What's taking him so long?

Tanong na paulit-ulit ba tumatakbo sakanyang isipan habang nakatanaw sa condominium building ni Cinderella kung saan naroroon din si Travis.

Speculations grow like wildfire inside her head. She can't stop thinking of the worst possible reason why he's there, she just can't.

The thought of Travis and Cinderella, kissing and touching each other above the white sheets flashes in her head.

Her heart clenched in pain. What is she there by the way?

Blinded with tears she drove off the road. She reached for her phone and dialed Atticus' number. He picked up after two rings.

"Atticus, I caught Travis... he's with Cindy. He's cheating on me over my father's bitch!" Umiiyak niyang daing.

"What?!" Bakas ang gulat sa tono nito. "Where are you?"

"I-I'm driving-"

"Damn! Sana nag-pasundo ka nalang sakin!" Concern topped his voice. "Stop your car now, sabihin mo sakin kung nasaan ka pupuntahan kita."

"I'm fine... I'll be fin-"

Hindi na niya natapos pa ang kaniyang sasabihin nang mula sa kung saan sumulpot ang isa pang sasakyan, pinihit niya pakaliwa ang manibela at nawalan siya ng kontrol bago sumalpok ang sasakyan sa poste.

She was unconscious for almost a minute until she felt blood dripping on her legs. Ganoon din sa gilid ng kaniyang noo. But her hand went down to a portion of her leg...

Nang iangat niya iyon ay malakas siyang napasinghap nang makita ang dugo. Horrified is an understatement...

"B-blood..."

Sa labis na panghihina ay hindi na niya namalayan pa ang pamimigat ng kaniyang talukap.

She smiled faintly remembering what happened to that day back in December. Most of our mistakes, the big ones at least, are the result of allowing emotion to overrule logic. But there's more to us than the moment we made a bad decision.

"Babe..."

Her smile widens when she felt his arms snaked on her waist from behind. His warm lips blessed her temple with a soft kiss.

"I love you..."

A soft squeeze reached her heart on what he said. Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses nitong sabihin ang mga salitang iyon, sa katunayan nga'y tuwing may pagkakataon ay sasabihin nito iyon sakanya. But the effect didn't change, in fact it grew more intense.

"Susunduin na ba natin sina Trent mamayang gabi? O, bukas na?" Sumiksik ito sakanyang leeg at doon sinamyo ang kaniyang amoy. "Ang bango bango mo..."

"Travis..." Napahagikgik siya nang kagatin nito ang bahaging iyon.

"Uwi na tayo..." He whispered in an inviting tone.

"Ano? Hoy, pupunta pa tayo sa bahay ni Violet for lunch." Tinaasan niya ito ng isang kilay bago irapan.

Kumawala siya rito matapos ay tumalungko sa harap ng estatwa ng anghel. Naramdaman niyang ginaya siya nito.

"Sorry, saglit lang kami naka-visit ngayon. Promise, next time isasama ulit namin ang mga kapatid mo."

Nabalingan niya si Travis, he's looking at her and there's something in his eyes she couldn't name. A warm smile crossed his lips.

"I love you, babe..." Napangiti siya nang mamula ang tenga nito.

Sa ilang taon nilang pagsasama ni Travis ay hindi na natigil sa pamumula ang tenga nito tuwing tatawagin niya ito sa paraan ng pag-tawag nito sakanya.

She's just so glad she has that effect on him.

Nang makarating sila sa bahay ni Violet ay naroon na ang lahat ng kaniyang mga kaibigan, maliban kay Blanche.

"Where's Violet?" She asked after kissing Generose on her cheek.

"She's inside, binibihisan si Vivienne. Lalabas narin iyon." Generose gave out a timid smile.

Looking at Generose now, you'll never think that she has five kids out! Her body never changed as if she aged beautifully.

"Where are your kids?" Tanong nito sakanya. "Ang mga bata hinatid muna namin kanila mommy kanina, baka kasi mag-likot ng mag-likot. Umiyak nga si Curie kasi ayaw humiwalay sa tatay niya."

"Kids." She rolled her eyes. "Ganyan din si Thylane kay Travis. Buti nga at pumayag ngayon na maiwan kanila dad."

Nilingon niya si Travis at nakitang wala na ito sa tabi niya. Papalapit na ito sa mga kaibigan na nakaupo sa isang table sa malawak na hardin kung saan sila magsasalo-salo.

"I'm so glad that you are eventually happy." Sincerity laced Rosas' voice.

A soft smile curved her lips. Sasagot sana siya nang makita si Violet na papalabas ng garden. She called out her name and she immediately went to them.

"Why are you both standing here?" Violet frowned a bit. "Cataliah and the other girls are out there, come on."

