Russia Ocampo and her choice

Chapter 8

“Why the hell are you here? Did Granddad also ask you to come?”

I had just arrived at my grandparents' house when I saw Paxton leaning in the doorway while looking at me with his arms crossed.

“Nah, he won't call me over for something like that.”

“Then why are you here?”

“If you need some knight in shining armor, I can do some roleplaying.”

He walked to me, put his arm around my shoulder and kissed my forehead. He didn't remove his arm while he guided me inside.

“Granddad would be pissed to see you today because he didn’t ask for you.”

“And I told you, I’m your knight.”

“You think I’ll hurt your cousin, Paxton? How dare you!”

We both tense when we hear Granddad’s voice. Tssk, Paxton is really stubborn.

“Physically? You can’t, but emotionally? Who among us has not been hurt by you?”

Paxton, among us, cousins, is the only one who’s not afraid of telling Granddad what’s on his mind and that’s the reason why they’re not close. And thank God that he treated Lala oppositely. His sweet to Lala. He is the sweetest to Lala.

“Kuya Paxton, that’s enough, okay?”

I used a tone that I usually use when I’m talking to a kid, but I’m looking at him with eyes wide open. No matter how strict Granddad is to us, he is still our grandfather and he’s already old.

“Granddad, I’m just going to say hello to Lala, then we’ll talk.”

I wrapped my arm around Paxton’s waist, his arm was still on my shoulder. Then I dragged him to the garden where Lala was relaxing. The nerve of this guy today! He is still glaring at Granddad while I’m dragging him away.

“You know Kuya Paxton, I appreciate that you're worried about whatever Granddad’s going to say to me, but you should not have talked back to him. He is already old.”

“Old age is not a reason for us to let him say anything he wants to us. He always points out to us our mistakes, but he overlooks his. Even Kuya Neel, he’s just being a good grandson to him out of respect only. It’s just you! If you're not disobeying us at times, we would probably think that you're a masochist.”

“Aren’t you being too much to me? Granddad is not that bad. Behind those hurtful words and strictness is a grandfather who wishes everyone success. If I even give up on him, who will remain to be at his side? I’m the youngest, remember? So let me fulfill my role of loving every one of you.”

He pulled me closer to him, squeezing me gently.

“Sometimes, we really forget that you can be sweet because you're always acting tough. We would even forget that you're the youngest. You’re the one getting called if there’s a problem, it’s only you who is brave enough to snap and shout at us if our anger is starting to consume us. So be the youngest and let us protect you when we want to protect you, okay?”

I just smiled at him. Paxton is the closest to me and vice versa, maybe because we only have a three-year age gap? But I don’t think so, because if that’s the reason, Asia should be the closest, since she’s just a year older than me. I don’t even call her Ate. And the triplets are the same age as Paxton. I don’t know anymore how and why we were the closest to each other.

We finally arrived at the garden with our position still the same and as sweet as earlier. Lala smiled brightly seeing us that close.

“Your favorite grandchild is here, Lala. Are you that happy? You can defeat the sun with how brightly you shine right now.”

Told you, he is the sweetest to Lala. You won’t get an idea that he had just drawn blood against Granddad not a moment ago. We made mano to Lala and kissed her on the cheeks.

“Oh no Paxton, I don’t have a favorite! I love all of you equally, right Russia?”

“Lala, it’s okay. We won’t contest that fact. He's the sweetest grandchild to you. He’s the only one who would shower your face with kisses when drunk.”

Paxton grimaced while Lala and I laughed. Last time during my birthday celebration, everyone got drunk except for Kuya Arzt at Kuya Neel. Paxton, like a child, hugged Lala and told her that even if he had a girlfriend again he'd always be Lala’s favorite grandchild. Then he showered Lala’s face with kisses. Me being the one with the highest alcohol tolerance, sober enough to witness that horrendous scene, I took a video and showed it to everyone the next morning. The sleazebag was so embarrassed after, we teased him the whole summer.

“Shoo yourself away, go talk to Granddad already. I’ll just be here with Lala. I’ll wait for you. I’ll drive you home, okay Princess?”

“Fine! Lala, I’ll be back. I’ll just talk to Granddad.”

Lala nodded. I turned my back at them and started walking back inside the house. I went straight to Granddad’s library/office, he always talked to us there, especially if it was just the two of us.

I knocked first before I opened the door. Granddad is already sitting in front of the chess board. We would always play chess while talking.

“Sit down.”

I sat quietly in front of the white pieces. He's giving me an advantage, ha? I’m definitely going to get scolded today. If Granddad uses the black pieces, I always get scolded, no exception. If he’s white, he's going to ask you how you’ve been or how things have been. He’s even going to ask for your future steps in your life.

“Why did you disrespect my guests last night?”

I’m right, it’s about what happened to the Santos’ brothers.

“I wish I could say I’m sorry Granddad, but they deserve it.”

Contrary to what Paxton believes, I won’t just stay silent and accept whatever Granddad says. I would still say my piece but in a calm and respectful manner.

“And why is that?”

“They called Kuya Neel a bastard.”

“Isn’t he?”

“Granddad!”

I know he only told the truth, but my heart still hurts as if he’s saying the word bastard to me. I felt a fang of disappointment.

“Okay, I’m sorry, but we can’t change the fact that my oldest once screwed up.”

“He's been a good son to you ever since. Can’t you really forgive Tito Joseph, Granddad?”

“I accepted his son, didn’t I? He should be grateful for that.”

I looked at him sadly. Maybe Tito Joseph’s mistake really did a number on him. That’s why he can’t forgive and forget.

“I won’t pry and judge on that matter.”

“You can’t, you're not involved. But is that it? You shouldn’t have disrespected them just because they told your Kuya Neel the truth.”

I wish I had not been really involved.

“I…”

I don’t know how to say the other thing that those brothers said. I don’t know how to phrase it.

“And your Kuya Arzt? What is happening to him? He is not a violent person, yet I heard that he threw the first punch. Does he have a problem? Are you still doing your job at being his sister?”

I can’t speak. I know that something’s been bugging Kuya these past months. I got so f****d up at my own college life that I forgot to talk to Kuya about it.

“I know, I already told you, Russia, that you need to protect everyone. You are the youngest, the most talented and I believe the smartest, so you should be able to do the duty without a problem. You can do what everyone can do if you want. So how were you not able to stop the brawl from happening? You're a taekwondo black belt, so it’s not a problem even if they are men. You know how stocks work better than Heilmittel, so you know how the company will be affected. Don’t tell me you forgot your duties? Did Marvin and Jasmine raise you to be irresponsible? Should I have called them instead?”

I don’t know what to say. Even though I said that it’s fine with me that Granddad would say hurtful words, that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t get hurt every time. It still hurts, especially now that he’s even questioning my parents' abilities in raising us.

“Granddad!”