It was the year 2024.
A simple salary man can be found rushing through the room of his studio type room. He has black hair, brown eyes, and he is wearing long sleeved shirt. He has a messenger bag slung over his shoulder, and a hand carry bag which carries his lunch. He looked over his watch and saw the time. It was already 8:00 AM.
"Damn, I'll be late at this point."
So he started rushing. Before going outside of his room, he checked everything just to make sure that he didn't forgot anything.
Outside, he suddenly met his neighbors, one grandmother and her grand daughter.
"Lola, good morning! Good morning Liz!"
The grand daughter, Liz, is an 8 year-old girl with black hair, black eyes and wears a school uniform for elementary students.
"Uncle! It's not Liz, it's Liezel! You should not forgot the 'el'!"
"Ugh... Uncle? Hey, I'm not even in my thirties yet! I'm just 25 years old today. I'm just a humble YOUNG man, from a humble roots."
"Hahaha, 'uncle' is old, 'uncle' is old! Hahahaha!"
Liz is evidently having fun teasing his 'uncle', on the other hand, uncle is not having the time of his life...
"Liezel, stop it. Sorry, Felix, this apo of mine is a bit naughty you see."
Felix, who was pretending to be angry in order to humor the little child, suddenly stops his antics and looked at the grand mother. The grand mother is a woman who has parts of her hair white, however, her skin shows minimal signs of aging. Her eyes though gives a level of experience which is typical for people with old ages.
"It's okay, tita Kath! There's no harm done."
"Hohoho, tita? Though I may look like this, I am now 66 years old."
"Woah, tita. 66 years old? You look like you are in your thirties!"
"Hohoho don't kid me kid. Oh my, look at the time! it's already 8:10 AM. You might be late for your work, you want to come with us via car?"
"Don't worry tita. It's okay, and besides, Liz's school is on the other side of where I will be going."
Grandma Kath seemingly unconvinced, looks worried.
"You sure? Even if I am 66 years old I can still drive though."
"It's okay tita. Let's go towards the elevator first, little Liz might be late."
"Okay. Let's go towards the elevator first."
The trio went towards the elevator and rode it. While inside the elevator Grandma Kath inquired about the personal details of Felix's life.
"By the way Felix, where's your parents?"
Felix scratched his lips while thinking for a bit.
"They're separated. Legally married but lives apart from each other."
"Oh, I'm sorry, if you don't mind me asking, where are they?"
"Yeah uncle, where are your parents?"
Felix, while scratching his lips again, thinks and responds.
"My mom works as a lawyer, for a multinational company, my father on the other hand, lives abroad, he is an American too. Also, every time my parents meet here in the Philippines, all they do is quarrel, but deep inside I know they still love each other. By the way, tita, where's your family?"
Grandma Kath, smiles softly at Felix while stroking little Liz's hair.
"They are both in a much better place."
"Oh... I'm sorry tita."
"it's okay. It was all in the past."
The atmosphere became a bit awkward, but thankfully 5 seconds later the elevator door opened.
Felix, seemingly thankful to the elevator door for saving him from further awkwardness, steps out together with the duo.
"You sure that you do not want to come with us Felix?"
"Thank you for the offer tita, but I'm fine. I've been receiving multiple gifts and foods from you guys since I started living here a half-a-year ago. I should be the one to give you gifts instead for all the help you have given me."
"Don't mind the gifts, I'm just being a good neighbor. To tell you the truth, Felix, I am already treating you as my second son. Okay, how about we do this? You'll play with little Liz here every I'm not at home, and if something happens to me, take care of my Liezel."
"Grandma, don't invite disasters, nothing will happen to you."
"Yeah! Grandma, Liezel will take care of you!"
Liezel puts her right arm forward in a position similar to the Korean gesture 'fighting!'.
"Looks like I do have a little guardian angel after all. Alright, you should be going now Felix, you do not want to be late, right?"
"Alright Grandma, thank you."
As they step outside of their condominium, Felix stroked little Liz's hair and said his goodbyes.
"Grandma, little Liz, see you later alright?"
"See you later uncle Felix!"
"See you later Felix."
Felix put on his air pods and walked towards the train station and was... not so surprised when he saw the long line.
"Damn. What a line."
It took Felix 25 minutes to go to the train platform. He was exhausted due to how hot the country is now.
While waiting for the train to come, Felix received a call. Looking at the screen, the contact name was "Moooom". Felix answered the call.
"Hey my lovely mom, why'd you call?"
The person on the other line's voice was heavenly. Even though Felix's mom was a lawyer known to have a fierce and righteous voice, her voice towards his son was soft and fluffy.
"Hey my handsome son. I just called to check up on you. How's single life treating you so far?"
"Mom.... I chose being single as a profession..."
"What? you still believe in your father? That if you stay as a virgin for 30 years, you will be a wizard?"
"Come on mom! By the way, how are you doing?"
"Changing the topic are we? Alright, your lovely mom is at the courthouse today. I was getting ready for my case before I called you."
"Oh, good luck mom okay? I hope you win this case."
"Alright son, thank you! I love you so much! You take care alright?"
"I love you too mom."
The call ended afterwards, however, his phone started ringing again. Looking at the screen, the contact name was "Fatheeer". Felix answered the call.
"Hey Dad! Why'd you call?"
"Hey son. I was just checking on how single life is treating you so far."
"......"
"Hello, son?"
"You do know that mom called me just now and said the very words to me."
"I don't kno-"
"Come on, if you want to check on mom, then go tell her!"
"But... but...."
"What but, but? Just go call her."
"But it makes me not manly..."
"..."
As Felix was talking to his dad, he can hear the train finally coming to his platform.
"Alright dad, train is here. Go call her. Go call her fast before she go defend her client. You should defend your relationship not just your manliness, okay? babye!"
"Bye son, I'll go call her now. Thank you son."
As the call ended, the train arrived at his platform, he waited for the passengers to get off it before boarding the train himself.
Once the train departed his station, he was continually listening to music, looking at the scenery of the concrete forest outside the window, he reminisces his family, his friends and, the grandmother and grand daughter from his condominium. He removed from his mind the future stress that his work will bring, when suddenly..
*BOOM!!*