Felix sacrifice

Felix's life became a relentless cycle of work and exhaustion after paying off the 350,000 yuan debt. The money had been meant for the house rent due in three months, and now Felix had to scramble to make up the difference. He picked up more jobs, working as a delivery man in the mornings, a waiter in the afternoons, and a night cleaner at a local office building.

He was out of the house by 4:00 a.m., barely had time to eat, and returned home late, sometimes as late as 11:30 p.m. His family rarely saw him except for fleeting moments when he grabbed something to eat or collapsed on the couch before starting the next day.

Grace and Juan grew increasingly worried about Felix. His once sharp eyes were now shadowed with exhaustion, and he had started coughing frequently, though he tried to hide it.

One evening, Juan approached him as he was eating a late dinner. "Felix, this can't go on," she said, her voice thick with concern. "You're overworking yourself."

"I'm fine, Mom," Felix said curtly, not meeting her eyes.

"You're not fine!" Juan snapped, tears brimming in her eyes. "You're killing yourself for this family. It's not right!"

Felix set his fork down and looked at her, his expression softening slightly. "Mom, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure we don't lose this house. Don't worry about me."

Juan wanted to argue, but she knew Felix wouldn't listen. She could only watch as he pushed himself further, her heart aching with guilt.

One evening, Joseph sat at the dining table, frustrated with his homework. He had been staring at the same math problem for hours, trying to make sense of it, but nothing clicked.

Finally, he went to Felix's room, where his older brother was lying on the bed, eyes closed. "Felix, can you help me with my homework?"

Felix opened one eye and sighed. "Joseph, I'm tired—"

"Please," Joseph interrupted. "I've tried everything, and I just don't understand it."

Felix sat up reluctantly, his body protesting the movement. "Fine. Show me."

As Felix worked through the problem with Joseph, Juan walked by and saw them. Her heart ached at the sight of Felix, who looked like he could barely keep his eyes open, helping his brother despite his own exhaustion.

"Joseph!" Juan snapped. "Can't you see how tired your brother is? Leave him alone!"

Felix shook his head. "It's okay, Mom. He needs help."

Juan clenched her fists, guilt washing over her. She hated how much Felix had to bear, but he always put his family first.

At school, Lisa couldn't keep her worries to herself any longer. During lunch, she sat with Chelsea, Sakura, and the rest of the group, her face troubled.

"What's wrong, Lisa?" Chelsea asked, noticing her silence.

Lisa hesitated but then decided to share. "It's Felix... my guardian's son. He's been working so hard to support his family. His mom borrowed money, and he had to pay it back. Now he's taking on so many jobs to make up for the rent. He barely sleeps or eats."

The group listened intently, their expressions a mix of sympathy and admiration.

"Wow," Sakura said softly. "He must really love his family to go through all that."

Lisa nodded. "He does. He's harsh and distant, but I've seen how much he cares. It's just... I wish there was something I could do to help."

Pharita leaned forward. "Maybe we can. If he's doing all this for his family, maybe we can find a way to lighten his load."

Lisa smiled faintly, grateful for her friends' support. "Thanks, guys. I'll think about it."

As the day went on, Lisa couldn't stop thinking about Felix. She admired his strength and determination, even if it came at a high cost. She found herself wanting to understand him more, to be there for him in some way.

But Felix's walls were high, and Lisa wasn't sure if he would ever let her in.