Days had gone by, and I still didn’t get any answer from my mother. I’m getting impatient day by day. It has also been days since I started avoiding them. I saw Ria sometimes in the hallway, but she’s the first one who will choose the other way. while Keith is still eager to get to know her better. I didn’t mention the tension between me and Ria. I’m just telling him some information about Ria. I found it weird because it feels like I’m invading Ria’s privacy, which is why I’m very careful with Keith. It is better if he knows it personally from Ria. Fortunately, he is now busy with their practice.

It's already 10 in the evening, but I’m still here in the living room, waiting for my mother to arrive. I can’t wait anymore for her to spit it out on me. I will ask her now. I haven’t had a good night's sleep these past few days. I went home early to take this opportunity to talk with her.

"Why are you still up?" I bolted up when the door opened and my mother came into sight and asked me a question.

"You already know the reason, mother." I answered bravely. There’s no sign of Aunty, and that's good news for me.

"I’m already tired, Alexa. Let's talk about it next time." She said she was walking towards her room.

"When exactly is that ‘next time’ of yours?" When I asked her, she smirked and turned to face me.

"And you’re talking back already, huh?" She said it mockingly.

"But I’m already doing what you said. I stay away from them as you’ve promised, and you will tell me or answer all of my questions."

"I think you’re not ready for this, so please stop." I could see the paleness of her face, so I was even more excited to know what she was hiding from me.

I want to scold her because if only she had been able to tell me a story, then she wouldn't have to keep a secret from me. Why couldn't she be close to me? Why didn't I even feel that she was somehow concerned about me? Why does she always avoid me? I just laughed at it for more than two decades. She still treated me like this. But I still couldn't ask her because I was afraid of what she would say. And I think now I will know some of the answers to my questions.

"When should I be ready, mother? You always kept me in the dark. I think it is about time you shared something with me. Why can’t you just open up to me? I’m your daughter!" I burst out in frustration towards her.

"Ha! I know you will definitely regret it if I tell you. But as expected from you, you're an impatient and hardheaded person."

"Because you promised it!"

"Stop yelling!"

"Sorry, I’m-" she cut me off.

"Okay, I will tell you now."

"You are the result of a sin that haunts me forever."

It felt like my world had stopped when I heard those words from her. I was frozen in my seat. I don’t know how I will react. Should I laugh it off? But I shouldn’t; we’re not that close that she will tell me a joke. I have now an idea on what’s going on but I want to hear it from her. I just look at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Jorge Sanchez is your father and also the father of your friend, Maria Sanchez." I was too stunned to speak.

Mother's phone rang, which made the both of us stop talking. And also makes the tense atmosphere disappeared.

"Hello? Yes, who are you?” I can’t hear what they're talking about, and I don’t know who she’s talking to either. "Okay got it; I’ll be there in a minute."

"Where are you going, mother?" I can’t convey my annoyance to my aunt because of her sudden call. We’re not even at one-fourth of our topic, and yet she needs to go.

"I need to go to your Aunty Daisy." She said it without looking at me. She’s busy picking up her things.

"But we’re not done talking." I tried to hold her bag to stop her, but she just pulled it out and put it on her arm.

"Your aunty is more important than our talk." She rolled her eyes, then turned her back at me.

"But mother, I think it will rain heavily. You should stay; you don’t know what's ahead of you when the weather is like that." I pleaded. not only because of our interrupted conversation but also because the weather is still unclear. It might be a heavy rain again, and it’s almost midnight.

"I’m not your child, Alexa." You’re the one who needs to stay here, lock the door, and go to sleep. I need to go."

"But-"

"No more buts, Alexa!" She runs through the road, going to the bus stop.

___

I thought if I found something, even just the smallest piece of information, I could be at peace, but I was so wrong. I didn’t sleep much last night because of what my mother said. She even left me without saying anything further about it. What a cliffhanger. She didn’t even dare to go home. I don’t know where they are. I want to find out more.

I’m currently on the bench in the garden. I feel sleepy; the silence and the blow of the wind here don’t help me stay awake. It makes me sleepier. I want to lay here and drift off to sleep. I’m waiting for my next class, and it will be an hour. I don’t have a choice but to lean in and try to fall asleep.


