"Really it's going to Manila, okay I've got to go now. I can take care of myself. I'm great, I have my own ways at things!" the young boy's joyful answer and immediately run towards the ship for Manila.
"That boy's kinda crazy. I think he's going to sneak in and board that ship...Ah... I don't think he can, there's just too many many mariners at the entrance. I've got to eat first, I'm feeling slightly hungry. He looked at the young boy intently, he could see the boy was looking for a chance to be able to sneak in unnoticed by the ship's officials. He was amused and laughed a little at the young boy. He walked towards a small eatery just a few walks from where he was standing. While he was eating he also watched TV. He looked back from his seat to find the young boy. He didn't see him. I suppose he got tired waiting for a chance to sneak in and went home instead. He really enjoyed his food and afterwards he drank Coke, he immediately stood up and left the eatery. Slowly, he walked towards the big ship. After he boarded with his luggage, he was walking straight to his cabin when he heard something nearby.
Chapter 2
"You, you're still too young and too small, you really expected that you could sneak in under my guard. I used to that when I was little, you can't used that trick on me. I'm too clever and experienced for a midget like you!" he said smiling while he held him by his little arm as he tried to free himself from his clutches.
"Mister please let me ride, you, you're too kill joy. Come on let me ride now, I'll just see my handsome dad in Manila. We two are just as handsome. You should be nice to me!" the young boy answered smiling.
"Ah, ah... that won't work on me I'm so used to my little children your age patronizing me just to get what they wanted, Why don't you just go home, handsome boys ought to be home at this hours, don't you think," he answered.
"Brad let go of him, that's my son you're grabbing there," the tall man intervened as he approached the two.
"Really this is your kid. You little boy, why didn't you just tell me earlier, we could have avoided this. Look I'm embarrassed now," he said and immediately released the boy, and walked away smiling, feeling relieved.
"Hey you're the one I talked to earlier..." the young boy said and looked up at the tall handsome man.
"Yes of course, you're damn to gutsy for your size. Come and walk with me to my cabin and let's talk for a while," he invited the young boy.
After they got inside the cabin, the little boy sat on the bed. "Thank you really... by the way I'm Tom," the boy introduced himself.
"Huh, your name is Tom, really?" he asked as he looked down on the young boy's handsome face.
"Yes, my name is Tom, Tom Wilson."
The tall man eyed the young boy for a moment. "What's the name of your mother, then?" he asked, thoroughly looking at his face.
"Mari, Maria Wilson. Are you going to pay for my fare. I really want to see my dad Henry," he said. "Ah... you... what's your name, huh?"
"I'm Henry, Henry Wells," he answered fast and smiling. "So your my son with Maria, huh"
"Really you're my father, you're not lying, you're not making fun of me!" he said looking up to him expectantly.
Henry immediately hugged his son, the son he had been looking for. "I traveled here and looked everywhere for you. I had been looking for you for a long time. I lost hope and I thought I'll never see you. So I decided to board the ship and sail back for Manila," he said joyfully to his son.
Suddenly the two heard some noise from outside the cabin. Henry immediately opened the door to see what was going on.
"Henry, yeah it's you! You're probably the one who convinced my son to run away from me, you're terrible as always. Wasn't it enough that you cheated on me and now you're taking my only son away from me, how could you," she said and stared angrily at Henry.
"Why don't you come inside my cabin first so we could talk this over," Henry said calmly.
Maria immediately went inside the cabin and saw Tom sitting on the bed.
"Tom, forgive me now, son. I know now that Alex was cheating on me. You see... I already broke up with him. Come home with me son, please forgive me. You still love me, don't you son?" she asked holding her son's hands.
"No mom, I don't want to go home, I mean not now. I want to be with my dad. I'm going with him to Manila."
"You, you cheated on me before and now you're taking my son away from me. I was the one who took good care of him. You can't just take him away from me anytime you want!" she said angrily looking at him.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I never cheated on you. Up to now I still do not know what you're talking about. You never gave me the chance to explain and you left me as if I never meant anything to you," he said. "I looked for you, but I just couldn't find you anywhere I searched. Fortunately, I heard from my friend that I had you pregnant, and that we have a seven-year old son now. Again I never cheated on you!"
"Are you nuts, I saw you kissing a beautiful girl at the Mall back then," she answered.
"Hey brother, you've got guests, are they your friends, huh?"
"Maria looked back at the voice and she was stunned at what she saw. "What did you call Henry again, brother, huh?" she asked.
"Yes, Henry is my older brother, why?" she asked curiously and smiling.
"Really, the two of you are family, you're his younger sister. I thought..."
"Yeah, I'm sure his my brother, why am I not pretty enough to be the sister of this handsome man, huh?" she answered smiling and looking at her brother.
"I saw you kissing her in her cheeks at the Mall. I really thought you cheated on me," she said unable to look straight at Henry.
"That's not important anymore. What matters most is that you know the truth now. Did you really broke up with your boyfriend, huh. What's your plan now.." Henry said smiling at Maria.
"What do you mean, what's your plan, huh?" she asked Henry.
"I mean... why don't you just go with us to Manila, with our son," he offered.
"Mom, I really don't want to go home, I want to be with my dad. If you really love me, then you're going with us."
"Come over here, maybe my hug will help you decide," Henry said smiling and embraced Maria. Slowly, Maria hugged Henry back and looked up to his face.
Overjoyed, the young boy looked at his parents embracing each other.
"I still love you, I never stopped loving Maria. You know the truth now, you know now that I never cheated on you. The three of us can stay in my cabin. Come with us to Manila and start as a family, a real happy family."
