Rides of Our Promises (Original, English Version)

Chapter 12 - Aya McDaniels

Things between Charles and I have become as normal as can be. Even if he's my boss, I'm glad he's not drawing too many lines. He allows me to be myself. I appreciate that about him.

It's currently school break and my brother, Ryan, asked if he can come visit. I contemplated for about five minutes before I asked Charles for permission. If he allows my brother to live at his house for a few weeks, he can have the break he wanted. Like me, he's pretty much estranged from the rest of the family. He nearly dropped out of school because our parents didn't prioritize his education, not paying tuition. Fortunately, I managed to salvage his situation.

"How long would he stay?" Charles asked when he came down to the living room. I looked down at my phone. Why didn't he simply reply to my text?

"About six weeks, then he'll be back to boarding school." I answered. I saw him nodding.

"He can use the spare bedroom." He stated.

"Oh, no. He can room with me. It's big enough." Back in the day, when I was still at my apartment, he would simply crash on my couch.

He rolled his eyes at me. "It's not like someone's using the spare. Let him use it."

When I picked him up the following week, I brought him to the house. He was surprised to see it. I explained the situation to him, and clearly emphasized that it was my boss' house so he has to behave. He only gave me a look that says, "you're the one who doesn't behave."

I introduced him to Charles and Aunty Marie, then I showed him his room before going back down to join the others. They'll probably spend a few hours to get acquainted. From Charles' expression, and the way he throws me glances, I already knew what's going on in his mind. Ryan is a very normal kid and very reserved. He's not talkative. He's introverted. He mostly listens and observes what's around him before making any statement. He's very careful with his words, too. He rarely offends people, unless deliberate. He intentionally does that when he's mad, pushed over his tolerance limit.

He was able to converse well with Aunty Marie. Charles managed to have a conversation with him, too. When I turned in for the night, Charles and Ryan are still talking on the living room while watching the tv. I wonder what common ground they found.

I took my brother to the mall the following weekend. I have explicitly told him to choose anything he likes. He's still reluctant, though. I kept telling him I have money saved up and I'm earning more than enough. He knows the company, but he still wouldn't spend much.

"I also have money saved up. How much allowance have you sent me these last few months?" He replied as he looked through a selection of shirts in the department store.

"Isn't there anything you like?" I asked, simply accompanying him. I'm not rushing him to choose anything.

"I'll buy it if there's anything I like. Seriously, sis. You should go and shop something for yourself, too."

I pursed my lips at his statement. In a way, we think alike. As the youngest, he's seen enough nasty things within our family that made him grow up much earlier. When I arranged his enrollment to a boarding school, he accepted it readily. We both knew why. I'm glad he didn't make things difficult for me. We're pretty much each other's supporter. Though as the older sibling, I don't normally tell him my problems but he knows them anyway. Whenever I check in with him with a phone call, he would tell me that things will get better soon. I believe he's thinking of the time he will graduate and help me as soon as he gets a job. Nah, I'm still sending him to college. He's on the last year of high school. The boarding school does have a college and although he already expressed his reluctance to continue to college, I knew he wanted it, too.

"So, college... have you decided between engineering or architecture?"

Oddly, he pursed his lips as he looked away.

"No... changed your mind? What do you want, then?" I went to hang an arm across his shoulder. I'll support him whatever he chooses.

"Computer engineering? It's still engineering..." His somewhat pleading expression is cute.

"Go ahead. So, you liked the laptop I sent you?"

He smiled brightly at that. "Yeah, that helped me a lot."

From what I know about computer engineering, "Do you need a better one? We could buy one."

He perked up but sobered immediately. I raised an eyebrow.

"I have savings." I sang to him.

"Huh, do you know anything about computers? Not the usual ones you use in the office..." He's starting to sound arrogant. Okay, maybe he knows something I don't know.

"You can tell me, then. How about we go over? I see you're not interested in clothes, anyway."

He grinned and we went to a different store. He talked about PC specs and my eye twitched. He knows I understand nothing. He talked a lot with the store representative, though. He kept asking which one would be better. The price did surprise me, and for once, I'm so happy to have money to spend. This could be the most expensive thing I would ever spend money on. I might have mentioned to Ryan how much I'm earning these days, anyway. He could have figured I have enough. It's not much out of my savings, to be honest.

He looked cute with a bit of an apprehensive expression.

"Are you sure you're choosing this without taking price into consideration? We can afford any one of them." I did hear him asking for the prices earlier.

He stared at the two laptop and looked torn. I knew it. In the end, he chose the other one, which is a bit more expensive. He looked adorably excited though and I'm proud to see that on his face.

"You're the best, sis." He thanked me with a huge hug. He couldn't contain his excitement as we had lunch so we decided to go home early.

He showed off his new laptop to Charles and Aunty Marie. He talked about computer science, but I could barely relate. I realized Charles is knowledgeable on it, though. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he only shrugged.

A few days later, I saw him purchasing some software with his card. With Charles on his side, I'm assured he's doing something normal.

"What is that?"

"It's a program builder. I could make my own software on it. You know, bots, apps, games..." Finally, something I could understand. I nodded to let him know I get it.

He grinned before turning back to the computer. They also browsed some online courses and they deliberated which ones he could take now. Then, a little more later, they're browsing for books.

"You're ordering online? Why don't we go to the bookstore?"

"Nah, bookstores are usually not updated with the latest books, especially those that are computer-related." Ryan explained.

"Well, go at it step-by-step. Don't get too much. You might overwhelm yourself."

"I know. I'll just take one book and one online course." He looked proud.

"I think you should go instead for IT or computer science." Charles noted as he watched my brother on his computer.

"Having knowledge on the hardware has its advantages, too. I'll probably lean more on the software side, though."

Charles conceded with his opinion. Though I don't know much about computers, I understood his explanation. Knowing more could be helpful. Sometimes.

I appreciate him helping Ryan.