The luxury car stopped in front of the villa in Dasmariñas Village, Makati. Enzo opened the door and entered, trying to walk quietly to surprise them. From the empty living room, he heard giggling, cheering, and soft singing coming from upstairs. Strangely, it was the voice of his yaya—Yaya Lani—a gentle, quiet woman in her thirties from the provinces, whom Enzo had hardly paid any attention to before.
He walked slowly up the stairs, his heart pounding. The door to Nico’s room was only slightly ajar. Through the crack, Enzo saw a scene that stunned him: Yaya Lani sat on the floor, supporting the boy’s skinny body with both hands, patiently helping Nico stand up, little by little. Nico was sweating profusely, but his face shone with determination and joy. The boy’s legs were shaking, limping with each step; Lani kept encouraging him:
“Kaya mo ’yan, Nico! Come on, son, just one more step!”
Enzo was stunned. For several years after the accident that left Nico unable to walk normally, he had hired many expensive doctors and therapists, but the results were not much. Yet today, before his eyes, the simple yaya was helping her son stand and move a few steps. The father’s heart was filled with both extreme joy and a hint of shame—because he had never shown such persistent patience to his son.
After a few minutes of standing still, Enzo pushed the door open and entered. Yaya Lani was startled, her face red, and she was about to let go of Nico. Enzo quickly stopped her:
“Don’t! Keep going… I just want to watch you practice.”
Nico saw his father and shouted, his face brightening:
“Dad! I can walk! Yaya Lani is teaching me!”
The words made Enzo feel like his chest was being squeezed. He knelt down beside him, wrapped his arms around his son, and his eyes were stinging. The boy smiled happily; Yaya Lani was embarrassed:
“Yes… I just want to help him move a little. Seeing him always wanting to walk by himself, I thought that practicing a little every day, maybe there would be progress…”
Hearing that, Enzo suddenly remembered the nights Nico asked, “When will you be able to run and play with your friends like before?” He usually kept quiet or promised to take him to see a “better” doctor. But he never sat down and helped him step by step like Lani.
In the following weeks, Enzo stayed home more to observe. He realized that every afternoon after dinner, Lani spent nearly an hour practicing with Nico: from moving her arms and legs, sitting down—standing up, to taking small steps. No sophisticated medical equipment, no fancy treatment room—just an old carpet, a monobloc plastic chair to lean on, and Lani’s infinite patience. There were times when Nico was so tired that he cried and fell down, but Lani did not scold him; she gently patted him, wiped his sweat, and then encouraged him in a rustic accent.
Enzo stood outside the door, his heart gradually softening. Why did an outsider like Lani give his child so much love and hope? Then he learned more: Lani’s hometown was in Leyte, and she had a nephew who had been paralyzed after polio. The family was poor, with no money for a hospital, so the whole family practiced with the child for several years. Although he did not fully recover, the child eventually walked and took care of himself. The story was so ingrained in Lani that she believed that love + perseverance = miracles.
That truth shocked Enzo. All his life, he had been used to using money to solve problems. But it turned out that there were things money couldn’t buy—patience, love, and faith.
Since discovering this “secret,” Enzo has changed. He rearranged his work, cut down on parties, and cut out unnecessary meetings. Every night when he got home, he practiced with Lani and Nico. At first, Enzo was clumsy and awkward when supporting his child, but looking at Nico’s bright eyes, he persevered more than ever.
Nico’s shaky steps became steadier. Sometimes he could even stand for a few seconds without holding on. Every time, Enzo felt his heart flutter as if he had just signed a billion-dollar contract—but this joy was much deeper and more meaningful.
Yaya Lani was still as simple as before, not asking for anything. But in Enzo’s eyes, she was no longer simply a “doer.” She was like a teacher, someone who guided the whole family through challenges. One night, during dinner, Enzo raised his glass and looked at Lani sincerely:
“Thank you. Not only for helping Nico… but also for helping me. I realized that I had missed out on many important things.”
Lani smiled shyly:
“Don’t say that. I’m just doing what a normal person can do. True happiness is built by your family together.”
From then on, the large villa suddenly became warmer. It was no longer a quiet place with cold lights, but a warm home filled with children’s laughter and simple love. Enzo learned a valuable lesson: money brings comfort, but only love and patience can make people happy.
One morning, when the early morning sunlight poured through the window, Nico trembled and took a few more steps than before, then fell into his father’s arms. He looked up, smiling brightly:
“Dad, I can walk, really!”
Enzo hugged his son, tears rolling down his face. At that moment, he knew that all the success, all the wealth could not compare to this happiness.
