Ten

Ten
– Daniel King’s POV –
I saw my grandpa warming up in front of the main door, the moment I step out of my bedroom. He used to have a jogging routine every weekends, early in the morning. I wanted to talk about something important to him so coming up with an idea of tagging along with him would be the best way.
“Going on a jogging, grandpa?” I asked as I was approaching him.
He breath out, “As usual, son.” He paused as he raised his brows, “You know, getting older means getting more exercise.”
I gave him my warm smile, “Can I tag along? I also feel like going on a jogging.”
He narrowed his eyes at me like he was examining my smiling face, “Okay.” He shrugs, “I hope you can keep up.”
I wear my usual smile and grandpa opens the door. We both step outside as the cold breeze of March hits our skin. I wear a hoodie to cover my head and ears while grandpa wears a singlet and a face towel around his neck.
We started to walk for a few miles but I didn’t sweat too much. Just a few droplets from my forehead. Later, we started to ran for another mile. Grandpa exhaled and switched to walking. He opened the mouth of the tumbler that he was holding on his right and drink water from it. I also switch to walking and wipe the sweat on my forehead using the face towel that I had on my shoulder.
Not long, I saw a beautiful rays of the sun through the thick clouds. I am so amaze to the point that my eyes are stunned as I continue to walk. The clouds were starting to adopt the beautiful yellow rays of the sun as it hits to the ground.
“Beautiful like Auroras.” I was amazed at how beautiful it looked.
Grandpa turned his head at me for a second and looked to the sky where I was stunned, “That’s one of the treasures I want to see every time I go out for a jogging.”
My foot was walking but I can’t get my eyes off of the beautiful view that caught me.
“Hey, son.” I heard grandpa’s voice vaguely calling me.
My eyes suddenly widen as my foot stop and my head swivel to find my grandpa, who was no longer at my side. My sight caught him waving his hand at me. He was standing beside a stall and he gestured me to come to him, when my gaze landed on him.
Without having second thought, I politely walked to him. As I arrived, a lady from the stall walked to him and handed him a plate of vegetable salad and a plate of beef steak.
“Beef steak for you and salad for me.” Grandpa laughed as he handed me the plate with beef steak.
I stared at it for a second and took it from his hand, “We’re eating breakfast already?”
“To be honest, I wanted to go for another mile.” He paused as he glanced at his salad, “But my instinct tells me that there’s something you wanted to talk about.” He peered at my eyes as he pressed his lips.
I blinked and for a minute as I was stunned. I didn’t see that coming.
I forced a nervous chuckle as I looked at my plate and I heard grandpa laugh softly. I held my head up with a grin and I see him raised his eyebrows.
“Let’s talk about it over breakfast.” He said with a playful smile as he turned his back at me.
He went to a white round plastic table in front of the stall, with two white plastic chairs. He sat first at the left while I followed him with a smile and sat at the right.
He started to dig in while I was poking my fork on the plate while staring at the beef steak. It caught his attention and I could feel his eyes at me.
“You won’t be full if you keep on poking your fork.” His voice sounded like his mouth was full.
I smirk without looking back at him and take a slice of the beef. My mind was filled with random thoughts that I don’t know how to get them together. I was drown of thinking about it while my mouth is slowly chewing the small food in my mouth. How would I start it?
“Is it about the girl that you’re dating?” He asked.
I suddenly froze on my sit. I moved my eyes to see his plate empty and he was leaning his back against the chair.
I looked back at my plate, “Well… it’s not really about her.”
I didn’t heard a word from him but I could feel his eyes peering at me, while raising his eyebrows.
I swallowed, “Where do you think Aunt Veronica might be now?”
“Why did you suddenly asked?” His voice became thick and serious.
“A-Actually…” I paused when I realized that I don’t have an excuse in my mind. I poked my fork again on the plate as I think, “Our project in Arts is family tree. And…” And my statement was left hanging. My heart is pounding so loud that its beat could distract me.
“I see.” He replied, “You want to know about her.”
I lifted my eyes to see his serious gesture. Our eyes meet and we exchange look for a few seconds. I can’t think of a way to drag this conversation.
“She was adopted when she was 5 in 1959. And after that, I never see her again.” He paused as he swallowed and looked down, “I can still remember it. It was winter breeze of December. We celebrated the first Christmas without her.” He paused as he sniffed. I could hear knots on his voice that made me lifted my head as he continued, “My world was shattered when we got separated but your great Grandma Valerie had to do it. We were homeless and we starved a lot of times.” He sniffed as he blinked, trying to prevent the tears from forming at the corner of his eyes, “That’s why she decided to gave up your Aunt Veronica. It’s for her to survive and have a better life.”