"Come on mom say yes to dad; besides, dad is much much handsomer than your ugly boyfriend," the young boy butted in smiling.
"Okay... okay fine you two are ganging up on me..." she answered smiling.
Because of the boy, they became a family. The young boy run away to look for his dad. And now they are sailing away to become a family, a happy and loving family. End Back to Home page
(Tagalog Version)
"Ayoko na sa iyo, kahit anong sabihin ko tungkol sa loko mong boyfriend hindi mo ako pinaniniwalaan!" sigaw ng guapong pitong taong gulang na bata sa kanyang ina.
"Sinasabi mo lang iyan kasi ayaw mo talaga sa kanya. Nagsisinungaling ka lang dahil ang gusto mo paghiwalayin kaming dalawa!" pasigaw na sagot ng ina ng batang lalake.
"Basta totoo ang sinasabi ko sa iyo, niloloko ka lang ng boyfriend mo. Nakita ko nga kanina iyon doon sa may kanto, binubogbog ang isa pa niyang girlfriend. Awang-awa na nga ang mga nakakapanood sa pambugbog nito eh. Tinulungan pa nga noong isang mama iyong babae, kaso naunahan siya ng suntok ng sira-ulo mong boyfriend kaya ayon bumagsak ang mama. Kaya kinaladkad uli ng boyfriend mo ang kanyang babae at sinipa papasok ng bahay nila. Ikaw na nga itong inililigtas ko sa kapahamakan, ikaw pa itong galit. Lalayas na ako, hahanapin kong tatay ko sa Maynila. Tiyak mahal ako ang pogi ko yata. Mana raw ako sa kanya sabi ng tita. Bahala ka sa buhay mo kung ayaw mong maniwala, 'di huwag!" sigaw ng bata at agad na kumaripas ng takbo papalayo sa kanyang ina.
"Sigi lumayas ka, akala mo mahahanap mo ang tatay mo nasa Maynila kaya 'yon. Wala kang pamasahe, hindi ka makakasakay ng barko ulol!" sigaw ng galit na ina ng batang kumaripas ng takbo. Naiwan ang ina, hindi niya alam kong ano ang gagawin niya. Hahabulin niya ba ang anak niya o hihintayin na lang na umuwi ito. Naupo siya sa labas ng kanilang bahay at hinintay ng hinintay ang pagbabalik ng kanyang anak. Subalit mga ilang oras na ang nakalipas ay hindi pa rin ito bumabalik. Naiyak siya sa takot na baka tuluyan na ngang naglayas ang kanyang anak. Nag-isip siya ng mabuti. Totoo kaya ang sinasabi ng anak ko? Nagpasya siyang puntahan ang bahay ng kanyang bagong boyfriend na si Jonathan. Matapos niyang maikandado ang kanyang bahay ay agad siyang lumakad patungo sa tirahan nito.
Hayon may barko, tama magtatanong ako para malaman ko kung saan ito papunta. "Mama pwede ko po bang malaman kung saan patungo ang barkong iyan ha?" tanong nito.
"Sa Maynila, baket mo tinatanong. Wala kang kasama ah... Sasakay ka ba, may pamasahe ka ba?" sagot nito.
"Sa Maynila po talaga siya, diyan ka na ako nang bahala sa sarili ko magaling yata ako!' tuwang-tuwang sagot nito at kaagad na tumakbo papalapit sa barkong papunta ng Maynila.
Lokong batang iyon ah. Pupuslit pa yatang talaga... Ah hindi makakalusot iyan ang dami kayang bantay sa entrance ng barko. Makakain na nga muna nagugutom na rin naman ako. Pinagmasdan niyang mabuti ang bata habang halatang humahanap ng tiyempo para makalusot sa mga official ng barko. Natawa siya ng kunti at nagpasyang kumain sa isang carenderia mga ilang hakbang lang ang layo mula sa kinatatayuan niya. Habang kumakain ang lalake ay nanood rin siya ng TV. Nilingon niyang muli ang bata. Hindi niya na ito nakita. Malamang nagsawa na iyon sa kakahintay kayo umuwi na rin. Sarap na sarap siya sa kanyang kinakain at matapos uminom ng Coke ay agad na lumaba ng carenderia at naglakad papunta sa malaking barko. Pagkasakay niya ay agad siyang naglakad papunta sa kanyang cabin ng bigla siyang may marinig.
Chapter 2
"Ikaw ha ang liit-liit mo pa, akala mo makakalusot ka sa amin ha hoy wais to no. Kanina pa kita napapansin gusto mong pumuslit!" natatawang sabi nito habang hawak-hawak sa braso ang maliit na batang pilit na nagpupumiglas.
"Mama pasakayin niyo na ako, kayo naman oo napaka kill joy mo naman. Sigi pasakayin mo na ako, pupuntahan ko kasi ang tatay kong pogi sa Maynila. Ikaw parehas lang naman tayong pogi. Dapat maging mabait ka sa akin oy!" patawa-tawang sagot nito.
"Hindi oobra sa akin 'yan sanay na ako sa pambobola sa akin ng mga anak kong kasing edad mo. Umuwi ka na kasi," sagot nito.
"Pare bitiwan mo iyan anak ko iyan!" sabat nito.
"Ha talaga anak mo 'to. Ikaw naman na bata ka ba't hindi mo agad sinabi," sagot nito at agad na binitawan ang bata at umalis.
"Di ba ikaw iyong kaninang kausap ko..." sabi ng bata.
"Oo naman, ang lakas ng loob mo ah. Halika na nga sa cabin ko doon na tayo mag-usap," sabi nito.
