Shawn couldn't afford top risk his health--he couldn't afford to risk the old man's life. That old man was all he had, so he rushed him to the hospital to conduct a full check up. He realluy couldn't afford to lose that man...
When he saw him pass out earlier on, he was extremely terrified--he almost passed out himself.
Ever since that accident...
"Grandpa had a panic attack." The doctor broke the silence and his voice brought Shawn out of his reverie.
Panic attack? The young man couldn't help but scoff.
His grandfather had a panic attack because that issue? Because he told him he divorced that girl? Just how immensely was the old champ obsessed with him getting married that he'd actually suffered from a panic attack?
Doctor Alfred eyed the dangerous man seated in front of him mindfully before speaking.
"Mr. Shawn, there's something I think you deserve to know..." His voice trailed off.
Shawn stared directly at the man's face as a go ahead.
"I'll like for you to digest what I'm about to say well." The doctor chose his words carefully.
He couldn't afford to say anything that would offend this formidable man in front of him, or he might spend the rest of his life in jail.
He swallowed hesitantly before opening his mouth, "Grandfather is critically ill." He paused to observe the facial expression of the CEO, then he continued. "He has a chronic heart desease that can't be cured. He's had it for some years now. Grandfather Mandez is terminally ill."
"I'm sorry, sir." He then took out a file from the first drawer attached to his office desk. He placed the file in front of the CEO.
Shawn eyed the file conspicuously for a while before picking it up. The file had his grandfather's name on it. Slowly, he opened it and began to flip through the pages. A seconds later, his face turned pitch black. The more he read through the pages of the file, the blacker his face became.
After reading it over and over again, he closed the file with shaky hands and put it back on the desk without speaking a word.
After several minutes had gone by, he finally spoke in a low, husky voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Grandpa Mandez didn't want you to know about it. He made me swear to not tell you... and we kept it from you for several years. But now, I just..." The doctor's voice trailed off. He was short of words.
But Shawn understood perfectly. That was something his grandfather could indeed do. Would indeed do. He licked his dry lip feverishly.
"How much longer does he have...?" His voice came out as a whisper.
Doctor Alfred let out a sad sigh. "Three months? A couple of years? A week?--I can't really say, sir."
"But I'll advise that you do things that'll make him happy. It will go a really long way." He added softly.
Shawn nodded his head numbly afer a short while and sucked his teeth in. He was trying all his best to not breakdown right now...
After a while, he silently stood up on his feet and headed for the door.
"Please sir," The doctor's voice came from behind him and he stopped in his track, "make him happy."
Shawn's eyelashes wavered. He resumed walking, opened the door, and closed it behind him. He darted down the hallway, to the ward his grandfather was in, and stopped right in front of the door.
Through the glass in the door, he gazed at the old man lying on the hospital bed, with hooded eyes. Oh, his old champ. And to think that was always complaining and acting cold towards him every time the old man came looking for him...
His grandfather almost seemed lifeless in his sleep... as Shawn watched him. The man felt a sharp pain in his heart and he quickly looked away from the old man.
He chose not to enter the private ward. Instead, he rode the elevator down to the ground floor and went straight to the car. Right at this time, a girl also exited the hospital and headed back to the dormitory.
That night, the CEO of Beats Corporations cried like never before. He kept on hitting his fist furiously against the steering wheel until his knuckles turned completely white. Why him? Why now?
His grandfather was all he had left in this unjust world. How would he manage to survive after he's passed away? Why were unfortunate events always happening to him? What was his offense? Tears fell freely from his eyes.
The world was a wicked place; taking away from him everything he held dearly.
He'd been just a little boy when his parents died in a car accident. He grew up with no parental love... his grandfather was the only one who was there to guide him... And now, he'd be losing that one person too.
Shawn just found it hard to fathom... this life...
***
Few Hours Later:
Grandpa Mandez's eyes slowly fluttered open amd the first thing his eyes saw was the silouette of someone sitting on the chair beside the hospital bed. It didn't take long for him to realize that the person was his grandson. The young man's face was sullen--one look at it, and he knew the boy was now aware of his ailment.
That damn doctor.
The old man clicked his tongue.
"Are you feeling better now?" Shawn's voice was hoarse.
The boy had been crying... This was exactly what he was trying to avoid by keeping his ailment a secret. Grandpa Mandez knew his grandson would be terribly heartbroken when he finds out...
Slowly, he nodded his head in response to the boy's question.
"Take me home now." He muttered weakly.
The doctor already informed Shawn that Grandpa Mandez was free to leave the hospital as soon as he woke up, and that the old man just needed to use his medicines regularly and stay away from situations that'd trigger his anger.
The drive back to Magnificent was silent. Shawn had his mind totally occupied with various thoughts. The doctor's words kept ringing in his head: "Do things that'll make him happy..."
Something flashed through the CEO's eyes and he then suddenly started to add the pieces together.
Now, he understood the reason the old champ was hell bent on him getting married... and why he collapsed as he soon as he heard about his divorce.
Grandpa simply wanted to see him get married to someone who'd act in his stead when he's no more. Only then can his soul rest peacefully when he dies...
After dropping off Grandpa Mandez at his house and giving the old man's steward series of orders, Shawn drove into his mansion and headed straight to his room for a cold bath.
The news was still too much and complicated for him to process just yet.
After the cold shower, he stepped out in his bathrobe and sat at the edge of his king-sized bed for a thorough thinking.
The only thing that could make his grandfather pleased, right now, was if he got married. But that was the one thing the CEO wasn't ready to do. In fact, marriage wasn't among his plans at all.
However, now, for his dying grandfather, he'd have to do it. Get married.