A gallery of Charm's childhood residence back in Austalia, her current home at Lockwood Springs Village in Pasay, and the Dazzlers' classroom.

AVALON CHARM'S BACKSTORY

I. THE PLAN VS. THE DREAM.
Avron Girbaud Hawthorn & Charlotte Ysabelle Hawthorn, an Australian and a Filipino, respectively, own a chain of hotels that started in Australia, and branched out to the whole world. Hawthorn Suites International. With their success, it was only right (for them) for their only daughter, Avalon Charm to inherit the business and soon, control it.There’s one teeny tiny problem about it though . . . Avalon doesn’t want to. She has dreams of her own. Being a kindergarten teacher. She has always loved kids, and has always dreamt of teaching them, be kind of like a second mom to them.Despite her parents’ plans, they still allowed her to take the course she wanted to take for college, because in the ‘wise words’ of Avron, “It doesn’t matter which course you take. Your future is secured in the hands of our business anyway. Just make sure to do well, Avalon.” And even though her father said that with a smile on his face, Avalon was uneasy, because that meant no matter what degree she got, she’ll still be stuck and entangled with a job she didn’t want to have.Nevertheless, Avalon thought, “It’s future Avalon’s problem.” and just tried her best to enjoy her taken program, and her whole college life. She enrolled in the University of Sydney under the program Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. There, she was taught and equipped with skills to teach young children in psychological, sociological, and inclusive perspectives.At the age of 22, she graduated as a Magna cum laude. At that point, she thought everything was working out perfectly, she thought that with her graduating with flying colors, her parents might change their mind about forcing her to control the business. But boy… was she wrong.II. ESCAPING THE SHACKLES.
”Here’s our dear Avalon. Hawthorn Suites International’s future CEO, about five months from now. After her training!” the words came out from Charlotte made Avalon’s jaw drop during their supposed to be casual dinner with a family friend. At that moment, she realized that they were business partners her parents wanted her to meet as early as now.“She took a degree in Education. We said she could take whatever course she’d want because the future ahead of her is already planned anyway.” Avron said this with a rather infuriating laugh that all of the people on the table aside from Avalon laughed with him.With fists balled up, Avalon couldn’t take it anymore. So she stood up, all eyes now on her. “Right. The company’s future CEO. A future I’ve never asked for in the first place.” Faces with furrowed brows stare at her in confusion. Her parents’ eyes seemingly wanting to fire up in rage and embarrassment.“Excuse me while I try to escape the shackle of chains my parents have wrapped around me for years.” With that, she exits the restaurant and hails a cab to go home. There, she hurriedly packs all of her clothes and stuff in suitcases. She was definitely determined to leave that so-called “home”. God forbid it ever felt like home to her. It was more like a cage that trapped her.“Where do you think you’re going?” Her mother frantically exclaims upon catching up with her, eyes full of panic and wrath as she sees the being filled up suitcase.“Sa tingin mo kaya mo na? Ha? Sige! Lumayas ka. Tignan ko lang kung hindi ka babalik ng gumagapang dito sa pamamahay na to. Hindi mo kaya ng wala kami, Avalon Charm. At ano ang magiging trabaho mo? Teacher lang? Anong future ang makukuha mo diyan?! Sige. Umalis ka. Magsi-sisi ka rin.”“Yes, a teacher. I won’t only help children learn, I could also stand as a parent to children who had selfish, and controlling parents who never made them feel that their own dreams matter.” Through gritted teeth, Avalon responds while finishing packing up.“Ang kapal ng mukha mo!” for a moment, she sees her mother’s hand raise up, everything stood still as she waited for the impact of the slap, but it never came. “Let her be.” She hears her father say as he held her mother’s hand to stop her.She couldn’t read her father’s eyes. Surely it contained disappointment. But was that regret gleaming in his eyes as well? She wasn’t sure. “Where are you going?” he asks calmly.“Anywhere but here.” The lass answered and took her suitcase, before finally exiting the Hawthorn residence she has long wanted to escape from.III. AN ACTUAL HOME FULL OF COMFORT.
When she was still studying, Avalon applied for part-time jobs as a waitress, and a convenience store staff. The reason being, not wanting to depend on her parents' money and wealth. Which came in handy as with the money she saved from her salaries for four years, she proceeded to the airport and booked a flight. It’s honestly been in her head now, leaving their residence. She’s been planning it, where she would go, how she’d live, what she’d do. It was all already planned in her head.She booked a flight to the Philippines, to live with her grandmother, her mother’s mom, THE Rosaline Cordelia Vestreza. A beautiful and charming woman who was crowned as the Miss Universe on the year 1969. A legendary actress whom thousands look up to. And most importantly, the most loving and supportive grandmother.“Lala…” with tears already pooling her eyes, Avalon hurriedly embraces her grandmother as soon as she arrives at Tagaytay, in her gandmother's home. The older had a few houses, one in Makati, one in Taguig, mainly so she'd be closer to her work. But the one in Tagaytay is what she considers her home the most. She spends most of her time there especially that her house is located away from the busy city.“My dear butterfly…” Rosaline whispered, voice laced with sadness as she caresses her granddaughter’s hair, and patting her back.With just that moment, Avalon felt all the comfort and safety she’s been craving for in a home for years. “Lala’s here now. I’m here.”Avalon’s grandmother provided her a home to stay in as she started to study for the board exam. With this, the lass managed to juggle her time in studying while working a part-time job to be able to help her grandmother with the bills. Not that she really needed help as Rosaline was very much well-off due to her success in the industry.Nevertheless, Avalon still insisted. She applied as a barista for a café, where she learned how to make beverages as well as found her passion and talent in baking.IV. FRUIT OF HER LABOR.
Months of hard work truly paid off when Avalon passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers as a topnotcher. With a score of 89.00, the lass was ranked Top 4 for the board exam. Together with this, she received a cash incentive of P70,000 and a whole lot of job offers coming from different schools from different places.She truly wanted to give the money to her grandmother as gratitude but Rosaline declined, “My butterfly. That money is a fruit of your labor. You should get to keep it for yourself.”After which, Avalon opened up her plan on accepting a teaching job in Pasay to her Lala.Every year, Charm and her parents used to stay in the Philippines for Summer vacation. In one of those vacations, Avalon visited a certain school and observed there – and there, she learned that the place was lacking professors, especially that the salary wasn’t that high because the students study there for free.It was the Bright Wonders Learning Center, where she is being offered a job of a Kindergarten teacher. A lot of other schools approached her but the certain school just left an imprint on her heart.Thankfully, as the supportive grandmother that she is, her Lala cheered her on and even offered money to help her find a place. It was Avalon’s turn to decline as she planned on using her savings and the incentive she received to rent a condo unit in Pasay.V. FINALLY FREE AND LIVING THE DREAM.
Avalon pushed through with her plans and is now currently working at BWLC. She got to save up enough money to eventually move to a house in Pasay, located at Lockwood Springs Village.She still visits her Lala whenever she has time, and vice versa. They still very much communicate with one another and even go on trips sometimes. However, Avalon’s relationship with her parents, especially with her mother, still remains tarnished to this date, while her father leaves messages for her every now and then.But as of the moment, Avalon’s completely satisfied with her life. She lives in a peaceful neighborhood with her lovely Bernese Mountain Dog, Dazz. Her work environment is extremely healthy and she absolutely adores her profession and students. She’s surrounded by the loveliest and the most supportive friends, together with her Lala. She feels content, and most especially… free.As her Lala said to her once, “It’s nice to see the little butterfly who was all cooped up and trapped in her little cocoon now fly and able to spread her wings.”