Traizle
"Layzen! Wait for us at the entrance!" I shouted to remind Layzen.
We are now heading to the mart to buy groceries. Layzen was too excited to enter the mart. As soon as he got off the taxi, he ran immediately.
"How was your scholarship process?" I asked Lyndon. I just remembered that I had to ask about this every night. He is busy playing online games with his friends and, of course, with Zarsuelo
He shook his head and said, "Don't worry about it, and I got my scholarship certificate already. I also got the requirements needed and passed everything," he answered. "They will pay for my tuition already, so you don't have to worry about it. Okay?" he added.
"How about the requirements? Did you have to pay for them?" I asked.
Lyndon nodded his head. "I still have my allowance and saved some of it," he replied. "How about you? How's your work these days?" He asked back.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, as usual. Zarsuelo is still bothering the hell out of me. Because of the investment, we are much busier these days. Zarsuelo invested in a movie." I answered.
Yes. Zarsuelo took the offer to invest in the movie. Zarsuelo read the documents before agreeing but only read them for a few minutes. I asked him why he accepted the offer if he had not read the document thoroughly and do you know what he had said that day.
"They need funds to fulfill their movie production. I don't want their movie to go to waste. They planned it hard, and the story is all about love. We will go there and watch it together."
I hope it won't waste his investment. It is a considerable investment, and I want to use it wisely.
"That is why you are always late to go home?" Lyndon asked again.
I was speechless at his question. They didn't know about our relationship. It is not because I forgot to tell them about it. I am finding the right time to say to them about our relationship. I am still determining what their reaction will be to it as well.
Zarsuelo has been asking for dates after I asked him once about being consistently late. I can't say no, because he was waiting an hour to ask me that outside of the Snack Bar. Saying he does not want him to disturb my work. Who can say no to that one, right? My ex and I did not date every day—every night, instead, but with him, it was. It won't be impossible with him.
"Layzen." I heard Lyndon say, prompting me to look in front to see what was happening. Layzen tripped, and someone was helping him.
"You okay?" I heard him ask Layzen.
His voice sounds familiar. "I am fine. It is just a small scratch. I am a big boy now. Small wounds do not hurt." Layzen replied confidently.
"Thank you for helping him, Sir." I said as I dusted off the dirt on Layzen's knees.
After wiping Layzen's knees, I looked at the man who helped him and saw Mr. Andrade.
"Traizle." he said.
"Mr. Andrade?" I asked back.
He is wearing casual clothes, unlike what I always see him wearing when he visits Grand Finance. He always wears a clean and flat suit. "I am here for our monthly groceries. How about you?" Mr. Andrade asked.
They will surely buy more.
"For our weekly groceries, Sir." I replied as we headed to the entrance.
"Are they your brothers?" Mr. Andrade asked.
I nodded. "Yes, they are. How about you, Sir? Are you alone?" I asked back.
"I am with my son, but I don't think he will accompany us. Shy one, you know." he answered.
"Who is he, Traizle?" Layzen asked.
I looked at him. "He is one of our clients in Grand Finance." I explained.
"Do you know Matthew? We are friends. We play with his toys." Layzen shared excitedly.
Mr. Andrade ruffled Layzen's hair. "You must be fun to play with, Layzen. My son does have a lot of toys in his room as well." Mr. Andrade shared.
"That must be so awesome!" Layzen commented.
"I will go now so that you can take yours as well. I am happy to see you guys here. See you around." Mr. Andrade said.
"Okay, Sir. Thank you again." I added it before we separated.
"I think I saw him before." Lyndon said while holding his chin.
I turned to my brother. "And where is that?" I asked him.
He shrugged his shoulders. "Somewhere? I don't know. He looks so familiar. Does he appear on TV programs?" Lyndon asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know either. But I don't think he is. Zarsuelo would probably tell me about it if he is." I answered back.
"Maybe I mistook him for someone." he said.
After buying groceries, we ate at the open space fast food chain. We didn't see Mr. Andrade and his son around. They might still need to finish them since they buy a month's groceries.
When we got home, I saw a truck in front of our gate. "Excuse me, Ma'am. Do you know who Traizle Cerezo is? We have been calling for her, but it seems no one is inside." The man asked.
