𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 85. ~~

He looked away from him and he tried holding back the tears that threatened to pour down his face. He had never been on the edge of crying so hard before. His heart was literally burning with rage, pain, and a lot of unspoken words. And it felt like it would burst out of his chest at any second.

He drew him a sharp loud breath to calm his frantic heart.

The man couldn't even find his voice. His tears made it hard for him to say anything. The guilt from his question was eating him. He knew the answer to those questions was exactly the reason why he had abandoned his duty as a father to his first child.

He covered his face with his palm as he weep profusely.

"Stop crying and answer me. Tell me why? Why did you do it?" He asked almost yelling.

He hated how he couldn't say any word to defend himself. He doesn't want to feel any pity or form of sympathy for him. But he was doing a great job trying to make him feel sympathy for him with his tears and how he was crying like a child. And he hated it.

He hated that he was starting to feel pity for the fragile man in front of him. He hated how his heart was beginning to soften. He hates it so much.

With his crying face, he replied in an inaudible tone. "I know I made a mistake. I know...son. I know that. I am not denying it. You don't know... you won't know... how much I wish I can make it right and change what I did. I am sorry." He sniveled.

"Then answer me. Why? Why did you do all that you did?" He asked the man harshly, scowling at him.

"It won't change anything Demilade,...." He answered back firmly. He couldn't help it. It was also the truth. The answer won't change anything. It was just going to make it worst. No single excuse could make up for what he did. The damage had been done. It won't undo the wrong thing he did to himself and his mother and he knew it. "It won't change anything, son...."

Demilade angrily cut him off, looking up at him. "You shouldn't call me son. I don't have a father for as long as I know and I won't acknowledge you as a father no matter what you say. You were never there when I needed a father. For a long time, I hope and hope...even if it was just for the sake of my mother that you will come back or try to fulfill your responsibility. You can't use the excuse that you didn't know my mother wasn't saying the truth or that the DNA result was fake. You knew deep well that I was your son. Your wife knew and you surely knew as well. But you choose not to acknowledge us. Didn't your family name mean more to you than your responsibility as a father? I tried to understand when I was old enough that you don't love my mother. I understand that you have a name, a family, and a reputation that you don't want to ruin. I really tried to understand. God knows that I did. But did you ever consider us? Do you for once think about what you did to my mother or the child you abandoned with her?" He asked. This time he let the tears drop. He was hurting and the least he could do was pour out his mind. "I don't think so." He shook his head. The man's face already gave him the answer he needed.

"You never did. You think we weren't worth your attention. The least you could have done was take responsibility. You choose to abandon your responsibility as a father. You and I both know that most men like you out there do have illegitimate children outside their marriage. But it didn't kill them. Their lives didn't end when they take responsibility for their children. A single phone call," He gestured with a finger. "A phone call, money for feeding and schooling or.... clothing shouldn't be so hard for you to do. It won't hurt so much to take responsibility because you are the reason I happened. It was your choice. It was your own action and you can't blame anyone for it. But you made up your mind that my mother and I weren't worth associating with. We don't deserve a chance in your life. Isn't it? Isn't that the truth?" He asked controlling the urge to shout.