MY BILLIONAIRE RESCUER

CHAPTER 2: Her Life

Lynette Trinidad is the youngest offspring of Attorney Leonardo Trinidad, a retired law professor at University of Filipinas – Vienburg, with his wife Dr. Evangeline Mariano, also a retired accounting and economics professor at University of Filipinas – Vienburg with a PhD in Economics.

Lynette’s two older siblings are Leonardo Trinidad II and Edward Trinidad. Her Kuya Leo is a public prosecutor in the City Prosecutor’s Office in Absedaire City, while her Kuya Ed is a news reporter working for MGA News and Public Affairs of MGA Network Channel 8.

Both of her brothers are already married with a child. They reside on the duplex owned by their parents in a middle class subdivision in Absedaire City. The subdivision is near the boundary of Vienburg City.

Lynette used to live with his Kuya Ed but she decided to move out when he got married and she landed a job after graduation. Their parents are already enjoying their retirement in a small farm their father inherited from their grandparents. The farm is located in the State of Rennidan, a state just southeast of Missi. Their entire family reunites at the farm during long holidays like Holy Week and Christmas Break.

The farm has a two-story log cabin farmhouse with one bedroom on the ground floor and three bedrooms on the second floor. Lynette just recently converted the attic into her personal space in the farm because the third bedroom on the second floor was transformed into the children’s bedroom and turned it into three distinct areas. The first and second areas are for sleeping, each has wooden double deck beds, and drawers. The third area, located in the middle, separates the two sleeping areas. The third area is the play area with open shelves for the toys and other stuffs, and craft table for studying and other activities like art works, or board games. The play area also has a small wooden playhouse with ball pit, slide, climbing wall, climbing cargo net, and monkey bars.

Lynette’s one-bedroom apartment unit is located on the eighth floor of the apartment complex just a few-minute walk away from Absedaire Montessori School where she had her pre-school to senior high school education.

While growing up their parents had been very supportive of their individual interests and preferences. Every school breaks, they had taken supplementary classes or travelled out of the country.

Lynette’s school break classes after kindergarten included swimming and piano.

Her school break classes after her first elementary grade level included ramp modeling and drum set playing.

After her second elementary grade level, she took a kiddie-cooking class and sports clinic in tennis.

After finishing her third elementary grade level, she took a kiddie-baking class, ballet dancing, and acoustic guitar playing. 

It was then followed by an arts camp where she excelled in painting, drawing, and crafts making.

After the next academic year, she took pottery and sewing.

After graduating from elementary, she took classes on creative writing and sculpture.

During her junior and senior high school years, her school breaks were devoted to travelling abroad. She got interested in photography so her parents purchased her first camera. She had also taken some other short classes in knitting, crocheting, musical composition, fashion design, comic illustration, and graphic design.

After she finished high school, Lynette started part-time ramp modeling, posing for fashion pictorials, and acting on TV commercial with one of her three best friends, Cheryl Dy.

Lynette finished a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with double majors in creative writing and art education at the age of twenty-two. She graduated with distinction with her GPA falling just a very little short from her earning a c*m Laude honor. Some of her poems and short stories had been published on the official gazette of the university when she was still studying.

After graduation, she landed her first job as a copy writer in one of the biggest advertising companies in Absedaire City. But in less than a year, she got sick due to physical and emotional stress and so she resigned. While still unemployed, she started pitching her literary works to several publishing companies all over Missi  while doing some part-time modeling gigs.

September 25, 2015. Alyzza Tiu-Vega, another one of her three best friends who is already married to Arnold Vega and has two children, called her up.

She responded, “Yes, Lyz. Why did you call?”

Alyzza casually answered, “You’re currently unemployed, right?”

She confirmed, “Aside from a few modeling gigs, yes, you may consider me as unemployed. Why? Do you have a work for me?”

