1 Life Lessons 1: Respect Your Elders

The usual set-up for most working adults.

The alarm clock rings at 5:00 am. My eyes will be wide awake with some red nerves sticking out because I just slept like four hours or less. It might be also because I binge-read some long novel the entire night.

I forcefully make my body stand up, grab the kettle to heat some hot water. Then afterward grab the towel and go directly to the bath.

After thirty minutes of taking a bath. I grab some cup noodles on the pantry, pour hot water on it. Then stare at it for like five minutes while my mind wanders off to who knows where. Then starts eating it.

*Sigh.* I wonder when will I get to eat other foods rather than cup noodles. Eggs are seven to eight pesos at most. Don't mention meat, vegetables, and fruits. They are much more expensive nowadays. Rice is almost fifty pesos per kilo.

And most of all, I don't really have time to cook.

*Sigh.* I do wish that I have so much money and time to cook all the food I wanted. Or maybe find a husband that can do that all for me. Kidding. Being having things to do is much better than doing nothing. But even just dreaming this kind of thing feels so depressing to me.

I wear a simple knee-length sleeveless beige dress. Covers it with a black blazer and partner it with two-inch heeled sandals.

I leave my apartment and greet Grandma Sally, my neighbor next door, who just comes out at the same time as me.

"Going out to church this early?" I asked.

"Yes. We need to cook early for the charity event today. Maybe you could join us too some other time." She smiles as she said those to me.

"Sure. When I have some time. See you later."

"People these days are always busy," I heard Granny Sally mutters before I completely walk away.

"Always busy huh?" I can't help but mutters it too. I guess that's how I can call myself. Always busy. But I can't help it, if I don't keep myself occupied, things that I don't want to remember just keep gushing in my mind.

***

After arriving at the company and working like a robot.

Eight plus three hours of overtime will really kill me. I wonder how that ex-boss of me is doing now.

"Congratulations! You have been promoted you're the new President now of Noodles For Life Company."

After he said those words he runs off like that, leaving me with all the debts the company have. And if I mention, he is my best friend. I rolled my eyes, yeah so much for being friends. After one year of struggling, well at least I am able to make the company at least stable. But not to the point, I could afford to buy luxurious things now.

"That's right! After another year if I successfully strike the deal with Jay's Crackling Eggs! The Noodles for Life will Become Noodles for Eternity! I will be rich and noodles will conquer the whole world!" I raises my fist high in the air. "Just so you wait, my dear best friend, the company you abandon with debt will be remembered in the history." Well, pardon me. That's just how I motivate myself to keep moving forward.

And I'm not kidding this time. I'm serious. I want to dominate the world with noodles, haha.

As I left out the office, it is already 9:00 pm.

My apartment is just a four-kilometer walk from my company.

*Beep!*

*Beep!*

It seems even at this hour, the traffic is still intense. Sigh. That is why it is better to have an apartment near your working place. Or you just simply tire yourself more and waste money with the transportation fare.

"Visha!" I heard someone called out to me. As I looked behind, I saw Grandma Sally once again. "It's pretty late now, and she is still outside." I noticed too that she is carrying a lot of things.

"Grandma Sally, let me help you carry that," I said as I walked towards her.

"Thank you. Dearie. These are some left over in the charity event. You could have some if you want." She said with a gentle smile on her face. Then, she raised one plastic bag in front of me.

"Really?" My eyes sparkled. Call me shameless. But it's been a long time since I've eaten food other than noodles and some biscuits. A lump of chicken meat is peeking out in one of the plastic.

"Yes."

"Then, I would gladly take the offer. Let me help you carry this now. No. I should just carry this all." I said. I could feel myself grinning from ear to ear. "Maybe I could have some veggies as well." I joked.

Grandma Sally just chuckled at my reaction. Well, I've known Grandma Sally since I arrived three years ago at the apartment. And whether I admit it or not, we have become quite close now. I almost treat her like my grandma too because she is such a good and sweet kind lady. Very different from her son and daughter who are just a**holes.

Sometimes when I got home, I encounter them talking to Grandma Sally in front of her apartment asking for money or talking to her rudely. Like, give me a break. You're all adults now and yet you're still asking for money from your parents especially how they are old now. If I'm correct Grandma Sally is almost seventy-four now.

"You love tinola, right, grandma Sally? I will surely cook one for you once I got home." I said.

"You don't have to bother..."

"It's alright. It's my thanks for the ingredients as well."

"Look out!" We suddenly heard a loud scream coming from above. As l look up, I feel my heart almost stop when I saw multiple hollow blocks raining above us.

"Grandma Sally!" I dropped down everything I am holding. Instead of pushing Grandma Sally, I quickly shove her to the ground.

*Boogsh*

*Crash*

I could see Grandma Sally's eyes widened with terror as I use my body as a shield to block the hollow blocks that fall on us.

I didn't push her away because if I did, given her old age if she falls hard due to that push it might cause her some problems too.

"My child, why?"

"You deserve to live the rest of your life happier than me," I said. I can feel blood trickling down my head and my consciousness is starting to fade away too.

I can hear multiple screams of people everywhere. I force myself to not let my body fall to grandma Sally and reverses it to the other side. Making me completely lay my back down on the ground.

"But..." It feels so difficult to breathe. "I really greatly look forward to eating Tinola with you..." My last drifting words before everything became dark.

That is how I, Visha Gayle the heiress of Black Dragon Mafia, but choose to run away from that cruel world for four years, died.