Chapter 41 Armond's Regret

"Congratulations brother Xian," Jian Yiyi and Zhen in unison. They were leisurely sitting at their favorite spot in the school ground under the big thornless Hawthorn tree.

Xian has just finished the graduation ceremony and is now on his last day at the school and will soon be moving to a college university.

"Thank you, buddies," he responds, giving them a friendly half-hug touching their shoulders.

"The next school year will be boring for sure," grumbles Yiyi. Xian frowned

"And why is that princess?" Xian asked

"Because brother Xian is not here anymore," Yiyi pouted, and Xian ruffled her hair while Yiyi swatted his hand as he messed her hair.

"You know what kiddos–"

"We're not kiddos!" The trio in unison stopped Xian mid-sentence. Xian chuckled and raised both his hands, refreshing his sentence. He was just so comfortable and used to call them kids, little, princess, or, little buddies.

"You know what, try to broaden your circles. Make friends and get along with others, we are all too young to seclude ourselves from others. Trust me, there were still a lot of good people out there. You guys have to enjoy your youth." Explained Xian while gesturing his hands to the surroundings.

"But it's different, I like brother Xian the most." Said Yiyi, clinging his hand onto Xian's arms.

"And I like my little sister the most too," Xian flicked Yiyi's tip of the nose. "But we all can't be together every time, we have our own lives as we grow older. We have to meet various people along the way– and meet our destined one." Xian then darted his eyes into Zhen whilst pronouncing his last phrase which Zhen averted his gaze right away after their eyes had met.

"You sound so old brother Xian," said Jian.

"But what he said is the truth, though," said Scott as he placed his arms over Jian's shoulder.

"Hi, Scott," Greets Yiyi and Zhen.

"Hello, guys, I saw you from afar. You seem to have a good discussion, huh? Mind if I join?"

The group talks randomly and a few of Xian's friends join them as well. It's their last day in school anyway.

***

"So what do you want to talk about?" Barry without showing any emotion to Armond. It just happened that they crossed paths in a cafe near Barry's studio.

"I know it's too late, but I wanna apologize for what I did back then," Armond said apologetically.

"Which one? For locking my innocent mother in prison and the mental hospital or for kicking me out of the house and disowning me?" Barry sternly said. Armond went silent, guilt came cramming inside him.

"For everything," Armond manages to form words. "I know what I did is unforgivable, but–"

"So you know what you did back then is unforgivable, then why are you here?" Said Barry unmoved. What they did to his mother is something that Barry can't forget and forgive that easily.

"I'm sorry, but… can I at least see and talk to my grandchildren once in a while?" Barry's ears sting in an instant hearing Armond's request. Ever since that day at the restaurant, Barry and Liam told him to not approach their children. So Armond couldn't do anything and just appeased himself just by watching Yiyi and Zhen from a distance.

Barry laughed sarcastically

"You have no grandchildren in me because you are not my father. Haven't you already disowned me?"

"I… I'm sorry," Armond uttered again.

"I'm sorry?" Barry scoffed. "Did you know I slept in the park and the street when you refused to open the gate for me? Did you know I almost died because of hunger? Did you know how much humiliation I suffered? Did you know how many hardships I overcame by myself to survive in this cruel world because my very own father disowned me just because I'm gay? And do you expect me to forgive you like that just because you feel guilty?"

Barry's litany made the older man silent for a moment, guilt and conscience crammed all over him.

"You don't have to forgive me, but please allow me to show you how remorseful I am. I just want to meet my grandchildren once in a while. I'm old enough now, at least I want to be a grandfather to my grandchildren before I leave this world." Armond spoke, and tears silently dropped from the corner of his eyes. Barry's heart twinged at the sights of Armond but he ignored it.

"Don't worry, bad weeds don't die easily," said Barry as he shifted his eyes in a different direction. "You can still be a grandfather to your favorite son, Randal's children," Barry added.

"Randal is sterile, he can't have a child." dejected Armond as he is, Barry maintains his cold heart towards Armond.

"The Almighty is fair indeed." He said with a dry chuckle. "I can forgive you for what you did to me. I don't want to bear hatred toward anyone anymore. I am happy and content in my life now with my true family. But that doesn't mean I will accept you as if nothing had happened. And about my children, I will talk about it with Liam, but don't expect anything. If they accept you, you can approach them but if not; I'm sorry." Barry asserted

"Thank you," replied Armond.

Barry bows his head and stands up but is surprised when he sees Yiyi, Jian, and Zhenzhen entering the cafe.

"Dadda!" Call Yiyi cheerfully as she waves her hand. Barry meets them mid-way

"Why are you here, babies?" Ask Barry as he kisses them on the cheeks.

"We went to the studio, but the staff said you went out and it happens that we saw you from the outside of the cafe, who is he, dad?" Asked Yiyi

"Oh, he's–" Barry halted as his phone rang.

"It's your dad, I'll have to answer," said Barry and answered the phone as he gestured to the trio to find an empty table. Barry went out for a while to not disturbed the other customers.

"Baby, where are you? I'm at your studio."

"I am at the cafeteria nearby with the trio." Replied Barry

"Okay, I'll be there," said Liam and then hung up the phone. Barry goes back inside to see the trio sitting talking with Armond at the same table. Zhen recognized Armond and so he wanted to greet the old man but Yiyi and Jian followed him.

Barry cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Guys, your dad is coming," said Barry, and the trio bid goodbye to Armond. Barry spared him a last glance before turning his feet and going to the next table. After a few minutes, Liam arrived and instantly spotted them occupying the small cafe.

"Hi, uncle Liam," greeted Jian.

"Hi, there guys. Are you having a meeting here?" Asked Liam teasingly as he leaned his face giving Barry a greeting kiss on the lips. Few customers in the cafe look at them weirdly, but Barry and Liam couldn't care less. They can gossip for as long as they want.

"Why are you here? I thought you had a meeting with the directors?"

"We finished early and I don't have any schedule for this afternoon. I came to your studio and was supposed to be asking you for a date but it seems like we're going to have a family date instead." Liam said, which earns grinning smiles from the youngsters.

"Movie date!" The trio in unison. Barry and Liam shrugged their shoulders and agreed with the youngsters. They ordered some refreshments from the cafe before heading out, Liam and Barry bantering with the youngsters.

Armond smiled yet bitterly, he truly regretted his wrongdoings towards Barry and his mother back then. And now he couldn't blame Barry for giving him the cold shoulder. Armond left the cafe after Barry's family had gone.