Pagkapasok nila sa loob ng cabin ay agad na naupo ang bata sa kama. "Salamat po uli ako nga pala si Tom," pagpapakilala nito.
"Ha Tom kamo ang pangalan mo?" tanong nito.
"Opo Tom Martinez ang pangalan ko."
"Ano bang pangalan ng mama mo ha?"
"Maria, Maria Martinez po. Kayo na lang po ba ang magbabayad ng pamasahe ko pupuntahan ko kasi ang tatay kong si Henry."
sabi nito. "Ano po ba ang pangalan niyo ha?"
"Henry, ako si Henry Diaz," sagot agad nito. "Kung ganon ikaw ang anak ko kay Maria, ha?"
"Talaga po kayo po ang tatay ko, hindi po kayo nagsisinungaling.
Agad na niyakap ni Henry ang kanyang hinahanap na anak. "Akala ko hindi na talaga kita mahahanap kaya babalik na lang sana ako ng maynila," tuwang-tuwang sabi nito.
Biglang nakarinig ng ingay ang dalawa. Agad binuksan ni Henry ang pintuan para malaman kung ano ang dahilan ng ingay sa labas.
"Henry, ikaw ba iyan! Siguro ikaw ang nag-udyok sa anak ko na layasan ako ano, napakasama mong talaga. Niloko mo nga ako dati tapos kukunin mo pa ang anak ko sa akin."
"Halika muna dito sa loob ng cabin. Dito na tayo mag-usap."
Pumasok naman agad ang babae sa loob ng cabin. Agad niyang nakita si Tom
"Tom patawarin mo ako anak. Alam ko na ngayon na linoloko lang ako ni Jack. Kaya hiniwalayan ko na siya. Umuwi ka anak patawarin mo na ako."
"Ayoko po mama, saka na lang po ako babalik sa inyo. Sasama na muna ako sa Maynila sa papa ko."
"Ikaw ha niloko mo na nga ako dati tapos kukunin mo pa ang anak ko sa akin. Napakasama mong talaga."
"Ikaw naman kasi sinabi nang hindi kita niloko kahit kailan eh. Hindi mo man lang ako binigyan ng pagkakataong magpaliwanag tapos nilayasan mo agad ako at hindi nagpakita. Mabuti na lang nalaman ko sa isang kaibigan ko na nagbuntis ka araw at pitong taong gulang ng anak natin."
"Anong hindi, nakita kita hinahalikan mo iyong isang magandang babae sa Mall," sagot nito.
"Oh kuya may mga bisita ka pala."
Lumingon ang babae at nagulat siya sa nakita niya. "Ano ulit ang tawag mo sa kanya kuya?" tanong nito
"Oo kuya ko si Henry, baket?"
"Talaga magkapatid lang kayo akala ko kasi..."
"Magkapatid nga kami baket ba ha?"
"Nakita ko kasing hinalikan mo siya sa pisngi sa Mall. Akala ko niloko mo ako."
"Hindi na mahalaga iyan ngayon. Ang importante alam mo ang totoo. Talaga bang hiniwalayan mo na ang boyfriend mo ha. papano ngayon."
"Anong papano ngayon, eh di sumama ka na lang sa amin papuntang Maynila ng anak mo," alok nito.
"Bahala ka mama hindi na talaga ako uuwi, sasama na ako sa papa. Kaya kong mahal mo ako sumama ka na lang sa amin."
"Halika nga rito at ng mayakap kita." agad na niyakap ni Henry si Maria. Hindi naman pumalag si Maria at yumakap na rin."
Tuwang-tuwang pinagmamasdan ng bata ang magkayakap na mga magulang.
"Mahal pa rin kita hanggang ngayon Maria. Tutal alam mo na naman na wala akong kasalan sa iyo. Kaya sama-sama na tayo dito sa cabin. Sumama ka na lang sa amin sa Maynila at buuin natin ang ating pamilya."
"Pumayag ka na mama, mas pogi naman ang papa kaysa pangit mong boyfriend," sabat ng bata.
"Sigi na nga, mapilit kayo eh.." nakangiting sagot nito.
At dahil sa bata ay muli silang nabuo. Naglayas ang bata para hanapin ang kanyang ama. At ngayon sila ay naglalayag para maging isang ganap at buong pamilya. Wakas Back to Home page
The Promise
Chapter 1
"Hey Mark where are you going? Aren't you coming with us huh?" Lester asked his office mate.
"The night is young, come with us let's have some fun!" urged George and opened his car's door.
"No guys, I've got to go home. I've got things to do at home. I really can't go with you tonight," Mark answered and looked at his watch.
"Come on where's the old Mark that I used to know. Don't let your beautiful wife boss you around. Let her wait," Lester teased his friend.
"Yeah your wife is beautiful but there are other beautiful girls waiting for you too, come with us Mark I told them you're going," George added and laughed a little.
"You two go ahead and enjoy I really have to go," Mark answered, turned his back and started walking straight. Mark could hear his friends complaining but he tried to ignore them. Mark walked and looked around. He glanced from side to side and looked. Mark saw a beautiful woman on the road. She was so beautiful, Marked couldn't help but gazed at her. The beautiful woman noticed and called him to approach her. Slowly, Marked walked towards the beautiful woman, carrying two large paper bags on both her arms. When Mark got near her, "Can you please help me open my car," she said and showed Mark her car keys in her right hand. Mark kept staring at the beautiful woman in front of him. "Hey can you help me please," the woman repeated.
"Huh, okay," Mark answered and reached for the key from her hand and opened the beautiful girl's car.
