Once inside the house, Cecilia greeted her grandfather with a hug and kiss on the forehead. "Hey, Pops, why don't we go to a restaurant for lunch? It's been a while since we went out."
"I want to, but it's out of our budget, Cee," Her grandfather explained, with a sad smile on his face.
"Why don't you let me worry about that, and you get changed?" she assured the old man. Her grandfather raised an eyebrow, skeptical and wondering how his granddaughter could afford the invitation. "Come on, pops, get dressed already," she pulled her grandfather's arms to make him stand.
"Okay, fine…then you should get changed as well." The old man pushed Cecilia towards her room to get changed.
Later, Cecilia's grandfather was in awe, admiring the beautiful decorations inside the shopping mall. When the two reached a high-end restaurant, she pulled her grandfather inside. They quickly found a table and sat. "But Cee, I know this restaurant… It's expensive here."
Cecilia wrapped her arms around the old man. "Pops, don't worry about money, okay? We are selling fish at a record pace, and my second job pays well," she assured him. "How about we go to the hospital tomorrow, and have you checked?"
"Let's go the next day, I need to finish salting and smoking all the fish before they go bad," The old man reasoned out, earning a pout from his granddaughter. "The next day, I promise we will go to the hospital, don't worry," he promised Cecilia, which in turn made her smile.
"You promise?" The old man nodded with a smile, and she then held out her right pinky. "Pinky swear that the day after tomorrow, you and I are going to the hospital to have your health checked."
The old man chuckled as he hooked his pinky with Cecilia's to make a binding promise, "I promise that the day after tomorrow, Cee and I are going to the hospital."
She gave a small clap after her grandfather's promise, "Great! Let's order, I heard so much about this place, and I want you to try it."
"Are you sure we can afford such an expensive place?" But when he saw the price ranges in the menu, he thought he would have a heart attack. "Why are the prices so expensive? Can we eat at the food court?"
"Pops, don't worry about the price, we can afford it here, I promise. Now order whatever you want, okay? Just enjoy yourself at least once in your life." Pushing her grandfather to enjoy their date without worrying or minding about the price. "Please? I want to do this for you."
Seeing his granddaughter's resolve to have him enjoy a day of pampering, the old man finally caved, "Of course, Cee, I'll enjoy this day you planned, like there is no tomorrow."
After ordering, Cecilia suggested another idea: "Hey, pops, I added some more of your favorite dishes, and afterward, how about a new wardrobe?" she beamed at her grandfather.
The old man hung his head; he was overwhelmed by great happiness and sadness in his eyes. "Having a meal is okay, but there is no need to buy clothes. I'm already old, so I won't be able to enjoy some fancy new clothes. So just save your money, my clothes are fine."
Cecilia hung her head and started to tear up. When the old man noticed Cecilia crying, he quickly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears away. "Hey, stop crying," he panicked as he glanced at the people around them. "Uh? She's okay, no need to worry…nothing to see here," The old man awkwardly explained to the onlookers. "Would you stop crying, child, if I say okay, let's buy me some new clothes?"
All of a sudden, Cecilia sprang to life. "Really?" The sudden turn of events startled the old man. "Food has arrived, let's eat and go shopping," she smiled. The old man stroked Cecilia's hair and smiled.
After their delicious meal, Cecilia practically dragged her grandfather to a high-end boutique for men. "Common Pops, I am so excited to get you this wardrobe that I saw on our way in."
"Cee, when you said you were going to buy me new clothes, I thought you meant practical ones, clothes that I can wear daily. You know…the cheap ones." The old man looked up at the boutique's name. "This is highly extravagant. Why would I need a matching coat, pants, and tie? Where would I even use them?"
"Pops! Look at me," She gently asked her grandfather. "Mom told me once that the last time you wore something extravagant was on her college graduation…that was thirty-five years ago. You can wear it when we go to church, and also, I am going to buy you a new set of practical and daily clothes."
The old man's expression became stern. "Cee, where did you get the money? Answer me, child, why do you have so much money?"
Cecilia replied with a smile, "Pops, the money that we have is clean. I did not get it illegally if that is what you meant." She kissed her grandfather on the cheeks. "My boss gave me a bonus because, according to him, I was able to help him solve several problems."
The old man gave a skeptical look at Cecilia. "What is this job of yours? I don't even know where it is or what you do there," he asked, wanting the wash away the mystery that shrouds the so-called job.
"If you must know…I sing in this high-end bar on a cruise ship." She then describes the Twilight to her grandfather, "The Twilight is such a magnificent ship, Pops, imagine the most magnificent ship you've ever seen, but ten times grander—this cruise liner is like a floating palace gliding on the ocean. Its towering white hull gleams under the sun, stretching longer than a city block, with decks stacked high like the floors of a skyscraper. Everywhere you look, there's a shimmer of polished gold and jade, reflecting the endless blue sky and the sparkling waves below."
Cecilia proceeds to describe the spectral ship animatedly, her hands tracing silhouettes in the air, her eyes twinkling with awe, and her voice sounded like she was singing. "Every corner holds a surprise—lush gardens with fountains, theaters with velvet seats, pools that glitter like sapphires under the sun, and restaurants where chefs craft meals that are little masterpieces. At night, the ship transforms into a glowing beacon on the dark sea, with lights twinkling like a constellation, inviting dreams and adventures. It's not just a ship, Pops—it's a majestic kingdom sailing through the waves, where every moment feels like a celebration of life and the endless magic of the ocean."
"The moment you step aboard, it's like entering a world of luxury and wonder. The grand atrium rises up several stories, filled with cascading staircases, crystal chandeliers that sparkle like stars, and me singing with a live orchestra playing, serenading the passengers. The accommodations, the food and drinks, and all the smiling faces you will meet. Then there is the captain, oh my word, if there is anything more wondrous than that ship, it would be Captain Chris."
"Are you describing the ship or its captain?" The old man's voice cuts through Cecilia's animated descriptions.