"Really, Dad? Tell me more!" Ryan said while trying on a shirt.
"Even though our wedding was secret, I still wanted to have a small ceremony with close friends and family. You know me, I like to make things a bit fancy, so I wanted something memorable," Andrew said. He knew their wedding wasn't exactly the result of some grand romantic events. The ceremony was modest, but deep down, he still wanted to show off a little, so he carefully chose their wedding outfits.
Andrew went on to talk about the sleepless nights he spent planning every detail of the wedding. He made sure the guest list was perfect, noting down every name and relationship to ensure no mistakes were made when sending out the invitations.
He spent a lot of time searching for the perfect venue, debating between indoor and outdoor spaces, comparing service packages, and managing costs. Even though the wedding was small, he constantly coordinated with vendors for photography, videography, makeup to make sure everything went smoothly on the big day.
He didn't let Samuel help because he always felt he had forced him to stay. He didn't want to bother him anymore. Afterall if it weren't for him, Samuel might have been happy with someone else, perhaps a woman.
"One time, your dad asked if he could help or if I was too busy, but I told him I could handle it. I didn't let him help," Andrew said, his gaze distant. "To be honest, I am pretty proud. I like to take care of everything myself. But even though he wasn't involved much, he still looked after me. There were days when I was busy writing invitations, and he brought me water and food."
After the wedding, Andrew lost nearly 3 kilograms, while Samuel remained as healthy as ever.
Suddenly, Andrew's phone rang. It was a call from an unknown number.
He picked up, and a rushed voice came from the other end: "Excuse me, are you a relative of Mr. Samuel? He's just been in an accident and is in critical condition. Please come to K Hospital immediately!"
Andrew's face turned pale, and his fancy phone slipped from his hand. Ryan looked at his small dad and felt a sinking feeling in his heart, realizing something terrible had happened.
After a brief shock, Andrew regained his composure. He was a businessman and had weathered many storms, so he knew he had to stay strong, especially to keep his son from panicking in such a tense situation.
"Your dad was in an accident and is at K Hospital. Pack quickly, we need to stop by home for some documents and his health insurance," He said calmly.
Ryan's eyes welled up, but he knew his small dad was likely even more worried than he was. He didn't want to add to his burden.
After rushing home to grab the necessary items, the two of them sped off to the hospital.
When they arrived, Andrew quickly parked the car and led Ryan to the emergency area. They walked through the long, crowded hallway, under the harsh lights, with the chaotic sounds of machines and the calls of doctors and nurses all around them.
At the reception desk, Andrew explained the situation and handed over Samuel's personal documents and insurance papers. After checking the information, the staff directed them to the emergency waiting area.
Andrew tried to remain calm, but inside, his heart was racing. He sat down with Ryan, doing his best to reassure his son while they waited for news from the doctors.
The waiting felt endless.
Every minute seemed like an eternity for both of them.
Finally, a doctor came out and called their names.
Andrew and Ryan immediately stood up and hurried toward the doctor. "How is my husband, Doctor?" Andrew asked, unable to hide the tension in his voice.
The doctor gently explained the severity of the injuries from the traffic accident. "We took him into surgery as soon as he arrived to stop the bleeding and stabilize his condition. He's still in surgery. Please try to stay calm and wait for further updates from us," the doctor said.
Andrew nodded, thanked the doctor, and led Ryan back to the waiting area. He knew that the most important thing now was to stay strong, to be a pillar of support for his son, and to be ready for whatever might happen.
"Your dad will be okay. Let's just wait a little longer," he said to Ryan, holding his son's hand tightly, as if trying to give both of them strength.
Time passed slowly, but Andrew patiently waited, his eyes never leaving the surgery room door, hoping to hear some good news soon.