Chapter 11 - London

I didn't expect that Dad and Princess Irina had a fight because of me.

"What for?" I asked with confusion

"She wants me to stop seeing you because she suspected that his father hired someone to follow wherever I go." He said while wiping his tears. "I know where this situation ends, so I have to end it ahead of time before it gets worst"

"Then stop seeing me, you managed it for 15 years."

"But she's lying, no one has been following me and Mr. Wickham and I are still in good relationship, she's just jealous I can tell, she wants all my time and even told me to quit my job, she has gone insane. She's not what you think, she may be kind outside, but she's complete opposite inside, most of our nannies resigned because of her".

Now it made sense that Jim looked for dad because he doesn't want to be with his mom.

"You think that she's lying? How'd say so?"

"Like I said, she's jealous. She's been rooting you when she knew that you moved to Cambridge."

"You gotta work on that, it's not my decision to make, it's all yours, you're the one who started it...But when I asked you last time, that you do really love Princess Irina? Is it true?" I asked and he didn't respond. "Well then, me and my friends are going out to stroll the whole London, we'll be back this evening. It would be better if you guys aren't here when we get back." I said while wearing my glass and went out in the room.

When I was about to go the backyard, Jim called me.

"William, sorry about earlier, I promise to take a picture with you." he said

"Back off! You think I'm desperate in a stupid family picture?!" I said in a loud voice and left him.

I saw Eliza with Zelbert and Gerald talking, so I wiped my face if there's still tears on it before going towards them.

"Hey." I said to them with a smile. Eliza immediately hugged me.

"I get it William." she said while hugging me

"You told her?" I asked Zelbert

"She keeps asking why, so we told her."

"We leave now, let's have a trip in the whole city, we'll take our time there" I said to them.

"Already?" Gerald asked

"Just grab some food, you can eat them in the car." I said then we left.

Grandma noticed us leaving so she approached us.

"Junior, were are you going?" she asked. "We are so sorry about earlier-"

"Don't worry Grandma, we'll be back this evening, we're going to sleep here, tell Mom and Dad not to wait for me."

The four of us excitedly get into the car.

When we arrived, we left the car in a parking area and went first to the St. Paul Cathedral, then Big Ben and The Tower of London. After that, Zelbert and Gerald decided to separate on me and Eliza so that we could have a real date and we'll meet at the parking lot where we left the car at exactly 6PM.

Me and Eliza went to the gift shops, we bought some souvenirs, we took pictures and lastly, we went to British Museum which is her favorite place in London. As expected, I saw Lucius there but luckily, he's busy so he didn't noticed me. She's usually talkative whenever we are at the museum, but this time she just don't want to leave by my side.

"I expected you to teach me about the history on this artifacts." I said but she just leaned her head on me.

"I thought you hate history"

"Kind of..But if you'll introduce me to it, I might love it as much as I love you."

"Mr. Darcy...Not with the sweet words..."

"What, we're dating today" I laugh

"If Zelbert and Gerald heard this, they'll laugh at you"

"It's okay, I'm used into them, but the important thing now, is we are having our time, we date and we are happy to each other."

"Sure do" she said while cuddling in my arms.

When we got back at the Parking Lot at 6PM, Zelbert and Gerald where already there with the stuffs they bought as their souvenirs. Then when we arrived at Hampstead, Dad's car are still at the garage, so it means he is still inside. I was hesitant to continue inside, but I think it's too risky to drive back to Cambridge because I'm tired so I have no choice but to go inside.

The catering service and all the visitors already left, so it's only few of us inside, luckily it's just Mom, Dad, Grandma Wilma and Grandpa who is drunk are inside.

"What happened to him?" I asked while pointing Grandpa who is asleep at the couch.

"Drunk, help your father carry him to our room" Grandma said and I immediately went to Grandpa and assist him with Dad.

Eliza, Zelbert and Gerald replaced Grandpa in the couch after.

"I thought his New Year's Resolution is to never get drunk again?" I asked while struggling on carrying Grandpa.

