Struggles of Ernesto
Once, in a province full of sadness, with the residents being serious every day, there was one hopeful boy. 12 years old, studying hard. He lived with his family, and he helped around the house. He studied hard, always getting awards, and he was a nice kid. One night, he went to his bahay kubo with his parents, ate a humble dinner with them, and then he went to his room, writing on his journal on an used notebook.
"I mean, I'm sure someone would read my story, or something. I'm not sure, but hey, it would not hurt to try, right? Yeah, I'm talking to you, the person reading this right now. I can see you reading my story, but you'll know soon how. Anyway, I'm Ernesto Cruz, and I'n 12 years old. You see, I've been studying very hard so that I could give my parents a chance to live on the city, and find opportunities for them, so that we'll have more money. My dreams are very simple, anyway. I always wanted to give my loving parents the whole world to them. Feed them the best dishes in the world, give them the best house and lot, and drive them around in a fancy car."
"But it is hard. I get bullied at school for being poor. My classmates tell me that my family eats mud, or that my mom has to be a domestic helper for another country. They bully me for that, and the only thing I could do is cry. They tell me that I look dirty and that I look like someone from a horror movie, or that my father had to work as a contract worker, that's why we were treated with this type of luck. But I never fought back, because I knew that my parents, even with the situation we have right now, that they gave everything for me, and that they're doing their best, even if their jobs were not giving high pay."
"I never had television in my life, or had a bag that could roll around, or ate bacon. We always ate vegetables and fish. Sometimes, the sacks of rice would not be enough because we had to support our mother's cousins who never finished high school and college. Other kids had cellphones, I only had paper. Other kids had friends, I had none. Other kids have parents who would spend time with them. But I never had that type of luxury. But I'm grateful, and that's why I'm studying, to make my family's life better."
"And I did grow. I finished elementary, middle, and high school all with awards and high grades. I applied at a prestigious university and got accepted. I took Law as my course, and for the first time, I realized why my family was poor. It was not because of our luck, but because the jobs they worked at never gave them fair pay. The prices were high, and my government was never making solutions to these problems. We would always be paid small and unfairly, while the owners keep the money to themselves, and then the rich stay rich, while the poor stay poor and hungry. No one was acting up to these unfair treatments, not even the government, not even the advocates, not even social media. So I did what I could do. I became a lawyer, I became rich, then I gave my parents a house and a car, a place for them to rest and enjoy their life. They deserve it. And then, I opened my services to the unfortunate ones. I gave my whole service as a Lawyer to those who are unfortunate and those who are mistreated."
"I handled this old lady's case, where she was not being paid fairly as a janitor from this famous company. They had 2 strong lawyers against us, and I gave it my all in my defense and in this case, in hopes that the unjust treatment would end."
"I miss my parents, during that case. I missed them. As I was going home, walking all by myself at night, taking the jeepney, very tired. I put my hands in my pockets and I start to get off the jeep as it stopped. I walked on a dark sidewalk, with no lights, as I sighed. Suddenly, I saw a man in a hoodie walk past me, and the next thing I knew, I was asleep. It was weird. It was strange. I woke up from my bed, and I did my daily routine, brushing my teeth, ironing my clothes, and getting ready to meet my parents. When I arrived at my parent's place, they never answered the door when I knocked. And I was wondering why. So I went to the window and I knocked there. They were crying. I wonder why..."
Ernesto's parents were watching the news, in tears as they saw the report of a lawyer walking all by himself, as a man in a black hoodie past by him, before bumping with the lawyer, and running away quickly. The next thing that happened was the lawyer was seen lying on the ground, not breathing. The paramedics tried saving the lawyer, but he died upon arrival, as the stab wound was too severe, and it hit an important part of the body. And now, his death is all over the news. And his parents would never get the chance to see their son again.
[The End]
