The Only Hope for Me is You

Chapter 29 : Dilemma

T R A V I S

"Travis." she called my name as if she missed me.

Bakit ba sa tuwing nakikita ko siya, apektado pa rin ako?

"What happened to you?" tanong niya na may halong pag-aalala, "Nakipag-away ka ba? Though, hindi mo naman ugali iyan Travis."

"Just ignore it." Matipid kong sagot sa kanya.

I hear her sigh.

"Pwede ba tayo mag-usap?" she asks me with uncertainty in her eyes.

"How did you know I'm here?" I don't know why I asked, but I asked her as I maintain my cool.

"Bakit sa tono ng boses mo parang ayaw mo na ako makita?" there's pain in her voice that I didn't noticed right away, maybe my voice might sound a little cold towards her.

"Ihahatid na kita sa condo, doon tayo mag-usap." I opened the passenger seat and she got inside my car.

Pagkasakay ko sa driver's seat napabuntong hininga siyang muli at umamin sa akin, "Hindi na ako doon nakatira Travis."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Nakita ko naman na nag-aalangan siyang sumagot sa tanong ko, "Monique."

"Umalis na ako doon." matipid na paliwanag niya.

"Why? When?" Bakit hindi niya ito sinabi sa akin?

"Isinoli ko na rin yung susi mo kay Maxene." Napalunok ako, hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako o maiinis na malaman na nagkausap sila ni Maxene.

"Nagkausap kayo ni Maxene?" Maingat kong tanong. Kaagad naman niya akong tiningnan.

"Hindi kami nagkausap." there's this indecision in her eyes. "Sinoli ko lang yung susi ng condo mo."

"Kailan nangyari ito?" matipid kong tanong.

"Noong wala ka sa penthouse." She sighs and looks away. "Hindi ba niya sinabi sayo?"

She didn't and I don't even know why. But one thing is for sure, I will not let this slide.

I started the engine.

"Ihahatid na lang kita kung saan ka nakatira ngayon."

She led me where she lives and now I'm walking her towards her room. This two storey apartment is a little small and old.

Hindi ko alam kung kailan siya lumipat. Hindi ko naman siya kaagad sinisingil para lumipat siya ng tirahan.

"Here's my place." she said opening the door.

Mas maliit pa ito sa condo ni Maxene, pero buti na lang may sarili siyang banyo at maliit na kusina.

"Saan ka galing kanina?" pagtatanong ko habang inuusisa ang lugar niya.

"Part-time." She filled me a glass of water. "I do part-times here and there. Minsan sa cafe, minsan sa fast food, depende kung saan kikita ng pera."

"Hindi naman kita sinisingil agad Moe, I told you--"

"That you'll help me until I get off my feet." she finished my sentence with a smile, "And I did."

"Pero paano ang school mo?" I asked and she looks away.

"Working student." she smiles bitterly. "What can I say, I have to get by."

"Moe." I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"This is my life now." She shrugs. "I'm just back where I came from."

I approached her and I just wanted to comfort her, but there's this force that stops me from touching her before I could make another mistake. The last time I did, Maxene almost left me and that's the last thing I wanted.