RDD 148
"Not bad. Always start with small things. Take a step one by one until you reach the finish line."
"Phew."
I sighed in relief. I thought my grandfather would be disappointed because my business was small compared to the future I left behind.
From the looks of it, Grandfather Bradley was satisfied. He didn't say anything bad, seeing the surroundings.
"The place is clean and the ambiance is good as well. Now I understand why people are lining up just to buy your burgers." He smirked and praised.
At that moment, I didn't know why but I blushed. My grandfather pampered me since I was the youngest grandson but he never praised me.
He only nodded and smiled, buying things that I wanted, sometimes carrying me around. I even used my grandfather to protect me against my parents when I did something wrong, hehe.
However, he never praised me. Perhaps he was waiting for the moment when I could prove myself.
I smiled, blushed, and shed tears. I really miss my grandfather.
"Thanks, Grandpa."
I muttered, holding back my tears.
"Hm, it's already good that you are healthy and living your life."
Grandfather tapped my shoulder, it was heavy but warm.
He laughed and decided to sit down. He looked at Waylen and the others.
"Thank you for taking care of my grandson."
"N- No problem, Chairman." Old Man Jim stuttered. He didn't expect that my grandfather would say these words.
"Now, would you mind letting me and my grandson talk? Torres, take them to the eatery next door."
"Yes, Sir."
Uncle Torres talked to the three and convinced them to go to the eatery... Erm, I'm not sure if a credit card is acceptable in the eatery but I guess Uncle Torres has cash.
Once they were gone, my grandfather signaled me to sit down.
"I'm interested in your burger, do you have one to feed your Grandpa?"
"About that. Grandpa, I'm sorry but all of our burgers are already sold out."
"Is that so?" Grandfather touched his chin and then looked at the fridge.
"Then how about a cold Coca-Cola? I haven't drunk one for ages."
"But Grandpa, it's bad for you to drink beverages that have too much sugar content. I remembered that Grandma always scolded you about that-- Ack! Grandpa, why did you hit my shin!"
I hissed when my grandfather used his cane to hit me. I rubbed my shin but I didn't feel the pain that much.
"You have no respect for your grandfather! I'm just asking for a drink and yet you don't want to give me one!"
"But Grandpa, I'm just worried about your health. You are not young anymore."
"Who said I'm not? I will beat him with my cane!"
"... No one."
I didn't want to get hit by the cane again.
"I'm strong as a buffalo! Remember that."
"Yes, Grandpa."
In this regard, I didn't have the guts to say no. I just nodded my head, agreeing with what he said.
"Anyway, this is our first time meeting each other after so many years. I want to hear what about you."
Seeing my grandfather's serious eyes, I didn't have a choice but to agree.
There was no reason to hide it anyway. So I started talking about my life.
How I decided to take responsibility for my action, eloped with Penelope. Hiding from my father who tried to convince Penelope to abort the child.
Based on my grandfather's reaction, it seemed that my father would receive a beating as well.
"Why didn't you talk to me?"
"Because I know that you will be disappointed in me. Besides, if I can't convince Dad, then there's no reason to talk to you."
"Indeed." Grandfather agreed.
The men in our family are stubborn and we will not back down without a fight. At that time, our stubbornness might destroy the family so I decided to run away and let things go.
"Continue your story."
"Okay, Grandpa."
After that, I told my grandfather about our lives. Penelope gave birth to our son, Roman Castillo.
"I want to see your son, take him to the mansion later."
"Okay."
Realizing that we had a son, Grandfather nodded and congratulated us.
Then, I told him about our wedding... Erm, it was actually a mass wedding. At that time, the municipality of Quezon City had a mass wedding and we decided to participate in the venue.
"Sigh, your wife didn't say about the wedding. You should be thankful for your wife's benevolence."
"Indeed."
Both of us sighed.
For women, their wedding day was the most important part of their lives. Yet my wife agreed to wed in a mass wedding where thousands of couples were present... In my opinion, it was not romantic at all.
I told grandfather about our livelihood as well. He nodded his head when realized that I had become a taxi driver and my route was in Metro Manila.
I talked about my vices too and grandfather almost hit me with a cane. Thankfully, he didn't hit me because I told him that I stopped drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes.
Our lives were not bad but it was not that good either. Our status might be at the level of a middle-class family.
More than three years after Roman was born, Penelope was pregnant again.
This time, I sensed the oddity in my grandfather's eyes.
"Grandpa, are you alright?"
"... Repeat what you said." He ordered solemnly.
"I have a daughter, her name is Sophia and she is going to be 2 years old this month..."
"Sigh."
Grandfather exhaled and massaged his forehead. Yet I could see that his lips were twitching.
"Take me to your house." He stood up.
"What? But Grandpa I still haven't counted the money in the cash register."
"Take the money to the house and count it there. That should be better." He said, looking at me with his cold glare.
"A- Alright."
I instinctively nodded.