Part 69
ra tightly held Uncle Joe Sebastian’s hand. They had arrived at Changi Airport. A four-wheeled vehicle was parked at the airport exit.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.
“Are we meeting Grandpa now, Uncle?” ra asked as she stepped into the car.
“I need to eat first, ra. I’m very hungry,” Joe made an excuse. He wasn’t ready. Yes, meeting Freedy Lim, who clearly didn’t like him, was daunting.
“Okay, we should eat first,” ra agreed. She felt very nervous. Her heart always wondered what would happen next? Of course, ra had a backup n in case her grandfather didn’t give his blessing.
The car they boarded stopped at a seafood restaurant. They got out of the car and started going in.
Joe ordered some food from the menu. Strangely, his hunger vanished just like that.
“Why aren’t you eating, Uncle?” ra asked. She was trying to swallow the scallops she had chewed.
“I don’t know, ra, suddenly I lost my appetite,” Joe answered. He just stared at his empty te.
“Is Uncle very afraid to meet Grandpa?” ra probed. Because that’s what she felt.
“No!” Joe denied. As usual, he always tried to appear fine in front of ra and didn’t show his weaknesses.
“Alright, Uncle, let’s just meet Grandpa!” ra suggested.
“Okay, ra, let’s meet Grandpa Lim now!” Joe proposed.
“Yes, Uncle,” ra replied.
They got back into the car. They both sat in the back seat.
The car started moving towards Freedy Lim’s residence.
To ease his nervousness, Joe called his mom. Maybe it could boost his confidence.
The call connected.
“Hello,” Mrs. Linn answered on the other end of the phone.
“Hello, Mom,” Joe greeted. Suddenly, he forgot what he wanted to say.
“Have you arrived?” his mom asked.
“Yes, Mom, I’ve arrived and will meet ra’s Grandpa soon!” Joe replied.
“Emm yes, as I said this morning, I always pray for you, hoping that your wish to marry ra will be blessed by her guardian,” Mrs. Linn said. She understood Joe’s current anxiety. “What is ra doing?” she asked.
“ra is sitting next to me, Mom,” Joe replied. “Does Mom want to talk to her?” Joe turned to ra and shed a smile, though it looked stiff.
“No, she must also be nervous! Whatever happenster, whether Freedy Lim gives his blessing or not, it’s the best for both of you,” Mrs. Linn advised.
“Yes, Mom, I understand. Where’s Kimmy?” Joe suddenly wanted to talk to his daughter.
“Here, she’s been listening to our conversation since earlier!” Mrs. Linn exined.
“Hello, Dad,” Kimmy’s voice sounded very loud.
“Hello, Kimmy,” Joe replied.
“Dad, be strong, just be strong!” the little girl said, although she didn’t fully understand.
“Yes, Dad will definitely be strong!”
“Okay, Dad, I’ll y again, bye!” his little daughter bid farewell and ended the call just like that.
Joe’s hand returned the t object to his pocket.
“ra, are you ready?” Joe asked. The question was more appropriate for himself. Freedy Lim’s actions really made him uneasy. However, his determination to get ra still required effort.
“Yes, Uncle, I’m ready!” ra answered. “What about you, Uncle Joe, are you ready?”
“I’m ready, ra.”
His smile was restrained. However, he didn’t want to show his inner turmoil to ra.
The atmosphere fell silent again. The beauty and bustle of the city couldn’t distract Joe from Freedy Lim. The middle-aged man still upied his thoughts.
The driver stopped the car in the parking area of a multi-story building.
“Uncle, we’ve arrived!” ra said.
Joe snapped out of his reverie. “Okay, ra, let’s meet your grandpa!” Joe replied.
They both got out of the car. Joe reached for ra’s hand in his grip. Then, they walked towards the elevator.
Only the two of them were in the elevator. ra pressed the number 104, the highest floor where her grandfather’s residence was. Joe let out a slow breath. Controlling the growing nervousness with each passing minute.
The elevator door opened. The building’s transportation device took ra and Joe to the top floor of the building.