"Can I ask you another favor, could you please help me put my groceries in my car's back seat, huh?" the woman nicely asked Mark and smiled at him.
"Okay," Mark answered, took the two bags from the beautiful woman and carefully placed them on the back seat.
The woman then sat on the front seat and asked Mark to come inside her car for a while. "Would you like to seat for a while so we could talk," the woman offered Mark as she sat inside her car's front seat.
"Okay," Mark answered and sat beside her on the front seat.
"Thanks for helping me, these bags were really heavy. I'm so happy I saw you, you're so kind and helpful, thanks really," the beautiful woman said and looked at Mark.
"Your most welcome," Mark simply answered, looked around the car and smiled at the beautiful woman beside him.
"How about we go somewhere, somewhere more comfortable perhaps," the beautiful woman offered and smiled at Mark.
"Huh, really," Mark answered and looked at the beautiful face of the woman. Then Mark saw something from the corner of his eyes. Mark immediately went out of the car and talked. "I've got to go really."
"Are you sure," the beautiful woman said.
"Yeah, thanks but I have to go really," Mark answered, walked fast on the road and chased her.
Chapter 2
Mark walked faster and faster until she caught up with her. She was with an elderly woman. Mark greeted her. "Hi."
"Hi, it's you again," the elderly woman said turning back at the sound of his voice. "Ah... so you really want her huh."
"Yeah, I really do," Mark answered and looked at the beauty beside the elderly woman. Mark and the elderly woman talked for a while. The elderly woman left soon after and Mark walked back and took her to his car. When they got to his parked car. "Hop in," Mark said and smiled at her. Michael sat on the front seat and started driving. He glanced at the beauty beside him and smiled. Mark drove fast. I'm glad my wife and my son is at the grocery, I can do everything I want, Michael thought. "Don't worry we'll be home soon, we'll have the house all for ourselves, my wife and my son is at the grocery," Mark said and looked at her. She didn't say anything, but Mark felt she liked him too.
Excited, Marked drove faster, imagining what he was about to do at home. Finally, Mark arrived at his house. He looked around, he looked carefully around. Mark went out of the car and immediately opened the car for her when.
"Mark your home!" his wife called out from the opened door of their big house. Michael was so surprised to hear his wife Dona from behind. His guest hopped out of the car. Dona's eyes widened when she saw Mike's company.
"Dad your home early, huh. "Dad you bought me a puppy!" Mark's son, Chris joyfully shouted and ran towards his dad.
"Do you like this little white dog son, huh," Mark said and smiled at his wife at the door. "I thought you two were at the grocery, I was planning to surprise our son, but never mind, he seemed to like his new dog. Mark closed his car's door, turned around, and looked at his son happily playing with his new dog.
His wife smiled at him. Marked slowly walked towards his beautiful wife.
Mark's wife was kind and beautiful and he adores her. There are times when Mark doesn't really feel like going home to her. But his love for his only son, Chris and his desire to give him a happy life, with him and with his mother Dona made Mark go home everyday, every night, just like what he promised to himself when little Chris was born.
End
My Mom and Dad
Chapter 1
"When are you coming home dad," the boy asked himself softly in the middle of the night. He was only eight and nobody else was home. He has been waiting for his dad to come home for five hours. He waited by the phone and hoped that it would ring. He waited and waited. Twelve midnight and still no sign of his dad. He peeked from the window and look out on the road to see if his dad's car was coming. He went back to the sofa and turned on the TV and watched. After a while he got tired of watching and decided to go down and sat on the sofa and waited for his dad again. He waited and waited again, until finally the doorbell rang. He immediately run towards the door and opened it. "Hi there son!" his drunk dad greeted him. "By the way this is your new mom." Johnny then dragged the beautiful woman beside him inside the house and sat with her on the long sofa.
"Huh, my new mom," Chad answered his dad as he followed him from behind. "But I never even had one before."
"Well you have one now, what do you say, isn't she pretty...." Johnny said and fall asleep on the sofa.
"Hi, what's your name huh?" Chad asked the beautiful woman who was staring at him intently.
"I'm Jenny, I'm your real mom," she answered and distanced herself from the drunk man.
"You're my real mom, how come, my mom's dead dad told me," Chad answered wondering whether he is going to believe her or laugh.
"No I'm not. I met your dad at a party, dated for a week and after about 9 months you were born," the beautiful woman narrated.
"If you're my mom how come I never saw you, we don't even have a picture of you," Chad added.
"Because I left afterwards, I went out to buy a plane ticket but when I got home your dad had left with you," the woman narrated further.
"And you never tried to look for me, huh?" Chad asked.
"I did, for almost a year, I tried and tried but I couldn't find the two of you," the woman explained.
"And now you suddenly found dad and I is that it, huh?" Mark said wondering if she was indeed telling the truth.
"Not really, your dad applied for a job at my Pawnshop and that's how I found him. He was so embarrassed he ran away. But I had our guard followed him. I was here the other day when you were at school. He wouldn't tell me where you were but I saw your school uniform right here on this sofa. So I told him I was going to see you at school. I came to see you today, but he told me we had to talk first. So he brought me to a restaurant. He saw a friend in the restaurant and they talked for a long time about something. And when his friend left. He still didn't say anything to me. I told him I'm going to take you with me whether he likes it or not. But he said you won't come with me. He said you love him too much to leave him for me. And then he told me to wait and he'll think about it. I waited but he just drunk and drunk for a long time. And so now here we are. I'm your mother, Jenny," she ended introducing herself to Chad.
Chad looked at her for a long time. "So what now, what am I supposed to say to you, huh?" he asked her.
