History class is done as well as their other class subjects. Cesar is now playing basketball. Mark, his friend, and Samantha watch his games.
“Prrt, foul”
Cesar is fouled by Junrey, one of the delinquents of the school. Samantha is amazed by how Cesar plays.
“Cesar is really good at playing basketball. He’s smart and also athletic.”
Mark laughed.
“He seems to be warming up.”
“Why Mark?”
“It’s because I haven’t seen him dunk yet.”
Mark’s friend sorted it out.
“Oh yes. He doesn’t seem to be very aggressive today.
Samantha is shocked by what they are saying.
“What do you mean ‘not aggressive’? He’s great at dribbling, laying it up, driving, and shooting.”
Mark’s friend leans over to him
“Mark, Samantha is awesome. She knows what really is basketball.”
“Yeah, I should try asking her.”
“Samantha, you seem to know what basketball really is.”
“Oh, hehe. My father is a basketball player, that’s why.”
“That makes sense,” Mark’s friend whispered.
“I should ask what’s her father’s name,”
Mark turns towards Samantha.
“What’s your father’s name?”
“My father’s name is Alfred Macapobre.”
Mark is shocked.
“Alfred Macapobre!? Your father’s Alfred “The Sniper” Macapobre!?”
Mark’s friend stares at Samantha very intently.
“Shh, that’s only our secret, my dad doesn’t want me to reveal it so that I will not be known,” Samantha pleads.
Mark is puzzled.
“So, you are Samantha Macapobre?”
“Yeah”
“Oh really. Your father is a very private man. Why doesn’t he want you to be known? You’ll be famous.”
“If you’re famous, many follow you so that they will find something worthy of writing or gossiping about you, good or bad. That’s why daddy doesn’t want me to experience being followed and fished all sorts of stories like him because he experienced that.”
“But don’t you want to be famous?”
“I would like to but if that’s what I will experience in fame, then I don’t want it”
Mark and his friend went silent. They instead turn their attention to watching the game. Mark’s friend stares back at Samantha until she turns her head to him, he then gets frightened and goes back to watching the game.
Cesar’s teammate steals the ball. They’re going in a fastbreak, he passes the ball to Cesar! Junrey is guarding the paint! Cesar is about to attack!
“I’ll block you, Cesar.”
Cesar attacks and jumps.
‘Taste this Cesar,’ Junrey also jumps. ‘Uhh, his jump is very high.’
Boom! Cesar dunks the ball! He posterizes Junrey!
The crowd stands up and shouts, including the three of them.
Mark shouts, “Woo! Nice one Cesar!”
Samantha shouts, “Woo! Way to go Cesar!”
Mark’s friend shouts, “Go Junrey! Hahaha.”
Junrey hears this and turns to Mark’s friend. Junrey made a fist by his side but went back to the game. Cesar turned towards Samantha. He smiles and waves at Samantha. Mark looks at who Cesar is waving at. He turns to Samantha who waves back at Cesar, also smiling back. Mark is depressed that Cesar took an interest in Samantha.
Not long after this, they finished playing basketball. Cesar approached Samantha and Mark saw this.
“Hi, my name is Cesar.”
“Hi, my name is Samantha.”
Mark is now more depressed than before because Cesar and Samantha greeted each other. Then they arranged a date that they would eat somewhere soon. Mark, his friend, and Samantha walked together as they are going home.
“Cesar is very kind, isn’t he?” says Samantha.
“You haven’t even known each o-,” Mark elbows his friend before he could finish talking. “Ouch!”
“Hehe, sorry about my friend here. He’s talking all sorts of things.”
“It’s ok, I trust easily to people. And sometimes, this is not good for me. But I noticed that his aura is kind and harmless.”
“Aura, like the motorcycle,” Mark’s friend retorted.
Mark was terrified at what his friend had said. Samantha laughed, and the two friends eventually laughed.
Samantha arrived at her house. Mark’s friend looked at the house.
“Wow, so HUUUGE.”
Mark looked at the house.
“This is your house in Toledo?”
“Yeah, it’s ours, hehe. Don’t tell anybody ok?
“We won’t tell, promise.”
Samantha walked towards her house and turned towards Mark and his friend.
“Bye!”
The two of them waved towards Samantha.
“Bye as well!”
Samantha went into the house. Mark and his friend continued walking towards their home.
“Ahem,” said Mark’s friend.
“What?”
“You’re so obvious kiddo.”
“What is it?”
“You and Samantha,
No chance is the mantra.”
“No chance at all?”
“Haha, I knew it, you really like Samantha.“
Mark sighed, he was depressed yet again.
“I really have no chance; my opponent is the smart and athletic Cesar Owens.”
