Chapter 37: Vulnerable Xavier II

While they waited at the waiting area of the hospital, Rachael was able to pinpoint how nervous Xavier was. Even though he tried hard to not show it, it was still visible on his face. The way he occasionally let out a distressed breath and how he kept rubbing his hands on his trousers.

Rachael slipped her hands into his to ease his tensed self. He was surprised by her sudden act, but he didn't do anything to remove her hand. Instead, he held it firmly. The assurance he had from just holding her hand was something he needed.

"It will be fine"Rachael assured him with a smile.

Xavier didn't say anything rather than nod. He was vulnerable at that point. At first, his blood boiled at the thought of meeting his father, but now he was here, waiting for the doctor to tell him it was a perfect time to see that same father.

"Go with me" he blurted out and Rachael was stunned.

"I can't...."

"Please" he cut her off. "I might lose my mind in there"

Racheal pressed her lips together. "Okay," she whispered.

They wait for a while until a brunette African Americans nurse came out with a notepad in her hand. She smiled faintly at them. "I'm sorry about the delay sir," she said politely. "You can come in now"

Rachael noticed how Xavier let out a shaky exhale. He gives Rachael a glance and she didn't fail to notice the vulnerability his eyes held. the nurse led the way while both of them trailed from behind. Xavier was always the collected one, able to keep his feelings in check, but at that point, he was different. It seemed all his coordinators flew out the through the window.

They got to the ward and the nurse excused both of them. Xavier hesitated a while before finally opening the door. He went in first while Rachael walked in after him.

There he was, lying on the bed. His eyes were opened, and Rachael could see the weakness in them. The resemblance between both of them was unbelievable. Without being told one could tell Xavier was the son of his father.

The grey-haired man on the floor parted his lips to speak as he gazed at Xavier whose expression was unreadable, but no words came out.

"Xavier my boy" his father finally spoke as he tried to get up but was too weak to. "It's been so long. 5 years is it?" He asked, truly excited to see his son, but the excitement seemed to piss Xavier off as the look of grimace overtook the neutral look on his face.

"7 years" Xavier corrected.

"Who is that?" His father asked as he looked at Rachael who only smiled at him.

"Is that important? You were so concerned about seeing me and I'm sure you didn't call me to beat around the bush" Xavier spat out in annoyance.

"I know son," the old man said in a crooked voice. "I want to make amends"

"Of what exactly?"

"Of everything. How I treated you wrongly. How I never treated you like a son. How I....."He broke off

"How you killed my mother" he completed the statement his father found difficult to finish.

"I'm sorry," he said in a raspy voice. Rachael couldn't see him properly, but she was sure he was crying.

"Don't say that" Xavier said in a shaky tone. Rachael knew it wouldn't take long before Xavier shed a tear. She held him by the hand to comfort him, but he didn't hold her back.

"No son I truly I'm. Your mother" he stopped to catch his breath. "She was the best wife anyone could ask for. Even when I treated her badly she still showered me with love"

"You know what she told me just after you left her to die? She told me to forgive you. Her heart was the purest, but you bloody killed her!" Xavier voiced out in anger with protruding head veins and fist clenched so hard that his bones hurt.

"I was a monster. I was carried away from the things that mattered. I'm sorry"

"Sorry doesn't fix it. That was what you said when you slashed my back with a knife for talking back at you after hitting my mother"

"Please forgive me" his father begged in a shaky tone as tears flowed from his eyes to the bed.

"I pray you die from this" Xavier spoke in a deadly whisper. He grabbed Rachael by the hand and without warning dragged her out of the ward while his father repeatedly shouted his name.

When they left the ward, Xavier abandoned her hand and walked on. She was forced to run from behind. He didn't say a word even when they got to the car. The silence in the car became unbearable when they stayed for over 10 minutes without anything said. Rachael decided to break the silence.

"He is sorry" Rachael pressed her lips together the moment the words left her lips. She didn't know how Xavier would react to it, judging from how angry he looked.

"He is not fucking sorry. He has always been so manipulative"

"But he's dying"Rachael persisted.

"And so what?"

"But....."

"Rachael drop this topic" he snapped at her angrily and she instantly plopped on her chair in defeat.

" I thought I would be able to stand him after 7 years, but that was a lie. His eyes still annoys me. The fact he even had the guts to praise my mother in her grave" he scoffed in irritation. "He doesn't deserve any of my fucking forgiveness"