"I am Nathaniel Chance Villarta"
Villarta Mansion, Quezon City, Philippines
15 years later. . .
Just as what I always done, I am here again, locking myself on my room just to avoid any sort of argument with Dad. He will surely get mad on me by the time he heard the news, and I knew that he already heard it. Because he is very famous, being one of the most powerful and most influential men in the world, every highlights about his life are always on the headlines of television news, newspapers, radios and internet. And because I am his son, this day's highlight is my decision to drop out on Harvard Med School.
I turn off my cassette when finally, I heard loud bangs on the door. When I open it I received a heavy punch on the jaw.
"What do you think you're doing Nathaniel?!" Dad shouts at me. He throws directly on my face those popular tabloids. Just like what I have been expecting, I am the topic of their headlines.
'Villarta's Descendant Dumps Harvard'
'Nathaniel Chance Villarta, A Harvard Drop Out!'
'The Eldest Villarta Leaves His Unfinished Business in Harvard'
'Harvard Top News: Villarta Hits Father's Edge, Leaving Med Behind!
Great! Just Great! So, all of them think that I only went back here in the Philippines just to pissed my dad off and escape States. Good grief, I still manage to smile in spite of Dad's anger.
"I am tired Dad. Med school never caught my interest. I am bored."
"What the?!" He is about to give me a punch again but he manage to regain control. "So that's it, you left med school because you are bored? You think that's a reasonable idea?! Well, get back to that Harvard again and persuade you professors. Don't worry for I'll arrange everything back to normal again," he said.
"So, money again? Money, money, money. Dad, I already told you, I don't want to go in a Med School."
"Then what do you want?! Return to your life on the trash?! Get back to that school or get lost with your inheritance! I never get you out on that poor- "he is about to slap those words right on my face again. Every time we gone on this, he never forgets to make me feel that I am not his real son.
"Dad, I know that I am not of your blood," I said with a pale smile.
"Nathaniel, just do what I want," he said firmly then left without a background glance.
"Oh boy," I heard Dinah said before me. She is our governess- me and Ryan, when we were still young. She seems to be the mother-like figure for me.
"Don't bother," I said as I throw myself on my bed. I smile at her. "Just get all that trashes out." I am referring on those newspapers, which Dad brought here.
"Just call me if you need help," she said then left.
That night, I was gone thinking about so many things. It's been fifteen years now since Dad happened to adopt myself and my brother Ryan. Because he had the money, we were sent on high class schools, particularly in Brent wherein we pursued our grade school and high school days. Of course, he spent hundreds of millions there.
Right after that, he ordered me to take medicine in Harvard while Ryan was sent on a flying school sponsored by Dad. The two of us disapproved the idea but he already made the final decision. Supposed to be, Ryan and I preferred Maritime operation as our first choice but Dad longed for a pilot and a surgeon sons. So that's it, things turned out to be his way.
After seven years of main stay in Harvard, I decided to quit. Actually, there were only few months left and few units to take up in the row for my specialization then I will be graduated sooner.
I can still remember how my dearest friend Alfred Rothstein reacts on my decision. Alfred is my friend in the orphanage who is not really an orphan. We also became classmates in the Med School.
"Oh, boy! How cruel you are?! Can't you stay for few months more? I can't believe you. It seems like you're going to betray your Dad," then he laughs.
Actually, we are buddies in every aspect, even in orgies. We were very supportive on each other, so when I told him that I will go back to Philippines just to enter Maritime School, he just only cheers me up.
By the time that I already set up my flight here, I already sent my admission papers on the College of Maritime Education and Training. Now, they asked me to report on an interview the next day.
At the age of twenty-two, I am very much happy on this accomplishment. Good decision Nat, I thought.
When I sent Ryan a telegram about this news, all he can say is "Wow!" then he congratulated me, assured me that he will also do the same by the time he had finished taking up flying course.
The next day, I went to the university. Because of my well-done interview, high-standard background, finest personality, six footer height, good looks and being smart and respectable, I easily being admitted and is expected to take up classes starting next week. At the same time, I happened to meet Michigan Chiawase, my friend and classmate in high school.
Michigan Chiawase is a full blooded Chinese, five feet four inches in height, very pretty and smart. For two years now, she is a professor of Maritime education here, finishing suma cumlaude on their batch.
"Nathaniel, is that you?" she asked with an overwhelming smile.
"Michy," I said.
"I thought you were in States? What happened?"
"Kinda' finding myself here," I answered.