Family Time

Meanwhile…

"I'll be there in ten minutes. Hold on, Evie." Maria comforted Evina as she honked her car horn like crazy.

She had received the news that her younger sister just got fired. Without even saying goodbye to her colleagues, she immediately left her current location to meet with her. They were on the phone as she drove to where she was.

"Take your time, Iya. It's not the end of the world," Evina replied to her older sister in a cheerful way.

"Don't pull my leg. I know you too much, Evina Chen," Maria rolled her eyes, making Evina snort at the other end of the line.

"Fine. Thanks, Jiejie. I appreciate it," Evina said sincerely before they dropped the call.

Evina then picked up the iced tea in front of her to calm down her aching heart. Maria was right. She was devastated with the outcome of what she had done. Even though she believed that she just did the right thing, she was also concerned about her career.

She let out a long sigh as laughter from nearby tables pierced through her ears and drowned her thoughts. This was one of her favorite dining areas. She knew that it would be crowded at this time. But she purposely went there to console herself.

In a few minutes, Maria was already there, joining her misery.

"You know I'm your sister, Evie. I'm on your side. But I'm just worried about your future. With your skills, you could be an executive assistant to a CEO if you want to," Maria scolded her as soon as she sat down at the chair across from her.

Evina responded by inhaling a lungful of air. As much as she wanted to deny it, she was really sad that it had to end this way. She was hoping that she would spend a longer time in Sapphire Co.

She wanted to climb up the ladder, too, and be a successful woman in her prime. After she has saved enough money, she would open up a business of her own. It is the reason why she took up a Business Administration course during her college days.

However, her rebellious nature always crept up whenever she sees injustice being done by the supposedly leaders of the organization she was in.

"Besides, you're not getting any younger, you know," Maria continued on, oblivious of Evina's contemplation. Her gaze rested on a certain table.

There were two kids who were having fun poking on one another. Their mom and dad, on the other hand, were casting sweet glances at each other while playing with them. Evina also stared at them. They were a picture of a happy family.

"How can you even have a man in your life? You know how men hate rebels." Maria rattled on before calling on the waiter.

Evina's eyebrows knitted together at the sudden change of topic from career to having a boyfriend. It is the last thing that she wanted to talk about, with the mood she was in.

"And I hate self-absorbed men. I won't be a slave to someone who'll just force me to do things his own way," she immediately butted in as she twisted the pasta in her plate.

As she said so, she recalled the strikingly handsome man she had just met at the parking lot. He fits in all her descriptions. But there was something in him that drew her to him.

"Maybe it's just hormones. Why does he have to be both rich and drop-dead gorgeous anyway?" Evina thought as she shook her head. She decided to just focus on what her older sister was pointing out.

"Besides, there are a lot of orphanages nowadays. I'm sure one of them will be thrilled to have me as her mom." She shrugged as she brought the pasta into her mouth.

"Evina! You know Dad would not like that!" Maria glared with her arms now crossed against her chest.

Evina froze at the mention of her father. Her face grew dim like a dark cloud formed above her. "As if he would be a good grandfather to them after what he did to us and Mom," she grumbled as she dropped her fork on her plate.

"Evina Chen!" Maria bolted up and put both her hands on her table, startling the other customers nearby. But not Evina. She was used to Maria always getting worked up whenever she badmouthed their father.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Saved by the bell!" Evina grinned at her older sister sheepishly as she picked up her phone. But she just faked it. She dialed her ringtone, intentionally.

It's better that they not talk about him. Things are bad enough as they already were.

Feeling guilty for adding up to Evina's sentiments, Maria changed the conversation after her younger sister ended her call. "Do you want to visit Simon?" 

Evina's face lit up as she heard the name of her nephew, Maria's son. "Of course! I haven't seen him in a while."

She became too busy punching the clock that she had no time to visit her loved ones. "There is a positive side to this rubble after all!'" she smiled as she anticipated seeing her nephew again after a long time.

After they finished their food, they quickly left and went to Maria's residence.

"Aunt Evie!" Simon lifted his arms while jumping with joy at the sight of his mother's younger sister.

"My, how you've grown!" Evina giggled as she ran towards him. She tried picking him up, but she put him down immediately.

"You'll hurt my back. You're so heavy now," She teased him. In a flash, Simon pulled her to the refrigerator, so he could show her the different foods that he ate.

Evina felt relaxed as she felt a warm heat embracing her heart. As she spent time there, she realized how alone she has been all these time. She didn't just see it because she was too busy knocking herself to make ends meet.

"From now on, I will try to hang out with them more even if I get a new job. I will also visit Uncle Lucan soon," she thought to herself while lying back on the couch as Simon played with a board game on the rug.

"Mom's boring. She always lets me win. I like Dad better. He always won. But he always taught me why I lose so next time, I can be better,"  Simon bubbled while playing.

It was just normal for him to say it out loud. But Evina knew it could be painful for her sister. Her brown eyes quickly darted to Maria, hoping she did not hear about it.

Simon's mother, Maria, was in the kitchen, but it was just near them. Evina didn't expect what she did next.

Maria turned around and gave both of them a smile. "It's okay. I like Dad better than Simon, too." She then made a face at her son, making Simon scowl.

"No, I'm better than Dad. He told me so," He crossed his arms and pouted.

Evina sighed a breath of relief. Finally, they can talk about his brother-in-law at peace. After all, it has been a year since he passed away.

"How are you?" Evina asked her older sister after she had put Simon to bed. They were now having a coffee before Evina left.

She could hear how Maria seeped in a lungful of air as she must have recalled her life without her late husband.

"It's hard being a single parent. But I'm trying to be strong for Simon. It is even harder for him, especially now that he was already at school," she shared as she gazed longingly at the picture frame beside the television.

The three of them were at an amusement park. And Simon was sitting on his father's shoulder with a wide smile on his face.

Evina felt a thickness in her throat as she watched her older sister trying to be tough on the outside. But she knew that deep down, she was already breaking in tears. She raised her arms and put them around Maria. "You're a good mom. I know Simon is proud of you."

With her actions, she must have cheered her older sister too much, as she received a swat on the arm in return.

"Ouch! What was that for?" she grimaced at Maria.

"That is why you should never try raising a child on your own if you could have a partner beside you," Maria lectured her as she must have recalled their conversation earlier.

"I'll think about it," Evina pulled herself away with a grin.

Even though she didn't admit it, deep down she didn't want to grow old alone. But she hadn't met that one man whom she could trust yet.

With an uplifted spirit, she went back to her car and drove back to her unit. 

***************

Families are the compasses that will guide us.

They are the inspiration to reach greater heights.

They are our comfort when we occasionally falter.