Heartfelt Reunion
“You know him?” Ellie asked, confused, wondering how her grandmother knew him. It was when Granny called his name that Ellie learnt his name was Kevin.
“Yes, I do,” Granny responded in a low voice, walking up to Kevin, who was sitting on the bed.
“Where have you been all this time? I searched everywhere for you and your sister, but you both were nowhere to be found. I’m sorry I let go of you both that day; I shouldn’t have,” Granny said, touching his face, with sadness written all over her face. She observed Kevin and noticed that he was dressed in clothes that could almost be mistaken for rags. His hair looked rough and dirty, and he looked very unkempt. He was so thin that it was evident he had not been eating well. His state was devastating, making Granny tear up.
“If not for me and my family, you wouldn’t have ended up this way. It’s my fault this has happened to you and your sister. If I had raised my son properly, this wouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry for all the pain we have caused you. I’m sorry. Please, forgive us,” Granny said, clapping her hands together while pleading for Kevin’s forgiveness, with tears in her eyes. Ellie had never seen her grandmother in such a state before, which made her wondered about the relationship between the duo.
“It’s not your fault, granny. You raised your son well. If my father hadn’t gotten drunk that night, this wouldn’t have happened. It was destined to be so. You don’t have to beat yourself up so hard. You don’t have to feel guilty for something my parents were partially responsible for. It’s okay, granny,” Kevin said, pulling her in for a hug and patting her back to stop her from crying. This scene made Ellie realize that the two had come a long way. She looked at Kevin and saw he was more mature than his age, which made Ellie developed a liking for him. She observed how calm he was while handling the situation.
While looking at him, she noticed some of his features she hadn’t seen the night before. It was impossible to ignore the striking handsomeness that belied his tattered attire. His garments were ragged and torn, the edges frayed, and patches hastily sewn over holes. Still, his inherent charm was evident. He possessed a face that was practically sculpted with a strong, defined jawline and high cheekbones. His eyes shone with a combination of resilience and intelligence; they were a rich, alluring blue.
His untamed and disheveled dark hair contributed to his rugged charm by nicely framing his face. His jaw was covered in a light stubble that gave him a roguish yet alluring appearance. He carried himself with a certain grace and confidence, even in his tattered clothes.
Despite the obvious struggles he had endured, there was a certain softness in his expression and a glint of kindness in his eyes. The smudges of dirt on his skin only accentuated the smoothness of his complexion. He brushed a stray lock of hair from his face with one of his hands while the other was wrapped around Granny’s. His hands were calloused from hard work, making Ellie feel pity for him.
“Where is your sister now?” Granny asked, facing Kevin, who had let go of her. It was Granny’s voice that brought Ellie out of her thoughts.
“She’s in school. I do drop her off whenever I am going to work and my friend helps pick her up after school,” he explained.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only
“Can I see her?” Granny asked, unsure of Kevin’s response.
“Yes, you can,” he responded. While in the middle of their discussion, the doctor came in and, after checking Kevin’s vitals and his condition, he recommended for his discharge to be processed as he was fit enough. Granny paid the hospital bill, and even when Kevin volunteered to settle it, she didn’t agree. After everything was done, Granny headed to the exit, holding Kevin’s hand with Ellie trailing behind. This scene of Granny caring for someone else made Ellie slightly jealous, making her rolled her eyes.
“Where are you heading to now?” Granny asked Kevin as they exited the hospital.
“I have to go to work now. I didn’t inform my boss I would be late,” he responded.
“Where do you work?” she asked.
“I work at a construction site,” he responded.
“I’m sorry you’re going through all this. Can you take the day off and let me cook a meal for you?” Granny asked, seeing how rough Kevin’s hands were. She also noticed he was starving, which is why she suggested it. Kevin, who hadn’t eaten at all the previous day and whose belly had begun to growl, nodded in agreement.
“Should we pick Carla up from school before heading home?” Granny asked, and after Kevin agreed, they headed to her school in a taxi.
On arriving at Carla’s school, the scene before them was heartbreaking. Carla was being bullied by her classmates.
“Hey, blind girl. What’s the point of coming to school when you can’t see? Who would employ you if you eventually finish school? How does your brother even pay your fees? I heard he works at a construction site,” a boy mockingly said, making the other classmates laughed.
“Don’t talk about my brother like that!” Carla yelled in retaliation. The boy was surprised at Carla’s retaliation as she had never spoken back to him before.
“Wow!! You are talking back at me now? Do you have a death wish?”, the boy angrily said, kicking the table with violence, which made Carla shivered.
“And what if I do? What are you going to do? Your precious brother isn’t here to save you now,” the boy said, tapping Carla on the head. Hearing this, Kevin clenched his fist, ready to defend his sister, but before he could move, Granny had already moved to the scene and smacked the boy on the head.
“Who are you to bully my grandchild? You know what? I want to see the principal!” Granny said aloud, leaving everyone shocked.
“Grandchild?” Ellie exclaimed.