"I am not watching porn with you."

Lexie and Zoey tried to stop their laughter as Julius kept on insisting to "educate" me about sexual intercourse using porn. A very unreliable source to learn from. Everything is exaggerated and far from what normal sex is like. It's basically an entertainment.

"How would you know what an actual sex is like? You're a virgin!"

I rolled my eyes at the ignorance. "I read, asshole. You could search almost everything on the internet now. Besides, have you forgotten I'm a nursing student? It's in our field to know what sexual intercourse is."

"So, have you watched porn?" I groaned in annoyance at his teasing. "Come on, it's not a bad thing. You can be honest–"

"I have! I've watched one and I didn't like it, never tried to watch again. It's very traumatizing and honestly dehumanizing for the actress."

I shivered at the memory. It's been a year and the image still hasn't left my mind completely, basically in HD whenever it flashes in my brain. This is what curiosity leads to.

"What kind of porn did you watch?" Zoey raised a brow. "You poor little thing. First porn experience and you watched something that scarred you."

"You're watching the wrong type, sweetheart," Lexie typed on her phone before handing it to me. "That is some good quality porn right there. If it's made by a woman, specifically one in the LGBTQIA+ community, rest assured it's accurate and satisfactory. Never watch one directed by a man."

I shook my head. "I don't know why I'm still listening to all of you and why I'm still here."

Julius pulled me down when I tried to stand up. "Sex is very different when you're actually doing it. Not everything you read is accurate too."

"Oh trust me, they're accurate." I read way too many women loving women stories that educated me more than enough about what I need to know. Sometimes the bed scenes were too detailed that my imagination clearly pictures the exact scene.

It's like porn in the form of written language. Just better.

"Can we please stop talking about my nonexistent sex life and focus on helping me pack here?"

"Why are you even leaving? It's only one week semester break." Julius pouted. "Stay with us and have funnn."

"I can't, I have to go home." I'm not really packing anything, just some stuff I bought for my parents and my ma. "Mom's going to get mad at me."

"Bring us with you?" Lexie suggested with a shrug.

I rolled my eyes at their stubbornness. "I'm literally leaving in an hour and you're telling me that now?"

"So, can we come too?" Zoey batted her eyelashes playfully. I shook my head in defeat, giving them a 'yes' and immediately texting my parents that I'm bringing home some visitors with me.

"Don't you guys need to ask for your parents' permission first?" I asked genuinely before Julius and Zoey left to their dorm room, Lexie already packing her stuff.

"What permission?" Zoey laughed. "We're adults, no need for that."

"Do you?" Julius asked teasingly, already knowing the answer.

"They're very protective." I answered with an eye roll.

Constant cursing and eye roll? I'm having an attitude lately, goodness. I'm already way past my teenage phase of angst.

"Hey, baby. We missed you." Mom smothered my face with kisses after pulling me down to her height. I scrunched my nose as dad laughed at us.

"Mom, stop. People are looking," I whined quietly. The blonde woman raised a brow, hand on her hips.

"Are you embarrassed now? You used to not mind my kisses." I was about to defend myself when dad intervened.

"Hon, stop embarrassing her. She's with her friends."

I groaned, remembering that I brought them with me. Turning around, I saw Julius trying to contain a laughter while the other two just smiled.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. and Mr. Guevarra," They greeted. Mom and Dad raised a brow at the name, turning to me. I shrugged my shoulders and they nodded in understanding.

I haven't told my friends about my biological mother, I did tell them that I was adopted, it's pretty obvious. My parents are white and I'm clearly not. I may have forgotten to inform them about my surname. Originally before my adoption, I was still using my biological father's surname of Gomez. When mama went to jail, only my tita, mama's bestfriend was left to take care of me temporarily. She's financially unable to keep me longer, hence why I ended up in a foster home. It was only a few months of staying there before I met the Crawford couple.

Upon the process of the adoption, I begged them to let me use my mother's surname instead of theirs. Thankfully, they were kind enough to let me and even still include my mama in our family. I couldn't have asked for a better family.

"What are you smiling for?" Lexie asked as I helped her and Zoey settle in the guest room.

"Nothing," I replied. "Are you guys good here?" They nodded.

"Thanks, babe."

"Welcome, I'll go help Julius now."

After a few minutes of helping Julius settle his things in the second guest room, I let them rest for a bit since we did travel for a few hours and I'm sure they're pretty tired.

I entered the kitchen where mom and dad are preparing to cook for dinner.

"What are you making?"

"Pasta, is that okay?" I leaned in to give mom a kiss.

"That's perfect."

I sat down and to my surprise, they did too. I thought they're going to prepare some food?

"We actually want to tell you something," I raised a brow, waiting curiously as to what they're going to say. "It's about your mama."

"Why? What happened to her?" I couldn't help but get worried immediately. Prison isn't a nice place to be at, anything could happen. "Did something bad happen?"

"No, baby," mom smiled, looking back at dad who had the same smile. "It's actually a good news."

My heartbeat picked up, this time not because of a certain someone, but because of the fact that it's been years since I received a good news regarding my mother. The first time was when she was granted a retrial after a year in prison, but unfortunately lost once again.

"What good news?"

"Remember the current president of the Philippines I told you about?" I nodded. "Well, last year, they amended several parts of the RA 10592 and it included section 97."

Dad handed me a file as mom continued talking. "It tackles the good conduct time allowance for prisoners who behaved while in detention."

Republic Act 10592

The implementation of rules and regulations of this policy are to be applied prospectively. This means that only those who were convicted during (2014) and after the time of application of the law should be eligible for the expanded time allowances.

Mama was convicted in 2017. This means she's eligible, right?

-During the first two years of imprisonment: 20 days of deduction for each month of good behavior.

-During the third to the fifth year: a reduction of 23 days for each month of good behavior.

-Another deduction of 15 days for each month of study, teaching or mentoring.

"Natalie did 2 years of teaching in prison for basic nursing assessments for juveniles."

"I-I know. She was qualified because she had a master's degree. Mama wrote me letters about how she enjoyed teaching those kids."

My heart pounded in excitement and anticipation for what all of this means for mama.

"Natalie only has 5 years of prison time left, but since they amended the Revised penal code, her sentence was reduced."

"How much?"

I tried to compute everything in my head but my mind is all blurry and I honestly can't think straight.

"1,668 days, baby," Mom said in joy, tears brimming in her eyes. "She only has 5 months and a week left in prison and she'll finally be free."

"R-Really?"

Mom only nodded before pulling me to her and wiping the tears I didn't know already streaming down my face.

"Mama's getting out?" A nod to my question. "She won't suffer anymore?"

"She won't, honey. She'll finally be with us in a few months."

"I can be with her again?"

"Yes, you can. Once Natalie gets out, we will immediately take care of her paperwork and fly her here."

"Thank you, mom," I buried my face on her neck and wrapped my arms around her waist, letting myself feel her warmth as joy spread across my heart. "Thank you."

"I didn't do anything, baby."

"You did so much you don't know how much it means to me. I love you, mom and dad."

"We love you, too," a kiss to my forehead before hands caressed my cheeks. "So much."

"I'm so fucking happy."

They laughed, hugging me closer to them. "We know, we're happy too."