Grandma Mary Loves Me (rarely updated)

Chapter 1

After a long, tiring day at work, I drove home in the middle of the night. I had to stay at work overtime again at the office today because of extra work, but I managed to finish it all quickly so I got to go home immediately.

It was just another normal day at the office, just sketching designs for my clients as a graphic designer for four years by now, after I graduated from college with a master's degree in graphic arts back in the year 2000.

Today had nothing different from the days I usually had. I spent the whole day busy in work, making desigs for logos and business tarpaulins for my clients. Just my typical everyday after I started working. Working the whole day until late at night has become normal to me, as the clients want the designs to be finished as soon as possible.

After a long hour of driving under the starry night sky, I finally reached home. With a contented sigh, I parked my car inside the garage and took my bag and keys before going to the door to open it. A deep breathe escaped my lungs as soon as I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. The scent of the fabrics of the curtains and couches altogether welcome my weary body. At last, I'm home, where I can rest from today's errands.

I already had dinner at a restaurant before going home as i was too tired to make dinner at home for myself. I decided to go straight to bed. The mattress seems to call my weary body to bed.

As soon as I entered my room, I took my clothes off and had a quick warm shower before I go straight to my bedroom and rest, then wake up early again tomorrow to go to work, my usual routine.

While my weary body laid at my bed, waiting for me to be asleep, I stared at all of my school and work awards and achievements hung at my bedroom wall, the only decorations in my big bedroom. My name written in Old English on the plates hung at my bedroom wall. "Arnold Perez Madrigal," my name written written neatly, next to what is that award for. "Master's Degree in Graphic Arts," "Best Employee of the Month," and everything else I achieved from college. It somehow sends me a sense of pride when I see those recognitions. It shows me what I already achieved at my 26 years of living.

After two years, I need to leave and move to another city where i could continue my work more efficiently because the resources I need for my work are available there. I said to my parents I want to move to another city, where it is nearer to my new workplace. I explained to them thoroughly why I need to leave and move to another place, and gladly, they understand.

"Don't worry, I will still find ways to visit you time to time, and I will also send some money to help with the house's expenses and for Andrei's school."

"Thank you, Arnold, but you don't need to obligate yourself into helping with the expenses here. Just give if you have something to give freely. Your father can still work at the wood carpentry, and can still provide for the family."

"Don't worry about it. I want to help, Mom. This is my way of giving back to everything you done for me."

"You don't have to do it. It's our job as your parents to raise you well. If you really want to repay us, continue being a good person as how we and your grandparents has raised you."

That was our final in- person conversation before I moved here.

Time pass and in 2002, I brought a house and lot in a villa for P50,000. It was just a small two storey house, but as an As soon as I got home, I parked my car inside the garage and took my bag and keys in the car, then lock the gate before finally entering the house. person who lives alone, it was enough for me. I decided to leave my parents and my younger sibling and lived in this city, where I work as a full time graphic designer in a company. Since then, I have trained myself to survive independently in such a world where every people are continuously worrying about tomorrow.

Though being an independent adult in this city is challenging as different problems arose time to time, it somehow felt fulfilling. I will learn how to be a responsible adult. I know it will be hard, but I know I couid conquer the challenges ahead if I will be optimistic and hardworking....that atleast is what I thought.

As soon as I started to live alone, problems started to arise: traffic, bill rates getting higher, commodities starting to be expensive, some people being harsh, also, some burglars lurking around the city. There are a lot of problems accompanied with living at the city. It caught me dumbfounded and shocked me. "It really is a big world!" I said to myself in astonishment at the peril of the city. It is a whirlwind where yu need to move fast ir else, you'll get caught up in the events and get thrown to places and situations you less expect.

But that doesn't make the city that bad in entirety. It is still nice living here in the rural, for it is closer to my workplace and I have find new friends here. And I always find ways for my problems, if not instantly, my problems wouldn't take that long for me to resolve it.Though those problems sometimes keeps me awake at night though. But worrying too much won't do anything, I thought.

I always keep those problems for tomorrow and sleep for tonight, for the sake of a complete sleep, which I really need to continue, and survive for another day of stress.

But tonight has been different from my usual nights. Sometimes I was thinking about so many things about my life. I don't know why.

"Do I really want this life? Is this the life that I dreamt of when I was in college?"

"Is there still something missing in my life? A....woman, or I just used to being alone?"

I don't know why these questions suddenly invades my mind. Maybe it's only because of exhaustion that I am overthinking.

"Adult life was never meant to be easy. We all need to face each of our own problems everyday and try to strive everyday for our survival, and also of those who needs and depends on us. We may either find it hard or easy to find happiness through things, situations, and relationships. Maybe it just depends on one's mentality. Throughout living, we go through bliss and agony, through gains and losses, through loneliness, exhaustion and defeats. But that isn't just fate, it's a huge part of life that make our living meaningful, just before we go with the wind and dust and forget everything we value."

A quote from a book I had read before that I don't remember the title anymore that I suddenly remembered. It tells the reader about important aspects of human life.

Yes...everyone needs to survive, but everyone also needs to rest. Everyone sometimes need to escape from the cycle of work and rest, even just for a day. Everyone needs to be happy. Life is not just all about endless work and gaining possessions. It is more than that.

I am not saying that I want to give up already. I just want rest. I want to be where I could be happy again, when everything was simple, when I was in the braces of someone who loves and cares for me, just like before.

I went far into thinking until I realized it's already 12 MN, it was late already and I'm still awake. That is also the reason why I got little sleep most of the nights.

For the sake of a good sleep, I just took those in my head and forced myself to sleep. I need energy for another long day tomorrow. As my eyes grow weary, sleep finally claim me and hold me captive until the morning.

The morning was marked by my alarm clock, waking me up from my five-hour sleep. I got up and get ready for work, for another day of challenges.