I took him to the hospital because I had no idea what was wrong. At first, I considered leaving him there and going home, but my conscience wouldn't let me. The doctor informed me about his cancer treatment. As I stepped outside to grab snacks, I overheard a few doctors gossiping about his law firm.
Curious, I moved closer to listen. That's when I realized how much I had missed over the years. What shocked me the most, though, was hearing them discuss his death with such joy and laughter. I couldn't help but ask more questions, eager to uncover everything I had been unaware of for so long.
"Hello, Dad."
"Who are you?"
"It's me, Jasmine."
He was acting strange, so I went to the doctor to learn more about his condition. I was told that he had been in an accident, which caused him to lose some of his memories. Despite the way he had treated my mom and me, I still loved him because, in my heart, he was my dad. I told the doctor I would take him out of town to help him recover.
"Sir, I understand you don't remember much, but this young lady is your daughter. She'll send you to a larger hospital where you'll receive the best care. There's no need to worry, if you feel uncertain, you can always reach out to me later."
I took him to my hospital and instructed the doctors to conduct a thorough examination to figure out what was wrong and find a solution to his condition. He would place his hand on his chin, as if deep in thought. On our way to the villa after the check-up, I became curious about Crystal, I asked where his wife was.
He shook his head and remained silent. I didn't want to push him further since he wasn't ready to talk. Once we arrived, I showed him to his room and assigned a maid to attend to his needs at the villa. Throughout the night, he showed clear signs of depression, especially when he was alone in his room.
The next morning, I went to his room and told him to get ready because we were going out. His reaction was underwhelming, but I knew that staying depressed wasn't good for his health, so I practically forced him to leave. We went to a restaurant first, but he had no appetite. Knowing how much he loved hockey, I bought him a ticket to a game and sent him there, hoping it would lift his spirits.
"Doc, who was that old man I saw earlier? He looked like someone who might not make it through tomorrow."
"Don't be rude, Raymond. That's my dad. He's been through a lot, and I'm trying to understand what happened all these years. My only problem is that he's not opening up to me. I wish he would talk to me."
"How come I've never heard you mention your father in our conversations?"
"It is a long story and we aren't that close."
With his lips puckered, he gave a dismissive response. I told him to keep the old man company while I went to the market. When I returned, I heard some noise by the pool, so I had to check if everything was okay with the gardener. To my surprise, it was my dad and Raymond playing chess.
I had never seen my dad that happy in my entire life. I stood there in shock, mouth agape, frozen for a few moments, trying to process if what I was seeing was real. Raymond called me over, and his mood shifted instantly as if I was a threat to his happiness.
Seeing how happy my dad was brought me joy, so I pretended I hadn't seen anything and left them to it.
When I got inside, I peeked through the window and saw my dad still enjoying the game with Raymond. Later that evening, I asked Raymond how he made my dad so happy. With a mischievous smile, he used my words against me, saying, "We're not that close."
"Raymond, I'm truly grateful that you made my dad happy, but I humbly ask you to tell me how you did it."
"Doc, it was nothing special. It was just two men playing chess. But I noticed his mood shifted when you came around, so I asked him why he didn't seem happy when you were there. Your dad told me he didn't feel he deserved your kindness after everything he'd done to you and your mom. He said you deserved someone better, and every time he saw you, he felt so embarrassed that he couldn't bring himself to laugh. Doc, I don't know what the old man did, he was crying the whole time we talked."
"He said all those words?"
"He was depressed because his wife betrayed him."
"WHAT!"