Chapter 6: Being Alone

John Dave's POV

I got up early so I could go around the subdivision further and buy empty bottles and cans, and magazines. Another reason is so that I can see Natalie again and see her beautiful face.

I have seen her for a long time while I was trading but she didn't notice me until her Mommy became my friend. I was happy to see her beauty up close.

Now she has become my friend and I know that my liking for her has grown even more that I can only now understand. I am excited today.

There was a smile on my lips as I tucked away my beddings. Then I went to the bathroom to take a shower. I stared into the mirror and the grace I was once again in myself because I exercised my self love called.

My life has only taken on color since I saw Natalie. My spirit awoke when I remembered her so I quickly got out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen.

I did the cooking quickly but I will make coffee first. I went out of the house first to watch for the bread seller.

The clear sky opened on my face as I opened the door. I uttered a prayer of thanksgiving as I waited for the bread vendor to pass.

Moments later I heard the sound of the oncoming vehicle of the bread seller. I told him to stop and then I bought it from the salesman. After I gave thanks I went inside the house to eat it along with coffee.

My eye caught the clock on the wall and it was six o'clock in the morning. It's time for me to start doing something for my life. I pushed my cart as I drove down the road toward Natalie's subdivision.

I precede the houses I hadn’t been to yesterday and I catch the street where Natalie’s house is. As usual, I shouted so that those in the house would know that I was buying goods.

Just the first house I immediately bought a lot of goods. When I was fixing those goods in the sack, I immediately pushed the cart and in the next house, the goods were on the side of the road.

I thanked after I handed over the payment. I was pleased to see that I had already bought a lot of goods while I hadn’t traveled the whole street. I stopped screaming as I pushed my cart to Natalie's house.

It was as if my feet were rushing me because I really wanted to see her. Their driver was right to fix the car to take her to their school.

"Good morning," I greeted their driver Mr. Lino who had just finished getting the car ready.

"Good morning too, hijo. You working early this morning today, huh?" He told me.

"I need it to get more goods." I answered as I stood next to my cart and waited for Natalie to come out from inside their house.

"It's really your diligence, hijo. It really only takes sacrifice. It doesn't matter, I know that you will succeed because of your diligence."

"Thank you very much," I shyly replied to him because of what he said.

We saw Natalie out from the house and get in the car so their driver said goodbye to me. My heart beat faster as I saw her beauty. The car they were riding in backed away from the gate.

When the car was already beside me I smiled sweetly at Natalie. He smiled back and my world seemed to stop moving. Her smile was contagious from her beautiful face. Thanks and I saw her again.

Mr. Lino blew his horn at me and then they left. I still stared at their car until it disappeared from my sight.

"Oh John Dave, there you are," Mrs. Figueroa suddenly appeared from their yard.

"Oh, I'll buying the goods again," I politely replied.

"Oh, we have it. Wait for Mercedes there and she'll take it to you. Don't pay because I'll give it to you."

"It's embarrassing but thank you very much."

"It's nothing as long as it's you."

Mercedes came out with the goods from the back of their house.

"This is, hijo, those are arranged already."

"Oh, thank you so much Auntie, Mercedes," I told her.

"Just for you,hijo. That's okay. Oh we'll leave you there, hijo and I'll do something else." She said goodbye to me.

It’s more than compared to the ones I bought before. I said goodbye to Mrs. Figueroa after I also thanked her. I was happy pushing the cart because I had many goods like yesterday but they didn't want to let me pay for the goods like before.

I headed to the junk shop to sell the goods I collected this morning. When I arrived, there were many in line with my fellow traders. It's still early for my morning class so I have to wait for my turn.

A few minutes ago, I was taken care of by the kilo man and I happily accepted the payment for my goods. I pushed my cart back home. I went through the store to buy rice and a cooked dish for me to eat when I'm home.

I was so sweaty when I arrived at my house. I cook rice while I rest my wet body before I take a bath. When the rice cooked, I immediately ate my breakfast.

I waited for thirty minutes before I went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. I took a quick shower and went out of the bathroom. I still have time to review again so I have a bullet in case there is an exam.

After I dressed up I prepared my karate suit. I took it with me to go on the tricycle ride. I arrived and there was still time before I started teaching karate.

After three hours of teaching karate, my class followed another subject. After all my subjects I went home to my house.

I got home hungry so I was looking for food right away. I caressed my stomach as I felt my fullness. I burped loudly, it was good that I was alone here at home so I was the only one who heard.

Just take a break and I'll be a trader again. Natalie was going home at four o'clock, so I had to be there before four o'clock. I prepared my cart and got enough money that I could buy the goods.

As I pushed my cart I passed vehicles loaded with wealthy students and children of those living in the subdivision. I exhaled in emptiness to lose weight on my chest.

I erased from my mind whatever bad thoughts I was thinking. There are many other good things that can happen in my life. I can't afford some things and I am not alone in this situation in my life.

Rather than think sadly, I walked even faster to buy more goods. Three houses in a row I bought goods. I immediately had five sacks in my cart.

Natalie's house was the one I was going to pass so I stopped. Fortunately, the acacia tree across from Natalie's house is tall and lush. It does not interfere but helps as a shade.

I sat under it and a few minutes later Natalie's car was approaching. The car window went down when I was seen sitting on the side of the road. This is how I feel again, my heart beating fast.

I immediately smiled at Natalie when I saw her. She smiled back at me and almost wanted my heart to go crazy. Mr. Lino blew his horn at me to acknowledge my presence. Eventually the vehicle entered the gate.

I'm waiting for her to come out after she gets dressed. Ten minutes later I heard the gate closed. I could smell her expensive perfume and I could already feel her presence.

"Hi, John Dave," she greeted me then sat down next to me.

She was sitting at a distance between us but it was as if she was just next to me because my heart was restless.

"Hello,Natalie." I answered and barely glanced at her.

"How are you studying?"

"I'm about to graduate. I've recovered from my grades as well."

"That's good and there's nothing really stupid when it comes to studying."

"So and you know what? I'm inspired by you because of your diligence in studying."

"Really? You inspired me too." I’m happy to praise her.

"Thank you," she said.

"Nothing as long as you are, Natalie." I was still embarrassed to answer her.

"So, how about you? How's your schooling?"

"Striving to always get high grades because of being a scholar, it's necessary."

"Wow, you can do that. You're the one who can do it!" He praised me profusely.

I like her compliments on me but I just don’t make it obvious. If only she knew that she was the reason I persevered in studying because it was the only way I knew to be close to her.