Chapter 103: Are you jealous?
Ash sat quietly in the corner of the hospital room, his thoughts adrift as Grandpa and Elijah struck up a conversation.
He wasn’t sure what he was doing anymore—just moving with the flow, day by day, unsure of where he stood in this fragile reunion with Elijah.
Introducing Grandpa to Elijah as a mere "friend" felt wrong, yet there was no other way to explain it without digging up the past. So, he just told grandpa that Elijah is his old friend.
Grandpa had arrived in his usual good spirits, walking in with his weathered face full of warmth and kindness. The moment he laid eyes on Elijah, something in him lit up. "So, you’re the man who saved my boy," Grandpa said, clapping Elijah’s shoulder with more force than necessary.
Elijah winced slightly, but he grinned through it. "I suppose I am."
Grandpa beamed and sat down next to the bed, looking Elijah over with approval. "Hahaha! You’ve got a strong spirit, I can see that. I like you already."
Ash glanced at Elijah, watching him carefully. It was odd seeing the two most important people in his life meet under such circumstances, but there was something reassuring about it.
"Well, I’m glad I could make a good impression," Elijah said with a soft chuckle, still nursing his shoulder from Grandpa’s enthusiastic greeting.
"Oh, don’t worry about that," Grandpa waved him off and slapped Elijah’s arm again, this time with a laugh. "You’ve already won me over! You know, most young people these days wouldn’t do something so brave. You saved my boy—thank you for that."
Ash stifled a laugh as Elijah visibly winced again. Grandpa’s heavy hand was something you had to get used to. Elijah turned his head, meeting Ash’s amused gaze with a smile that bordered on pain.
"I should get used to it, shouldn’t I?" Elijah asked, his grin widening despite the discomfort.