"Are you comfortable wearing eye glasses, Sarah?" Charles asked after putting onto Sarah her new reading glasses that he had bought for her.

"It felt weird at first... but my vision is clearer now and the dizziness is gone too.

Thank you so much!" Sarah replied.

"No. I'm the one who should be thanking all of you, especially Joy. You saved my son's life. Thank you so much!" Charles said to Joy before hugging her.

Suddenly they heard someone knocking on the door. "Sir, you have a visitor,” Manang said.

"Right! I almost forgot. Please let her in so I can introduce her,” Charles said while smiling.

Manang came back with a middle-aged girl beside her.

"Everyone, this is Miss Yuriko Fujima. She will be your tutor from now on. Miss Fujima, these are your students, including this lady here." Charles gestured to Mina.

"Huh? M-me too...?" Mina thought she was now too old to be a student for a kindergarten class.

"Ah-Hi! Nice meeting you all!" Yuriko greet everyone.

From that day onward, Yuriko taught them everything they needed to learn like reading, writing, counting, drawing and many more. All their classes included Mina as a special student. In the afternoon, Yuriko and Mina held a special class for general knowledge.

She taughg Mina how to use appliances like the vacuum cleaner. “This vacuum cleaner is eating my clothes!" she exclaimed, her skirt stuck at the hose.

Yuriko also taught her how to use the TV. "What magic this box uses? It captured many people in it! Let's save them!" Mina said while watching the TV.

Mina also learned how to use the telephone. “Huh? Where's Charles? I can hear him but I can't see him!” Mina said.

And how to use a cellphone. “Wait, is this the toy Liel always play with? It's showing his father! Am I the one he is talking to?" Mina said while having a ideo call with Charles.

Lastly, Yuriko taught her to use a computer. “I-I feel dizzy. Which one should I click again? I don't see a mouse running around!" Mina said while trying to type on a computer.

However, technology seemed so hard for her...

"Everyone, food is ready!" Charles called them for lunch.

At the dining table, Charles asked the kids what they've learned from Yuriko.

"Me! Me! I learned how to draw! And this is our family picture that I made just for you!" said Peach, giving the drawing to Charles.

“It's so beautiful, Peach! Thanks!" Charles said.

"I-I learned how to read, and I just finished this story book,” Sarah said while showing the book.

"That is a thick book! You’re smart!" Charles was amazed how fast the kids learned.

"How about Liel and Joy?" Charles asked next.

Miss Yuriko answered, “Liel is a genius! Especially in mathematics. He can solve any complicated math problems that I gave him. But Joy is having a hard time learning how to read and write." 

Joy felt embarrassed, but Liel held her hand and squeezed it.

"But in our village, among the other childrens, Joy is the first one to read the Libreta. I mean, her father's book,” Mina said.

"Mina, can you show us how you write?" Charles requested. Yuriko gave her a pen and paper then Mina started to write symbols and showed it to them.

"I think I've seen this before,” Charles said.

“That is Baybayin. The Filipino ancient script,” Yuriko explained. After that, Yuriko started to use Baybayin to teach the kids.

"Yey! I'm done with my assignment! Come on, let's play,” Joy told her sisters.

"Sorry, Ate Joy. I want to finnish this science book,” Sarah said.

"I'm focused with my drawing right now. Sorry!" Peach apologized too.

Joy felt sad but Liel grabbed her hand and pulled her after him. "Come! I know a good place to play!" Liel said.

After 5 Years.....

"Hey, Li?! Why do you need to cover my eyes?" Joy asked. Liel led her to the lake near the orchard. This place had become their hideout since they were kids, and even now that they were 12 years old.

"This is the day we first met, right? So I prepared something special! You can your blindfolds now,” Liel said.

Joy did and beheld an arch-shaped decoration at the entrance of the lake. It was made with curtains and flowers of pink and white. Behind that was the beautiful lake with lily pods and lotuses, jumping fishes and fluttering butterflies.

Joy’s eyes widened in amazement.“This is so beautiful! Did you make all these?" 

Liel blushed. “Actually, Manong Ben helped me. Anyway, did you like it?"

"YES! I love it!"

"Good! Then wear this." Liel placed a veil of flowers on her head then kneeled in front of her while offering her a small box. There was a pink diamond ring inside, engraved with a cherry blossom flower.

"This is the precious ring that my mother gave me before she died. She told me to give this to the special girl that I want to be with for the rest of my life. He slid it to Joy's ring finger. “That is the reason why I'm giving this to you." Liel stood up and stared earnestly into Joy's eyes. “Please accept this as a symbol of my promise: that no matter what happens, and even if the world would not allow it, I will do everything just to be you.”

"Yes, I accept it,” Joy whispered. She took off her necklace and placed it around Liel’s neck. "This necklace is my only memento from my father, and now I'm giving it to you as a symbol of our promise. That even we forget this day, this necklace will always guide us back to each other."

They move closer until their noses touched and said as one, “And we will live happily together for the rest of our lives."

Later in the house...

"Where is my precious Liel Cedric? Bring him to me!" said an old lady with gold jewelries.

Joy saw her and approached with a smile.

"Li is having a bath right now. We just came back from playing,” Joy said.

"Why would my Liel ever think of playing with a filthy brat like you?” Then she saw the ring on Joy's finger. “That ring! Give it to me, you thief!" The lady grabbed Joy's arm and took off the ring.

"No! It's mine! Li gave it to me!" Joy cried.

Charles, Mina, and Joy’s sisters heard them and saw Joy hurting because the lady was holding her arm so tightly.

"Mom! Please let her go!" Charles said. Charles’s mother glared at Mina.

"Charles, we need to talk!" Charles and his mother left them. Mina hugged Joy and comforted her.

At Charles’s room...

"So this mansion is an orphanage now? What were you thinking bringing those beggars in here? Are they the reason why you don't want to go back in Paris?" his mom said.

"They are not beggars! They are my family now. I'm not going anywhere without them! Without Mina!" Charles replied.

"Are you insane? Kick them out before I tell your father about this!" Charles’s mom ordered.

"No! I will never do that! I love Mina!" Charles shouted.

His mom was really shocked by what Charles said.

Mina heard everything because she was hiding near the room. While covering her mouth, her tears fell and her body grew weak. She hadn’t even noticed that Charles was already falling in love with her. and now that Charles had confessed his feelings, Mina felt happy and sad at the same time.

Author: TenTenJOY03

Editor: Kenneth Villa