Years After (Completed)

6 - Meet Thirdy Reyes

Thirdy Reyes, is Richard Capili Reyes, III, sixteen years old.  He is the youngest among the three children of Richard Reyes Jr. and Dei Capili.  Their family owns Royalties Hotel, with branches in Manila and Cebu. 

After pre-school, his family lives in Cebu for his father to personally manage the Royalties Cebu, while his sister Mary Charmaine Reyes-Legaspi is in-charged of the Manila Branch.  Like his sister Athena Rose Reyes-Villena, taking care of the business is not his cup of tea.   His line of interest is in information technology, and obviously he got the influence from his mother Dei.    

Despite strong objection of his father, Thirdy were able to convince his father with the help of his mother, that he takes his high school in Laguna and lives with his grandfather who prefers to settle in the Philippines than live in Canada and take care of their family business which was set aside when Richard Jr. became busy with Royalties Hotel. 

He is enrolled in a school which is several kilometers from their place in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.  The same school where he had his pre-school.  In his four years in high school, he felt his independence despite living with his grandfather because he were able to join different school organizations aside from being part of the school soccer team.  The extra curricular activities which he thinks his father does not approve of.

Since he lives with his grandfather, he also gets expose in different charity works that his grandfather gets involved too.  At first, he could not understand his Lolo Daddy’s devotions on those activities but as time goes by he has started to like and get involved with it as well.

He was introduced to Althea Marie in one of those charity events.  She was with her grandmother that time and he admits getting smitten on her at first glance. And it seems that the universe in on his side because both of them study in the same school.

“Mukhang hindi ka pa rin pinapansin ni Althea ah, nakita ko kung paano ka nya iwasan kanina sa event.  Hindi mo pa ba sya nakakausap?” Lolo Daddy asked while Thirdy chillin at the lanai. “Mukhang kulang pa ang effort natin apo” he added and Thirdy smiles at him.

“Ayaw pa rin akong pansinin Lo, ang dami ko nang effort pero ayaw talaga akong kausapin.” Thirdy said.  “Hindi ko naman kasalanan if na-turn down yung project ng Art Club nila and ma-approve yung sa amin for the school foundation day.” He further said.

“Eh bakit nga ba kasi nagkaganon, hindi pa pwedeng parehong ma-approve yung projects nyo for the school fair?” Lolo Daddy asked.

“One project each year level lang kasi Lolo kaya kaming mga org team leaders decided na idaan sa voting process yung project ng grade 10, for the school foundation day.  Althea agreed to that, kaso itong si Steve nakialam because he wanted to get the full support of the batch para sa IT exhibit kaya siniraan nya yung project nila Althea, kasi yung Art Club ang strong competitor namin.  Kaya yung votes na nakuha nila, were not enough to push yung mini-exhibit nila for the foundation day.” Thirdy explained.

“And masama ang loob ni Althea sa iyo because you lead that ITOrg Team na nanalo sa voting process, am I correct?” Lolo Daddy asked and Thirdy sadly nodded. 

“Yes, she held me responsible for Steve’s actions. Mandaraya daw kami.” Thirdy replied

“I don’t blame her, since you lead the IT Org team, you are responsible on the actions of your team members” Lolo Daddy explained.  “Bakit ba kasi hindi na lang kayo nagcollaborate? Using the new technology for an art work is a bit refreshing.”