The Elixir Project [Gen L Society #4]

Chapter 9

André

After the baseball game today, may victory party sina Logan sa penthouse. I was supposed to be there, but, Grandpapa suddenly called me and wanted to meet at his favorite fancy restaurant.

It's been a while since the last time I saw him. Of course, I couldn't say no to him. I owed him my life. If not for Grandpapa, baka matagal ko na ring sinamahan si Geno sa kabilang buhay.

With my back resting on a purple velvet seat, I scanned the restaurant inside the five-star hotel. Most of the people here were wearing business suits and fancy clothes with their fake smiles and fake faces.

Yet, here I was, with my most casual racing jacket and unkempt hair. Naglagay lang ako ng deospray bago ako pumunta dito. I, at least, wanted to smell good.

I ran a hand through my messy locks as I looked at the time on my phone.

Sabi ni Grandpapa eight o' clock sharp ang meeting time. I knew how he hated people who were late. That's why I rushed to come here all the way from the university.

But, half an hour passed by, and still, I couldn't see any trace of him.

Sighing, I decided to call the old man. I was about to press his contact number, when suddenly, I saw a message from one of my fratmates, Darwin.

"Commander, may kailangan kang malaman."

I squinted upon seeing the message and replied back, "What is it?"

"Walang record ng isang Charleston Buenavista sa Architecture Department."

My mind went in a state of confusion. "What the fuck do you mean?" I replied.

"It means hindi totoo ang identity niya."

I gripped my phone tight, trying to process what I just found out. "Then, who the hell is he?"

Breathing in and out, I tried to keep my composure.

Whoever he was, I must say he's got a lot of guts to fool everyone... especially fooling me.

I suddenly wondered why he would do such a thing. Kung ano man ang rason niya, it was still unacceptable.

Charleston Buenavista... or whoever you are... I hope you're ready for the consequences.

"Axe," the old man's voice calling me out using my old nickname broke me from my trance as I noticed him already taking a seat across mine on our reserved table.

"Papi," I greeted him, forcing a smile on my lips.

Grandpapa removed the hat over his head, exposing his balding gray hairs. He was wearing a white long-sleeved with suspenders connected to his brown trousers.

"How are you, papi?" I spoke again once he settled on his seat. He was with our longtime butler, Alphonse, who just stood behind him.

"When are you gonna get married, Axe?"

Ah, here we go again. It was always like this. Everytime na magkikita kami ni grandpapa, ito palagi ang tanong niya sa akin. And his only reason of forcing me to getting married was because he wanted to make sure that I chose the right wife for myself.

"So?" He spoke again, this time, his eyes were poking into my soul.

I burst out into a laughter. "Papi, I don't even have a girlfriend," I reasoned out.