Alyzza exclaimed, “Exactly!” and then expounded, “Ate Cathy is pregnant and she has high-risk pregnancy so she has to be on bed-rest for her entire pregnancy. Do you want to substitute as arts teacher at our Alma Mater? Art Education is your other major, right?”

Lynette agreed, “Yeah, I can.”

Lynette was then immediately hired as Absedaire Montessori School. She also decided to take a Montessori Teacher Training Program to become Montessori-certified. It was also during that academic year that Dr. Dylan Tiu, an oncology resident and first cousin of Alyzza, started courting her.

For the next academic year, she applied as a part-time pre-school teacher at AMS. She had her teaching job in the morning and then in the afternoon she took up certificate in fine arts for painting. With her bachelor’s degree in fine arts, she just needed to take some more units to earn a certificate. She also took piano lessons during weekends.  Along with pitching her literary works to different publishing companies during her free time, she also started creating handicrafts then selling them online.

After more or less two years of courtship, Lynette finally agreed to become Dylan’s girlfriend. She had continued with her part-time teaching job at AMS while still pursuing her dream of getting her literary works published and continuing with her handicrafts online business.

November 16, 2018. Friday. Alyzza video-called her up to confirm her storytelling session on the 4th birthday celebration program of her fraternal twin son and daughter, Raegan and Maegan.

Lynette answered the call, “Yes, Lyz.”

Alyzza spoke up, “I called for two reasons.”

Lynette said, “Okay. First reason first.”

Alyzza asked, “Do you need anything for the storytelling session this coming Sunday?”

Lynette answered, “Just be ready with the acoustic piano for the lullaby singing part of the storytelling. I’m done preparing all the materials I need so everything is covered.”

“Good! Consider the acoustic piano done,” then Alyzza inquired, “How about your professional fee, Lyn?”

Lynette insisted, “I already told you that you don’t have to pay me. We’re best friends and your kids are my godchildren,” then she asked, “Anyway, what about your second reason for calling?”

Alyzza confided, “I maybe blood-related with Dylan by my loyalty is with you. Uncle David is pushing for his wedding engagement with Mikaela Ong now that they had both finished their residencies and passed their respective board examination as an oncologist and dermatologist.”

Lynette wasn’t that surprise anymore. She knew that Dylan’s parents were not in favor of their relationship. Solemnly, she told Alyssa, “Then, I guess I just have to set him free. I'm aware that your uncle and his wife don’t like me for Dylan. I cannot force them to like me.”

Alyzza imparted thoughtfully, “Arnold has invited the Ongs to the birthday party. So you might encounter Mikaela at the party. Would it just be fine with you?”

Lynette responded, “Dad and Mom will be visiting this weekend. They'll come to my place Sunday afternoon. I’ll just leave immediately after the storytelling session.”

Alyzza agreed, “Okay. I love you, Lyn. Please stay strong.”

Lynette assured her best friend, smiling, “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry much.”

November 17, 2018. Saturday. Dylan cancelled their date for that day. He just message her that he had to attend a very important social gathering with his parents.

It was indeed a social gathering specifically the meeting of families. Dylan, along with his parents had met Mikaela, along with her parents, in a private dining room in Velarde Hotel to discuss about their wedding engagement.

Lynette had discovered about it when she got another video-call from Alyzza that evening.

Lynette answered, “Yes, Lyz.”

Her friend asked, “Have you already talked to Dylan regarding his wedding engagement to Mikaela?”

She responded casually, “Nope. He cancelled our usual Saturday date. He just messaged me that he would attend a social gathering with his parents.”

Alyzza informed her, “Their families have met for lunch to formally arrange their marriage. I thought you already broke up with him.”

Lynette responded just casually, “I want to do it in person as soon as we meet face-to-face. Thanks for informing me.”

Alyzza expressed, “I really hate him for doing such to you! He doesn’t deserve you! Even if he's my cousin, I really hate him so much!”

