4 UNTOLD EMOTIONS
Senior Chen smiled kindly and looked at her from head to toe with gentle eyes. Although he had no malicious intentions, Ally still felt uncomfortable being scrutinized.
"The same blood flows through our bodies and I'll be there for you from here on out, so call me Grandpa," he said with a laugh that sounded a little sad. It was like he was trying to hide his emotions, whether it be pain or discomfort, he failed to do so.
The arrangement for Ally to live with them was made between her mother and Senior Chen. She was not close with this side of her family, but from the moment she walked into the house, she felt the familiarity and warmth. Her mother asked her to be open-minded because they are family and they will give her everything she was lacking.
She remembered asking herself, 'What do I lack?' She now figured it was a familial atmosphere.
Ally was a selfless person. It was her strength and weakness. She makes sacrifices and is devoted to the people close to her. She caved upon hearing her grandfather's words and seeing his sadness. Realizing she may have lost her father, but he lost his son.
She wanted to give him the chance to get to know her and Lucas. She heard that old people liked children, she wanted to test this theory.
"Grandpa, this is Lucas, my son," she said as she lifted him out to the old man.
"Ahh.. yes, I've heard a lot about this little guy here," Senior Chen said. He collected Lucas and played with him. He looked so different from the aloof man that walked in a few minutes ago. He and the baby shared their joy throughout the entire living room.
"My boy, we'll need to throw you a party," Senior Chen said to Lucas and then looked at Ally.
He added, "I know you have not held a 100-day celebration for him, so let me do this to mark his welcome. Even you've had one when you were little, so I want to do this for My boy."
Ally hadn't thought about giving Lucas the traditional celebration since that period was dark for them. She gave it some thought and said, "Okay, thank you for doing this."
Soon, dinner was ready and Eva took Lucas to take a bath, while everyone gathered around to eat.
Ally saw lots of food she was familiar with when her father cooked. She felt nostalgic and took some roasted vegetables, but placed them on Senior Chen's plate first. She was returning the favor for the shrimps he had placed in her plate earlier on. It was a warm atmosphere in Chen's house.
After dinner, Senior Chen invited Ally to his Library to talk.
The library was a huge Mahogany panel study, with soaring wood shelves filled with books of all genres, an antique desk, and some superannuated equipment.
They sat by the snug sitting area as Ally scanned the entire place and her eyes landed on the Spinet Piano. She stared at it for quite some time.
"You played beautifully at your last recital," Senior Chen said, interrupting her thoughts.
Ally's green eyes widened. "I beg your pardon...I'm afraid I didn't catch that"
Senior Chen looked at her expression and thought she was naïve and sweet. "I was at your last concert and all the previous ones before, but I always hid at the back of the hall," he said with a smile.
"One time your father saw me and told me not to disturb his family, and I told him not to be stubborn and come back home with you guys. But you know our Chen men have so much pride."
Ally's eyes got red when she heard that. That night she played with all her emotions, it was like her inner being knew misfortune was ahead and it was her most outstanding performance. She gave up on playing since that unfortunate accident.
"I'm not sure if your parents told you how they met, but I want to tell you my side of it," he said with a pleading look.
"I've heard this and that," she said. Of course, her father and mother told her everything. There was no secret in their family unless it was something that could put them in danger.
"I was a stubborn old man and wanted Gabriel to marry the daughter of my dear friend. I owed him a great deal, so when he asked for this favor, I didn't refuse."
"Why not uncle Damian?" she felt the need to ask that question.
"He was already married to your aunt," he said.
He paused and carried on with his story, "Your father was on a business trip in England when he met your mother, and they had an instant connection. She was a decent girl who grew up in an organization called The Guild, which she renamed and now heads. Her father was the leader and a well-known nobleman. When I investigated her family, I found little information, and the ones that were produced to me by my subordinates were only of their barbaric acts. I instantly assumed she was not suitable for my son."
He sighed and continued, "When Gabriel returned, he told me he was in love with her and he can't accept any other marriage. That night we had a big disagreement and I told him I will disown him. It was my biggest regret in life and I will never forgive myself for saying that to him."
