Fate and Star *FSA Book II* [KiefLy]

Chapter 6

"I am Kiefer's Lolo." The old man plainly introduced himself.

She was caught off-guard. Alyssa tried to smile despite the embarrassment. If only she could say a magic spell and vanish in an instant, she would.

She opened the door wide to welcome him. Just as he was about to sit in the couch, Kiefer went out of his room, hair dripping wet, fresh from shower, of after shave scent, with only a piece of clothing covering the lower half of his body. He gulped upon seeing his grandfather, surprise of his presence.

Alyssa was quick to ran to the laundry area. Kiefer followed her, worried that his Lolo might have said or done to her.

"Ly..." Kiefer said. "Wait lang, magbibihis lang ako." She answered and got her dry cleaned clothes.

"I'm sorry if I opened the door. Nagdadalawang isip talaga ako kasi nga nakatuwalya lang ako kanina, eh ang kulit kasi, panay katok at pindot ng doorbell, tapos ang tagal mo ring lumabas, kaya ayun binuksan ko na... Sorry. Oh my gosh nakakahiya talaga sa Lolo mo. Wala bang ibang exit door dito? Nahihiya talaga ako."Alyssa said non-stop, her cheeks fuming red in embarrassment and disgust.

Kiefer grabbed a shirt from the pile of clean clothes and was fast to don it.

"Hey, hey relax Ly." He smiled at her. Fond of her sassiness. "Hindi ako galit na pinagbuksan mo si Pappi, hindi ko rin narinig kasi nasa shower ako. Now tell me, did he say anything to you?" He asked, Alyssa shook her head.

"Pero nakakahiya talaga Kief ka--" She was cut off when the old man cleared his throat behind them.

"Where's decency in this house, Kiefer?" The old man said. They exchanged quick glances.

Kiefer ushered him to the living room. "It's not what you think, Pappi." Kiefer said defensively.

"I wasn't born yesterday, Kief. Mind introducing me to your lady?" His Lolo quipped.

Alyssa felt uncomfortable with the way Kiefer's Lolo said it, as if teasing, as if insinuating something. Yet, she followed them.

Kiefer approached her and invited her to sit beside him.

"Uhm, Ly, si Pappi, Lolo ko sa mother's side. Pappi, si Alyssa, she's my uhm, friend." Alyssa smiled and offered her hand for a handshake, the old man accepted it but did not let go, for five, ten, twenty seconds, he stared at her, studying, reading, interpreting her face.

"Pappi, don't scare her." Kiefer warned. Alyssa turned her gaze on Kiefer, asking for any explanation. But he kept quiet.

When the old man finally let go of her hand, he looked at Kiefer, then at Alyssa.

"You two should get married, immediately." The old man blurted out.

"What?! What are you saying Pappi? It is not what you think you saw earlier. You see, it--" His Lolo raised his hand to stop Kiefer from explaining. And Kiefer could not just do anything about it. He just can't insist something especially when it comes to his grandfather.

Alyssa on the other hand was left paralyzed to where she was, speechless, shocked of what she just heard.

Ano ba itong pinasok mo Alyssa.

Alyssa looked at Kiefer, begging. "Pappi." Kiefer said, trying to weigh the mood if he could change his grandfather's decision.

"Apo, you know we are from a conservative family, and seeing you guys earlier is a big no. You know that is against our principle. At ayaw kong makarinig ng kahit anong paghuhusga galing kanino. As early as now, we'll fix this. And that is by sealing this into marriage." Lolo Noel said. Giving no options to his first grandson and to Alyssa, whom he only met twice, yet he knew from the start is destined to be with his grandson.

When he held Alyssa's hand for a handshake, he had the chance to read her face. And he knew right then that their stars were aligned. That she was meant for Kiefer. In his 50 years of being a feng shui master, never did he commit a wrong notion, a wrong reading. 10 years of being a monk in Nepal and studying feng shui had been bread and butter of their family.

Alyssa felt the need to speak. She just can't let a stranger decide for her life. She is innocent anyway.

"Sir, with all due respect po I really think this is a big misunderstanding. Hindi po kasi tama yung nasa isip niyo. Maari niyo po ba--" Kiefer did not let her finish. He held her elbow. He knew it would not do any help, worse, they could put the old man in a bad shape if they would insist things at the moment.

"Ly, paguusapan natin 'to. Ako bahala." He whispered to her. Alyssa just nodded in retreat.

"Fix everything, wedding will be in a month." The old man told them before he left.

Kiefer threw himself to the couch, stared at the ceiling, thinking how he would explain things to Alyssa. How he would inform her that there is no way out on this situation.

"Kief, I have to go. My trabaho ako." Paalam niya dito.

"Ly, pasensiya na talaga sa nangyari. I'll try to talk to him." He told her while wearing his shoes. "Hatid na kita." He offered.

Alyssa just nodded while fixing her things.Lost in her own thoughts.

The drive to her workplace was quiet. Neither of them was scared to speak and break the silence.

When they halt in an intersection, Kiefer's phone rang. It was his grandpa calling on facetime. He tried to ignore it yet the old man was persistent.

As soon as he pressed the answer button, the old man was all smiles and screamed in glee.

"I have announced to the family about your soon to be engagement and wedding!"

Kiefer looked at Alyssa who was quick to hide her face.

And he could not do anything but tap his forehead while his grandpa was continuously talking about wedding stuff.

xxxxx