Scene 1: Promise in Uniform

April: Can’t you just stay? Don’t you feel bad leaving me and our baby?

Hendrich: Love, I’m sorry. If I could stay, I would. But I have to go—duty calls.

April: Sigh What else can I do? Just promise me one thing—come back to us alive, okay? I don’t
want our child growing up without a father.

Hendrich: I promise, love. I’ll come back. We still have a house to build, school drop-offs to do,
and a church wedding to plan. And who knows? Maybe we’ll give our baby girl a little sibling too.

April: tsk, you’re impossible. Just make sure you come back, or else you’re really in trouble with
me.

Hendrich: You have my word. Alright, love, I have to go now.

Scene 2: Hendrich and April

April: How is he doing? Is he still okay? Is he even taking care of himself? What if… what if
he’s—oh my gosh—what if he’s dead?! Or injured?! Dear Lord, please no!

(Pauses, then gasps dramatically)

Wait, wait—bad vibes aren’t allowed near the baby. Nope, nope. My husband is fine. He has to
be fine. He promised he’d come home. We still have a house to build, school runs to do, and a
church wedding to plan! And, of course, he said we’d give you a sibling! Yes. Yes. Breathe in,
breathe out. Inhale… exha–

(Accidentally knocks over a picture frame—CRASH!)

Scene: Death Reveal!

(April is scrolling through TikTok, snacking, when her phone rings from an unknown number.)

April: (answers) Hello? If this is about my car’s extended warranty—I don’t even have a car.

Commander Reyes: (clears throat) Mrs. April… it’s Commander Reyes. I have news about
Hendrich.

April: (nervous laugh) The “he’s coming home” kind of news… right?

(Silence.)

Commander Reyes: April… Hendrich was a hero. He fought bravely until the end.
(April freezes, then exhales sharply.)

April: So you’re telling me… my husband just did a main character death in real life?!

Commander Reyes: (hesitates) I—um…

April: Bro, he promised! We had plans! A house, school drop-offs, another wedding—DO YOU
KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE DAYCARE IS?!

(Her baby giggles. April sniffles, then sighs.)

April: (to baby) Welp… looks like it's just us now. Your dad really went full sad anime backstory
on us.

Scene 4: Anak Reveal!

April: Oh, baby, here’s your lunch. Study well, okay? It’s your first day of high school—don’t
forget everything I told you!

Fatima: Yes, Mommy! I’m so excited!

April: (sighs dramatically) Ahh, my baby’s all grown up. Alright, let’s go before I start crying like a
telenovela mom.

April: I love you, my sweetest gift. Do your best, okay?

Fatima: I love you too, mom! I will do my best, I promise.

Scene 5: Father and Daughter… First Meetup?!

(Fatima on the phone)

Fatima: Mommy, I’ll head home now, okay? Yes, I’ll be careful. Alright, love you too, Mom!

(Fatima walks around and spots a flower. She excitedly runs toward it but trips and falls.)

Hendrich: Whoa there! You okay? Did you get hurt? Where are your parents?

Fatima: (holds up a finger) One at a time, kuya, chill. First, I’m fine. Second, I didn’t get hurt.
And lastly, my mom’s still teaching at school, and if you’re really nosy, my dad is already up in
heaven.

Hendrich: Oh… I see. Well, I’ll walk you home before you trip again—you look like a certified
clumsy kid.
Fatima: Wow, harsh! But okay, kuya, let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!

Fatima: Bye-bye, stranger! Thanks a lot!

Hendrich: No worries.

(Fatima grabs a piece of paper and starts drawing. She looks at her masterpiece.)

Fatima: Nice! This is so good. I’m really gonna be a drawerist when I grow up!

Scene 6: Mother and Daughter bonding!

(knock knock)

April: Anak? I’m home! Where you at?

Fatima: Mommy! Mommy! Look! My drawing is soooo good, right?? I’m a Future National Artist

April: WOW. Looks like a Grade 1 masterpiece—but okay, I support. How was your day?

Fatima: Super fun, Mommy! I learned a lot from my teacher, made a new friendship,
then—OMG, Mommy! I was gonna pick a flower for you, but I tripped! Then this random kuya
came out of nowhere—one leg, one eye—looking like a final boss! He even walked me home—

April: HUH?! WALKED YOU HOME?! Anak, how many times do I have to say it? STRANGER
DANGER! What if he kidnapped you?! Edi you’re gone?! Edi I have no child?! Edi how do I
move on?! Are you leaving me like your da—

Fatima: Ma, you’re being so OA rn, swear. 💀 Chill. Sorry na, won’t happen again.
April: Fine, fine. Come on, MasterChef, help me cook before we both starve.

Fatima: Oh, by the way, Mommy, why did you enroll me in SSC for high school? I could’ve just
stayed with my friends!

April: Because that’s where your dad and I met.

Fatima: I thought you said he was from heaven?

April: Do you want a smack? Also, sweetheart, your dad and I graduated from SSC. Look at
me—successful, right?

Fatima: When I grow up, I wanna be as successful as you, Mommy.

April: Of course! With SSC’s help, you’ll be even more successful than me! (flips imaginary hair)

Scene 7: Last scene!

Fatima: Ma, can you hurry up?! You’re putting on makeup like you have a husband to impress.

April: Ouch, that hurt. 😭 I’m done, okay?! Let’s go.

Fatima: Mommy, I swear your OTW stands for on the water ‘cause it takes forever for you to get
ready.

April: Let’s go na, anak. Time to find Fyang.

(walking to the picnic area)

Via: Popcorn, anyone? Hey, April! Come over here!

April: One popcorn, please, Via. Make it my daughter’s fave flavor.

Via: Here you go. Enjoy, mother and daughter bonding ‘yan!

Fatima: Mommy! Mommy! Look! That’s the kuya who walked me home!

April: Huh? Where?—Hendrich?!

Hendrich: April?!

April: (voice trembling) You… You were alive this whole time?

Hendrich: (avoids eye contact) April… I—

April: You never came home! You never even tried to reach out! Do you know how many nights I
cried, wondering if you were still breathing?!

Hendrich: (guilty) I couldn’t, April… Look at me! I lost a leg, an eye—what kind of husband, what
kind of father would I be if I came home like this? I can’t provide for you anymore. I can’t even
stand properly. I didn’t want you to be stuck with a broken man.

April: (tears well up, voice shaking) You idiot! (slaps him hard across the face)

Fatima: Ouch! that’s my mom.

Hendrich: (holds his cheek, shocked) April—

April: You think I married you just because you could provide? You think Fatima needed a father
with two perfect legs instead of one who actually showed up?!

Hendrich: (teary-eyed) I just… I didn’t want to be a burden.

April: You were never a burden, Hendrich. You were my partner. My best friend. Our daughter’s
father. You coming back, even like this, is all we ever wanted.

Hendrich: (choking back emotions) But—

Fatima: No buts, Kuya! (grabs his hand) Come home already, Daddy. We still need someone to
kill the cockroaches for us.

Hendrich: (laughs through tears) You guys really still want me back?

April: Of course, you idiot. (hugs him tight) Welcome home.

[Fast forward years later – Fatima, now in her graduation gown, stands on stage, holding her
diploma. Hendrich sits in the audience. April wipes away happy tears.]

Fatima: (on the mic) Fatima….. Summa Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Thank
You, State University of Siquijor Island.

April: (clapping) That’s our daughter!

Hendrich: (smiling) I guess I did come home just in time.

Fatima: And now, let’s eat! I’m starving!

(They laugh, hugging as a complete family once again.)