A Tale of a Blind Son-in-law

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5:

Summer vacation is here, and most young adults and teenagers who still need to study take this opportunity to take a break from cramming and sleepless nights just to study. It was like they get out of a battle and they need to rest for now. But for someone who needs to continue the battle, vacation is just a dream.

Karina is an adult woman who is still in college, and the reason why she still needs to study is that she stops going to school after she graduated grade 12 believing that it is enough to get a decent job to support her family. But it is not, her age at that time was not enough to work at a company because they prefer college graduates instead of her.

That’s the time she realizes she stops her study for nothing. After getting rejected several times by many private companies, she just envies her batch mates and old friend taking the course they like in college while… questioning herself, “Why I had to experience poverty to the point it stops me to reach my goal to success?”

After asking herself if she was a failure, she just realizes that it is not the time to break down… she needs to continue her journey if she wants to graduate from college too and get the success she wants. Karina tries to get a job that can fit only her educational attainment and the skills she knows. She works as a cashier and sales lady in different fast-food, restaurants, malls, and even convenience stores.

But still, her salary was not enough to finance their family. Karina is the eldest daughter and the breadwinner, and she realizes after three years of working that even though she has hard work… she can’t still get enough money she needs to let her family have the life she wants for them.

Then, she takes the courage to continue her study for college, she doesn’t care if her batch mates already graduated… what she cares the most is getting a diploma and using that to work in a company that can give her a larger salary compared in what she gets in a part-time job. She continues pursuing her dream… to be a teacher someday.

But seeking her dream is not enough and not easy, she still needs to work while studying. That’s why she didn’t stop working as a part-timer even though she’s now a student. Luckily, she survives her three years in college as an Educ student while going to work. And every time summer break is here, she grabs this opportunity to have two works so she can save enough money that she needs in the future as she learns being a graduate student needs a lot of money.

Looking for a job that can fit with her other work schedule is not easy… not until she saw a post in a group that she joined on her social media account. The post stated that he is looking for a maid that can do a chore and take good care of a blind person. Usually, Karina doesn’t buy this kind of post as she thinks it may be a scam but she’s desperate… she needs to check on it to at least lessen her problems.

The next morning, she decides to go and check the address that the person named Drayven message to her. Karina was suspecting the guy because he can talk formally in their conversation but still choose to post it online and not ask for an agency for a maid. She just takes the courage to meet him since she’s with her younger brother.

“Sis, are you sure you got the right address? No one is answering, I already hit the buzzer several times,” her brother stated.

Karina starts to suspect the guy once again, she didn’t tell Drayven that she’ll go with his younger brother just because she doesn’t trust him. She doesn’t want to offend anyone but of course, she can’t let her guard down, scammers are scattered everywhere as they target girls to be their victims and after they caught the poor girl alone… they raped and kill the girl. Karina is a breadwinner; she doesn’t want to die yet.

“Of course, I did, you know how sharp my mind is. Then, if no one is responding… we have to go before—”

Karina missed her chance to finish what she was about to say when someone open the gate. She and her brother got shocked when a blind man suddenly showed up. “You don’t need to break our buzzer; didn’t you hear me? I said to wait because my brother-in-law is still in the bathroom, he can’t open the gate if he’s still taking a bath. You’re just lucky, I manage to at least get in here safely.”

He was lying. Karina saw his elbow with fresh wounds, for sure he gets it from forcing himself to see the gate; she can’t imagine where he can get it. The guy may sound rude to them, but he has the right to be since they hit the buzzer many times. At least, Karina proves that the guy who messages him doesn’t lie to her regarding the blind man she needs to take good care of.

“We’re sorry, my brother only thought no one hears him buzzing. We didn’t hear you say we just need to wait as well,” Karina explains.

“Your brother?” the blind guy pauses a bit as if he thinks and speaks again. “Wait, who are you? What do you need from Drayven—”

“TJ! Why do you go out of the house? Are you okay!?” another man suddenly rushes on them. His hair is wet and he’s wearing a shirt and shorts. Karina presumes he was Drayven, the one who messaged her, and also the blind man called his brother-in-law.

The blind man he called TJ didn’t answer him, so his gaze turned to the visitors and say, “Are you Karina Zein Gomez? The girl I was expecting to meet me today?” he asked.

Karina smiled. She found the blind man grumpy, but she’s still thankful that the man she had a conversation with online is nice… at least. “Yes! Good morning, Mr. Drayven Ignacio. I’m sorry I forgot to inform you that I’ll bring my younger brother with me, I was just scared to get lost in here.”

“It’s fine, I don’t mind. And actually, I am glad you both made it here safe. Anyway, you can come inside so we can talk further about your inquiry, shall we?”