"You know, what you just did on the stage. It was beautiful," my dad babbled. He was complimenting me over and over again.

I smiled, "thanks, dad. You said that many times now."

He laughed, "yeah? I can't express it more. It gives me goosebumps."

"Cathleen," a delicate hand snakes around my waist, which sends goosebumps all over my skin, "that was a marvelous show. Here," she gave me a flower bouquet.

I turned to see Joanne with flowers in her hand and Simon beside her. There's something in his face that screams trouble. I ignored it as I wanted to have a bond with my dad.

"Thank you. Oh, Jo, Simon. Meet my dad. Dad, this is Joanne and Simon," I spoke as my dad widened his eyes to see Joanne's hand still around me.

"Oh my, I'm sorry, where's my manner. It's nice to finally meet you, Mr. Everest," Joanne spoke as she hugged my dad, and Simon shook my dad's hand.

Out of nowhere, my dad seems to be interested in Joanne. Somewhere in his mind, he must have thought that she's my girlfriend, which she's not. But, I appreciate Joanne's gesture with a flower. I haven't gotten any flowers from anyone before, even my past significant other.

"What major are you in, Joanne?" My dad asked.

"I'm in Business Administration," Joanne answered proudly.

"A future entrepreneur, huh?"

Joanne shrugged as she laughed, "Guilty as charged."

As I pulled Simon, I let them carry away their conversation, "What's going on outside?" I whispered.

"Elijah and his gang wanted to ambush the school," Simon answered.

I raised an eyebrow, recalling what José said to me.

"he would go to any events that held in Trinity College."

Maybe that's one of the reasons he came here, but the Freshman didn't tell me what his gang would come to.

"Should do something about it," I said to him.

"Like what? Mason is still blocking them, and they're not moving."

Being intimidating won't solve the problem, but an idea is brought to mind.

"I have an idea," I said to Simon.

I want to bond with my dad, but I want to see what's happening outside. I'm sorry, dad, "I'm sorry, I have something urgent to do," I said, turning his attention from Joanne.

He nods. Even if he's smiling, there's a slight disappointment, "Oh, okay."

"Let's have dinner tonight. I'll take you somewhere to make it up to you," I assured him, and he accepted. When I offered him dinner, he looked pleased, "Joanne can take you around the campus."

Joanne was confused at the idea, but I gave her a look that screamed, "Please."

"Yeah, I'll take you around," Joanne agrees, and I thank her.

Before leaving, I hugged my dad for the last time, "I missed you, dad."

My dad hugged me back, "I miss you too, kid. You better tell me everything I've missed at dinner."

I nod after I let go of his embrace. I don't want to let go, but I have to. I can't let Elijah and his gang enter the campus. It's going to be chaos if he enters.

Finally, Simon and I spotted them outside the entrance of the campus. Mason and his group are blocking the entrance road as Elijah and his group is infront of them trying to get in.

I dialed Stephanie, "Steph, is Mr. Ross still there?"

"Wait, let me check," she went silent and spoke again, "He's here. Why?"

"I'm outside the entrance, and Elijah's gang is here. They're trying to enter the campus. I don't know what they are doing."

"Shit, shit. So you want Mr. Ross to get rid of them?"

I nodded- wait, why I am nodding. She's not here, "Yeah, do you think it's a good idea?"

"Well, I think it's good to scare them away without increasing the conflict using cops. I'll talk to Mr. Ross," Stephanie agreed.

"Thanks, I appreciate it, Steph."

I can feel her smile from here, "Yeah, no problem. And try to get your nose clean, alright?"

"I can't promise you, but I'll try."

I hung up and walked behind the others.

I observe the situation. Mason and Elijah are glaring at each other as they could slit their throats. Two cars blocking the campus entrance, so Elijah's gang can't get through. Elijah brought so many people. They didn't pull out their guns yet, but I'm sure they would like any second now.

This is nuts.

