Purchased a Grave, Good for Two

Chapter 10 - Wilrin

It was already high noon when Jillian sent off her friends and returned with a satisfied look. He then saw Wilrin sitting alone on the sofa as if he had something on his mind and Jillian couldn't help but caress his shoulders as she sat beside him. 

But she was surprised when Jillian took her hands and asked, "Why did you and John break again?"

Hearing him mentioning John again, Jillian frowned, "What?"

But she saw how serious Wilrin was, his brows furrowed as he directly stared at her eyes. Jillian knew that something was wrong so she held his hands, "As I said, John was quite different. Our marriage wasn't dramatic as well as our divorce, we both separate ways in contentment."

"But how did you break up?" Wilrin asked again.

Seeing that the man was getting impatient, Jillian panicked and held his arm, "John...John is kind and lovable, he was the ideal man for every girl out there but he was a person who had so many secrets behind him. Whenever I had my salary or bonuses from work, he would ask for some spare but whenever I check my wallet the next day, several digits were already gone only to find out..." she looked at Wilrin with a tear in her eyes.

"He was buying men outside."

Wilrin frowned.

"John had given me everything but I just couldn't bear it. I want to have a perfect family with him but after what he had done, I couldn't bear it." She started crying in his arms, "I already forgave him but the pain he gave me was so great that I couldn't longer face him."

She sobbed on his arm as Wilrin pondered it through. Flashes of the old man's face appeared on his head, his smile and silly expression that would make him laugh every time. His head suddenly felt a strike of pain, his chest tight as if there was a stirring inside him that he couldn't fathom what steps he should take now.

After sending Jillian home, he didn't much speak as he went back on his home. He retired for the day as he plumped on his soft bed, he was staring at his room's ceiling while pondering upon the information he got when his phone rang, seeing the name calling, he immediately sat up.

"Hey grandma!" he greeted.

"Yoh, Wilrin, how's life?" an elderly voice called on the other line.

"Same just like your dentures grandma." he joked.

But the old lady refuted, "Broken and artificial?" there then came deafening laughter which made Wilrin smile.

"You're so mean," Wilrin spoke. He had a broken family and was taken care by his grandmother alone.

"I heard you're in a relationship with an older lady again, what's her name? Juliana? Jumanji?"

"Jillian." Wilrin chuckled and corrected.

"Oh, whatever, you better make sure that it's the last one this year. I didn't teach you to be this naughty Wil! Throwing ladies in and out of your ass!" she exclaimed on the phone, "And also, come visit me at this upcoming festival. I'll hold a feast on my villa and you better come! You're the only good genes I could boast to!"

Wilrin laughed, "Alright grandma, I'll free my schedule. Don't forget your pills and diet."

"Hmph!" the old lady sounded then ended the call without saying goodbye that only made Wilrin smile.

Wilrin's mood suddenly lit up upon hearing the only person who could comfort him right now. He built his values in life through his grandma's teaching and even though he recreated some, despite everything, it was only his grandmother who taught him how to value loyalty and love. To cherish the right persons and burn those who abuse them.

As if he finally got the answer, he immediately called his secretary to immediately get his private plane to immediately go back to the town and ordered several varied foods to give to that old man.

A smile was glued on his face as he loved to see the old man's silly and surprised expression once again.

...

John sneezed off as he slurped the mango shake David bought for him. They were now sitting on the same spot where they both first met on the night market, they were both drunk at that time but now, they were facing each other with a bright smile.

"Sorry for the wait earlier, I didn't know that a lot of people would come to sign their copies." David scratched his head, he had a bit of lengthy hair but his smile and face gave off a friendly smile that anyone would get comfortable with. He was wearing a casual look with a comfy turtle neck beneath his long jacket.

John shook his head, "It's okay, this shake was worth the wait."

David smiled as this single point of his dimple appeared on his gentle face, he sat across John who was busy slurping his shake. "I remember such embarrassment we did last year here, even the auntie's stare is strange when she saw us both."

John took his mouth from the straw and nodded, "Who would even forget the moment when we both peed on this table?"

David burst out laughing reminiscing those drunken moments, "Thanks to that, my new children's book went hit."

John chuckled, "I wasn't even expecting it." They both laughed and exchanged official greetings. David stayed in the town last year to take some inspiration since he asked for a long break after his divorce from his long-term marriage with his wife and there he met John in this place, they were both drunk and told some funny tale that they both only knew and since that night, they became friends where David would often visit John on the bookstore and even sent the exclusive manuscript to him. In the official published book of this story, John's name was mentioned as he thanked him wholeheartedly.

Yesterday, David sent him a message that he'll have a book signing event in the town and as just one of the few friends he had, John immediately went. After the event, David invited him here once again to reminisce the best moment he had in the town last year.

"You're still working on that bookstore?" David then asked as their favorite ramen was served. "How was Mari?"

John slurped the soup as he replied, it has the aroma of thick seasoning but the beef took the most aromatic smell, "Good, got her new boyfriend that was a drug addict." he replied immediately.

David became close to these two since they were the only ones who gave such comfort to him during his break here.

David could only laugh and took the beef he had in his bowl to John, "Compared to last time, you look more happy and bright right now."