"Well your wrong, that was on 2023, you weren't here last time, he changed his New Year's Resolution to never smoke, but he smoked anyway" Dad said also struggled to carry Grandpa.

By the way, Grandpa has same height as Dad but fatter that's why his quite heavy for us.

"Junior.... I'm..so..sorry about earlier." Grandpa hardly can say a word but he still apologized for me. "I didn't mean to invite...the Prime Minister...I was just..kidding to...e invite him..., but he said...he wanted to come... and also..to see his.. daughter and ... grandsons.." Grandpa said in a lousy voice.

"That's okay Grandpa, that's nobody's fault, the important thing now is we need to put you in your bed so that you can rest." I replied.

Grandma and Grandpa's are just in the first storey of the house, there are total of three rooms here, two upstairs which is formerly Dad's room which is mine now, and on the corner side is for Uncle Willie, nothing occupied there after they both got married and moved in different places. On my way back to the living room, I saw Mom talking to my friends and Eliza, so I interrupted them immediately.

"Mom, why are you still here? Where's Uncle Willie and your sons?" I asked going to the kitchen to make coffee.

"I told your Uncle Willie that I will stay here for the night to spend some time with you"

"Huh, what for? You're wasting your time here mom, if you think you can sort everything in just one night, I guess your wrong." I said while stirring coffee and dad interrupts because he want one for him too.

"I just want to check if you're really okay about ear-"

"I'm okay Mom, and please, let's not talk about what happened earlier" I said in a quiet loud voice.

"Lower your voice Junior, you have visitors." Dad interrupted.

"Did you guys have dinner already?" Grandma interrupts.

"Not yet Granny" Gerald quickly responded.

"Perfect, let's all have dinner together, there are still lot of unopened left overs."

"Grandma, where are we going to sleep?" I asked.

"Well, I think your girlfriend Eliza and your Mom should sleep in your room, and you and your friends will be at your Uncle Willie's room." Grandma replied with hesitation.

"So I'm sleeping in the couch?" Dad asked. "And, shouldn't Junior and his girlfriend must sleep in a same room?" he added.

"Dad!" I said with annoyance and Zelbert and Gerald laugh.

"What? You're lovers, you should sleep together" He said while slurping his coffee.

"My God William that is extremely rude" Grandma scolded dad.

"I'm just kidding mom, I just want to see how Junior reacts on it." Dad replied. Shit Dad is teasing me again but I saw Eliza just laugh at it too.

"Come, let's put your bags and belongings in the rooms." I said to Eliza, Zelbert and Gerald. They immediately stand up and followed me upstairs. I showed them my old room, Zelbert and Gerald laughs at my Doraemon sheets.

"You loved that?" Zelbert asked while laughing.

"Yeah, when I was a kid. Well then Eliza, put your bag there and get change, I'll leave you here, I'll just show them the other room."

"Okay no problem." She said while closing the door.

When I showed Gerald and Zelbert my Uncle Willie's room, I thought they'll be terrified, but they were amazed instead because most of the colours even the bed is Black and Gray and that's their favorite color.

"Wow, this is your Uncle's room?" Gerald asked with amusement.

"It's really really nice, no designs, no light colors and it's really simple, and the bed, its, its, big." Zelbert said while stumbling.

"Yeah it's big, but it won't fit for us three." I said.

"Well we are the visitor, so you should sleep  on the floor." Gerald suggested with a laugh and they quickly jumped on the bed.

"Bugger it, I can't believe you two." I said while rubbing my forehead.

Granny shouted downstairs that the dinner is ready.

"You're changing your clothes?" Zelbert asked Gerald.

"No, after we eat." he replied.

"Okay me too."

"Let's go down now." Zelbert and Gerald went down first because I have to wait for Eliza first, I think she's not done changing yet.

"Eliza, we are having dinner now." I said while knocking the door.

"Coming!" she responded.

We are having a dinner, I thought Zelbert and Gerald would eat how they used to eat in my apartment, but gladly they didn't, they eat in a manner, of course they should, they're educated, they should know their place.

