Pilit man niyang iwasan si Travis ay tila ba kasama na ito sa buong sistema niya. Hindi man niya ito nakikita'y hindi rin naman nito nililisan ang kaniyang isipan.

If you can't get someone off your head, maybe they're supposed to be there.

She groaned frustratedly at the thought. After that night at Iphigenia's event, she tried her very best not to cross the hall with him. So far, she's succeeding. For the past eight weeks, hindi niya ito nakikita dahil sakanyang pag-iwas. Hindi narin siya pumupunta sa opisina ng kaniyang ama upang maiwasan ang kanilang pag-tatagpo. But until when?

Luminga-linga siya sa paligid ng Alberto's, call it crazy but she's so paranoid whenever she's out. Mas gusto niya pang dumugin ng paparazzi kaysa makasalubong si Travis sa daan. Not because she's scared of him but because she's scared of herself. Sa kung paanong maipagkakanulo na naman niya ang sarili dito.

With Travis around, the last person she can trust is herself. Dahil dayain man niya ng dayain ang kaniyang sarili ay hinding hindi niya kayang ipagsawalang bahala ang kaniyang nararamdaman and it will be better if she'll avoid his every step. It's for her own good, for her own sake.

Tuwi na'y nasa unit lamang siya ni Atticus, mabuti rin at ilang business trip ang dumaan kay Atticus nitong mga nakaraan kaya hindi din siya nito masyadong nayayaya lumabas labas. Ayaw man niyang mag-bintang, but she has a strong feeling that there's a bigger possibility to see Travis when Atticus is with her so she rather be alone.

"Gift, over here." Napalingon siyang agad nang makita ang kumakaway na si Shanna.

Habang tinutungo ang mahabang lamesa sa window side ay inisa-isa niyang sipatin ang mga naroon. Kata, who's now four months heavy is sitting beside Shanna. Sa harap ng mga ito ay naroon sina Brooke, Cassidy, Trinity, Jinny, Generose at Amelia. Who would've thought na mas lamang pa pala ng isang buwan ang tyan ni Kata kay Rosas!

"Where's Violet?" Naupo siya sa upuang bakante sa tabi ni Shanna.

"Violet called yesterday she's in Cambodia with her fiancé." Nakangising sabi ni Brooke na naging sanhi ng tawanan ng lahat.

"I still can't believe that Violet is definitely settling down." Cassidy added.

"Too bad, Blanche wont be able to see her today." It was Shanna again. "I remember Violet to be her favorite next to Gift."

"Favorite inisin!" Natatawang sabi ni Jinny.

Her forehead knotted. "Blanche? We're talking about Blanche the badass biker chick, aren't we?"

Magkakasunod na tango ang ginawa ni Shanna habang sumisimsim ng mango shake nito. "Yep, no other than Diane Blanche Zobel de Ayala!"

Bahagya siyang namangha sa sinabi nito. "She's back? Since when?"

"Last night!" Humalakhak si Brooke. "She phoned me, miski ako nagulat. Why it's been a long time since I last heard from her! She's back from London, ang sabi niya uuwi siya ng Pilipinas para maging hands on sa negosyo na itinatayo niya which will soon be operating. Sabi niya'y mag-set daw ako ng brunch, so here we are. Sinabi ko rin sakanya na isasama ko si Kata at Lia para naman ma-meet niya."

"Nako, sinasabi ko sainyo maloloka kayo don kay Blanche!" Halakhak ni Jinny.

Napailing na lamang siya at saka itinaas ang kamay upang mag-tawag ang server para umorder ng maiinom bago muling balingan ang mga kaibigan. "And she's more late than me again, huh?"

"As always!" Sabay pang sabi ni Brooke at Cassidy na naging sanhi ng muling tawanan ng mga ito.

Diane Blanche Cavallero Zobel de Ayala is a member of their sorority years back, holding the position of Event's Planner who's associated with Brooke as the Social and Communication Officer, until she decided to leave the country and study abroad. Sa London ito nagpaka-dalubhasa sa Bartending and Cocktail Mixing.

