— “Maybe he just wants to get the family home.”
Maribel did not answer.
She worked quietly from morning till night—sewing clothes, student uniforms—just to raise three children.
He didn’t teach them in words. But it is in love.
The eldest—Rico—was very intelligent, and later went on to study engineering at the University of the New York City.
The second—Jomar—is a businessman. Maribel even borrowed money from the ship’s cooperative to pay for her education.
The youngest—Paolo—dreams of becoming a doctor. Maribel endured hunger once, just to have something to pay for her tuition.
Life has not been easy.
There are nights when it rains heavily and the roof leaks, but she makes sure the kids get a good night’s sleep before she gets back to sewing until the early hours of the morning.
Some days the dish is just rice and dried fish, and she gives the better part to the three kids.
But once upon a time… He didn’t complain.
Until the day comes…
They finished one by one.
One of them worked in the city.
One of them went out of business to do business.
One of them went abroad.
At first, they were calling.
But gradually… Calls have been reduced.
Messages have become rare.
until they were completely gone.
No one came back.
Walang nangamusta.
No one remembers the woman who dedicated her entire youth to them.
The whole ship nodded again:
— “Oh, right? He’s been abandoned.”
— “It is better to raise a non-blood than a wife’s brother.”
— “Tanga talaga siya.”
Ngumiti lang si Maribel.
A sad smile… But there was no anger.
She stayed in the old house, continued to sewing, continued to live on her own.
Until one morning…
When he opened the door…
There was something in front of his house…
Which makes him stop—as if the world has stopped.
Maribel opened the door that morning.
Her eyes widened.
In front of his small, old house–which seems long forgotten by time–stood three expensive automobiles. It’s shiny, black, and doesn’t seem to fit into the simple road of their boat.
The neighbors slowly moved in.
— “What’s that?! Who is that?”
— “It’s in Maribel’s house that’s opposite ah…”
— “It’s not possible… Is he rich?”
Before she could say a word, the door to the first car opened.
And from there… Rico went downstairs.
But he was no longer the skinny boy he had left behind.
She was already in a suit, well-beared, and her eyes—full of respect and emotion—immediately fell upon Maribel.
— “Ate…”
Maribel slammed the door.
It was like a dream.
Jomar came down next—walking confidently, his hair in order, documents in hand.
From the third vehicle…
A man in a white coat approached slowly.
Yes Paolo.
Doctor on.
Maribel couldn’t hold back the tears.
— “The… My child…”
Paolo ran over and hugged him.
Mahigpit.
He didn’t seem to want to visit.
— “Ate… Please forgive us…”
Rick and Jordan were there as well.
In the middle of the village—in front of all the people who once called him a “fool”—the three men he had raised embraced him at the same time.
— “We didn’t come back… not because we forgot you…”
— “But because… we want to come back with something to be proud of…”
— “We want to give back everything you’ve done for us…”
The whole ship was silent.
No one could speak.
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