Chereads / The Big Shot's Love Affair / Chapter 22 - Antonio's Birthday Gift

Chapter 22 - Antonio's Birthday Gift

A week has already passed since Antonio took his acceleration exam.

He had also received an email from Summit International High School informing him that he passed his acceleration exam splendidly, the day after he took the exam.

Right now, he is currently sitting in front of his study table, surfing on his desktop computer about gift ideas.

He was looking for a possible gift he can give to his father, who will be celebrating his birthday on the 22nd of May which is seven days from now.

"Hmm, this is a good idea."

He mumbled after reading an article suggesting customized items as a gift.

He pondered for a while about what item he could customize for Christopher.

He then smiled when an idea popped up in his head.

He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed Yuji's number.

After three rings, the other line picked it up and enthusiastically greeted him.

"It's been a while, Yoyo! How have you been?"

"Hello, Brother Yuji, I am doing good … how about you?"

Their conversation went on for a few minutes with Yuji congratulating him after knowing that he passed his acceleration exam and wishing him good luck in his journey as a celebrity.

"Oops! I think I've just been questioning you since earlier, sorry about that Yoyo—it's because your brother wouldn't tell me anything about you aside from letting me know that you're doing fine."

Yuji said in quite a dramatic tone.

"It's fine, Brother Yuji, it's fun talking with you."

Antonio said before finally saying the reason why he called.

After a few more chit-chat with Yuji, the call ended with Yuji giving him a positive response to his request.

The moment he finished the call, he smiled and immediately looked at his computer again.

He went to the website of Grand Performing Arts Academy and looked at the enrollment process instructions.

The academy will be starting their class in the second week of June.

Antonio read the admission requirements starting from the education level, the age, other school records, and then the tuition fee.

His eyebrows raised for a second when he saw the amount needed to pay per semester.

'Wow! This is even higher than the tuition fee of the Summit International High School, which is the most prestigious high school in the country.'

He was flabbergasted to see the digits they needed to pay before gratefully praying to the heavens that his family in this world is wealthy.

To be able to register for enrollment, one must first complete all the requirements before they could fill up the enrollment form.

Once a person comply all the requirements needed for the admission, the academy will then send an email to that person, which is referred to as an admission applicant.

The email includes the admission applicant's student account that the academy made for that person.

The student account will then be used by the admission applicant to enroll or register themselves to a program they want to study and admit themselves there.

Antonio nodded his head after finishing reading the necessary information he needed.

He then remembered his conversation with Christopher earlier during their breakfast.

Christopher told him not to worry about anything because he had already assigned his secretary to take charge of Antonio's admission to the academy.

Antonio shut down his computer before standing up to go to Dr. Lordan's room to ask for the vitamins that will help him grow taller.

 

 . . .

 

Days passed by and it's already the 22nd of May.

Antonio woke up and smiled as he looked at the calendar.

Today is his father's birthday.

In the evening later, various people will be coming to their mansion for the celebration of Christopher's birthday.

Antonio got up from his bed and entered his bathroom.

He took a quick shower to get ready for his routine exercise.

He wore a dark green hoodie and gray cargo shorts.

He then put on a pair of socks before wearing a white high top sneakers.

Instead of tying his hair up, he just put on a headband that Alden bought for him before.

After confirming in the mirror that he looks decent, he left his room and headed to their garden, where Dr. Lordan usually waits for him.

He ran to where Dr. Lordan is and hugged the middle-aged doctor, who is also his grand uncle.

"Grand Uncle."

He called out to the man he was hugging and raised his head to look up because the doctor is taller than him.

Dr. Lordan returned his hug and smiled dotingly.

"What is it?"

The doctor asked, sensing that his grand-nephew wants to ask something from him.

Antonio smiled cutely at him and said.

"Grand Uncle, can we go have our exercise outside the residence?"

"That's okay, but why?"

Dr. Lordan asked back.

He then looked at Antonio's attire, which really gave off the vibes of exercising outside.

"I need to meet someone without Dad knowing."

Antonio honestly said, making Dr. Lordan raised one of his eyebrows.

'Does Antonio have a romantic relationship with someone already?'

"It's not what you think, okay? You'll understand when you see the person I'm meeting with."

Antonio immediately said after he saw Dr. Lordan's expression.

The doctor fixed his expression and gently smiled at Antonio before opening his mouth to speak.

"Oh, is that so? Where are you planning to meet them?"

"At the playground that is a couple of blocks away from us."

Antonio immediately answered.

Dr. Lordan nodded his head and spoke.

"That's near so let's jog our way there, Young Master Yoyo."

Antonio agreed then they started going to the playground in their neighborhood.

As they walked, Antonio felt his phone vibrating as it made a short sound inside his pocket.

He took it out and read the message he received from Yuji.

- Good morning, Yoyo! I'm already in the playground.

Antonio swiftly typed his reply saying that he is already on the way and clicked the send button.

He put the cellphone back in his pocket before he started jogging together with Dr. Lordan.

Last night, he and Yuji talked about his request.

He asked if it's possible to be given to him in the morning since he needs to put it in a gift bag together with another item.

Yuji immediately replied that it's possible so they decided to meet at the playground near Antonio's address.

