Frank walked into the new shop, his eyes widening as he took in the spaciousness. "Whoa, this place is massive. I'm speechless, Jimmy. Words can't express how grateful I am."
Jimmy chuckled, clapping Frank on the back. "It's nothing, Frank. You're family."
Frank looked around again, shaking his head. "This is so much better than my old place. We'll be moving in next week."
"Why wait until next week?" Jimmy raised an eyebrow. "Is there another problem you're not telling me about?"
"No, no problem, I promise," Frank reassured him. "I just need time to arrange everything we're taking with us. It's a lot to organize."
Jimmy shrugged. "I can help. When do you plan on moving everything out?"
"Tomorrow," Frank said, "But don't worry about it. You've got work tomorrow, right?"
Jimmy grinned. "I'm the boss."
Frank laughed. "Right. Our dreams are finally coming true. Remember when we used to say we'd fly to space when we were kids?"
Jimmy smirked. "I'll never forget that. We were humiliated back then."
"Yeah, it's even more humiliating now because we still haven't gone to space," Frank said with a laugh.
Jimmy smirked. "I just hope those people who laughed at us back then don't find out what we're up to now."
Frank joined in the laughter. "I pray they don't," he said, and they exited, still chuckling.
Inside the hospital, in abuelo's ward, everyone was standing, clearly worried.
"I thought Watt was just being a jerk, but I didn't know he was serious. How's he doing?" Reina said.
Cal, who had been sitting beside abuelo's bed, gave her a reassuring smile. "He's getting better. Thank you for being here, all of you. I appreciate it more than you know."
Noah smiled warmly. "We're friends. Friends help each other through the hard times."
Watt, who had been silent until then, gave a small shrug. "Yeah, you're my bro, man."
The door opened and Cherilyn walked in. "Hi, guys! Hey, Cal. How are you?"
"I'm good," Cal replied. "Thanks for coming, Cherilyn."
Cherilyn looked around the room, frowning slightly. "It's too crowded in here for abuelo. We should let him rest. Let's go outside and chat."
Reina nodded. "Yes, Doctor."
Watt grinned. "The doctor has spoken."
Noah added, "Copy that, Doctor."
Cherilyn gave them all a mock glare but smiled. "You guys are too much. Thanks for understanding," she said as they all filed out.
Later, Cherilyn returned to the room where abuelo was resting. His eyes lit up when he saw her.
"How's my favorite doctor today?" abuelo asked, trying to sit up a little.
Cherilyn smiled softly, adjusting his pillow. "I'm doing well, abuelo. How about you? How are you feeling?"
He chuckled lightly. "I'm alive," he said with a wink. "Guess that's a good start."
Cherilyn laughed in return. "I'm so glad to hear that. You've got to rest now, though. Don't try to do too much, okay?"
"I'll try," he said, his voice gruff but warm. "You're really good at this. Are you sure you're just an intern?"
Cherilyn's smile grew. "For now. But I'm on my way to being a real doctor. I'll take care of you until then."
Abuelo's eyes softened. "You'll be great. I can already tell."
"Thank you, abuelo," Cherilyn said, her voice full of appreciation. "You should get some rest now. I'll check in later."
"Thank you, my child," abuelo said with a sigh of contentment. "And don't worry about me too much. Just make sure you follow your own dreams."
Cherilyn smiled, though there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes. "I'm doing that, abuelo. One step at a time."
"Good," he said, closing his eyes for a moment, his breathing steady. "I know you'll get there. You have the heart for it."
With a final smile, Cherilyn turned to leave. "Rest now. I'll be back later."
The door to Frank's shop opened, and Ray entered, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "Hey, Uncle, what's up?"
Frank shook his head, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "This is my daughter's crazy boyfriend. He's always so annoying."
Jimmy laughed. "Ah, memories. Hey, what's up, kid?"
Ray raised an eyebrow. "Who's this? I like him already."
