The Only Hope for Me is You

Chapter 37 : Secrets and Lies

M A X E N E

Nang balikan ko ng tingin si Travis, para siyang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig at biglang nanghina ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko.

Tumingin ako kung saan siya nakatingin at kahit hindi pa sabihin ni Travis, alam ko na.

Alam ko dahil halos kamukha ni Laurenz yung tatay nila.

Beside his father stands the legal wife that isn't his mother. I don't know why I suddenly felt that something just pierced my heart for Travis.

I look back at him and in his eyes, I just know that he's containing his emotions towards the people who just arrived. He smiled like everything is fine even if in his eyes, he is in pain that no one notices, but me. I hold his hand tightly, telling him that I'm here. And I saw him smile at me.

"Nina, you look pretty as always." Nakipagbeso beso si Mom sa asawa ng tatay ni Travis.

"You too Miranda." Pagpuri niya pabalik kay Mom at napansin naman ako. "Oh dear, is that your daughter?" she notices me with a friendly smile.

I gave a friendly nod because I'm just being polite, though I got this feeling that I don't like her. Not because I know Travis's biological mother, I just feel like something is off with her. But who am I to judge?

Umupo sila sa may harapan namin kaya naman magkaharapan ngayon si Travis at ang tatay niya.

"Kamusta na Travis?" tanong sa kanya ng tatay niya.

"Ayos lang po...Ninong." That last word almost breaks his voice but he maintains his composure.

"Ikaw na pala iyan Travis, it's been a while." Pagpuna ng asawa ng tatay niya.

"Hi po Auntie." Matipid niyang pagbati sa asawa ng tatay niya at nginitian din siya.

"You know each other?" Tanong ni Mom sa asawa ng tatay ni Travis.

"Inaanak siya ni Terrence. My husband is good friends with Joseph Hayes."

"True." Matipid na sagot ng tatay ni Travis.

"What a small world nga naman." Kumento ni Mommy.

"How's Joseph? Matagal na rin namin siyang hindi nakikita." Pagtatanong ng asawa ng tatay ni Travis sa kanya.

"Nina, alam mo namang busy yung taong iyon, hindi mahagilap." Sagot sa kanya ng tatay ni Travis.

Should I consider that he's avoiding to put his son on the spot?

"Yeah, but how are you getting by Travis?" Muling tanong ng asawa ng tatay niya. "Ever since Trudi passed, sino ang nakakasama mo kapag wala ang father mo?"

Travis just smiled at her but his eyes were blank. "Tinuruan naman po ako ni Mama maging independent. Kaya kahit pa paano po, kaya ko naman." Umiwas siya ng tingin sa tatay niya.

Ako lang ata ang nakapansin na may konting poot sa sagot niya sa asawa ng tatay niya...or maybe I'm just a little paranoid sa kung anong nararamdaman niya. But knowing Travis, hangga't kaya niyang itago, itatago niya ang nararamdaman niya.

"Siya ang fiance ni Maxene." Pagsingit ni mom. "Glad to know that we have mutual connection aside sa business."

Business...Business ulit mom? Ugh!

"You're one lucky guy Travis," Pagpuna nung asawa ng tatay ni Travis. "Maganda si Maxene, my daughter is also a fan of you," she looked at me and back at mom, "And of course your work Miranda."