It had been a week since Antonio and Andrea's meetup in the cafe. Antonio had decided to put the proposal on hold until the festive season was over. He therefore hadn't contacted her ever since. Andrea made it up to Austin by spending the whole of the next day with him, playing games, watching movies and recording videos for their YouTube channels. They still had a pending date but that had to wait since Austin was summoned home by his parents for Christmas day. Andrea, on the other hand, planned a donation with her fans to gift to an orphanage in the city. She visited them occasionally to play with them and teach them handy stuff. At a point in her life, she felt like one of them and hoped she'd make them feel better by entertaining them with gifts during the festive season, reminding them that they're not alone. 'Hopefully, this will make them feel loved and cared for by society at the very least,' she said with a sigh, looking at the many gifts that had filled her living room. They were donations from fans across.
★★★
Antonio's mansion...
His study...
Antonio was on a video call on his desktop with his Grandfather, Leonardo, often referred to as Old Leo.
"Merry Christmas to you too Grandpa," he said with a hint of reluctance.
"Ouu looks like the Christmas spirit skipped you this year..."
"And the past only God knows how many more years," he said barely whispering.
"You need to live life my boy..."
"My work is my life Grandpa. What else matters?" He seemed very uninterested in the conversation.
"First, it takes you forever to get in touch with me..."
"I literally just dropped you off at the airport about a week..."
"I don't care. A week is a long time. You've literally left me to my fate, I know," the old man said rawly and Antonio sighed in distress. "I said live life not just exist because that's exactly what you're doing. What's the point of all the wealth if you don't make the effort to be happy my boy. You have to stop dwelling on the past and try to move on. See the beauty around you and enjoy it. I'm sorry for all the hard times you've been through, especially the ones caused by me...but you need to overcome your past. If you keep looking back, you'll miss what's right in front of you."
"You're right Grandpa. I should let go in enjoy the..."
"I know you're just hearing not listening to me," the old man said, causing Antonio to release a distressful sigh, "I'm ser...."
"You know I can't do that!" he flared up, pushing his seat to the ground, running his fingers through his soft curls angrily. "After everything we went through together, after all I did for her, after trusting her, and finally 'living life' like you say, what did I get? A stab in a back. That's what I got!"
"Not all women are the same. Ali.."
"Oh please Grandpa, don't even start this conversation. I've told you countless times that I'm not interested in this 'live life' philosophy. I'll do what I do best because being the best is what truly makes me not unhappy. I don't need to be happy. I've lived so many years that way and I survi...."
"I'm sorry Antonio," Old Leo said softly. Antonio was taken aback by his words and suddenly couldn't complete his sentence. "This all started with me..."
"Grandpa, let it go..." he interrupted him calmly.
"No, it's true. I should have understood that you were still a little boy and was mourning, just as I was. When your parents died in that accident, I felt shuttered because I had lost my dear son and my beloved daughter-in-law.
I was so bereaved that I couldn't understand your pain either. I was a very strict man when raising your father and aunt and didn't think their method of raising you, so softly, would help you..."
"And you were right. I needed the tough upbringing to get where I am today. I owe who I've become to you."
"And that's why I grieve. You're just existing and not living, all because of me. I failed you and your parents," he began to weep. "I hate myself everyday when I see you so miserable." Old Leo cleared his throat and wiped his tears. "Son, I understand your thirst for vengeance but please, don't go overboard and jeopardize yourself for it."
"I won't Grandpa. I promise," he said assuredly. His grandfather finally calmed down and immediately changed the topic. He knew for a fact that Antonio was true to his word with just a look into his eyes. That should be enough to keep him calm.
"So what are you doing for Christmas? Planning anything business related?"
"No, I'll just be home," he said, taking a seat in his chair again.
"How come? You could seize this opportunity to increase the companies fame and glory. Let the Robles and Blossom foundation do something for the society, something that would make headlines."