"I understand, you're not sure whether I'm telling the truth or not. But when your dad sobers up we'll talk to you about us. At least he told me that before he got finally drunk," Jenny said smiling a little.
"Okay, you can leave now. I can take care of dad," Chad said and opened the door for her.
"Oh no I'm not leaving son, I'm staying. I won't let your dad take you away again," she said, walked, closed the door and went back to the sofa.
"Okay then, I'll just go upstairs and bring dad a pillow and blanket. He then left and soon after he put the pillow under his dad's head and covered him partly with the blanket. He then went for the switch and turned it off without saying a word and walked fast up the stairs to go to his room. He left his mom in the dark without a pillow, a blanket or a bed.
In his room, Chad lay on his bed and slept immediately as if nobody came. He fall asleep.
Chapter 2
"Wake up, I've prepared your breakfast," Jenny said as Chad opened his eyes. He stared at her and wondered why she was still around.
"Where did you sleep, huh?" he asked.
"Beside you, where else, I'm your mom," she answered smiling at Chad. "Come down while your milk is still hot."
Chad looked on the side of his bed and saw another pillow besides his. "Okay," Chad said, stared at her and walked out of his room going to their dining table. When he got there, he saw his dad eating. "Come here son, did you talk to your mother, huh? Are you going to leave me now, son. I don't have a job anymore. You can go with her if you like. But I'm sure you won't, would you son?" he asked Chad. Chad sat in front of him.
"So she's really my mother, huh?" Chad said and looked at her mom as she entered the dining room.
"Yeah, she is. What are you going with her or your staying with me, huh?" he asked again looking at his son's eyes.
"I'm staying with you dad, I'm not going anywhere with her," he answered his dad.
"You heard our handsome son Jenny," Johnny bragged looking at Jenny.
"Well, you don't have to go anywhere with me son, because I'm staying here too. See, I'm really your mother, we think alike," she said, smiled and stared at Johnny.
"You mean your not leaving me alone again, " Johnny teased her and looked at his son's face. "Go ahead eat son, enjoy your first breakfast with your mom in the background."
Chad ate and didn't say anything both to his mom and dad. After he finished eating, he started. "So you're my mom and your my dad. We're all be together in this house. I guess no one is at fault. You two probably has good reasons, so I won't bother asking. "If you're really staying then stay, but don't expect anything from me because it's not happening not now, not ever," Chad said, stood and went for his room and took a bath. Afterwards he went down and went straight for the door and left without saying anything to his mom and dad. The two was left in the living room staring at each other. "Welcome home," Johnny said.
"You're still the same, you never change," Jenny answered.
"If I do, you won't look at me the way you're looking at me now," Johnny said smirking and opened the TV.
"You still think you're so handsome, that won't work on me now. I got a better looking man for a husband. And he is coming to visit me anytime soon," she answered and smiled a little.
"What you're married," Johnny said and looked at his fingers. "You're not, you're lying, you may not approve of my ways, but you're incapable of loving anyone but me. I can see it your eyes."
"Really, now. You just wait, you'll be impressed, I'm sure."
Johnny looked at her for a while and shrugged off what she said and went to his room upstairs. Jenny went to the kitchen and washed the dishes. Afterwards she looked around the house and saw her son's pictures in an album. She took it and sat on the sofa. She turned its pages and kept looking at his sons pictures and smiled a little. Looking at the pictures, she realized her son was happy being with his father. And wondered how she could make her son accept her, love her. Shortly, Jenny saw Johnny coming down the stairs fully dressed up.
"I'm leaving the house, you can stay if you want," Johnny said as he got near her.
"Where are you going, are you going back at my Pawnshop to apply," she said smirking. "We can do the interview here if you want."
"Oh no Ma'am, my friend just called, our company has new investors and their keeping the most efficient and handsome employees, either way I'm in. I'm reporting for work Ma'am and who else could greet and welcome them better than me," Johnny bragged looking at Jenny. "And just because your beautiful it doesn't mean you can stay in my house for free. You could at least prepare dinner and clean up a little while I'm at the office. But don't worry, I'll help you when you're cleaning my room and my bathroom."
"I'm not your maid Mister, I was almost your boss, remember," Jenny talked back smiling a bit. "I'm reporting for work too, Sir."
"Ah and I thought you love our son, I wonder what he'll think if he doesn't find you here when he comes home this afternoon. Well, if that's the case I'll fetch Chad at school, go somewhere and and we'll probably go home tomorrow to pick up his school uniform. Bye beautiful," Johnny winked at her and opened the door to leave.
"Your flattery won't work on me again," Jenny said looking at Johnny.
"Really, why don't you look in the mirror and read," Johnny answered, laughed a little, walked to his car and drove for work.
Immediately, Jenny walked towards the mirror, looked and read. She didn't like what she read, she read a repeat, a repeat of the past, the past when she first saw Johnny at the party. She frowned a little but smiled a bit when she remembered how Johnny's face looked like while he was looking at her. She immediately vanished the thought, walked back to the sofa and sat. She sat there for a long time and thought what Johnny had told her before he left.
Chapter 3
"Hey dad, your early are we going home now, huh?" Chad asked his dad Johnny.
"Oh no, I got my work back son, I'm taking you wherever you want to go," he said smiling and put his arm on his son's shoulder.
"Really, I'm so glad to hear that dad, can we go see a movie at the mall dad," Chad asked his dad.
"Okay son, whatever you want," Johnny answered smiling.
The two then walked towards Johnny's car. And when they reached it they were a bit surprised. "Hi son," Jenny greeted her son as she rested her back on Johnny's car.
