"Mama please don't leave us alone" he begged to her mother
His mother just slapped his hand, "Harold, you are just an unwanted child from you useless father" she answered "by the way I left you some money for a month to spend for your food and after that you will work for your own" she said then she pulled her suitcase and leave.
He can't express how he feels that time or even what he can do for his three more siblings. At that time Harold was only seventeen years old and a student. His mother left them behind because she found a rich man who can give her a luxurious life. His father is a simple domestic worker in the city and trying hard at his best to give them a good life but his wife was not contented.
He approached his son, "Don't worry Harold, I will double my work so that I can feed you and support your studies" he said assuring that everything was fine "You'll just help me to take care your siblings, also you Benjamin" he said, Benjamin was his second son
At that time Benjamin didn't get what was happening "Papa, why Mama had her suitcase and left us?" he asked
He smiled at him, "Mama will work far away from us" he answered
But Harold didn't accept that reason because he already knew what was going on. From that day, their father work so hard to support their studies and also to feed them everyday without skipping a meal even with a simple dish or they eat vegetables everyday. When Harold turned to eighteen, he decided to help his father to work. He applied for a part time job so that even he was studying in college he can help his family. He always trying his best to study at the same time to his job. He was an exemplary student so he was given a scholarship to their school.
He was very happy when the school granted him a scholarship, "Papa, Papa" he was very happy when he got home "I got a scholarship privilege in the school" he said
His father was very happy to hear that, "Harold, always remember that education is the key for the good fortune in your life, the higher education you have many opportunities will be given to you" he advised
He just nodded, "Yes father, I will do my best to make us rich so that mother will go back with us" he said. He was smiled with the hope that someday, they can be rich and their mother will go back again.
Everyday he did everything at his best, when the school declares an academic break or vacation he didn't waste his time on non -sense things. He looked for jobs that he can do in a short time and save some money in the bank if he have some.Everything was fine, even they are experiencing poverty they do what is right and they eating foods from a decent work.
After ten years, all of them graduated in college; Harold, graduated in Business Management, Benjamin graduated as Secondary teacher, Denver as Psychologist and their only girl in the family, Gemma in Culinary course. They build their dreams together to pay all the hard work of their father since he was very old at this time. Every month, they treat their father in expensive restaurants and bring to some places that they wanted to go when they are still child.
They looked the scenery, "Papa look, do you still remember the time when we first saw this place?" Harold asked
The old man nodded, "Of course son, you always told me that one day in our life we can go this kind of place" he said
They enjoyed so much that day until the sun went down then they decided to go home. Their house was renovated a little because they wanted to have a nice house every time they went home from work, as they walk towards their house they saw a familiar woman standing in their door post. They are all in shock when they recognized her, "Mama, is that you?" Gemma asked and approached the woman
At that time, Harold felt so much anger towards her "Gemma, go inside" he ordered with a serious voice "Benjie, please take Papa inside" he handed him to his brother
His father looked at him worriedly, "Son, are you okay?" he asked
He tried to smile to ease his father's worry, "I'm fine Papa, don't worry" he answered "Please go inside and prepare our dinner, I'm a little bit hungry" he said
Gemma held her mother's arms, "let's go Mama" she said very happy
"No, she will not join us" he said angrily
Gemma and her brother suddenly got frightened to Harold, "Alright brother, we will prepare our dinner" they went inside with hesitation as they looked back to their mother.
When everyone was already inside their house, he didn't held back his anger, "What are you doing here?" he asked "Do you think that you can go back here like nothing happens?" he said
She cannot hold her tears, "I'm sorry son, I know that what I have done was wrong" she said "but please, please allow me to stay here" she added
He smirked, "What happen to the man who chose back then?" he asked angrily "As if you know how much pain we endure to make everything fine, you didn't know how Papa worked for us to feed and support our studies and now you will back here asking for help?" he said
He didn't know that his sibling was listening to their conversation, "Is that true Mama? You left us because of a man?" Denver asked "All this time, Papa always told us that you are working far away, but ..." he started to cry because he didn't know how to express his anger
"Yes, Denver" Harold answered while their mother can't say a word because of shame "She left us because she wanted to live a luxurious life with a rich man, and now maybe that rich man threw her because he didn't want her anymore" he said like he was mocking his mother
"But our father always told us to help anyone in case they need our help" Gemma said
Their father can't endure it so he walked outside, "Harold maybe your mother didn't eat for days" he said "please allow her to eat with us for my sake" he added
Even he didn't want to, he had no other choice but to grant his father's wish, "Okay Papa, but don't expect I'll eat with you" he said then they go inside.
