Aileen
Everyone’s attention turns to Dave the very minute after his statement.
Did he really have to react like that in front of his dad and my mom?
Oh god, I hope they don’t think too much about it.
Grandpa looked at him a bit surprised but surprisingly Mom showed little to no reaction. She was trying her best to hide her laugh.
“Why do you not want her to meet any man? This is her age, and she should search for a potential partner, shouldn’t she? Grandpa asked, looking at Dave a bit puzzled.
“Because she does no need to do that,” he insisted. “What good thing will happen if she starts to see guys right from this age? Nothing. And men are dangerous creatures. Who knows what kind of intention they might have while approaching her with a straight face? I can’t expose her to danger knowing the consequences she has to face later, right?” he asked, turning to Emilia.
Oh no, he’s spouting random stuff just to get his words through.
Mom nodded agreeing with his words while suppressing his laugh.
Grandpa wasn’t the least bit impressed by his words. Instead, he crosses his arms and remarks, “You…do realize that you are a guy yourself, right? And not everyone in the world is a saint. I know that better than you. There may be some guy in the world, who won’t have any bad bad intentions toward her. Then, why are you speaking bad about the entire male population?”
Dave was at a loss of words at this point.
“I…I mean…”
“No, no, speak up. What do you have to say about this matter?”
Dave glanced in my direction and I looked away the very minute.
You brought this upon yourself. Don’t look at me for help.
I can’t clean up after your mess all the time.
“I’m saying here, that how do we tell that he’s that guy who doesn’t have any bad intentions towards her? It’s not like he’s going to admit it in front of everyone, is he? We don’t have any means to differentiate the saint from the devil. That’s why I can’t risk her safety, no way.”
I appreciate your concern, but you are trying too hard. Someone please, stop him!
“Yeah, you have a valid point. But, she’s just going to meet them. There’s no harm in it. You overreact too much. Aileen, come with me!” Grandpa said, walking over to my side.
“No!” Dave stood in front of me, facing his dad with a serious look. “You aren’t taking her. We are here for the party. And after we are done with it, we’ll dine and leave just like how we came. That’ll be great.”
His dad’s brows furrowed in confusion.
“I don’t understand what is your problem in the first place. She’s an adult. It’s her wish whom she wants to meet regardless of gender. You can’t interfere with everything in her life just because she’s your daughter. It doesn’t justify anything.”
“You are saying it now, Dad?” he retorted. “But weren’t you the one who interfered with everything in my life?”
Why is Mom not saying anything? Someone, please stop this guy!
“Just because you can’t find anything to argue with, you can’t bring up the past,” Grandpa replied, eyeing him. “She probably goes to a co-ed college. She sees tons of boys daily. Then, why can’t she meet any guy here who are all successful in their fields?”
Dave had no response to it.
He clenched his fists and thought about it for a minute before answering, “But, I”
“Stop this. Don’t argue with him anymore,” I whispered low, tugging at his sleeves.
He glanced at me for a second and nodded.
“As a parent, I have all the rights to care about my child’s well-being So, you can’t force anything on”
“Oh, come on. I’m tired of listening to your blabbing. Just move out of the way, Aileen, come!” Grandpa pushed him aside with force and dragged me away with him by the shoulders.
“Dad, no! You can’t do this!” Dave yelled behind us, but Grandpa paid no attention to it.
As we were walking away, I peeked behind me to see Dave’s face.
He looked as if the world was coming to an end. Mom soothed him with her hand on his back.
But, he wasn’t going to listen to anyone.
Poor Dave. I wish I could do something about it. But, if I spoke in his favor, then it would look even more suspicious.
I had no choice but to go against his wishes. I’m sorry Dave. Please, don’t take it to heart.
“That father of yours is really a no-brainer,” Grandpa spoke in an amusing tone. “I can’t believe how he’s handling his business while staying a dimwit like this.”
