Not long after his mom left, Papa Steph came and brought home some fresh apples and oranges. He has sturdy and broad shoulders. As he climbs up the stairs, he casts a reassuring shadow and radiates the quiet confidence of someone who has survived storms and sunshine.
As Stephen watched his father climb up, he couldn’t help but feel emotional again. “Sj, has your mom left already?” Papa Steph asked as he bent down to place the apples and oranges beside him.
Stephen nods. Seeing his son a little pale and weak, Papa Steph couldn’t help but feel a heartache.
“Tell me, son, did you get sick because we did not cook spaghetti on your birthday?” His father asked jokingly. Stephen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His fever has nothing to do with the food on his birthday.
He and his playmates danced and laughed outside during the whole rainy afternoon yesterday. That’s why he got sick!
Chuckling, Stephen tried to divert the topic. “Pa, do you think mom would lend me money if I ask her tonight?” Papa Steph blinked and said, “And why do you need money? Are you dating someone already?”
“Of course not. I want to start a business!” He quickly denied it. It was also at this moment that he clearly remembered his girlfriend whom he would meet seven years from now.
Shock and pained expression filled Papa Steph’s face. He couldn’t help but look at his son again with seriousness, “We are sorry son that you have to suffer like this. But don’t worry, I and your mom are still capable of earning enough money for the family.”
Stephen let out a sigh.
“Pa, I know that. But I still want to start a business. Anyway, it is not bad for me to start at a young age. Just a few days ago, I saw a fifteen-year-old young man on TV earning one hundred thousand pesos on his small business.”
At this moment, he couldn’t help but tell a lie. He couldn’t directly tell his father that he had just reincarnated right? And that he is a money-making machine now.
He looked at his father straight in the eye with a look of yearning and determination, “And… I want to be like him!”
Papa Steph did not understand how his son suddenly became so interested in earning money. It could be said that their situation is a little better than other families since they can eat three times a day.
But upon thinking that since his son had a goal in mind now, he would do his best as his father to support him.
“Alright, tell me your plans.”
Seeing that his father did not disagree. Stephen relaxed a little and quickly told his father the plans he had in mind.
After telling his plans, he looked at his father, “What do you think? Mom would support it right?”
Papa Steph has not yet recovered from the shock and awe brought by his son’s plans. The idea and innovation are too mind-blowing. He couldn’t believe that a twelve-year-old kid could think like this!
“Maybe, I am already getting old. It’s true that eventually the young will surpass the old,” he thought to himself.
When he looked at his son again, there was respect and passion in his eyes. “Definitely! Your mom isn’t blind that she would reject this smart idea.”
“Come to think of it, son, how did you arrive at this idea?” After suppressing his curiosity, he couldn’t help but ask patiently.
Knowing that his father is curious and might be suspicious because of his sudden transformation. He knows he needs to convince him a little more!
Of course, who would not be suspicious because his son who only knows how to play would suddenly want to be a businessman. He has the right to be curious!
Putting on a relaxed smile, “Pa, think of it. Magnum is unique because it wraps ice cream with chocolate. By just doing this, they would attract customers. If they could wrap ice cream with chocolate, can’t we do the same in ice candy?”
At this point, he stopped and looked at his father. Seeing that he understood, he smiled.
“You are getting smart now huh!” Papa Steph praised.
Receiving his father’s praise. He felt the warmth of his father’s love again after so many years of being away from him in his past life.
“Alright, Papa still has something to do downstairs. Quickly eat the fruits I brought you and rest enough so that by tomorrow we can start doing your business. Looking at your eyes, I know that you wanted to start as soon as possible.”
Stephen smiled in embarrassment, “Sure Pa!”
His father still knows him best. Despite clearly hiding the excited expression, his father still noticed it.
When Papa Steph reached downstairs, he still could not move on. From his son’s words, he sounds confident and is giving him the pressure that even if the sky falls, he can still hold it up. At some point, he doubts if it is still his son.
But upon hearing his reasons, it should be acceptable. However, he still feels that something is not right but can’t point it out.
“Maybe, he is just a little curious and bold,” he thought.
At this point, he clearly remembered what their teacher in high school said about Isaac Newton. His science teacher pointed out.
“Everybody knows that an apple falls from the tree. Everybody thinks it's normal. But only Isaac asked why”
Curiosity is indeed a gift. It is the mother of knowledge.
So, Papa Steph thought that maybe at that time his son was just curious and the young are naturally bold and fears nothing. Naturally, their mind would wander endlessly.
If only Stephen knew what his father was thinking. His scalp would surely feel numbed. Parents’ instincts are very accurate!