"Oh, there she is!" Shanna exclaimed.

Through the glass wall where you can see the whole outside vicinity of the cafe, a huge Ducati came in. Mula doon ay bumaba ang isang babae, in her ripped maong short shorts na naaaninag na ang dulo ng itim na boyleg nitong panloob, revealing so much of her long and creamy pair of legs, a brown combat boots and vintage rock shirt. Well, Blanche will always be Blanche -she thought.

Inalis nito ang suot na helmet at inilagay iyon sa compartment ng motor. Her average long hair is on it's natural light blonde shade, styled in soft beach wave.

She walked towards the cafe and entered as if she owns the fucking place. Agad naman silang natanawan nito, halos mapairap siya nang makita itong ngumiti. One thing she hates about Blanche is that she mirrors her cousin's smile and Travis' smile is the last thing she wanted to see!

"Wala kang pinag-bago, Blanche! Stick ka pa din!" Pang-aasar dito ni Jinny. "Buto buto ng bulalo."

"Uy, tol! Tangina mo, lagi kang may issue sa buto ko ha." Malakas nitong sabi sanhi ng pag-lilingunan ng mga nasa paligid sa dako ng table nila, walang pakialam na nakipag-apir lamang ito kay Jinny.

"Blanche, we're on a public place. Watch your words!" Sita ni Shanna dito.

Ngumisi lang ito at nag-hila ng upuan upang doon pumwesto. "Di ka padin nag-babago, Shanna. Medyo epal ka padin."

Malakas na natawa naman sina Brooke.

"Tangina, lodi pala to eh. Kalasag buto ko to!" Humahalakhak na nagpakilala dito si Kata. "Hello, I'm Cataliah. Pero hindi ako maarte kagaya ng nanay ko kaya Kata nalang."

"Blanche." Ngumisi ito at tumayo upang i-extend ang mahaba nitong biyas kay Kata at makipagkamay. "Tawagin mo nalang akong pre."

Bumaling din ito kay Amelia at nagpakilala, kung si Kata ay sinabayan ang ugali nito si Lia ay tipid na ngumiti lamang.

"Ano ng balita sainyo?" Maaskad itong naupo pabalik sa hinilang silya, napairap siya ng balingan siya nito. "Kinginang welcome naman yan, Gift. Pitikin ko ilong mo eh."

"Gago ka talaga, Blanche." Tumawa na naman si Jinny. "Bat kami hinihingan mo ng balita? Ikaw ang dapat mag-balita samin? Ano ng ganap sayo?!"

"Eto, labis parin ang kagandahan. Naisip ko ngang mamahagi sana, kaso paano? Google ko muna how to share beauty." Maloko nitong sagot bago lingunin si Brooke. "Ikaw tangina mo, partner ha! Bakit si Aquish Eli pinakasalan mo? Napakalibog ng hayop na yon, ah! Naalala ko dati nakikipag hulihan dila yon sa likod ng high school building!"

"Sus, eh malibog din naman yang si Brooklyn!" Si Kata iyon.

"Hoy!" Pinamulahan ng mukha si Brooke.

"Enough with the topic, you're so gross!" Shanna grimaced.

"Letse, Shanna. Gross gross ka dyan, kala mo naman si Pocholo napakadesenteng tao. Ulul nga, ha!" Blanche rolled her eyes. "Ikaw, Kata? Inasawa mo si Lance? Sus, isa pa yun. Mga Alpha keme keme nila mga mahihilig! Nasan nga pala si Violet?"

"She's out with her fiancé."

"Oh? May kumasa sa kamaliditahan non?" Humalakhak na naman ito. Tinaas nito ang kamay upang umorder ng maiiinom. "Bakit naman kayo mga nagsipag-buntisan? So pano yan? Sa opening ng beer garden ko, walang walwalan? Tanginang buhay naman, oo!"

Napuno ng masayang tawanan at huntahan ang table nila. Panaka-naka rin siyang nakikisali wag lang siyang mairita sa pag-mumukha ni Blanche lalo na kung ngingiti pa ito. They ordered brunch as they chitchat about each and everyone's life.

