Wing Of Change
Chapter 78

“I will”

He found Daniel in his room with knitted brow. His eyes, focused on defeating his approaching enemies on the flat screen.

Frank settled down beside him on the floor before he turned to watch him.

“Hey buddy, what are you playing”

“Call of duty” he answered quickly without sparing his father a glance.

Frank continued to watch him for a while before picking up the second pad and began playing along as well.

“Did you have fun today?” He asked out of nowhere causing his little shoulders to tense up. “Aria told me how much fun you two had at breakfast”

Frank continued playing not paying attention to his reaction. Only when he stopped playing did he look back at him. His face glued to the floor.

Was it guilt? Frank wondered as he placed his pad on the floor and held him by the shoulders while cocking a brow to look at him.

“Is there something you will like to tell me?”

He felt him sniff back a tear. “I’m sorry Dad” he whispered. His voice filled with so much fright.

Maybe his grip was too tight as he quickly let go of his trembling shoulders.

“Why are you sorry son?”

“I_I____” his word got caught up in his throat causing him to tear up completely and throwing Frank off balance.

Was he too harsh with his questioning? He thought as he pulled him into a hug to smitten the crying boy. “It’s Okay Danny. Stop crying”

The little boy just kept crying still and he let him cry some more before pulling away to look at his face.

His eyes looked so remorseful when their eyes met for a split second before he darted them towards the floor quickly.

Why was he so terrified though?

He couldn’t help but feel a peg of pain stink his own heart at the sight before him.

Daniel reminded him so much of himself when he was little and how much he will tremble whenever his Dad would scold him for doing something wrong. He’d cry out of guilt just like he was doing.

He wished he was still alive to witness another version of himself as Daniel.

“Look at me son” he urged him. Tugging at his lowered chin to look up at him.

The little boy stared back at his father with wet lashes and very much unsure of himself before Frank reached out both hands and wiped his face clean.

Frank’s action actually calm him down a bit but his eyes were still glued to his hands.

When his father was sure he won’t burst out in more tears, he gave him a small smile in comfort. “Are you afraid of me?”

He said nothing but Frank could tell from his demeanor that the boy was indeed afraid of him. “Listen Daniel_you have no need to be afraid because I won’t hurt you. Heck, such thought will never cross my mind because you are my son and I will protect and love you”

Something actually flashed in his eyes as he looked back at him.

“I know you are a very smart boy Danny even though there are some things we grown up do that you might not fully understand. I want you to know and feel how much Aria and I really love you even though it might be contrary to what your mom might have told you”

His little shoulders slumped down before he gave a curt nod.

“Do you remember how you hurt your wrist at your grandmother’s house when we went visiting and she took care of your wound just fine?”

He gave another nod when his eyes settled on the fading scar across his wrist.

“There you have it son. A bad person wouldn’t do that don’t you agree?”

“Y_yes!”

“Now I dont know what you said to her but it made her feel bad”

“I’m sorry Dad” he paused and looked back at his father. “I won’t say it again”

“I’m sure you won’t my boy. But first thing first. When we say mean things and hurt others in the process. It’s our duty to apologise for it”

“Okay”

“So what do you suggest we do to earn her forgiveness?” He asked with a raised brow.

“Go say sorry to aunty Aria?”

“Good my boy. Very good. We might even get some chill cocoa drink as reward”

His eyes grew wide at the mentioned of that taste of heaven from earlier in anticipation.

***

They met Aria in the kitchen preparing dinner. “What is going on?” She asked, raising a brow at them the moment they got in.

Frank had both hands on Daniel shoulders as he pushed him forward a little. “Daniel has something to say to you. Right Danny boy?” Cocking a brow to look at the little boy who had both his hands clasped in front of him.

“Yes”

Aria threw Frank a ‘what is going on kinda look’ but he just shrug with a grin.

By the look of things, she could feel something else was going on. Daniel looked somewhat down casted which was not the case a while ago.

“Are you okay Daniel?” She asked, looking at him intently.

“I’m sorry aunty Aria” He looked up at her with sorry eyes, waiting for her reaction even.

Aria shot Frank a quick glance after realizing what could be going on before reaching out a hand to pull Daniel closer. “Come here dear” she cooed at him.

He took two quick stride and covered the distance to where she stood before getting pulled into her bosom.

“It’s okay Danny. Just Promise me you won’t starve yourself like that again okay?”

“Okay!”

“That’s good. Now, who wants to help me with dinner?”

“Me!” His little voice filling the entire atmosphere causing the two adult hawking at him to burst out in laughter.

“Alright then buddy. Let do some chores shall we?”

Daniel sat on the kitchen island peeling some onion scales while Frank took over from chopping some vegetables. Giving Aria time to stir the tomatoes sauce she had going on.

Everyone had their hand full at the moment as dinner promises to be better than breakfast.