CHAPTER 28 — THE HEART CAN’T FORGET

Adrian embraced Dale again. “my son.” He kept repeating on and on.

Dale patted his back in a comforting manner. “its okay. Its fine. Now.” Adrian released him and he helped him to a seat, where he sat him down. He then brought Elsa closer to him, holding her waist. “This is Elsa, dad. The woman I intend to marry.” She tried to maintain some distance, but he pulled her closer and she stood still, a bit uncomfortably.

“She is beautiful.” He said simply, his eyes more on Dale than Elsa, as if he was seeing him for the first time. “I love you, Son.” Dale nodded and without hesitation, said.

“I love you, too.”

Elsa lay, her head on Dale's chest, her hair all over his upper body. His hands were on her waist as he stared up to the chandelier. “You have such a big heart, Dale.” She said, drawing small circles on his chest.

He smiled down at her. “You think so?”

She nodded. “You forgave him so fast and accepted him even quicker.” He sighed. Adrian wasn’t one for him to refuse. Now that he thought of it, Adrian hadn’t been any less a father to him, even when sometimes his recklessness made Adrian angry, he never left him. He had always been there.

“Is that why?”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t read my thoughts.” He said and she chuckled.

“I can’t help it. Tell me then.” She said and adjusted her position.

“When he told me about his relationship with my mom, which I knew about, actually, but. I only know he loved her. You know, the whole unrequited love thing. I never knew she loved him back. I never knew they had been together.” He paused and sighed. “I remembered her dying moments, Elsa. She had been sick for a while and that morning, she was acting weird. She was on the floor, unable to breathe, coughing incessantly. She coughed up blood at some point. My brother, who was just three then was beside her, crying his guts out. As if he knew what was happening. As if the mother and son bond they shared was speaking to him or so. Of all the neighbors who lived nearby, the one person who came to my mind first was Adr—Father. I ran to him with all I had.

When he opened the door, I didn’t have to say anything. He was wearing a robe and flip flops, he didn’t bother changing it, Elsa. He went back with me and by that time, my mom was on her very last moment. He did everything, what would two kids be able to do?”

He blinked quickly. “That blind trust, Elsa. I remember it. Children may be gullible, but…to convince a child that you'll be there when he needs you…that’s priceless, Elsa. Only the name changes now. Not the feelings or the roles.”

Elsa smiled. “Do you think he likes me?”

He laughed out loud, then leaned and kissed the side of her lips. “He is smitten by you, I promise.”

“Sure?”

“Yeah, sure.” He repeated and they settled in comfortable silence.

“Dale?”

“mmm?”

She seemed a bit hesitant, but then said. “At the PCT, you said you were a chef.”

He nodded. “I am a chef.”

“You also said your restaurant went down.”

He nodded. “I didn’t make it in time for the assessment test.”

She bit the inside of her lips. “Don’t you want to try again?”

“With Grandeur?”

She looked up. “What’s Grandeur?”

“My restaurant.” His voice was low, and he seemed deep in thought.

“Okay. Well, I mean yes. I want you to try again, If you can, Dale. I've seen how passionate you are about cooking, and I feel you shouldn’t let one failure, no matter how big put you down.”

He sat up and she followed, facing him. He then buried his head in her chest, wrapping his arms around her. “I am not sure my hand remembers everything now. It’s been months, Elsa.” She shook her head vehemently, placing her hand on his chest.

“Your hand may have forgotten, but not your heart, Dale. I know that for sure. Listen to your heart, and I can promise you. Your meals will come out even better. For all the love you put in it.” She gave his chest a light tap and he smiled into her chest.

“You’re fluffy.” She laughed and tried to push him away, but he pushed himself further into her chest. “I don’t know why you’re trying to deny me something that clearly belongs to me.” She laughed.

“It belongs to you?

“Yep.” He answered simply. “It belongs to me too. Why can’t it?”

“You’re such a tease.”

“And I love you,” He replied and leaned closer. “And…I wanna kiss you right now.”

She tilted her head to the side. “What’s stopping you?”

He seemed to think about it. “I want you to kiss me.”

She laughed. “You’re so petty.”

He rolled his eyes playfully. “Just do it.” He had barely finished his statement before she kissed him, causing to fall back a little and close his eyes. He kissed her back just as eagerly and when she tried to break the kiss and pull away, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back down. “You’re not going anywhere.”

She smiled. “Of course. Where else would I rather be?”