CHAPTER 2 "DANIEL TRINIDAD"

AS Ara expected, a week after her high school graduation, the results for her application for student assistant at the university she will attend came out. And the young lady was very happy when she found out that she was one of the students who passed.

"Mama! Papa!" Ara was just at the gate of their house when she started calling her parents.

She knew they would be very happy to hear the good news and she was not mistaken. Her mother even hugged her and so did her father Anselmo.

"Our children are really smart, Susan. In that case, we have to celebrate. You choose, sweetheart, we will go out for lunch, or let's just cook a special dish here at home?" her father smiled as his eyes twinkled with joyfulness.

That was when Ara shrugged her shoulders and then spoke with a smile. "We can just cook something for lunch, it will be less expensive," she replied.

That was when she saw her parents exchange meaningful looks because of that. So eventually Bella went to the market to accompany her mother in buying the ingredients for Menudo and Kare-Kare that they will cook for their special lunch.

*****

DANIEL was on the veranda of their big house then and his mother Marielle was currently on the phone when he saw a blonde-haired woman.

He was immediately taken aback.

Not only because of its beautiful complexion which is not difficult to compare with porcelain but also her refined and modest walk is striking.

"Daniel, son? Are you still there? Can you hear me?" from the other line that was what his mother asked him.

"Ah, yeah, Mama. I'm sorry," he quickly apologized.

"Don't stress too much in your studies okay, you should enjoy it too? I don't want you to get sick," his mother told him softly and that made him smile even though his eyes were still fixed on the blonde woman who now walks farther from their house with what he thinks is her mother who also has the same white complexion but dark hair.

I wonder what she looks like?

The question that was playing on Daniel's mind at that moment, then he looked back when he saw the girl rode the tricycle with the woman who was with her.

"Daniel," he heard his mother called his attention once again.

"Ma, sorry again," he said softly.

"What's going on with you? Why do you seem distracted?" Daniel's mother was in a tone of mixed curiosity and amusement so the young man could not stop himself from laughing softly.

"No Ma, sorry," was all he said so that his mother would not have to ask any more questions.

He is like that.

He did not like long, meaningless conversations.

He also does not like to be asked too many questions, especially when it comes to personal matters.

And his mother knew that.

His mother is in New York and works there as a Communications Manager.

He was only ten years old when his father Danico died because of a heart attack, so since then his mother has done nothing but work for him and his older sister Danica.

"Okay, I'll just send you the money for your enrollment later as well as your allowance for this month. Study hard son, so that when you graduate you can finally join me here with your sister. I miss you both, so much," Daniel felt in the tone of his mother's words of what she said.

He is the same as his mother.

For more than ten years their mother remained working abroad just to provide the best for him and Danica. He could count on his fingers how many times they had been with her. Usually, that only happens during the Christmas season, when their family is complete.

"I miss you too, Mama," Daniel couldn't help but admit that to his mother.

It was as if Daniel could see the beautiful smile on his mother's lips as he answered.

"Do you already have a girlfriend? Well, I want you to know that it's okay with me if she is not rich. My future daughter in law can be simple and not very beautiful. The important thing is that she is always ready to accompany you, and most of all love you," her Mama reminded him.

That was when Daniel smiled sweetly.

This was not the first time his mother had asked him that question. Nor was it the first time she had reminded him. In fact, he has already memorized almost her dialogues. But maybe that's how it really is, she's in another country, far away from them, and in fact, if Danico, a good Civil Engineer, had not passed away early, they might be with their mother right now.

Marielle may not be abroad and their family may still be whole and together. Just like his other friends who go out every week and have time for so-called family bonding. And most of all, he might be talking to someone about the things he was going through as a teenager.

He was very eager for the love of a father because he was very close to Danico when he was still alive. The same goes for the care and tenderness of a mother. Because no matter what others say, he will admit that he is a certified mama's boy.

For Daniel, he did not see anything wrong with that.

Maybe some people just gave a bad connotation about the word but the truth is, he does not see anything wrong if a son loves his mother very much. If he is close to it and this is what he considers as his best friend. Especially to someone like him who is deep and secretive.

Loving your mother means more than not having your own disposition in life.

Because of that, even though he is close to his mother, he is still able to decide for himself. It's just like which woman he wants to date, or whatever course he wants to take, and even going to New York after he graduates is also not mandatory.

He admits that he was naughty to women but he was not a cheater.

He is also not the type to flirt with a girl, then when they finally fall on his charm, he'll leave.

His mother taught him to respect women even when he came to the point where he encountered girls who almost get undress in front of him just to get his attention.

"Daniel?" his mother's voice interrupted the young man's deep thought.

"So far, nothing, Mama," he said softly.

"So far nothing?" amusement is in the tone of Marielle's voice.

"Lilet and I have broken up already, Ma, it's been almost four months," Daniel said with a sigh.

Lilet is his last and longest relationship. He was only in his first year of college when he met her, but because his mother decided to buy a house in this part of Manila, Lilet who left in Cebu decided to broke up with him.

"I'm sorry son, it seems that my decision to buy a house in Manila was not a good idea?" his mother.

"It's okay, maybe we're just not for each other so that's it," that was true inside him.

Cebu is where they actually live for a long time. But since their Mama decided to buy a house here in Manila, they decided to just move here. Their mother just hired a caretaker to have someone who can maintain their old house left in the province.

It has only been a week since he and his sister Danica moved here to Manila. But as he said, it has been almost four months since Lilet broke up with him and he understood that.

Lilet does not want a long-distance relationship so even though they may have been together for three years, she decided to end it all with them.

He was hurt. Even up to these past few days there are times when she still crosses his mind especially in times when he is alone.

But what can he do? It is not right for him to insist on what he wants because Lilet does not want it anymore. So he released her even though it was hard.

Daniel is currently in his third year of Civil Engineering.

Yes, the course he took was similar to the profession of his late father.

He wants to pursue his father's dreams. He wants Danico to be proud of him, wherever he is right now.

"Okay handsome, I'm going to rest, if you need anything just tell me. And by the way, please tell your sister to call me tonight," his mother instructed.

"All right," was his short answer and the line was cut.

He seems to be predicting what his mother will say to his sister later.

Danica, his sister also wants to work there as a nurse. That is also one of the reasons why their mother bought a house here in Manila. Just in case his sister leaves, at least he will not be left alone in Cebu.

But for him, just in case he is here in Manila or in Cebu, there will be no difference because he will still be alone.

At the last thought, he just sighed silently.

That's okay, he understands. He can be left alone and will not feel bad. Because if for the people he loves, he is always ready to understand.