Aff was waiting for Aum sitting at the dinner table with her head down and fell asleep. When Aum came home, he went upstairs to check her room if she’s asleep but she didn’t answer when he knocked therefore he thinks that she’s sleeping. He went to his room, clean himself then went downstairs and found her sleeping in the kitchen with her head down on the table on top of her crossed arms. He went over then saw the covered plates and slowly uncovers them. He picked her up and took her into his room and lay her down on the bed before walking out to go downstairs for dinner. After eating, he washed the dishes and return upstairs to retire for the night. He lay next to her and scooted closer to her to hug her and fell asleep.
Tui returned home to find out by the Lisa that Ja wasn’t feeling well and retired to her room about two hours ago. Mrs. Lata was waiting for him in the livingroom. “Mother, you haven’t sleep? It’s late,” say Tui going to sit next to his mother and hug her. “If you know it’s late why are you just barely getting home?” ask Mrs. Lata. “I was out with Aum, he got himself in trouble,” say Tui, “and I was helping him out.” “You know how to help Aum out but you don’t know how to take care of your own problem,” say Mrs. Lata, “take care of your own problem before you go help anyone else.” “What do you mean? I don’t have any problems,” say Tui with a smile. “I know you don’t have a problem but you will soon enough, it’s about time you get marry,” Mrs. Lata says holding Tui’s hand. “You really mean it? I don’t want to give up my bachelorhood yet,” he says. “Forget about your bachelorhood,” say his father walking into the living room, “it’s time you settle down, I’m tire seeing you with different girls.” “You agree with dad, mom?” he asks his mom who nodded, “I think it’s time you settle down, you don’t need to have different girls every time, besides Ja is a good girl, she will make a good and supportive wife.” “Why is it always her? Why can’t I find myself one that I love?” he asked getting mad. “Fine, if you want to find one, I will give you one month to find someone you love but if you can’t find one within the month then you’re doom. Also, I have a question, how do you feel about Ja?” ask his father. “I won’t be doom, I will be able to find someone that I love within that time period besides talking about your lovely Ja, I don’t like her at all, I hate her ever since we’re small, she’s a crybaby, dirty and doesn’t look pretty,” say Tui. “Tui, don’t say that to her, you’re going to hurt her feelings if she knows you say all of that about her,” say his mother. “Who cares if she heard, she needs to hear it,” say Tui getting up, “I don’t know why you two care so much about her.” “Tui, watch what you’re saying, she’s not like your girls,” say his father. “Oh, she’s not like my girls? Every girl is the same just going for the money, not the love,” say Tui then went upstairs leaving his parents staring after him. “Honey, I want you to take Ja and purchase her some clothes and make her pretty, he won’t get far from her,” say Mr. Lata and Mrs. Lata smile. Upstairs in his room, he sat on his bed, “not like other girls, we’ll see about that.”
Ja had a scary dream about someone chasing her and she woke up sweaty. She went into the restroom, washes her face then went downstairs to get a cup of water. After pouring a cup of water, closes the refrigerator and turns around to find Tui standing in the doorway. Without saying anything, she quickly walk by him squeezing to get out from the small opening between him and the wall but he trap her in looking straight into her eyes. “Wh..What are you doing?” she asked breaking the eye contact. “You,” he say which got her attention. “I don’t know what you mean, please let me go,” she say still holding onto the cup of water. “No,” he says slamming his fist into the wall and freak Ja dropping the cup of water onto the floor. “Already scare? What a scarycat, you’ve not outgrown your weaknesses since small,” he say with a smile removing his hands and she kneel down to pick up the glass. When she got all the pieces and walk towards the wastebasket without saying anything to Tui, he pull her arm back towards him and she accidently cut him on the chest with the glass she’s holding as her hand came to his chest. “I’m sorry,” say Ja and quickly went to the sink to wet a towel before going to him. “Trying to kill me, too bad it’s only a small cut,” he says just standing there. “I didn’t mean too, let me help clean it for you,” she say before wiping him but look at him, “What?” he ask when she look up at him. “I need you to take off your shirt so I can clean it for you,” she say. “Really? Right, follow me to my room,” he say turning around to leave. “Wait, why in your room? Here is fine,” Ja say. “I’m not going to do anything to you, if you want to help me just follow me besides what if the maids get up and saw us,” he say before turning to go upstairs. After a while, she followed him upstairs to his room which he lets her in first then close and locks the door. When Ja turn around to face him, he took off his shirt and went to sit on the edge of the bed waiting for her. She hesitated before going over and cleaning the cut. “Do you have band aid in here?” she asks not looking at him. “Yes, it’s in the bathroom,” he say pointing to the bathroom which she went in and got the band aid. She returned and put the band aid on then grab the wet towel, “that’s it, I’m going back,” and head for the door but he came behind her and hugs her. “You smell good,” he says which she went still. After a while, “let me go,” Ja say then he turn her around and kiss her on the forehead before letting her go. She quickly walk out of his room and went into her own room closing the door and leaning on the door. She then touches her forehead before getting in bed to sleep. While in Tui’s room, he was smiling, “that’s a good start, my plan should go well then you’ll forever be history and I can go on my own.”
