IVAN'S BACK II

Ivan was away from home for more than a month. When he arrived, his parents were reading some documents in the living room. He didn't bother greeting as he stepped inside their house silently.

"Sir Ivan?" It was one of their helpers who saw Ivan walking handsomely towards his room.

When they heard the helper called out his name, his parents were surprised to the point of being speechless. It was a full minute before Mrs. Grace Harley realized what's going on. Ivan was about to leave when his mother called out to him.

"Ivan, it's good to see that you're back." She looked happy and a sigh of relief escape her mouth. "Can we talk?"

Ivan just looked at her without saying anything. His father looked at him and he just stared back at him. He's been a good child all these years, but the truth cannot be hidden anymore.

"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Ivan asked after a few moments of silent. He waited for them to speak. His mother looked troubled and his father looked confused as well.

Mr. Harley looked at him under his intense gaze before he took a step forward in his direction. "You can see." It wasn't a question but a statement which means his father knew after careful observations.

Ivan didn't plan to deny anything so he nodded his head slightly. "Is that all you wanted to say?" He asked them again.

"I...I saw that little girl. We met her a few times." Ivan's jaw ticked with a changed in his mood but nothing showed on his face.

"What else?" He tried to sound uninterested but his mind was working on possibilities that her parents would do to separate them.

"We promised not to interfere with your private life." It was his father who told him. "If you like her, then go ahead. I don't really know where we made a mistake, but I don't like this sour relationship."

"Dad, you only need to tell me the truth and things would go well. With regards to Kaye, I'd really appreciate it if you would not judge her or do something to drive a wedge between us. I've been looking for her all these years." Ivan's voice held a sudden tenderness when he mentioned Kaye's name.

"I know. How you take a rest first? Let's have a good talk in my study later tonight." His father offered after seeing his tired eyes. It would be bad if he would tire his eyes knowing that he just went for surgery.

"I'll take that advise. I'll talk to you guys later. I'm sorry mom for my rudeness." Ivan gave his mother a deep bow and walked away towards his room.

When he left, the room turned into a deathly silence. No one spoke until Mrs. Harley cried a breath of relief and happiness was clearly written all over her face.

"Hon, I'm so glad. I'm so glad that he's back and much more than that, he can now see!" Mrs. Harley teared up from the bubbling joy coming from her heart.

"I know. I'm truly happy as well. However, we shoudln't forget about the talk. I know you're scared of him knowing the truth, but we might as well tell him before it's too late for us to fix this." Mr. Harley told his wife while wiping her tears that kept on falling.

Mrs. Harley who was so happy with the sight of her son who came home, couldn't keep it to herself and shared it to her friends. That's how Lexi got the news. Though Ivan isn't a doctor like his parents, many people and family friends like him for being honest and trustworthy.

To some people it was a happy event that Ivan was back, but to Kaye it was a ticking time bomb. Any moment they could eventually meet and boom, the bombshells containing her feelings might explode and scare him away.

Ivan slept his worries away. He needed to rest so he can deal whatever is coming to him. He needed strength to see the person his been longing the most. He needed to have energy to deal with his spiralling emotions.

When he was with Kaye, his world was like a ride in a roller coaster. She brought him joy, sadness, frustrations, excitement and other kind of emotions that he rarely show to anyone.

Ivan didn't care about the people who gathered in their living room, asking his parents about his well being. He was most concerned to the upcoming discussion with his parents. He knew the truth a long time ago, he just wanted to hear the words directly from them.

Reality could really be painful sometimes, but you need to feel pain to know you're living. However, the intensity of pain depends to your relationship with the people who lied to you. In his case, it's his parents and grandfather.

Life isn't just a bunch of beautiful roses, there are also thorns scattered everywhere.

Ivan slept all the way 'til past eight in the evening. When he woke up, his parents were already sitting on the dining table his grandfather. He didn't know that the old man was coming.

Left with no choice, Ivan sat on his usual seat and started eating, not really bothering the people around him. When he finished his meal, he stood up and walked out.

"I'll just wait in the study." Ivan said which was directed to his parents as he walked away from them.

"Is he still angry? It's been so many years already." his grandfather shook his head in dismay looking at his retreating back.

"And I guess, it's been years since he knew something." His father retorted without much care.