(A Short Story – Last of 6 Parts)

My wife knew we were meeting up and had cooked dinner, inviting us to eat at our place.

“Wow, that’s fantastic!” Jay exclaimed when I shared the news. “This is a perfect opportunity to meet your family as well!”

“Okay,” I said. “Jay, Chris, you shouldn’t drive. You’re pretty drunk. Just join me in my Jeep instead.” Chris protested but eventually agreed. As for Mario, he seemed fine to drive himself, so I allowed him to take his car. This way, I wouldn’t have to worry about moving their cars back after dinner. When I returned the case of beer to the store, I entrusted Chris and Jay’s cars to the owner, and they just needed to pick them up before closing time that evening.

The drive to my house was smooth, with Mario trailing behind us. I noticed that Chris and Jay were nodding off as we drove. Less than 20 minutes later, we arrived home to find our gate already open.

Once we parked, Jay and Chris hopped out of the Jeep. As soon as Mario arrived, we moved deeper into our yard. It felt like the perfect evening was just beginning.

Our front yard features a neatly tended garden where my partner and our children cultivate various kinds of flowers and soft green shrubs that add life and brightness to the space. Our house is partially hidden behind the trees of chico and mango.

“Is that a Toyota Hi-Ace van yours?” Chris asked, eyeing the vehicle parked in a separate garage on the left side of our front yard.”

It is. We bought it two years ago.  My wife relies on it for her business, and it’s our go-to for family trips,” I replied.

“Have you ever considered turning it into a rent-a-van business?” Jay suggested.

“Actually, that’s exactly what I’m doing! It’s become a valuable source of income for me, and I receive inquiries at least twice a week,” I explained with enthusiasm.

“Wow, your house is impressive,” Jay observed.

“It’s a big house, and you have a spacious yard. I thought this was still the old house we visited when we were in high school,” Mario added.

“This is nothing compared to Jay’s house. I had the old one demolished, and with every good harvest of rice and vegetables, my wife and I built this new one gradually,” I shared proudly.

At that moment, the door to our house opened.

“Come on in!

Maxene opened the door. She greeted me and kissed me on the cheek.

“Brothers, this is Maxene, our youngest.”

She greeted all three of my friends and kissed their hands as a sign of respect.

“How old is she, bro?” Mario asked.

“She’s in Grade 12. Next year, she’ll be in college. Where’s your mom, sweetheart?”

“They’re in the hut at the back. They’re preparing the food.”

“Let’s go to the back, guys.”

“Your house’s interior is nice, Mon,” Chris commented.

“My sister designed it. She graduated in Fine Arts.”

“And Mon,” Mario whispered to me, “You have everything here.”

“Your TV is bigger than mine. This is what you call a fully-furnished house.” Jay mused.

“My wife invested in all of this, bro. She does well with her small grocery in the market.”

“You have a desktop computer here, Mon. And a laptop and a tablet. Why don’t you try using them?” Chris asked.

“My kids and my wife use those. I never get a chance to use them. Besides, I am not a techie.”

We exited our house through the back door.

“Front yard, flowers and trees… backyard vegetables. You’re not wasting any space Mon.” Mario quipped.

“I am a farmer. I think planting is my life.”

 By the time we reached the hut behind our house, the food was ready. It was already late afternoon, and darkness was beginning to settle in, so the lights were on.

“Wow, is it your birthday, Mon? There’s so much food—adobo, fried bangus, salted eggs, chop suey,” Jay remarked.

“By the way, everyone, this is my one and only, Eliza,” I said.

My wife kissed me on the cheek as she greeted my friends. Marco, my son, did the same.

“Wow, your wife is absolutely stunning, bro,” Mario exclaimed.

“Definitely, she’s gorgeous,” both Chris and Jay chimed in.

“I don’t see it that way, but oh, Mon… your friends know how to flatter,” my wife joked, a playful smile on her face.

“Madame, we’re just telling the truth. And please accept our apologies if we’ve caused any trouble,” Mario said with genuine respect.

“Oh, it’s nothing at all! You don’t need to worry,” she replied warmly.

“By the way, Mommy, let me introduce you to my amazing classmates: Jay, Chris, and Mario. They are all successful and well-known.”

“Well-known? Are we celebrities? Mario said.

“Successful… and maybe a touch arrogant,” Jay quipped with a smirk.

“This is my eldest son, Marco. He’s set to graduate next year.”

“What are you majoring in, Marco?” Mario inquired.

“Chemical Engineering, sir.”

“Please, don’t call me, or any of us, sir. We are your uncles. So call us tito, okay.”

My son nodded in agreement.

 “And, Mon, when Marco graduates, please reach out. I can easily connect him with great job opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”

“Wow, I truly appreciate that, bro,” I said, excitement bubbling within me.”

Before we started eating, my wife invited us to say grace. My friends seemed surprised and hesitated before bowing their heads to pray.