I could feel grandpa’s pain through his words. It feels like my heart was thorn after hearing what he had been through. My eyes were starting to get blurry and wet.
I tried to make a coherent sentence though my lips were lightly trembling, “W-Who adopted her?”
He lifted his head and meet my eyes, “Gallego Family.”
My eyes widen as my lips slowly parting. Hannah’s full name written in her science textbook suddenly entered my mind. Together with the photo that fell from it.
‘Hannah Mae G. De Vera’
My palm suddenly became cold as tears fell that I didn’t realize. Her middle initial, G. Does it mean…
“G-Gallego?” I mumbled.
I heard my grandpa sniffed but I can’t get to move my body.
“Don’t worry, son.” He paused when his voice broke in the middle. He swallowed to drain the knot and continued, “I’m sure your Aunt Veronica is happy now. Wherever she is, she has a good life now.”
I was forced to smile even my lips were twitching. I tucked my back palm under my chin as I blinked and sniffed. I tried to hold back my tears but it fell like a flowing water.
Even though I was mentally absent, I catch a glimpse of grandpa that stood and walked close to me. He reached for the towel that was on my shoulder and gently wipes my cheeks.
He sniffed, “Be glad for your aunt, son just as how she is glad for you.”
Oh grandpa. You just don’t have any slightest idea why I am so in pain right now. You probably don’t want to know. It will kill you.
“Fix yourself, son. We will go for another mile after I went to the man’s room.” He tried to make his voice cheerful. He breath out and put my towel on the table beside my unfinished dish.
Before he got my answer, he taps my shoulder and left. Well, even if he waits, I can’t make my mouth open. And if it opens, a sound won’t come out. I was still deeply in shock, though I wasn’t sure if that really is. However, my instinct gets stronger which make me even hurt. I bite my twitching lips as another tear escape from my eye. I quickly get a hold of myself and reach for my towel then wipe my entire face. Why am I feeling this? Curse it!
“You are Hannah’s classmate, right?”
For a minute, I froze on my sit. I heard the voice before so I recognize it a little. I slowly put down the towel and swallowed.
I glanced halfway to see her mother and grandma standing beside me. In that instant, I cease from breathing as my heart skips a beat.
“If I’m correct, you are… Ca-” Aunt Emilia paused as she thought of my last name.
“Ca-Carnillo.” I sounded tense as I gave them a quick look with unnatural smile.
“That’s right.” She agreed, “Daniel, are you alone?”
My heart is about to explode as I tried to coherent a lie, “I… Yeah… I went on a jogging by myself.”
“Good for you. Why don’t you join our company?” She offered as she glanced at Hannah’s grandma with her charming smile, “I’m sure you won’t mind it, right mom?”
I got to peek at Hannah’s grandma and she’s brightly smiling at me, but it sends shiver down to my nerves.
“I really don’t mind, dear. The more, the merrier.” Hannah’s grandma answered in a cheerful tone.
“I-I really appreciate that…” I paused as I cleared my throat, “But I’m good.” My lips were so shaky but still, I tried to answer in my natural tone. And the tone ended up being weird.
Hannah’s mother shrugged with her lips curved, “If you say so. We’ll go ahead of you.”
“Take care, son.” Hannah’s grandma said with a smile.
I just nod without looking at them, but I catch a glimpse of them waving at me before they turned their back at me and left.
I exhaled. My heart is so heavy as it beats fast like crazy. I’m even catching my breathe as I rub my cold palms together. I don’t know why I had this uncomfortable feeling that makes my entire body shiver.
“Let’s get going, son.” I heard my grandpa’s voice, just as right after they turned their backs.
I flinched on my sit as I looked at them. They are not that far away but maybe they are far enough away from us that grandpa cannot recognize them.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” I quickly stood as I get my towel and put it on my shoulder.
I stood at the direction where they were departing. Blocking grandpa’s view so he couldn’t catch a glimpse of them. I exhaled, though I can’t control my pounding heart as my palms get colder.
Grandpa nodded before he turned his back at me and jogged ahead of me at the opposite direction of they took. I looked back at them halfway and I could vaguely saw them because of the distance.
I started to jog to catch up with grandpa even though my mind is shuffling. I don’t know what to think right now and I don’t know if I had to believe it. It’s kind of impossible. But my instinct keeps on whispering in my mind to believe it. I really don’t want to. But what if, my instinct is right? How far will I take it to overcome from it? And what will happen to Hannah and I?
I can’t afford to lose her.