Be Careful with my Heart Presents: Why Maya is the One

Chapter 1

WHY MAYA IS THE ONE

(An introspection into Ser Chief's thoughts and feelings)

By @iamgarie

My life fell apart the day Alex died. My lovely wife, mother of my children, gone too soon! It was a reality that I could not accept, a reality I may never ever be able to live with! A part of me died when I lost her. I was in deep pain and agony. I wallowed in loneliness. My children suffered in silence. Yes, I knew they were lonely and in pain, too. As much as I love and care for them, I didn't know how to help them cope with their loss, as I also had difficulty dealing with mine. I buried myself in work. And because my work became my life, my children seemed to have lost me, too, somehow.

Five years has passed since my fateful parting with Alex. I am now a name to reckon with in the aviation industry— respected and multi-awarded CEO and Chief Engineer Richard Lim of Lim Aviation Services— the young visionary who pioneered the Green MRO campaign. Yet nothing has changed. I still pine for Alex. It has been five long, lonely years...

THEN MAYA DELA ROSA CAME.
She saved my youngest daughter, Abby, from possible danger at the airport. Because Abby was drawn to her right from the start, I offered Ms. Dela Rosa a job as Abby's nanny."Pero gusto kong maging flight stewardess,"was her cheeky reply. She said yes only after I agreed that I will also give her an opportunity to finish her studies should she work for me. I had my doubts, but she had high hopes of becoming a flight attendant someday.

MAYA AND I HAD A REALLY BAD START!(Blame the engineer in me. I have always had this tendency to over think all the time. I focus way too much on the details. I fail to see the big picture.)
I thought she was a liar– a con artist, at that! Then I mistook her for a kidnapper. And I even went as far as believing she was a thief. I questioned her integrity. I had a background check done on her. I had misgivings about her and her family just because they were living such hard lives and having money problems. I was irritated and annoyed by her cheerfulness, her loudness, her impulsiveness and her positive energy. I thought she was meddlesome. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why she always had a smile plastered on her face, and why she always seemed to have a solution for every problem that came her way. Life is cruel.But why did Maya seem unfazed by everything life throws her way?She was a puzzle I couldn't quite solve! So, I questioned her motives, too. I felt she was simply too good to be true! To be honest, she was a shock to my system.

MAYA GOES THE EXTRA MILE FOR MY CHILDREN.
ABBYsuffered from selective mutism after Alex died. I have taken her to the best doctors and specialists, and they all had only one thing to say– thatAbby will heal in her own time. She will heal when she's ready.Because of Maya's patience, positivism, love and utmost care, my little girl improved so much in so little time. What used to be my only life long dream has become a reality.ABBY CAN NOW TALK.She has become a happy, sweet, caring and thoughtful kid– a stark contrast to the little girl from before whom no nanny could ever stand because of her terrible tantrums. Maya taught Abby to be independent, equipping her with various life skills. Abby claims she's now a little lady.
Maya also made an effort for my eldest son,LUKE.He had been doing poorly in school and had been cutting classes. We fought all the time. Had Maya not shown me Luke's FaceBook page, I would never have known that he was craving for my love and attention. He yearned for the dad he knew when his mom was still alive. He yearned for the happy home we had with Alex. He needed me in his life and it took Maya to help me realize that.
My daughterNIKKIhad been trying her hardest to fill the void left by her mom. She had been trying her very best to do the things her mom used to do. She learned to cook, to bake, to keep the house in order... She looked forward to the rare occasions I would come home from work and join them at the dinner table. Like Luke, she longed for the life we had with their mom. Nikki hated Maya from the get-go.(Perhaps, Nikki is a lot like me!). Yet Maya never gave up on her. Maya never harbored ill feelings towards Nikki. Instead she patiently waited for Nikki's acceptance. The acceptance finally came in Baguio, when Maya helped her overcome her fear of heights.
In such a short time, Maya has won my children's trust and acceptance. Our happy home is back. There is much love, laughter and music to go around. Mealtimes are now happy occasions we all look forward to. I especially enjoy the sibling banter between Luke and Nikki. I simply marvel at the changes I see in my children. They have finally overcome their mom's loss. They are once again whole – happy, confident, full of love and hope...