Chapter 81
Angel stood up when she saw her parents arrive with the Quintos and Raul de Vera. Bryan was surprised at what she did, so he looked to where she's looking and saw why she did that.
"Why are you two here?" Benjie asked the two. "You left your sister alone?"
Angel and Bryan looked at each other. Angel is the one who answered Benjie.
"She's talking to Richard."
"Richard?" Benjie looked at Glory and Ricky.
Bryan explained what happened. "He said he wanted to see Alex. He begged me to help him, so I did."
"Richard..." Glory said while shaking her head. She then looked at her husband. "He's really as stubborn as you."
"What can we do? He's in love," Ricky said.
"That's right. Let's just let the kids talk," Alice said. "I guess it's better this way."
"Mom, is everything okay now?" asked Angel.
Alice nodded, smiling. "Yes, Dear. Finally, everything is over. Me and the Quintos have reconciled, as well as your father and your Uncle Raul. You don't have to worry anymore. Please forgive us if we dragged you into our mess." Angel smiled. "It's okay, Mom. At least now everything is resolved."
Alice embraced her daughter. "Thank you, Angel, for being a very kind daughter. I'm sorry for what I did to you before. I didn't know that's how it will affect you."
"Don't worry about that anymore, Mom. I'm okay now. Alex has been always there. Then now, Bryan as well. And Richard. I don't need a lot of friends. I just need a few who are true."
"That's right." Alice hugged her again. "By the way. You're Uncle Ricky and Aunt Glory."
"I already met them, Mom." Angel smiled at the couple.
Who smiled back at Angel.
"I think it was fortunate that we did not end up together, Alice," Ricky said. "Because of that, you had two beautiful daughters."
"Who will marry our sons in the future, right?" Raul said as he put his arm around Ricky's shoulders.
"What marry your sons in the future?" Benjie asked with a deep frown. "My children are still babies! Alex is even admitted in the Pediatrics section."
Everyone laughed at what Benjie said, except for Raul.
"Benjie, it's SOP here in TGH that if a patient is under eighteen years old, he or she will be admitted in the Pediatrics section if there is a vacant room. But that doesn't mean that your daughter is still a baby. She already has a boyfriend, remember?"
"She's still a baby to me. Why don't we just go to her room now so that I can tell Richard my house rules?" Benjie said.
"House rules?" asked Raul.
"Yes, Dad," Bryan said with a smile. "He has house rules. And they are a lot."
"Stop complaining, will you? And let's go to Alex already!" Benjie said.
Everyone proceeded to Alex's room. Angel can't help but smile as he followed her father. She's glad that he can joke like that again. It just proves that everything is okay now. Then Raul is joins in her father's jesting. It seems that whatever storm they have been through, the sun has shone again.
*****
Benjie was the first one to enter Alex's room. Richard was shocked to see him arrive. He immediately stood up. Alex was also surprised as well. "Dad..."
Benjie immediately caught sight of Alex's hand being held by Richard.
"Good morning, Sir." Richard is obviously nervous as he looks at Benjie, though he did not let go of Alex's hand.
The others also went inside the hospital room. Alice approached the two teenagers.
"Richard." She held his hand. "I'm Alice, Alex's mother. I'm glad to finally meet you."
Richard was quite surprised at what Allice did. Still, he was able to answer immediately. "Me, too, Ma'am."
"I know you had a hard time because of our issue with your parents. Now I'm telling you, we're okay. Me and your parents have reconciled already," Alice said. "Mom!" Alex felt like crying because of joy.
"Thank you so much," Richard said, like a big problem of his was resolved. Gladness is written all over his face.
"And I also want you to know that you are welcome in our house, just like Bryan. You can visit Alex anytime you want," Alice added.
"And I prefer that!" Benjie intercepted. "Instead of you seeing each other outside, meet in our house instead."
"Thank you, Sir," Richard said to Benjie. Then he looked at Alice again. "Thank you, Ma'am."
Alice smiled. "Auntie. Just call me Auntie."
