The summer vacation was almost coming to an end. I was already packing my things to travel back to the city to prepare for the school's opening.
College life is waiting for me. And I enrolled in, guess what....
Engineering..
Yes. That's me, my future me.
My parent's car arrived, and the sound of an engine stopping could be heard all the way to Lola's house.
I carried my bag to the living room and waited for my parents.
Lola Aurora was already packing crops we would be taking back to the city.
Bananas, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, ginger, and more. I was waiting for the corn harvest, but it's not ready until next week.
So no corn, this time.
Mama and Papa's voice echoed as they called out. Carrying groceries for Lola.
I met them halfway and took some of the bags from mama.
"Anthony, my son. Look at you all tanned. And ... Hmmm...." Mama was looking at me. Eyes squinting, like something has changed.
"You look, fit son. More muscles. Did your lola made you work out that body?" Papa said, finishing what mama was having a hard time pointing out.
"You bet. I fetched water everyday at 4 am, filling containers after containers. And I helped lola in her farm.. also harvesting here and there." I started detailing out.
But more like I'm complaining. But all good. I really did feel good about my body.
"Mama." My mother called out to lola, hugging each other. "Sorry that we don't come here often. We won't be staying long either. We don't want to travel the road at night."
"Yes ma. We still have to drive two hours to reach the city." Papa added.
We sat the groceries down on the table. Then I walked back to my room to fetch my other bag. All prepared and ready last night.
"It's alright. You just eat something before you all go. I won't be holding you down more than needed." Lola said with a warm smile.
Mama helped her set the table, while papa and I carried the produce, lola prepared for us to take home.
We put them on the trunk together with my bag, then walked back to Lola's house.
We share lunch together. My parents and lola were chatting about things. Life in the city, the upcoming holidays, and something financial too.
Papa gave lola some money, but she just refused it.
"Keep it. Anthony's going to be in college. You two were already working your bones out. More expenses will be coming if the class starts. So, use it for Anthony's needs instead." Lola said, firmly.
My parents just looked at each other and smiled. Lola never accepted the money they gave. Not even once. She always use the same excuse. Use the money on me, instead.
"Ma, please. Take it this time." Papa pushed the money forward again.
I thought lola would take it as she reached down on it. Counted it, and then put it back down.
She stood up and walked towards her room. When she came back, she was holding an envelope.
She sat back in her chair and opened the envelope. Counted the same amount of money out of it and put it on top of the money my parents laid on the table.
"Ma, what's this?" Mama asked confused.
"For Anthony's tuition. Add it. I have money from your father's pension. I saved them. Since, I have crops I always used to cook food with. And I live alone. So there's less expenses here. Compared to the city." She said, factually.
Mama refused it but, Lola's the stubborn of them all. She grabbed the money and put them on my hands.
Lola knows, how to deal with them. If nobody's taking it, it always landed in my hands.
"Money. Money. I'm rich." I played along. Lola knows, I'm still giving it to my parents.
My mother just sighed and took the money from my hands.
"This is going to your tuition. Your allowance is still under negotiation." Mama laughed a bit and put the money back into her wallet.
But little did they know. Lola already gave me 3k, last night as allowance. Explicitly telling me they're mine to use.
By 2 pm, we said our goodbyes to Lola. She's gonna be alone again, until the holiday season.
But she still refuses to live with us in the city. So we can't really force her to it.
I did something last minute. I excused myself, lying about going to the bathroom, but I used the backdoor and headed towards the big tamarind tree behind Lola's house.
"Hoy, I know you're listening. You've been living in this tree for who knows since when. Can you please, watch over my lola?" I put a tobacco at the foot of the tree.
Since it's still daytime, I know it wouldn't respond. And the tobacco costs me 10 points for one. I gave him 10.
And it was no ordinary tobacco. It's filled with the energy it needed to stay sane. And the system told me, one tobacco was good for a month.
I used 100 points for it. So it better be worth it.
As i turned my back, I saw it disappeared into thin air.
[OFFERING ACCEPTED. A CONTRACT HAS BEEN MADE. 10 MONTHS LIMIT.]
That gives me enough time to come back, for the summer vacation next year at most.
I went back inside, and hugged lola one last time. i whispered that, the entity at the tamarind tree will be the house's security guard.
She just laughed. And whispered.
"Be careful of that gift Anthony. So far, all you've encountered were good ones. Their are vile ones. Just be on alert."
I nodded at her and smiled. She didn't know, I've already fought of a demon.
She doesn't have to. Make her worry less. Let her keep believing that, I just opened my third eye. And not a system underneath it all.