"Why?" I asked. "I am the one you are looking for." I added.
"Good thing I asked you. Can you please sign here?" The man asked again.
"I am sorry, but I don't understand what this is all about." I replied honestly.
I didn't order anything. I looked at Lyndon to see if he happened to order one, but he didn't as well. So where did it come from?
"Ahh, we are told to deliver this with your name and address," he answered. "They also leave a note for you. Wait a minute." The man added and went inside the car to get something.
The two men left the truck and saw them pulling some big boxes. How come it is for me?
"Where did that come from?" I asked the man who was approaching us.
"Here it is." he said and handed me a paper.
"This is our offering for you and your family. Don't dare to give it back, okay? Or else we will buy more for you."
~Nana & Pops
What?
"Nana and Pops? Who are they?" Lyndon asked as he read the note beside me.
"Wow! I saw many junk foods inside the box!" Layzen exclaimed while he was peeping into the box.
"Where can we put it, Ma'am?" The man asked.
I quickly opened our gate for them to put the things down. After I signed the paperwork, I moved the two large boxes into our home. We were left gaping at it after they left. They almost occupied our house. They are too big for our room. I also called Zarsuelo to ask if he knew about this, but Zarsuelo told me he would come over to see for himself.
"How can we sleep with these two big boxes inside?" Lyndon asked while he was also eyeing the boxes.
I don't know as well. We didn't dare to open it as well. After half an hour, Zarsuelo came and saw the two big boxes.
"Nana and Pops bought these two big boxes for you? I didn't know about this. That is why they asked for your address last night. I thought they would visit you someday." Zarsuelo said.
"Who are they?" Lyndon asked.
"They are my grandparents." Zarsuelo replied.
"Can we open it now? I saw my favorite food inside a while ago." Layzen asked.
Zarsuelo went to him and helped him open the first box. They bought us groceries for a whole month too. We would have a grocery that would last for a week, and here is what they bought for us for a whole month's worth of groceries.
Don't tell me about the other box too. Lyndon and I opened another box.
One sack of rice. New blankets. New big TV.
"I love these toys!" Layzen yelled happily.
There are also different new toys and a laptop with Lyndon's name. "They must like you too much, Traizle. They did not give one to my ex before." I heard Zarsuelo say.
I promised them I wouldn't accept anything like this. "Can I talk to your grandparents?" I asked Zarsuelo.
Zarsuelo gets his phone from his pocket. "I hope you can reach them." he answered and dialed his grandparents' number before handing it to me.
"I will go outside for a while." I told them and headed outside.
"Hello, Matthew?" I heard his grandfather say.
"Ah. Mr. Zarsuelo, it is Traizle." I answered.
"Yes, future in-law?" I heard him ask.
"I just received the two boxes." I said.
"Oh, did you already? Good then." he replied excitedly.
"I am sorry, but I can accept those. They are too much for us." I told him.
"No, it is not. Accept them. We bought them ourselves. We are happy that Matthew finally found someone," his grandfather answered. "Just think of it as our dowry for you." he added.
"But they are too much for us. How can I repay your kindness?" I asked.
"Just stay with him, Traizle. That is our only wish." he replied.
I felt relieved. "Thank you for everything, Mr. Zarsuelo." I said my gratitude.
"No worries. We planned to buy you a house, but it would be too much for you." his grandfather added.
That will make me faint. These two big boxes already have so much for us. "Thank you, Sir." I told him before bidding our goodbyes.
I returned to our room and saw they were already eating chocolate. "Hey, Traizle, come and eat with us." I heard Layzen say.
I went beside him and started to eat with them. "Tell your grandparents that we are happy to have these." I told Zarsuelo.
"No, problem." Zarsuelo replied.
"Anyway, Traizle. When will you tell us about you guys?" Lyndon asked what made me choke.
"How did you know about it?" I asked back.
"Matthew told us about it. We have been waiting for you, but you never said that to me."
I glared at Zarsuelo, who was now eating like a madman. "Sorry about that. Can't help but tell them about us already." he answered.
That answers my intuition. That I felt like I had warned him late.