It was nine o'clock in the evening and Aldwin finally was on his way to his bed with a tired face and a crooked back after a long busy day at the office.

Keeiekk~

The sound of his Katri, a simple bed made from a bamboo tree, creaked with his obvious weight added. He was feeling full after having a hearty dinner cooked by his grandma.

He yawned while rubbing his eyes and slowly relaxed his body while he laid on his back, not forgetting to pat the small but soft while pillow.

"What a busy week it..." Aldwin said while stretching his arms and legs.

"All the work! Do this, do that, print this, print that! No overtime pay, no time to play Dota. this life sucks."

Aldwin mumbled to himself regarding his work as a graphic artist. He had been working for two years in a small printing shop since it was conveniently close to his home.

"Now your talking!"

Suddenly, the nagging sound of his grandma came out from the kitchen side after overhearing Aldwin's mumbling complaints.

Washing the dishes, his grandma started to roll,

"You were too adamant that you wanted to become an artist. Look at you now! You are indeed an artist, to be specific, an underpaid graphic artist! Hah! Pathetic!"

Aldwin rolled his eyes as he tucked himself tighter with the pillow, facing the small window; his grandma still on the zone:

"Why can't you be just like our neighbor's children? They are now successful seamen, others are fine engineers! Some of your friends are now nurses abroad! Teachers! For God's sake Aldwin, with all the hundreds of careers, why even bother being a graphic artist?"

Aldwin rolled his eyes again as he heard his grandma starting to recall all his bad decisions in his life and reminding him how naive he was in his dreams.

His dark brown hair perfectly complimented his light brown eyes. He has a pale brown complexion and a little overweight from lack of proper exercise and diet.

"You should have just gone to become a teacher or a seaman! They are both stable jobs and really pays well. Finding a partner in the future should not be a problem too! But what do you want again? An Artist! What will you feed yourself? Paintbrush? Can't you just-"

Aldwin knew that once she hears him complaining about his job, his grandmother would initiate her ultimate nagging rampage rolling for the next thousand years and he had prepared himself to open the other end of his ears for the incoming insult flood.

Unexpectedly, Aldwin is not mad. After all, his grandma is the only family he has left after losing his mother and father in an unfortunate accident during a storm since he was a kid.

Considering that they live in the Philippines where more tropical cyclones enter than anywhere else in the world.

Especially during the typhoon season in July through October. They lived a humble life, quite some distance from the crowded areas of the town.

"Yeah..yeah yeah..." Aldwin senselessly replied. The sound of the clanging plates and other kitchen utensils can be heard accompanying his grandma's endless speech.

Aldwin decided to distract himself from the noisy nagger by browsing his mobile phone, swiping entertaining posts on F******k and sometimes, watching dota videos and travel vlogs.

"Aldwin." His grandma now standing at the open door, she crossed her arms and a serious look on her face appeared as she leaned on the door side.

"Don't think that I am saying this because I wanted your help with the expenses. I am already old and I can take care of myself. You have been working in that printing shop for years but still failed to have enough savings. What are you gonna feed yourself in the future when I am gone? That stupid designs and Dota?"

Being a classic Filipina grandma, the only thing in her mind is the security of Aldwin's future despite their poor living. In the morning, she sells vegetables and fruits in the market and brings home just enough for the two of them. The rest of the expenses like electric bills and such are being taken care of by Aldwin.

She sighed deeply while looking at Aldwin who seems to be still busy swiping his phone. Grandma knew Aldwin is listening and continued.

"Aldwin, you are still twenty-seven young. It is not too late to consider a career change and just live an abundant life! Find a good woman in the future and be happy!"

Aldwin did not reply. He remained silent and unmoving for a long time. Thinking deeper about his grandma's words.

Aldwin and his grandma lived in a small nipa hut but with thin metal roofing. They have a small farm just behind their small house and a small vegetable garden right outside their door.

The closest neighbor they have is about a hundred meters away making their home feeling very isolated, especially during the night time.

There is a few kilometers wide forest nearby and Aldwin seldom goes there because of his grandma's constant warning regarding the stories of hidden evil creatures such as Manananggal, Kapre, White Lady, evil spirits, Sigbin and so on.

"You better get a night of good sleep now and-"

"Yeah yeah, Lilla I get you. I am gonna sleep now."

"I am not done talking yet!"

"But you told me to sleep!"

"Sleep when I am done talking!"

"Zzzzzzzzz"

Whapak!~

A sound of a crispy hand smacked at Aldwin's bottom that echoed across the house.

"Ouch! Lilla I was sleeping!"

"I know you since you were a child El, do you think you can fool me? Don't you dare sleep when you have just finished eating! Do you want to die early from Orom?"

"It's not like I would really sleep right away. Can't you see I am watching some videos?" Aldwin complained, showing his smartphone currently playing some dota videos.

Grandma rolled her eyes in whatever and added, "By the way, did you finished brushing your teeth?

"Lilla I am already 27 years old, you taught me to brush my teeth since I was a fetus, so of course, I already did!"

"No wonder you have plenty of rotten tooth!"

"I love you, Lilla."

With these words, Aldwin's grandma finally stopped talking. Slowly her irritated look dissapeared and was replaced with a warm smile while looking at Aldwin's back.

"You dummy." She said with a smile on her face. Aldwin knew pretty much how to calm her down with sudden compliments. A good counter-attack from her endless talk.

****

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