Family Reactions

The bright glare of the television illuminated the modest living room of the Borja household. Matthew's mother, Teresa, sat on the worn-out sofa, her eyes fixed on the screen as she sipped her morning coffee. Beside her, Matthew's younger brother, Marco, absentmindedly scrolled through his phone. It was a typical Saturday morning—quiet and uneventful.

Until it wasn't.

The anchor on the national news program suddenly switched to a segment on the recently concluded National Engineering and Technology Expo (NETE). The screen displayed a montage of projects showcased at the event, and the anchor's enthusiastic voice filled the room.

"This year's NETE was a resounding success, highlighting the incredible ingenuity of Filipino engineers and innovators. But one project stood out among the rest—an electric vehicle prototype created by a group of university students that has taken the country by storm."

Teresa's hand froze mid-air, her coffee cup hovering inches from her lips. Her gaze sharpened as the screen transitioned to a shot of Matthew and his team standing proudly next to their sleek EV prototype, accepting the Best Overall Project award.

"That's…" Teresa's voice faltered, disbelief washing over her.

Marco looked up from his phone, his jaw dropping. "Wait, is that Kuya?"

The camera zoomed in on Matthew as he held the trophy, delivering a short but heartfelt speech. His voice was steady, confident—nothing like the unsure young man who had left home just months earlier after a heated argument with their father.

"Thank you to the judges, the organizers, and everyone who supported us. This project started as a dream, but with hard work and collaboration, we turned it into something real. We hope this is just the beginning—not just for us, but for the future of local innovation in the Philippines."

Teresa clutched Marco's arm, her eyes wide. "That is Matthew! He's—he's on TV!"

"Impossible! How—" Marco's voice trailed off, his disbelief evident. He blinked at the television, as if expecting Matthew's image to vanish, proving it was all some sort of mistake.

"Kuya?!" Marco exclaimed again, his tone laced with confusion and a hint of admiration. "He actually… did it? But he's not even… you know, the school-smart type!"

Teresa's lips quivered into a proud smile, ignoring Marco's disbelief. "Our Matthew. He's worked so hard, and look at him now. He's made something incredible."

Marco sat back, his phone forgotten on the couch. "All those nights he wasn't here… I thought he was just goofing off somewhere. Turns out, he was building a whole car?"

The segment continued, now showing clips of Matthew and his team explaining their EV prototype to judges and media representatives. The camera zoomed in on the sleek car, its polished exterior gleaming under the expo lights. As the anchor narrated the achievements of the team, the words "Filipino ingenuity" and "revolutionizing the local automotive industry" flashed on the screen.

As the segment played on, the front door of the Borja household creaked open, and Ramon stepped in, carrying a wrench and a rag in his calloused hands. He glanced at the television briefly, uninterested at first, until the sight of Matthew's face froze him in his tracks.

"What's this?" Ramon asked gruffly, his tone edged with suspicion.

Teresa turned to her husband, her voice soft but firm. "It's Matthew. He and his team won an award at the expo for their electric vehicle project."

Ramon's brow furrowed, and his expression darkened. He dropped the wrench onto the small table by the door with a loud clang. 

"That boy…" he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with anger.

Marco, noticing the shift in his father's demeanor, sat up cautiously. "Pa, Matthew did something. He–"

"I don't care what he did!" Ramon snapped, cutting Marco off. His eyes were glued to the screen, where Matthew's smiling face filled the frame. "After everything he put this family through? After walking out of this house like some hotshot, thinking he could prove me wrong?"

Teresa rose from the couch, her voice trembling but resolute. "Ramon, you told him to leave. You said he was wasting his time, that he'd never succeed. And now he's shown you—"

"Shown me what?" Ramon interrupted, his voice rising. "That he can parade himself on TV while forgetting where he came from? He turned his back on us!"

Teresa's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "He didn't turn his back on us, Ramon. He left because you made him feel like he had no choice. And now you're angry because he's proven you wrong?"

Ramon's face reddened, a vein in his temple pulsing. "This isn't about being proven wrong! It's about respect! That boy has no respect for his father, for this family. He thinks just because he built a car, he's better than us?"

"Respect?" Teresa said, her voice trembling but firm. "You want to talk about respect, Ramon? You told Matthew he was a failure. You told him to leave this house because you thought he'd never amount to anything. And now that he's proven himself, you still can't find it in your heart to be proud of him?"

Ramon slammed his hand on the table, making both Teresa and Marco flinch. "I don't care about his success! He abandoned this family! He left us behind like we meant nothing!"

"No, Pa," Teresa shot back, her voice rising for the first time. "You pushed him away. He left because you made him feel like he didn't belong here. And now you're blaming him for doing exactly what you told him to do—prove himself!"

Marco, who had been sitting silently, suddenly chimed in. "Ma, let's not pretend Matthew is some kind of saint. He didn't care about this family either. He left without looking back. No calls, no updates. Nothing. I agree with Pa—he's just parading his success now like he's too good for us."

Teresa turned to Marco, her expression a mix of disbelief and hurt. "Marco, he's your brother. Do you really hate him so much that you can't see what he's accomplished? He's worked harder than anyone I've ever known. He's made something of himself. Why can't you be happy for him?"

"Because he doesn't care about us, Ma!" Marco shot back, his voice filled with frustration. "If he did, he would've come home. He would've told us what he was doing instead of just showing up on TV like this."

Teresa's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "You don't understand. Matthew didn't come back because he thought none of you cared. And honestly, I don't blame him. The way you talk about him, the way you treat him—it's no wonder he stayed away."

Ramon crossed his arms, his face a mask of stubborn anger. "So now I'm the villain? I was trying to teach him responsibility, to show him that life isn't about chasing dreams that lead nowhere."

"And you were wrong, Ramon," Teresa said. "You were wrong, and you can't admit it. But I won't stand here and let you or Marco tear him down. I'm the only one in this house who ever believed in Matthew, and I will not let you take this moment away from him."

Marco looked away, his expression conflicted but silent. Ramon's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Teresa took a deep breath, her hands trembling at her sides. "If you can't find it in your heart to support your son, then I'll leave. I'm done defending Matthew alone. If you two are so determined to hate him, you can do it without me."

Ramon's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise with a scowl. "Where would you even go, Teresa?"

She straightened her shoulders, her resolve clear. "Anywhere but here. Somewhere I don't have to listen to my family berate my son for daring to succeed."