𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 85. ~~

The young girl looked around from one of her siblings to the other before saying with an amazed tone. "I made him laugh. Oh my! I'm such a sweet little sis, ain't I?" She said winking but no one answered her. She stretched forth her hand with wide eyes. "It's nice meeting you, big bro."

Demilade glanced at Jerry and then he took her hands. He likes her free spirit. She was a good vibe.

"It's nice meeting a fan... and a little... sis." The girl grinned widely like she won a jackpot. She fans herself with her hand, beaming from ear to ear.

"I'm so honored." She commented.

"Tiara!" Someone said sharply.

The smile on her face quickly disappeared and she comported herself, turning to the direction of the voice that called her name. Then Mrs. Beatrice came in fully into the room. She was scrutinizing her daughter with her eyes. She looked displeased by her attitude but Tiara's face was impassive.

"Can't you ever be serious?" She reprimanded her last daughter. The girl said nothing but just turn her face away. The woman eyed her daughter and she turned toward Demilade with an apologetic face. "I'm so sorry for her unruly behavior."

Demilade shook his head without saying anything in response. The woman moved closer.

"Thank you so much for coming. You don't know how much it means to us. Thank you."

Demilade just nodded his head, face impassive.

"Mom... Let him go and see Dad."

"Yes yes. Sorry." She said politely to Demilade and then moved aside. "Take him to his room. He is there now."

Jerry gestured for Demilade and he followed after him without saying any more word to the people in the living room.

Jerry knocked for a second then turn the knob off the door and it opened. Jerry walked further into the room while Demilade stood at the door post as he looked round the room in a glance of his eyes.

He noticed a man sitting on an armchair situated at the end of the room. He gave a book on his thigh and a glass cup with a red cover and half-filled water was on the glass table beside him.

"Daddy, Good morning." Jeremiah greeted his father.

That is Lawrence! Demilade thought, baffled.

He was hardly visible from his seat. He looked frail and old from where he sat. It was hard to believe that he was the man he always see on the News. He seems like another version of himself.

How people and things change! Circumstances really affect and change people.

The man sitting on the chair raised his head and peered at his son. A small smile spread on his face on seeing him.

"Jerry. How are you?" He asked. His voice was low and caring.

"I'm fine Dad," Jerry answered his father respectfully.

"That's good to know. What about your wife and Gerald?" He asked about his daughter-in-law and grandson.

He shook his head while he replied. "They are fine Dad. Ehm Dad... Demilade is here." He does not want to keep Demilade waiting because he was sure the man has no idea that his other son was at the door.

The man was stunned for a while then he turned his perplexed face toward the direction Jerry was looking at. Demilade was standing at the door post staring at both of them, hands tucked into his jeans pocket.

The man stood up to his heel with shaky feet. His son tried to help him but he assured him that he was alright.

"How... Demi..." The man seems a loss for words as he stared at Demilade with a shocked expression.