I sat in the middle of Eliza and Gerald, in front of us, Mom is in the middle and beside her is Dad and Zelbert, Grandma is in the master's chair since Grandpa is already asleep. Gotta admit, this is a rare occasion, all the person who is near in my heart in one table, I hope it will happen next time when everything is okay, but I think it can never happen, I can't steal Mom from Uncle Willie and her sons, and I can't just get Dad from Princess Irina and his sons.

You wonder why I keep pushing away Mom and Dad when I actually want them in my side, that's the power of jealousy and envious ness, I keep pushing them because I'm jealous, but I really wanted them because I envy my brothers, it's a do or not situation, it's hard to explain but that's it. I'm not in a mood to start a conversation so I continued to eat.

"So Eliza, where are you from?" Grandma asked.

"Um.. I'm from Fremington, Barnstaple"

"Barnstaple, as in South Devon? That's quite far, how'd you end up at Cambridge?" Dad asked.

Eliza was hesitant to answer.

"Dad, you're interrogating her" I interrupt.

"No it's not." Eliza said while holding my hand in the table. "I was looking for work to support my family. And..I didn't get a  chance to study" she added while nodding her head down.

Everyone in the room was feel sorry for her.

"Oh, I'm sorry, must've hard in your age already taking responsibility of supporting your family." Grandma said while trying to reach her hand to hold it.

"It's okay Granny, I'm used to it." Eliza looked to Grandma with a smile.

"Junior is lucky to have a girl like you." Grandma added.

"So, you two, how long have you been friends with Junior?" Dad asked while chewing his food and pointing his fork to Gerald and Zelbert.

"We are friends with William for over 3 years sir" Gerald replied.

"We met each other at registrar's office while processing our papers for scholarship." Zelbert added.

"That's nice, I haven't got the long time friends in my life, the longest friend I have was just 9 months." Dad said while chewing his food.

"Is that our former neighbor? Mrs. Lucas's son? Sam who died at car crash?" Grandma asked dad.

"Wow, you still remember him."

"William, you were just 10 years old that time, after that you never had friends?" Grandma added.

"Of course I did, but none of them lasted long." Dad replied.

Of course he maybe attempted to seduce them that's why.

"How about Uncle Willie?" I asked. "You and him aren't friends?"

"We're seasonal, but mostly we fight each other." Dad replied and Grandma laugh.

"Yes, your Dad and your Uncle are more like cat and dog than brothers, you see this mark in left arm?" Grandma pointed her scar. "This was caused by your father and your Uncle, your Dad is 8 years old that time while your Uncle is just 6, they were chasing each other and reached at the kitchen where I'm boiling water for coffee, then they started to throw their toys to each other and it hit on the kettle and the boiling water spilled on my left arm."

Dad is just 2 years and a half older than Uncle Willie, that's why they have a chaotic childhood.

"It wasn't my fault mom, it was Willie who threw that ball on your kettle" Dad interrupts.

"Him or not, that was mistake for both of you, so I grounded them for a week" Grandma added.

"That's not just a week, Dad extended it for 2 weeks." Dad added and they all laugh but I just smiled.

"Oh I'm glad those days are over for me" Grandma said while exhaling. "How about you Emily, is your sons behave like their father?" she asked mom.

"They're 12 years gap Mom, so I didn't struggle raising them at once." she replied.

"Good for you, is Willie still doing that documentary at Scotland?" Grandma asked

"He's actually going back at Scotland tomorrow."

"I thought he's done with it."

"He said he'll be gone for a week."

"That's quite long."

"I'm actually worried for him Mom, they still have no idea who's responsible for that massacre." Mom said with a worry.

"What? Well he must abort that project" Grandma said in a loud voice.

"I begged him to, but he insisted, he wants to finish it, according to him, he's the only journalist left to document that case, so it will definitely gave him a promotion if he finished it."

"I'll talk to him." Grandma said with worry.

