Proud

"Are you his girlfriend?" He asked with a smile on his face. He looked soft and harmless. My nervousness turned into a warm and calm one. I offered a hand to welcome him, smiling and not answering his question. I kinda want to hug him for some reason, maybe that's because I have a soft spot for old people.

He accepted my hand, I can't help but side-hug him. He does the same thing. "I'm his girlfriend," I said politely, forcing a smile. He's just looking at me intently with a big smile on his lips.

"Uhm, he has a fever right now. He's asleep on the couch." He just nods at me as I say those words. He went straight in and peeked at his grandson who was fast asleep, he's just smiling.

"Let's talk?" He asked, so I nodded. He went to the Balcony and opened it. He sat on the vacant seat. He tapped a vacant seat beside him, inviting me to sit. I quickly went there and sat down next to him.

Surprisingly, I didn't feel nervous and awkward. I feel safe.

"Do you love my grandson?" He asserted. I nodded without hesitation. "So much," I added.

"I guess he finally found the love he has been looking for," His eyes sparkled. "His parents failed to make him feel loved, but he never complained. He's just silent, hoping that he can finally feel loved again."

I almost teared up, I saw him smiling sadly.

"I saw him crying every night, hugging his teddy bear that her mother gave. Her Nanny that took care of him died when he was eight." He softly shook his head before looking down.

"He's too young to suffer, I owe him an apology..." His tears fell."That's why I tried to be the best Grandfather to him... I became his parent, his best friend, his playmate. And then he found you, Hija." He held my two hands as tears kept coming from his eyes, the previously suppressed tears suddenly dropped.

"Love him as much as you can, be kind to him..." His voice broke. The image of Travis suffering made me want to cry more, I nodded as my tears rolled down my cheeks. I promise.

"I am the first person he told me that he already got a girlfriend, the day when you became official, he immediately called me. He sounded excited, he even cried... telling that he finally found his person, his safe place, his home." That made me cry more.

"Thank you for loving him, Hija. I've never seen him this happy," He gave me a smile, a genuine one.

"Travis loves you... so much, I can assure that."

"I've never thought that I'd witness young people fall in love," He chuckled a bit, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

"I can finally go... without worrying about him."

"You'll leave?" I can't hide the shock in my voice.

"I'll go there..." He pointed to the sky. I can't help but start to panic. I hurriedly turned to him and held his hand tightly, shaking my head.

"No... what about Travis? Will you leave him?" My voice started to shake.

He gave me a warm smile. "I've been living a long life, Hija. I have Alzheimer's, and I'm sure that I'm going to forget him soon." My shoulder dropped as my mouth stayed half-open. There were tears in his eyes but he still managed to smile. I went to him and gave him a tight hug. I rubbed his back as soon as I heard him sobbing, his shoulder was moving from crying so much.

He let go of the hug and turned to me, he looked at me with the same smile and sad eyes.

"D-Does he knows?" With his head shaking, I already knew that.

"I'll tell him soon," He assured me.

"Let's keep this a secret for now," I just nodded.

"Love each other well, you both deserve the love..." He caressed my cheeks and wiped my tears away.

"How could this world be so cruel..." I covered my face as I started to cry again. He never experienced the love from his parents, his Nanny died, and now his grandfather has Alzheimer's.

I want to apologize to him, to hug him, and to love him more.

"That's why he has you, Hija..."

***

"Congrats!" Sab hugged me as my teacher announced that I'm along with the 'With high honors', and top 2 in overall. The teacher gave me a certificate with my name on it. The school year was about to end that quickly. I can say that this school year is quite hard, and draining, but we still made it to the end.

I hugged and thanked her. When I heard her name, I almost jumped in excitement. She's also one with high honors!

"And the two best friends forever, Travis and Marcus! We clapped our hands in excitement. Can you believe that?! We are all 'With high honors'!

***

“It’s raining!” I complained because we’re still wearing our uniform, the recognition has ended, that's why we decided to date. My parents didn’t come, what do I expect? They are busy with their ‘work’. They just said ‘congrats’, and I’m okay with that.

“The rain can’t stop us, though.” He said cockily and dragged me into a place that has a roof.

“Hmm, I remember something.” He said while wiping my wet hair because of the rain.

“What is it?”

“Can you now tell me?” My brows furrowed.

“The what?”

“Remember when I was sick, and Grandpa came?” Oh, that. He’s still bugging me because after that his Grandpa and I talked, I pulled him into a tight hug saying I was sorry and told him how much I love him.

“Why were you two crying?”

Ugh. Does he still remember it?

‘I’ll keep my mouth shut.” I winked at him.

“Tss.”

“He just told me how much you love me, that’s all,” I said, defeated.

“And why were you crying?” He asked, again.

“Is it illegal to cry?” I said sarcastically.

“You won’t really tell me, huh?” I shook my head. He pouted more because of that. I kissed his cheek and laughed at him.

“Kiss me here,” He playfully said and pointed at his lips.

“I don’t want,”

“Then don’t.” I laughed at him because he looked really pissed.

“The rain has stopped, let’s go?” I took his hand and intertwined our hands. I just found him smiling, what a softie.

We quickly reached the park, we were about to set up but the rain poured so hard.

We were both wet because of the rain. Since it’s an open park, we can’t find a spot that has a roof. I suddenly came up with an idea. I put down all the things I was holding.

“What are you doing?” He asked in curiosity.

“Just watch, ‘kay?” When I finished putting down those things, I started to run faster.

“Come here! Get me!” I saw how he put those things down and started running. I ran faster again because he almost got me! How could he be this fast?!

‘What’s my reward?”

“What do you want?”

“A hug.” He said with finality. Is there something wrong, my love?

“Why did you stop? Run!” I started to run again and tried to escape him in anyways, but despite that, he still found me.

He pulled my waist against him when he got me, and pulled me into a tight hug. “I won, love….” He said in a whisper.

“Is there something wrong? Hmm?” I asked him.

He let go of a hug and turned to me.

“No, I should be the one who’s asking you that. Are you okay?” He tucked my hair in the side of my ears.

“Of course, I am.”

“Are you sure?” His voice and eyes were full of concern.

He pulled me again into a tight hug. “Your parents….” By that, I know what he meant.

“Of course, I’m okay. I’m already getting used to that.”

He let go of the hug again, he took his medal inside his pocket.

“They may not be there to wear this to you, but I am…” I smiled.

He started to wear the medal on me, he gave me a sweet smile. My tears were about to fall so I looked up to stop it.

He placed the medal in its perfect place in my chest, and for the third time, he hugged me again. So tight.

“I’m so… proud of you, you did your very best.” He said, almost in a whisper.