Managing my own life (2)

I continued to do the work of an all around extra-staff at shipping company of Cong. Wang. I did auditing and secretarial job mostly. I also prepare the payroll sheet for the manager to approve. All these are done in the office but when I am at Cong. Wang's house, I help in some chores then bury myself in my review materials. Mostly I catch myself sleeping on my seat.

It had been like this until the day of examination finally arrived. I asked a week leave to go up to B City to take my exams....and maybe visit my family. I wonder how things are going on up there.

.....

After my exams, I decided to check Niel at school to ask how things were going at home. I caught the earliest trip to the North and was at BK village before noon. Niel was so surprised to see me inspecting his messy room.

"Don't you know how to tidy up your things? Your room is so messy!" I said.

He just ignored me like nothing and sat down on his chair.

"Papa suspects that you ran away with your boyfriend without telling him." He said.

"Boyfriend?Who?" I asked raising my brows and there again, I was agitated at the thought that they wanted to manipulate me.

"Who knows? He thinks you are just fooling around with men." He shrugged.

"Did you hear anything about their plan with the Arevalo or Stanley?" I inquired.

"I think they are just waiting for you to come home. I heard Stanley is now working with a construction firm in B City. " Niel informed me.

'So there's no point going home then. Let them fix their own problem! I'll manage my own life from now on. I'll pursue my dream! Now that I am free, no one can tie me down!' I said to myself silently as I stared blankly at the sketch I posted on the wall. Niel never bothered to take down anything I posted. It was a huge tower which spiraled to the clouds as an airplane flew above it.

"Niel, I am working now. I have no time to go home. I just came up to take my exams but I will return as soon as possible. Tell Papa and Mama about this. Also, I don't have a plan to marry yet. " I said

"That's good! Then you can support me with my studies, right?" Niel beamed a smile.

"No need to tell me that! I know and that's why I choose to come here instead of going home. By the way, did Blessy not enroll? "I asked. Blessy is the girl next to Niel. She attended high school at a nearby secondary school because she had to stay with our aunt from mothers's side.

"She was sent to a vocational school in town." Neil said.

"Oh ok. That's good!" I said.

Thinking about the developments being done on Mt. Sleeping Beauty, I wanted to fish out some information from Niel.

"By the way, how's Sleeping beauty now? Are there many hikers and campers? " I asked.

"Not much these past previous months but now that rainy days are almost over, there are some groups we passed by on our way home. Also, there was a Mansion-like house near the view point. A lot of neighbors say that it is yours because the entrance has your name." Niel said as he twitched his lips as if in dismay.

"Haha! What do I have to do with it? Let them think that its mine. They will die in envy! Haha!" I laughed. "But how does it read? Mansion Fem? Or Fem Law Mansions" Hahaha" I continued laughing.

"Fem Manor. It is etched on a stone tablet infront of the yard. You should see it. It's beautiful!" Niel said.

" So are there people living in it already?" I asked.

"I think no, I just see some men sometimes when I pass by. I don't know them though." Niel said.

"Hmmmmm...." I cleared my throat as I nodded.' If the Arevalos were the developers, it's not far from suspicion that they have named that house after me. But why?' my thought wandered.

"Don't you want to go home first? You should check with our parents. They are worried about you." Niel said.

"Niel, I am an adult already. I can manage my life now. What worries do they ha e about me? They should worry more about you!" I said.

"I'm just saying..."He said.

"I need to catch up the next ride Niel. Do you need something? My workplace is in the south side of the country so it will not be easy to send money to you." I said as I pulled out some bills from my wallet, put it down on the table and instructed him to stay on budget, not to mis-use his resources.

I went down to auntie Ely's store and paid Niel's rent for the whole year before I waited for the last trip bus going back to the city.