THE WEALTHY MAN WHO TRUSTED NO ONE
Don Enrico was known as one of the richest businessmen in the country. But despite his wealth, he was a miserable man. He trusted no one. He believed that everyone who came close to him did so only for his money.
The only person he trusted even a little was his driver, Mang Nestor, who had been serving him for 15 years.
One Saturday, Mang Nestor had to bring along his 8-year-old son, Buboy, because there was no one left at home to look after him. Nestor’s wife had already passed away, and his mother-in-law was in the hospital.
“Sir, I’m very sorry,” Nestor pleaded. “Buboy is well-behaved. He’ll just sit at the back and won’t make a sound.”
“Just make sure of that, Nestor,” Don Enrico replied irritably. “I don’t want any noise.”
They rode in a luxury van. Nestor sat in the driver’s seat, Buboy in the very back seat, and Don Enrico in the captain’s chair in the middle.
THE TEST
While they were on the road, Don Enrico came up with a plan. He wanted to test whether his driver’s family was truly decent.
“I think I’ll take a nap,” Don Enrico said loudly.
He closed his eyes and pretended to snore. But in truth, his mind was wide awake, and one eye was slightly open.
He deliberately placed his thick wallet on the edge of the seat, where it could easily fall and be seen by Buboy. His expensive gold watch also stuck out clearly on his wrist.
Let’s see, Don Enrico thought. If this kid sees the wallet, he’ll surely be tempted. They live a hard life after all.
Moments later, because of a bump in the road, Don Enrico’s wallet fell to the floor and rolled toward Buboy’s feet.
Don Enrico watched carefully.
He saw Buboy staring at the wallet—the wallet filled with blue bills (one-thousand-peso notes).
Slowly, Buboy moved.
Here it comes, Enrico thought. He’s going to steal.
Buboy picked up the wallet.
But instead of opening it, he shook it gently to remove the dust. Then he slowly approached Don Enrico and carefully returned the wallet to the old man’s coat pocket without waking him.
Enrico froze. He didn’t take even a single peso?
But it didn’t end there.
WHAT THE CHILD DID
It was noon, and the sun was blazing. The sunlight streamed through the window, shining directly onto Don Enrico’s face.
Through his half-open eyes, Enrico saw Buboy approach again.
The boy took his school notebook out of his backpack.
Buboy sat on the van floor beside Don Enrico’s seat.
He raised the notebook and used it to shield the old man’s face from the sun.
Enrico felt the heat leave his face. He saw the thin boy, his arm already trembling from strain, yet he did not lower the notebook—just so his “Boss” could sleep comfortably.
With his other hand, Buboy grabbed a handheld fan and gently fanned Don Enrico, because the air conditioner at the back of the van was broken.
Enrico heard the child whisper to himself:
“Sleep well, Grandpa Sir. You must be very tired. My dad is always tired too.”
Tears streamed down Don Enrico’s face.
For many years, his relatives had been fighting over his wealth. No one ever asked if he was tired. No one ever fanned him.
Yet this child—who had almost nothing in life—showed him genuine care, expecting nothing in return.
WAKING UP
Don Enrico could no longer hold it in. He pretended to “wake up.”
“Oh!” Buboy exclaimed in surprise as he quickly hid the notebook. “You’re awake already, Sir. I’m sorry if I was too close.”
Don Enrico took Buboy’s hand.
Mang Nestor panicked while driving. “Sir! I’m so sorry! Was my son being naughty? I’ll discipline him later! Please don’t fire us!”
“Pull over the car, Nestor!” Don Enrico ordered.
Nestor’s heart pounded. He pulled the van over.
“Get out!” Enrico shouted.
Nestor and Buboy stepped out, trembling with fear. They thought they were about to be abandoned on the roadside.
Don Enrico walked up to Buboy.
“Boy,” the Don said seriously. “My wallet fell earlier. I saw you pick it up.”
“Y-Yes, sir…” Buboy trembled. “I returned it right away. I didn’t take anything. I promise.”
“Why didn’t you take any? There was so much money there. You could’ve bought toys. You could’ve bought food.”
Buboy looked up and answered honestly:
“My father says it’s better to be hungry with dignity than full as a thief. And besides… you looked very, very tired. My father says money can be earned, but rest is hard to find.”
Don Enrico dropped to his knees and hugged the child. The once-arrogant billionaire sobbed on the shoulder of his driver’s son.
“Sir?” Nestor asked in shock.
“Nestor,” Enrico cried, “you are very rich. Richer than I am.”
“Sir? But I’m just a driver.”
“Because you raised your son with a heart of gold. That is the kind of wealth my money can never buy.”
THE REWARD
From that day on, Don Enrico’s life changed. The ice around his heart melted.
He faced Buboy and Nestor.
“Buboy,” Enrico said, “because you protected me from the heat of the sun and watched over my belongings…”
“Nestor, starting today, your salary is doubled. And you, Buboy—I will take care of your education. Elementary, high school, all the way to college. Wherever you want to study, I will pay.”
“Sir?! Is that true?!” Nestor dropped to his knees in joy.
“Yes. And when you graduate, Buboy,” Enrico added, “there will be a position waiting for you in my company. Not as a driver, but as a manager. Because I need someone I can trust for the rest of my life.”
From that day on, Buboy became like a true grandson to Don Enrico. They proved that integrity is what you do even when no one is watching—and sometimes, it becomes the key to the door of a beautiful future.
THE END