“Mom, breakfast is ready,” say Rita walking into her mother’s room. Her mother was already up fixing the bed. “Let’s go have breakfast before I leave for work, mother,” say Rita and they both went downstairs. “Rita, is there more clothes to be sewn?” ask mother. “Mrs. Li just brought a bag of clothes that needs to be sewn, I will work on them when I get home from work,” say Rita. “Let mom do something around the house, I would be bore with nothing to do just looking at the clock until you get home,” say mother. “Okay, mom, you can work on the clothes and when I get home I will help you with the rest,” say Rita. After eating, Rita and mom wash the dishes then Rita put the bag of cloth in the living room before she takes off. “Okay, mom, I’m leaving for work, I will see you when I get home,” say Rita giving her mother a kiss before leaving.
At the Nampan residence, Rita rang the bell and the housekeeper came to open the door. She showed Rita around the house then introduces her to Nong Gino. “Hello, Nong Gino,” say Rita with a smile. “Hello,” say Nong Gino looking at Rita who kneel to be at the same height as him. “Can you read to me?” he asks grabbing her hand. “Sure, what book do you have in mind?” she asked. “I want to hear about dinosaur,” say Nong Gino. “Where’s your book?” ask Rita. “it’s in uncle’s room, yesterday he was reading it to me but didn’t finish because I fell asleep, can you continue it for me?” say Nong Gino. “Sure, let’s go get it,” say Rita following Nong Gino who was leading them to his uncle’s room. He opens the door then went inside to get the book but knock down a picture frame. Nong Gino began to cry which Rita quickly ran to him, “What is the matter? Did you hurt yourself?” she asked then saw the broken frame. “Uncle is going to yell at me because I break his frame,” say Nong Gino. “Don’t worry your uncle wouldn’t get mad or yell at you, it’s an accident, you didn’t mean to broke it,” say Rita picking up Nong Gino and assuring him that he’s not getting into trouble. Rita took him out of the room and head downstairs into the living room and put him down. “You stay here and I’m going to go clean the room before your uncle notice okay,” say Rita with a smile which made Nong Gino nodded and stopped crying. Rita went into the kitchen to ask the housekeeper for a bag then told her what happen and went up to the room to clean it. While cleaning, she picked up the picture and saw a couple smiling at each other wearing matching clothes. She wipe the picture to get the small broken pieces of glass when a voice scare her, “what are you doing in my room?” Rita turned around and saw the guy that she bumped into while going to the interview. “I..I’m sorry I came in without permission but I’m just cleaning the broken frame,” say Rita. “How did you get in and broke my frame?” he asked going over to grab the picture. “I came in through the door to get the dinosaur book to read to Nong Gino but I bump the frame and it broke,” say Rita. “Why didn’t you wait until I’m in to get the book? You’re not supposed to enter a room without the owner’s permission,” he says. “I know but how would I know if you’re still here or not besides Nong Gino wants me to read the book to him at the moment, how can I wait for you?” she ask. “You could have asked the housekeeper, she knows I don’t work today because I’m taking Nong Gino to the doctor for checkup,” say the man, “oh, by the way, get Nong Gino ready at 10 because his appointment is at 10:30.” “Yes, sir,” she answer then pick up the bag and walk towards the door before he calls her back, “what’s your name?” “I’m Rita Jensen,” she answered before walking out of his room.