That’s just how my wife is. She has taught me and our children the importance of prayer and faith in the Lord, and we go to church every Sunday.

After the prayer, Maxene served the rice, and a quiet calm fell over the hut. I noticed that my friends took turns glancing at my family.

“Well, there goes an angel,” I said, breaking the silence.

“Okay, since I’m the shyest in the group, I’ll take the first bite,” Chris suggested.

“Eliza, kids, come join us,” Jay invited.

“Sure… we’ll join you in a bit,” both my children replied.

Eliza sat beside me, and my kids sat behind us. As I ate, Maxene gently massaged my back.

“Dad, doesn’t your back hurt?” Maxene asked.

“No, sweetheart. I’m fine.”

I noticed how my friends kept staring at our family as they ate. I didn’t know what they were thinking, but I could tell from the subtle smiles on their faces and their gentle nods that they were happy with what they saw. It reminded me of how my teachers used to look at me when I’d answer questions correctly in class.

We finished our dinner, and my family helped with the cleanup while my friends remained alone in the hut.

“Maxene, could you please make your uncles some coffee and me some green tea?” I asked.

“Oh, hija, please make mine green tea also.” That was Mario.

My friends were quiet after the meal. Even when we started drinking our coffee and tea, the silence lingered. I wasn’t sure why—perhaps the drinks had an effect, or maybe they were just tired after spending nearly six hours together. Eventually, they all turned to look at me at the same time.

“Hey, guys. What’s up? Do I have something on my face?” I asked.

Jay smiled and replied, “I’m so happy for you.”

“Why is that?” I wondered.

“Just keep it up, bro,” he said.

I understood what Jay meant.

“Do you remember back in high school when we discussed our dreams and goals in life?” Chris asked. “While we all talked about cars, houses, money, jobs, and whatnot, I remember Mon saying he just wanted to be happy and live a good life.”

A brief silence followed.

“Chris… am I right? You scoffed at Mon when he said those things,” Jay asked.

Chris vehemently denied it.

“I just happened to marry a good woman. She has strong faith in God. And, ah…”

“…and she just happened to marry a good man,” Jay cut in.

“That’s Mon for you. He never brags. He’s always the quiet one, just listening to everything we say,” Mario added.

“Why is it that all the women I meet are rejects? They’re only good in bed. Does your wife have a sister, bro? Introduce me to her,” Chris said.

“Come on, Chris. She does… but I don’t want their lives to go astray.”

“You’re something else, bro,” Chris laughed.

“I envy you, Mon,” Mario said. “If I hadn’t gone abroad, maybe my family would still be intact.”

“You wouldn’t have gotten rich if you only worked here in the Philippines.”

We fell silent for a moment.

“What is the price of my wealth? What good is my money?” I looked at Mario, who suddenly seemed serious.

“I don’t know either. I don’t want to think about it,” Chris replied.

Jay added, “What is the actual value of wealth and success? I have been thinking lately, with what I have been going through, what does matter in life?

“Come on, Jay. We’re tough dudes. You’ll be fine. You’ll get past that and live long. The four of us will live long. Together we’ll celebrate our 100^th birthday.” Chris replied.

The hut fell silent after Chris made that statement. I broke the silence again.

“Wait… wait… enough with the serious talk. The important thing, guys, is that we’re still alive. We still have time to fix what needs fixing. As long as we’re alive, we can still pursue our dreams and create new ones.”

Jay nodded while Chris bowed his head. Mario went outside for some fresh air.

“Mon, find me some land for sale around here,” Mario said. “There’s something about this place that feels different. It feels like my chest is lighter. I don’t know why.”

“Sure, bro. I know of some farmers who want to sell their land nearby.”

“Okay, I want to have a farm. I am interested in organic farming. It is what I want to do after my stint in Saudi. I hope you can help me develop it if it happens.”

“Why not?” I replied.

As the evening came to a close, my friends finished their coffee and prepared to leave. The warmth of the gathering lingered, but it was time for them to head home. We promised to meet again the next time Mario was in town. Jay joked about ensuring he’d still be alive when Mario returned, while Chris eagerly mentioned introducing us to the woman he hoped to marry.

From our terrace, I watched as my friends climbed into Mario’s car. The light from the post near our gate bathed them in a soft glow, casting long shadows across the yard. Jay pulled out a cigarette, but instead of lighting it, he tossed both the cigarette and the lighter into the night.

In that moment, I felt a sense of peace. I looked over at my family, gathered in their favorite nook on the terrace. I realized how much my life and that of my friends had changed. From the dreams we shared in high school to the lives we’re living now, we’ve come full circle. And though our paths had diverged, there was still time—time to grow, to repair what needed fixing, and to continue chasing the dreams that kept us going.

Life, I thought, is about the moments we share, the people we love, and the time we still have.

>END<

What Matters – Part 5

What Matters – Part 4

What Matters – Part 3

What Matters – Part 1

What Matters – Part 2