“Don’t worry bro, I’ll help you with your problem.”
While they were talking, Mark arrived at his house.
“See ya Justin, gotta go.”
“See ya, Mark. I’ll help you with your love life.”
Justin laughed while Mark was depressed and sighed because of his huge problem. Mark was met by a hug from his mother.
“Mmm, your school took so long, I really miss you.”
“Let me go ma, people are looking at us, I’m not a kid anymore.”
His mother finally let go of him.
“Ok fine, get in. I cooked some chicken stew.”
Mark and his mom got into their house. Mark went to his room and took out his books and notebooks.
“I have so many assignments.”
Mark changes his clothes that are fitting for the home. As Mark is reading his books, he finished two pages each.
His father is in the dining room, looking at the food, saying, “The Lord is good. Kiddo! Let’s eat!”
“I’ll be there, I just want to finish what I’m reading!”
“Finish that later! Let’s eat!”
“A little bit more! I’m almost there!”
“Hurry up!”
Mark continued to read a little bit then he closed his book.
“Oh! I forgot to put the green bookmark in.”
Mark sighed. While he’s finding the page where he last read, his father went into the room.
“Mark, let’s eat.”
“Ugh, I lost the page where I last read. I forgot to put a bookmark in the book, now I’m lost.”
“I’ll lend you a hand, I’ll find it.”
While they are finding the page that Mark forgot to bookmark, his dad looks at him.
“How’s school?”
“It was ok, dad.”
“Hmm, I don’t believe you.”
Mark got depressed and sighed.
“Hey, looks like that’s not our Mark. Try telling me your problem.”
“Haha, I rather not.”
“Is somebody bullying you? Tell me.”
“It’s because of a woman.”
“Oh, it’s only that. Don’t lose hope.”
“Then Cesar likes her and they now know each other.”
“Oof, that’s difficult, kid. Cesar is so smart. And also athletic.
Mark got very depressed. His father looked at him and took pity.
“Kid, don’t worry about things you can’t control. Think about the things that you can control and move along. If you make a mistake, make that your learning experience. The same goes to love, not only for someone you plan to be married with but it also applies to family or friends.”
“Haha, ‘someone I plan to be married with.’ ”
“I’m serious. If you’re married to someone, that is a different learning experience because you’re the one leading the family.”
While they were talking, they found the page Mark had last read. His father took the green bookmark and put it on the page then closed the book.
“Well, that’s about that. Just fight. Let’s go eat.”
They went out of the room towards the table where the chicken tinola and fried fish were prepared. Mark went near the fried fish and as he looked at it if it was cooked well.
“Mmm, the fish looks delicious.”
His mother prepared plates so that they could eat.
“Don’t eat yet, we’ll eat together.”
His father looked at the food and smiled, “Your cooking is delicious, just like you.”
Mark coughed.
“Son, when you’ll get married, you’ll know what I meant,” then his father laughed.
“I have no chance of marrying dad, even though I will have work.”
“You’re only a kid. Just have a little patience, don’t get depressed, dang it.”
His mom and dad looked at each other with sympathy for their child. His mom looked at him and pitied him.
“Markie, there’s a time in every season. What you’re waiting for will come,” said his mother with a gentle tone. “If what you want doesn’t come, you could be contented in whatever things you receive.”
Mark smiled with invigoration from the advice from his mom and dad.
“Ok ma, ok dad. I’ll wait on whatever good that will come for myself.”
“Good, let’s pray.”
They bowed their heads, clasped their hands, and closed their eyes. His father looked at his mother briefly.
“I’ll lead.”
His mother nodded. His father then closed his eyes to lead the prayer.
“We thank and bless you, Lord, for the food you have given us today. Nourish us, Lord, with them. In Jesus’ name.”
And they all said, “Amen.”
They ate from the cooking of his mother. Mark liked the chicken stew with some fish as much as his father does, but his father liked the fish more. Mark ate rice with soup along with the meat of the chicken. Mark did not eat the skin because he was grossed out by it, to him it’s like rubber. His father ate the rice with soup along with the fried fish. He did not eat the meat of the chicken because, for him, the meat of the chicken tinola is only for Mark. His mother ate the fish and a small amount of rice, she did not eat the chicken stew or even the soup. His mother ate only a little.
When they finished eating, they went to sleep. Mark can’t sleep because he keeps on thinking about Samantha.
‘Why can’t I sleep? Why does Cesar have to like Samantha? I’m just gonna pray about this.’
“Lord, bring me near to the one I will marry. Help me, Lord, that I will understand her, Lord, and that she will be mine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Mark received peace by his prayer to the Lord and he went to sleep.