When they got inside, their mother can't believe that they grew up very well "You have this all?" she asked when she saw that it was different house the time she left
Everyone was there in the dining area except for Harold, "Brother, are you gonna eat?" Benjie asked worriedly
He stopped, "I will eat later, I am not hungry that much" then he walked towards his room.
They are all sad on how their big brother behave but on the another side they understood it because their father and him worked so hard for them.
Their father smiled, "Let's eat" he asked
At that time they eat with their mother as they looked at her, it looks like she didn't eat for days.
"Mama, please eat slowly" Gemma said
She smiled at her, "I'm sorry, I'm starving that much" she answered
As they looked to their father, he eating quietly so that they just eat and clean up when they finished eating. They also allowed her to sleep their because of their father's wish. As the days goes by, their prodigal mother abused the kindness of their father because she stayed their and requests some of her needs.
Harold's anger stirs more because of it, "I don't want her to stay here anymore" he nearly to shout because of his anger
His father looked at him, "But Harold, all of you are too busy to your job and no one took care me here, please allow your mother to stay here so that I have someone with me" he said
"But father!" he said
His mother smiled, "but you need to pay me to my service while I am here" she said shameless
"You!" he just turned his back and left instead of ended up to hurt her
He agreed to pay for her service even it was against to his will. Every month he gave his mother fifteen dollars, thinking that she took good care their father but they found out that she left him alone when they went to their job so that their father got sick. They sent their father to the hospital but its too late, his disease was already not curable. After two weeks, their father died and they put their mother in jail with multi case that they can file against her. Even their father died, they always follow his words "Help the people that needs help" he always tell it to them
Harold tried to trust everyone again even some of the people he met always betrayed him, those who lend him money ran away and some was just using him for their own good. But, as this situation continues he lost his trust to everyone, he started to lend money to those who in need with a high interest and when the person who can't pay he put them in jail or he will killed them. His siblings can't stand it anymore so they left all alone.
Since that day, he was all alone with his wealth because of depression he attempt to kill himself but he failed.
"Are you not happy on your life?" a man with a black hood on his head asked
He looked down, "They only need me because of my money, they love me because of my money, I have no reason to live more" he said
He looked at him, "If you are depressed, you can draw everything here and also live your life because you have very much money" he smiled at him
"But, I can't buy things that I need emotionally like care, happiness and love" he answered
He held him in the shoulder, "You are wrong, everything in this world can buy through money, if you have money many women will love you, if you have money you can buy their time to take care you and most of all you can buy everything that make you happy" he added
He suddenly smiled like an insane man when he realized that the man said was all true. In the next day, he became more greedy than before and he though everything can paid through his money. Until the time he knew the rules of the death game, if he will be the one standing he can be the richest man in the world and that selfish desire triggers him to kill and use the other participants to kill in behalf of him. He did that to Marianne and Sebby, he ordered Sebby to kill First and Second for him but she failed and he told to Sister Marianne to kill First when she have a chance. Now, he was in frustration that his money can't buy a good life. In his last breath, he remembered when they have so much money he can hear the laugh of his siblings, he can see the smile of his father. As he closed his eyes, he regret all the rudeness he did and praying on his next life he will be a good one for everybody.
Since Harold Sy defeated,he will remembered no more by other all his wealth will be given to Clair as Sister Marianne's last wish. All the documents was named after Sebastian and he gave it all to the orphanage, now they know that Sebby and Marianne was very happy on the next life.
"Thank you Sebastian, see you in the next life" a sweet voice from behind
He looked back, he saw an image of Marianne and Sebby holding her hands
"Thank you, brother" Sebby said then they vanished
He just smile, "yes, see you on next life" he said
Penelope came near to him and held his hand, "I know they happy now, you fulfill your promise to them" she leaned her head to his shoulder as they feel the cold wind under the sun