Day Sixty-Six…
~~*****~~
[ At Greenbelt District Hospital… ]
Mr. Hiroshi and Hanabi visited Dave in the hospital. Mr. Hiroshi would like to introduce Hanabi as Jane's childhood friend. Aside from that, Hanabi would serve as her bodyguard who would keep her safe at all times.
Abigail was feeding Dave with porridge when the two entered the room. Dave was surprised to see Abigail's father. Deep inside, he was nervous when facing Mr. Hiroshi. He didn't look like an ordinary person.
Abigail's status had changed. She was a heiress of the Yan Family. The Hiroshi Family appeared to be powerful and influential too as he heard that they came from Country J. This was one of Dave's insecurities. Unlike her, Dave only had an ordinary background. He was an orphan. No family at all.
'Will Abigail's father accept me?' Dave questioned himself. He wanted to propose to Abigail already but he must talk to Mr. Hiroshi first.
Meanwhile, Abigail put down the porridge and stood up, greeting her father. She hugged him.
"Dad, you're here. Why didn't you inform me that you would drop by?" Abigail shifted her gaze from her father to the lady beside him. She gave her a faint smile. "Who is she, Dad?"
"This is Hanabi, your sister's childhood friend from Country J. Hanabi, this is my second daughter, Abigail. I hope you will get along well." Mr. Hiroshi introduced the two together.
"Hello, Abi. I'm glad to finally meet you. I can also be your big sister," Hanabi greeted her with a smile. She looked so friendly today compared to her usual cold and indifferent aura. She seldom mingles with others. She didn't have a lot of friends. She was the opposite of Tatsumi's personality, who was cheerful and lively.
"Thanks, Hanabi. I am so happy to have another big sister, aside from my sister. Welcome to Country M." Abigail also approached her and gave her a quick hug.
"By the way, this is Dave. My daughter's good friend," Mr. Hiroshi spoke again.
Dave was about to say hello when Abigail butted in. "Dad, he is my boyfriend." She corrected her father.
Mr. Hiroshi and Hanabi exchanged glances with one another.
Dave said hello to them, feeling a little bit embarrassed. Mr. Hiroshi and Hanabi were surprised by that sudden revelation. It seemed that it was the right time to officially introduce himself as Abigail's boyfriend.
"Mr. Hiroshi, if you will allow me, may I have a few minutes of your time? There is something I wanna talk to you." Dave politely requested Mr. Hiroshi.
ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Mr. Hiroshi nodded his head in response. "Sure." Mr. Hiroshi turned to his daughter and Hanabi. "Abi, can you tour Hanabi around while I'm talking to Dave?"
Abigail hesitated for a moment. She wanted to be there. What if her father disapproves of her relationship with Dave? She was anxious. But Dave gave her a reassuring smile.
Abigail could only sigh in defeat as she bobbed her head. "Okay." She felt like she was being an outcast. She was curious about what the two men would be talking about.
Hanabi just tapped Abigail's shoulder as they stepped out of the room. "Don't worry. Your father will not eat your boyfriend alive. He will not do something that will upset his daughter. He dotes on you so much."
Abigail let out a soft giggle because of her remarks. "Thanks, Hanabi for making me feel at ease."
"You are always welcome. Anyway. Where are we going to go?" Hanabi asked her.
Abigail had only one place in mind. She hadn't settled a score yet with Helena. "Actually, I want to meet someone. Can you accompany me?"
"I'm at your service," Hanabi promptly responded. "Lead the way!"
The two ladies left the hospital to search for Helena. Abigail thought she was still staying in the hotel so they proceeded there.
Meanwhile, inside Dave's ward, Mr. Hiroshi was now sitting beside his sick bed. He could feel Dave's anxiousness.
"C'mon son, relax. I'm not a villain here." Mr. Hiroshi spoke up first to break the tension.
Dave was taken aback when Mr. Hiroshi called him 'son'. He felt like his face blushed and he swooned because of that statement.
"Sir… as you all know, I'm not from a rich family. I can't match Nathan Sparks. Mr. Sparks will be your ideal son-in-law. I only have this job… as a policeman. I know I don't have much to offer. But I want you to know that I love your daughter so much… more than my life. I will do my best to make her happy. Please… give us your blessings." Dave bowed his head.
