Secrets

"My, my."

The old man didn't leave upon turning a corner. Instead, he pushed his body up on the wall and stayed silent.

He could hear Lily' sobs and their voices dimming down as they left.

"I'm sorry, son. It seems I couldn't control myself again." Smiling wryly, he sighed and composed himself for a moment.

…

"Everyone's moving on with their lives, huh. Is it just me who's dwelling in the past?"

At the thought of the past, several memories suddenly came to Khai's mind and his head started to ache.

"I'm so sorry, father."

Outside the room, the old man heard Khai's voice and froze.

'Silly child. It is me who's responsible.' His fists inadvertently clenched as memories of his one and only son appeared on his head.

Taking a second to breathe, he took out his phone and fiddled with it for a moment, his eyes flashing with excitement as he pulled up a webpage.

He entered the room.

"How'r you doing?"

'Hm?' Khai looked up and saw his grandfather, looking at him with concern.

'What's up with these guys today..'

"I'm doing great, grandfather." He replied, composing the turbulent emotions threatening to burst out in the form of tears.

"Really now.." The old man walked up to his bed and sat beside him.

"If you're not fine with it, why tell them otherwise?" He said.

For a moment, Khai was confused, only realizing seconds later that his grandfather was referring to the marriage.

"Mother has suffered enough. Who am I to take that away from her?" He asked back.

"Her son. You also have a say in their matters, your feelings aren't any less important than theirs."

"I know." Khai muttered weakly. "I just want to begin life anew." He said after a moment of deliberation.

"And that includes accepting them?"

"I can't keep clinging to a past I can never revisit."

The old man stayed silent.

"Grandfather, can I start going to school next month?"

"Mhm, you don't have to worry about that, I already have a tutor ready." His grandfather answered absentmindedly.

"No, I mean, like a proper school, grandfather. A university."

"What?!" Taken aback, the old man stood up in surprise.

"Y-You.." He was incredulous!

Never in his life would have ever expected to hear those words from his grandson.

"Are you serious?" He had to confirm it if he wished to have no doubts.

"Mhm. Can you let me?" Khai stared at him, full of determination.

"Of course! I'll go look for a school right away!" The composure and coldness the old man had awhile ago vanished like thin smoke as his face lit up with delight.

It was wonderful news!

So wonderful that it overpowered the negativities he encountered the entire week!

"I've actually chosen a school." Khai spoke up, interrupting his grandfather that had his mind stuffed in clouds.

"Any will do! Tell me which one and I'll get you in, no matter what!" The old man said confidently.

"Xiala University."

"Of course! Leave it to me!" He patted his chest, pulling out his phone underneath.

'Xiala!' One of the best performing schools, even in worldwide standards!

"You don't have to do it right now," Khai was at a lost for words.

"Ah, yes. I got a bit carried away there." The old man closed the call he was intending to make and saw the browser he originally wanted his grandson to see.

[Dogs! A window to your child's happiness!]

He immediately closed it and focused his attention on Khai.

"Your father would be so proud of you." He stated as he combed Khai's hair with his big, rough hand.

"Would he be happy about 'them'?" Khai asked, suddenly switching the topic back.

"Most certainly. He was an angel that descended the land of us mortals. A pity he left."

"Did mom really love him?"

At Khai's question, the old man's eyes dilated.

This didn't escape Khai's notice; leading him to answer his own question, "She didn't."

"Everything that happened.. Has already happened. Nothing we can do about it." The old man sighed.

"You know you can't keep this away from me forever."

"I do. I also know that this isn't the right time."

"I know nothing of my father's death and my parents' shady relationship. There are more that I don't know, right?"

"Only time will tell."

"I see." It was Khai's turn to release a heavy sigh.

Time passed and only the ticking of a clock could be heard.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

"About your school.." The old man couldn't take the silence anymore and broke the ice.

He didn't care if his grandson would detest him for being fixated on his school matters.

"What's with it?" Khai also didn't appreciate the silence. He was in fact, blaming himself for being too nosy.

"Why did you choose Xiala? Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that you can do well there, but don't you want to start slow?" The old man voiced his doubts.

For the past years, Khai was homeschooled by non other by himself and his friend, a world renowned tutor.

He knew that Khai was both instrumentally gifted and an academically inclined genius!

He heard it from various of tutors. They complimented Khai for his fast comprehension and incredibly high IQ.

Once, a friend of his, a dean, saw Khai perform and was in awe of Khai's abilities, even trying to convince him to send Khai under his care!

But as the circumstance weren't ideal, he had to refuse.

Although he was ecstatic that Khai chose to leave his comfort zone, he was also worried that he wouldn't be able to cope up with the university's standards due to his illness and lack of experience.

"I want to live anew." Khai reiterated. "I need a direction in my life and I'm not intending on walking on an even path. No matter how rocky it is, it'll build me up, wouldn't it?"

"I see.." The old man stayed silent for a moment and smiled. "So be it. I'll go make arrangements now. Stay put for the time being, okay?"

"Mhm, I will, grandfather. Thank you."

…

Leaving the room, the old man excitedly walked around, not being able to contain his joy.

Suddenly, he felt a familiar sensation, like someone was beckoning him.

The old man looked around and spotted a certain room emitting a gloomy feeling.

"You again.." He mumbled as he entered the room.

At first glance, the room was a spatious cube, nothing was there except the murals pasted on every wall.

Standing at the very center of the pattern of murals resembled an angel, depicting its grace and holiness by its magnanimous expression and beautiful display of wings.

Instantaneously, his mind started to play a memory he long tried to forget;

It was 5 years ago in this very space. A man who seemed to have lost everything knelt down in front of the angel depicted on the wall.

It was him, kneeeling, begging, asking.

"I know you're there. Are you really going to haunt another generation of our family?"

No response.

"ANSWER ME, YOU COWARD!"

Still no response.

"This.. you pinned your grudges against me towards my family, AND YOU STILL DARE TO CALL YOURSELF A SAINT?

HOW FAR HAVE YOU FALLEN? I WAS THE ONE WHO SINNED. I WAS THE ONE WHO DEFIED YOUR ORDERS. Punish ME, ME GODDAMN IT."

Ah, yes. The enexplicable sense of dread, the raging fires of hatred, the endless thirst for destruction, everything culminating; converging on one point: himself.

As hours went by, the man fell, his head dropped down on the ground, bowing as far as he could.

"I- take everthing you want from me, just not them.."

"Hah, it's still a fresh wound.." The old man was jolted back to his senses.

"I'll follow what your orders. Just make sure to keep your words."