"What are you doing here?" amused, Johnny asked looking at Jenny. "I thought you're going to your great Pawnshop."
"I was almost your boss, remember, I own it. I could come in anytime I want," she talked back smiling.
"Step back lady, you're blocking our way, we're going to watch a movie at the Mall," Johnny informed Jenny.
"My what a coincidence again, I was also planning to watch a movie at the mall, how about you go with me son?" Jenny asked Chad.
Chad just looked at her. "Hey Chad your mom is asking you if you want to go with her," Johnny butted in.
"Are you trying to make me like you huh?" Chad asked looking at her mom.
"I'm trying to make you love me, I'm your mom, I missed you and I want to be with you," Jenny answered and held his son's hands.
"Okay son, we'll let this lady come with us or she might cry, you wouldn't want to see her cry son, believe me," Johnny said smirking a bit looking at Jenny's face.
"Okay then, but only because dad told me so," Chad said and pulled his hands away from her mom.
"Thank you Johnny," Jenny said and frowned a bit on Johnny.
Johnny noticed so he opened his car's door. "Hop in my beautiful lady, you can sit beside me if you want," Johnny teased Jenny. Chad sat on the back seat and immediately closed the door. Jenny had no choice but to sit on the front seat beside the smirking Johnny. When everybody was comfortably seated, Johnny started driving towards the mall. Jenny looked back at her son and smiled a bit. Chad looked at her for a while and looked away. Johnny continued driving. He glanced at Jenny. Jenny is still so pretty, I can't deny I still like her, Johnny thought to himself. I wonder if she's really married, ah... but I don't think so. She's not even wearing a ring, she probably said it just to annoy me.
Chad noticed his dad glancing at Jenny and saw him smiled a bit at her. I think dad still likes mom, he's just trying to hide it from me. My mom's really pretty. I really want to be with her too, but I'm afraid she'll take me away from dad. I'm going to pretend I don't like her, so she won't have the guts to take me away from him, Chad thought to himself and looked alternately at his mom and dad.
Jenny glanced at Johnny. Johnny is still so handsome, I can't deny I still like him, Jenny thought to herself. But I'm here for my son not for him. I'll just stick to my story that I'm married so he won't go near me as much, Jenny finally thought and looked back at her son once more. She noticed he was looking at her intently. She looked back on the road and smiled a bit.
Johnny glanced once more at Jenny. I still love her, what can I do. I'm getting her back and if I have to use my son, I'm doing it, he thought to himself and smiled a bit.
What if... okay... the father and son thought together and laughed a little.
Suddenly Chad noticed something. "Dad I thought we're going to watch movies...." Chad asked his dad.
"No, son I changed my mind. We're going back home instead. Hey Jenny, if you still want to watch a movie I can drop you off," Johnny said and pulled over at the side of the road. "You go watch a movie while Chad and I will watch DVD at home. Is it okay if we just watch DVD instead son?"
"Huh, yeah I'm fine with it dad...." Chad softly answered and smiled a little.
"I'm calling you a taxi if you want Jenny," Johnny offered Jenny and smirked a bit. "But by the way your glaring at me, I think you just changed your mind and would like to watch DVD instead with us at my... my house. But I think it would be better if you cook your famous spaghetti mixed with pork adobo while Chad and I watch DVD at my living room. Chad, you know your mom's spaghetti used to be my favorite."
Chad noticed that her mom was still glaring at his dad. "Really mom you're good at making spaghetti?" Chad asked his mom.
"Huh, yeah I make delicious spaghetti, all kinds of spaghetti Chad. Why would you like me to cook one for you at your dad's house, huh?" Jenny replied and smiled at her son.
"Yeah, okay I just want to know if dad is really telling the truth about your spaghetti," Chad simply answered at her mom.
"So, it's settled then we're going back home," Johnny said and started driving his car. Johnny drove slower and and glanced at Jenny by his side. Jenny frowned at him but Johnny just smiled, still glancing at her. "You know Jenny I missed your cooking... but... I missed you even more... Really I missed you Jenny. Maybe it's my fault why we broke up. I still love you and if you still love me why don't we get back together even just for our son Chad. Unless you're married...."
"Huh, you're married mom?" Chad raised his voice a bit and asked his mom.
Jenny hesitated for a while. "No... I'm not really married son."
"Aha, so you're not married. Why don't we get married instead Jenny. It would be fun with Chad in the background," Johnny teased seriously and glanced at Jenny while he was driving on the road.
Chad looked and waited for his mom's answer.
"I don't remember you being the marrying type Johnny..." Jenny softly said and smiled a bit.
"I am now Jenny... will you marry me huh Jenny?" Johnny asked Jenny.
"Yeah okay but only for our son... "
"I don't care what your reason is, just marry me Jenny, just marry me!" Johnny answered, smiled and turned his car around.
"Dad I'm happy you two are getting married, but I thought we're going back home to watch DVD with mom," Chad asked.
"Son with me and Jenny back together, I don't think I would be watching DVD with you at home. I'm taking your mom for a movie date instead. Then we'll go home and you can watch DVD downstairs all you want. Unless... your mom Jenny wants to go home right away," Johnny teased and looked at the smiling Jenny.
"Okay, let's go to the movies dad so you and mom could go on a date. And... and don't you worry dad I can find myself a better seat..." Chad said and smirked.
End.