There was a moment of silence. Mr. Hiroshi didn't speak right away as he continued to assess Dave's expression. Dave spoke with sincerity and Mr. Hiroshi could feel that. After a while, Mr. Hiroshi held Dave's shoulder.
"I don't need a rich man for my daughters. As long as this guy can protect them and will cherish them like how I cherish them, then I will never stop them from loving each other. I heard from Jane how you protected Abi even during her childhood years. Dave… as long as my daughter loves you back, then you will have my blessings. I am not against your relationship. You have my support."
Dave was at a loss for words when he heard that. He felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from his chest. He got worried for nothing. Mr. Hiroshi was very kind and understanding. He suddenly got emotional because he didn't expect to get Mr. Hiroshi's approval and blessings right away.
"Thank you, Sir! Thank you so much." Dave couldn't contain his happiness. He could only thank him for accepting him as Abigail's boyfriend. "I promise I will treasure her and will protect her always. I will do anything for her."
Mr. Hiroshi chuckled and patted his shoulder. "You know what? You have a great backer. Jane likes you. I guess she is already eyeing you to be her brother-in-law."
Dave was flattered. 'I owed her a lot. I wonder when she is coming back. I want to thank her personally.' Dave thought to himself. He heard that Jane had gone abroad for a business trip.
"Son, I also want to grab this opportunity to thank you. When I couldn't be by her side, you were there for her. You served as her family. You never let her feel alone. I owe you a lot." Mr. Hiroshi also expressed his heartfelt gratitude toward Dave.
"I just did what my heart told me to do. I love her and I care for her. She also completed me. My life wouldn't be meaningful without her. I'm glad I met her." Dave felt surreal as he recalled how he met Abigail in the orphanage. Since young, she already caught his attention. He always had a crush on her.
Dave told Mr. Hiroshi how their friendship started and how it bloomed into love. Mr. Hiroshi was glad to hear more childhood experiences of Abigail. He wasn't there to watch over her. He would make sure to thank Abigail's adoptive parents, the Scarlett Family.
"Don't call me sir anymore. Just call me, Dad, okay?" Mr. Hiroshi was removing the formality between them. He wanted Dave to feel comfortable while talking to him.
Dave didn't know what to say. He just felt grateful for this. "Sir… I mean Dad… Honestly, I'm planning to propose to Abigail. Please give me your consent."
"Oh, No. You can't marry her yet!" Mr. Hiroshi blurted out with a straight face.
Dave was tongue-tied because of that. He thought Mr. Hiroshi would give him consent already to propose to Abigail. Why was he objecting now?
"May I know the reason why, Dad?" Dave braced himself, his heart pounding rapidly inside his chest.
"Hmm. I have just reunited with my daughters. I want to pamper them and treat them as my princesses. I don't think I'm ready to marry them off. But If I have to do it, then I want my eldest daughter to marry first. Sigh. She is not getting younger anymore." Mr. Hiroshi responded matter-of-factly.
Dave: "..."
He didn't know what to say. From a father's point of view, he could understand Mr. Hiroshi's sentiment.
'Does it mean I will not be able to marry Abigail yet unless Jane gets married first?' Dave had conflicting thoughts about it. Could he really wait that long? He didn't even know if Jane had a boyfriend or not.
"Uhm… Dad, I just want to ask… Does Miss Jane have someone she likes?" Dave asked him. Then he scratched his face. "I wonder when she will get married too," he added, smiling sheepishly.
'So that you will allow me to marry Abigail.' Dave didn't say it out loud.
Mr. Hiroshi rubbed his chin. "Yes. She likes someone. It's Nathan Sparks."
Dave: "..."
Dave was rendered speechless again.
"But the problem is… Nathan is in love with her sister, Abigail. So I don't think she will get married this year."
There was another moment of silence when Mr. Hiroshi made his last remarks.
"But I know someone who wants to marry my daughter. Kazuki's son, Tatsumi." Mr. Hiroshi was observing Dave's expression as he smiled inwardly. He was just teasing him. He won't stop him from proposing to Abigail. He even noticed the hopeful look in Dave's eyes when he heard about Tatsumi as if he was hoping that Jane would get married soon.
It did not take long before Mr. Hiroshi's laughter bubbled up inside the ward. "Dave, don't feel dejected and disheartened. I was just kidding. You can propose to Abigail anytime."
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