“Well, he sometimes acts on impulse. Can’t blame him, can we?” I replied.
He chuckled. “That’s true. He’s quick to judge and is easily influenced by the outside world. And is easy to get angry as well. If he’s hurt by someone, he takes it to heart and holds the grudge for many years to pass.”
It took a minute for me to realize, that he was talking like he knew Dave closely. Even though, Dave says all the time that he’s been neglected by his dad since his mom’s death.
“If…. you know he holds grudges against everyone, then why don’t you try to clear things up between you so he won’t hold grudges in the first place?” I blurted out without thinking. Maybe I’m acting on impulse as well. His influence it is.
Grandpa looked at me hearing my statement. He had a stoic expression on his face while he was examining my face very closely.
Did I say anything wrong in the heat of the moment? But, it was the only thing that I wanted to say to him on our first meeting ever since I heard about him from the Principal and Dave.
He’s the bad dad that he never deserved. The one who abandoned his family like my dad did. A very bad person, that had been the only image of him in my mind.
But, that person is now standing in front of me and is talking about what his son is like.
If he knows his son that well, then how is he a bad dad?
Or is he just pretending to be one?
Even then, why? Why’s he doing this?
He laughed in mockery, looking away. “There’s nothing to clear up between us in the first place. Things are just like the way they are supposed to be between us, complicated and complex from outside and inside. Like in its natural form.”
What is he saying?
“No, this isn’t how it’s supposed to be!” I retorted. “You realize this yourself, don’t you? If only you wanted, you could solve everything. There would be no conflicts. And you two can”
“I think you are putting your nose into somewhere it doesn’t belong,” he cuts me off in a sour tone. “Whatever and however the relationship we have between us father and son, is solely our matter to deal with. I don’t remember telling you to solve anything here, did I?”
“But”
“I’ve been treating you nicely in front of my stupid son because I know if I say anything hurtful words towards you and your mom he won’t be able to take it and would get angry and would walk out of the party midway. And I don’t want that. But, you don’t seem to realize your place now, do you?”
Huh? Why’s he talking this way?
He turned around to look at me with a mocking smile.
And I could feel the hatred he had been hiding all these while behind the facade of a kind father.
“You are nothing but an outsider to me, including your mother as well. The only reason I’m tolerating you is because of my son, who thinks you deserve to attend such lavish parties like this. But, I think you don’t. Do you know why? Because you just don’t belong in here.”
His words were hitting me like a knife, scraping through my bare skin while making me bleed everywhere.
So, we are an outsider to him and don’t belong here? Why did you force us to come here, Dave?
“Your face says you understand my words very well,” he sneered, grabbing onto my shoulder tightly. “So, just pretend to be happy and don’t mind my words, or else he might suspect something. You are good at hiding your emotions right? Just do that.”
“You are the worst,” I stated, glaring at him.
He only smiled in response. “I know, you don’t have to tell me. That’s why I want you to meet some more worst guys so you’ll know that I’m not the only worst person out there that exists. Come.”
If there’s anyone worse than him, then I don’t want to have anything to do with them.
He dragged me to a crowd of gathering and I gladly obeyed cause I had no choice.
As soon as they saw him all of their eyes turned to me only.
They gave me weird stares, which creeped me out a little. But, I tried my best not to show it on my face.
“Who’s this young lady? Not your new girlfriend, I hope? She looks too young for your age.” One of them comments with a chuckle.
“Yeah, she’s not even 1 half of his age.”
“You all make me laugh. Why would she be my girlfriend? She’s even younger than my son!” Grandpa remarks.
“Younger than David? Then, who is she? Never saw her before.”
He looked at me with a smile while replying, “She’s the daughter of my son, Aileen, my granddaughter.”
Why call me your granddaughter when you hate me so much? You are so fake.
I hate people who lie the most!
But, I still believe there’s something beneath your exterior of a bad person. Something that you don’t want me to find out.