Chapter 164 - It's Not Too Late Yet

Looking up, Leo saw the face of Ajie, drawn with an immense pity for him. His eyes glistened with tears, and with the act of sympathy he was receiving at the moment, Leo sobbed louder.

"How much do you hear," Leo asked Ajie without looking at him, brushing away the stubborn tears from his eyes. It had been a long while since he cried, though there were many reasons for him to be sad and worried.

"Everything," Ajie replied, hugging him closer.

"I hope you understand," Leo replied with a sad smile as he reached out to cover Ajie's hands, which were locked next to his chest.

"I am so sorry that it happened, Tay," Ajie said, throwing a glance afterward at the direction of Andrew, "let's make everything right."

Leo lifted his eyes at Joanna, who was watching them with a tender expression. He gave her a weak smile, and Joanna held the hand he rested at the table.

"Enough for this day, uncle. I'll keep in touch."

Leo stood up and turned to Andrew, who remained crouching at the corner. His hands were still on both of his ears, and his eyes were tightly closed. Leo stepped forward and patted his shoulders, "I'm sorry, son. I hope someday you can go home with us."

Andrew did not make any slight movement, but Leo knew that he heard him. He glanced back at Joanna over his shoulders, and the latter nodded, signifying that it was alright for them to leave. Ajie placed his arms across Leo's shoulders, and he brought him to the deck. He wanted to talk to him, 

The waves were about four feet high, rolling and slapping at both sides, distant of the vessel. Despite the loud sound of the engine and the splashing of the waves, the vast stretch of the sea and the dark, distant horizon still displayed a serene atmosphere.

Placing both their hands on the railings, they gazed at the sprawling sea bed and inhaled the crisp air that slapped their faces as it rushed against the direction of the ship.

"Tay, do you think Andrew is your son?" Ajie made the first question to break the silence.

"When I first saw the child in school, I know he was mine, but Raul warned me. He told me I should stay away from his family, or else something worse will happen to me."

Ajie frowned as he listened, how could Raul be so cruel?

"Tay, what is the reason for his anger towards you? Is it only because of Amalia?"

"It was a family dispute. His family already had a grudge towards us because of a property. They claimed that it was spring near the school which your grandparents sold to a foreigner was theirs.  Their anger intensified when the property became a tourist spot."

Ajie gaped at the revelation; the hot spring indeed produced a considerable income. If Raul's family succeeded in taking it away from them, it would have given them a vast fortune.

"Not only that," Leo continued, "when they eloped, Raul passed around a lie, telling them that they only escaped because of my threat."

Ajie flushed because of anger, and fine tremors ran throughout his flesh. He couldn't imagine his father suffered all these. He could neither imagine what would he do if he were in his place.

"Tay, perhaps, Andrew knew the truth. That's why he harbored anger at us," Ajie said, thinking back on the incidents where Andrew threw his indirect revenge against him.

"That's what I want to know."

Leo's thoughts drifted back to the moment when he watched Andrew played his piece. His music prowess was something he must have inherited from him. Ajie may sing well, but Andrew could play different musical instruments.

"His talent in music is also an indication that he is my son, but my instinct is stronger than any proof."

Ajie nodded. It was something he could never argue. He looked into his father's eyes, and for the first time, he noticed the similarities of some of his and Andrew's features.

"I am worried about his attitude," Leo said, his eyes reflected shadows of sadness.

Ajie tapped his shoulder, assuring him that he understood and that he would be with him throughout the process of their reconciliation.

"Tay, it's not too late yet. Perhaps, Andrew's childhood was not a happy one."

"I guess."

Leo returned to their cabin and found Issa sitting on the bed, obviously waiting for him. He had been away for too long already, and he did inform her where he went. She must have been worrying already. For a moment, she squinted as she stared at him sharply and asked, "What happened?"

"I saw him." His answer was soft, and Issa further felt something was troubling him.

Leo confessed about that shameful chapter of his life the night he proposed to marry him. In that way, she still had a chance to change her decision. He suffered too much emotional torment already, and he could not accept further reminders and blame from her in the future.  If a woman would take him in marriage, she should also accept his past.

After Issa promised to accept him as he was, he never brought up the topic again. He did not even tell her that Andrew's grandparents asked him for the custody of their grandson. They were already old and sick to take care of a young child. Yet, Leo suspected that the real reason behind was because the elderlies knew that he was Andrew's biological father.

"Who?" 

"Amalia's son."

"Leo, why do you look like you're bearing the weight of the world in your shoulders? Tell me, is he your son?"

Leo gave her a weak smile. "Issa, would you give him a chance to be my son?"

Issa stood up and pulled him to sit down by her side. Ever since they got married, she could never remember a time where he got worried about the child. Issa did not even know that Andrew and Ajie went to the same school. She was a typical housewife. She did the household chores and tended the garden, but she seldom went out to chat with her neighbors. While they lived in an isolated place, she could still go down and spend time with her acquaintances whenever she wants.

"Whoever is a part of you is also a part of me."