When the first time I saw Elijah, he looked scared. But now, he doesn't even look intimidated. He seems as furious as Mason is. What does he want? Revenge? Mason should be the one who's getting revenge because they shot me!

"They're still in the same position before I left," Simon informed.

Then I lay my eyes on the person I won't forget—the cut on his eyebrow and the dragon tattoo on his shoulder. I've never been so irritated at someone.

I distracted myself before going crazy just looking at someone, "I called the cops. They should be gone, right?"

"What the- I guess? I mean, that's the only effective way to get rid of them."

I glance on the perimeter, and I hear sirens from afar. They must have heard it, too, because they look distressed.

"Did you fucking call the cops?!" Elijah screamed at Mason's face.

He looked confused as everyone else, but he said, "No, but that's what you get from trying to ambush my campus. I guess the cops were monitoring around here."

"Elijah, let's go!" Jayden yanked Elijah's shoulders, making his way to the car.

"I'm not done with you!" He threatens Mason.

Mason doesn't look scared at all. Instead, he spits in front of Elijah, "Fuck off and don't come back!"

Elijah and his group drove away from the campus as two cops followed them. All of us sighed in relief. Now that's done, I know that's not the end of their quarrel. We have to prepare for anything.

The car blocking the entrance now left and parked in the parking lot.

Mason spoke first before anyone says anything about the scene, "Let's be honest now, who called the cops?"

Now the question has been said, I saw going to tell me, but someone cut me.

"I did, using Mr. Ross," we all turned our attention to Stephanie and Mr. Ross walking towards us, "don't worry, you're not in trouble."

"Dad?" Mason questioned his dad's presence.

"I saw a gang trying to get in, and with your bravery, you block the entrance. It's dangerous, but it's something. We don't want the parents inside the theater to panic," Mr. Ross spoke.

Mason smiled and shook his dad's hands, "thanks, dad."

Mason acted like he didn't know anything about the gang, and they were volunteering to stop the gang. Both of them see the truth.

I think Mason isn't suspecting any of us for calling the cops, and it must be an excellent decision to use the cop. I can't let Mason know that I know Mr. Ross as the lead investigator of the drug case.

It's funny that Mason isn't suspicious towards Stephanie cause she knew his dad. In his mind, it must be that he thought a Students Union saw the scene and asked for help from parents who are a cop. Whatever his reasons are, it's good that he still doesn't know.

"Hey, you okay?" Stephanie asks me in worried.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I thanked her, "thanks for the backup."

"Do you think Mason would suspect anything about me knowing his dad?"

"I don't think so, and he must have thought you found a cop and just that. Just a cop without knowing his son is," I assured her.

Then suddenly, she pulled me into an embrace. She must be apprehensive about me. Well yeah, last time I met those guys, I got shot. So she obviously would be worried.

I just hugged her back, convincing her that I was alright.

***

"So this Simon guy, he's a dealer, but he's like a brother to you? And since you broke up with Stephanie-"

"Don't forget the friendship, dad. We broke up our friendship," I added.

"Yeah, that. Ever since that, this girl Joanne has been with you for a whole year?" My dad repeated my story, and I responded with a nod. Then he continued, "I thought Joanne was your girlfriend."

After taking him to a local diner, I decided to hang with my dad in his hotel, and luckily, his room got a balcony. I just thought it would add a positive vibe talking with him. We're talking while drinking my beer. I wouldn't let my dad drink beer since he's sober for a few months. Instead, he's drinking coke.

"Yeah, we're not together. It's complicated," I laughed.

"If she's your girlfriend, I would say that she's a catch," he teased, and I waved it off.

Of course, Joanne is something. She's the one who's always been beside me since I stepped foot on this campus.

"By the way, did you get a job or something? Because one time I looked at your tuition report, it was paid for the next semester."

Damn it. Should I tell tell him that I'm a drug dealer or something? Maybe I shouldn't tell him the truth. I mean, he's a sheriff that's a start, "let's say, I know my way around with money."

He nodded awkwardly, "Okay..."

