Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 16. Grandfather's Complains

“Dad,” Christian called the old man who is sitting on the balcony alone, wearing his pajamas and cozy slippers. The room is spacious, with a king-size bed covered with a brown and white mattress placed in the center and a sofa set arranged on the other side. The glass door of the balcony was opened where Christian had a glimpse of his father, while the white curtains were swinging as the wind blew on it.

“Son! I thought you already left the city.” Mr. Teofilo Alonzo was surprised, and a wide grin crept across his face.

“Good evening, dad.” Aya also greeted her father-in-law.

“Aya, it’s been so long and you still look beautiful dear.” the old man complimented her.

"Thank you, dad." She shyly responded, pushing her hair into the back of her ear.

“We’re with Crystal, and she wants to see you,” Christian announced.

“I knew it! My little girl really can’t resist not seeing me, unlike her father.” Mr. Teofilo teases his son.

“But dad, I just want to ask a favor not to mention the marriage to her, please,” Christian begged his father as he walked and stood in front of him.

“Why not, Christian? Everything was settled and agreed a long time ago.”

“What about you, Aya? Do you have anything to say about it?” he turned to Aya.

“Uh, dad, I think Christian is right. Besides, our daughter is not ready for this kind of commitment yet.” Aya responded while looking down at her twisting fingers.

“Dad, all I ask is for you not to speak about it to our daughter. She’s outside that door, waiting, but if you can’t swear to me, then I can’t let her see you.” Christian firmly said.

“Oh God, my dear son. Why are you doing this to your daughter? When you told me you bought an island, all I thought is it is all for fun. I never imagine you'd be going to stay there and raise my grandchild. Look how innocent she is in the world. You didn’t even bring her to school. You’re unbelievable, what’s happening to you?” Teofilo was getting annoyed by his son’s decision and now that he has a request, he can’t agree with it.

“Crystal doesn’t have to go to school. She knows how to read and write and that is all she needed,” Christian insisted.

“And you agree with it, Aya?” he just sighed when Aya is not uttering anything, not even meeting his eyes.

“You guys all I have now after your sister died and this is the only way I see to help my granddaughter to push through with the company since you didn’t bring her to school and since you refuse to handle it. You know that you are my only heir left, that I could trust. I’m old and soon, one of these days I’ll be leaving this world, but then you can’t even give me a chance and agree to what I wanted.” The man huffed and stood up from the couch. 

"You can't keep Austin in his temporary position. You know I don't trust that man, if only not for Rachel I will never accept him again in this family!" He furiously said as he walked past Aya who was standing against the door frame, straight to the door of his room. Christian only bent his head down, feeling irresponsible. But on the other side of his mind was keep on telling him that his decisions are absolute, for the sake of his family.

"Grandpa!" Crystal excitedly greeted her grandfather and almost jumped just to give him a warm embrace.

"Oh God, my baby girl. You've gotten so big, sweetheart." The old man remarked, who he caged in his arms tightly.

"Why didn't you visit me on your birthday, huh?" He inquired while Crystal glanced at her parents at the back. Her father slightly shook his head negatively, telling her not to say that she got stuck in a net underwater.

"Uh, it was dad's yacht. Yeah, it didn't work that day and he needs to repair it so we can sail." Crystal reasoned.

"I see." the old man nodded her head in response while pulling Crystal towards his bed, gesturing her to sit on the soft mattress.

"How are you? Aren't you bored on the island?" The old man started holding her hands.

"Well, I'm already used to it." Crystal stated, shrugging her shoulders. 

"If only your father agreed to visit me there, you will never get lonely, my dear. I'll bring my team and build you a house as big as this and gadgets." The old man added with so much excitement, while Crystal was just listening to him with a weak and forced smile.

"Dad." Christian, who is now sitting on the couch with Aya, cautioned his father. 

"What? I'm not saying anything wrong, I just want my girl to be filled with everything I can provide her, unlike you." Mr. Teofilo bluntly retorted.

"By the way, dear. Do you still remember the boy you used to play with before? You always-"

"Dad." Again, Christian interrupted their conversation.

"What about the boy, grandpa?" Crystal asked curiously.

"That was nothing, sweetheart. Your grandfather only reminisces about the old days." Christian averted the discussion.

"You're unbelievably ridiculous, Christian. Really.," Mr. Teofilo said with irritation.

"By the way, dad. Have you told grandpa about what happened during the typhoon?" Crystal starts another conversation which Christian wasn't fond of.

"No, sweetie. Your grandfather doesn't need to know everything about what is happening to us on the island." Christian responds, while Aya doesn't feel comfortable about their conversation and keeps on squeezing Christian's hand.

"Why? What happened to the island?" The old man confusingly inquired, looking at her granddaughter.

"Nothing." Christian quickly answers before Crystal does and shoots her with a warning look.

Her grandfather noticed how she frowned when her father kept on interrupting their conversation, and so he called through the intercom and ordered delicious food for them. He also asked Jack to bring the presents for Crystal. And since her father doesn't want her to use gadgets, the old man prepared new beautiful dresses for his granddaughter and shoes. He also bought some for Aya.

“This is so beautiful, I feel like I’m a princess.” Crystal remarked, turning around in front of the wide mirror. She is wearing the sparkling tea-length red gown that her grandfather bought for her, which she is supposed to wear on her eighteenth birthday.

“Because you truly are a princess, my dear. And this is your kingdom.” Mr. Teofilo delightedly agreed, spreading his arms wide.

“This is all yours, sweetheart,” he added, walking closer to his princess while extending his hands. He asked for a dance to Crystal, even though there is no music playing, but then, the latter didn’t hesitate to receive his hand as they sway gracefully with a smile on their faces like they have a song played on their minds.

Christian and Aya were amused at how the two are very attached to each other, even though they rarely saw each other because of Crystal’s condition that they protected carefully. 

They kept on dancing until the food arrived. Jack gestures to the servants to place the feast on the balcony just like Mr. Teofilo wants, to give his special guests a beautiful ambiance while eating under the stars.

Crystal indulges in wearing down every food like she hasn't eaten for months. While it thrilled her grandfather watching her while enjoying everything he offers. Unlike his other stubborn granddaughter who got the attitude from her father, which is ambitious and will bet everything just to get what they wanted.

"I wish you could stay with me like this till my last days." Mr. Teofilo unexpectedly spoke.

"Dad! What are you mumbling about!? Don't say such a thing!" Christian quickly halted his father's dramatic words.

"Oh, come on! We can't deny the fact that I'm already old and soon, your mother and sister will welcome me to where they are now. Besides, I'm all alone here, it feels so gloomy, you know. If only you guys live with me here, I would surely wish to lengthen my life, but you chose to be away." Crystal couldn't stand her grandfather's awful words and walked closer to him, giving him a warm hug.

"I love you, grandpa. And don't say that ever again. I promise to stay with you once we already find the cure to my sickness." She whispers, but the old man only sighed.

"That sickness of yours which I really don't understand, you even look healthier than me." 

“And what is this cure that you are talking about? You very well know that we can have the best doctors in the world, why are you staying away and choosing to live on an island?” Mr. Teofilo added, looking at his son that is sitting across from him.

“Dad please, we have talked about this already. I am so tired of explaining everything all over again.” Christian complained.

“Yeah right! That Crystal is different and everything. Whatever it is, I just don’t understand why do you have to keep secrets from me, I am your father, we are family here.” The old man huff, feeling irritated by his son continues rebuffing.

The family stayed at the mansion as they continue arguing, but at the same time cherishing the moments together. Until it’s time for them to leave, so the old man could take a rest already as they also needed to go back before Crystal could turn again.