Senior Chen had an agonizing expression as he looked at the lit desk lamp and added, "I just said that out of anger and I thought we would have a better discussion in the morning, but to my surprise, Gabriel left that night with no goodbye. When your uncle called him, he was already in Europe back with your mother. That night changed all of our lives. All these years, I have never disinherited him and I also never got to make amends with him."
The dam with the reservoir of memories crashed down and tears flowed down Senior Chen's face. He squeezed his eyes shut and washed his face with his hands. All these years he tried to stay strong and silently shed tears in his alone time. But now he couldn't control it, looking at his Granddaughter who looked so much like the two people he had wronged, 'His son and Daughter-in-law.'
Ally walked over and sat beside her grandfather and subconsciously held his hands to give him some sort of comfort. She gave him a bright smile and her thoughtful Crescent-shaped eyes looked at him.
'She resembled you when she smiles, Gabe' he mused.
"Grandpa, in life everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we leave the world before we could even figure out the reason, nevertheless, there is. We may not want to accept the reasons but eventually, we see the positive of it no matter how much it hurts to admit. In this case, I don't think dad was truly angry at you, it just upset him that your friend would give you such an ultimatum. Dad talked about you mostly whenever he told me bedtime stories. He spoke a lot about his childhood. I remembered him telling me, you were his mother, his father, and his teacher. He even said you were his playmate when he angered uncle Damian. Dad was excellent, he felt it was beneath his dignity to accept a loveless marriage and he thought you of all people would've understood. It didn't mean he hated you, I guess he was just disappointed, but I'm sure he forgave you a long time ago," she said softly.
This was the most Ally had spoken in the past nine years. It surprised her that she even comforted someone when she needed consolation too.
Senior Chen stared at Ally with newfound wonder and thought she was destined to be outstanding. 'I will protect you, my sweet child. No one will harm you anymore,' he patted her hands and cogitated.
********
Toby reclined on the bed and watched Lexi standing before him in just her underwear. He knew she was always bold. His king dong pressed against his pants, but he had to control himself because they just wouldn't leave this place soon once they started.
Lexi changed into a tight mini color-block leather skirt, one strapped long sleeve tucked in, and an open toe heel and asked, "Do I look beautiful?"
"You look great, baby. Good thing it's the night because you'd be competing with the sun," he replied and gave a charming smile.
Lexi's face flushed red. As much as she seemed willful in front of others, around her beloved she was just another sweet and sensitive girl.
They met when she took his class in her last year of University and thought he was rather boring and uptight. She was the most wilful student he ever encountered. She bothered him to no end until he realized it was deliberately.
Lexi had made a bet with her classmates to prove he was gay. She tried to seduce him on countless occasions but failed. Toby was known to turn down all the students who fawn over him, but how could he turn down the school's Belle. The rumors spread throughout the school that their handsome young professor was into men and boy oh boy were the girls devastated.
This news spread far and wide and reached Wang's household. His parents' confronted him and they asked him about the rumors, but he told them about the headstrong girl in his class who started it. That was when he discovered that the self-willed Lexi was that way for a reason beyond what he could have imagined.
That day his parents told him that Lexi had cancer, so her parents spoiled and loved her unconditionally. It was meant to be confidential, but they heard of this through a gossip bird from the hospital.
It was not that he didn't find her interesting before, it was because he had principles as an academic, even though there wasn't a big age difference. Soon after, when she approached him again, he broke his rule and accepted her invitation. They started dating and made it official when he proposed to her a year later. During her last surgery, he was beside her helping in every possible way. They have been engaged two years now, unsure of whether he accepted her out of love or pity. But the relationship seemed to be at a standstill.
Presently everything is all nice and wonderful between the couple. Their love is not lacking the least bit of affection.
To cover up her flushed face, Lexi handed him his clothes to change into. He wore blue denim jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black suit jacket. He had clothes at her house and likewise.
He looked really handsome and she pouted, "I think we should stay home because those girls will ogle at you."
"They can stare, but only you get to have me wholly," he teased and gave her a peck on her pouting lips. She looked too cute with the frown and he pressed his lips to hers once more.
"Hm... Hon...You will...ruin my..makeup," she interjected, but the instant her mouth opened he slid his tongue inside and deepened the kiss.
