Family talk

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---A few hours ago---

While everyone was celebrating, a figure observed the lively scene from a distance. During that moment, a subtle transformation occurred in this onlooker. His once stern countenance softened, and a fleeting tranquility graced his features. With a sigh of contentment, he withdrew his eyes from the joyful moment and proceeded towards the Teacher's room.

As he approached the entrance, some keen eyes among the few lingering individuals within the vicinity recognized him. There was an unspoken reverence in their actions as they rose from their seats, acknowledging the arrival of this distinguished guest.

"Dr. Garcia, it's an honor to have you here today," remarked one of the school's esteemed teachers, offering a warm greeting to the respected visitor.

This was Miguel's Father, Dr. Carlos Garcia. He was a distinguished figure in the medical field, carrying himself with an air of professionalism and quiet confidence that came from years of experience as a doctor. He is Lean and tall, almost reaching the ceiling. His attire was always impeccable, usually opting for classic suits and ties when at work. Dr. Garcia had a commanding presence in any room he entered. His hair and beard, neatly trimmed, gave him an air of maturity. His warm, dark eyes were often filled with compassion and understanding.

He looked at the teacher who had greeted him and returned the favor. "Thank you, Rondell. I came here to know how my son is doing in school," he asked politely.

Teacher Rondell then said, "Ah, yes! If you want to find out more about Miguel, please follow me to a more private environment." Teacher Rondell then politely guided him, and Miguel's dad followed along.

During their trip to the room, he asked, curious about what he had seen before coming. "It seems that the school event is finally over."

Then Teacher Rondell said happily, "Yes, it was a huge success." Then she stopped talking for a few seconds, as if she was remembering what happened during the event. "In all these years, we have never seen something like that. All the students really showcased their talents, especially Miguel's team, sir," she responded truthfully.

"Is that right?" Miguel's dad asked, wanting to hear more about this topic.

"Of course, Dr. Garcia. They all showed amazing talents. I had never seen Miguel participate in an activity, but he did a good job, and most importantly, they all seemed to have had a lot of fun!" said Teacher Rondell, smiling at him.

"I see..." Miguel's dad got a thoughtful expression, which signaled to Teacher Rondell to leave him for a few silent minutes to think about what he had heard.

'You are already growing up...' he thought to himself. To him, his son was everything, so he wished him a happy life always.

As they entered another isolated room, Teacher Rondell's voice sounded. "Please, have a seat," indicating for him to take the front seat at the desk.

Miguel's dad nodded and then carefully took his seat. "Well," as Teacher Rondell started speaking, she turned on her PC to find some written reports. "Miguel is doing amazingly academically, scoring almost perfect grades in every subject. He also..." She then took her time to tell him of all Miguel's achievements.

"... then, the school event was scheduled for this month, where all students would participate, but as I had said before, he did participate on this occasion," said Teacher Rondell, reporting everything to Miguel's dad.

"I see..." Miguel's dad spoke while pondering.

...

"... And his group actually ended up winning this event. So to summarize, he is excelling in every aspect, academically and socially. We hope to see him make great improvements in the latter department in a few months. That's all we have from the report." She concluded everything said so far.

"Alright, I understood everything. Thank you for the report." He got up from the chair. "I shall take my leave. Also, I am thankful to all the teaching staff for taking care of my son," he said sincerely.

"Don't be, Dr. Garcia! This is what we are supposed to do," said Teacher Rondell. "Miguel is one of our best students in the school, so we take him very seriously." She then extended her arm towards Miguel's dad. "It was a pleasure meeting you."

"Likewise," Miguel's dad then gave a handshake and turned around to take his leave.

...

After a while, Miguel's dad waited inside the car, waiting for Miguel to come. After a few more minutes of waiting, Miguel approached his dad's car after a long day at school. He opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, the leather interior greeting him with a familiar scent.

His dad glanced over at Miguel with a warm smile. "Hey, champ," he greeted, his voice filled with genuine affection. "How was your day?" His dad glanced at him and couldn't help but notice the radiance that seemed to envelop his son.

Miguel's enthusiasm was infectious as he eagerly launched into the highlights of his day. "Dad, you won't believe what happened today! You know the event we've been preparing for, the one with the cookie dough competition? Well, it was a huge success! Me and my friends worked together, and we ended up winning the whole thing!"

His father's brows lifted in genuine surprise and pride. "Really? That's amazing, son. Congratulations."

Miguel beamed at his father's words. "Thanks, Dad! It was so much fun, and we got to interact with so many people. You should've seen the excitement in the cafeteria. It felt like we were on top of the world."

His father chuckled, appreciating Miguel's youthful exuberance. "I'm sure it was quite the sight. And what about your teachers? Did they have anything to say about it?"

Miguel nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, they were really impressed. They said our teamwork and creativity were outstanding. Even Mrs. Rondell, who's usually pretty tough to impress, was smiling."

"That's fantastic, Miguel," his father said, his voice filled with pride. "I've always told you that you shouldn't focus only on your studies, but also your social life." He then turned to see Miguel. "You have never presented me with a friend of yours, but today I saw you celebrating with a few kids... I want to know what changed?"

Miguel listened attentively to his father's words. He thought of his dad's question and after pondering for a few moments he said, "Right... that's because of a good friend of mine, he is the one who helped us win the event. You should meet him one day, Dad!"

"Of course." His Father said without missing a beat.

"...Oh right! " As if Miguel remembered something important, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a neatly wrapped package. It was one of the cookies he had prepared during the school event. He handed it to his father. "Dad, I made this in the event at school. It's really good! You should try it." Miguel's eyes shone with pride as he shared a piece of cookie.

His father's eyes widened in pleasant surprise as he unwrapped the cookie. It revealed a perfectly golden-brown treat, adorned with a generous sprinkle of chocolate chips. The aroma of freshly baked cookies filled the car, carrying with it a mouthwatering invitation.

As he took a bite, he couldn't help but praise him. "Wow, Miguel, this is amazing," his father exclaimed, genuinely impressed by his son's creation. "You and your team must have done a fantastic job."

"That's all thanks to my friend," Miguel beamed as he said that.

"I would be glad to meet that friend of yours," his dad replied, his eyes focused on the road ahead. "But I am actually proud of you, son. I know that you might sometimes feel alone, but today you surprised me. Social life is very important for us, we can learn a lot from other people. As a species, we are social beings, so never neglect that point." His dad said with a serious look on his face.

Miguel then said, "You're right, Dad. I've learned so much today," he said, thinking of everything that happened so far. "It's been a great day."

His father gave him a warm pat on the shoulder as he continued to drive. "I'm glad to hear that, son. Keep embracing every opportunity that comes your way, and remember that I'm here to support you no matter what."

"Hm, I understand, Dad..." Miguel said. For a few moments, a sense of melancholy washed over his face.

As he spoke, Miguel's dad listened intently, his eyes never leaving his son's face. He could sense that there was more Miguel wanted to say.

"But..." Miguel continued, his voice dropping slightly, "There was this moment when we were selling our cookies, and I couldn't help but think about Mom."

His dad's expression softened, understanding the significance of Miguel's words. Miguel's mom had been an incredible cook, and her love for food had been a source of inspiration for Miguel.

"I miss her, Dad," Miguel admitted, his voice catching in his throat. "I wish she could have been there to see me today, to taste what I had done."

His dad reached over and placed a comforting hand on Miguel's shoulder. "I miss her too, son," he said quietly, his own voice filled with a mix of sadness and nostalgia. "Your mom would have been so proud of you today. She always loved to see you smile."

Miguel nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes..."

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(A/N: We are about to get into 'dark lanes' ...)