Darren stepped out of the room after class, and Zara followed behind.
"Professor," Zara called out.
With a warm smile, Darren turned to face her. "How many times have I told you? You may call me 'Professor' only during class hours. After class, just call me Grandpa."
"Okay, Grandpa Darren," Zara said with a smile, complying with his request.
"That's more like it," Darren replied joyfully. "So, what did you want to tell me?"
"Grandpa Darren, if you want to test me, you can just do it directly. Why do you always use roundabout methods?" Zara asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms over her chest.
Cough… Cough… Darren let out a cough, caught off guard by her observation.
"You little rascal! So you've been treating me like a clown all this time, huh? You— You…" he pointed at her with mock anger flashing in his eyes.
"Calm down, Grandpa Darren. If you get upset at this age, it might affect your health," Zara teased, feigning concern.
Realizing what she was doing, Darren glared playfully. "So now you're calling me old? How dare you!"
He lightly flicked her forehead with his finger, and Zara giggled in response.
"You've gotten naughty," Darren muttered as he began descending the stairs.
Downstairs, Mathew was lounging on the long sofa in the living room, chatting on the phone. As he noticed the two approaching, he called out, "Lia, come here."
Though in his sixties, Mathew took excellent care of his body and health to stay active with his family. He wasn't muscular, but he maintained a steady routine of exercise and a balanced diet. The family even hired a nutritionist to manage the elders' meals and wellness.
At the sound of her grandfather's voice, Zara turned to Darren. He smiled and gently patted the hand she was holding.
"Go on, your old man is calling you. I can walk by myself," he said warmly.
Zara nodded with a smile and walked over to Mathew.
"Sit down, Lia," Mathew said, motioning for her to sit next to him. He then glanced at Darren, still making his way across the room.
"You too, take a seat. Look how slow you're walking. You're really old."
Hearing this, Darren's eyes widened in protest. "Old? If I'm old, what are you? A twenty-year-old man just starting his youth?"
"At least I'm not as weak as you," Mathew teased, raising an eyebrow. "I can still run and exercise. Can you?"
Darren fumed, glaring at both his granddaughter and his longtime friend. "You two are ganging up on me! Just you wait. I'll show you I'm not in such bad shape!"
Zara stood up and gave him a thumbs-up. "Grandpa Darren, I'm with you! You can do it. If you need help, just let me know."
"You! Even you aren't on my side, are you?" Darren huffed.
"Who said that?" Zara replied seriously. "I'll always support Grandpa Darren, no matter what."
Seeing her serious expression, Darren smiled, his heart warming—until she added, "But that doesn't mean I'll hide the truth."
Darren sighed in defeat and dropped into the single sofa. "I'm done with you both. I'm not talking to either of you. Go."
Zara laughed and sat back beside Mathew. The two exchanged amused smiles. The trio chatted for a while longer until Kylie called everyone for lunch.
The Adam family had a separate dining room, intentionally set apart from the living area. The room featured a long table capable of seating twelve people.
Everyone gathered around the table, which was brimming with a wide assortment of delicious dishes. Zara sat beside Kylie.
___________
After Lunch
After the meal, the family gathered again in the living room. Kylie turned to Darren and said, "Uncle Darren, I'd like to speak with you about something. Can we talk in the study downstairs?"
"Of course, Kylie. Let's go," Darren agreed, rising from his seat and walking beside her.
They entered the study room, where Kylie placed a glass of flavored water on the table. Once seated on the couch, Darren took a sip from his glass.
"What's on your mind, Kylie?" he asked.
"It's about Lia, Uncle Darren. We recently spoke with her about the idea of attending kindergarten," Kylie said, looking at him with a gentle smile.
Darren nodded. "And what did she say?"
"As you already know, she wants to continue learning under your guidance for a few more years. She said she'd consider starting school later," Kylie replied.
"And what do you think about that?" Darren asked calmly, setting the glass back on the table.
"I respect her decision," Kylie said sincerely. "If she wants to learn from you, that's wonderful. I was just wondering if you'd be willing to continue teaching her—because I know how much work you have and that you're still a professor at a reputable university."
Darren smiled reassuringly. "Kylie, I understand your concerns—about Zara, and about me. But you don't need to worry. As long as Zara wants to learn, I'll be there to teach her. I'll give her everything I know."
Kylie still looked a bit concerned. "But Uncle Darren… please make sure to take care of your health. Don't overwork yourself."