Oh, did it sound wrong? He must have thought something weird, "I swear it's nothing weird. I can't tell you what it is."

He laughed and patted my shoulders, "I know, I trust you, kid. I understand that you have worked hard to help me pay off your tuition. I'm proud of you, like, you paid off until the next semester! Now I don't have to worry because I am always short on money to buy groceries."

I smiled with a bit of pity on him.

My mom has left him, but that doesn't mean my brother is out of his care. He's still sending mom money for their living. If my mom still asked my dad for money, why did she leave in the first place? But, if my mom didn't leave the house. I can't imagine what he would be like now.

Mom's retreats made my dad who he is this today. He repented from his past and tried to be better for us. At first, sometimes, I was always irritated with my dad's behavior because he wasn't entirely himself. But he is now.

"So, you're leaving tomorrow morning?" I ask him, trying to find another topic.

"Yep, too bad," he said while smirking.

I tilted my head, "Why are you smiling? I'm sad that you're leaving, but you're not?"

"It's not like that, kid," he put his bottle down, "you know, your cousins, aunts, and uncles miss you. They would be happy if you came home for Thanksgiving."

Oh, he's asking me to join Thanksgiving with his family side? I didn't join their Thanksgiving last year because I didn't have enough money to buy the plane ticket, and my dad wasn't himself either. So I was drinking my ass off.

I shook my head, "Well, seeing you being a better dad. I would love to but, isn't it too sudden?"

"No..." he took his phone and showed me something, "it's not sudden because I bought two tickets to Utah!"

I was shocked. It was a good shock because I was thrilled, surprised by his gesture. Is he buying me a plane ticket without my knowing?

I instantly grabbed my dad and trapped him in my embrace, "Thank you, thank you!" I repeat the same word over and over again happily. I let go of him, but my hands are on his shoulders, "How and why?"

"How? Because I can. Since we split our money to pay the tuition and you also paid for the next semester, I saved up my money," he scratched the back of his head, "and why? It's not because you invited me to your Thanksgiving, but your family missed you a lot."

"You already bought the ticket. I can't turn it down," I smiled at him, "so is that mean I'll have to pack my stuff tonight?"

He nods. Then we went silent for a moment. My dad fidgeting with his ring- ring? Why is he still wearing his wedding ring with mom? I thought he hated her. He looked hesitant for a second until he took a deep breath before speaking.

"Kid, you know I haven't properly apologized to you," he muttered. I quiet myself allowing him to continue, "I'm sorry for my past behavior. I should have realized it way before your mom left us. I should have been the best dad in your whole high school year, but I wasn't."

I set myself silent as he's giving himself sometimes to it all out.

"I know, what I did was unforgivable," he continues, "you're grown up now. I wish I could turn back the time and give you a proper family."

"I- I don't know what to say," I voiced as I held back my tears. I have finally heard an apology from my dad, and I should be happy, right? Why do I feel sad? I took his hand firmly, "I wanted to say this to you for a long time. I was just a child, and I've never understood you and mom's problem, never have and never will.  But seeing you tried your best to make up to me, I feel grateful. Yet, you still scarred me physically and mentally."

He nodded, understanding my situation, "I don't need you to forgive me now. I understand what I've done to you, of all the beating and screaming that scarred you. You can't just forgive me in the blink of an eye. But, remember one thing. I only ask you for forgiveness, nothing more."

I failed to hold my tears as they just passed down my cheeks. I laughed, "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying."

Then he broke down, and I've never seen him so vulnerable. He hugged me, and I began to break down too. I was broken, looking back at my past with a broken family. I had a bad childhood if you compared to anyone. I don't have anything to be proud of, but now I have. I have my dad apologized to me for what he had done to me. My dad, who made me broken, now he's trying to make it up to me.

"Thanks, dad. But, I need time to think about it," I utter successfully spoke four words between my sob.

"Thank you, Cathleen," he sobbed, "take your time. You have all the time in the world."

***