Timeless Series #3: A Time For Us

Chapter 1: Ancestral House

I'm not here to please anyone. I only want to play football. Kailangan ko bang maging mabait? Is it required? It's stupid. It doesn't make sense when our focus should be on the upcoming tournament.

At imbes na ang galing ko sa paglalaro ng soccer ang punahin ng mga tao, parang mas importante pa sa kanila ang magandang asal ko. Tsk. I can't help but roll my eyes at these thoughts.

What a hassle. I'm a prodigy in soccer, but instead, people call me a spoiled brat. And then there are people I don't even know getting involved. They're probably part of the public supporting my mom and other relatives who are into politics. But what do they care? They can support my family without thinking about me. It's my mom who's running, not me. All I want to do is play soccer. Tsk.

I'm an only child, and since I was young, I only had to think about playing soccer. That's why it's the only thing on my mind. My family supports me, and I was indeed spoiled, especially by my grandparents. I'm the only grandson, while all my cousins are female.

I also never experienced being truly scolded by my parents. My mom sometimes talks to me about my attitude, but my dad always defends me and mostly just talks to me. I was never punished as a child. I was given everything I needed and wanted, which is why people say my behavior is like this.

But is that my fault?

I know not everyone has been as privilege as me. But do I really have to concern myself with that? I'm just living my life. I'm not even minding other people's business. Oh, come on.

Daddy patted my back. "Now, now, your mom and I talked, and she wants you to temporarily stay and take a vacation. You know... just rest for a while at our huge ancestral house in the province. What do you think?" Daddy smiled at me.

"Since you also don't want to go back to Germany yet?"

Umiling naman agad ako sa sinabi niya. "No. I'd rather just play games on my computer—"

"You can bring your computer with you!" Dad said, sounding like it's a better idea.

Umiling pa rin ako. "Tsk. I can't, and I won't."

"Come on, Julian. Alam mo naman na malapit na ang election? And your mom is already struggling, you know..." he said.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Daddy. My Dad was also on the soccer team in the past, but he didn't pursue it further after he married my mom, who is the daughter of a close family friend. Now he just works in an office and sometimes acts as my manager, too. Napailing ako.

"Son, just take a leave for now. Ibigay mo na muna sa Mommy mo ang panahon na 'to hanggang sa manalo rin siya ulit sa election." Daddy said.

Then I ended up just sighing. My family has been in politics since before I was born—starting with my grandparents and then down to my uncle and aunt, as well as my mom. She likes helping people especially those in need. She likes helping others.

That's why I became closer to my dad while growing up. He was the one who was usually around, while my mom was busy with her work and campaigns as I was growing up.

Fine.

Ayaw ko na ring pahirapan si Daddy sa pagkukumbinsi sa akin, at si Mommy na rin.

"I'll go," I said, which made my dad smile.

Although in the end, I still felt like I was being forced to go to our ancestral house in the province...

It's really huge and old, but it's still well cleaned and maintained.

Sinalubong ako ng caretaker, at mukhang nag-hire din sila ng dagdag na kasambahay dahil nandito ako ngayon. Pagdating ko, agad akong umakyat at nagpahinga sa kwarto dahil medyo pagod din ako sa biyahe.