"Oh, Mariya! I'm so glad you're here! Thank you so much for coming to the hospital with Kei." Aunt Francia warmly greeted her with a smile.
"How is Mr. Onodera, Aunt Francia?" Mariya asked, while looking concerned.
"Before I answer your question, let's sit down as I am going to tell you something really important." Aunt Francia suddenly became serious.
Mariya's eyebrows met in a frown, but she decided to sit down with the old woman.
"I would like to formally introduce myself to you, Mariya. I am not just your Aunt Francia, but I'm actually your stepmother." Aunt Francia started revealing her identity.
"Y-You're my stepmother? But how did it happen?" Mariya asks in disbelief.
"Don't worry, Mariya.I will tell you everything that you need to know. But let's talk somewhere else. Kei, please take care of your Uncle, alright?" Aunt Francis requested.
"I'll take care of Uncle, Auntie... Please take your time." Kei nodded in agreement.
He gave Mariya a knowing look, then afterwards,the two women walks out from the hospital room...
========================
At the hospital's cafeteria.
"Here. Drink some warm tea first to calm your nerves." Aunt Francis told Mariya, in a gentle manner.
Mariya takes a sip of warm tea, then she turns her attention back to the old woman.
"Aunt Francia, is it really true that you are my stepmother? But how did it happen?" she started asking questions.
Aunt Francia took a deep breath before she decides to speak again.
 
"Yes, I am your stepmother. And to answer your question how did I become your stepmother, it's because I am your father's wife. Your biological father is none other than Takeshi Onodera, the owner and the founder of Angel Voices orphanage."
Mariya feels like a bomb has been dropped, and exploded infront of her once she heard everything from the old woman.
"Mr. Takeshi Onodera is my father?!" she unbelievably exclaimed.
"You heard it right, my dear. Your father went to the Philippines for a business trip, and that's the time she also met your father,God bless her beautiful soul..." Aunt Francia started the story.
Tears started to well from Mariya's eyes, but she decided to remain silent and just let the old woman finish telling her the whole truth.
"Your father told me that Irina, your mother was a very simple, gently, warm and loving woman, and that's why he fell in love with her. She was a simple farmer and she was completely orphaned. And well, to make the story short, they both fell in love. And you came into this world, Mariya. Takeshi was planning to marry your mother, but due to unfortunate events, it didn't happen." relayed Aunt Francia.
"What happened?" Mariya is getting nervous at each passing minute.
"Your late grandfather followed your father to the Philippines since he hasn't come back home. Your grandfather was very shocked and angry when he found about his relationship with your mother. Your grandfather warned that he will do everything to make Irina's life miserable if he doesn't go back to Japan with him and go ahead with the arranged marriage. You see, your father was forced to be engaged to a Japanese woman back then. He didn't have a choice but to go with it,to protect you and your mother. They went ahead with the marriage, and after a year, his wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl, and that is Serena." Aunt Francia continued on retelling what happened in the past.
Mariya lets out an audible gasp after learning that she has a half-sister and her name is Serena! At the same time, she feels sorry, hurt and sad on what happened to her beloved mother, Irina...
One day, your father hired a great private investigators in Japan and sent him to the Philippines to find you and your mother, but they failed. Takeshi was so devastated during those times.
"Where is my sister now? Where's Serena?" she asked.
"S-She's gone, Mariya. Serena passed away after battling from brain cancer. I can still remember how your father went crazy when your sister passed away. It was the same with Kei, who was your sister's boyfriend." the old woman enunciated.
Mariya was too shocked to say anything else, once she knows the truth one by one...
"Was it my father's plan to bring me here in Japan, under the disguise of being a working staff at Angel Voices?" she spoke again, after a few minutes if silence.
Aunt Francia nodded in response.
 
"I-I really don't know what to feel about this, Aunt Francia." Mariya's tearfully responded.
"Mariya, it's not too late for the both of you. But your father's time is running out. Please find it in your heart to forgive him and------!" the old woman wasn't able to finish her sentence when the nurse suddenly approaches them.
"Ma'am, you are needed at Mr. Onodera's room." the nurse quickly informs them.
The two of them automatically stood up and ran back to the old man's hospital room, along with the nurse.
Mariya's body froze while looking at the doctor and nurse who are trying to revive her father.
Mariya wanted to cry and scream, and she fervently prays that her father is going to be alright and they will spend more time together and catch up with the lost times...
Mariya then buried her face unto Kei's chest and cried. 
"Shh... I'm here, Mariya." she heard Kei's gentle voice, as he tries to give her comfort. 
A month later.
Mariya watches from afar as the children at Angel Voices are busy picking fruits and vegetables from their garden.
Her mind also went back to the time when she finally found out her true identity and her biological father, which is Takeshi Onodera, the owner and the founder of Angel Voices Home.
She can still gave feelings of regret, even though it has been a month since her father passed away. It was too late for her to know about her real identity but they also thought that it was her father's time to be with their Almighty Creator.
She is moving on slowly but surely with the help of Aunt Francia, her best friends Kari and Mia, also the children at the orphanage.
However, he hasn't seen much of Kei after the funeral service of her father. She only sees him on television programs, but she hasn't seen him yet face to face.
She misses him so much, but she also doesn't have the right to feel that way because they don't have a romantic relationship And besides, he might still be inlove with her step sister, Serena. 
"Don't you want to join them picking vegetables and fruits? It looks fun." she suddenly heard her stepmother's voice behind her.
"I'm happy just by watching the children from afar." Mariya' lets out a genuine smile.
"It's been a month since your father left us, Mariya... The days and weeks flew by quickly, isn't it?" Aunt Francia wondered aloud.
"Yes. The thought of losing my father still hurts but I'm just thankful that you are there, Mia and Kari, the children and---" Mariya's voice suddenly falters when she remembers Kei again.
"---and Kei." the old woman added with a smile.
Mariya nodded in return.
"Mariya, it's not bad to fall in love with him, so you don't have to hide your feelings anymore." Aunt Francia spoke again.
"Kei and I are living in two different worlds. That's why it's impossible for him to love me." related Mariya.
"How would you know that if you don't ask him yourself?" her stepmother gently insisted.
"I still need some time, Auntie." Mariya said in return.
"Well, just take your time, but I hope it's not too late..." the old woman reminded her with a smile...
================================
Later that night.
Everyone is already fast asleep, but Mariya is still wide awake. She doesn't feel sleepy at all, and she's thinking about something.
Kei's birthday is coming up soon, and she's having a hard time thinking what to give him. 
She suddenly thought of an idea. It may not be called as a birthday gift, but it was still something special.
Mariya carefully got up from her bed, switches on the small lamp at the study table, grabbed some pen and paper, and she started writing...