"Ang init sa Pilipinas, oo!" Yamot na sabi Blanche sa gitna ng usapan.

"Hindi naman mainit, Blanche!" Si Trinity iyon.

"Sanay ka lang siguro sa klima ng London." Hagikgik ni Generose.

Kibit-balikat nitong itinaas ang kamay upang mag-tawag ng waiter, sakto namang daan ni River sakanilang table.

"Pst, excuse me." Tawag nito na nagpalingon kay River, agad na kumunot ang noo ng lalaki at pinasadahan sila ng tingin bago tumama ang mata pabalik kay Blanche. "Paki sabihan naman ang kinauukulan na lakasan ang aircon, nakakatangina ang init eh."

Lalong nangunot ang noo ni River.

Trinity cleared her throat. "Blanche! Ano ka ba, that's River. He's the owner of the cafe!"

"Pasenysa ka na, River. She just got back from London. Anyway she's our friend, Blanche." Generose chuckled. "Blanche, this is River Eudela.  He's my cousin-in-law."

"Oh..." Blanche's mouth formed an O. "Yun naman pala eh, edi ayos! Pre, pakilakasan naman yung aircon. Naiinitan kasi talaga ako."

Saglit itong tinapunan ng seryosong tingin ni River, bago napapailing na tumalikod upang tumawag ng isang unipormadong staff at tuluyan na silang iwan.

Maya-maya pa ay natupad na ang siyang minimithi ni Blanche. They were chatting while Jinny is busy checking out Blanche's phone, tumitingin ito ng mga pictures doon ni Blanche.

"Ganda neto, Blanche ha!" Biglang napabangon sa tamad na pagkakasandal sa upuan nito si Jinny. "Saan to? Angas ng bahay na to ah!"

Inilahad nito sa gitna ng lamesa ang cellphone ni Blanche. Agad namang natawag noon ang atensyon ng kaniyang mga kaibigan.

Wala naman siyang balak na makiusyoso sa tinitignan ng mga ito kung hindi lang nadaanan ng kaniyang tingin ang pamilyar na itsura noon.

"Oh, that's Travis' house in Palm Woods. Dinaanan ko siya kagabi, hindi naman ako welcome don! Walanghiya yon si Travis eh, napaka-walang-puso bawal daw ako matulog don. Baka may babae yon at nakaka-istorbo marahil ako."

Halos ika-gulat ng kaniyang mga kaibigan ang ginawa niyang pag-tayo upang maabot niya ang cellphone. Her heart froze the moment she glanced at the screen, only to see that familiar backdrop.

"Ang ganda, Gift noh?" Si Jinny. "Simple pero elegante, ganda ng taste ni Engineer Travis ha!"

Tila napapasong nabitawan niya ang cellphone pabalik sa lamesa. Her heart fought an emotional squeeze. Without a word, she took her bag and left the place. Narinig niya pa ang pag-tawag ng mga ito sakanyang pangalan ngunit hindi na niya binalingan man lamang ang mga ito upang mag-paalam.

All she wants now is to leave and be in the place where no one could see her. Halos takbuhin na niya ang kaniyang daan patungo sakanyang silid nang makabalik siya sa unit ni Atticus. Surrendering her body above the huge mattress.

Ibinaon niya ang unan sakanyang mukha. Confusion grow inside her head like a note becoming a tune. Her mind is now full of so many whys and she doesn't have any idea where to find the answers.

Hindi niya na alam kung gaano siya katagal na tulala at blanko na nakatitig sa kisame ng kaniyang silid. Nang mapagpasyahan niyang bumangon at madilim na ang kalangitan, without thinking thoroughly, she took her keys and went out.

She maneuvered her car to someplace. Her system is in chaos where her mind is refusing what her heart is insisting. It's easy to make up your mind but to convince your heart is the hardest part, she let her heart win the battle this time.

