The Only Hope for Me is You

Chapter 58 : A Day with You

M A X E N E

From the city, we drove all the way to the south and it took us a two and a half drive reaching one of the underrated tourist spots in the country.

Napakaaliwalas ang hangin dito, sa sobrang aliwalas pinagbigyan ako ni Travis buksan ang bintana ng kotse para makita yung pinaka maliit na bulkan sa bansa na nasa gitna ng lawa.

I just appreciate the beauty of nature. The place looks so peaceful and serene especially when you're sitting right next to your favorite person.

He's wearing a simple black and red checkered jacket with hoodie hiding his white v-neck shirt. His eyes are on the road, driving carefully. He looks so cool wearing his ray ban aviator glasses.

Hindi ko mapigilang titigan siya, ang lakas na ata ng tama ko sa taong ito.

He seemed to notice my amused reaction to his peripheral vision which made him smile meeting my gaze for a while. He reprimanded me not to distract him because he was driving safely so we could reach our first destination.

Natuwa ako nang dalhin niya ako sa mala-Disney na theme park dito, napakalawak ng lugar, pero bibihira lang ang nadalaw dito dahil matagal na itong abandonado dahil nabaon daw sa utang ang theme park na ito.

For some reason, I felt like I've been to this place before, but I'm not sure enough when or maybe it's just one of those childish dreams since I always wanted to have a place like this when I was young.

Ano bang masasabi ko, eh, Disney girl ako?

Just imagining living in a colorful castle makes this little girl in me so happy wearing her tiara, napakababaw ko na talaga siguro. Tapos may mala-labyrinth garden pa, which reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, tapos may tree house pa na sobrang taas, makikita mo ata ang buong lugar mula doon sa taas, naalala ko tuloy yung eksena sa Peter Pan, lalo na yung treasure hunting.

Treasure hunting.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naalala ko na naman yung naikwento sa akin ni Pierre noong debut ko. Kahit ilang beses kong isipin iyon, hindi ko maalala ng maayos ang naging kaganapan noong na-kidnap ako na kasama siya. Besides ano ba namang maaalala ng isang limang taong gulang?

"It's been years since I last went here." Sambit ni Travis, "Buhay pa si Mama noong pumunta kami dito." He chuckled recalling that specific memory, "Hindi ko pa alam na amusement park pala ito, akala ko ordinaryong lugar lang ito."

His face looks peaceful as if he's recollecting every scene in his memory of this place.

"Ilang taon ka noon?"

"I can't remember it clearly, maybe I was eight or nine." Alanganing sagot niya sa akin.

He chuckled awkwardly closing his eyes, "Iyon kasi ang mga panahong," he pauses looking into my eyes, "Ibang pangalan ang gamit ko."

I tilted my head beside looking at him curiously, anong ibig niyang sabihin doon?

"I mean, iyon ang mga panahon na naging kaibigan ko si Laurenz. Pero hindi ko pwede sabihin sa kanya na magkapatid kami." He smiles at me and looks away. "Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin sa kanya kung sino ako..."

His eyes were blank as he stare far away, "Iyon din ang panahon na natuto akong magsinungaling kay Nanay at kay Mama. " His voice almost sounds guilty.

I made him face me as I put up a smile cheering him up as we took a walk around this peaceful park.

Hindi ko man nakilala ang mama niya ng personal, pero sa kung paano ikwento sa akin ni Travis ang mama niya na sobra kung alagaan siya, sobra kung asikasuhin siya kaysa sa papa niya at sobra kung magwala sa tuwing napapahamak siya, natatawa na lang ako dahil nakikita ko halos ang naging impluwensya ng mama niya sa kanya.