Just four days after RJ started his job, he was asked by Mrs. Mendoza if he can also be a gardener since he's not required to clean the pool everyday.
"Okay po Mamsie, kahit ano basta may dagdag sa sahod." he replied eagerly.
"Ows? Kahit boyfriend ng anak ko?" she asked.
"Mamsie naman .... sino ba dun?" he asked, making her laugh.
"Joke lang, ikaw naman. Tisoy, mabait akong amo pero pagdating sa mga anak ko medyo strikto ako ah? Wala akong pake kung mayaman o hindi ang manliligaw nila. Ang sakin lang naman eh dapat mahal sila talaga. Hindi dahil sa pera kung hindi dahil sa kung ano sila sa loob. Tisoy, mabait kang bata at gwapo ka ... kung mas bata nga lang ako baka nain-love na ako sa'yo pero please ... kung ano man nangyayari dito sa bahay maging professional tayo ah? Ayokong manligaw ka sa kanila habang nagta-trabaho ka dito. Gusto ko ... kung sakaling ... mahulog ang loob mo sa kanila eh sana nakabalik ka na eskwela. di ba sabi mo papasok ka na niyan sa susunod na semester?"
"Opo."
"So, yun. Di naman sa pinangungunahan ko ang nararamdaman mo pero please .... gusto ko maayos mo muna yung buhay mo ah? Hindi lang kung sa nga anak ko pero sa iyo na rin. mabait kang bata at dapat unahin mo kung ano ang ikakasaya ng puso mo. Nakita kita kahapon sa likod, umiiyak ka habang kausap yung nanay mo sa phone. Di ko na tatanungin kung anong nangyari pero gusto kong malaman mo na hangga't sa tingin mo ay may maitutulong ako , sabihin mo lang ah?"
"Opo naman, Mamsie." RJ replied right away.
"Okay ... so , got it? As long as nandito ka para sa trabaho , dapat yun ang uunahin hah? Pwede ka namang bumisita dito para makipag-hang out sa kanila. Di ko babawalan yun."
"Okay po."
"Oh sige, pasok na ako."
The smile on RJ's face faded the moment Mrs. Mendoza turned her back on him. The last few days have been so stressful it started affecting his job. He found out from his mother a few nights ago that his father won't be sending money anymore. This affected them a lot since they won't have any source of extra income from now on. Her mother's small store and his part time job won't cut it that's why he needs all the extra work he can get to provide money for his family.
He took a deep breath and sat down on the mini chair once again so he can start the grubbing the grimes and clumps of moss that have already occupied a corner of the pool side's area
"Andito ka pa pala." he turned and saw Maine glaring at him.
"Yup. Good Morning Ma'am." he replied and then smiled at her. RJ figured that it will be best for his situation to give her a taste of her own medicine but in a reversed psychology kind of way. He will be kind, understanding and friendly towards Maine, he will be so positive she and her negativity will stay away from him forever.
"You know what? I don't get you. You don't look poor at all ... why are you doing this? And your surname? Faulkerson? seriously?" she asked, keeping her poker face on.
RJ took a deep breath and faced her. He's had enough of her blabbering mouth.
"Ganito po kasi yun Ma'am. Una, sana po bago niyo ako kinausap eh humingi muna kayo ng sorry dun sa ginawa niyo nung minsan. Muntikan na po kasi akong maalis sa trabaho eh. Pangalawa, may dahilan kung bakit po ako andito. Hindi porke Faulkerson ang apelyido eh mayaman na po. Hindi ko po alam kung makaka-relate kayo kasi di ko pa naman nakikita si ser dito sa bahay pero ayun na nga po, di po kami okay ng tatay ko. Kelangan ko po itong trabaho 'to dahil kelangan ng pamilya ko ng pera. Hindi naman po ito para sa akin lang , may dalawang bibig po akong pinapa-kain, ang nanay ko at ang kapatid ko. At Pangatlo, sana naman po ma-appreciate niyo yung mga bagay na meron kayo. Alam ko pong heartbroken kayo pero Ma'am naman. Sugatan lang ang puso niyo, di kayo binigyan ng pahintulot para saktan ang buong mundo."