Sandali niyang inihinto ang sasakyan sa guard house ng Palm Woods Subdivision nang harangin siya nito. She rolled down the window of her car, an old guard's smiling face greeted her warmly.

"Good evening, Ma'am. Sino po ang pupuntahan niyo sa loob?" Magalang nitong tanong.

She cleared her throat before uttering an answer. "Travis Cavallero."

"Ah, kay Engineer po? Sandali lang po, itatawag namin. Kadadaan lang din ng sasakyan ni Engineer ma'am eh, ano ho bang pangalan niyo?" Lumapit ito sa isang teleponong de kordon na nakapatong sa mataas na lamesa ng maliit na guard house.

"Gift Vito." Ayaw man niyang malaman nito na pupunta siya ay hindi niya naman makuhang mag-sinungaling.

Lies are the reason why her life was wrecked.

Sandali itong may kinausap sa telepono bago siya muling balikan. "Sa Hickory Drive po ma'am, sundan niyo nalang po si Tonyo. Pina-e-escortan po kasi kayo ni Engineer paroon."

Isang tango lamang ang kaniyang ginawa bago muling iniikot pataas ang bintana. Sakanyang harapan ay naroon ang isang unipormadong guard na nakasakay sa mountain bike nito. Sinundan niya ang daang tinatahak nito, madilim na ang paligid at ang tanging liwanag lamang galing sa mga lamppost ang nag-bibigay buhay sa daan.

Layo layo ang mga nag-lalakihang bahay sa loob ng subdivision. Banayad ang ginawa niyang pagpapatakbo ng kaniyang sasakyan, ilang street ang nilikuan at pinasukan nila bago niya natanaw ang silver plated sign with a gold embossed letters.

Hickory Drive

Her heart clenched madly. Nakagat niya ang kaniyang ibabang labi habang tinatanaw ang isang napakalaking bahay sa gitna ng malawak na malawak na bakuran. Madaling matutunton dahil ito lamang ang nag-iisang bahay sa buong street na iyon.

Malayo palang ay nakita na niya si Travis na nakatayo sa gitna ng kalsada, agad na nilapitan ito ng nakabisikletang gwardya samantalang siya'y tila nanghihinang huminto na lamang basta sa pagmamaneho.

Hindi naalis ang kaniyang tingin kay Travis na patuloy sa pagkausap sa guard, ilang sandali pa ay umalis na ito at silang dalawa na lamang ang naiwan.

Hinugot niya ang lahat ng lakas ng loob na meron siya sakanyang katawan upang buksan ang pinto ng kaniyang sasakyan at ihakbang ang kaniyang paa palabas.

He caught her eyes in instant. She feels like swimming in troubled waters as good memories flowed in her head. So good that it makes her feel bad.

Binitawan niya ang tingin ni Travis at binalingan ang dahilan ng kaniyang pag-paroon. A huge house.

It has an elegant façade, all because of it's minimalist approach. Clean white color serves great contrast to all the natural greenery around. While all the glass doors, windows and walls gave the modern touch. Especially on the rear elevation where you'll have contrast within the house itself. Bold horizontal lines of white concrete and thin vertical lines of glass walls made it look simpler.

From her stand, as she looked through the glass walls, she can clearly see the staircase. Exactly to where she wanted it to be. She also has the view of the living room, where all the dark furniture are. It's a three story tall house and when you look up to the next level, you'll fail to see what's inside because of the heavenly white floor to ceiling soft curtains that covers it.

Muling bumaba ang kaniyang tingin sa maluwag na pagkakabukas ng malaking itim na gate kung saan niya matatanaw ang napakalawak na garage area, naroon nakaparada ang isang pulang Lamborghini Aventador na ginagamit nito. The parking space has a New York skyline wallpaper created an urban ambiance, just how he likes it to be.

"It can be a mixture of class and elegance, I'll give you the freedom to design the whole house baby..." Malambing nitong bulong mula sa pagkakaupo sakanyang likuran. "but I want the garage to have an urban touch."

"Like what urban?" Natatawang sabi niya habang patuloy sa pag-guhit sakanyang sketchpad ng kanilang binubuong dream house. "New York skyline?"

