Too bad. Ricky and Alina still look at each other. This is the breakfast they deserve— a sermon from an elder woman they disturbed in the middle of the night until dawn.
"From what we've seen, it looks like you're both wrong," Nanay Remmy said without a smile to the two.
Alina quickly denied what her boss said. "Madam, it's not my fault. He slept in the room even though he knew someone else was sleeping there. He really did make a mistake!"
"Is that true, Ricky?"
Ricky's face suddenly rose and his head was shaking. "Because the lights went out, it was also dark and I didn't notice that anyone was already sleeping. I'm sorry, I didn't do anything wrong, grandma."
Nanay Remmy sighed and glared at Alina. She noticed that the trace of anger on her face did not disappear. "It's better that you apologize to each other."
"I don't want to!" They pronounced at the same time. Ricky didn't want to apologize because he was the one who hurt the two of them the most, he even tore his t-shirt because Alina pulled it at the height of their fight.
Alina, on the other hand, won't apologize to the young man because Ricky accidentally kissed her and she can't admit that to Nanay Remmy. She still can't accept that Ricky was her first kiss instead of the man of her dreams.
"Okay, go ahead and just pay for the broken vase." Nanay Remmy squinted and narrowed her eyes. She suspects that no one wants to give up on Ricky and Alina to apologize.
"Don't involve Alina in the payment. I'll take care of it," Ricky suggested promptly. He knew that Alina cried because of it. He was very concerned about Alina despite her annoyance with him.
"But you don't have a job yet so you can't afford to pay," replied Nanay Remmy and gave Alina a critical look. The shedding of tears could not escape her sight. She already knows Alina, she is brave but when she knows that she has done something unfortunate, she just cries and it is not easy to move on. Alina is her hard working maid. She does not rebuke her when something goes wrong because he knows her effort and sincerity.
She still remembers the first time he saw Alina because her mother had also served in their mansion. Alina's mother pleaded that she could live in the mansion because the head of the family had just died. Her father had an accident on the road because of her profession as a driver.
Nanay Remmy felt sorry when she saw the girl crying because she was traumatized by what happened. Unfortunately, Alina's mother also passed away due to heart disease. She witnessed how Alina endured the pain, her parents are gone when she's only 12. She was scared to be a homeless child when she became completely orphaned. She thought that Mother Remmy was going to evict him but he was very grateful when she said that she was ready to take her and let her study, as long as she would be her helper in maintaining order in the mansion.
Nanay Remmy is Alina's guardian angel. She owes everything she enjoys and if the day comes that Nanay Remmy will demand compensation in exchange for a favor, she will never hesitate to do the favor she will ask for — even if she evicts her from the mansion if her service is no longer needed.
"I'll just think about what you want, Ricky first. I want you and Alina to go to the hospital, see yourselves, not only at the doctor but also at the psychiatrist and have your brain checked. I give up." Nanay Remmy let out a sigh after she gave the two another critical look. She will not keep Ricky and Alina apart, instead she will bring them closer so that there is a possibility that they will get along.
"There's no need, I'll just see Alina at the doctor, I was able to shake her on the floor," Ricky admitted shyly.
"I know. We've been watching you before, haven't we? I'm going to make a ring here so you can just spar whenever you have a misunderstanding," replied Nanay Remmy and left the two.
Ricky and Alina both sighed when they confirmed that Nanay Remmy had returned to her room. Alina moved quickly to get a broom and dustpan but Ricky preceded her.
"Leave it to me, I know how to sweep."
She let Ricky clean up the piece of vase that was scattered on the floor. But she couldn’t deny that she was moved by Ricky’s sincerity. He even suggested that he will take in-charge for the payment for the vase even though he didn't have a job yet, so they could just share it.
"Go back to sleep Alina, I'll take care of it. It's already four in the morning, I'll help with the housework," he suggested.
Alina winced. "No, I don't want you to think that I'm letting you do my job. Besides, your parents might come here when they'll visit you, won't they? And you're also the boss so I'll take care of it. You're the brother of the husband of my boss."
"You said that huh? I'm your boss?" Ricky temporarily let go of the broom and dustpan to see Alina's face.
‘You're cute when you frown like that.’
"Yes, you are. But even if you're my boss, I won't let you step on my character. Clear?" Alina's bold statement.
"I didn't step on you, I just swept you on the floor." Ricky's eyes widened with laughter especially when he remembered that wrestling-like fight.
He did not fail to throw jokes on Alina. Alina was about to pass him but he blocked the door.
"Your boss will order something," he whispered.
"What?" Alina asked sparingly and met Ricky's sly smile. She noticed the wound on his nose and jaw because she scratched them but the wounds did not diminish his gorgeousness.
"Make me some coffee," Ricky whispered.
“Okay!” She glared at her and even followed her into the kitchen.
***
“Here's your 3 in 1 express coffee. Hope you will enjoy that.” Alina's face was still sour when she got back to the kitchen where Ricky was patiently waiting for her.
“Thanks, Alina.” Ricky smiled and sipped the coffee but he frowned when he realized that it's still hot. He should have waited for more than a minute before drinking it. And as he averted his gaze, he saw Alina was just giggling.
“It seems like you're happy when someone experiences jinx or inconveniences,” he remarked with furrowed brows.
