MY FIRST AND MY LAST S2 (HAMBEBE AU)

Tulips, Storm, and Secret

A month ago, Travis began visiting Sari regularly, offering to help her with various tasks. At first, Sari was a bit uncertain about the sudden attention, but as time passed, she grew more accustomed to his presence. Travis was always kind and thoughtful, showing genuine care for both Sari and Miyuki.

He helped with little things picking up groceries, playing with Miyuki, or just offering a hand around the house. His visits provided Sari with some much-needed support, though she sometimes wondered what his deeper intentions were. Still, having him around made life a little easier, especially with the weight of single parenthood on her shoulders.

But even as Travis helped, Sari couldn’t shake the lingering questions about what his role in her life might become and how it would affect her and Miyuki’s future.
  
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It was a quiet morning, the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains as Sari went about her usual routine. She had just finished making breakfast for Miyuki when there was a knock at the door. Surprised since she wasn’t expecting anyone she walked over and opened it.

Her breath caught in her throat.

There, lying neatly on her doorstep, was a bouquet of purple tulips, fresh and vibrant, the deep hue of the petals almost glowing in the early light. Sari stared at the flowers, her heart skipping a beat. Purple tulips. Her favorite. The only person who ever knew that was Gio.

As she knelt down to pick up the bouquet, something else caught her eye. Tucked beneath the tulips was a small painting. Her hands trembled as she lifted it up. The image depicted a breathtaking sunset orange and gold blending into deep violet framed against a backdrop of rain and storm clouds.

The same scene that haunted her memories, the one she had once shared with Gio on a particularly painful night. The night of their last argument before Gio disappeared from her life.

Sari’s mind raced. Who had left this? Travis had been visiting often, but he didn’t know about her connection to purple tulips. He didn’t know about the storm or the sunset. Only Gio did.

A cold shiver ran down her spine as she stood there, holding the flowers and the painting, the weight of the past suddenly pressing down on her. Was Gio reaching out to her after all these years? Or was this someone else, someone who knew too much?

Sari couldn’t make sense of it. The memories of Gio, of that sunset, the stormy night it all came flooding back. The pain of being ghosted, the unanswered questions, the years of wondering why. She clutched the tulips tighter, her heart aching with both hope and fear.

Whoever had sent this knew her too well, and that terrified her.

Later that day, Sari decided to confront Travis. The bouquet of purple tulips and the painting had been weighing on her mind, and she needed answers. When Travis arrived for his usual visit, Sari took a deep breath and asked him directly.

“Travis, I need to ask you something,” she began, her voice careful but firm. “kanina kasi, I found a bouquet of purple tulips on my doorstep... along with a painting of a sunset and a storm.” She paused, searching his face for a reaction. “ikaw ba nag iwan nun?”

Travis blinked, clearly caught off guard. For a moment, there was an uneasy silence. Then, with a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he nodded. “Yeah... yeah, that was me. I thought you’d like them.”

Sari frowned, her mind racing. Something didn’t feel right. “But, Travis, how did you know purple tulips are my favorite? And the painting... it’s so specific. It’s tied to something very personal.”

Travis shifted uncomfortably in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh, I must’ve heard it somewhere... maybe in one of our old conversations,” he said, his words stumbling slightly.

Then, in a quick move, he changed the topic, his voice brighter. “But hey, how’s Miyuki doing? She seemed really happy with that new toy I brought her last week.”

Sari felt the shift, the sudden deflection, and it left her more confused than ever. She studied Travis, trying to understand why he was lying.

The Travis she knew had always been straightforward with her, so why now? Why was he claiming something that didn’t seem like him at all?

Her thoughts spun in circles as she gave a half-hearted response to his question, but the lingering confusion remained. Whoever had left the flowers and the painting knew things that Travis shouldn’t have.