"Not all rich people need to send their kids to private school."
That was one of Andi Navarro's most controversial opinions. To her, private schools were just too boring. Too uniform. Too proper. Too full of pretending. No real stories. No hallway crushes. No tales of "we had to run from the guard because we were late for the flag ceremony."
She wanted Gesly and Bella to experience real teenage life.
The kind of high school where students copy answers at the back. Where kids wait at the canteen for free soup. Where you bring rice cakes in plastic bags or the occasional instant noodles cooked in the faculty room because it's the adviser's birthday.
So even though she could afford to enroll them in the most expensive exclusive school in the city, she still chose to send them to a public high school.
"So you'll have stories to tell when you grow up," she said while fixing Bella's ID lace.
"But Ate, aren't there a lot of gossipers in public school?" Gesly asked as he fixed his hair in front of the electric fan.
"Exactly," Andi smiled. "That's fun. It builds character."
And she didn't stop at just enrolling them. She checked off the entire high school shopping list.
Complete notebooks with covers and labels. Extra pens—five more just in case they get lost. Uniforms that fit just right—not too loose, not pageant-tight. PE shirts, jogging pants, black shoes, white shoes, and extra socks. And of course, a Samsung phone each.
Their daily allowance? ₱150. Just right. Not too much. Enough for lunch, a snack, and fare.
But during Gesly's junior high graduation, Andi had a surprise.
After the ceremony, while Gesly was still in his white uniform holding his diploma folder, Andi pulled him out of the gym.
"What's going on, Ate?" he asked.
"I just want to give you something," Andi replied. At the edge of the parking lot, behind a tarp, she unveiled the gift.
A Honda. Nothing fancy. No decals. No flex. But clean. The engine was in great condition. Perfect for a student who just needed a ride to and from school.
"It's not flashy," said Andi. "But it's safe. Fuel-efficient. And not a carnapper's target."
Gesly couldn't react right away. He just held the helmet, unsure if it was really his.
"Is this mine?"
Andi smiled. "Yes. So you don't always have to ride a tricycle. You'll be the one bringing Bella to school now. It has GPS and a kill switch linked to my phone. Don't even think about skipping class. I'll know."
Bella teared up at the side. "Ate, you're really the best…"
Andi smiled, pulled them both in, and hugged them tight.
"This isn't about being rich. It's about being ready. And responsible. Now it's your turn to look after each other."
That's what she wanted them to learn: Whether you're rich or not, what matters is knowing how to carry yourself. The cost of your belongings doesn't define your success. True wealth is knowing how not to abuse what you have.
And in a world full of kids who flaunt everything, she was raising two who understood the power of simplicity.
That night, while she watched Gesly test the motorbike inside the gate and Bella stick stickers on her notebook, Andi quietly sat on the veranda.
She held a cup of instant coffee—not imported, not artisan, just the usual three-in-one.
Beside her on the table, her laptop was open. A new email:
Subject line: "Dela Vuega Holdings: Board Invitation – Seat for Andrea Navarro"
She smiled. Soon.
But not yet.
Right now, she had to keep an eye on how Iñigo was learning to brake properly. And wait for the day Bella learns to budget her allowance.
There's a time for crowns. But for now, she's just the strict and feisty big sister.
---
In Room 9-B, Gesly Navarro was known as the "chill but quiet" one. Not top of the class. Not a troublemaker either. But he had this calm aura—like you could never really tell if he had a problem or was just hungry.
"Bro, you got a new phone?" Mark asked, glancing at the Samsung A-series on Iñigo's desk.
"Gift from my sister," Gesly replied, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
"Was she the one who picked you up last month? The one in the white shirt and long skirt?" Franco chimed in with a mischievous smile.
Gesly paused. "Yeah, why?"
"BRO. THAT'S YOUR SISTER?! SHE'S GORGEOUS, MAN. SIMPLE BUT COOL." The whole group burst out laughing.
Gesly was used to it. Ever since he and Bella started at the public high school, some classmates had been noticing Andi. But not because of glamor or luxury—it was the way she carried herself.
At the first PTA meeting, Andi wore a secondhand olive green long skirt, a plain white tucked-in shirt, and simple three-inch sandals—clearly not expensive, but clean and neat. She had a brown sling bag that Iñigo knew was from Shopee. Light blush, a dab of lip tint, and a ponytail with some loose strands. Effortless, but impactful.
The moment she walked into the classroom, all the dads and students turned their heads. And when she smiled, he even heard quiet whispers:
"Damn, that's his sister?"
"Bro, add her on FB."
"What's your sister's socials, bro?"
He didn't react. Because at home, she was the same.
When they got home, as he changed clothes, he heard Bella giggling in the kitchen while Andi cooked hotdogs and garlic rice.
"Someone asked Kuya Gesly if you're single," Bella teased, holding her Hello Kitty tumbler.
"Really?" Andi replied, clearly amused. "What did you say, Gesly?"
He stepped out of his room with a towel over his shoulder.
"Nothing. I said you're strict and ugly."
"You brat!" Andi laughed, hitting him with a spatula.
But joke or not, Andi had a real presence. Not loud. Not flashy. But full of class. Confidence. Strength.
That's why Gesly was proud.
At school, his classmates were curious. Not just because he had a motorbike or a new phone. But because of the little things: His uniform was always clean, even on rainy days. He always had lunch—not fancy, just a sandwich, juice, and SkyFlakes. He never bragged, but it was clear he wasn't struggling. And when asked what his sister did for a living, he simply answered:
"I don't really know. Just… something."
What he did know was she managed their budget, the house, and their future. She made the grocery list, the investment plans, Bella's tutoring schedule. She even fixed the Wi-Fi like a pro when it went down last week.
But outside the house?
She was just his sister. Quiet. Elegantly simple. And to Gesly, that was her real power.
She didn't need to wear luxury brands. She didn't have to show off.
Because even with just a plain long skirt… people still turned their heads.
One time, during PE, Franco came up to him and said, "Dude, my dad has a crush on your sister."
"Ew," Gesly replied. "That's bad for his cholesterol. Tell your mom."
They laughed.
But deep down, there was a quiet pride inside him. Because through everything they had been through, Andi was the reason his world still felt normal. Even though Mom and Dad were gone, she made them feel whole.
At dinner, whether they were eating pizza or just a bowl of soup, he'd glance at Andi while she ate her rice.
He never said it out loud, but... Ate Andi is his hero.