What if?

Chapter 65: Foundation

Michael

I was at awe when I saw what Nick had done to the old lady, he did not even tell us that he would go or what. He just stayed quiet all that time then we just saw him helping the old lady that we were talking about. “He is just kind. It is his nature… I guess.” I said while looking at him helping the old woman. I was just there looking and waiting for Nick to come inside the car.

“I think I should help them too.” I said all of a sudden after seeing that the old woman and Nick are having a hard time together passing the pedestrian lane. The old woman is so slow but the good thing is that the people who kept on whining a while ago when the old woman was alone stopped. Some passed the lane as soon as the old woman and Nick passed their line, while some were still waiting.

“Don’t. They are talking with each other. It would be a waste if you enter the scene. Besides, the old woman is also walking with her cane so what else are you going to hold?” Janice replied immediately as soon as I dropped my word.

Janice might have wanted to help too but the case is that Janice was right. The old woman is walking with Nick and its walking cane. So if I go there, I can’t help them since Nick is already there. I can talk but not help her from walking.

“You are right. I guess we just wait here until Nick finishes helping the old woman walk.” I replied back to what Janice had just said.

We continued to watch them while walking and I saw that Nick and the old woman are getting well with each other. They were smiling while talking so I thought that it was the case there.

“Okay.” I said after I saw them finished walking on the pedestrian lane. “What?” Janice asked. “That means victory.” I replied to Janice as I answered her question.

It actually means that way because finally I was able to breathe properly because when they were walking together, it was like I was watching a race waiting for the time that they would go to the finish line.

“Hahaha… I see. Silly boy.” Janice said as she messed up my hair that was in proper condition a while ago. “Stop” I said while slightly blushing because of what she said. It was a compliment for me that is why.

“Okay… okay. I will stop.” Janice said as she finally stopped messing my hair. “Come I will fix your hair again.” Janice said and fixed my hair back to what it was before. “Look at the mirror.” Janice said to me as soon as she finished fixing my hair.

I did not say anything and just looked at the mirror that was at the center of the car above to see my hair as what Janice said. “Is it good now?” Janice asked, “Yeah!” I said cheerfully like a young kid happy because of candy.

“Hi! She will come with us.” Nick said and let the old woman sit in the front seat with the driver.

Nick is now back together with the old woman. “I am guessing that she will come with us and we will drive her to her destination.” I said to myself as I smiled looking at them.

“Thanks.” The old woman said after Nick helped her get inside the car. “This is Janice and Michael, my brother.” Nick said to the old woman while pointing at me and Janice.

“Hello!” Janice and I said at the same time with wide smiles. “Hi.” Linda said shortly, trying to look at us from the front.

“Oh, whereto?” Janice looked and asked Nick as soon as Nick opened the door at the back. “Uhmm… Foundation.” Nick replied back.

“What does he mean by the foundation?” I said to myself

“What foundation?” Janice and the driver asked at the same time.

I guess that Janice and the driver are on the same boat. We do not know what the hell Nick means. “Oh sorry. It is the Barcelona Foundation.” The old woman replied on Nick’s behalf because I think that he didn’t know.

“Wait, that sounds familiar.” I said to myself as soon as I heard what the old woman replied. “Was the foundation one of the foundations I celebrated my birthday with?” I asked myself again.

“s**t! I am so curious. Yeah! That is right, I have photos here on my phone of all the foundation I have been with.” I said to myself again.

I will solve my curiosity if I see all the pictures. The name of the foundation just rings bells in my ears. I started to open my gallery on the phone and looked for the album where I put all the foundations that I celebrated my birthday with. I looked and looked.

“This is not. Not too. This one again.” I said to myself as I scrolled through all the photos. “It is not one of the foundations that I celebrated my birthday with. Then why does it sound so familiar?” I asked myself.

“Google!” Of course! Google is the answer. I could have thought about this from the start if I wanted to know. The thing is that I totally believed that what I thought was right yet it turned out to be wrong.

I am not smart all the time. Sometimes I am dumb too.

I scrolled my phone and clicked google app then I typed the Barcelona Foundation in the search tab and then I clicked the search button. After doing so, the photos of the foundation, the people there and others pop up.