Sumunod naman sila ni Generose nang mag-lakad ito patungo sa malaking lamesang parihaba kung saan naroroon ang iba pa nilang kaibigan.

"Kung sana na-foresee ko na mga gwapo pala ang magiging in-laws ni Violet edi sana hindi na muna ako nag-asawa!" Natatawang pagmamaktol ni Kata ang naabutan nila.

"Cataliah, I can hear you." It was Lance who's busy with the barbecues meters away. "Iuuwi talaga kitang babae ka!"

Natawa naman ang lahat. Si Jinny ay pabulong din umungot.

"Kung bakit nga naman kasi late na tayo na inform na nang nag-pasabog pala ng kagwapuhan ang langit ay nagtatampisaw sila!" Kumagat pa ito sa ibabang labi habang nakatingin sa di kalayuan.

Sinundan niya ang tinatahak ng mga mata nito at nakita niya ang isang lalaking palagay niya'y sing tangkad ng kaniyang asawa, the man's hair is in a man bun dahil bahagya iyong may kahabaan.

"Anong pangalan niyan, Vi?" Inginuso iyon ni Jinny.

Nilingon iyon ni Violet saglit bago balewalang sinagot ang tanong ng kaibigan. "Abraham."

"Oh! Putcha! Hulog nga yan ng langit! Kinanginang kagwapuhan!" Kilig na kilig na sa sabi ni Kata.

"Cataliah!" Sigaw ni Lance mula sa di kalayuan.

Lalo silang nagkatawanan, maging siya'y natawa. Si Jinny nama'y halos magkandahaba-haba na ang leeg sa kakatanaw sa mga lalaking nakapalibot sa hardin ng mansyon ni Violet.

"Eh, yun!" Humaba na naman ang nguso nito, napalingon silang lahat sa tinuturo nito. "Tangina, yummy non ha!"

Muling bahagyang sinulyapan iyon ni Violet atsaka sila binalingan. "Oh, that's Adan. Bram's brother."

"Adan! Ako na ang Eba mo! Tamang tama nasa hardin na tayo!" Humalakhak si Kata.

Agad namang bumaling sakanila si Lance ng nakapamewang bago mag-salita.

"You girls, stop acting like you're all single. Giggling and fishing boys in the sea." Mariin nitong sabi.

"I heard boys, who's fishing who?" It was Travis' baritone voice from her behind before she felt his arm possessively snaked on her waist. "Hmm?"

Humalik ito sakanyang sentido kaya napaikot ang kaniyang mga mata. "Come on! Are you two serious? We're just having girl talk!"

"Girl talk that includes boys! Dammit!" Hindi papaawat ang gigil ni Lance.

"Sus, ewan ko sayo Calleja. Yung barbecue mo sunog na!" Pinanlakihan ito ng mata ni Kata.

"Itong mga to naman! Kala naman papaagaw eh, natanaw lang naman kami ng gwapo!" Ingos ni Jinny bago muling mag-abalang tumanaw-tanaw sa paligid. "Yon! Yon, Vi! Sino yon?"

"Ay putangina! Bakit naman topless yan, Violet?! Kinginang yan! Ito na ba?! Siya na ba?! Ang pagsubok ng mga kababaihan?!" Si Kata iyon.

Akmang lilingunin niya iyon nang takpan ni Travis ang kaniyang mga mata. Then she heard him whispered straight on her ear. "Baka mag-selos ako babe, you know what will happen next."

Napasinghap siya sa sinabi nito. "Travis!"

He chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Damn, my wife is blushing."

"He's Ezequiel." Rinig niyang sagot ni Violet.

"That's one nice name!" It was Shanna.

"Cholo oh, si Shanna. May pa-nice-name nice name na dito, boy oh!" Mapangasar na humalakhak si Travis bago alisin ang kamay na tumatabing sakanyang mga mata.

Hinampas niya naman ang braso nito nang bumaling sakanila si Cholo mula sa pakikipag-usap nito kay Aquish.

"Bro, si Brooke din may iba ng hina-hotshot." At hindi pa talaga ito nag-paawat!

"Hoy! Nananahimik lang ako dito!" Sinamaan ito ng tingin ni Brooke, lalo nang sumimangot si Aquish dito.

"Travis, you're always annoying!" Irap ni Shanna bago tumayo nang tawagin ito ng asawa.

Lalo namang natawa si Travis nang maging si Brooke ay tumayo upang lapitan si Aquish. She elbowed him.

"Why did you do that?!"

He shrugged and pulled the chair Brooke emptied, for her. "Para may maupuan tayo."

Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata. "You're impossible!"

Humalakhak lamang ito at inalalayan siya paupo bago ito maupo sakanyang tabi.