"Thank you, Auntie..."
Alice hugged Richard before she went to Alex. She sat beside her daughter and held her hand.
"Thanks, Mom."
Alice smiled. "We just want you to be happy."
Alex felt so glad she embraced her mother.
Richard looked at his own mother. "Mom!" He hugged her. "Thanks."
"Anything for you, Son," Glory said.
After that, Richard embraced his father. "Thanks, Dad."
"You're welcome. Just promise that you'll be a good boy. Especially to Alex. And you follow whatever your Uncle Benjie tells you."
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"It's good that you mentioned that," Benjie said, back on his strict mode again. "Richard, from the beginning, I want you to know my house rules."
"Honey! Not now, please?" Alice said to her husband.
"That's right, Dad," Angel agreed. "It's embarrassing..."
"What's embarrassing? Richard has to know my do's and don'ts. And de Vera, your hand. It doesn't mean I don't say anything, that I can't see what you're doing." Bryan immediately removed his hand that is holding Angel by her waist.
"Dad!" Angel blushed because of embarrassment.
"My friend!" Raul said. "Let the children be. As if you also did not experience that."
"And why would I just let them? Your son is like that because he got that from you."
Ricky wrapped his arm around Glory's shoulders to appease her a little. It seems like she took what Benjie said seriously.
"Benjie is just joking," Ricky said to his wife. "He really loves telling jokes."
"I'm serious, Ricky. Richard, my house rules-"
"Bryan already told me everything," Richard said.
"Very good."
"So Uncle, are we good now?" Bryan asked Benjie.
"A little more effort," Benjie answered.
"Dad..." Alex reached out for his hand.
Benjie went closer to Alex. Alice moved to give him room. He then sat beside Alex.
Alex held Benjie's face with her two hands. "Don't be so grumpy. Okay?"
Angel also went to her father and hugged him from his back. "That's right, Dad. Don't be so grouchy."
"You told us that you want us to be happy, right?" Alex asked.
"And that you'll support us all the way," Angel added.
"And you know that you will always be our first love."
"True!" Angel agreed.
"So don't be cranky anymore, okay?"
"Don't be too crabby or you'll have wrinkles."
Alex even massaged Benjie's face. "Let's massage your face so that you won't have wrinkles."
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Benjie was so much calmer when he spoke. "Okay. I won't be grumpy." He then looked at Bryan and Richard. "See how sweet and kind my daughters are? If you ever hurt them, I tell you! You will not-" "Dad!" Alex said. "You said you won't be grumpy."
Benjie took a deep breath. "Okay... I won't."
Angel ang Alex giggled.
"You two are not fooling me, huh?"
"We're not!" Angel said, giggling. "I would even massage your back."
"Why are you too nice, Angelica? Is there's something you want from me?"
"None!" Angel giggled.
"Benjie, now I know what your weakness is," Raul said to his friend.
"My friend, if you tell this to anyone, your son will never see my Angel."
"Dad, please!" Bryan said. "I know you love me, and you will do everything that will make me happy."
"Don't worry, Son. My lips are sealed." Raul even zipped his mouth.
Everyone laughed at what Raul did.
The funny conversation continued centering on Benjie's strict fatherhood. They just stopped when someone knocked on the door. It was Helen.
"Oh! Everyone is here." She smiled as she entered the room.
"Time for your rounds?" asked Glory.
"Yes. How is my patient?" Helen looked at Alex.
"Everyone! Give room to my beautiful doctor wife," Raul said.
"Just beautiful?" Helen said.
"And sexy."
"Good!" Helen went to Alex.
Benjie stood up and went to Raul.
"My friend, now I know what your weakness is," Benjie said smirking.
"Friend, I'm not afraid of my wife!"
"Raul..." Helen called out.
"Yes, Love? I'm here. Do you need anything?"
Everyone laughed at how Raul acted. The ensuing moments were happy and fun, and their jokes were an indication that whatever happened in the past between them all had really been fixed.