I felt sorry for the man, but Caitel wasnât. With a serious look on his face, he looked down upon the man and replied back at me.
âTaking out the trash.â
Oh⦠father.
I didnât know what expression I should make. As I stared at my father with a doubtful face, it seemed like Caitel started acting embarrassed.
âDaddy.â
I called him in a calm voice, but there was no response from my father, who avoided my eyes.
Did my dad think I would just let that go?
âMy dear daddy.â
ââ¦â
âDad.â
ââ¦â
âFather.â
How many more times should I call him to make him turn his head? Huh?
I was even willing to call him all day if I needed to, but I guessed my father didnât want that. After ignoring my call, he sighed and handed over the man that he dragged out of the attendants.
âGet rid of him, and make sure I donât see him again.â
âYes, Your Majesty.â
Looking at the attendants disappearing with a look of relief, I stared at my father in silence.
Caitel kept avoiding my eyes, perhaps because he still didnât have enough courage to face me. There was an awkward and uncomfortable silence between us as if we were alone in an elevator with a friend who barely knew us.
It felt like that uncomfortable silence that came after saying hi.
ââ¦â
ââ¦â
Alright, Iâd yield.
I had decided to stop staring at him without saying anything with teary eyes.
âDaddy, didnât I tell you last time that violence is not the best solution?â
This wasnât something I said ten years ago, not even a year ago. I told this to him just last week.
I wouldnât say anything if I told him before last week. I said the exact same thing the week before, and two weeks before too.
Now my father was coughing in vain, maybe heâs getting a little guilty.
Some said his temper got much better now, but I thought my dadâs rage remained the same. Honestly, heâs not a teenager anymore. When would he learn to calm that temper of his?
I began to pretend like I was about to cry.
âI would hope my father would take care of everything with grace and mercy⦠Really, I wish for nothing more but for you to become someone better. That would make me so happyâ¦â
âShould we have dinner now?â
This old geezer!
âItâs still lunch now!â
Caitel looked somewhat disappointed.
This was not the right time to make that face, Dad!