Holy Tuesday: Finality

April 14, 2009

The night before, Ian, Eduard, Billy, and I (Babyline went home to their house) planned to go to Ian’s school to get his final grades for the school year and then go to my friend’s Internet shop to let you know I live hehe.

In the morning, when all the light bulbs were off, Ian, Eduard, and I ate our breakfast; took our baths; and dressed up to go to Ian’s school. Billy had his friend over at their house (which was beside the compound where Lola and our family live) and were sound tripping, so he did not come with us. I could not force him, so we just left without him.

I wanted to go with Ian to his school to get his card with him, but you know teenagers, so I said Eduard and I would just wait for him at my friend’s net shop, which was just a few minutes walk away. He was hesitant to show his card when he arrived and warned me of his not-so-high grades. I decided to see his card, when we’re already in the car on our way home.

At the net shop, I uploaded three very short posts, mostly about random thoughts (and NOT emo! hehe) and chatted with eks and PJVP. Mostly, I needed reassurance from them that I’d be doing the right thing, that is, declining a job offer to be a Writer/Web Content Administrator. I think it sounds better that it actually is hehe. After 2 weeks of deliberating with eks, we finally decided against transferring work.

I don’t know, but after thinking while sleeping (oh, yes) on Monday night, I realized that, after weighing the pros and cons, in the end, what would matter is where you’d be happier, or not sadder. I’ve always known that salary is not the only factor in work, but actually choosing between two jobs was a brain wrecker. After the yes’s from eks and PJVP when asked if I’d be doing the right thing, I sent a mail declining the new job. I would have accepted that job had things been different. Oh, well. I cannot have it all. Surprisingly, I am no longer bothered with that decision. I don’t know, but there must be something being with the kids that made me decide with finality what I wanted or needed.

After sending the mail, I talked with my friend whom I haven’t seen for months already while the two kids were social networking, watching trailers, and playing Sponge Bob games. Over a box of donuts, my friends and I exchanged stories while waiting for the two to finish. Would you believe that they were in front of the computer from 11 am until 2 pm, and they wouldn’t have noticed that we were missing lunch had I not told them? Kids and computers. I thanked my friend, and we left the net shop.

In the car, I asked for Ian’s card. He wouldn’t give it at first, so Eduard grab it and gave it to me. That’s my boy! hehe. At this point, Ian no longer protested. He had a fair grade, nothing spectacular. I was actually expecting lower grades because of his super resistance to show it. But I found his card acceptable. I told him that it is okay not to be honor or not to get high grades; that he passed his subjects was enough for me (this is my line of thinking when I was still studying, though I’m not sure if it’s right hehe). And that he should also show his card to Lola because Lola deserved to see the fruits of the education she’s been paying for. I think he understood.

When all the children were asleep, I went out with old friends, some I haven’t seen for 3 years, at 11 pm and came home around 5 am. hehe. Though I knew mom would be angry if I stay until morning, I’m hoping she’d understand a little. After all, time passes fast when talking with childhood friends and hometown pips.

When I got home, after listening for a minute to my mom’s “comments,” I went to my bed and fell asleep at once. Zzzzzz…

Holy Monday: Gifts and Rewards

Because it’s been more than a month since I’ve seen my little cousins, I missed them so much. That’s why I preferred to stay with them the whole holy week, aside from my “getting away from the city” mood. Here’s the list of the characters (all my little cousins) for my succeeding stories for better visualization haha:

Ian: 15 years old; a 3rd-year high school student who was raised by our Lola and grew up in our compound; eldest and the most snob of four children (Babyline, Eduard, and Eric); likes watching TV and lying around; always fights with Babyline.

Billy: 15 years old; a 2nd-year high school student who has a serious case of hyperactivity hehe; he’s a real Dennis the Menace, setting fire his Kuyang’s room when he was about 3; lives in Qatar for 2 years now but stays here for the summer; a trouble he may be, he always gets what he wants from his parents and Lola Rosita; wants to do “mature” things; a real spoiled brat but sweet to his mom, Lola, and Ate (me).

Babyline: 13 years old; a 1st-year high school student who, like me, grew up with boys; she lives with her parents, but for a time was also raised by her other Lola (our Lola’s sister in law); she was always “accused” of preferring to stay at her other Lola’s house, unlike all her brothers; being the only girl, she was expected to be more responsible.

Eduard: 8 years old; also grew up with his parents but loves to stay in our compound every weekends and holidays, especially when I’m home; I’ve introduced him earlier; always fights with the youngest, Eric.

Eric: 6 years old; very makulit and likes to emulate people, i.e., soldiers, carpenters, and smokers; has a Down syndrome and leukemia but nevertheless very hyper; loves his papa so much and always kisses and hugs me; he and Eduard are like my shadows whenever they’re with me hehe.

(Actually, I don’t know if my descriptions would matter, but I’ve already written them, so I just hope they might be useful somehow. hehe.)

I have been absent for a while, and I’ve missed two birthdays and two recognitions. Billy celebrated his birthday in Qatar, so I’m excused with not attending, but not with the gift. hehe. After eating lunch at home, I with the 5 kids went to the mall to buy the gifts they wanted: 1 for Billy’s birthday, 2 for Babyline’s birthday and reward for being honor, and 1 for Eduard’s reward for being honor. Whew! Yeah, I faced a summative problem!

 

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