After the video call, Lynette just decided to go to the grocery to buy some food and household supplies. He parents would definitely bring fresh produce from their farm and so she just purchased her morning whole grain cereals, bottles of carbonated water, salt and pepper, extra virgin olive oil, toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, dishwashing liquid, household cleanser, laundry powder, liquid detergent, garbage bags, bathroom tissues, and kitchen paper towels.

She wasn’t sad but she felt betrayed. Dylan didn’t even have the courage to tell the truth to her. She might not be really into him but she had learned to like him because of his persistence in courting her. She also remained faithful to him all throughout their relationship. He didn’t even have the courtesy to break things up with her before he agreed on his wedding engagement with another lady. As if, she would hold him back. No way!

It wasn’t her first breakup. Her first boyfriend back in college cheated on her with a prettier, sexier and richer lady. Dylan might have not intentionally cheated on her but he kept her clueless about the arranged marriage that his parents was planning for him.

She didn’t feel like crying. She was angry at Dylan for not having the guts to tell her the truth. She really felt betrayed.

After arranging her purchases on the kitchen cabinets, she tried to de-stress by working out. She performed squats and lunges, and then run on the foldable mechanical treadmill she just recently purchased from her income in her online store. She had sold lots of Halloween hand-sewn masks and costumes. She also had a bulk order of hand-sewn Christmas decorations which she had already fulfilled.

She was already done with her workout but Dylan didn’t even send her another message after cancelling their date.

She has no appetite for dinner so she just ate the remaining banana on her wooden fruit tray.

November 18, 2018. Sunday. Lynette had a small serving of cereals and milk for breakfast. Even if she felt very disappointed with Dylan, she knew that she must not let herself suffer by not eating.

She browsed her online shopping webpage, LT Atelier, to look for orders. She packed them and had brought them at the courier service center nearest to her place.

By lunch, she had steamed broccoli and carrots with a few slices of broiled chicken breast.

She then took a shower and dressed up with white undergarment, white sleeveless flowy midi dress, nude color cropped blazer, nude pumps, dark brown sunglasses and her self-made dark brown woven buri tote bag which she beautifully accessorized by a colorful scarf tied as a bow. The storytelling materials were on LT Atelier’s personalized craft paper bag.

When she was all set, she hailed a cab. The old car of her parents which was turned over to her upon their retirement was still on the service center for its regular maintenance.

When the cab stopped by the front of the gated residence of Alyzza and her husband Absedaire City Mayor Arnold Vega in an exclusive subdivision for the upper middle class, the twins immediately saw her as she descended from the cab. The security guard open the smaller wrought iron gate for her.

As the twins raced towards her, shouting, “Ninang Lyn!” while being followed by Alyzza, she knelt down to hug them.

She gave Raegan and Maegan each a paper bag containing a set of hand puppets for the storytelling session as birthday present. She has her own set on the larger paper bag which also contained the illustrations that she had personally painted, the teapot and teacup set that she personally made and hand-painted, and some other stuffs for the storytelling.

The birthday celebration program started after a short while. It began with a prayer, followed by blowing the cake, and then eating.

As Lynette was eating on a table with the twins, Alyssa, and Arnold, a very handsome man arrived and was seated on their table directly across her.

The twins addressed him as Ninong Gab. She hadn’t met him during the baptismal of the twins. He probably didn’t attend the ceremony or she just didn’t notice him.

Arnold casually introduced the man and Lynette to one another, “Gab, meet Lynette. She's one of Alyzza’s childhood best friends, also a godmother to the twins, and their preschool teacher as well. Lyn, this is Gabriel, my second cousin, and the twins’ godfather.”

Lynette extended her hand for a handshake out of courtesy. “It is nice meeting you.” She felt something strange as the man looked into her eyes very intently. The man is dripping with so much s*x appeal. He also has a very nice physique and toned muscles in his a white classic shirt with undone top buttons, topped with unbuttoned navy suit jacket paired with navy suit pants, dark brown letter belt, dark brown leather oxfords shoes and brown leather strapped yellow gold wristwatch. Everything seemed to be of high-end brands. She assumed that he must be very rich.