"Can be..." Ngumisi ito at pinupog ng halik ang kaniyang leeg bago doon sumiksik. "Someday, well both be standing before that dream house because it wont be a dream anymore. I swear baby, I'll bring it to reality."

He did. Meters away from her is the man who molded on of her many dreams in reality. Slowly, she drifted her eyes on him but immediately took back her gaze. There's a striking pain in his eyes and she just can't stand looking at it.

"Why?" A soft whisper came off her mouth, the corner of her eyes watered in a mixture of pain an unnamed emotion leading inside her.

"What why?" Gentle baritone that sounded like a susurrate of wind. "This is our dream, Gift-"

"Was." Nanghihina niyang putol sa sinasabi nito. She inhaled softly when tears started rolling on her face. "This was our dream, Travis."

Matapang niyang inangat ang tingin niya dito, pinanuod niya kung paano tumigas ang ekspresyon nito. His jaw moved in pain, tila ba pinipigilan ang anumang nanaisin na pakawalan ng bibig nito.

"I don't understand why are you doing this? Why are you opening up the wounds that I'm trying to heal?" She tried to choke a sob but she failed.

"I love you, Gift."

"And I don't want you to love me." Her tears becomes wilder. "Masakit, Travis. Masakit kang mag-mahal at ayoko ng masaktan. I let my heart love you twice and you broke me, no you're breaking me over and over again..."

"Gift-"

"Even the sound of your voice, kills me. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to stay away from you, while I badly wanna be with you? Travis, I lost my child-"

"I lost mine too..." Mariin at tila hirap na hirap nitong bulong.

"All because you lied." Lalong nag-unahang bumuhos ang luha mula sakanyang mga mata. "All because of your infidelity!"

His eyes becomes serious and sharp as if he'd been accused of something he never thought of doing. "What did you say?"

"Come on, Travis. Let's not play games here! It's Cinderella Talavera that you'd been crazy about, hindi ba?" Mapait niyang sabi.

"You followed me..." Wala sa sariling bulong nito habang hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan siya nito. "That night... you followed me."

"I did! I fucking did!" Marahas niyang sigaw habang lalong bumuhos ang mga luha sakanyang mga mata. "Na sana hindi ko ginawa! Sana hindi! Sana hinayaan kita! Sana ininda ko nalang lahat ng sakit, lahat ng pagdududa, had I known I was pregnant I would've let you do your thing and I would've let you go with all your lies and focused more on my child's safety. Pero hindi ko alam... I lost everything, all because of you!"

"Gift, you don't understand-"

"No! Travis, you don't understand! I was born being accused of killing my own mother..." Mapait siyang ngumiti. "Then I killed my own child-"

"Don't say that!" Malalaking hakbang ang ginawa nito upang sana'y lapitan siya nang marahas siyang umiling at humakbang paatras.

"Don't! Please, don't come near me." She raised her trembling hand to stop him more. "Please, Travis... please don't..."

"Gift..." Huminto ito at humugot ng ilang malalalim na pag-hinga, tila ba hirap na hirap din ito sa kinatatayuan.

Each night she put her head to her pillow, she try to tell herself she's strong but she's not. Pain is all that builds her.

"Gift, I love you." He blew an air and desperately whispered. "Dammit, all this time you think I'm going under the sheets with your stepmother?"

"I hate you, Travis-"

"I may be every bad thing, Gift but not in this life time will I ever disrespect you and your father. Goddammit!" The rising and falling of his chest shows how he furiously gets ahold of his emotion.

"I don't care what's between you and that Cindy, I swear I don't care!" She exclaimed. "Point is you still lied. Several times, Travis. You fucking lied!"

"Oh hell yes I lied!" He admitted. "But that is because-"

"A lie is still a lie regardless of a reason behind it. And they say that for every good reason there is to lie, there is always a better reason to tell the truth." Mariing putol niya dito bago unti-unting lalong humakbang papalayo. "Let's stop this game, Travis. Let's end it here."