Jason paced anxiously back and forth in front of the large apartment window. He had been calling Val's number for a while, but no response. He was starting to worry—where could Val be wandering off to in that condition?
"Hey, Val," was he upset because of his harsh words? Yeah, he really had gone too far. He remembered how shocked Val was. He tried calling again, but it useless; the kid wouldn't pick up his phone.
"Heh."
Jason called his grandfather's number. That old man owed him an explanation.
"Hello, Grandpa, is there something you want to tell me?" asked Jason.
Far out in the city of Argent, in the mountain area of Luwy, where the extended Garber family lived, Ian had just finished dinner and was relaxing in front of the TV when Jason called. Ian was still busy with reports on the large tablet on his lap.
"This kid," he put the phone aside and looked at who was calling—it was indeed that insolent grandson.
"What are you talking about? Out of a sudden?"
Jason stood in front of the window, still looking down at the apartment driveway; he hadn't seen Val go by.
"Your favorite secretary said you want to put Valiant's name on the family card. Is that true?"
Casually, Ian nodded.
"Yes, that's true. Why?"
"Still dare to ask why? Don't you give me any heads up? I need to know about this. What if I don't agree?" ask Jason with loud voice.
Ian getting irritated on Jason's voice.
"Why would you disagree? And what does it matter if I have to tell you or not? This is a personal matter, not work." said Ian.
"Still, Grandpa, Valiant is my staff. I clearly need to know what you're doing with him. This isn't normal, Grandpa. Do you think I wouldn't ask? What made you suddenly do this? Is Val your illegitimate child or what?"
Ian widened his eyes hearing Jason's words.
"Rude kid. Do you realize what you have just said? How could you think like that about your own grandfather?"
Jason stammered, knowing he had gone too far.
"Well, if not that, then what's the reason? It can't be because you like him, right? You're so old, and Val is only twenty.."
"This brat, call again once your head cooled down!"
Without further ado, Ian hung up, annoyed as he looked at his phone screen, that disrespectful grandchild. The old man placed the phone on the table beside him and continued his work, still muttering.
"How could he think like that, do I look like a sugar daddy?" Ian looked at himself, then grabbed his phone to turn on the selfie camera to see his face, feeling his jaw, checking if there was anything left of his wrinkled face to be a sugar daddy?
"All wrinkled like this, is still fit to be a sugar daddy? That rotten brat."
Jason pursed his lips, getting no response from his grandfather. What if Val turned out to be his stepbrother? Blood-related to him? That must not happen. He threw his hand down, almost slamming his phone when a message came in. Without thinking twice, Jason grabbed his jacket and rushed to the door to leave.
...
The faint voice from the pharmacy's loudspeaker could be heard.
Rio smiled. He pulled the blanket up to Val's chest as he slept on the sofa in his office. He turned when he heard footsteps from the door. He saw Jason holding the doorknob with wide eyes, seemingly having run quite far and was panting. Jason approached quickly.
"Val."
Rio raised his index finger.
"Lower your voice, he just fell asleep." Whispered Rio.
Jason pushed back his hair which had fallen messily from rushing earlier, lowered his chest which had been tense thinking about what happened to Val. Rio looked at the man from head to toe, observing his clothes which looked messy after not being changed all day; it was well past office hours.
"Did you work overtime?"
Jason approached, shaking his head.
"No, I was looking for Val everywhere, is he alright?" he asked.
Rio pursed his lips, standing up from his seat.
"Yeah, he's just a little tired from walking here and there like a lost kitten, what did you do to him?" Rio questioned.
Jason was about to approach the sleeping Val, but Rio's hand stopped him, looking at him for a long moment.
"Let him sleep, I just gave him a sedative, let's talk outside."
Jason pulled his hand away from Rio.
"I'm taking him home."
But Rio held Jason's hand, they stared at each other for quite a while. You know how stubborn both are.
Eventually, Jason followed Rio out of the room and sat in a chair in front of his office.
"That old man, just registered Val's name on my family card. I was just asked what made him agree to it without telling me. I just asked that, no more," Jason replied to Rio's question.
Rio pursed his lips.
"Are you sure you asked in the right way?"
Jason looked at the doctor for a long time, as if blaming him.
"What's the right way to ask, I just.." he stopped, realizing maybe his tone or the grip of his hand had startled Val because of his gaze earlier. What had he done?
"Damn it." he curse.
"Do you know what happened to that kid? He thinks that you dislike him, someone who's nobody, suddenly coming to mess up your relationship with your grandfather; he thinks you hate him deeply. This matter, you should have asked gently. Val's current condition isn't just his physical health, but his mental state is very fragile; whatever he thinks can affect his body's health. You have to know that." said Rio.
Jason clenched his fists.
"But what made that old man put Val in the family card? Does this mean Val, is one of his lost grandkids?" said Jason, wondering in deep thought.
Rio thought for a moment, furrowing his brow, then nodded.
"Um, that could be, considering your grandfather was handsome when he was young, he had many admirers." said Rio.
Jason looked at Rio sharply.
"Oh, does this mean you and Val are related by blood?" said Rio again, excited.
Jason pursed his lips at Rio goofy face.
"You know I already tested my blood to see if I'm a suitable donor for him, our blood types don't match, Rio."
Rio nodded.
"Well, it's possible for family members to have different blood types."
Rio thought for a while, then smiled.
"Heh, that means I have a chance to get close to Val."
His words made Jason turn to look at him sharply.
"What did you say?"