268: SOMETHING NEW

SOMETHING NEW

It has been, what? Seven? Eight years? Since I left my home? Did I regret it? No, not a bit. Did I suffer? A big yes! Was I tempted to go back to my parents and asked for their help? A lot of times. But the determination to be true to my word was more remarkable than to give up.2

Here I am now, about to graduate with Latin honors in my master's degree. My parents were not beside me. I remembered how my mother begged for the nth time to let them escort me, but I vehemently denied them, for I know her, my mom will do anything to be on that day.

"Are you not proud of us as your parents?" my mother cried. I chuckled at her expression. She's been a drama queen lately, and my sibling rolled their eyes at their mother's antic.

"Mom! You know I won't do that to you. I just don't want special treatment, that's all!" I tried explaining to her.

"They should treat you special since you are the top of your class! Scratch that, the top of your batch!" I just shook my head as a response.

"Oh mom! If my brother won't allow us to go, we can find ways, alright! I just know exactly what to do…" I heard my only sister interjected, and I could only imagine Avyanna grinning cheekily.

"Avy! Don't you dare plant senseless ideas to our mom!" I protested, still smiling, for I know I cannot win against her and mom.

"Too late, brother! Consider it done!" she laughed evilly.

True enough, my whole family were in front of me, sitting at the stage as the honored guests and sponsor for the graduation and even catered food to all the faculty and admin staff. I was in the first row sitting, eyeing Avynna, who's hiding her mischievous smile.

However, I stiffened when I heard the person sitting at my back.

"Man, those brats sure are lucky to have a family like that. I wonder where their eldest son is?"

"Nahh.. I am more interested on the girl. She's smoking hot!" I immediately looked behind my back and hissed at them.

'How dare he talk about my sister like that!' my face flushed in anger. My mom secretly glanced at me with a questioning gaze, but I just shook my head. My family will always be at the center of attraction wherever we go. I sighed and chuckled at the same time to myself.

…:heart_suit:…:heart_suit:…:heart_suit:…

"Hey Karyle! Give us a hand here! The children are about to attack me!" her friend, Zuri Collins, shouted while she was giving away the goodies to the children who were the beneficiaries of their organization.

Instead of helping her, I just laughed at her situation. She knew all too well that her friend cannot handle cheeky children.

"You have to face it my friend! Just imagine the kids are your children?"

The woman looked at me in annoyance. I could not imagine her having kids on her own, and she's too strict and stiff to have one. I laughed even more as I imagined her and then diverted my attention to checking the goods we should give later after our team's short program is currently distributing.

We are in the middle of giving reliefs and giving of psychosocial support to the victims of the earthquake in the Philippines. We immediately flew into this country the moment we have heard of the devastating effect of the earthquake.

"Ryle! They're almost done, please be ready!" Meryl, one of the facilitators, informed. I nodded at her and winked.

"First aid, check. Gallons of water, check. Blankets and pillows, check! Food packs, check! Emergency bags, check!" I breathed deeply and smiled before I turned around to face the people. I don't want to cry.

For more than two hours, we finished the work in that area. We packed up and then went to another place to give the same aid. All of them were thankful and were even surprised by what we are giving them. Their smile is enough to compensate us. The kind of smile that struggled through tears. As always, when we were in the truck, we looked at each other with tears in our eyes.

We will only be in this country for just a week and today is our last day. I was assigned to check all the areas before our whole team comes over. The kind of life I wanted to have. Free as a bird. I can do whatever I wanted to do. In this way, I felt like I was paying back those who helped my father and me.

"I miss you, father," I silently uttered.

They haven't talked since she became a volunteer. I was busy and, at times, forgot to communicate with him. Yet, I know he's doing great. Everything is back to normal after that very devastating event in our lives. I shook my head to erase those unpleasant memories.

"We're here!" someone announced. Like a soldier, we readied ourselves for another round of aid distribution.

When suddenly, the ground shook for a few seconds. The truck swayed a bit. Our first-time volunteers shrieked while the more experienced ones chuckled.

"Rookies!" they joked among ourselves, trying to suppress their laughter.

We must remain calm when we're experiencing unpleasant situations like this while we were in the middle of the distribution.

"Okay guys! Let's give our best out of the energy left in us!" I declared to encourage the team.

We gathered together, placing our hands on top of one another, and agreed in chorus.

"SERVE WITH COMPASSION!"

I smiled. I can see the fatigue on my staff's faces, yet they are still motivated to serve the community.

When I turned around, I saw the tents where the people stayed. I sniffed. They are now homeless, and it will take time before they can recover. I asked one of the community leaders while I was still surveying the affected areas. He could not stop his tears as he recollected the story of how the community cried the moment they lost their homes and some of their loved ones.

It was almost five in the afternoon when we finished everything. My team cannot help themselves but cry out of joy and pity. Joy because they served the community, while their heart goes out to those who felt as though tomorrow seems bleak and hopeless. While we were on our way to the barracks, I heard them opening their hearts out about what they felt and resolved to share their experiences on our website so that they could gather more financial help for the victims. I am moved.

I wanted to listen to them more, but sleep took over me.

The crow of the rooster awakens me. 'What time is it?' I mused and looked around. Only to find out that it's already early in the morning.

"Brrrrr…" I shivered at the morning breeze. I went out of the tent. Still, my staff was sound asleep. I walked around inhaling the fragrant smell of the morning dew and closed my eyes to listen to the sound of the birds.

Then I saw a newspaper with a headline: THE MYSTERIOUS ELDEST SON OF THE BRIGGS GRADUATED.

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