It was a quiet afternoon, and Sari was in the middle of grading papers at the kitchen table while Miyuki played in the living room. The rhythmic sound of the pencil against paper was interrupted by a knock at the door. Sari frowned, not expecting anyone, and glanced toward Miyuki, who was too absorbed in her toys to notice.
She wiped her hands on her apron and made her way to the door, her mind racing with thoughts of who it could be. As she opened it, her eyes widened in shock.
There, standing on her doorstep, was Travis . He stood awkwardly with a bright bouquet of flowers in one hand and a small stuffed toy in the other. His smile was warm but uncertain, as if he wasn’t quite sure of his welcome.
“Travis?” Sari managed, her voice filled with surprise. “What are you doing here? pa'no mo nalaman na dito kami nakatira?”
He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ah, Sari. A... Ano kasi nag tanong ako kay Tacia, naisipan ko kasing bisitahin ka. Kaya pumunta ako dito, nga pala . I brought these for you.” He held out the flowers, his gaze soft as he looked at her.
Sari blinked, still processing the unexpected visit. “For me?”
Travis smiled sheepishly. “And for Miyuki too,” he added, holding up the stuffed toy, glancing past her as if hoping to catch a glimpse of her daughter.
Sari hesitated for a moment, her mind flashing back to their past the time when Travis had made it clear he had feelings for her, feelings she hadn’t been able to reciprocate because her heart was with Gio. But things had changed so much since then, and Travis showing up now, with flowers for her and a gift for Miyuki, felt like a whirlwind of emotions.
“pasok ka muna,” she said softly, stepping aside to let him in.
Travis walked inside, taking in the familiar surroundings. “it's been while, hasn’t it?”
Sari nodded, still a bit stunned. “Yeah, it has. A lot has happened.”
Miyuki, curious about the visitor, peeked around the corner, her eyes widening when she saw the flowers and the stuffed toy. “Mommy, who’s that?” she asked, stepping forward shyly.
Sari smiled softly at her daughter. “Miyuki, this is Travis. He’s an old friend of Mommy’s remember?.”
Travis knelt down to Miyuki’s level, offering her the stuffed toy with a kind smile. “Hey there, Miyuki. I got this for you. I hope you like it.”
Miyuki’s eyes lit up as she took the toy, hugging it tightly. “Thank you!” she said brightly, her shyness quickly disappearing as she looked at the kind stranger.
Sari watched the interaction, feeling a mixture of gratitude and confusion. She hadn’t expected this Travis showing up out of nowhere, being so thoughtful toward her and her daughter. But there was also a part of her that couldn’t help but wonder what this visit meant.
As they all settled in the living room, Travis sat on the couch, glancing between Sari and Miyuki. “I just wanted to check in on you, Sari. I heard some things through the grapevine, about what you’ve been going through, and I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Sari felt a lump form in her throat. She wasn’t used to people asking about her well-being she had been so focused on taking care of Miyuki, of being strong, that she had almost forgotten what it felt like for someone to show up for her.
“ahmm... okay lang kami,” Sari said slowly, though her voice carried the weight of everything she had been holding inside.
Travis nodded, his expression sincere. “I know things must be hard, raising Miyuki on your own. I just wanted you to know, I’m here. For both of you, if you ever need anything.”
Sari looked at him, her heart touched by his kindness but also unsure of what to say. She hadn’t expected this open offer of support from someone she hadn’t seen in so long. It was overwhelming, but also strangely comforting.
“Thank you, Travis,” she finally said, her voice quiet. “That means a lot.”
Travis smiled, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Anytime, Sari. I’m just glad to see you and Miyuki are doing well.”
Later that evening, after Travis had left, Sari couldn’t shake the feeling of surprise from his unexpected visit. She sat at the kitchen table, absentmindedly sipping her tea, her thoughts drifting. How had Travis known where to find her? And how much did he know about her situation as a single mom?
The only person who really knew the details was Tacia.
Sari pulled out her phone and quickly dialed Tacia’s number. After a couple of rings, Tacia answered, her voice warm and familiar.
“yes, girl! What’s up?”
Sari hesitated for a second, not wanting to sound accusatory, but curiosity was getting the best of her. “Tacia. Ikaw ba nag sabi kay Travis?. Travis showed up at my door. With flowers… for me and Miyuki.”
There was a brief pause on the other end before Tacia replied, sounding a little surprised. “Travis? Wow, I didn’t know he’d actually go over to see you. I might have mentioned to him how you’re doing.”
Sari raised an eyebrow, her suspicions confirmed. “So, you did tell him where I live?”
Tacia sighed, her tone apologetic. “I did. I’m sorry, Sari. He asked me about you a few weeks ago, and I mentioned that you were adjusting to being a single mom. He seemed really concerned, and I thought it might be good for you to have someone else around, someone who cares about you.”
Sari bit her lip, torn between appreciation for Tacia’s good intentions and feeling blindsided by the situation. “I get that, pero dapat sinabi mo muna sa'kin, Tacia. It was just… unexpected. I wasn’t prepared for him to show up like that.”
“I know, and I’m really sorry,” Tacia said sincerely. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I just thought, given everything you’ve been going through, maybe some extra support wouldn’t hurt. Travis has always had a soft spot for you, you know.”
Sari sighed, her frustration slowly melting away. She knew Tacia meant well. “I appreciate that, I do. It’s just… I wasn’t ready for it. Things are already complicated enough with Miyuki asking about her dad, and now Travis shows up.”
“I understand,” Tacia replied softly. “I should’ve been more thoughtful about how it would affect you. If it’s too much, I can talk to Travis and tell him to give you space.”
Sari paused, considering it. “No, it’s okay. Wala na man siyang ginagawang mali. He was kind. It was just a lot to take in, you know?”
Tacia nodded on the other end. “I get it. If you ever need to talk more about it, I’m here”
Sari smiled slightly, feeling a bit of the tension lift. “Thanks, Tacia. I know you were just looking out for me. I just need to figure out how to navigate all of this, especially with Miyuki in the picture.”
“I’ll be here for whatever you need,” Tacia said warmly. “And again, I’m really sorry for not telling you sooner.”
“It’s okay,” Sari replied, her voice softer. “Alam ko namang Collage palang tayo ship niyo na si Travis sa'kin eh.”
After ending the call, Sari felt a little more settled, though she still had a lot to think about. Travis’s appearance, Miyuki’s questions, and now the added layer of wondering what Travis’s intentions might be it all weighed on her.
YOU ARE READING
MY FIRST AND MY LAST S2 (HAMBEBE AU)
Fanfiction(🐰) and (🐨) A couple deeply in love and committed to building a life together. From the early days of friendship that blossomed into romance, they face life's highs and lows side by side, showing what it means to be partners in every sense.