There was a short overview of what the foundation is all about. I skimmed and read all of the words in the overview until I saw the owners of the foundation. “I am so dumb. s**t!” I said softly. Too soft that only I can hear what I said. Not even the person beside me can hear it.

“Jake Barcelona. The son of the philanthropists.” I read the line softly. I am so dumb. How could I not know Jake’s last name? I guess Nick knows it too.

I looked at him but he seemed unbothered by what the old woman just said. I looked at the woman and I can’t explain what I feel. I was just speechless.

Is it because I just knew that Jake’s background is powerful? I mean I knew that from the start. But having a big foundation like what I saw in the photos is just so amazing and something to be proud of. Jake never mentioned anything about it. Well, we are not that close.

“But he doesn’t seem to have a heart for these people,” I said, starting my prejudices with Jake. “No! Michael, what you are doing is wrong. You should not do that to a person.” I tried to remind myself.

“Something is really just bothering me. Oh no! Am I jealous that he has a good background of family and that he also helps people?” I said to myself as I tried to process all my thoughts.

I am becoming not a good person because of this. “Michael, you should not do this.” I said to myself over and over again. I should be happy because I know that there are more people who help people around me.

“Ohh!!! I see.” Janice said to the old woman. I did not care to look at her and the others and was just busy telling myself some reminders using my mind.

“Let me fasten your seatbelt.” The driver said to the old woman and fastened her seatbelt for her.

The driver then started the car.

Nick

While we were on the way to the foundation where we are going to drop Linda, I realized that I was not able to tell the driver, Michael and Janice Linda’s name.

“Guys, I am very sorry. I was not able to introduce her properly to all of you. Her name is Linda by the way.” I said to them. They looked at me, smiled and nodded except for Michael.

“Is he bipolar?” His sudden changes of emotion are bothersome. “Should we go to the psychologist to test him?” I said to myself. Oh definitely a no! I cannot do that to Michael. I shouldn’t.

Maybe he has a problem again. As always.

After a few minutes we reached the foundation. “We are here.” The driver said as soon as he parked the car to the parking lot. “Linda, can we look inside?” Janice asked Linda. “Of course. It is my pleasure. Besides, you gave me a free ride here so this is everything that I can do.” Linda replied to Janice happily.

“Nice. Thank you!” Janice said as she got out of the car. The driver opened the door for Linda and I then presented myself to be her guide again. “Here, let me help you.” I said and helped her walk.

“Michael, what are you doing? We are going inside.” Janice called out Michael who was still spacing out. “Oh! Sorry.” Michael replied and finally came back to his normal self and got out of the car.

“Whaaa!!! This is a huge building.” Janice said while looking above the floors of the foundation. “Yes.” Linda replied to her.

We started walking together.

“There must be a lot of children here that the foundation is helping.” Janice said while looking around. “The surrounding area is also really green and nature friendly. The owners might not just be philanthropists but also environmentalists.” Janice said as she continued to say what she thinks about the foundation and the owners.

“That is right. The people here really try our best to be of help to nature.” Linda replied softly. Linda might have sounded soft but it also seemed like she is proud of the family and the place that she has been helping for years.

We finally reached the inside of the foundation and saw the kids running and people laughing everywhere. “What a healthy place to live in.” I said as I saw all the children.

“How is this possible?” I said out loud enough for Janice, Linda, the driver and Michael to hear. “Everything is possible dear, as long as you put your heart into it and take action. That is what the family owners did. That is why we have this. Do you know what that other building is for grown-ups who have disabilities? This foundation might be focusing on kids but it also helps other ages.” Linda said.

They must really have a kind heart. I am really happy to know that kindness is still present.

“Birds.” I said after seeing them flying all around the place. See? The birds are even visiting the place.

“You can let go of me now. Thank you dear.” Linda said to me. I let her go as she asked me to do. She then walked and talked to a woman with white clothes, I think she is one of the helpers in this foundation.

The woman then walked together with her along with drinks in their hands. “Drinks.” Janice said and offered us the drinks. We didn’t refuse the drink because it looked good. I think the others thought the same way I did. I am confident because they did not hesitate and grabbed it.

I sipped on the drink. “Mmmm…” I let out. This drink is indeed great. I even closed my eyes because of it. I opened my eyes back.

“Oh.” I said and blinked three times to make sure of what I was seeing.