Tiny drops of rain are rapidly showering the land of Caloocan, Manila in the middle of the afternoon.
"I barely earned money and yet it's raining already." Mang Karding, a 48 year-old man with a bulgy stomach and a cap covering the gray streaks in his nearly bald hair, said to his co-peddler of takatak.
Mang Karding is working his tail off to raise his 6 children alone. His wife passed away because of tuberculosis.
It was around 7:30 in the evening when Mang Karding came home. His house are made of scrap materials put together. The only thing that is bringing noise to his house are the horns of the vehicles from the outside. He left his children to his sister, Maria, to take care of them while he is gone.
He changed his clothes and searched for food in their table which was completely empty. He then, leaved to Aling Naneng's tindahan to buy a half kilo of rice and a can of sardines for their supper; and went directly to Maria to get his children.
"Kuya, at last you're here! These little ones didn't stop crying all day!! I have laundries to do too, you know?!" Mang Karding was faced with such apprehensions when he stormed on his sister's house.
"I'm sorry, Maria. It was raining hard and I was taking chances in making money. By the way, where's Carlo?" Mang Karding answered and took his child from his sister.
"You're eldest son? He went strolling around with his friends. I don't know where did he go." answered Maria.
"I'll go now. Thank you, Maria." Mang Karding was about to leave when Maria called him.
"Hey kuya, I'm sorry to say this but I think I can't look out for your children anymore. My husband's complaining because I can't get my work done properly."
"Please, Maria. There's nobody else that I can trust but you."
"I am really sorry, kuya."
Mang Karding leaved and walked to their house carrying his youngest child together with his 4 children. He was thinking where can he left his kids tomorrow when his eyes met his son smoking marijuana. He felt like he was going to burst in anger because of what he saw but composed himself to move on to his destination and decided to talk with him later.
He cooked the food he bought and ate it. He was waiting for his eldest son to arrive but he still hasn't. He put his children to sleep at the same time wondered if Carlo was still going to school. He is the only one who Mang Karding provides educational needs to help him financially when he finished schooling.
It was midnight when Carlo came home. Mang Karding stood up and talked to his son calmly.
"Where did you go?"
"I went out with my friends." Carlo said and went to their room but Mang Karding gripped his arm and started to shout.
"I SAW YOU INHALING MARIJUANA A WHILE AGO!"
Carlo was shocked when his father blurted that out.
"Don't you know that it's dangerous to take that?! It can possibly kill you!! You are destroying your future, son. Do you even go to school? I noticed that you're focusing your attention to your friends instead of your studies!" Mang Karding exhorted.
"It's none of your business, tay. I know what I am doing! Don't meddle with my life." Carlo said avoiding his father's gaze.
Mang Karding held his son's face with force to look at him in the eyes. "I am striving hard for all of you and this is what you'll give in return?! Have you ever realized how hard it is to earn money with this kind of living?! You are wasting what I've invested on you! What will you do if I'll die tomorrow? You'll smoke weeds? You'll go out with your friends? Can those help you with your survival? Can those help you feeding your siblings?!" Mang Karding ended that with a punch on his son's face.
"From now on, I will never waste my earnings for you. Learn to earn for your own living." Mang Karding said and went to their room to have a sleep.
It was early in the morning when Mang Karding left for his job. He was still raging in anger and disappointment but he needs to work for his young children.
He was crossing the street when a vehicle loses its control. It smashed every person crossing the street and it was badly hit...
Carlo woke up late with his baggy eyes. He strolled his eyes around and saw the guys playing tong-its in front of their house with the table set up outside yesterday. Another bunch of people were visiting and sending condolences.
He was regretting everything he has done especially the day before the accident happened. If only... If only... Those are the words that are mouthed by him. He refrained himself from crying again but failed when he saw the taktak that Mang Karding was selling before he died.
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The short story I passed on my Humanities100. Hehe. Enjoy reading!
God bless us! ♥