“A man like you deserves that anyway. How will I be able to sleep now? It's already 5 in the morning. The garbage truck will be about to collect our trash at 7 AM. I'm the one who's assigned to wait for the truck's arrival. If only I could just include myself in a trash bag.”
“Have you lost your motivation because you're annoyed at me? Don't worry about that trash. I'll wait outside instead of you,” Ricky replied.
“As I have told you earlier, you're my boss and I won't let you do things that are originally part of my job,” Alina insisted.
“I'm leaving now. Enjoy your coffee.”
***
Ricky was a bit terrified because his brother asked him to talk to him privately.
“Bro, about what happened last night, it was a misunderstanding and my honest mistake as well. I didn't barge to that room. The lights were not working and I didn't notice that Alina was there. I'm not a pervert. I don't have any bad intentions,” Ricky apologized earnestly. When his parents agreed that he could move into this mansion, he received advice that he must not do things that will put his elder brother, Randell, in a bad reputation.
“Next time, even if Alina or any women here, shouts or shows bad demeanor, you should just keep your mouth shut and don't retaliate,” Randell advised. He only said that in order to keep his younger brother be reminded at all times. And to be honest, he couldn't put a hundred percent of his trust on him because they never knew each other well. He's still dubious of Ricky's behavior.
“But, is it bad to clarify things? Defend yourself when you didn't do anything wrong in the first place? Why isn't it allowed to retaliate if they hurt you? I'm not a martyr but at least, I know how to defend myself,” Ricky retorted but still kept it in a polite manner. “Since then, I knew Alina doesn't like me to live here.”
“Why did you say so? She has no right to disagree since she's also like me, an employee but the difference now is I married my boss. Alina is a kind person. Maybe, she just had some bad experiences with guys before,” Randell responded and flashed a smile. “Ricky, I'm sorry if I advised you things like that. Anyway, I'll send you a formal letter for an application to the university where Nanay Remmy's nephew is working as a professor. They're still hiring admin staff. Maybe you'll get a chance to get hired there.”
Ricky nodded and smiled. “Thank you for that, bro. I'll promise, I'll be patient and will not retaliate especially to any women here in this mansion. I know my place.”
“Alright. Just familiarize yourself here. Huh?”
Ricky nodded.
Meanwhile, Randell left Ricky and went back to his room. He found out that Martina had been waiting for him with a cheerful smile.
“Why are you smiling like that? Huh?” Randell curiously asked.
“Why did you advise your younger brother not to retaliate and remain respectful when your demeanor to me isn't like that when we used to be colleagues?” Martina asked with another sly smile and later hugged her husband.
“I know that you and Ricky weren't close. But please try to understand him more, he's not familiar with how we are living. He also needs to have time to practice his best approach to us. Don't be harsh on him as if you didn't experience any hardships in life,” Martina sincerely advised.
“Martina, I'm not mad at him. I just want to remind him all the time,” Randell clarified as he hugged his wife back with enough gentleness.
“I hope you're not pretending that you're really okay with the idea that Ricky will stay here for a while. You know, he's always welcome here. Don't think that we're upset about what happened between him and Alina,” Martina replied and her eyes were gleaming as their gazes met.
“I'm very sincere to reconcile with him. That's a fact,” Randell assured.
***
Ricky was excited to go home to the mansion to share the good news. He was hired at a university as an admin staff. Nanay Remmy referred him there with the help of her nephew named June.
"Sir, thank you so much for the opportunity you gave me," Ricky said humbly when he and June got lucky. "It doesn't matter, you were hired not because my aunt recommended you, you passed the exams and you answered well in the interview," explained June, one of the respected professors at San Antonio University — a well-known university in their area.
Even though Ricky was a man, he couldn’t help but admire June’s sympathy and demeanor. He talks professionally and has a sense of fashion. And another point, this teacher is really handsome. Maybe there are many female students who have an admiration for him.
‘I hope one day I will be like you.’
He smiles at that goal. Who doesn't dream of a better career in life? He can say that he idolizes June. He's very hardworking and gifted. Aside from math, June also teaches science and art.
He also volunteered in rural areas and has a background in martial arts. At the age of 27, June has already contributed a lot to the expansion of education in the country. He's been awarded recently as one of outstanding professors. June was also the youngest to be awarded the school award.
"By the way, what about Aunt Rems?" June asked, referring to Mother Remmy.
"She's fine and strong even though he's 70 years old, he won't get sick," Ricky said with a delicate smile.
"You're going home too, aren't you? I was planning to visit them today. I miss Nanay Remmy and her witty housemates, especially Alina." A dimple appeared on June's cheek as she said that.
Ricky suddenly frowned. What's wrong with Alina and will June miss her?
"Yes, I'm going home too," Ricky retorted and hid the frown on his face.
"Maybe you can wait for me? You can go around the university first. No one will reprimand you because you have a pass. My class will end at 4 later," said June and apologetically smiled at Ricky. He didn't want anyone waiting for him but he also wanted to serve Ricky at least a snack before they went to the mansion.
"It's okay, Sir June," he formally replied to June.
"What about, just call me brother or ‘Kuya’ June? I'll be your colleague too." June flaunted a smile while still talking to Ricky.
"O-okay, Kuya June."