ALEXANDER

Chapter 22

Cassidy POV

“Miss Lopez, how did you meet our son?”

“Oh- Uhm, we’ve actually met three years ago. I was eighteen that time. I was not really into a serious relationship at that moment. Then I left, and we lost contact. But we’ve met again. He was my client and it just surprised me to see him there, especially when he approached me like a Mandrillus sphinx. Though he’s more of a Macaca fuscata type. He’s-“

“What do you mean by Mandrill Sphinx? And what was the one you just said? Macaca--- what?” Athena asks. She’s confused.

“Oh! It’s Macaca fuscata.”

“What’s that?” Andrew also asks.

Now, I have their full attentions on me. Even Alexander has his attention on me with his brows slightly furrow. He might be mentally asking me of what the heck I am talking about.

“Yeah. That’s pretty an unfamiliar name. And what about Mandrill?” Athena adds.

Seriously? Billionaire people don’t know what Mandrill is? Or even a Macaca fuscata?"

Well if you just tell them what are those in a simpler word, they would not have to ask.

Clearing my throat before I speak. But of course I put my spoon and fork on my plate first.

“Um, when I met him, I thought of him as Mandrill Sphinx or Mandrill in short term. He was so scary the way he approached me, just like a Mandrill’s face. Since I haven’t met him in a long time, my thought about him had changed too. But then, as I got to know more about him recently, he was likely more of a Macaca fuscata. He loves to feel warmth, and he’s so clingy. He always wanted to be pampered. He's a big man but has a soft heart...”

It has been fifteen minutes passed, and I was mostly the one talking. His parents were so attentive to what I told them. Actually, I didn’t expect them to hark. They commented how Alexander being soft when he was all but a headache during his childhood. No one can tame him when he has tantrums, but only his grandma. They also didn't believe me when I told him Alexander is a sweet guy. Their eyes had almost bulged out of their sockets. Well, his mom was the dramatic one. Her reactions almost wanted me to laugh but I knew it's rude. So yeah... just kept pinching myself, secretly just not to laugh.

Alexander’s face was so red. He’s been clearing his throat, too. But I didn’t mind him. I was busy telling his parents about our first and second encounter.

I wanted to laugh seeing their reactions, but I continued talking after taking a deep sigh just to compose myself.

“....and, uhm, the bottom line is Mandrills and Macaca Fuscata are both classified as monkeys. So, Alexander was like them when I-“

I pause when I see their reactions. Athena, Andrew and Alexander have the same face’s reactions. Their jaws drop. Yeah, they're a family of A's!

“Did you say, monkey?!” says Andrew in shock. I can see he’s suppressing his laugh, too.

“Uh, yeah.” Hesitantly, I answer. “Closer to a baboon, you know? Gosh! I may have confused you, but it’s just the same. Anyway, that’s pretty much it.”

“Baby? Did you just compare me to some types of monkeys??” Alexander has disbelief reaction all over his face.

“Look. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you and whatnot, but I was just trying to be honest. Sorry for being--“

“Hahaha!” The bubble of laughs from Alexander’s parents has stopped me from explaining. We instantly looked at them.

Did they really find it funny?

Even Charles Darwin had this theory that we have similarities to Ape. So what's funny?

“You just compared our son to monkeys? Hahaha! I need to check what those species look like.” says Andrew.

“Me, too.” says Athena.

Haven’t they seen a monkey in their whole lives?

Monkeys are just the same. Just the colors and slight changes of their faces differ, but they’re still the same.

Then they grab their phones. They search for the names I give them.

So the supposedly nerve-wracking dinner that I had thought to happen become a laughing session. Of course, the main dessert is Alexander. His parents are comparing the pictures on their phones to Alexander’s face. Then they burst out laughing after, right in front of Alexander.

His parents can’t get over with the look of a Mandrill Sphinx. Same with the Macaca Fuscata even when we’re done with the dinner.

It’s my first time to see Alexander having a red face, too. Vividly red!

“You really have to compare me to those monkeys?!” He secretly talked to me while letting his parents laugh their asses on the couch. I honestly didn’t see that coming. Far from what I had thought about their reactions.

“Haha! You said just be myself, right?”

“Yeah. But, baby, you don’t have to tell them I look like a monkey!” He’s embarrassed, and I felt bad about it.

“I’m sorry. That’s how I thought about you before.”

“What?!”

OMG! He’s cute when he frowns.

“But you’re the most handsome man I have even seen, Alexander.” I whisper back. Hoping I made sense with my words.

“Handsome? You just compared me to a monkey! Is that how you reference a handsome man?"

“Sorry.” Grinning at him.

“Hahaha! You’re something, Ms. Lopez.” says his dad. Then me and Alexander look at them.

I smile.