Nang lingunin niya ang mga kasama ay iba-iba na ang ginagawa nito. Si Kata at Jinny ay tuloy lang sa pag-sisipat ng mga in-law ni Violet. Si Lance naman ay abala sa pag-babarbecue kasama si Edward, Thiago at Tradd. Si Cassidy ay abalang kausap ang asawa, si Amelia at Generose nama'y magkausap. While Violet is talking with a man in man bun, kung tama ang pagkakatanda niya ay Abraham ang pangalan noon.

"You hungry?" Bulong ni Travis sakanyang tabi. 

Tumango siya, ngumisi naman ito na tila ba alam na ang gagawin. Maalaga at maasikaso si Travis, hindi lamang sakanya kundi maging sa mga anak nila.

Four years ago, she was already six months heavy when she married him. But who cares? There's nothing wrong being a pregnant bride, what's important is your groom loves you way more than you love him.

Trent Achilles is already four years old and Thylane Andrea is now two years old. Because she chose happiness, a happy family is what she have now and she couldn't wish for anything else.

Gabi na nang lisanin nila ni Travis ang bahay ni Violet upang sunduin ang kanilang mga anak sa mansyon ng kaniyang ama.

"Oh, nandyan na pala kayo." Nakangiting si Cindy ang sumalubong sakanila nang makapasok sa double doors.

She smiled back at her. Sa mga nakalipas na taon ay hindi lang si Travis ang nakuha niyang patawarin kundi ang lahat ng nanakit sakanya, kahit hindi naman humingi ng tawad sakanya ang kaniyang ama ay hindi niya maitatanggi na umayos naman kahit paano ang samahan nila.

"Tulog na si Trent sa itaas, si Thy naman kasama ng lolo niya sa library. Sisilipin ko nga at baka tulog na rin." Natatawang sabi nito.

"Ako nalang, Cindy." She said.

Tumango ito at ngumiti. "Nagugutom ba kayo? Magpapahanda ako kay Matilde-"

"Hindi na, medyo inaantok na rin ako. Gusto ko ng umuwi." Putol niya sa sinasabi nito. "Pupuntahan ko lang si Thy."

"Kunin ko na sa taas si Trent." Travis smiled at her before he moved and went upstairs.

Siya nama'y tinungo ang library ng mansyon. She twisted the knob open and pushed it enough for her to enter.

Napahinto siya nang makita niya ang kaniyang anak na himbing na himbing na natutulog sa dibdib ng kaniyang ama.

It warms her heart to see such lovely view. Nilapitan niya ang mga ito, tulog na tulog din ang kaniyang ama habang nakasandal sa swivel chair na kinauupuan.

When she was little, pinangarap niyang makipag-laro sakanyang ama. O di kaya'y makipag-kwentuhan man lamang. But, it never came.

And now, seeing how invested he is to her daughter makes her wanna weep.

Favoritism aside, her father seems to be more fond of Thylane than Trent. Not that he gives less attention to Trent, it's just that he spends more time with Thy.

"Gift, nandyan ka na pala." He carefully shifted on his sit when he saw her.

"Kararating ko lang." Kaswal niyang sagot. "Kukunin ko na si Thy, uuwi na kami."

Marahan itong tumango, bumukas naman ang pinto at pumasok roon si Travis.

"Good evening, sir." Nakangiting sabi ni Travis bago lumapit sakanila at kuhanin mula sa dibdib ng kaniyang ama ang kanilang anak.

"Dad." Pagtatama nito sakanyang asawa.

Ngumisi lamang si Travis, biglang naalimpungatan si Thylane sa pagkakakarga nito. "Sleep na sleep na, si daddy lang to."

Ang maliliit na bisig ng kanilang anak ay pumaikot sa leeg ni Travis bago sumiksik doon upang ipagpatuloy ang pag-tulog.

"Una na po kami, dad." Paalam ni Travis.

Tumango ang kaniyang ama. "Mag-iingat kayo, Cavallero."

Inakay na siya ni Travis papalabas ng library, she was about to step out when her father called out her name.

Nagkatinginan sila ni Travis, ngumiti ito bago siya halikan sa noo at nauna ng lumabas kasama ang kanilang anak.

Muli niyang binalingan ang kaniyang ama. "Yes?"

"Can we talk?" Maingat nitong tanong.

Can we talk? Ilang beses niya rin bang hiniling sa buong buhay niya na sana'y dumating ang sandali sa buhay niyang gugustuhin din siyang kausapin ng kaniyang ama? Hindi na niya maalala sa sobrang daming pagkakataon niyang ipinanalangin iyon.

And now, here it comes.

Tipid siyang tumango at muling humakbang papalapit dito, isinara nito ang isang Disney story book na nasa lamesa, marahil iyon ang binasa nito kay Thylane hanggang sa makatulugan nila ang isa't isa.