"Do something for society... like donating to an orphanage," he said thoughtfully.
"Yes, something like that," Old Leo said with a chuckle.
"I better get to work now," Antonio said with a smile which stunned the old man.
"I think I'll be dying soon," he said, clenching his chest.
"W-What's wrong? Where's your nurse?" he asked worriedly.
"You just smiled," he said, faking a cough.
"No I didn't," Antonio argued with a straight face.
"Yes you did. I saw it myself," the old man insisted. "The question is why did that excite you."
"You should keep your glasses on as often as possible. I'll talk to you later Grandpa. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas my boy. Oh won't you wish Ali..."
Antonio hang up purposely before his grandfather could complete his statement. Soon after, he got a text from the old man which said, 'I know you did that on purpose you brat.'
Antonio brushed it off and began to browse on his desktop.
"House of The Lord orphanage. Perfect," he said with a cheeky smirk, staring at the screen. He then picked up his phone and placed a call.
"Hello boss, Merry Christmas," the person said once he picked the call.
"I need a truck loaded with snacks not close to expiring and another truck filled with toys, books and other fun gifts for kids. I need them to be at House of the Lord orphanage. I'll be expecting a feedback from you in say 30 minutes time. Relay the message if you're unavailable but make sure the job is done. Merry Christmas," he said with a light smile and hung up. "This Christmas just might not be so boring after all," he said leaning back in his seat, satisfactorily. "Santa is coming to town."
★★★
"I know, right? It was really fun though all the jitters were making us crazy," Andrea said over the video call with her foster family, laughing, all the while in a ride to the orphanage.
"We miss you honey. It's been so long since you came back, about 5 years now actually," Martin said sadly.
"I know Dad and I'm sorry but I assure you nex..." she was saying when Jay finished her sentence for her with nonchalance, "...next year I'll be with you for the holidays."
He gave a straight face, staring at Andrea with much doubt to her words. Then he added, "Ou and there's the classic touch up, maybe I'll be there before then and then," he added feigning excitement and losing the act the next second. "You can't expect me to not know it by heart by now. It's been repeated for five years. I used to believe them but now..."
"I'm trying...." Andrea said.
"I know and I'll help you, okay?" her best friend came to the rescue. Andrea smiled softly at her and didn't miss her stare daggers at Jay.
"I'm sorry Andrea. I just really miss you," Jay said feeling bad.
"I miss you too, all of you. I have to go now but you can check out my channel to see how it goes," she said as they expressed their love before ending the call.
"We're here Miss Alcab," the driver said, surprising Andrea. Only someone who knew of her channel would know that name and she didn't think a full grown man like him would follow too.
"It helps relief me of stress. My daughter, Sandy Springs, she's your biggest fan. She introduced me to your channel," he explained.
Andrea started off her recording with him expressing his love for the channel and making shout outs to loved ones. She waved him as he drove away. The delivery service had just arrived as well and took the lead to deliver the goods to the unexpectant orphanage. Once they arrived at the door, they were met by the Orphanage mother, Mother Tiana.
"Oh Gracious Lord," she said in her terrific British accent.
The delivery man greeted and handed her a form to sign while saying, "Delivery for House of The Lord orphanage."
"Andrea!" a kid yelled from behind Mother Tiana and rushed to hug her, oblivious of the heart attack he almost caused the old lady. Andrea hugged him and swept his little body off the floor and into her arms.
Suddenly, she overheard an engine of a car and turned to see a red Lamborghini pull up behind her. Out came a handsome looking gentleman in shades, a pair of white pants and white sneakers, wearing a white shirt underneath a red sweater folded on the arms to three-quarter sleeves. He wore a Christmas hat with lights on them and took out a box containing more.
"A-A-Antonio," Andrea stuttered, looking like the blood had drained out of her face, as though she was looking at a ghost.
The little boy stared with admiration at the man before him and shouted alarmingly, "Santa's in Town!"