In the living room, Nong Gino was impatiently waiting for Rita to return to read the book to him. “Here’s a cup of juice before we begin reading,” say Rita holding onto the cup of juice. “What took you so long?” ask Nong Gino getting up from the couch. “Oh, I just went to make you this cup of juice after I cleaned your uncle’s room, he seems to be mad but not at you,” say Rita with a smile and a shrug of shoulder. “Really? Uncle is not mad at me?” ask Nong Gino sounding happy. “Of course he is not mad at you, if you don’t believe me, you can ask your uncle when he gets down here,” say Rita taking him to the couch and sitting down. “Here, where did you stop or do you want me to read from the beginning?” ask Rita. “Read from the beginning,” say Nong Gino. Then Rita starts reading the book and would stop once in a while to let Nong Gino drink his cup of juice. 15 minutes til 10, “Okay, Nong Gino, let’s go get ready for your visit to the doctor, okay,” say Rita closing the book. “No, I want to hear you read it,” say Nong Gino crossing his arms. Just then Rome came in, “You’re not finish little prince?” ask Rome kneeling down so Nong Gino can run into his arm. “Uncle, Rita told me that you’re not mad at me.” “Of course I am not mad at you, no one’s mad at our little prince,” he say with a smile. “That’s good, can Rita go with me to the doctor? I want her to read to me on the way,” say Nong Gino. “We’re going to the ice cream shop afterward, you sure she wants to go?” ask Rome. “Of course, I can make Rita go,” say Nong Gino then turn to look at Rita, “Rita, can you go with me? I want you to go with me.” “Maybe I should stay and you go with your uncle to your doctor’s visit, I will be here waiting for you, okay,” say Rita but Nong Gino wouldn’t let Rita stay, “if you don’t go with me then I won’t go.” Rome just look from Nong Gino to Rita, confused how Rita can have so much impact on Nong Gino and it’s not even a whole day yet. “Let’s do this, we’re going to be late if we’re going to be standing here so why don’t Rita go with us, sounds good, little prince?” ask Rome. “yay,” say Nong Gino clapping his hand then Rome put him down and he went over to hold onto Rita’s hand pulling her outside following Rome. Nong Gino stayed in the back seat while Rita sits at the passenger seat. “What do you do before working here?” he asks Rita. “I used to work at the financing company but they laid me off because of the slow work,” say Rita. “Can I ask you something, sir?” she asks Rome. “Yes,” he answered. “What happened to Nong Gino’s parents?” ask Rita. “It’s a long story,” he says glancing back at Nong Gino. “Okay,” say Rita. “Rita, what are you and uncle talking about?” ask Nong Gino. Rita look at Rome before answering, “Nothing, just asking your uncle about work, nothing that worries you, Nong Gino,” say Rita looking at Nong Gino. “Uncle, is that right?” ask Nong Gino. “Of course, Rita’s right, she wouldn’t lie to you,” say Rome. At the doctor, Rita helps Nong Gino out and they all walk side by side into the hospital. Nong Gino went into the office with Rome but Nong Gino wanted Rita also. “The Rita will go in with you while I stay out here because only one can go in with you, okay,” say Rome. “I should be the one waiting out here, you are his uncle, you need to go in with him,” say Rita then turn to Nong Gino, “You go in with uncle and Rita will wait here for you, I won’t go anywhere, when you come out, I will be right here in the chair waiting for you.” Nong Gino thought for a while before nodding. After twenty minutes, Nong Gino and Rome came out with Nong Gino smiling. “That went well,” say Rita standing up when she saw them coming out of the office. “The doctor says I’m doing well,” say Nong Gino, “Now we can go eat ice cream.” Ring ring, Rome’s cell rang and he excuse himself to answer his phone, “Hello, Ae,” say Rome with his back turn to Rita. “No, I’m taking my nephew out for ice cream, i will see you at the airport, okay at 4PM. See you there, I missed you too.” Then turn to see Rita and Nong Gino looking at him. “Let’s go,” he say and head out to the car. “Who is he talking with?” ask Nong Gino. “I am not sure, someone he is close to,” say Rita then held his hand and walk towards the car.
