Chapter 3 surprised

Chapter 3

He seems surprised and startled that's why I also felt nervous.

"You stay here. I'll check it out." He said seriously before putting the laptop back on the table and headed for the stairs.

And because I was really hungry and just shy of Sir Gian, I quickly devoured it while he wasn't there.

I was in the middle of drinking milk when I stopped because I heard a woman's voice and she was going up the stairs.

"Oh there she is!" Openly promised a familiar suspicious old woman when she saw me.

I just stood up because of the shock especially when his face was lit up.

"Mami'la?" I weakly exclaimed. I know her, she's my regular customer at the cafe and I talk to her often.

"Mami'la what are you doing here? It's late at night." Sir Gian spoke in a panic.

"What are you doing here, Apo, why not... If Hilda hadn't told me that she had a girlfriend, I wouldn't have known that she was living in your house." Mami'la continued to speak, which is why I smirked. I don't think he has seen me yet.

"Mami'la wait what? Manang Hilda told you about this?" Sir Gian also exclaimed.

"Yes! She called me while ago. That's why I quickly came here to see this future grand-daughter in law of mine. I want to see and meet the woman who is captive to your cold and hard heart." He was still smiling and that's why I was still smiling because I didn't know how I should react.

"Mami'la, there must be a misunderstanding here--" He started to say before he was cut off.

"Misunderstanding what? I see no problem here. Don't worry grandpa I'm not against you. wait-- A-Ariyah grandpa?! That's you!" Later he promised when he could look at me carefully.

"Ah haha-hi Mami'la, yes, it's me." I forced a smile of promise before I approached him to guide him.

"Oh, who would have thought that you were the girlfriend of my grandson that I always told you about. Why didn't you tell me?" This is a happy promise.

"Ah what's the matter Mami'la, I don't know because I already know he's the grandson you're talking about."

"What? So does that mean that this Gian didn't even tell you about me?" Mami'la said it was going to happen, which is why Sir Gian and I looked at each other.

"Ah-n-no, that's not true Mami'la, I mentioned you to him just not detailed." He is quick to lie.

"Oh okay...well anyways, that's not important anymore, what's important is this... it seems like you're doing things here, hmm you're even wearing Gian's pajamas." After a while, Mami'la said curiously, which is why Sir Gian and I looked at each other again.

"Mami'la wait wait... It's not what you're thinkin--"

"Hey grandpa, what are you doing, I can understand those things. What I don't understand is you, this is not what your grandpa taught you. In our family, we value traditional union of two people. Marriage should come first before anything else but what are you doing?" Mami'la still talked to Sir Gian that's why we were both counted.

"Ah- M-mami'la, w-nothing like that--" I was about to say but he spoke again.

"No it's okay iha. You don't have to defend my grandson. It's just like this, since you're just living together and doing things, let's talk about marriage. Gian has to take responsibility for what he did to you." He said nothing, that's why our eyes widened.

"what?!"

"Marriage?!"

Sir Gian and I exclaimed together.

"There's no why why, no but but... You should talk about it yourself and tell me your decision. Alright, I should go now to the guest room and rest. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Mami'la spoke again and left for the guest room where I was supposed to sleep.

Awkwardness prevailed between the two of us when Mami'la left.

"So, you and M-mami'la know each other?" He asked nothing to break the awkwardness between us.

"Ah yes, sir. I'm working at a cafe right now, so I often have him as a customer. He often seems to be deep in thought, so I accompany him when there aren't many customers." I'm telling a story.

"Oh I see. Sorry for what just happened. No worries, I'll talk to Mami'la to clear things out."

"Oh no!" I suddenly exclaimed that's why he was surprised.

"What do you mean? W-why not aren't you bothered by it?"

"Ah S-Sir, it's true that I-I'm a-awkward but I-I know Mami'la's situation."

He was stunned by what I said and his face became sad.

"So she mentioned about her illness?"

"O-yes and I also know that his only wish is to see you become girlfriends and get married until his illness gets worse." I said gently.

"Hey Mami'la, what should I...." He sighed and promised before shaking his head.

"Oh you guys are still here! Are you already discussing about your marriage?" Mami'la suddenly promised that she had just left the room.

"Ah Mami'la--" I said but Sir Gian held me by the hand.

"Umm yes Mami'la, don't worry, we're looking into that." He promised with a smile that's why I got on and nodded.

"How about you, why are you still awake?"

"Ah yeah. I just went out to get some water."

"I'll get you water then, Ariyah, go to the room first I'll follow." He turned to me but I was also restless that's why I volunteered to fetch water and they were left to fend for themselves.

I was about to go up the stairs when I stopped because I heard their conversation.

"Apo, I know Ariyah very well, she's a good girl, and I know that's she is your match. I know that you will complement each other very well." I heard Mami'la promise as they sat next to each other on the sofa.