History class is done as well as their other class subjects. Cesar is now playing basketball. Mark, his friend, and Samantha watch his games.
“Prrt, foul”
Cesar is fouled by Junrey, one of the delinquents of the school. Samantha is amazed by how Cesar plays.
“Cesar is really good at playing basketball. He’s smart and also athletic.”
Mark laughed.
“He seems to be warming up.”
“Why Mark?”
“It’s because I haven’t seen him dunk yet.”
Mark’s friend sorted it out.
“Oh yes. He doesn’t seem to be very aggressive today.
Samantha is shocked by what they are saying.
“What do you mean ‘not aggressive’? He’s great at dribbling, laying it up, driving, and shooting.”
Mark’s friend leans over to him
“Mark, Samantha is awesome. She knows what really is basketball.”
“Yeah, I should try asking her.”
“Samantha, you seem to know what basketball really is.”
“Oh, hehe. My father is a basketball player, that’s why.”
“That makes sense,” Mark’s friend whispered.
“I should ask what’s her father’s name,”
Mark turns towards Samantha.
“What’s your father’s name?”
“My father’s name is Alfred Macapobre.”
Mark is shocked.
“Alfred Macapobre!? Your father’s Alfred “The Sniper” Macapobre!?”
Mark’s friend stares at Samantha very intently.
“Shh, that’s only our secret, my dad doesn’t want me to reveal it so that I will not be known,” Samantha pleads.
Mark is puzzled.
“So, you are Samantha Macapobre?”
“Yeah”
“Oh really. Your father is a very private man. Why doesn’t he want you to be known? You’ll be famous.”
“If you’re famous, many follow you so that they will find something worthy of writing or gossiping about you, good or bad. That’s why daddy doesn’t want me to experience being followed and fished all sorts of stories like him because he experienced that.”
“But don’t you want to be famous?”
“I would like to but if that’s what I will experience in fame, then I don’t want it”
Mark and his friend went silent. They instead turn their attention to watching the game. Mark’s friend stares back at Samantha until she turns her head to him, he then gets frightened and goes back to watching the game.
Cesar’s teammate steals the ball. They’re going in a fastbreak, he passes the ball to Cesar! Junrey is guarding the paint! Cesar is about to attack!
“I’ll block you, Cesar.”
Cesar attacks and jumps.
‘Taste this Cesar,’ Junrey also jumps. ‘Uhh, his jump is very high.’
Boom! Cesar dunks the ball! He posterizes Junrey!
The crowd stands up and shouts, including the three of them.
Mark shouts, “Woo! Nice one Cesar!”
Samantha shouts, “Woo! Way to go Cesar!”
Mark’s friend shouts, “Go Junrey! Hahaha.”
Junrey hears this and turns to Mark’s friend. Junrey made a fist by his side but went back to the game. Cesar turned towards Samantha. He smiles and waves at Samantha. Mark looks at who Cesar is waving at. He turns to Samantha who waves back at Cesar, also smiling back. Mark is depressed that Cesar took an interest in Samantha.
Not long after this, they finished playing basketball. Cesar approached Samantha and Mark saw this.
“Hi, my name is Cesar.”
“Hi, my name is Samantha.”
Mark is now more depressed than before because Cesar and Samantha greeted each other. Then they arranged a date that they would eat somewhere soon. Mark, his friend, and Samantha walked together as they are going home.
“Cesar is very kind, isn’t he?” says Samantha.
“You haven’t even known each o-,” Mark elbows his friend before he could finish talking. “Ouch!”
“Hehe, sorry about my friend here. He’s talking all sorts of things.”
“It’s ok, I trust easily to people. And sometimes, this is not good for me. But I noticed that his aura is kind and harmless.”
“Aura, like the motorcycle,” Mark’s friend retorted.
Mark was terrified at what his friend had said. Samantha laughed, and the two friends eventually laughed.
Samantha arrived at her house. Mark’s friend looked at the house.
“Wow, so HUUUGE.”
Mark looked at the house.
“This is your house in Toledo?”
“Yeah, it’s ours, hehe. Don’t tell anybody ok?
“We won’t tell, promise.”
Samantha walked towards her house and turned towards Mark and his friend.
“Bye!”
The two of them waved towards Samantha.
“Bye as well!”
Samantha went into the house. Mark and his friend continued walking towards their home.
“Ahem,” said Mark’s friend.
“What?”
“You’re so obvious kiddo.”
“What is it?”
“You and Samantha,
No chance is the mantra.”
“No chance at all?”
“Haha, I knew it, you really like Samantha.“
Mark sighed, he was depressed yet again.
“I really have no chance; my opponent is the smart and athletic Cesar Owens.”