At the ice cream shop, Nong Gino ordered two scopes of cookies n cream. Rita ordered one scope of strawberry ice cream and Rome ordered two scopes of coconut ice cream. They were sitting outside on the table enjoying ice cream when Rome’s cell rang again and he stood up to answer his phone. Nong Gino was looking at Rita’s ice cream, “Would you like to try?” she asked getting a spoon. “Is it good?” ask Nong Gino, “better than my uncle’s?” “I don’t know if it’s better but I do love strawberry ice cream,” say Rita with a smile. Then Nong Gino scope a spoonful and hand his to Rita which made Rita look at him with a question face. “I try yours and you try mine,” say Nong Gina. Rome turns to look at them at the time they are exchanging ice cream and smile at them. When Rome turns back, Nong Gino got his spoon and put a spoonful of his ice cream in Rome’s bowl and wanted Rita to do the same which she did. When Rome turn back to the table, Nong Gino and Rita is nowhere in sight. He went inside the shop but they did not go in. He came back out and looks at his cup of ice cream and saw one scope of strawberry and one scope of cookies n cream and picked it up. He went walking around the shop and came to a playground. He saw Rita sitting on a bench with Nong Gino lying on the bench with his head on her lap. She was singing him a song. When he got closer to her from behind, he notice Nong Gino is fast asleep. “You sure can take care of little kid,” he teases coming from behind. “Oh, there you are, we were scare you couldn’t find us but you’re talking on the phone so we didn’t want to interrupt your call,” say Rita with a smile. “Since Nong Gino is asleep, we better head home so he could have a comfortable place to sleep,” say Rome picking up him. “Yea, oh, what time is it?” ask Rita getting up. “It’s 3,” say Rome after looking at his watch. “Oh, then we better hurry up, otherwise you’re going to be late to meet with your friend,” say Rita. “How do you know I’m meeting a friend?” ask Rome looking at her. “Umm… when you’re talking on the phone at the hospital,” say Rita. “You’ve been listening to my conversation?” he asks. “No, I wasn’t listening into your conversation, it’s just that while you’re on the line, you’re loud anyone could hear how happy you’re on the phone with the person,” she lied. “Really, was I loud?” he ask and she nodded. They headed to the car and drove home. When they got home, Mr. Nampan was already home and greeted Rome and Rita at the door with Rome holding sleeping Gino. After everyone went into the house, “I’m going to take Gino to his room,” say Rome and went upstairs leaving Rita with Mr. Nampan. “How’s your first day of work today?” ask Mr. Nampan sitting down. “It was good, and how was your day at work?” “Same as usual but it sure is nice to come home to have someone asking me about my day, that hasn’t happen since my wife passed away,” say Mr. Nampan. “But you still have your son and your grandson, they must make you happy and not worry,” say Rita. “They can be headache sometimes especially the big one, can you imagine that? So what did you all do today?” ask Mr. Nampan. “When I got here this morning, I read to Nong Gino then we went for his doctor visit and after that we went to the ice cream shop then head home,” say Rita. Just then Rome came downstairs and listens to their conversation without making himself known. “Would you like to live here and take care of my grandson?” ask Mr. Nampan. “You’re too nice to ask me that when you don’t know about myself. I would love to, Nong Gino is a wonderful kid, but I have my mother to take care of therefore I won’t be able to live here,” say Rita. “How is your parents and how many siblings do you have?” ask Mr. Nampan. “My father passed away 5 years ago, my mother is doing good and I have three other sisters, one older and two younger,” say Rita with a smile. “Are any of your sisters married?” ask Mr. Nampan. “No, my older sister is working in Chiang Mai while my two younger sisters are visiting my uncle, but they should be on their way back any day now,” say Rita, “Sir, if you don’t mind may I ask why Nong Gino’s parents passed away?” “To make a long story short, they were in a car accident along with my wife while going out of town for a business trip,” he answered. “I’m sorry to hear that,” say Rita. “Anyways, you still have Nong Gino with you even though his parents are not, he’s the result of their love therefore it is very important to cherish him,” Rita say then look at the time and notice it was 5PM. “Well, it was nice talking with you, maybe if you want, we can talked about each other’s day when you get home besides I will be here until 7:30PM. It’s almost dinner therefore I should check with the housekeeper if I can help her in any way before I leave for the day,” say Rita. “That’s good, everyone is busy doing their job and don’t really have time to chit chat, I would love to chat with you to avoid boredom around her after getting off work,” say Mr. Nampan before excusing himself to his room. Rita looked after him before going into the kitchen. Rome heard everything and was impressed how she gets along with everyone on her first day of work.