After a minute of jogging, they arrived at the neighborhood playground and saw a fine young man leaning on his sports car with crossed arms.

He is wearing a black oversized t-shirt and beige sweatpants, but instead of looking simple, he looks like an idol endorsing a sports car.

Dr. Lordan squinted his eyes as he found the man familiar but he didn't know where he saw him.

 "Brother Yuji!"

Antonio called to the man as he continued to jog to where Yuji was.

Yuji, who was staring at the view of the playground, turned his head and instantly smiled broadly as he saw Antonio.

"Yoyo, good morning!"

He said as he gazed at Antonio.

'Wow, he became more beautiful than the last time I saw him.'

He subconsciously gulped as he felt his heart somersaulting just from the sight of Antonio's face.

Antonio's hair that was just let down naturally with only a headband on the crown of his head, made his already soft features become softer.

Right now, Yuji can't help but think that Antonio is the most beautiful person he has known in the whole twenty three years of his existence.

He then tilted his head when he realized something while looking at the latter.

"Did you grow taller, Yoyo?"

He asked as he felt that Antonio seemed to have grown a little.

Antonio beamed when he heard Yuji's question.

Few days ago, he also heard his father, brother, Dr. Lordan, and some close household employees commenting about his growth.

"My height seems to have finally started developing again after a long pause from the coma."

He enthusiastically said, feeling happy that his height is improving.

Yuji smiled when he heard Antonio's bright voice before he bowed to Dr. Lordan, who came close to them just now.

"It's been a while, sir."

He greeted the doctor, who immediately returned his greeting.

"Yes, it's been a while, Yuji."

Dr. Lordan said as he finally remembered the young man.

Yuji often visited the Legaspi residence during Antonio's coma to comfort his best friend, Alden, who was suffering depression at that time.

For Dr. Lordan, Yuji was a very great help as he was the one who knocked some sense on Alden that made the latter get out of his depressed state.

Yuji smiled before opening his car door and taking something out from his car.

"Here's your request, Yoyo."

He handed the paper bag to Antonio, which the other took in just a matter of seconds.

"Thanks, Brother Yuji! I already sent you the payment through your bank account, by the way."

Antonio said as he peeked inside the paper bag and smiled excitedly.

Yuji initially told him that he doesn't need to pay, but Antonio insisted since it is his gift for his dearest father.

That's the time that Yuji realized that Antonio and Alden are really siblings … they are both stubborn when it comes to what they want.

He then replied as he patted Antonio's head.

"You're very welcome, Yoyo … then I'll see you later, I still need to go to work."

He said before entering his car and started the engine.

"Okay, see you tonight, Brother Yuji."

Antonio waved his hand at Yuji, who waved back to him before maneuvering the car out of their sight.

 

. . .

"Happy Birthday, Dad!"

Antonio said as he entered Christopher's huge bedroom.

He saw his father putting on his suit jacket while looking at the mirror before turning to look at him.

As soon as Christopher saw Antonio, a wide smile formed on his lips, an evidence of how happy he is to see his son.

"Thank you, Yoyo."

He said with a smile as he walked to Antonio and hugged him.

He then raised his eyebrows when he noticed the gift bag Antonio was holding.

His already wide smile became even wider as Antonio handed the gift bag to him.

"It's for you, Dad."

Antonio said and beamed when he noticed his father grinning from ear to ear.

Christopher accepted the gift very excitedly and hugged Antonio tightly for a long time.

"Thanks, Yoyo, can I open it now?"

He asked after loosening his hug and Antonio nodded his head.

Christopher opened the gift bag excitedly.

There are two things inside the gift bag.

The first item he took out from the gift bag is a box, he opened the box and saw it containing a pendant.

At first the pendant looks simple, but if one looks closely, the pendant is exquisitely made of pure diamond.

The jewelry hanging is in the shape of a square with fine patterns on it.

Christopher touched it and his smile widened again when he saw that it can be opened to two squares.

He opened it and felt breathless when he saw his picture and his wife together on the left square, while on the other square is the picture of Alden and Antonio together.

He felt touched as he stared at the pendant with their family photos in it.

Then, he took out the second item inside the gift bag.

It was a painting.

A painting that made his heart tremble but also felt blessed.

It was a portrait of his late wife, Antoinette.

The portrait was painted by Antonio for three days.

It was a very beautiful painting, with its delicate details screaming about how the artist is very skilled in handling the brush.

Antonio smiled as he saw that his father seemed to love his gifts.

After a moment, Alden also entered the room to greet his father with a gift but halted when he saw his mother's beautiful painting.

It was a very accurate painting that represents her mother with no flaws on it.

A small smile appeared on his face as he realized who was the painter of such a fine portrait without even asking about it.

"The guests are already waiting downstairs for the birthday celebrant."

He announced as he walked to where his father and brother were.

He then gave his gift to his father before the three of them headed downstairs.

"Mr. Legaspi, Happy Birthday!"

"Wow, you're aging like fine wine, my dear friend!"

"Ohhh, is that his younger son? He looks heavenly just like his late mother."

"It's been a while since I've last seen Antonio, he's grown more beautiful than the last time."

"Alden Legaspi is like a carbon copy of his father."

The guests started talking as soon as they saw the three Legaspi men heading down from the second floor.