#Feeling Blessed

Synopsis:
In one of her regular days as a senior high school student, Ligaya is
challenged to begin her writing assignment about the real definition of
happiness. Raised by a single mother and taunted by the insecurities
exacerbated with what she often sees on social media, would she ever find
the true meaning of happiness, and what it actually feels to be ‘blessed’?
“Ok class, please don’t forget about your writing assignment, it’s due on
Monday. This is your last hoorah for creative writing”, the thunderous voice
behind the screen seemed to have occupied the entire room with nothing
more to reveal except for an old alarm clock beside a framed picture of an
old man carrying a young girl around his shoulder, and a huge pile of paper
works resting on an unfixed bed.
Ligaya who grew restless at that moment, flung herself down on the bed
placing her one arm across her forehead, and took a deep sigh. She knew that
day, she wouldn’t be able to start writing her essay.
A sudden knock broke the momentary silence in the room, and a
woman in her worn-out dress peeped behind the door. “Hey dear, it’s your
dad’s death anniversary. Could you come along with me to see him?”
“I’m not sure. I have so much on my plate right now.” Ligaya tediously
told her mother who left without a word.
The thought of losing her father came flashing back in, and she recalled,
their life has never been the same since then. Ligaya who remained lying on
her bed, veered herself away from the painful memory and decided to pick
up her phone. She began browsing her newsfeed, and saw these posts from
her friends joining a family trip, sipping milk teas, or getting a brand new car,
home, and phone – the same things she would want for herself.
“How I wish I could experience one of these things, or at least someone
could give me a writing tip, perhaps by now, I would have done working on
my assignment”, she whispered to herself.
Ligaya went on to looking at her friends’ posts, and much to her
disappointment, saw several ones saying “Done with my reflective essay-
#feeling blessed”. She began worrying about her school works more when
series of notifications on messenger started popping up.
“Ligaya, get your act together.”, she mumbled to herself but anxiety led
her to slack off and leave the room in complete disarray. She was unmindful of
the tasks that she needed to juggle that day. All she cared about was finding
a quiet place where she could loosen up, away from the bustling world of
social media and online classes.
Ligaya made her way out of the house, unfortunately, the only quiet
place she could go to was a lone, rusty bench that sits around the corner of
an empty street. The ballooning weight of despair pinned her down on the old
bench, and halted her from doing anything. Just as she was about to close her
eyes for a quick nap while leaning onto her hand pressed against the bench’s
side rail, a man in his mid-fifties carrying a basket of rice cakes came to sit with
her.
“Ineng, it’s too early to rest at this time, and I know exactly what can
wake you up on a bright morning. How about some freshly baked rice cakes?
C’mon, buy some!”, humorously remarked the old man in his delicately frail
voice.
“Mang Tomas, can I have two of them?” Ligaya took all the cents out of
her pocket and gave them to the old man.
“Hey, every penny counts!”, Mang Tomas delightfully handed her the
rice cake. The old man with his smoky-grey hair, wrinkled hands, and
weatherworn skin was beaming with joy upon making his sale. As she took her
first bite, Ligaya couldn’t help but wonder how he seemed stress-free,
unbothered by what life has thrown at him.
So, she genuinely asked, “Mang Tomas, why do you always seem
happy?”
“What do you mean?”, he replied.
“I mean, you start selling your rice cakes at dawn. You walk around this
neighbourhood everyday, and I might be the first and probably, the only one
to have bought your rice cake today. I always see you leaving our place with
your basket still half-filled, don’t you get upset about it?” Ligaya curiously said.
“Well, you weren’t the first one, you were the second. (Hehehe), Mang
Tomas jokingly answered.
Ligaya forced a grin, but appeared to be waiting for what the old man
would still say. Seeing the girl’s eyes glazing with sadness and excitement at
the same time, Mang Tomas decided to share what he has kept hidden all
these years.
“Would you believe me, that I was once had almost all the riches that
people would be obsessed about getting for themselves?”, he started sharing.
“I had a beautiful wife, and six wonderful kids. Our family business also
started to take off and we were living the best times of our lives.”
 Ligaya asked, “What happened?”
“I got overwhelmed by the good things coming our way, and for some
reasons, I started comparing myself with other successful businessmen. While I
was building my business, it was tearing my family apart. I was pushing through
life, that I never noticed, I was pushing my family away. My wife died without
seeing her for the last time, and my children resented me for it. What I’ve
thought as my ultimate blessing eventually crumbled right before my eyes”.
Mang Tomas was chocking back in tears.
“…and you could not make for the lost time.”, Ligaya reflected as she
also welled up with tears.
“Yes, but someone took me in, and I felt like getting another shot at it. I
may be living differently now, but hey, at least, I have a job that pays my bills
and puts food on my table. Trust me kid, this is as good as it gets.” He continued
while wiping off his face.
His words had struck a nerve that tears came rolling down her cheeks.
Ligaya’s sudden frustration over unfinished school works, and his old memories
with his father apparently faded, and she felt at ease.
“How about you, what’s making you happy?”, Mang Tomas reverted
the question.
Ligaya looked at her tranquil home and smiled as she saw a woman
coming out of the doorway, waving her delicate hand at her. She then
glanced back at the old man, and said “I have to leave now, we’re seeing my
father later, plus I also have an important homework to do. Thanks for the rice
cake, and for the tip Mang Tomas.”
Though perplexed by the last utterances of Ligaya, the old man gladly
watched her from afar as she was walking away, then, whispered, “You’re
blessed, kid.”