Chapter 3

She scanned the surroundings of the place. It had been a long year since she left her grandmother's house, taken away by her parents to her father's province.

During college, she chose to move to Manila and convinced her parents to buy a condo unit for her. They hesitated, being protective of their only daughter, but she stood firm.

She promised her parents she wouldn't marry early, focusing on growing their business. Her mother, with Chinese heritage, wisely invested and expanded their wealth instead of merely letting it sleep.

Her grandparents warmly welcomed them. They raised her while her parents worked abroad, establishing a home and business before bringing her back.

Her grandparents were kind, and she obediently followed their wishes. Her uncle, her mother's younger brother, used to take her to school. He now had his own family, but his house was conveniently close to her grandmother's, so he often visited.

"Maine, my grandchild!" Her grandmother embraced her tearfully.

"How have you been? We've missed you so much," her grandfather said.

"There, maybe that child will behave better here!" her mother teased. "Bring the bags inside!" she ordered the household staff.

"Is it true what happened? That's why you look so thin," her grandmother remarked. "Come inside."

They all entered the house. Nothing changed except for the gleaming new furniture illuminated by the light.

"I'll just rest for a bit," she bid them farewell. "The journey was tiring."

"Oh, sure, your room is still the same as before. We just had it fixed up a bit, hoping that one day, you'll come back here." Her grandfather replied.

"Mommy, I'll go upstairs," she informed her mother and kissed her cheek. She hugged her father.

"Alright, dear, just rest," her father replied.

She didn't wait for her mother's response, knowing she wasn't one for sentimentalities. Her mother disliked unnecessary drama, and she had never seen her cry. Sometimes, she thought her mother had a heart of stone.

Upon opening the door, she noticed the fresh paint inside. The bed was bigger now, but her stuffed toys and belongings were still there.

She remembered the day her parents took her away, crying because she wasn't used to being separated from her grandparents. Her mother only requested to have her with them, but that was the last time she saw her grandparents, communicating with them only through video calls.

There was a picture of her with her grandmother on the wall. Another photo included her Uncle Sandro. There was one more person in the picture, someone she couldn't quite remember.

Memories flooded her mind from the time she could recall in that place.

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

"Sure, let me provide a translation:

"Uncle, please take me," she requested to Sandro, "I might be late."

"Just take a tricycle, Maine, you're already grown up. I still have work to do."

"I'll tell grandma on you," she threatened.

"Maine!" he intervened, "stop it. Mommy will scold me because of you again."

A car honked nearby.

"Oh, Sandro ,are you teasing Maine again?" he said to both of them.

"Uncle Demitri, uncle Sandro won't take me to school," she complained to him.

"Why won't he take you? You're so mean, Sandro. Pity the princess of uncle Demitri, come baby, I'll take you."

"Really?" Maine, who was only ten years old, lit up.

"Of course, we're not getting along with Sandro," he said, opening the passenger seat.

"I don't understand you two. Demi, you don't have a job!" Sandro retorted.

"How's school?" he asked her.

"Okay, you know, Tito, there's a kid bullying me because they say I look Chinese."

"What did you do?"

"I punched him. I wanted uncle to come with me so he'd know someone is defending me, but he won't take me."

"Then let me be the one to accompany you!"

"Really?"

"Yes, after all, I'm also your uncle, right."

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

"Ah, his name is Demitri," she said to herself." Where is he now?" then she put back the frame on the table.

"I'll take you home with your daddy," her mother suddenly appeared at her grandmother's house when she was just ten years old.

Her parents' business was already thriving when she was brought back. According to her grandmother, her parents got married at a young age, and she was only allowed to be taken if they had something to be proud of. Her Chinese mother had established several successful businesses, while her Filipino father owned farms and plantations.

Her mother's parents opposed the situation because, firstly, she was already engaged to someone else, secondly, they disapproved of her father, and thirdly, her parents were still studying.

Against her maternal grandparents' wishes, they agreed to be together, but a condition was set that her mother would leave the house with her father after giving birth, leaving her behind.

They accepted the agreement, fearing they would be disowned by her mother's family if they didn't.

Her father worked hard to provide for the family and educate Madeline. He was treated as a worker, not a son-in-law. However, her grandmother emphasized that he should not neglect Madeline's mother.

One morning, Madeline and I faced each other in the living room. She had just finished fourth grade.

"Madeline, please don't take away my grandchild. I'll be left alone." Her grandmother pleaded.

"Māmā, wǒmen lǚxíngle yǔ wǒ pèi'ǒu de xiéyì, xīwàng nín yě néng lǚxíng nín de chéngnuò." her mother said.

"Pèro háizǐ, pàigāi wǒ zěnme bàn ne?" her grandma cried out loud.

"Zhè shì wǒmen de xiéyì, māmā. Nín xūyào lǚxíng. Wǒmen yǐjīng rěnshòule hěn zhǎng shíjiān méiyǒu wǒmen de háizi."

"Enough with the Chinese," her father intervened. "Mom, we need our child to be with her siblings."

"You have other children, why don't you just leave Jermaine with me? I'll take care of her."

"Mom, do you want us to take this to court? We have an agreement, remember?"

Her grandmother couldn't hold back her tears. Her mother was indeed something else – unyielding, even to family, not sparing even a mother.