Jombo's dry lips parted like he had something to say, but he couldn't make any sound.
"It's four-thirty in the morning, so the kids are asleep. I'll bring them over once you feel better, " informed Zayn, who knew exactly what Jombo was thinking.
Jombo blinked and relaxed.
"They keep asking when you'd be back, and Randy is especially sad. He feels guilty and claims that it is his fault that you fell…" said Zayn to trigger a reaction from Jombo and get his emotions run wild.
"Uh, ah…" muttered Jombo, who was instantly worried.
"Mr. Zayn…" said Thompson, who was getting nervous.
"Don't worry, I told him that it is not his fault, " replied Zayn quickly to calm Jombo down. He added, "You know how smart Randy is though. He may act like he is fine, but he's secretly worried and praying that you will be home soon. That is why you must cooperate with the doctor and recover quickly."
"Hmm, " replied Jombo before he nodded with great difficulty.
"Rest well. I will stay here with you."
Zayn helped Jombo pull up his blanket before stroking his arm gently. The former was cooing as if the latter were a kid.
Jombo, who was nervous earlier, slowly calmed down and went to sleep.
The doctor came and examined Jombo's condition before leaving.
Thompson got a chair over for Zayn and suggested, "Here, Mr. Zayn. Take a seat. It'd be tiring to keep standing like this."
Zayn sat down. He kept holding Jombo's hand and stared at him quietly.
Back in the days, Zayn thought that Jombo was a domineering assh_le and a control freak who had made tons of unredeemable mistakes.
The former was especially angry about how Jombo dealt with Carla.
That anger lasted for two whole years.
Unfortunately, Jombo was Zayn's grandpa and the person who raised him. That made it impossible for Zayn to hate the guy despite being furious at him.
All that anger and rage dissipated at that moment.
Zayn's only wish was that Jombo would recover and scold him again. I won't mind even if he hits me with his cane.
He'd actually feel more at ease if that were to happen.
"Mr. Zayn, you should take a nap on the sofa. Mr. Jombo is asleep, and he will likely be out for a couple of hours, " said Thompson.
"Go rest up. I want to stay with my Grandpa for a little longer."
Zayn kept staring at Jombo. The former started recalling how Jombo used to be. That powerful man who managed a business empire has slowly turned gray and fragile.
There will come a day when he fades away completely.
Thompson got Zayn a coat before sharing sadly, "The doctor told me everything. I…"
Thompson couldn't finish that sentence. His voice became so thick with tears that he didn't sound like his normal self.
"I have been serving Mr. Jombo for seventy years and have been by his side my entire life. In a way, I spent more time with him than his spouse and kids did. How I wish that I can keep serving him…"
"You can, " replied Zayn with a smile before he added, "The doctor said that Grandpa will be fine so long as he remains happy and rests well every day."
"Huh? Really?" blurted Thompson in astonishment.
"Yeah, " answered Zayn. He pretended to be at ease when he joked, "That is why I can't piss him off anymore. In fact, I'll have to coo him and be nice to him every day from now on."
"Hahaha, " laughed Thompson immediately. "It'll be tough for you then."
"I have no choice. He's my grandpa, and he spent his life building me up. I simply owe him too much, " replied Zayn as his lips curved into a warm smile.
"You've really grown up, Mr. Zayn, " sighed Thompson.
"I'm a dad now, so I have to be an adult, " replied Zayn before he grinned exasperatedly.
"A-are the kids really home?" asked Thompson, who couldn't help wondering.
"Polka told you?"
At that moment, Zayn knew that he could no longer lie about the matter.
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