Chapter 31
Masaya kaming bumalik sa mainland, sa tatlong araw naming magkakasama ay alam kong kahit kaunti lang ay napalapit ang loob ng mga kaibigan ko kay Travis at Grey, ganoon rin naman sila.
Agad akong naligo at nagbihis matapos naming makabalik sa Sapphira Tenshou, paglabas ko ng banyo ay bumungad sa akin si Travis na halatang katatapos lang rin maligo dahil basa ang buhok. "Ganyan ba talaga kayong babae? So slow in taking a bath."
"Aba, kasalanan ko ba? Aber, meron ka naman kasing lungga. Bakit andito ka na naman?" Pagtataray ko.
"Do I need a reason why?" He whined.
Akmang sasagot sana ako kasu biglang nag-ring ang phone ni Travis sa kanyang pocket, I gestured him to answer it which he did.
"Grey? What?" Kumunot ang noo ni Travis, hindi naka-loudspeaker ang phone kaya hindi ko marinig pero may kutob ako na masama ang usapan nila base sa ekspresyon ng mukha ni Travis, "I-I.... I'm coming."
Binabaan na niya ng tawag si Grey, tumingin sa akin si Travis, his eyes suddenly teary and sad.
"Kai... do you remember our talk when we were in the private island? About... me... talking to and facing my Dad?" Tumango ako, "I-I... I think that won't happen anymore..." Tears fell on his cheeks.
Upon hearing his last sentence, I already knew what he meant...
His Dad just passed away...
Hindi ako nagpaligoy-ligoy pa, dali kong hinila si Travis at niyakap, I can feel his warm tears that was falling on my shoulder but it didn't matter anymore. Travis needed me and so I have to act on it.
"Kai... you were right... I'll only regret it... I'm a bad s-son... I didn't tried to understand that I wasn't the only one suffering, Dad was too. I know how good my dad is... and I've never been a good son to him." Ang kanyang boses ay basag dahil sa pag-iyak, "Kai... I don't know what to... do..."
"Ssh... wherever your Dad might be, I know for sure he's already a star..." Ngumiti ako ng mapakla. "It's ok to cry, Travis... we were all made to cry."
The Travis I knew who didn't know how to cry was crying and it breaks my heart because I know I couldn't stop those falling tears, I was useless...
~*~
Nakaitim na damit si Travis habang ako naman ay naka-puting dress na may blue embroideries, punong-puno ng flowers ang buong salas ng mansion nina Travis at Grey, si Grey ay tahimik lang sa gilid, nang nakita niya ako ay simpleng ngiti at tango lang ang kanyang binigay pero halata pa ring mugtong mugto ang kanyang mga mata dahil sa pag-iyak.
Maraming mga taong bumisita. Lahat ay halatang maharlika at galing sa mayamang pamilya, karamihan ay mga businessman at businesswoman. May mga madre rin at pari na nakikidalamhati, nakita ko rin sina Sister Lucy at Sister Maria, pumunta ako sa kanila at nakipagyakapan.
Nang umalis na ang mga bumisita at nakiramay ay kaming tatlo nina Grey at Travis na lang ang natira, finally, tumayo na si Travis sa kanyang upuan at tinignan ang huling larawan ng kanyang Papa...
Ako rin ay tumayo para samahan siya.
"Kuya... ikaw ang una niyang tinawag bago siya mawala... he was looking for you..." Cried Grey. May kinuha siya sa kanyang bulsa, "Dad wrote a letter to us bago siya mawala, he gave it to me a week ago, I already read the letter he gave to me, now its your turn to read... yours..." Sabi niya sabay bigay ng letter kay Travis. "Kai... he also wrote one for you."
My eyes widened as I took the letter...
My daughter-in-law, Kai...
I had been watching you this entire time. Of course, I have connections everywhere. To introduce myself, I am Troy Javierres and I am glad Travis found a girl like you.
Please try to understand my son and don't leave him. I've never seen him smile and laugh and be happy but I know that you know that when he is with you, he does that. You changed the world of my son, therefore, you have my gratitude.
I investigated on your background and saw that your Mom is Airel Kingsly-Chaves. She was my wife's bestfriend.
I know that I won't live that long anymore and I won't be there for Travis anymore, so... I want you to take my place. Not as a father.
But as a lover of Travis, as his wife.
You have to answer him already before it's too late.
I know I've never been a good father to him so please be a good wife for him. Be the girl Travis sees you. I'm not forcing you but please think about it, I know you love Travis. You are just afraid because something is pushing you back and whatever that reason it, don't let it control you.
I am in favor of you, only you, for my Travis.
Tumingin ako kay Travis, natapos na rin niyang basahin ang letter ng dad niya sa kanya.
Tinignan niya ako at ngumiti ng mapakla, "I never even had a chance to say how I love him..."
Niyakap ko ulit siya, "I know he knows you love him..."
~*~
Kumalat ang balita sa TV na wala na si Troy Javierres, ang Papa ng bilyonaryong si Travis, naging usapan ito sa social networking sites.
Ayon sa report, ang sanhi ng kamatayan niya ay cardiac arrest.
Ngayon na ang libing ng Papa ni Travis, sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari.
Nagpakawala kami ng mga puting balloons at blue na favorite color ng Dad niya. Nakayakap kami ni Travis sa isa't isa habang pinagmamasdan ang paglipad ng mga balloons.
"Do you think the balloons will reach him?"
"Do you?"
He smiled, sadly. "No... but I know Dad will see it."
Magkatabi lang ang huling hantungan ng Dad ni Travis at Mama niya at si Breiz.
"Dad, I'm sorry..." Travis whispered, "and I promise I won't ever let her go."
Let her go?
Noong sinabi ni Travis iyon ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, "I won't let you go."