“Don’t worry bro, I’ll help you with your problem.”
While they were talking, Mark arrived at his house.
“See ya Justin, gotta go.”
“See ya, Mark. I’ll help you with your love life.”
Justin laughed while Mark was depressed and sighed because of his huge problem. Mark was met by a hug from his mother.
“Mmm, your school took so long, I really miss you.”
“Let me go ma, people are looking at us, I’m not a kid anymore.”
His mother finally let go of him.
“Ok fine, get in. I cooked some chicken stew.”
Mark and his mom got into their house. Mark went to his room and took out his books and notebooks.
“I have so many assignments.”
Mark changes his clothes that are fitting for the home. As Mark is reading his books, he finished two pages each.
His father is in the dining room, looking at the food, saying, “The Lord is good. Kiddo! Let’s eat!”
“I’ll be there, I just want to finish what I’m reading!”
“Finish that later! Let’s eat!”
“A little bit more! I’m almost there!”
“Hurry up!”
Mark continued to read a little bit then he closed his book.
“Oh! I forgot to put the green bookmark in.”
Mark sighed. While he’s finding the page where he last read, his father went into the room.
“Mark, let’s eat.”
“Ugh, I lost the page where I last read. I forgot to put a bookmark in the book, now I’m lost.”
“I’ll lend you a hand, I’ll find it.”
While they are finding the page that Mark forgot to bookmark, his dad looks at him.
“How’s school?”
“It was ok, dad.”
“Hmm, I don’t believe you.”
Mark got depressed and sighed.
“Hey, looks like that’s not our Mark. Try telling me your problem.”
“Haha, I rather not.”
“Is somebody bullying you? Tell me.”
“It’s because of a woman.”
“Oh, it’s only that. Don’t lose hope.”
“Then Cesar likes her and they now know each other.”
“Oof, that’s difficult, kid. Cesar is so smart. And also athletic.
Mark got very depressed. His father looked at him and took pity.
“Kid, don’t worry about things you can’t control. Think about the things that you can control and move along. If you make a mistake, make that your learning experience. The same goes to love, not only for someone you plan to be married with but it also applies to family or friends.”
“Haha, ‘someone I plan to be married with.’ ”
“I’m serious. If you’re married to someone, that is a different learning experience because you’re the one leading the family.”
While they were talking, they found the page Mark had last read. His father took the green bookmark and put it on the page then closed the book.
“Well, that’s about that. Just fight. Let’s go eat.”
They went out of the room towards the table where the chicken tinola and fried fish were prepared. Mark went near the fried fish and as he looked at it if it was cooked well.
“Mmm, the fish looks delicious.”
His mother prepared plates so that they could eat.
“Don’t eat yet, we’ll eat together.”
His father looked at the food and smiled, “Your cooking is delicious, just like you.”
Mark coughed.
“Son, when you’ll get married, you’ll know what I meant,” then his father laughed.
“I have no chance of marrying dad, even though I will have work.”
“You’re only a kid. Just have a little patience, don’t get depressed, dang it.”
His mom and dad looked at each other with sympathy for their child. His mom looked at him and pitied him.
“Markie, there’s a time in every season. What you’re waiting for will come,” said his mother with a gentle tone. “If what you want doesn’t come, you could be contented in whatever things you receive.”
Mark smiled with invigoration from the advice from his mom and dad.
“Ok ma, ok dad. I’ll wait on whatever good that will come for myself.”
“Good, let’s pray.”
They bowed their heads, clasped their hands, and closed their eyes. His father looked at his mother briefly.
“I’ll lead.”
His mother nodded. His father then closed his eyes to lead the prayer.
“We thank and bless you, Lord, for the food you have given us today. Nourish us, Lord, with them. In Jesus’ name.”
And they all said, “Amen.”
They ate from the cooking of his mother. Mark liked the chicken stew with some fish as much as his father does, but his father liked the fish more. Mark ate rice with soup along with the meat of the chicken. Mark did not eat the skin because he was grossed out by it, to him it’s like rubber. His father ate the rice with soup along with the fried fish. He did not eat the meat of the chicken because, for him, the meat of the chicken tinola is only for Mark. His mother ate the fish and a small amount of rice, she did not eat the chicken stew or even the soup. His mother ate only a little.
When they finished eating, they went to sleep. Mark can’t sleep because he keeps on thinking about Samantha.
‘Why can’t I sleep? Why does Cesar have to like Samantha? I’m just gonna pray about this.’
“Lord, bring me near to the one I will marry. Help me, Lord, that I will understand her, Lord, and that she will be mine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Mark received peace by his prayer to the Lord and he went to sleep.