"What is it?"

"I don't know where to start." His voice sounds a bit off...

"Try it with 'I know'" She smiled a little trying to crack the atmosphere.

"I know, napakalaki ng kasalanan ko sayo." Ilang sandali ang lumipas bago ito muling nagsalita. "I was never a good dad-"

"You were never a dad." She said in matter of factly tone, she shrugged.

Natigilan ito, guilt lined his eyes and that surprised her a bit. Was he guilty now and he's feeling sorry in the way he treated her?

"It was hard growing up having a father who blames you for doing something you have no idea about." She said in a small voice. "It was never easy growing up striving for attention from someone who can't even give you an eye. All my life I've longed more for a father, than a mother. I have no one growing up, but myself. Do you know how miserable I was? You don't because you never cared-"

"I love you, Gift." Halos bulong iyong inilabas ng tinig nito.

"And it took you twenty eight years for you to realize that you love your daughter." She cleared her throat to keep her voice from shaking. "I've been waiting for the moment that you'll love me. And you'll be sorry for everything, you know what dad? Kahit walang kamahal-mahal sa mga ipanikita mo sakin, I grew up loving you before any other man. And that entails, me forgiving you in everything even without you asking for it."

Her own tears blinded her vision before it slowly fell from her eyes down to her cheek.

Even her dad is looking at her with teary eyes.

"But I never blamed you for the monster that I'd become the way you blamed me for something that's beyond me..." Marahan siyang umiling. "You made me believe that I killed my own mother, you have that thought stuck in my mind. But dad, if I had a choice... I'll die for my mom. That's out of my control. I'm sorry that I was born to break your heart-"

"Gift, I'm sorry." Tumayo ito sa kinauupuan atsaka siya nilapitan at mahigpit na niyakap. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Lalo siyang napahagulgol ng iyak sa dibdib nito. How she imagined to be enveloped in his arms with so much love and care...

"Anak, I'm sorry..." He whispered. "Wala akong karapatang tawagin kang anak dahil tama ka, I was never a dad to you. And I'm sorry, Gift. I'm sorry I made you suffer for something that you didn't do."

Mahigpit niya itong niyakap. "To heal a wound, we need to stop touching it. We have to free ourselves from pain, dad. We both been through so much but there's so much more tomorrow for us to keep moving..."

"I know that now, I'm sorry sweetheart..." He kissed the top of her head with full of love. "I love you, Gift. I love you, so much..."

"And I love you too, daddy..."

Napangiti siya nang makita niya si Travis na humihikab na pumasok ng kanilang silid. Umaliwalas ang mukha nito nang makita siyang kalalabas lamang ng banyo.

"How was your talk with your dad?" Tanong nito bago hubarin ang sapatos at isa-isahing tanggalin ang butones ng suot na pang-itaas.

"He said he love me." She smiled, sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Oh, that's for sure." He chuckled lightly. "He wont ask me to clean the whole company if he doesn't."

"I'm happy now, Travis..." Happiness is indeed pretty obvious in her eyes.

"I'm happier to know that." He unbuckled his belt. "Pero bakit naligo ka na agad? Hindi mo ko inantay?"

"Ang tagal mo, eh. Inaantok na ko." She giggled as his eyebrows ceased.

"Nagising kasi si Thylane nang ilagay ko sa crib, iiyak pag hindi ako ang nag-hele. Wala namang magawa ang yaya niya." Lumakad ito patungo sakanya habang inaalis ang snap ng pantalon nito.

"Clingy sayo yon eh." Natatawa niyang sabi na agad ding naputol nang hilahin siya nito patayo, agad niyang mahigpit na kinapitan ang tuwalyang nakabalot sakanyang katawan. "Travis!"

"Ako, baby... clingy sayo." Ngumisi ito bago siya siilin ng isang maalab na halik. "Damn, babe... I'll never get tired of kissing you."

Lumalim ang kanilang halikan nang buong puso niya iyong tugunin. Hindi na niya namalayang nakalas na nito ang tuwalya paalis sakanyang katawan, leaving her all naked. His heated palm started roaming across her body, she clung into him needy for something.

His kisses went down to her neck. She smiled happily, she's contented.

When we don't forgive, we're not hurting the person that did us wrong. We're only hurting ourselves.

Things all happened for a reason and that is to teach us lessons for us to grow and be braver than ever.

And forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet there's no peace without forgiveness.

"Let's shower again..." His husky and inviting tone brought her back to reality.

"Baka magkasakit naman na ko kakaligo, Travis!" Tumatawang biro niya.

"Aalagaan naman kita, bakit ba?!" Parang batang hindi magpapaawat na binuhat siya nito atsaka naglakad patungo sa banyo. "Ohh, dammit baby..."