't remember us.

Unfortunately for us,

we never forgot you.

You were always in our minds,

especially Mom's.

And that which

stays in the mind,

is never gone from the heart.

Brother Jeff, game! For Grandma!

And of course, for Papa!

If idol is really your sister,

why don't you look like her?

You don't look like her either.

Huh?

Don't we look alike?

- Joanna.

- Ana.

Joanna...

Joanna, I've longed to embrace

you all these years.

I miss you so much.

Joanna, why don't you

go pack your things.

Let's go home.

Are you okay, Joanna?

It's Ana.

Ana, is there a problem?

I'm sorry.

I hope you don't take

this the wrong way...

but I cannot come with you.

Why?

What's wrong Joanna?

It's Ana.

I'm so grateful that we

meet each other again.

I'm thankful that you

haven't forgotten me.

But my life is already here.

My family's here.

You would rather stay with

them than come with us?!

You think this is easy for us?!

Why won't you come

back home with us?!

I can't decide if you're

insensitive or just stupid!

Jessica.

That's too much!

Ana..

We are your family.

You belong with us, Joanna.

It's Ana.

I'm very sorry.

I can't go with you.

I'm sorry.

You looked so different back then.

But you were cute...

when you still had four legs.

What happened to

your other two legs?

And where's your tail?!

Who cut it?! Who?! Tell me!

Stop it!

Why didn't you go with them, Ana?

They came for Joanna Santiago,

not Ana Bartolome.

They were looking for Joanna,

but they found Ana.

Ana, Joanna they're both you.

I know I'm Ana.

But I don't know how to be Joanna.

I don't know if I even

want to be Joanna.

Do you think..

I would have a better life..

if I didn't get lost?

Nope.

Why?

If you didn't get lost,

you wouldn't have gone here,

you wouldn't have met me.

Ouch!

But it's true!

If you didn't wander into

your Papa Berto's jeep,

then you wouldn't have

a best friend who accepts you...

as you are, fins, tails, legs and all.

I'm one of a kind!

You're lucky to have me

for your best friend.

We should have stayed.

Let's go back tomorrow.

Amy..

Please..

Can we not talk

about this right now?

Yes, Mom.

Can we please not talk about

people who are not here,

because they don't want to be here?

Joanna is not here because..

..of me!

Come on!

Say it!

It's my fault!

If only I obeyed you,

then Joanna would still be here.

It's my fault, right?!

It's my fault! I'm to blame! Say it!

Jessica...

Jessie... Jessie, that's enough.

No!

Come on, Mom.

Say it! It's my fault!

Everything is my fault!

It's my fault she forgot us!

Jessie.

It's my fault Joanna

chose to stay there!

It's my fault she chose

a different family!

It's all my fault!

Jessie, stop it.

There! I admitted it!

What about you, Mom?!

When will you admit

that it's all you're fault

that this family

is so messed up?!

Amy!

Madam, where are you going?

Lerma, looks like you're

starting a bit late.

Hey, hey, hey!

What was that?

Oh, no!

What happened, Jessie?

Throw it away.

There's no use for it now.

Thank you, Amy!

You're welcome!

I'm gonna wear this.

Mommy of Idol Ana,

thank you for all of these!

Are you and Mama going back

to the market tomorrow?

Don't get used to this.

Are these enough for dinner later?

It's more than enough.

This could last us until dinner.

I hope we never get used to this.

I'll do it.

Does Joanna love

tamarind pork stew?

Ana, I mean.

- Yes! She loves it really sour.

- The kind that makes you tingle?

That kind of sour, yes!

She really is my daughter then.

When I make adobo,

- she doesn't like it with...

- Peppercorn!

Correct!

But laurel leaves are a must-have!

Her favorite snack is...

Bread rolls dipped in ketchup!

She must have gotten that from you.

Oh, no. From her dad.

Eat!

Yummy!

Mommy of Idol,

should I also call you "mommy"?

No! Only Idol Ana

can call her "mommy".

It's okay.

Mommy of Idol Ana is too long.

Mommy of Idol Ana,

the fried chicken is so yummy!

Fried chicken everyday

until the end of the world!

Is this your favorite

part of the chicken?

Yes. And Mama's too.

Ma, you want some?

Alright.

How about you, Amy?

What's your favorite chicken part?

The leg.

Leave it to me.

There.

Aren't they looking for you?

Do you want me to go home now?

Ah, it's not that.

- I just thought that...

- Ana...

Do you feel uneasy

when I come visit you?

Um...

No...

A little bit...

I understand, baby.

You do?

You don't know..

how much I want..

to take you home with me, Ana.

But I know that if I take

you away from here,

from your friends...

your brothers...

your Mama Lerma...

I came here to bring you home, Ana.

But I realized,

you are already home.

I just want..

a little place for me in your heart...

just a small...

tiny space in your heart, baby.

That's all I ask, Ana.

Delgado!

- Sir.

- Coach Rey is looking for...

Jessica Santiago.

She's not answering my calls

and text messages.

Her friends told me that you

might know where she is.

Jessica.

So, this is how you wanna

spend your birthday?

How pathetic.

What do you care?!

Give it to me!

- No. Come and get it.

- Give it back! That's mine!

Give it back! Give...

You're such a hassle, you know.

Everyone's asking me where you are.

I'm sorry then.

There was a time when you didn't

think I was a hassle in your life.

Yes.

There was a time when I was

foolish enough to think that...

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