"I'm okay here Dad, don't worry about me," Erik replied laughing while talking on the other line to his father, Fidel, who was with his mother who was left behind in Canada.
"Come on, give me the phone and I'll talk to that son of yours," he heard his mother Aurora's voice which caused Erik to laugh softly.
"Mom, don't argue with Dad, it's just the two of you left together there," he joked and then laughed softly as he continued to separate the white and colored clothes that he was going to wash.
"What are you doing there and what is taking you so long to come back here? Well, it's been a year since you left, when will you come back here? Your grandfather never stops asking us questions about when his favorite grandson will come back. Nor did I or your dad know how and what to answer," his mother's long litany caused him to laugh weakly again.
"Mom---," but his mother quickly cut off everything else he wanted to say.
"Why are you laughing at me? Hey Enrique, maybe or have you ever forgotten your obligations here? In your grandfather's business. Your cousin is having a hard time shouldering all the work. Be thankful and you're not like other people out there who need to go job hunting to find one. All you have to do is to work hard and just have a good life. You have everything and yet they seem nothing to you!" his mother's continuing sermon to him.
That's when Erik bit his bottom lip to stop another soft laugh from escaping his mouth. He knew that when that laughter reached his mother's ears, her litany and sermon would be even longer.
Well, he's used to her.
His mother has been like that since he was a child. And when she didn't get angry and she didn't scold him, he knew something was different.
What he said is true, it has been a year since he left Canada and returned to the Philippines. That was to court and marry Keira. His best friend is now happily married to a rich businessman, Charles Salveron.
That plan was formed for the benefit of Nadine.
His former girlfriend left in Canada.
Like him, she is also a Canadian citizen.
But his family, especially his Grandfather Solomon, did not like what he did.
Nadine was the ex-girlfriend of his cousin Albert who committed suicide when the former broke up with the latter.
He knew that Nadine was not at fault for his cousin's decision after all. But he also cannot blame his family who was hurt so much because of the loss of their loved one.
He planned that he will marry Keira to get the part of the property that his grandfather will soon give to him as his inheritance. And the money he will get will be used to pay the debt of Nadine's father to his friend who owes him a lot.
Does he really love Nadine that much and is he ready to do something bad for her?
Erik just shook his head at the thought.
He even planned to disturb his own best friend from her quiet life because of his greed.
Erik once again felt a strong pinch of conscience that seemed to remain in his chest and only woke up when he thought about that plan for the past year.
He hasn't asked for Keira's personal forgiveness about that yet. But to the Lord God? There hadn't been a night that he did not mention it in his prayers.
"Enrique!" again, his mother yelled at him from the other side of the line. "Are you listening to me? What are you doing? You don't seem interested in what I'm saying?" Aurora continued in the same tone.
"Mom, I'm fixing my laundry, I'm sorry if I cannot give you my full attention," he answered then laughed. "Please tell Grandpa I will go back at the right time. Right now I am still busy here and enjoying being an Architect," he added.
He heard his mother's deep sigh from the other line. Then she spoke again. But this time in a kind tone.
"Alright, I'm sorry if I scolded you again. I know that since childhood that's what you really wanted. Your father and I are just, well you know feeling regretful of the good life that awaits you here, son. Because of your profession, well, you can practice that whenever you want. Your grandfather's business is what you need to focus more on right now, what you need to study more," his mother continued to tell him.
Erik smiled at what he heard. "I know that, Mom. And don't worry, even though I'm here I can find a way to help Robert in running the business and farm.
That's true, using the internet he is still able to talk to his cousin Robert about running their Grandfather's Dairy Factory. Also, about the farm where they get the milk they use to produce dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, butter, and many others.
"Mom, I have to put the phone down, I'm going to do laundry and later I also need to clean the house. I don't have any free days except Saturdays," he informed his mother.
"Okay, well, it's better if you can find someone who can clean and do your laundry, son, so you don't have to do those things anymore. Well, you're already tired from working for a week, and you still going to do things like that?" now he felt the concern in his mother's tone.
"Hey, Mom thank you for that. That's why I love you so much, and maybe that's the reason why Dad loves you so much too," that was true inside him.
"Flatter me more, go ahead. You take care of yourself, alright?" she instructed before the line was completely cut off.
Shaking his head while smiling, Erik dropped his phone on top of his bed and then continued what he was doing. After a few more moments, he decided to put his white clothes in his automatic washing machine.
He actually bought it even though the old washing machine they used before they migrated to Canada was still okay.
It's better when it's automatic, while he's busy, he still has time to cook and clean the house. He saves more time.
Just like before, he preferred to clean the house and cook at the same time while doing his laundry. After all, when it rings, all he needs to do is hang up the clothes.
He started sweeping his room when he noticed the old cabinet in the corner of his room. He remembers, his mother used to put all his old belongings there including his old books and also his high school yearbook.
At the last thought, Erik's heart was suddenly filled with a strange kind of emotion. That's why he approached it and opened it.
Books and old notebooks, as well as posters that used to be attached to the wall of his room, are inside the cabinet. But his aim was different, so the young man did not pay attention to everything that he first saw.
He immediately picked up a thick book with a hardcover.
It was his high school yearbook.
Erik opened it and looked for the page where he was and his Salutatory Speech.
He even laughed softly as he looked at the young version of himself as if it was the first time, he saw an old photo of him from high school.
As expected, the ambition written there is to be an Architect.
No regrets because he fulfilled his ambition in life.
When his eyes moved to where a beautiful face greeted him, Erik smiled.
Mia Licerio, their Class Valedictorian.
The girl that no matter what he did, he couldn't beat her in all subjects. Because she's really brilliant.
Ambition: To be a veterinarian.
Erik couldn't understand.
Where is Mia?
Where is the only girl he doesn't find at least a little bit of admiration in the eyes every time he looks at her?
That's true. Because he thinks that she was the only girl who is immune and doesn't care about his charm.