Traizle
"What are you doing here?" I asked Lyndon.
"Ah, I asked them to come here since I will tell you I am your father." Mr. Andrade said.
"Archane, is your son with your late wife?" I asked.
Mr. Andrade nodded.
"Why? You don't like me to be your big bro?" Archane asked me.
"The application letter you gave to our boss was not true?" I asked.
"No, all of the information about me there is true, except for my surname and father's name." Archane explained.
"Then I am still older than you, idiot," I told him. "Is this the reason why you worked at the Snack Bar?" I asked.
I remembered what he told me before, that he had a reason for working at the Snack Bar, and it was because of me.
"Yes, I did not initially know that you are suffering too. I wanted to know why my dad cares for his daughter," he explained. "I thought after my mother died, Dad would find you and start their relationship again. I was initially angry because Dad kept looking for you, and I suspected he didn't love my mother. I can clearly remember that my Mom said to help Dad find you and make a happy family," he added. "But I never did anything awful because I knew the story about you and your family even before I could do it."
"We fought and did not talk to each other for weeks. Because I was aware of him working at the Snack Bar where you work. I fear he might do something crazy because he is mad at me." Mr. Andrade said.
"But we are fine now. We talked and told him what I knew about you." Archane commented.
"That is why when we met at the supermarket, you told us that he wouldn't show himself because we would know that his father was Mr. Andrade." Lyndon commented too.
"Do not call me Mr. Andrade. You can also call me Dad. You will be my children, after all." Mr. Andrade said.
"Yes, Daddy!" Layzen yelled. "I have a kind daddy now." he added happily.
"How about you?" Archane said, looking at Zarsuelo beside me.
"Uhh, hi, Dad. I am Matthew Zarsuelo, Traizle's boyfriend. Pleased to meet you." Zarsuelo said, introducing himself.
"Don't you think of me as someone interested in her now?" Mr. Andrade said, smiling,
Zarsuelo scratches his nape. "I thought you liked her romantically. I am scared that she might slip again from me," Zarsuelo admitted. "I have been looking for her for years. Now that I can reach her, I want to be with her forever. Will you let me marry her, Dad?" Zarsuelo asked, calling Mr. Andrade his dad casually.
Why does he call Mr. Andrade his dad too? Can't he feel the embarrassment?
"I don't have the right to say no about that. As long as my daughter is happy, I am okay with it." Mr. Andrade said.
"You heard what your dad said now?" Zarsuelo asked me. "I only needed your approval, so think about marrying me." he added.
Mr. Andrade prepared our dinner. I am not uncomfortable with this setting. It feels like I am really at home. Layzen and Lyndon were happy to talk with Archane.
"Wife, you are overthinking again? Wanna share it?" Zarsuelo asked.
I shake my head. "It's nothing," I answered. "I just never thought that this day would come. I feel somewhat happy that he never let us suffer." I added.
"He knows that you always do everything. That is why he blessed you with something that could make you happy." He replied.
He said something normal tonight.
"You should talk to him privately. You can have a heart-to-heart talk with him. I am sure he wanted to do that with you." he added, pointing to Mr. Andrade's kitchen.
I should talk to him, though.
"I will be back. Stop the others if they want to go to the kitchen. Okay?" I told him.
He nodded fast, so I headed to the kitchen. I saw Mr. Andrade washing the dishes.
I never thought that my mother was keeping a secret from me. I also never thought that my birth father was looking out for me and that he still accepted me for who I am and who I am now.
"Do you want me to help you?" I asked him.
"Oh, Traizle. I am okay. You can talk with them outside." he answered.
"I want to talk to you," I answered. "I can't still call you the word you wanted. I hope you can wait for me. I am happy that you still want to be with me and even accepted my family without any doubt." I told him.
That's what I wanted to tell him.
"I can wait for you. I waited for years as well to be with you guys. Waiting to call me Dad is easy now. I am sure my wife is now happy that I succeeded." he said, smiling fatherly.
It's been years since I last experienced this father figure feel. Although Dad, I mean my real Dad, Louie, never abused us, unlike our mother, he still showed concern for me.
"We should visit your wife soon if we are not busy." I told him.
"Really? She will be happy to see you," Mr. Andrade said. "Can I visit you in Grand Finance daily?" he asked.
I smiled at him. "You should. I wanted to introduce you to my friends." I answered.
"Thank you, you don't know how happy I am tonight." Mr. Andrade said.
"I am happy as well. God knows how much we long for our parents, especially Layzen. Having you and Archane now feels like a happy family," I said. "We won't celebrate Christmas and the new year alone. I am excited about celebrating it with you."