Frank chuckled. "Alright, forgive my manners. Jimmy, this is Ray. Ray, meet Jimmy."
Ray shook Jimmy's hand. "Nice to meet you, sir."
Jimmy grinned. "The pleasure's mine. So, what do you do? What's your talent?"
Ray puffed out his chest a little. "I'm an artist."
Jimmy nodded, clearly intrigued. "Really? What kind of artist?"
"I'm a painter," Ray explained, a proud gleam in his eye.
"Wow, that's amazing. How long have you been painting?"
"Five years," Ray said, his tone full of confidence.
Jimmy whistled in admiration. "You must be a pro by now."
Frank chimed in. "Oh, he's a pro. He paints all sorts of things, even nature. He gives me ideas for new designs."
"Well done!" Jimmy clapped him on the back. "You're a hardworking kid. Keep it up."
Ray grinned. "Thanks, sir. Hey, where's Cherilyn? I was hoping to see her."
Frank raised an eyebrow. "She's at the hospital. One of her friend's abuelo is sick, so she's visiting."
Ray nodded. "Alright, I'll go later. Let me help you pack, though."
Frank hesitated. "You sure? You don't have to."
Ray shook his head. "I insist."
Frank raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine, you win. Take the trophy!" They all laughed together as Ray got to work.
Meanwhile, in the hospital hallway, Keisha was fuming. "You guys betrayed me. I thought I had a family. Watt, you did this on purpose."
Watt shrugged, unfazed. "I totally forgot you even existed."
Keisha scowled. "Touché. Anyway, how's your abuelo, Cal? Is he okay?"
Cal smiled reassuringly. "He's fine, Keisha. Don't worry about him."
Keisha turned to Reina. "Sorry for everything earlier. I was just upset."
Reina nodded. "I get it. But what happened, Keisha? Why are you so angry?"
Keisha sighed. "It's work. So many stupid rules and regulations at school. I thought rules were meant to be broken!"
Noah chuckled. "Yeah, they usually are."
Keisha looked at him, frustrated. "I'm a linguistic teacher. My job is to educate the students about languages, but the principal didn't approve. He said it was too much. What a rapacious old jerk."
Cal frowned. "So he wants the students to pay extra cash for that? Yeah, he's a jerk, alright."
Noah added, "That's so unfair."
Reina looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Keisha. You must be going through a lot."
Watt, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Why don't we do something about it? You know, like we used to do back in school?"
Noah raised an eyebrow. "Grow up, Watt."
But Watt ignored him. "We've got to help Keisha. Are we just going to let this slide?"
Reina thought for a moment. "I think I have an idea."
At that moment, Cherilyn entered the room, looking tired but smiling. "Hi, everyone. Cal, your abuelo's in stable condition. You don't have to worry."
Cal sighed in relief. "Thanks, Cherry. I know you're not on duty, but you came here anyway. I really appreciate it."
Cherilyn shrugged. "It's nothing. Friends support each other through thick and thin, right?"
Noah raised his hand for a high-five. "Right?"
Cherilyn smiled and slapped his hand. "Yeah. Friendship."
Everyone laughed, lightening the mood.
Sidney entered, looking around the room. "Where's abuelo?"
Cherilyn smiled at her. "He's resting. Pharaoh."
Sidney turned to Cal. "How are you, bro?"
Cal smiled weakly. "Good, thanks."
Sidney looked at Noah, her gaze thoughtful. "Hey, brother-in-law. Didn't see you there. Any improvement with your catwalk?"
Noah gave a confident smile, his arms crossed. "I'm a professional."
Sidney raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I guess I'll buy that."
Sidney glanced around, then looked at Reina. "Hey, Reina, you forgot about my chemistry practical."
Reina rolled her eyes. "You told me your lab exploded. Why would I come to an exploded lab?"
Sidney smirked. "Fair point."
