Alex and Mia returned home, their hands full of bags from the mall. They were excited about their new purchases and eager to show them to Harrold. As they stepped inside, the warm smell of freshly baked cookies greeted them. They made their way to the living room, where Harrold was seated at his desk, going through some papers.
"Look what we got!" Mia exclaimed, dropping her bags onto the couch. She began pulling out her new clothes, accessories, and shoes, showcasing everything she bought. Alex watched as she revealed a small purse with cute kittens embroidered on the outside.
"That's nice, dear," Harrold said, smiling at Mia's enthusiasm. "Do you mind if I have a chat with Alex alone for a bit?"
Mia looked inquisitive but nodded. "No, that's fine. Is everything okay?"
Harrold assured her with a smile, "Everything's fine, dear. I just need to talk to Alex for a moment."
As Mia continued to sort through her purchases, Harrold led Alex to his study room. The atmosphere shifted slightly as they entered the room. Harrold's face was serious, and Alex began to feel worried. Harrold motioned for him to take a seat.
With a furrowed brow, Alex asked, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Harrold replied, sounding a bit hesitant. "But there's something I've been keeping from you."
Alex raised an eyebrow, curiosity mixing with concern. "What do you mean?"
Harrold took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. "You see, Alex, I haven't been completely honest with you. I knew your father."
"What do you mean you knew my father?" Alex asked, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. "What's going on, Harrold?"
Harrold sighed, his expression turning heavy. "Well, when I did a background check on you, I found out who you were and who your parents were. At first, I couldn't believe it. I thought you were dead… I knew they passed away in a car crash, and at that time, I assumed you were with them. It broke my heart."
Alex's breath caught in his throat. "So you thought I was gone too?"
"Yes," Harrold continued. "At that time, I didn't even think to investigate further. I just put it out of my mind and mourned their loss. If I had known…" He paused, shaking his head. "If I had known you wouldn't have suffered, I would have taken you in immediately."
"It's not your fault, Harrold," Alex replied, trying to manage the swirl of emotions. "But I have to ask… how did you know my dad?"
"That's a long story," Harrold said cautiously, "of which I'm sure I'll tell you in due time. But the short of it is, we were in the military together. He actually saved my life once… Hahaha, I guess like father, like son—you saved me too, didn't you, Alex?" Harrold's smile faded slightly as he continued, "But the thing is, I struggled a bit with how I should tell you or if I should tell you. I didn't want to cause you more pain by bringing up these memories. But I thought it was better to rip the bandaid off and just tell you, as I didn't want you thinking I had kept something from you."
Alex sat back, astonished. "Wait, my father was in the army with you? And…Does that mean Sebastian was with him too!?"
Harrold nodded. "Yes, but I didn't want him to tell you until I had a chance to talk with you. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I couldn't find the right moment."
Alex took a second to process everything. "It's okay. I'm just glad you told me."
Harrold's expression softened. "Speaking of Sebastian, he's been missing you. You should go see him tomorrow."
With a smile breaking across his face, Alex replied, "I will."
As they walked back to the living room, the weight of the conversation lingered in the air, but Alex felt lighter knowing the truth. Mia was still excitedly showing off her new items, and even though Alex had learned significant news about his past, he found comfort in the normalcy of the moment.
"Did you finnish your talk with him?" Mia asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Yes, I did," Harrold answered, giving Alex a reassuring nod.
"What did you find out?" she inquired, her excitement turning into concern as she sensed the shift in the room.
"Just some things about my dad," Alex replied, trying to keep it simple. He didn't want to get into the details just yet.
"Whatever it is, I hope it's good," Mia said, her voice softening.
"It is," Alex assured her. "Let's go through the rest of the stuff I got today!"
They gathered around the couch, bags sprawled out in front of them as they moved from one item to others. Alex showed off a couple of shirts he had picked out, and Mia clapped her hands excitedly at each reveal.
"And look at these shoes!" Alex added, pulling out a pair of stylish sneakers. "They'll be perfect for jogging with you and Sebastian."
"Those are awesome!" Mia cheered. "You'll look so good in them!"
As they continued to unpack, they chatted about their day at the mall, and Mia rattled off stories about the hilarious things that happened in the stores. Laughter filled the room, momentarily pushing aside the heaviness of their earlier conversation.
"I can't believe you bought that shirt!" Alex said, shaking his head in disbelief while laughing .
"What?.... i think it's cute!" Mia replied proudly, her eyes gleaming.
Harrold watched the two of them interact with a smile on his face. It warmed his heart to see Alex relaxed and happy, especially after their earlier conversation. He knew that understanding his past was important, but seeing him enjoying the present was equally vital.
After they finished unpacking, Mia placed her new purse on the table. "I love it so much!" she said, admiring the kittens on her new accessory.
"It suits you perfectly," Alex laughed, "just like your shirt!."
"Exactly!" Mia exclaimed. "I just love kitties...to bad my mom wont let me have one" Mia said with a sad expression.
As they settled on the couch, Harrold stood up. "Would you both like something to drink? Maybe some soda or juice?"
"Juice sounds great!" Mia said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yeah, I'll take some too," Alex added.
Harrold walked to the kitchen, leaving the two friends to chat. "So, what do you think about seeing Sebastian tomorrow?" Mia asked, leaning closer.
"I'm looking forward to it," Alex responded. "It'll be good to catch up. It feels like forever since I last saw him."
"It'll be fun! You should also invite him over. I want to meet him," she said, smiling brightly.
"Definitely," Alex replied, grateful for Mia's suggestion. It made him feel excited about reconnecting with his old friend.
Harrold returned with two glasses of juice, handing one to each of them. "Here you go. Enjoy."
"Thanks, Harrold!" they chimed in unison, raising their glasses for a toast.
"To friendship and new beginnings!" Alex said, feeling hopeful about the days to come.
"To friendship!" echoed Mia.
They sipped their drinks, laughing and exchanging stories about their school days and the various things they planned to do together over the coming weeks. The lightheartedness gradually filled the space, bringing a sense of normality back into their lives.
As the evening wore on, they began to discuss their plans for the upcoming weekend. Mia had ideas for a movie night, while Alex suggested a trip to the beach. Harrold joined in, sharing his own favorite spots near the beach that were perfect for relaxation and fun.
The conversation flowed naturally, filled with laughter, stories, and excitement. Whatever worries lingered faded into the background. Though many unknowns still lay ahead, in that moment, they were just three friends enjoying life together, savoring the moments that mattered and the bonds they were building.
As night fell, Alex felt a renewed sense of hope wash over him. With a new home, supportive friends, and the prospect of reconnecting with his father's old comrades, he realized that It might not always be easy, but they would face it all together. And sometimes, that was more than enough.