So this guy beats people up in college and donates kidneys in hospitals?

Is this what I was supposed to think of him?

"You?" I declared before him as I witnessed his small formal smile wear off his face. His expression seemed confused and his hand that he had lifted to greet me with slowly fell to his side.

I wasn't ready to let his first bad impression die and give birth to this new one before me.

So you are telling me he is the guy who donated his kidney to my father and he is also the guy who beat those people up? That's way too polarity there.

Daddy got up from his chair. "You know him, Sadie?"

I looked at daddy and weakly nodded partially because I was scared of this guy. What was his name again?

"Pardon me but I don't think we have met before." The guy said. His voice was so smooth and soft yet deep that it was hard to recognize him as the same guy from college.

He was roaring then but right now...he was so far away from the very 'monstrous' image he set of himself in college.

"Ah, w-we go to the same college." I replied daddy totally ignoring the guy's statement while still looking at he with narrow, conflicted eyes that said 'I know you are not a good guy but I have to respect you for my father is here and I still don't trust you'. It's amazing how much eyes can convey.

This response of mine seemed to make daddy even happier as he turned towards the guy and placed his one hand on his shoulder. "College, really? Bull, I am so pleased to hear that you have resumed your studies."

The guy, who was looking at me with eyes conveying 'What's wrong with you? Why are you giving me that look?', turned to daddy and smiled. "Yes, Doctor Hill. I have."

"Splendid! It means you can help Sadie get to know this college better." Daddy said. "Now, let's all sit down for dinner."

'Resumed' studies? Did daddy know him from before?

We all sat for dinner. Daddy, mom and 'Bull' had small 'pleasant' conversations while I looked at them like the grumpy cat. For the first time I felt someone was stealing my parents from me. They were just so into him! Even mom! She doesn't even know a thing about him except that he is the generous donor which in itself is an enough reason to be into him.

Am I making sense here?

Anyhow, I kept giving small precise answers whenever asked. This guy was taking business, IT, Coding, Entrepreneurship and yada, yada, yada majors at college. Seems like he was very much into studies.

"That's a lot of study, Bull." Daddy began. "Are you sure you can handle this with- "

"I am trying my very best, Dr Hill." The guy kindly nodded with a smile. Please tell me you have a twin brother and that you aren't the same guy from college.

That's when I noticed the bruises on his face. One on his right eyebrow, one on the chin and one on his left nostril. Aha! Proof that he is a bully!

Didn't daddy see those marks? Why wasn't he questioning him? Wait, am I discarding his angelic act of saving my father with the mere fact that I saw him beating up some guys? Was I being so nasty and ungrateful? He beat up some guys...okay, not cool. But I don't have the right to judge. Maybe those guys started it or something. I should at least be nice to him for tonight. I am still indebted to him after all.

I looked down at my plate with a small guilt in my tummy and waited for this dinner to end. And thank Jesus; it did come to an end. Turns out this guy isn't too interested in staying at anyone's house for long.

Mom was doing a strange thing she never did for any other guest: Apart from feeding the guy with dinner, she also packed some more for him to take home! Seriously?

When it was time to see him out at the door, I made an excuse for the washroom and came out when he had already left. Daddy and mom were so pleased with themselves. I grumpily folded my arms on my chest and slump on the sofa. Maybe the partial reason for my poor reaction was the breaking of the expectation of meeting someone nice – someone with no prior bad impression. I had expected of myself to be very nice to him but I failed at that so that too was a reason. Plus, my parents were totally unaware of everything. That added to the frustration. The night hadn't turned out how I imagined it.

Daddy came from the kitchen and mockingly asked, "What are you so off about?"

I unfolded my arms and played with my fingers in my lap. "The night didn't turn out to be like I expected it to."

Daddy frowned. "Why-"

"Daddy, I saw this guy beat up other two guys at college, today!" I just couldn't keep it inside.

Daddy suddenly went silent. He sighed after a few seconds and sat next to me. "So...you are sad about that?"

I fully turned my body to his direction. Mom came out of the kitchen as well.

"Daddy, I had imagined a very good person tonight. But sadly, he had already set an impression before me which wasn't very good. Due to which I couldn't even express my gratitude to him. I mean I am so confused. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Should I totally ignore the fact he is a bully at college and be grateful for what he has done for us? What should I do?"

Daddy breathed sharply and looked towards the ceiling. It seemed I had offended him somehow. He looked right back at me and said, "Bull is a very nice guy."

OK.

"Do you know him from before?" I asked. Daddy nodded. I was surprised as I adjusted myself on the sofa.

"You do?" I repeated.

"Yes, I met Bull many months ago. This was the second time we are meeting." Daddy merely said and stood up in a tired manner. He was surely going to bed now. He wrapped his arm around mom's torso and gently pulled her in for a short tender kiss.

Eh.

They smiled at each other for a second before daddy returned his gaze to me.

"What do you think about him?" He asked me.

I frowned and looked down, searching my mind for an answer. "I don't know. I am currently afraid of him."

Daddy let go of mom and sat beside me again. That day he gave me an advice that I have cherished up till now. And it's an advice worth sharing and worth acting on cause it has given me the ability to find the most valuable people in my life.

"If you are afraid of something, increase your knowledge about it. And if you are afraid of someone, you should get to know them more." Daddy smiled and kissed my forehead.

This meant goodnight.

Daddy always slept early because he was a doctor. But he made mom and I sleep half an hour after him. He had his logic behind it. Since I wasn't close to mom and was always present around daddy (that's how I liked to place myself), he thought it was better I have half an hour with mom every night.

It certainly did start to work after a few days.

And now I was being told to spend time with Bull. Of course, getting to know him more would mean spending time with him. I think I could do that.

I could do that especially if daddy said so.

And let me tell you something: After I actually did it, I never regretted it.