Chapter Fourteen: Test

Pagkarating naming ni Gabriel sa mansion ay nag prisinta siya na magpasok ng mga gamit sa kwarto na uukapahan ko. Iginala ko ang mga mata sa paligid, wala akong masabi. Napakaganda na para kang nasa hotel, may sariling CR bawat kwarto. Nasa baba ang maid's quarter area, bale nasa 2nd floor ang kuwarto na tinutuluyan ko. Sa kabilang kwarto ko sa may kanan ay ang isang guest room habang sa kaliwa naman ay ang kwarto ni Greene. Hindi ko alam kung saan ang kwarto nang magkapatid. Pansin ko iilan lang mga kasambahay na nakikita ko. Isa sa kusina para magluto, at ang isa ay para maglinis.

Pagkatapos kong ayusin ang mga gamit ko ay bigla akong napatingin sa may bintana ay may agad akong lumapit. Marahan kong hinawi ang kurtina, namangha ako sa aking kita. Isang malaking garden at may isang kubo na napapalibutan ng mga hindi pamilyar na bulaklak. Napatingin ako sa isang duyan na para kang prinsesa kung ikaw ay uupo. May mga nagliliparang mga paru-paro at nagkikislapang mga palamuti.

"Garden of Joy" mahina kong basa ko sa isang karatulang nakasabit sa may tapat ng pintuan ng isang kubo. Kung sino man ang nakaisip nito ay isa lang aking masasabi. Napakahusay niya! Narinig akong tatlong katok bago marahang bumukas ang pintuan ng aking kwarto.

"Naayos mo na ba ang mga gamit mo? "Tumango na lang ako kay Mike nang mapansin kong napaka-pormal ng kaniyang kasuotan.

"I will leave for now because of an emergency in our company. Sa iyo ko iiwaan si Greene, can you take care of him even though I know Kuya Gab is here?"He courteously asked me.

"Yes, you don't have to worry about Greene. He's so cute, adorable, and sweet. Who wouldn't love him? I know it's out of my job description, but may I know where his mom is? "

"Sorry, but I can't answer your question." I nodded at him. I know it's too personal.

"Anyway, pinadala ko na sa study room ni Greene iyong mga gamit. You can start your work now. I'm sorry if I can't tour because I need to go now. Perhaps, if it's fine. Next time? "I understand him. I know that he's a busy man. Who wouldn't?

Habang lumalaki na tayo mas bumibigat at tumitindi ang responsibilidad na natin sa buhay. At hindi maiiwasan iyon.

"Okay lang naman, but if next time. Then next time." Sagot ko lang sa kanya. Kaagad siyang napatingin sa suot niyang relo pagkatapos ay lumingon sa akin.

"And if you want to ask something, you can ask Kuya Gab. Maybe he can also show you around. I'm sorry, but I must go now. Enjoy your stay here," he said before he left. Iyan ang isang bagay na pinaka-iiwasan ko. Hindi man sa ayoko kay Gabriel, but I don't like when he's around. Since I met him, I have always distanced myself from him.

I care for my heart. I don't want to be attached to anybody, especially a man. It's like I feel like I don't want to fall in love again. The last time I fell on someone, I became someone I hated. I don't have any plans to enter a relationship or even settle on someone. I never thought that I wanted to marry someday. Baka, I just ran, but that doesn't mean I am fully healed.

The scars were still here, intact in my heart. Instead of planning revenge on the people I loved who hurt and treated me so badly, I just let those things be buried silently. I let the superior teach them a lesson. I don't want to get involved in a complicated thing.

Pagkababa nakita ko si Gabriel sa labas ng mansion nagdidilig. Sometimes, I find him amusing, weird, and doing extraordinary things.

"Hello, ma'am! Andyan ka na pala. Enjoying the view? "He loudly said. Kaagad akong umiwas ng tingin sa kanya, I'm mean sa katawan nya." Umagang-umaga nagkakasala ako.

"Good morning, po, mommy! "Hyper na sabi sa akin pagkakababa ng hagdan. Nagtatakbo siyang lumapit sa akin pagkatapos ay humalik sa aking pisngi.

"Good morning, my little angel," I sweetly said before I caressed her chubby cheeks.