"Mami'la, she's different from me. Look at our personalities. If you really know her well then you know that we are very different. We're just like two intersecting lines coming from different starting points and going into two different directions. " Sir Gian said but Mami'la only grinned before speaking again.

"Grandpa, I know you're smart that's why you're always going for facts and analytical explanations but here's my question. How do you think a puzzle can be completed?"

"Well for matt puzzles, they should be made of different shapes and sizes to match one another."

"Exactly apo! That's the same when it comes to choosing our significant others. Apo, what I'm meaning to say is that, you need a person who is different from you so that you can be able to intersect at some point. Because when the person you look for is someone who is the same as you, it will be boring, it seems that you're looking at yourself in the mirror. You and that person will just be like parallel lines, similar, but will never going to intersect. " Mami'la made a long promise before holding the hand of Sir Gian who was just listening silently.

"Apo, I really like Ariyah for you. She is simple, joyful, sweet and warm person. Ever since I first met her at the cafe I used to go to I always liked her, now that I've learned that she is I'm so happy to be your girlfriend."

"are you having so much fun? but why Mami'la, may I know?"

"Grandpa, you know what my only wish is before my illness gets worse and I forget everything, including you. Grandpa, my disease is Alzheimer's disease. You know that it won't take long for me to forget you, the our family. That's why I wish, before that day comes, to see you settle down with the woman who will teach you to be happy, have feelings, enjoy life, and most of all have warmth in your heart which is long gone."

"Mami'la, I always tell you that I'm perfectly fine. You don't have to worry about me anymore--"

"Apo, apart from me and your best friend, there is no other person close to you. I don't want you to be alone, that's why my eagerness to marry you off to the woman who is worthy for You're just saying that you're fine being alone but no, soon, you'll need someone to accompany you, a woman who will love you and care for you that's why I wanna make sure I can witness all of that right now Just yet. But of course, I want that woman to be the one I have approved for you. You know who I'm talking about." Mami'la had more suggestions. That's when I approached them.

"Oh he's here..."

"Ah- o-opo Mami'la, here's your water." I smiled in response.

"Oh he's fine, it's late. You rest and I'll rest too." Mami'la responded after taking the water and just looking at Sir Gian and me.

"Oh let's go.... What are you waiting for..." He smiled as he promised that's why Sir Gian and I didn't do anything but go to his room.

Since Mami'la really waited for us to enter the room before she entered the guest room, I did nothing but enter Sir Gian's room as well, even though it was very awkward and embarrassing.

"Ah hemm, you can sleep on the be--"

He initially promised but I immediately went to the sofa at the foot of the bed and sat there.

"Oh Sir, it's embarrassing. You're already in bed, I'm fine here. Non negotiable period! I'm already asleep and sorry for the trouble again. Good night!" I promised straight away and went to bed because the situation was really awkward.

"Okay then. I'm also sorry for all that just happened and thank you for riding in. Tomorrow, if you don't want to see Mami'la again, get up early so that she's still asleep. You can leave like that." He seriously promised.

I just nodded and didn't speak.

The next day, Sir Gian and I both woke up to three knocks from Mami'la.

"Lovebirds, wake up. Breakfast is ready!" She said sweetly before letting out another knock.

I was just embarrassed when I turned to Sir Gian because I didn't follow what he said that I should leave early so that Mami'la and I wouldn't reach each other, that's another pretending.

Because Mami'la had an emergency meeting, she left earlier. Next I also left after washing the food and getting dressed. Sir Gian was currently getting dressed so I didn't knock him. I just left a thank you note on the table.

After that day, I returned to the reality of my life. Mami'la didn't show up at the cafe for a few days, so I felt a little worried for reasons I couldn't explain.

Gian's Pov

It's been a week since Mami'la was confined here in the hospital. I just came from school and rushed here because Mami'la's doctor wants to talk to me.

"Mr. Harris, I'm so sad to tell you but your grandmother's condition is not getting better. Alzheimer's disease has no cure yet. No operation, no remedy. It can only be slowed from affecting the patient through medication. That's the only thing we can do to slow down your grandmother's brain function from fast deterioration." My whole body got cold because what Dr. Kevin said.

"if that's the case Doc, what else could I possibly do to help my grandmother?"

"If you're talking about cure, there's nothing you can do but I suggest that you should spend more time with her, make happy memories with her, and do the things that will make her happy or give the things that she wishes to have . That will help her forget about her sickness and help her out of distress. If she's emotionally happy, the worsening of her illness will slow down. If that happens, I can guarantee you at least 1 or 2 year extension before she gets worse and worse forget everything little by little." Long explanation by Dr. Kevin that's why I just nodded.

"Thanks Doc. You can count on me to do everything to make her happy as long as she remembers."

"Good luck Mr. Harris, you can call me anytime, if you need anything." He said before gently patting me on the shoulder and leaving.

To Be Continued.