Dylan, who just arrived with his parents, wasn’t happy with how the man and Lynette looked at each other.

Gabriel accepted the handshake and even prolonged it while saying, “It’s my privilege to meet you too, Teacher Lyn,” then released her hand.

Lynette was then called up to the platform stage for the storytelling. Those parents-guests who knew her readied their smartphone cameras for photo and video capture while the children immediately gathered around her while comfortably seated on the floor that was immediately covered with soft rug and a small table was placed before the master of ceremonies introduced her part of the program.

Arnold and Gabriel sat down again, rearranging their chairs to face the stage and watch the storytelling.

Gabriel imparted, “This is the first time that I'll witness a storytelling session in a kiddie birthday party.”

Arnold shared, “Raegan and Maegan personally requested for this. According to them their ‘Ninang Teacher’ is a super storyteller. So let’s wait and see if they are really telling the truth.”

Lynette sat down by the edge of the platform stage. She also asked Raegan and Maegan to sit down on her left side and right side along with their hand puppets.

Lynette then did the storytelling with high spirited different voices sometimes even letting the twins say some parts. She also had used different vibrant facial expressions. Everyone was also in awe with her very nice singing voice as she sang the lullaby part of the story.

While Gabriel was attentively watching the storytelling, he had heard an old woman, who seemed to be on her 50’s, badmouthing the storyteller in a low voice, “Oh, that shameless lady is here again!” Then the old woman faced a man who seemed to be in his late 20’s or early 30’s and said, “Didn’t I tell you to breakup with her already? How can we push through with your engagement with Mikaela if you’re still dating that brazen lady? You should better end things with her now. You and Mikaela had already passed your respective medical board exam. We shall announce your wedding engagement at the 30th wedding anniversary of her parents this coming December.”

Gabriel then heard the man, who seemed to be the boyfriend of the storyteller, irritatingly replied, “Ma, can we not talk about this thing here? You already know my stand regarding that arranged marriage.”

An old man on his 50’s, who seemed to be the father of the younger man, then firmly said, “The wedding will push through whether you like it or not.”

After the storytelling, Alyzza escorted Lynette back at the table where Gabriel and Arnold were seated while the kids enjoyed the magic show next.

Gabriel commended her, “You’re an excellent storyteller, Miss Lyn.”

Arnold added, “I have no doubt now why the twins specifically requested for such.”

Alyzza boasted, “That’s her original story! She also personally created the hand puppets, painted the illustration, made the teapot and teacups sets and other paraphernalia, and composed the lullaby. This best friend of mine is an artistic genius.”

Gabriel concluded, “So you also write children’s stories other than teaching, Miss Lyn?”

Lynette affirmed, “Yes.”

Alyzza even expounded for Dylan’s parents to hear, “She has a degree in fine arts with double major in creative writing and art education. She also has a Certificate in Montessori Teaching and a Certificate of Fine Arts in Painting. Her business LT Atelier is also doing very well. It's just sad that her literary works haven’t been published yet.”

Gabriel said, “You should keep on trying to have your literary works get published, Miss Lyn. Perhaps pitch this children’s story to a publishing company doing children’s books. You got an entire package for promotions already.”

Lynette smiled and said, “Yes. I’m not stopping from trying even if I had received many rejections already. It will really be a dream come true even if just one of my literary works get published.”

Alyzza added, “Oh, it will surely happen one of these days. I can already feel it.”

Gabriel voiced out, “The two of you really seems to be very close.”

Lynette shared, “We were classmates at AMS from pre-school until senior high school. She's one of my three best friends.”

After a while, the Ongs arrived. Gabriel knew Don Henry Ong, his wife Misha, and his daughter Mikaela. Dr. Graciella Altamonte, is a member of the board of directors of Absedaire Medical Center (AMC) representing the 33 % shares of AHHI, while Don Henry is the Chairman of the Board of Directors having 35 % shares.