Chapter 44: Showing them Around

Angela darted from one end of the living room to the other, her shoes squeaking faintly against the polished wood floor. Her excitement bounced off the walls, a stark contrast to Evelyn, who still stood near the doorway, her trembling hands clutching the strap of her faded handbag as if afraid the place might vanish if she let go."Come on, Mom," Timothy urged with a small smile, gently guiding her inside. "Don’t just stand there. This is your home now. Let me show you around."

Evelyn finally took a hesitant step forward. The cool air from the central AC wrapped around her, a far cry from the humid, fish-scented nights at the wet market. She rubbed her arms unconsciously, her gaze flicking across the sleek gray sofa, the marble dining table, and the shining appliances she had only ever seen in commercials.

Angela pulled open a door on the side hallway. "Brother! Look! A big bedroom!" she squealed.

Timothy chuckled and led his mother after his sister. Inside was the master bedroom: a king-sized bed neatly tucked in white linens, a walk-in closet with sliding glass doors, and a balcony that overlooked the manicured gardens below. Evelyn pressed a hand to her chest, her breath shaky.

"It even has... an aircon unit," she whispered, her eyes drifting to the sleek machine mounted on the wall.

"Split-type," Timothy explained, casually as if it weren’t a big deal. "Energy efficient, quiet. You won’t sweat through the day and night anymore, Mom."

Her throat tightened. She had spent years sleeping with a cheap electric fan that clicked every time it rotated, sometimes breaking down in the middle of sweltering nights. Now this...

Angela was already tugging Timothy to the bathroom. He opened the frosted glass door and gestured inside.

The bathroom gleamed in marble tiles. A glass-enclosed shower stood to the side, opposite a deep soaking tub. Evelyn frowned faintly when her eyes caught the small white box mounted near the showerhead.

"What is that?" she asked.

"Water heater," Timothy said. "You can finally bathe with warm water whenever you want. No more freezing mornings with cold buckets."

Evelyn’s lips trembled, her mind flashing to the countless dawns where she had forced herself to grit her teeth and wash with icy water before rushing to the market.

Angela twirled happily, her voice echoing against the tiles. "Mama! Hot showers every day!"

Timothy smiled faintly, then ushered them toward the other two bedrooms. One was already fitted with a queen-sized bed, a small study desk by the window, and a built-in wardrobe.

"This one’s for you, Angela. A proper study space."

Angela gasped and rushed to the desk, her small hands running over the smooth surface. "Really, Brother? My own desk? My own room?"

"Of course, there’s only three of us." Timothy said.

"Timothy... this is too much," she whispered.

Timothy shook his head. "I know but this is me giving it all the best to you guys."

Her eyes glistened again, but before she could say more, Timothy’s stomach growled. Angela laughed, clutching her belly.

"Brother, Mama... I’m hungry."

Timothy glanced at his phone. "Right. None of us had breakfast." He opened the Grab app and began scrolling. "What do you two want? Jollibee? Pancit? Or something heavier?"

Angela clapped her hands. "Jollibee! With spaghetti and chicken!"

Evelyn frowned lightly. "Timothy, no. Don’t waste money. We can just cook once we—"

"Mom," Timothy interrupted gently, smiling at her. "From now on, we don’t need to count every peso for meals. Relax. Let’s eat first. Then we can stock the fridge later."

Evelyn’s lips parted, as if to protest again, but she saw the determination in her son’s eyes. She exhaled softly and gave a small nod.

Timothy placed the order: a family bundle with fried chicken, spaghetti, burgers, and rice.

As the order confirmed, Timothy set the phone aside and looked around the unit again. His mother’s weary figure standing in the new living room, his little sister giggling as she peeked out the balcony.

Then another thought flickered his mind.

"Angela, you are going to study here also. A private school," Timothy revealed.


Angela spun away from the balcony, her eyes widening. "Private school?!" Her voice was nearly a squeal, echoing off the glass walls. "Like the ones with uniforms and libraries and computers?"

Timothy chuckled at her excitement. "Yes. A proper school, not far from here. You’ll have better teachers, better facilities, and classmates who actually want to study. No more cramped classrooms with broken chairs."

Angela clapped her hands together, bouncing on her heels. "Mama! Did you hear that? A real private school!"

Evelyn’s breath caught, her heart racing. She shook her head slowly, almost unable to process it. "Timothy... do you even know how expensive that is? Tuition fees alone could bury us in debt. We can’t afford—"

"Mom, I understand that you haven’t adjusted yet but everything is cheap for me. I’ll handle it. I’m going to give you a better life."

Evelyn pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You’ve already given us this home, and now this... I don’t know what to say."

"Then don’t say anything," Timothy replied softly. "Just accept it. This is the life you both deserve."

Angela rushed to hug him, her small arms clinging tightly around his waist. "Thank you, Brother. I promise I’ll study hard!"

Timothy ruffled her hair, smiling faintly. "That’s all I ask."

Thirty minutes later.

A knock came at the door then, breaking the moment. Timothy glanced at his phone. Grab delivery. Right on time.

He moved to answer it while Angela and Evelyn lingered in the living room. The scent of fried chicken and sweet spaghetti soon filled the unit, warm and comforting. Timothy laid the food out on the marble dining table, the three of them sitting down together for their first meal in their new home.

Evelyn bowed her head for a moment, whispering a prayer of thanks. When she lifted her eyes, she looked at her son with pride.

"Later, we are going to buy new clothes, and you are going to meet the one I have been tutoring with."