He looks like Gabriel. No doubt; I already know it. I am just waiting for Gabriel to confess to me, but wala naman balak umamin ang lalaking iyon. I won't judge him because I have no issues with being a single father. Instead, I'm proud of those single parents because they choose to focus on their children. It's rare to meet those people who became selfless.

"Good morning, po! "He sweetly said to Gabriel before giving him a peek on his cheek. See? Even Greene, never call him uncle? This man told his son not to call him dad. There's nothing wrong with that. I never saw Gabriel say that he was ashamed of Greene.

The only question I can't think of is why. Why did his son address him as dad?

We started to have a study lesson in Greene's room. I'm amazed by Greene because I think he doesn't need me. He's indeed a gifted kid, a genius. Starting with English, mathematics, science, and history. But something I noticed about him is that he's struggling to draw, which is like me. He's also not fond of colorful things and romantic tales. Patapos na kami sa study session niya when I ask him.

"Did you sing, my little angel? "Tanong ko sa kanya habang sinukulay ng daliri ko malambot nyang buhok na kulay ginto.

Nakita ko kung paano biglang lumungkot ang kanyang mata.

"I don't sing, po. mommy. Is it okay, po? You won't leave me, even if I can't sing. "Baka nga anak sya ni Mike.

"How about your dad, Mike? Did he sing? "Habang patuloy kong hinahaplos ang malambot nyang buhok.

"No, mommy. He also can't sing, po," he said in a low voice.

"Then, who is the one you know that can sing? "I innocently said to him.

Yes, hinuhuli ko ang batang cute na ito. Some of the old ancestors said, Kids never lie. Napapakamot sya sa buhok nya habang iniisip kung sasabihin niya ba kung sino. See?

"It's a secret, po, mommy. I can't tell you, please. I made a promise, po." Matalino ngang bata ito.

His elders guide him attentively. For a simple instruction, he keeps following. The ESP textbook was indeed right when it indicated that a child's behavior reflects the way he or she was raised by her guardian.

Our family home is a good foundation for how a child will speak, act, and respond to his or her environment. A healthy environment can produce healthy fruit. It also says that a flower can bloom beautifully depending on where the flowers were planted.

We can connect in contemporary times because, when we observe different children, some of them grew up in unhealthy environments. So, it's possible for them to adapt to the negative traits and absorb negative feedback that will be tattooed on their minds.

We should always be mindful of our surroundings and the people we will interact with. Because of those negative vibes, it is possible that we can also adapt to them.

"How about we make a promise? you would tell mommy. And mommy won't tell that person." Pang-uuto kong sabi sa kaniya.

"Hmm, what do you think? "Nakita ko naman nag-iisip siya habang nakahawak sa ang isang kamay sa baba niya. Nakita ko naman na parang gusto niyang sabihin kung sino. Kaya kalaunan umiling na lang siyang bilang sagot.

"No po, mommy. We made a promise first." Pailing-iling na lang ako bago ipinagpatuloy ang huling gawain naming sa isang subject nyang natitira.

"It's fine, my little angel. Mommy can understand you."

I am glad that his family raised him without a mother by his side. I also see how alive his hazel eyes are every time he looks at me. It's full of hope and color, which reflect his life. Having without a mother in his eyes is never a lack of desire to continue to grow up as a better person.

Keeping a simple promise gives an impact to a person who makes you a promise that a secret will stay between the two of you. People nowadays can't keep a simple promise; it's difficult for them to keep it private. That's why loyalty is crucial, especially when living with high-standard and competitive people around you. It's like finding a needle in a haystack to meet those rare people who will stay by your side.

Luckily, those people have them in their lives; it's a treasure and a blessing to have them, whether you are in your highs and lows in your journey. People are easily deceived by those luxuries' things-money, fame, even anger-and fake truths. They will choose to clean their hands rather than join in while digging for dirt to earn money.

And I am one of them.

•••

I have no against raised by a single parent. Single father or single mother. It doesn't matter as long as we do a better for our child or children.

It doesn't less us or those child who grew up on that.

We shouldn't let be corrupt by those negative naysayers na walang ambag sa buhay natin.

What I'm mean is, hindi importante kung saan o anong level ng pamilya tayo nagmula.

We should always keek respect everybody.