Mark went down from his room towards their kitchen.

Mark prepared everything to cook the scrambled egg with cheese. He took the frying pan and put it on the stove. He took a bowl and put it on the table. He took two eggs and put them in the bowl, he did not crack them open yet.

Mark opened the gas for the stove and he lit the fire.

“Oh! Oil!”

He took the bottle of oil and poured a little bit on the frying pan.

“Noice.”

He took the two eggs and then put one on the table while holding the other. He took a fork and cracked a little bit of the shell. Then he pried the shell open using his fingers. The yolk along with the egg white fell into the bowl and he threw away the shell into the trash bin.

He again took the other egg that is on the table and cracked a little bit of the shell using his fork. He pried it open and the yolk along with the egg white fell into the bowl. He threw the shell into the trash bin. Then he mixed the egg using the fork.

He scrambled the egg for a while, and then he tested the frying pan if it was hot enough to put the egg in. He took the fork from the bowl and let the egg drip into the oil. The egg fried for a few seconds.

“Hmm, it’s hot enough.”

He then put the scrambled egg into the frying pan.

Mark took a bar of cheese and thinly sliced it. Well, not entirely. He took a tomato and then a leek and chopped them into pieces. Well, not both of them simultaneously. He then put the fruit and the vegetable in the egg.

He waited for a while for the bottom of the egg to be cooked. He checked the bottom.

“Hmm, this is fine.”

He flipped the egg and waited for a bit.

“Every hour, every minute, every second, each of every millisecond! We need! We need! Ahh, we need!!!”

“Shh, don’t be too loud.”

“Ahhhh!”

“Shh, don’t be loud.”

“Oh, it’s only you ma. That was scary.“

“I went home because your principal called me. He said you were involved in a fight.”

“We did not start the fight.”

“I know, but you should not punch anyone.”

“They were the ones who started it. Junrey punched Cesar and I helped Cesar. I punched Junrey, and when I punched him, Cesar then punched him.”

“Who’s Junrey? That thug?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Yes, him.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“That’s all I could say.”

“Ok, I’ll finish your cooking. With cheese?”

“Yes, but I have not put any of it yet.”

“Ok, I’ll take it from here.”

Mark gave the spatula to his mother and then sat on a chair.

The house is very quiet except for the vehicles that pass by outside and the cooking of the omelet. Mark was getting bored because he has nothing to do.

‘I better get my book and smartphone here so that I can amuse myself.'

As he is about to get up he thinks to himself, ‘OR… I should tell ma about Samantha.’

“Mama.”

“What is it, Markie?”

“There is a new girl in school.”

“And then?”

“I like her but she doesn’t like me.”

“If you like her, be patient. You still have a chance if she has not married. But for me, it’s better that you would find someone else because there are so many women in the world for you to be only focusing on the person who doesn’t like you.”

“Ok, ma.”

“That’s just about it. I’m not the one who determines what you should do in your life but it’s only your choice.”

“I’ll take care of it ma.”

“Ok. This is almost cooked. Prepare your rice.”

“Yes, ma.”

Mark stood up and grabbed a plate, spoon, and fork. He scooped the rice, he only needed two spoon scoops of rice. He put his plate on the table and put his chair adjacent to the table. When he had put his chair, he sat on it.

His mother turned off the stove and closed the gas. She grabbed a plate and then put the egg on it. She then put the plate on the table.

“Thank you ma.”

“Welcome.”

“I’ll wait for you so that we can eat together.”

“Ok, I’ll go get some rice.”

Mark waited for his mother so that they could eat together. Their house is quiet except for the vehicles in the street and the clanging of the spoon and plate while his mother is scooping rice.

“All set, wait a bit.”

His mom sat down opposite him.

“Let's pray.”

“Who will lead?”

“You will Markie, it’s only short.”

“Ok.”

They bowed their heads and closed their eyes.

“Thank you, Lord, for the food. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Amen.”

They now opened their eyes.

“Let's eat,” his mother says.

They now ate the egg with cheese which Mark delights. But his mother ate only a little amount of rice and a small portion of the egg.

After they ate, Mark went inside his room while his Mom washed by the sink. Mark checked his smartphone out if somebody messaged him.

“Hmm. Message from Ruth.”

“Mark, we were told to go home by the principal, we’ll meet by the pier by 2 o’clock.”

“Oh. Really?” Mark said to himself.

He replies, “Ok, I’ll see you soon.”

“Are you ok, Markie?”

‘Huh?’

“Yeah, I’m ok.”

“Are you sure? You just shouted, it scared me.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Why did you shout?”

“Ah. It’s nothing, ma. Sorry, ma, that you got scared.”

“Ok. Don’t do that again, ok?

“Yeah, ma.”

His mother then walked away from his room.

Mark then looked at the clock hung from the wall above his door.

‘1:30. I need to change, I have to go with Samantha.’

Mark changed to wear a casual shirt but wore basketball shorts and flip-flops. He looked at the mirror and smiled. He grabbed a perfume near the mirror and sprayed it on himself.

“You look good, Mark.”

“I know, right? I look good.”

He smiled again at himself.

“Let's go.”

Mark turned off the light of his room and got out. He then goes down the stairs. When Mark was about to go out, he heard footsteps upstairs.

“Markie.”

‘That’s Mom’s voice.’

Mark saw that his mother was at the top of the staircase.

“Yes, ma?”

“Where are you going?”

“I just have an occasion.”

“Where is it gonna be?”

“By the pier.”

“Who are you with?”

“It’s just my classmates.”

“What are you going to do there?”

“Just going for a lark.”

“Do you have any money with you?”

“Little bit.”

His mom went down the stairs towards Mark carrying with her a wallet. When she arrived at Mark, she grabbed some paper from her wallet and held it out towards Mark.

“Here, 200 pesos.”

“Nah ma. I have enough money.”

“Just take it.”

His mom held his hand and put into it the 200.

“That’s now yours.”

Mark was shocked that his mom gave him much.

“Thank you, ma.”

“Ok, go now.”

“See you later, ma.”

Mark walks towards the door and opens it. Mark gets out then he turns his head towards his mom. His mom smiles and waves towards him. He smiles and waves too then closes the door. Mark is now outside and he looked up at the sky.

‘Inhale. Exhale. Let's go.’