Chapter 1: Perhaps A Chance

The dreams of living in a big city is a dream come true for most people,  better job opportunities, higher quality of education, the vast and varied entertainment establishments, and the list goes on. However this wasn’t true for Maria and his son.

Summer of 2009

Maria in a daze, lost in thought ‘how long can we hold out, our savings running out’ she lamented. Regrets lingered inside her as she thought of the day she ran away from home to marry her now deceased husband.

“Ms. Maria?, Ms. Maria?” called out the interviewer, seemingly annoyed as she observed Maria, who looked haggard with her unkempt hair, deep eye bags, unironed clothes, and in a daze.

“I’m sorry, yes?” Maria inquired,

“As I was asking, Why do you want this job?”

Maria pondered as she turned sideways to look through the transparent glass,

‘why do I want this job’ she thought, as she observed the seemingly flying papers passed down from the overhead gaps of an employee cubicle to another, the endless ringing of telephones and buzzing of fax, the seniors yelling at the freshman and the unending marathon of the employees, Maria found this suffocating as she always found joy in living by the countryside, a simple, relaxed life. ‘do I even want this job’ she wondered, 'I'm curious as to what Gerald would think of living in a province.'

Gerald, wearing a hood and looking down, walked through the school corridors, anxiously glancing around to avoid someone, but as he looked back, he bumped into someone. Surprised by the sudden pain in his stomach as a fist drives into it, he knelt in agony, crumpling down, nearly touching the floor with his forehead.

 'ah shit, just my luck’ he thought, cursing his luck.

‘Of all the people it had to be Brian,  it could have been anyone a woman perhaps, then it would be the start of a cliché romance story’ he chuckled, as he was dragged out to an empty lot behind the school building,

 ‘now I’d even be happy to bash my head on a wall'  he thought, he felt nippy at the cold wind blowing towards him, looking up, he observed the sky getting darker.

‘looks like a bad day for a beating, wounds would sting after all’

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Bam his thoughts interrupted by a fist making contact with his face, followed by endless wholly of kicks from Brian, a spoiled brat with an influential family background, and his lackeys.

“You’re getting bold freak” laughed Brian, the grin on his face implied that he felt pleasure bullying the weak.

Gerald quietly took the beating, he was used to it, in fact it was already a part of him. As a kid his father would lash out his pent up stress on Gerald. He would beat him if he laughed too loud, then beat him again if he cried, then continue beating him if he ran away from him. Comforted by his mother, Gerald would often forgive his father. He rejoiced at the news that he would be starting to attend school, but to his disappointment he was alienated, he thought differently, he was more mature than kids his age as his mother would often seek him for comfort, she told him about her everyday worries, her fear of how their future would turn out, things that a child wouldn’t comprehend but what Gerald understood was that her mother looked vulnerable and really weak. He put to heart his mothers advice of studying meticulously, so he did, he was above average in his studies sometimes he’d even be the top of his class but this has made him a target of extortion. His allowance or the money he took from his fathers pocket as he do the laundry, his assignment that he worked for overnight, or even the simple accessories his mother gifted him on Christmas all find themselves in the bullies hand, but he persevered he’d go to school with no money no plans for lunch and would tell his mother that he wouldn’t be needing gifts anymore, he even did assignments for three people but years of this needless suffering Gerald find himself exhausted. He comfortably laid down on the concrete enjoying the coldness it brings, while feeling the stinging sensation brought by the wounds on his face and the rain.

“Ah….. I’m tired” He murmured.

It was starting to get dark, Gerald somehow found himself opening the door to their house. What greeted him was the usual view of his mother drinking by the living room, illuminated by the sunsets reddish light. Gerald, who was looking downcast, took a seat opposite his mother.

‘she looks a lot tired than usual, probably another bad day for her, I have to try harder’ Gerald thought, as he observe his mothers haggard appearance.

‘he has more wounds than usual, probably beaten up again, I really need to try harder’ Maria thought, as she stared at his sons shriveled clothes.

“the mayor’s son again huh?” said Maria, aware of his son’s bully but unable to do anything as it would only backfire.

“Yup” replied Gerald, aware that her mom would only make things worst for them if she stand up for him.

“failed interview huh?” Continued Gerald.

“As you guessed” said Maria, as she looked down seemingly ashamed of herself.

Both sighed simultaneously and laughed.

“Gerald what do you say about going home to the Philippines?” asked Maria, worried that his son would disagree as she had already made preparation.

Gerald's eyes twinkled with joy, recalling the happiness he felt when his abusive father died. That's right, he didn't feel sad or anything when his father died; instead, he felt a heavy burden lifted off his shoulders. Sure, they were having financial difficulties, but he had found hope in living out his life. And now an opportunity to change his life yet again appeared, he didn’t hesitate to voice out his answer.

“should I start packing now” asked Gerald, now standing up with a hint of excitement on his face.