She turned to Cherilyn. "Ray's at the shop helping Dad pack."
Cherilyn nodded. "So?"
Reina looked at Cherilyn, surprised. "Are you for real? You said he was angry at you. Have you apologized?"
Cherilyn gave her a sharp look. "I'm not a child anymore, Reina. I already apologized. No need for the lecture."
Reina was taken aback. "When have I lectured you? I was just saying that Ray is your boyfriend."
Cherilyn snapped. "I didn't forget."
Reina's confusion deepened. "Are you okay? Something's off with you today."
Cherilyn crossed her arms, a defensive stance that mirrored the growing frustration on her face. "Nothing is off with me," she snapped. "I told you to stay out of my business."
Reina, trying to keep her voice calm, replied, "I was just worried about your relationship. I mean, you're all grown up. You should be thinking about getting married and being independent by now."
Cherilyn chuckled bitterly. "Excuse me?" she scoffed. "Well, if you must know, I'm trying to study further so I can become a doctor one day. I don't want to wait tables."
Noah, who had been silently watching the exchange, suddenly spoke up, his tone sharp. "Enough, Cherry! I won't sit here and watch you disrespect my wife."
Cherilyn's eyes narrowed. "Then tell your wife to stay out of my business," she retorted, her voice cold.
Keisha, who had been quiet until now, shook her head. "She wasn't even wrong, Cherry. She wants what's best for you."
"I don't need her best interest," Cherilyn shot back, dismissing Keisha's words with a flick of her wrist.
Reina sighed, clearly frustrated. "I don't understand what the problem is, Cherilyn, but I'll tell you one thing. If I wanted to stop working as a waitress, I'd still be able to put food on my table without my parents' support. What about you? Quit your job, and you'd end up on the street. And for your information, 'sis,' I love my job."
Cherilyn's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Yeah, if we had no supporters, we'd both end up on the street. Your husband is your backup cash."
Noah's voice grew firm. "Cherry?"
Cherilyn turned to him, eyes flashing. "Do not raise your voice at me! I am not your wife," she hissed.
Reina's patience snapped. "Forget it, Noah. She's not being herself right now. I think she hit her real hard," she said, her voice filled with exasperation.
Cherilyn raised an eyebrow. "I was just saying the truth, sis. Without Noah, you're literally nothing."
Reina, her emotions at a boiling point, slapped Cherilyn across the face. The sound echoed in the tense room. "I am an independent woman, and it's none of your business how I spend my husband's wealth. He is my husband, not yours. And maybe if you were married, you wouldn't be so miserable. I hope Ray takes pity on you."
Cherilyn's eyes widened in disbelief, her anger surging. "This will be the last time you raise your hands on me," she warned, her voice low but dangerous.
Reina, a bitter laugh escaping her lips, stepped back. "Or what? Retaliate? You wouldn't dare," she said. Then, turning to Noah, she added, "I don't have time to exchange words with her. Cal, take care of yourself and Abuelo... see you later. Let's go, Noah."
Noah looked at Cherilyn one last time, his voice tight with frustration. "I didn't expect this from you. Our personal life is not your concern. Take care, Cal." He followed Reina out the door, leaving a heavy silence behind them.
Watt, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, finally spoke, his voice quieter. "Yeah, you went too far, Cherry."
Cherilyn glared at him, her tone laced with fury. "Do not even dare!" she spat.
Watt raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, no need to be feisty."
Keisha, sensing the tension in the room, stood up to leave. "I'll be on my way. Take care, Cal. Bye, Watt, Cherry," she said, offering a small, sympathetic smile before walking out.
Cherilyn huffed, shooting one last glare at the door before exiting without another word.
Cal, still processing the drama, murmured, "That was... intense."
Sidney, who had been standing quietly in the doorway, sighed. "I guess I started the whole problem. I have to solve it." She gave a hurried wave. "Bye, Cal. Bye, Watt." Then she quickly left the room.