Slowly, ra and Joe walked towards the door. They stood side by side.
“We’ve arrived, Uncle, we’ll meet Grandpa soon!” ra said. Her left index finger moved to press the doorbell.
“Yes, ra!” Joe nodded slowly.
A waiter opened the door for them, and Uncle Zio stood up to greet them.
“When did you arrive here?” ra asked, surprised.
“Mr. Joe and Miss ra, Mr. Lim has been waiting for you in his office, I hope you will go there soon!” Zio requested, choosing not to answer ra’s question.
“Okay, we’ll go meet him right away!” Joe replied firmly.
The couple walked together towards Freedy Lim’s office.
ra pushed the door handle. Joe stared straight ahead, his eyes meeting Freedy Lim’s gaze.
“Good afternoon, Grandpa!” ra greeted, walking ahead.
“I’ve been waiting for you since earlier, ra, finally you’re back,” the middle-aged man replied with a friendly smile. “Look who’s apanying you,” he added, looking towards Joe. The man was approaching.
“Young Sebastian, please have a seat,” the grandfather requested, pointing to the sofa.
Joeplied, sitting directly in front of Freedy Lim.
“It seems like you’ve improved,st I heard you were in aa, but now you’re even traveling abroad, that means you’re healthy!” the middle-aged man said with a smile.
“Of course, Sir,” Joe replied. His tongue was tied to speak. His anxiety exceeded that of his thesis defense.
“Thank you for apanying ra, you can stay for free at one of the Lim family hotels!” he offered.
Silence.
“I’m sorry, Sir!”
“Sorry for what?” Mr. Lim asked.
“Sorry foring all the way to your house just to apany ra, but I also want you to kindly give your blessing to my sincere intention to marry ra!” Joe said wholeheartedly.
Silence. Freedy Lim felt Joe was reckless and quite brave.
ra saw her grandfather’s displeased expression.
“Are you serious about what you’re saying?” Freedy Lim inquired.
“Of course, I’m serious!” Joe asserted.
“What will you do if I don’t give my blessing?” the middle-aged man challenged. Even if he did give his blessing, it wouldn’t be as easy as this.
Joe bowed his head, thinking before answering.
“You have to bless my rtionship with Uncle Joe, because I’m pregnant…,” ra’s excuse stopped short.
“Quiet, I’m asking Sebastian!” Freedy Lim teased.
“I’m pregnant…!” ra tried to gain approval.
“ra, leave the room!” Freedy Lim ordered his granddaughter.
Freedy Lim pressed a button. Shortly after, the door opened, and Zio was seen standing there.
“Take ra out of this room!” hemanded.
“Yes, Sir!” Zio replied. He moved towards ra. “Miss, let’s get out of here!” he requested.
ra grumbled. She was afraid of what would happen next. Afraid that her grandfather wouldn’t give them his blessing.
With a heavy heart, she followed Zio out of her grandfather’s room. Now there were only Joe and Freedy Lim.
“Is it true that you like ra?” Freedy Lim asked. “She’s still too young, and you, even your ex-wife was a model, are you sure you want to marry ra?” he inquired. Even though he hadn’t raised ra from a young age, Freedy Lim also didn’t want ra to be unhappy.
“I don’t just like ra, I love her very much,” Joe said.
“Do you know that marriage isn’t just about love?” Freedy Lim challenged. He raised his eyebrows.
“I once risked my life for ra,” he saidter. “I don’t think everyone can sacrifice and risk their lives for a girl who may not necessarily be their partner!” Joe added.
“So, you feel cheated because you were lying in aa in the hospital after saving ra, tell me, how much should I pay you!” the middle-aged man offered.
“ra and I are notmodities that can be measured in money and material possessions, I’m just asking for your blessing, Mr. Lim. I want to marry ra, this is not just my desire, but our mutual desire,” Joe insisted, holding back his emotions.
Silence. Freedy Lim thought for a moment before making a decision. Meanwhile, Joe continued to wait for what the man would say.
“Alright, I bless your rtionship, but with conditions!” Freedy Lim said confidently.
To be Continued.