“I think making my parents laugh like that means a good thing, princess.”

“You think so?”

“Yep.”

**********************

“Hi, gramps.” says Alexander. Then his grandfather motions us to sit on the couch near his bed.

We’re inside his grandfather’s room already. We excused ourselves from his parents’s presence to meet and greet his grandfather.

Alexander is holding my hand while we are facing his grandpa, Augustus.

Alexander is right. His grandpa has a daunting aura. Even he’s sick, the way he stares is making me tense.

“Gramps, I want you to meet my girl, Cassidy Lopez. Baby, my grandpa.”

“Good evening, sir.”

“Uh-hmm...” he just nods at me with his poker face.

“Miss Lopez, how much did my grandson pay you to pretend as his girlfriend in front of me?”

What? Oh my god! Did he know?

Suddenly, Alexander secretly squeezes my hand. Maybe to remind me about his grandpa's attitude.

“Gramps! What are you saying?” Alexander butts-in.

“Don’t you think I didn’t know, Alexander? I know you’re just using her to put an act in front of me!” Augustus says, then looks at me, “Such a disgraceful woman!”

I didn’t expect that. Of course that hurts me. I secretly bite the flesh of my lip, inside my mouth to pretend I am not affected.

“She is my girlfriend, gramps. I don’t know where you got that idea or who fed that idea to you, but I would not waste my time coming over here just to introduce you to a woman I don’t love. And this will be the last time I am hearing you insulting her or saying negative about her in front of me, gramps.” Alexander's jaw tensed and his hold on my hand tightened.

Wait, did he say he loves me?

That’s just part of the act, so get in on it, Cassidy.

But Augustus didn’t change his expression.

“Because of that woman, you disrespected me?!”

Oh, god! I don’t feel good about this. He’s mad!

Then his heart rate monitor that’s connected to him beeps faster. The private nurse immediately comes back inside the room.

“Gramps!” Alexander also moves closer to him.

However, August didn’t want us to be in the room. I know Alexander is worried, but he’s forced himself to go out with me.

“Will he be alright?” Worriedly, I ask him as soon as we step outside Augustus’ room.

Alexander’s jaw clenches again. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

He holds my hand, and about to walk but I stop him.

“I’m sorry, Alexander. I failed you. I should have done my part. But I was glued to my seat and didn’t know what to do when he started yelling at you. I was afraid about his health and If I butted in, I would only make it worse."

“You’re my girlfriend, Cassidy. In front of them we're not pretending. Did you forget that? I told you to be yourself, but I never told you to forget about our relationship."

A relationship that is all but fake. I thought. But why do I feel a pang of sadness?

“Let’s go.”

“But--- “ I really don’t want to leave like this knowing I failed him. His grandpa hates me but I promised Alexander to help him. I have to do something.

“Don’t worry about it. He will loosen up. Let’s just give him time.”

After leaving his parents’ house, we didn't go home yet.

“What are we doing here? Wait, what place is this?”

Then the light scattered around the area and the beautiful scenery of flowers appears in front of us. It’s like I am in a magical flower show. All so magnificent!

“Wow! This is so beautiful!”

I can’t believe I am witnessing this right now. This place is so breathtaking.

Alexander is just smiling at me when I glance at him.

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah. I do!” I squeal and my childish side has come out. He laughs at me while watching me walking towards the flowers. I stop at the aisle where Begonia flowers and Azalea flowers are glowing.

Sensing Alexander behind me, I quickly spin around.

“These are beautiful.” I told him while can’t get my eyes off the flowers.

“Yeah. My gardeners maintain this place. I only come here once in a while...”

“You own this, too?!” I should have known.

“Yes. Half of this place is open to the public. Then half is for private purpose. I have some known people rented this place for their private endeavors.”

“Wow!”

“Come, I’ll show you something.”

I take his hand as he leads me to somewhere. Until we stop at the fountain where it was surrounded by flowers in a heart shape. I’m standing in awe. Wow! Just wow!

There’s another topiary garden just near the fountain, too.

“This is where I always stay for hours once I come here.” He says and leads me to the wooden lawn chair.

“I didn’t know you love flowers.” I say as I sit on the chair.

He laughs. “My grandma loves flowers. She always brought me and my brother here when we were kids. She died holding my hand as we sat staring at her favorite flowers. I was the last person she was with when she had her last breath.”

“I’m sorry.” I feel sad for him.

“That was a long time a go, princess. But I had promised to keep this place alive for my grandma’s legacy.”

“You’re a good man, Alexander. Your grandma is surely proud of you right now if she’s watching you.”

“Thank you.”

"You're welcome." Smiling at him as we stare at each other. But I am the one who tears my gaze away and decides to stare at the beautiful fountain.

This is surely the place I will go if I need some peace of mind.