The Orphan
Chapter 1
What am I going to do now. Where am I going? All his neighbors had gone home and he was left all alone at the cemetery. They had just buried his mom. His father passed away a long time ago. And now he was the only one left in the family. He didn't know any of his relatives. They were just renting their house. His mother did not pay rent for the last three months. He had nowhere to go. He said his final good bye to his mom in her grave and prayed a little to God. Lord what's going to happen to me. I'm only nine years old, who's going to take good care of me now? Suddenly, it started raining. He looked around and ran towards the large gate of the cemetery. He was a bit soaked when he reached the road outside. A big bus stopped and a woman stepped out. He touched his pocket. This is all I've got, he thought. He ran towards the bus and climbed up, inside he looked around and found himself a seat near the window. He sat holding his pant's pocket. Holding on to his last possession. The bus was full of passengers and he heard from one of them that the bus was going for Manila. He was so tired. He haven't slept since last night.
"Hey, wake up little boy!" said the bus conductor. "Do you have a place to go, huh?"
The young boy opened his eyes and looked at the man in front of him. "Where am I, huh?" he asked and rubbed his eyes.
"We're in Manila now, you can't sleep here," he answered and warned the boy. "I knew you haven't paid, I just didn't wake you up because you looked so tired."
"Here, here's my last money," he said and held up his palm to the conductor.
"No, it's okay. Use that wherever your going to," he answered.
"Thank you, I can still use this money to buy some food, I'm really hungry, thanks again," the boy answered and started walking out of the bus. He was walking on the roads of Manila. He saw many tall buildings, cars, and a lot of people going somewhere. He looked around and inhaled. I have nowhere to go. Maybe I'll just walk around and find any food that my money could afford. There, there's a woman selling bread on the street in her basket. Maybe my money will be enough to buy a cheap bread. He walked towards the vendor and tried to buy something. Luckily, his money was enough to buy one. He sat on a bench to eat the bread that he bought out of his last coins. He looked up first on the tall buildings and tried to open the plastic covering of the cheap bread.
"Help! That boy snatched my school bag!" a girl from far ahead yelled. He saw the thief running towards him. When he got near him, he immediately grabbed the bag away from him. The thief didn't stop and left running away.
"Hey thank you, thank you so much!" the beautiful young girl thanked the boy as he handed her the school bag. "My school project is in there, and if you haven't recovered my bag I wouldn't know what to do. I'm supposed to submit my project today, today is our deadline. Thank you really," she said and looked at the young boy's face and smiled.
"No, that was nothing," he answered and looked away.
"By the way I'm Sarah, you, what's your name, huh?" she asked the young boy in front of her.
"Michael, I'm Michael," he answered and looked at the pretty girl's face.
"Hey, I had passed here before, but I haven't really eaten anything these vendors are selling around here. That looks nice and delicious," she said and looked at the bread Michael was holding.
"If you really want to eat this, I'll give it to you," he said and smiled at her.
"Really, thank you. It's good mom isn't around because she wouldn't allow me to eat anything outside our school," she confessed and took the bread from the handsome boy's hand. She immediately ripped off the plastic cover and started eating the reddish bread. "My this is really tasty, and it's fillings is so sweet, just like you," she said giggling and looked at the boy's face.
"Huh, really you think so," he answered and tried to hide his smile at what he heard from the beautiful girl beside him. "No, I'm not sweet really, it's just that you're so pretty."
"Huh, me pretty... of course I am, sometimes I don't really like lying, you know," she answered and smiled at him. "I've got to go now, I still have classes, bye. Hey, I go to that school, you can see me there if you want."
"Okay, I'll see you there after I find a place to stay..." he said but the girl didn't hear what he said because she went immediately running towards her school. When she reached her school's gate, she looked back, smiled and waved at him. He smiled back at her, she turned around and walked happily along with some uniformed school kids. And in the midst of vendors selling breads in their baskets, Michael was left so alone and so hungry. Michael gave Sarah's school a last look and started walking. Ah... where am I going now. With an empty stomach, Michael roamed around the streets of Manila once more. He was hungry but he could still picture out the girl's pretty face in his mind. He smiled a little and walked on. Michael saw another bench and walked towards it, he was feeling so weak and tired. Suddenly, a woman screamed. "Help us! That boy snatched my bag!" Michael saw the woman and a man chasing after the snatcher. When the snatcher got near him, Michael immediately grabbed the bag away from him. Michael stared at the snatcher's eyes. "You! You again!" Michael said in disbelief.
"You! You again too!" the snatcher answered back and sped away. With the bag in his hands, Michael looked after the speeding snatcher and before everything went black, he swore he saw a halo on that boy's head.
Chapter 2
"Hey, wake up," said the man.
"Hey, wake up," said the woman.
"Here, here's my money... here's my fare," Michael answered with his eyes still closed.
"Huh, what money, what fare, what are you talking about?" the man answered and shook Michael once again.
Michael rubbed his eyes and looked at the man and the woman in front of him. "Where am I, what am I doing here?" Michael said and started sitting up from the sofa of the unfamiliar house.
"I'm Jim and you're in our house, we saw you fainted after you recovered my wife's bag from that silly snatcher," the tall man explained and sat in front of him.
"You're a brave boy, I owe you a lot, thank you for recovering my bag," the beautiful woman thanked Michael and sat beside him. The couple looked intently on Michael's face. Then the couple looked at each other, nodded and smiled. "Are you hungry, have you eaten, huh?" the couple asked.
"No, I haven't eaten since yesterday," Michael meekly answered and looked around the sala of the big house.
"Really, so that's why you fainted," Jim said and looked at his wife once again.
"Okay then, you just wait a little and I'm getting you some food from my kitchen," Jane told the hungry and handsome young boy.
