White Francis was stunned. Did he hear it right? By that, he cleared his throat and gently pulled away his hand from Mrs. Dikkinson's grasp.
"Meet up with your daughter in the Philippines?" He asked while chuckling in disbelief. "I'm sorry, Madame, but I'm afraid I can't help you with that."
"But, son.. I think you need to meet her. Because who knows right? You two will get along with each other within the days, weeks or even more than that, on your getting to know each other stage and when that happens, the both of you will finally move on from your pasts."
"What?" He asked in disbelief of what he just heard. Now that's the "something wrong" he was feeling ever since earlier. And he was even close to saying "Move on from our pasts that the four of you had cause?" But he didn't blurt it out. He didn't want to hurt the old couples feelings anyway. So instead of spilling out those, he ended up pinching the bridge of his nose because of total frustration and irritation.
"Son, you can deny all you want but we won't believe you still. Because if there are any people who knows you so well in this world, it's us. Your parents. Your family. And we know you haven't totally moved on with your life yet. Yes you're very much successful now but we know it's still there, son. You're still hurting and we know that. So this agenda that Mr. and Mrs. Dikkinson went here? We can say that it will somehow help you and their daughter, hijo. Because if the two of you clicks, then that's a very good sign that you didn't just help their daughter to leave her past behind, but you also helped yourself to move on with your life too.. With her." His mother said softly and held his hand.
And that made him unbelievably chuckled. "Mom, that's ridiculous I have so many businesses here for me to give my full attention to within the next day, next week and even the next month than to give my full attention to someone within those days just to help her move on from her past and--"
"White Francis.."
Francis smile eventually vanished when he saw the tears slowly creeped down to Mrs. Dikkinson's cheeks. He eventually looked away. Of all he didn't want to see, was to see an old person crying. Especially in front of him. It hurts him the most. He felt his hand gently held by Mrs. Dikkinson and he heard the latter started sobbing. "White Francis.. Please.. Help us. We don't know what to do with her anymore. And you're the only man we trust for our daughter. Please.. Just please.. Give it a try."
He gulped and closed his eyes tightly. 'Jesus this is so hard.' He thought in so much confusion and sympathy for the old woman begging in front of him.
"With all due respect, Madame, but.. Why me?"
he confusingly asked.
"Because you're the only person we can trust to our daughter and help her heal slowly, hijo. And we believe that she can help you heal as well. And you're going to heal each other slowly if by chance."
He wanted to laugh because of those reasons. But looking at the pleading eyes of Mrs, Dikkinsons at that moment made him sighed deeply again. 'Dammit this is hard. How can I say no to this pleading old woman?'
"So.. Please, White Francis.. Help us.. P-Please.." Mr. Dikkinson said softly that made his head ached in frustration.
"Please, White Francis.. Help us.. Help her.. I'm begging you.." Mrs. Dikkinson begged while crying and was about to kneel in front of him so he immediately stopped the latter by holding the latter's arm.
"No, Madame. Don't do that." Then he sighed and added, "Alright. I'll try."
"I can't believe I said that."
White Francis said and groaned in mixed disbelief and frustration. He was in his study room that moment, sitting on his recliner while reminiscing what happened and what he said earlier while Mr. and Mrs. Dikkinson were accompanied by his parents outside their house as of the moment already. And speaking of the old couple, the two eventually and excitedly bid goodbye to him and to his parents after he agreed on their plea telling him that the two will just call him up when that woman finally agrees as well. And now, he wanted to laugh himself for that. But what can he do? He's that soft-hearted towards anyone especially towards the oldies who need his help. The thought made him blew some air and rubbed his temple. Now he's having a headache because of that.
"Son?"
"White, sweetheart?"
His parents' voices and soft knocks on the door of his study room made White Francis went back from reverie.
Then he immediately cleared his throat and toyed his signature pen on his fingers. "Yes, mom and dad, do come in."
"Our driver is already driving them to the airport, hijo. They are so excited and thankful of your decision. And that's the reason why I am here with your mom. We wanted to talk to you about that," Mr. Omar Al Gala said as he entered White Francis' study room and sat on the single couch there with his mom.
So White Francis immediately stood up and picked up some wine from the wine cellar of his study room. "Wine, mom and dad?"
"Champagne please, son. Because me and your mom want to celebrate on your decision." His father smilingly said that made him sigh.
"Dad.."
"And we know also.. That you suddenly agreed on their agenda not because you want to help their daughter, but because you just pity Mrs. Dikkinson that moment. I can see it in your eyes. I can feel it on your reaction. And I'm so proud of you because of that." He let out a sigh again and walked towards the living room of his study room with the bottle of champagne and two wine glasses and sat on the long, black leather couch then put the two wine glasses on the mini crystal glass table and poured some wine in those before giving one wine glass to his old man and holding the other one with his right hand. "But do you know what I'm going to be proud of even more? It's that.. When you can finally let yourself to love someone again who would fall for you too. Just like Mr. and Mrs. Dikkinson's daughter. Because who really knows, son.. She's the perfect match for you that Cazzandra have always wanted you to have again."
He chuckled in amusement. "And who knows also.. That she's not."
"Then at least you tried. You know, son.. To be able to find the right path to the right person.. It's quiet risky. So take that risk to be able to find the right person for you." Her mother seconded.
"Mom, I'm not in a hurry for that.."
"But me and your mom are in a hurry to have a grandchild, White Francis. And you're not getting any younger." His dad said.
He chuckled. "Dad, I'm only twenty nine."
"No, you're already.. Twenty nine."
His father even emphasized the word "already" that made him grin and shook his head in amusement once more. Then he sighed deeply when Cazzandra's voice echoed in his thoughts.
"White.. Listen.. Being so busy with your business still can't help you to move on with your life totally. Because no matter how rich and successful you are now, if you still have that thorn hiding inside your chest and always pricking your heart, you still can't live a successful peaceful life thoroughly. Because you still feel that pain. But if you only give yourself a chance to love again? And pull yourself together totally without hiding a wrath inside your heart, then you can probably and finally move on with your life peacefully and thoroughly. Trust me, White.. I've been there. So please.. Heed my advice. And give yourself a chance to feel that love once more that you're afraid to feel once again. And this time.. Don't give your all.. Navigate things first. And if you finally feel that she's the perfect match for you.. Then go for it. Because a perfect match in this era is so not east to meet, White. But I'm sure yours are just waiting somewhere. Probably still single, probably still broken and probably still with a wrong guy. But I'm sure fate will put you both together in the right time. In a right place. And in God's perfect timing. And when that happens.. Don't hesitate to open your heart for her. And do everything.. To make her see.. That you are her perfect match. And that she's your perfect match as well."
And as that thought lingered again in the deepest part of his mind.. White Francis shook his head slowly and smiled weakly. How can he even love someone again if it was only Venz who owns the biggest part of his heart from then up to that moment? But one thing's for sure though. Mrs. and Mrs. Dikkinson had his words. He'll go the Philippines. Meet that woman. And God knows what will happen next. If he suddenly falls in love with that woman, then so be it, but he had a feeling that he won't.
So instead of telling that to his parents that moment, he preferred keeping it to himself so he won't be able to hurt his old man's feelings. Then he heaved a deep breath and smiled faintly. "Don't worry, dad. I'll.. I'll try." Honestly, he want to choke on his words. So he added something so he won't be so obvious. "But that is, if she agrees."
Then his father smiled back at him and said, "Oh don't you worry also, son.. Because knowing my long time, old friends.. I know.. They can make their daughter agree."