#ff oden

Father and Son

The wind chime on the curtain swayed lightly, forming clear, pleasing sounds. 

Two unfamiliar guests walked in. 

I smiled and raised my head to welcome them in. “Welcome.” The young man was dressed flamboyantly, and a single action from him could cause the many layers of his fashionable chain rattle loudly. He looked rather impatient, and paired with the clothes that he was wearing, he gave off the feeling of a rebellious teen.  However, he didn’t have the cruel look between his eyebrows that most teenagers have.

The middle aged man wore a seemingly old jacket, and the corners and sleeves have already faded with the many washes, but it was still ironed perfectly. He sighed in the direction of the teen, and the wrinkles in the corners of his eyes hid his sadness.  

This father and son should be interesting.

Then, as if to prove my guesses right, this happened. 

“What would you like to eat?” The adult turned to look at the young man. 

“Whatever” The young man rolled his eyes and turned his head.

“Don’t speak like that to your father!” 

“Hmm.” 

“......”

Seeing as these two were on the verge of an argument, I stood and went forth to dissipate the tension. 

“Would you like to try the signature of this shop?”

“........Okay.”

Standing in front of the bar, I prepared the dishes while paying attention to this father and son duo. Unsurprisingly, the pair started bickering in a low voice not long after they sat down. 

“Don’t emphasise such things to me anymore. I know how to take care myself, and if I need money, I can earn it by myself. You don’t have to care.”

“How can you speak like this to me? Do you know how hard it is for me!”

“And do I not suffer? Do you even know how many sleepless nights I’ve spent so that I could get the acceptance letter from the Chef’s School in Gloriville? Am I shameful to you? But it’s also true, you’ve never cared for me.  

“You……”

“I won’t want anything from you, I’m just going to finish eating and leave anyway. You can just spend the rest of your life with the moulding manuscripts that you have!

“......”

Quarrels before going separate ways; a father and son that is unable to communicate peacefully. 

I got the message that I wanted by unintentionally listening in to the conversation and I let out a soft sigh. 

I conveyed my message quietly to Natto who was beside me. “I’m counting on you, Natto.”

“Mm.”

Natto walked to the side of their table, and after the exchange of a few sentences, he brought the middle aged man to temporarily leave the table.

There is only one young man at the table in the corner. Having lost his partner to argue with, he frustratedly ran his hands through his hair. 

Moving with big strides forward, I went to the side of the teenager.