BETRAYAL

18

"Yes, JR is the name he went by back in the days. It stood for Jeremy Raymond, his full name. How do you know about it? I haven't used it in a long time," Katherine asked him.

"Da-Martin told me. At the time I didn't think it was the story of you three," Michael told her.

Michael had thought JR came between Martin and his first love, but then that he became aware JR was his father he also felt as guilty. He suddenly felt like he was the reason those two weren't together all that time. If his mom didn't have him with Jeremy before he died maybe she would go look for Martin, didn't Martin say Katherine was telling him he was the only one he had back then. Or maybe he was reading too much into things. He dismissed the idea at the back of his head as his mind drifted back to matters at hand. Calvin and Haroon. Tomorrow I shall meet them.

* * *

Michael was helping Martin to reheat the food, they all were cold after hours they took catching up and talking about this and that.

"So..umm...you and my mom," Michael trailed off. "I would have never thought your first love was her," he laughed.

Martin sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. He seemed to be doing that a lot.

"How was she like back in the days?" Michael asked him.

"She was pretty, she still is. Almost every guy in the school had a crush on her," Martin said fondly. Michael raised his eyebrows at him, which went unnoticed by Martin who was mesmerized recalling their past.

"She had a really nice personality and a kind heart too, everyone loved her. The teachers, the students, everyone," He added.

Michael smiled. That was so his mom.

"She was also cheerful. She had this ability to uplift anyone's mood anytime. Even though she grew up as an orphan that never discouraged her to be the kind and cheerful person she was."

"Are you ever gonna tell her?" Michael questioned him, he could see how much he still loved her.

"Tell her what?" Martin asked, confused.

"That you loved her. You still do, don't you?"

"Michael-"

"I think she deserves to know."

"Aren't you bothered by it? I thought you wouldn't be happy by the fact that the first love I have been talking about is your mother."

"Why wouldn't I be? You're the best guy I know."

"Because of...of y-you know...your father, JR."

"Oh!" Michael muttered. "The truth is before knowing JR was my father I thought this guy came between you and your first love. You loved her first. You have been with her all that time and then suddenly this one cool guy walks in and boom you lost her to him. I felt sorry for you. But now I feel even more sorry to you. I can't help but think it's me and my father who came between you two, I'm sorry."

"No, He-Michael. Don't be sorry. I have always wished that things would have been different back then, that I would have confessed my love before JR did, Or that JR wouldn't have transferred to our school. But now that I have met you, I wouldn't have anything differently. Because that means I wouldn't have met you, there would have been no you, and I can't have that!" Martin looked at him with a warm sincerely smile.