we understand and we love you

Right now, my father is with me, not in his home, but at where I'm staying. Yeah, understand when I did not use the 'words my place' because, this isn't my place. But he is here, whiling away the time by watching TV. He's trying his best to appear at ease and comfortable. He is tries hard too, not to bother me. Everything and anything is fine, he would say, as expected. No need to worry about him.

I wonder, though, how hard must this be for him. Or unpleasant. He travels infrequently, as he is older and so, I am pretty sure he can't wait to be back at home. Luckily, this stayover will be over soon. It was an unexpected for him, which I think made it even worse. He had brought no change of clothes, and I have none here that I could offer him. Of course, being a dad, he insisted that it's just for one day, he'll make it thru. And yes. He will. Of course. I only worry for after that. Pretty sure, he will be not feeling tiptop for the next few days. I do hope of the opposite though. Wish hard.

He is here to wait for my brother's arrival. He can not wait to see him. It is close to a year since he last saw him. I am suppose to fetch him from the airport, initially to arrive last night. But at the last minute, we were told that his flight was delayed, and will only be arriving at about a little after two this afternoon.

It was not easy for him to come up here. He called me, my mother called me, always asking if there was going to be anyone accompanying me to the airport. They were worried for me going there alone. However hard I had insisted I would be fine alone, that I'm used to it, it was like talking to the wall. No, it's late at night, and you are going alone?? Papa can come up, u know, to accompany you. He has time to spare, after all, they both had persuaded. It was during the second call that I got, 2 days ago, while I was in class, when it dawned to me, it's not about me, it's about them. Him. My father.

He wants to be there to greet my brother, his son. To see him, first, soonest. Yes, I was stupid, blinded not to see this earlier. It was pretty obvious, actually. I wonder I had not noticed it earlier. Stupid me, silly me, foolish me.

This is his way of showing his love. My mother would had come too, if she had the time to spare. I think they both are really missing my brother. One year is a long time in our family, since neither of us had actually gone away for so long, so far. Guess, this is a revelation. Evident that however distant they are, however undemonstrative they are towards showing their love for us, their children, deep deep down, they just care.

Maybe I should encourage them to be more demonstrative. Do not suppress what they are feeling. It's not wrong to show your love. But not to worry if you are just unable to. Just do it in your own unique way. We understand and we love you, too.

And so here my father is, waiting. Glad that he could catch all the reruns for the olympics last night. And right now, glued at the history channel. We'll go later, then. With a safe and slow driver.