Meeting Again - 51 Introducing

I was a little taken aback by Twen’s question. He had never expressed any curiosity regarding his dad ever since I told him about Robbie leaving us. Twen was just two when he first asked me about Robbie. The wounds from Robbie’s rejection was still healing so the question cut through me like a knife. I couldn’t help but weep like a child that day. Twen was so surprised by my broken and messed up condition that he never asked the question again afraid of making me upset. I wonder what rose his curiosity again

“Why do ask about your dad all of a sudden?” I asked blinking in wonder

“That-” Twen said pouting slightly, and playing with his finger nervously

“Twen?” I asked again holding his hand gently, stopping him from being distracted

Twen raised his head to look me in the eye. He got even more nervous. I was worried that something must have evoked this reaction from him. Could it be the school kids again?

“Some old man met him today claiming to be his paternal grandfather. I don’t know what they spoke about but it had definitely had some affect on him” Samuel said cutting Twen’s word in between

“WHAT? His paternal gr-” I was not even able to complete my sentence when I heard a hurried footsteps.

Robbie appeared before us in a few seconds looking shaken. His eyes wide filled with distress. His face devoid of colour. He completely ignored me and Twen and looked straight at Sam who’s mouth opened in disbelief. Robbie extended his hand and caught hold of Samuel’s shoulder in a painfully tight grip. This made Twen grab hold of my collar tightly. I sensed his alarm at seeing Robbie appear suddenly and harass his Uncle Sam

“Is it true?” Robbie hissed excuding a menacing aura. Twen looked scared and wrapped his arms round my neck

Samuel was astonished too at the sudden appearance of Robbie. He blinked in surprise, as he exclaimed

“Boss! What are you doing here?”

“What you said, is it true?” Robbie asked totally disregarding Chef’s words.

“What are you talking about?” he said wincing slightly at the hard grip on his shoulder

“About the paternal grandfather meeting” he asked urgently, eyeing him a little ominously

Sam’s mouth opened in a ‘O’ and he asked without bothering to cover his blatant curiousity, “Boss, why does that concern you?”

“Just answer the question” Robbie asked shaking Samuel so hard that he got a little lightheaded

“Robbie! Stop” I quickly exclaimed, placing my hand on his shoulder, “You are hurting Sam and scaring Twen” I said holding Twen tightly in my other arm

Robbie slowly turned his head towards me. He looked messy. His pupil shrunken, his face pale and his perfectly combed hair falling messily on his forehead. He looked at me as if he is seeing me for the first time. His eyes then shifted to Twen who was holding onto my neck looking at Robbie fearfully. This sight made him regain his senses and the colour on his face. His grip loosened and he slowly straightened up. He looked at Sam apologetically and said in a shaken voice,

“Sorry for losing myself like this”

Sam breathed out in relief too. He forced a smile and spoke lightly to cool the atmosphere, “That’s fine boss. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable inside?”

All three of us looked at one another and then stepped in. Once all three of us settled, Sam asked us to wait for a second and went in another room leaving me, Robbie and Twen alone. It led to an awkward silence. Twen was sitting next to me. He was fidgeting throwing nervous glances at Robbie. Robbie looked lost in thoughts. He had his fingers entwined and placed his head over it. I was not sure what was the matter but he looked extremely worried. As more and more the silence was dragged, the more I felt edgy. Unable to take it any longer I asked him,

“What happened to you? Why did you suddenly became so aggressive?”

Robbie looked at me with eyes full of concern. He quickly sneaked a glance at Twen who was leaning on me and said after a very long sigh.

“Because I know my dad” he answered looking unexpectedly older than he was.

“I am still confused” I asked, my thoughts muddled and blurry

“My dad came to meet Twen that means he knows everything about us. Though, I knew he would get the inkling sooner or later but I didn’t expected it to be so fast. Coming to meet Twen in the school, it definitely means he has some scheme up his sleeve” Robbie said looking even more troubled.

I looked at him feeling my heart starting to beat faster. What does he mean scheme up his sleeve? Is he planning to get rid of Twen and me? Will he get us killed? Is this the price of being bonded to Robbie? No wait! Maybe I am thinking too extreme. That’s impossible! No matter how much he is disgusted us he has a reputation to uphold. He would never dirty his hands with something like this, would he? This is not some comic world that people would just casually sent goons to kill us. But then, what is it that he might be scheming…

“You are definitely thinking extreme” Robbie interrupted my thoughts, obviously aattracted by my facial expression, “He won’t get into things like murder, don’t worry. But he would definitely do something to get us apart” Robbie said

Well at least that’s good news. As long as he doesn’t try to kill us. Twen hasn’t even started living his life. I looked at Twen who was still leaning on me but was now staring at Robbie. The look of nervousness was replaced by curiousity. He promptly called Robbie startling him and asked in a voice full of intense interest,

“Mister, are-are you my dad?”