The Only Hope for Me is You

Chapter 3 : Describing a Character

M A X E N E

KASAMA ko si mommy ngayon, para raw wala na akong takas o dahilan para humindi sa taong ito. Kikitain namin siya sa isang hotel na pinamumunuan ni Leonard Mendez, ang namamahala ng Diamond Hotel.

Ilang beses ko ng kinakagat ang labi ko sa gigil sa nangyayari sa akin ngayon, "I want to be on your best behavior Maxene." mom reminded me for the ntn time. I hate that I stand out too much. Siya ang pumili ng damit ko, pati alahas ko at sapatos ko. Pina-ayusan niya na rin ako kahit na kaya ko naman ayusin ang sarili ko.

Napatingin ako sa labas at napansin ang natural na ganda ng tanawin. Ang taas ng sikat ng araw at may mga kakaibang ibon akong nakita na parang swallow. I wonder if that bird is indeed a swallow. I'm amazed to see how black with a shade of blue it has on its wings. Pati ibon nagpapa-ombre. Reminds me of that one time I dyed my hair as a sign of me rebelling against my mother. Yet instead she demands to dye my hair back, she just let it be. Dahil bagay naman daw ang brunette-rose gold ombre sa akin. My plan to show her my rebellion backfired at me. Bwisit! "We're almost here." she says as our driver parks at the main entrance of the hotel.

Nang makababa na kami, sinalubong kami ng may-ari ng hotel. He greeted me and my mom with a warm welcome on his face, "Welcome to the Diamond Hotel." Mom just gives him a small smile at walks ahead of me. With that reaction alone, napansin ko kung bakit parang dinaanan lang ni mom yung lalaki, iyon ay dahil hindi branded ang sapatos niya. With one look mom already knows. But seeing his name plate, he is indeed Leonard Mendez. Ano namang masama kung hindi branded ang sapatos niya?

"I'm sorry if my Mom is like that." I don't know why I apologized.

"For what?" Leonard smiles like a child, I guess he didn't noticed how my mom acts around him, "In fact natutuwa ako at dito niyo binalak makipag meeting. Kasi si Leah, yung kapatid ko, she's a fan of your Mom's work. Halos lahat ng brand niya gawa ng mother mo. Ganoon na lang ang fashion taste ng babaeng iyon." natatawa ako habang kinukwento sa akin ni Leonard ang kapatid niya. Napaka-down to earth niyang tao, I can tell because he reminds me of someone. "I'm sure she'll freak out na malaman na bumisita ang isang Miranda Stewart-Campbell dito."

Hinatid ako ni Leonard sa isang pribadong kwarto kung saan nakatayo si mom na hinihintay ako, "You took your time well dear daughter." pagpuna niya at napatingin kay Leonard.

"It's just an honor to have you here Madam," Leonard complimented mom, "I can't believe na anak niyo po pala siya," napatingin muli sa akin ang lalaki at balik kay mommy, "You could pass as sisters po kasi."

A thin line forms at my mother's lips. Sa isip niya, alam kong nilalait niya si Leonard. Tingin pa lang niya sa tao alam ko na, can't she just accept his compliments?

"We'll take it from here." mom forces herself to smile and be polite as much as possible but Leonard insists on showing hospitality to his guests. He opens the door and inside there are three people in the room. One was near the window, one was the person who greeted us at the door and lastly, the one that put down his glass of wine on the table and approached us with that familiar ghost smile on his face. He looks at my mother with respect and then he looks at me.

"If you need anything, just let me know." that's Leonard's voice from behind and the guy in front of me just gives him a light friendly nod.

"You must be Travis Joseph Hayes." inilahad ni mom ang kamay niya at agad namang tinanggap ng binata iyon at tinugunan ang simpleng pagbati.

"Please, have a seat po." kung hindi ko lang talaga siya kilala baka maniwala pa akong gentleman siya, pero bakit kasi sa dinami-dami ng tao siya pa ang isa sa naging prospect ni mom sa akin?