8 The Tantrums

Anita was sweeping their backyard when she heard the noise created by her husband and sons so she immediately went into the dirty kitchen and prepared their lunch since it was already late for them to take it. She heard them laugh and whenever she heard their laughter, she felt so contented and happy knowing that despite all the hardships that they have undergone, they have survived and remain happy with their simple life.

She called them out for lunch and her sons stood up immediately and assisted their father stand and walk towards their dirt kitchen. Berto was a little bit tired after the long hike he made with the sack of soil he carried. But whenever he sees his wife Anita, its seema like all the pain he feels vanishes.

He had suffered a lot after his elder brother sold all their property to a multi millionaire businessman of whom his brother met a abroad. Even his family had suffered a lot during the time that he had just started to make his own family.

He was watching his sons enjoying the food that their mother prepared then looked at Anita his wife. He could see traces of hardships survived in his wife's face but she could also feel the warmth that it brought him that made him survive all those years.

"What are you thinking Berto?" Anita asked as he approached his husband and giving him a glass of water. "I've notice you having that look for a couple of days already."

"I was just thinking of Augustus and his dreams and how I can provide him at this moment."

"Papa, don't worry too much. I will still achieve my goals but I will just manage to strive hard and sacrifice a little of my time," Augustus spoke after hearing his fathers words. "I already have plans and how to achieve it. Please don't worry too much."

"We will find a way soon, I believe." Anita told both his husband and son. "I believe that thru hardwork and determination our son will succeed Berto," Anita then turned and spoke to Augustus, "And please don't mind of support my son. We will do our part as your parents even in the least that we can do."

Augustus remained silent as he knew that even if he stops them from worrying too much? they will still find1 a way to support him.

"What about your new job papa? Tell us about it. Have you really met that Don Maximus who is the talk of the town lately?" Leonard ask as he was also curious with the noted Don Maximus and his wealth and personality.

"Yes I've met him but he's not what I've expected from the rumors around town." Berto told his sons. "He seems to have an attitude that I can't understand and everyone around his household fears him but when I spoke to him, we converse normally. But there's just something about him I can't explain or even describe. I heard him scolding and insulting some of his housekeepers and it was just so terrible but the way he talks to me is so different."

Martin was a little too worried with what his father had told them. He knows that there must be a reason why Don Maximus was like that to his father.

"You just have to be careful papa, what I heard from town was way too different from how you describe Don Maximus. Just do your job there and that's it." Martin reminded his father.

"Don't worry Martin, I will be extra careful. And by the way," he called out Augustus, "You will be helping me out in Don Maximus rest house Augustus. We will be starting tomorrow so you need to work up early."

"But I have to accompany mama in the market tomorrow morning papa," he reminded his father since the following day would be a saturday and that day is always scheduled by his mother for marketing and buying grocery items for a weeks consumption.

"Leonard will just accompany her for the main time since tomorrow is very important for me," Berto said as he intend to make tomorrow a good impression to Don Maximus for his son Augustus.

At Don Maximus house a little girls loud cry can be heard from the dining area. Little Olivia was making some tantrums again throwing some of her stuffs all over her room. Her assigned housemaid went running up to her room and as she opened the door she was hit on her right cheek by a sharp object that made it bleed.

"Agh! What's wrong Olivia? Please stop throwing things." She went near to her and as soon as the little girl saw her bleeding face while she got a towel from one of the drawers, Olivia sat down at a corner and stopped what she was doing awhile ago.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you hungry or something?" the housemaid again asked.

Olivia just looked away without an answer and the housemaid understood it. Olivia wanted to express herself but she doesn't't want too because aside from the fact that she doesn't want to live there she also hated the local dialect which she cannot underatand that everyone around her is using.

The housemaid then got Olivia to sit down in the edge of the bed. She wiped her face with a towel and changed her clothes. After that, she got snacks from Olivia's own refregirator in her room and offered it to her. While the little girl took the snack out to the balcony, the housemaid silently cleaned the room. She saw wet paint scattered in the floor, the ceiling and in the mirror. The canvas that stood with a trace of a face was not yet finished and but had an "X" mark on it. Probably it was the reason why the little girl had tantrum awhile ago.

She slowly went outside, "Olivia, I am already done cleaning your room. If you need anything, just tell me okay."

Olivia just looked at her with a blank expression.