Clarence stopped the car in front of a wooden green gate. The house was situated at a two-way road within the city limits but far from the business district. There were two factories found within the vicinity. Only a few vehicles were using this road making the place peaceful for the residents. Most people who lived there were workers in the said factories. Beauty"s parents were part of the few who had jobs outside the area.A tall middle-aged man with well-combed hair came out from the house. He was only wearing a sleeveless white s.h.i.+rt, a pair of black pants and a pair of red sandals. Looking at this man, you can tell he was attractive himself when he was younger.
"Papa!" Beauty shouted as she ran and hugged the man.
"Huh? Beauty? Oh, you"re back. Bella, your daughter is back. . . Who is this boy?" His father shouted back at the house while scrutinizing this handsome young man with his daughter.
"Pa, this is Clarence Peres. He is a chef."
"Ah, correction, still studying to be a certified chef but love cooking. Hi, Uncle, I"m Clarence. I"ve met your daughter when I went to Camotes Island." He looked at the man as his "future father in law" in his heart.
"Hi, Clarence. I"m Rodney Ferol. I"m Beauty"s father obviously. Please come in."
Clarence brought her luggage inside the house.
"Beauty, when did you come back?" A pretty woman in her early forties came out from the kitchen. You can tell she was the mother for their face had this unmistakable semblance aside from their hair color and height. The daughter inherited the father"s tallness and black hair. The mother was pet.i.te with brownish hair. When the two of them stood side by side, they seemed like sisters of whom the one shorter in height was the older one.
Clarence was staring at the mother and daughter a little dumbfounded. With this, he understood where Beauty"s appearance came from.
"Haha, you"re shocked, right? Actually, whenever we go out together, people always think she"s my older sister," explained Beauty.
"I think your father had a hard time telling people that she is his wife if you"re with them. Am I right?"
"You bet. That"s why I always tell Beauty not to come with us when we go out on a date. People would think they were both my daughters if she"s around." All of them laughed after hearing that.
"Hi, Clarence. I"m Bella, his wife, and her mother." The mother jokingly said.
"Nice to meet you, Auntie."
"Nice to meet you, too."
Greetings were done properly as the father beckoned everyone to the kitchen. They talked while they ate.
"Beauty, where did you go after leaving your grandparents? I called them and they told us you left a week ago. I"ve been trying to call your phone for days but only said not available." Her mother asked for she was restless the previous days for not hearing a word from her daughter.
"Actually, I"m the one who was at fault here." Clarence apologized first for not bringing her home directly. He also told them what took place after they left the island aside from his confession and other things they need not know.
"So you hired her as part of your team?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"Let"s talk more about that at the living room. Let"s leave the girls to do their ch.o.r.es."
The two men sat in front of each other at the living room.
"Where will she be staying since you"ll be traveling?"
"If we"re in the city or just go not far from here then she will be staying here. If we travel places then we will be staying in a hotel in separate rooms of course."
"Why did you hire her? She"s still young and newly graduated from senior high so what"s your benefit? Or do you have something else in mind?"
After hearing these questions Clarence thought of telling the father the truth but he was not sure Beauty would be allowed to go with them if he did so. He had to tread carefully with his answers.
"Uncle, she"s really good when it comes to food creativity. A lot of people are good at cooking but not in food presentation. Such talents like her are few. My parents also like her. They were happy that I hired Beauty. She would be of great help to my team. I can also promise to keep her from harm"s way."
"OK, I understand. But I want you to be honest with me. Both of you are of the same age, right?"
"Yes, Uncle." Hearing the father"s tone of voice, Clarence was a little bothered though his face remained calm.
"I"m a man and have been through being young as well," continued Rodney.
By now, Clarence seemed to understand the direction of the topic.
"I can understand how a man feels to a woman just with his eyes and att.i.tude. Let me be frank with you. Do you like her seriously? Or is this just a fleeting experience of youthfulness?"
Rodney looked straight into the eyes of Clarence while speaking. He knew from the way Clarence looked at Beauty, that tenderness, and care of a man in love was evident. He certainly believed this young man had feelings for his daughter.
"To be honest with you, I really do love Beauty and not as a pa.s.sing thing. I"m really serious with her up to marriage if she wants me. I already confessed to her but didn"t get any answer yet. My parents like her a lot as well. My Mom thought of her as her daughter in law already. Please believe me."
"About the job I offered. Yes, I have another motive with my feelings. But I only want to build our relations.h.i.+p with no other thoughts. I"m also true of hiring her for that special ability she has."
Clarence spoke with respect and firmness with his every word. Papa Rodney"s eyes glint of admiration to this composed young man who was not alarmed or even stuttered after he asked him.
"I hope you would be true to your words. If you hurt her then I won"t mind cutting your head."
The father"s face was grim and adamant as he spoke those last words. This made Clarence"s emotions unstable and alas his face betrayed him. As the father saw his uneasiness he felt victorious. He had toppled the young man"s poker face. He laughed merrily with this success which shocked the other.
"Haha, now you"re uneasy facing me. Don"t worry, I can hardly kill a chicken." The truth, he would faint with the sight of blood.
After hearing that, Clarence just grinned slightly and sighed. He was tested and pa.s.sed. Whew!
"I won"t help you get her affection though. You have to work hard for it, young man. No need to be in a hurry with relations.h.i.+ps. You"re both still young. I suggest you focus more on your studies for now."
"I will heed your words, Uncle. But I also mean what I said. I will pursue her until she says yes. Beauty already knows that."
"Good to hear that from you. Well, just relax and don"t let the girls know what we were talking."
Actually, the two were eavesdropping the whole time and heard everything. Beauty almost gasp out of fear when she heard her father"s threat but held her breath. Somehow, she was really moved with the young man"s statement. Clarence found his way to her heart making this meeting became his blessing.