I moved a bit to find comfort in where I was lying. I still haven’t opened my eyes. I still want to continue my sleep; I have never had a good sleep like this for the past few weeks. I’m still thinking about many things. I want to talk to my mother again, but she’s avoiding me again, and my aunt doesn’t help.

Do I have a duty at the diner or do I have a class? I jolted up when I remembered where I was now.

"Oh my…" I covered my mouth to stop screaming. Travis was now sleeping soundly by my side. His head is hanging, and I think he might get a stiff neck because of it.

I can’t remember what happened. How did my head end up on his lap? Lesson learned: Don’t sleep in public.

In fear that he might get a stiff neck, I decided to wake him up by saying, "Hey…" I tried to shake him. "Come on, Travis. Wake up."

"Oh, you’re already awake." He said it the moment his eyes opened with a groggy voice. He places his hands on his neck and moves his head a bit.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I’m more than okay because you finally spoke to me." I looked away because of what he said.
"I saw you earlier; you almost fell. I rushed over to make sure you were okay, but I saw how deep your sleep was. I don’t want to disturb you, so I just let you continue your slumber." He said this while playing his own hand.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I need to go now." I still have 15 minutes before my last class starts.

"Where are you going?" to meet your boyfriend?" I abruptly stopped and faced him.

"W-what?" I asked with a confused look on my face.

"Don’t act like you don’t have an idea of what I am saying." He stands up, and he’s now in front of me.

"But what should I do? I don’t really have an idea." I leveled his gaze at me like a challenger.

"You’re avoiding me because your boyfriend said so, right?" I frowned even more because of what he said: "Do you really need to follow whatever he said to you?"

"Wait, please enlighten me. What are you saying? Who’s boyfriend? The last thing I know is that I never had a boyfriend." I crossed my arms over my chest while waiting for his answer.

"But what’s the meaning of the scene you both did last week? I saw you with him, and he seemed so happy." Memories of Keith and I came into my mind.

I tried to suppress my laughter, but I couldn’t help it. He’s so funny. I think of different scenarios in my mind, whatever his interpretation of that scene is, but I never realize that it will be so funny like this. His face is very serious, like I was his girl cheating on him.

"What’s funny? Are you laughing at me because you made me a fool? When, in fact, do you already have someone in your life? because you already sensed that I’ve been liking you?"

I stopped laughing and stared at him. It's like I'm stuck in my place again. trying to understand what he had said.

"What?" was the only word that came out of my mouth.

"I like you! Okay? But it hurts a lot when you laugh at my face. I feel like I am the most stupid person in your eyes."

"Yeah, I think so, but that’s not the reason why I wanted to laugh at you. You're stupid enough to like me and to think that I have a relationship with Keith."

"I don’t believe you."

"Believe what you want to believe. It doesn’t concern me." I don’t know, but it entertains me to tease him.

"What do you say?"

"It doesn’t concern me. Do you have a problem with that?"

"Yes! I want to have your full attention on me!"

I was too stunned to speak. I don’t know what to say to him. Luckily, my phone rings. I think it is a good thing that someone rings your phone, depending on who is in need. Just the other night, I was too mad at Aunty because she called, but this time, I want to thank her.

"Excuse me." I said this to him before answering the call.

"Hello?" I scowled because of the weird background noise from Aunty’s end.

"Alexa! Your mother…" My heart almost stopped as I heard her voice and how panicked she was when she said, "Mother."

"What happened to Mother?" I asked worriedly, and I think Travis also felt the situation; he approached me as if he were ready to support me anytime.

"She got into an accident. She's currently in the emergency room."

"M-mother…" I suddenly lost energy at what she said. Luckily, Travis immediately caught me.

"Alexa, what happened?"

"I need to go…I need to go to my mother."

"Alexa? Hello?"

"Aunty, where in the hospital are you right now?"

"Let me drive you there." He offered me If it was a normal day, I would have rejected him, but now I'm going to make a big face. I have to go to Mother immediately.

"Thank you."