CHAPTER 4 | Embers of Loyalty

Raffy's POV

As days turned into nights, our bond as friends grew even stronger. However, life had a way of testing our friendship's resilience. One evening, as I found myself in trouble, I ended up confined at the barangay for three days. During my absence, James stepped up to help my mom, Esther, make ends meet.

"Ma, don't worry. I'll do what I can to support you and Raffy while he's away," James assured my mother with a determined expression.

Esther, grateful for the support, replied, "Thank you, James. Your kindness means a lot to us."

With a heavy heart, James looked for ways to earn some extra money. He turned to Gie, a regular drinking buddy who had expressed a peculiar interest in him in the past.

Gie, who had taken a liking to James, approached him with a mischievous grin. "Hey, handsome. How about spending some quality time together?" he suggested suggestively.

James, taken aback by the proposal, hesitated for a moment. He needed the money, but he wasn't comfortable with the idea. "I-I can't do that, Gie. I appreciate your offer, but it's just not something I can do," he replied firmly.

Gie, undeterred, leaned in closer. "Come on, James. It's just for fun, and I'll pay you handsomely," he persisted.

James shook his head, mustering his courage. "I can't compromise my values for money. There must be another way," he said, standing his ground.

Despite turning down the indecent proposal, James continued to explore alternative ways to earn money. He took up odd jobs around the neighborhood, offering his assistance in various tasks. His determination to help my mom and support me during my confinement never wavered.

Meanwhile, during my three-day confinement at the barangay, James visited me daily, keeping my spirits high. He regaled me with stories of his attempts to make money and his encounters with Gie, which left us both laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

As I was released, I felt grateful for James' unwavering support and strength. "Thank you for being there for me, James. You're the best friend anyone could ask for," I told him, my voice filled with sincerity.

He grinned and patted my back. "Don't mention it, buddy. We're in this together, through thick and thin," he replied, his loyalty shining through his words.

With our bond stronger than ever, James and I faced the challenges that life threw at us with determination and resilience. We continued to support each other, sharing both joys and sorrows. Despite our struggles, we found comfort in knowing that we had each other's backs.

As we triumphed over those challenges, our friendship deepened even further. However, life became more difficult for us as James' mom, Martha, insisted on enrolling both me and James in the Alternative Learning System (ALS). We were reluctant at first because we knew that attending school would significantly reduce our earning potential. The hours we would spend studying meant less time to work and earn money.

Despite our objections, my mom and James' mom were determined to see us receive an education. They pulled out all the stops to ensure we had the opportunity. My mom even sought help from our neighbor, Rhoda, who willingly lent us a helping hand with our finances. As payment, James accompanies me on various odd jobs, humorously calling it "operation barurot" to make ends meet. Although the thought is against James' principles, he still insisted on accompanying me with those indecent types of jobs.

Before our exams, I made sure to help James understand the lessons better. I knew he was apprehensive about his ability to grasp the subject matter due to his perceived weakness in academics. However, to my pleasant surprise, I was proven wrong. James had been secretly studying hard and understood the material better than he let on. While he might not be the best conversationalist, he excelled in comprehension.

The day of the exam finally arrived, and we anxiously waited for the results. I was concerned about James, given his self-doubt, but I remained optimistic. Both of us were relieved and thrilled when we found out that we had both passed the exam. It was a day of joy not only for us but also for James' parents, who were ecstatic about our achievements.

As I returned home to share the good news with my mom, I was met with a heartwarming surprise. The house was adorned with an array of red, white, and yellow roses, and my mom greeted me with a sweet smile.

"Mom, I have great news!" I exclaimed, my face beaming with joy.

"Of course, dear. But before that, let's dance a little to celebrate!" she suggested playfully, and we danced together in our little shack.

"Alright, spill the beans, Mom. What's your good news? I thought my passing was the best news of the day," I said teasingly, not knowing what the news was.

My mom chuckled. "Oh, you're not the only one with good news. Your father has come back," she revealed.

My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words. My father had returned after being absent for so long. I had mixed emotions, but I tried to focus on the positive news for my mom.

"That's... that's wonderful, Mom," I stammered, trying to process the unexpected news.

My mom noticed my reaction and quickly intervened. "Hey, don't get all worked up just yet. Let me explain everything first," she said with a calming tone.

I took a deep breath, giving her the chance to share her story.

Mom began, her eyes distant as she recollected her past. "I was a G.R.O. in the past, and that's where I met Jigger Wee. He was a Chinese-Filipino from a wealthy family known for their elitist ways."

I could sense the weight in her words and carefully responded, "I can imagine it wasn't easy for you back then."

Mom nodded, a sigh escaping her lips. "No, it wasn't. We fell in love, and for two years, we kept our relationship hidden. We rarely engaged in intimacy to show that our bond was more than just physical attraction."

I listened intently, trying to grasp the complexities of Mom's past. "But what happened when he decided to inform his parents about your relationship?"

"That's when everything changed," Mom revealed with a hint of pain in her eyes. "He informed me that he had decided to reveal our relationship to his parents, who had strict expectations for him. They wanted him to marry someone from a wealthy family to secure their business's future."

With a furrowed brow, I asked, "And I was born around that time, right?"

"Yes, you were," Mom affirmed softly, her gaze locking with mine. "He prayed fervently for a son to continue the family line and secure their business legacy. When you were born, he was overjoyed, believing you would be the key to gaining acceptance from his parents."

My eyes narrowed as I processed the revelation. "So, I was just a means to an end for him."

A mix of sorrow and regret crossed Mom's face. "It's painful to admit, but yes, he saw you as a solution to his predicament."

"And what happened when he went to reveal the truth to his parents?" I probed further, my emotions starting to swirl.

"He never returned," Mom replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was as if he disappeared from our lives, leaving me heartbroken and alone with you."

"I can't believe he would do that. He's my father, and he abandoned us," I said, I started to feel anger and it can be heard in my voice.

Mom reached out and gently held my hand. "I understand your feelings, dear. It was a betrayal of trust, and I'm sorry you had to go through this."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Did you ever try to find him or reach out to his family?"

"I did try, but it was futile," Mom replied a tinge of sadness in her voice. "His family had no intention of accepting our relationship or acknowledging you as his child."

"It's just so unfair. I can't help but feel resentment towards him and his family for using us like this," I confessed

Mom gripped my hand tight, and she nodded. "I know it's not easy, but we must focus on building our future now. He is now back and ready to be a father to you. It won't harm us if we give him a chance. And besides, it's been tiring, living like this, poor as rats."

I tried to understand everything, but it is difficult to process as this is a very strange thing to me, having a father. The only father I know is James' dad, who has been so good to me all this time. We continued reminiscing about everything we'd been through together until the time we met James and his family.