"Thanks Mom, I've been begging him to abort it." Mom said with a relief.

After we ate, we went in our rooms. I placed a bedsheet on Uncle Willie's room where I'm going to sleep because the three of us won't fit on the bed. Hell this two, I can't believe them, they must be so tired in their tour that they immediately fell asleep.

Even if I switched-off the light, I still can't sleep. So I decided to go out from the room carrying the sheet and go to the backyard to have some air. The lights are out, I slowly walked down the stairs , I might wake Dad who is sleeping at the couch. When I arrived at the backyard, all I can hear is the dogs barking, I checked the time, it's already 12AM and I didn't feel sleepy at all. So I stretched a little bit, the tables from the party are still at the backyard, so lay down there and looked at the moon not knowing Dad has been watching me from the door stairs.

"You should stretch early in the morning not in the middle of the night. What are you a vampire?" his voice frightened me.

"I wished I'm one so that I could be immortal and suck everyone's blood that annoys me. Why are you still awake? Aren't you tired?" I asked

"Next time you walk down the stair, make sure you won't wear a slipper." he said.

"You guys are still awake?" Mom interrupts who just came out from the restroom.

"He woke me up" Dad replied to mom while pointing at me.

Mom also sits in the door stairs with Dad and watching me lying and staring the moon at the table.

"You guys should be sleeping by now" I said while staring at the moon.

"And so do you" Dad replied.

"What are you really guys up to? Shouldn't be the two of you is in your respective houses...and family? If you came here to apologize, I'mma tell you that I'm really sick of hearing those words to be honest."

"I told her" Dad said in a low voice.

"What? What do you mean?" I asked Dad.

"I told her that you're a queer like me"

"I beg your pardon?" I said while rushing to stand up.

"She ought to know about this, she's your mother after all." he added.

I looked at mom.

"So, you already knew,  you're gonna disgust me now?" I asked mom.

"Why would I? You're my son,  nothing will change the way I see you." She said while coming towards and hugged me. "Are you seeing guys these days?" she added while hugging me.

"No I'm not, why would I? I love Eliza." I said while trying to let go from her hugs. "I want to live like a normal guy mom." I added.

"Good, you can be whatever you want, the important thing is you're happy with your choices."

While mom is hugging, me and Dad saw a flash from a camera in the building across the street. Dad stand up and looked at if it's really a camera flash, but all he can see is a guy in a black jacket leaving from the window of the building.

"What is it?" Mom asked dad.

"I knew it." Dad said while rubbing his forehead.

"What is it William?" Mom asked again.

"Someone has been watching us."

"Does it suppose to worry us?" she asked with curiosity.

"It's my wife."

"I beg your pardon?"

"She's been suspecting me these days, it started at Bridget's funeral when I ran after you two outside"

"That's not a big deal at all, Junior still your responsibility."

"She's jealous Emily, she wants me to stop seeing Junior and including you."

"Princess Irina won't do that, she's a nice person" Mom said while convincing dad.

"She's not what you think Emily. As far as I know, the Wickhams spoiled her when she was young, she gets to get whatever she wanted because her Dad loves her so much. I even heard that one of her nanny's arm was cut because of her reckless actions."

"If it's true, you should work on it, she's your wife."

"She's up to something I'm certain with it." Dad said while biting his finger nails.

"You and Irina are suspecting each other, you don't trust each other anymore." Mom said with a worry and came near to dad. "William, both of you should work on it together, think of Jim and Jerry, you don't want them end up like our son right?" Mom said while rubbing dad's face.

"Uhuh.." Dad closed his eyes in and nodded his head as agreement.

Why do I feel so awkward for them? Anyway, we went back inside after, on my way upstair with mom, we can hear Eliza sobbing inside my room. What if, she heard what Dad said about me?

"Eliza?" Mom said while turning on the light of my room.

"What's the matter?" I asked while walking towards her.

"My Aunt called." she utterly said while sobbing. "Said that mom is dying, she won't last till Tuesday." she added.