Jim looked at Michael and asked. "What's your name, huh, where are your parents?"
"Me, I'm Michael," he answered. "We buried my mother just yesterday. I'm alone now, my father died a long time ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, so you're an orphan now," Jim said sympathetically.
"Yes I am," Michael replied and looked down on the floor, almost in tears.
Jim gently patted his head. "It's okay, I guess you just have to learn to toughen up and move on."
"Here, you can eat now Michael," Jane said and placed the food on top of the small table in front of Michael.
Michael immediately grabbed the fried chicken and started eating. He ate and ate. He didn't even look at the couple. He just ate and ate.
"Hey, slow down, you might get choked," Jim teasingly warned Michael and glanced at his wife.
"I'm sorry, I'm just really hungry," Michael softly answered and went on eating afterwards. Amused, the couple looked at Michael as he finished off his plate. He then drank the glass of Coke, and smiled a little at his reflection in the mirror.
"This young boy is so handsome," Jane said and glanced at his husband.
"Maybe, you mean handsome enough to be our son Jane huh?" Jim teased his wife.
"What do you mean, huh Jim?" Jane asked her husband.
"You see Michael here is an orphan, he told me a moment ago," Jim replied and put his arm on his wife's shoulder.
"Is it true Michael you're an orphan, huh?" Jane asked hurriedly. "We don't have a child, and we're really looking forward to adopting one."
Michael didn't say anything. He simply looked down on the floor.
"Don't you want to be our new son, Michael," Jim asked Michael. "We'll take good care of you, you're still so young. You need someone to look after you."
"Really, you want to have me as... as your son, huh?" Michael looked up and alternately looked at the couple.
"Yes Michael. We'll be very glad to adopt you, you're a good looking boy, and you seem to be a nice kid. Anyone would want to adopt you," Jim answered and assured Michael.
"Let us adopt you Michael. We didn't have a child for years now. You'll make us very happy!" Jane urged Michael.
"And very proud," Jim punched in and smiled at Michael. "You'll live with us in our house, we'll give you anything you need. We'll send you to school. Just say yes Michael."
"You'll send me to school, really..." Michael said with a school in mind and smiled a little.
"Yes, really Michael. Hey Jane we just have a son, a new son, a very handsome son!" Jim exclaimed and looked his wife.
"You just don't know how happy we are to have you as our son Michael," Jane said and held Michael's hands.
Michael looked at his hands, at his clothes and shook his head a little.
"Huh, you're dirty, you look dirty Michael, but you still look good don't you worry," Jane assured and smiled at Michael.
"Okay, I'll take you to the shower, you can clean yourself up if that's what you want to do now," Jim said. Jim then brought Michael to the bathroom. "You can shower now Michael. We'll wait for you downstairs, okay," Jim told Michael and left.
Michael immediately opened the shower and bathe. The water felt so good for Michael. He reached for the soap and scrubbed hard. Michael looked around the bathroom and started rinsing. He rinsed and rinsed. He remembered his mother, a tear felt. But he tried to console himself and toughen up. He rinsed and rinsed and grabbed the towel on the corner to dry himself. He looked at himself in the mirror, he looked better now. Michael then wore the clothes Jim left him. Michael liked the way the clothes looked on him in the mirror. He opened the door to return to the living room when he heard something, someone.
"No Aunt Jane, I don't want to meet that boy, I already have a boyfriend. And he is so handsome. If you only saw him, you'd like him to be my friend. He is so nice and kind, and he said I'm pretty," the girl said from below. Michael listened some more.
"Oh no, your boyfriend can't be handsomer than our new son," Jane teased the girl.
"You mean you two have adopted, Jane, Jim, huh?" asked the young girl's mother.
"Really, you have a new son. So our old plan to marry our children when they're grown up is finally happening, huh?" the young girl's father said.
"Yes, and you'll be very impressed, wait till you see him," Jim replied smiling and patted his best friend's shoulder.
From above, Michael listened some more.
"No you're not listening Uncle Jim. I said I already have a boyfriend, just this morning!" the girl replied aloud.
Just this morning, Michael thought and walked forward to see who he was hearing downstairs.
"Michael! Hey Michael you're here!" the girl shouted looking up at Michael and started walking fast to climb upstairs.
"Sarah! Hey you stay, don't climb up here! You said too much about us already in front of... in front of.." Michael said and hesitated.
"In front of Mom and Dad son," Jim butted in smiling.
Michael smiled and walked fast down the stairs. When he got down he approached Sarah. "I didn't know I was your boyfriend," Michael said and looked at Sarah in front of him.
"Huh, I only said it because I thought auntie was introducing me to another boy. But I can be your girlfriend when we're older and you have to give me flowers, chocolates, you have to take me to places that I like and you have to be there every time I want to see you," Sarah answered smiling and looking up at Michael.
Michael hesitated a bit and looked alternately at Jim and Jane. "Don't worry Michael, I'm buying you everything your spoiled and demanding future girlfriend wants," Jim teased and assured Michael. Michael's face brightened up, looked back and smiled at Sarah.
"And..." Sarah started.
"And what...?" Michael asked and waited.
"And above all, when I'm already your girlfriend you have to buy me again that cheap and delicious reddish bread, or I'm breaking up with you!" teasingly, Sarah told Michael.
"Huh, okay I will, I will, I promise!" Michael hurriedly answered and laughed a little.
Amused, the four parents smiled and looked at each other.
Yesterday Michael was an orphan, but today he has a new home, and a loving parents. Michael smiled at Jim and Jane, and looked back and held the hands of the lovely girl he's destined to marry twelve years later.
End