Private Finished Private Work Discussions

"No. I never found them again. My grandfather had... lamented the loss of them, as my mother likes to put it. I mean I know he was disappointed in me, too, but you know what?" Kalvin looked at Rafael then. "He never made it out to be a big deal. He sat me down and talked to me about being smarter when I got into fights. He scolded me for losing it. But, I never felt like I needed to keep anything from him again, be it a broken arm or a double-faced friend. I always felt like I could talk to him about anything."

He took a sip of his coffee and a few bites of his sandwich. "Anyway, I guess my point is that I felt like I could be more open with my grandfather because of the way he treated the situation. The way he handled it made me feel like I can still make mistakes but I needed to do my best not to. Even more, he made me feel that I could share anything with him," he added after he chewed and swallowed his food.

"That he was." Kalvin only nodded as Rafael reflected on the situation and his story. He took a few more heartful bites of his sandwich. He recalled how wise his grandfather had been. Though, of course, he too had his own flaws, which had also pushed Kalvin to become a rather violent individual before. Thankfully, it all somehow worked out in the end.

"If you do plan to help your grandson to respect you more and heed your words or wishes, you'll have to. Bonding with him in his element is a great way to show him that you value some of his choices--whether you agree with them or not," Kalvin supplied after he finished his first sandwich and moved on to the next. "You never know. You might get better insight on him and better understand why he did what he did."

"Oh," Kalvin could only say. He allowed himself a pause to consider the goals of the teen in question. He then came to consider Rafael's great-grandson more deeply. Then, Kal realized how differently he would have reacted to the kid's intent if he had never known of this place of magic--or had never gotten used to it.

Kal glanced at Rafael and saw the sadness in his face. Such a heavy expression didn't suit Rafael's already aged albeit attractive face. He put down his sandwich and leaned a little closer to his boss. "Rafael, I don't know how your great-grandson feels after all this. I do know that being reminded of a mistake or your disappointment isn't what he needs right now," Kalvin said, sympathetic. "If my opinion is of any help, I think you should push through these regrets and spend time with him. It won't make what he did any lighter but I think he'll appreciate if you let him know that you still love him despite it. You don't have to hide your disappointment but you don't need to wear it around him all the time either.."

Kalvin let the corners of his lips raise a little when Rafael finally decided on what he wanted to do regarding his great-grandson. Though they were only boss and employee, Kalvin honestly didn't want to see Rafael feeling too stressed out, or anybody else for that matter. His job was already difficult enough as it is. Rafael didn't need any more issues weighing down his shoulders.

"The last-minute meetings, I can handle. I know they're necessary and that all this chaos will soon go back to normal. The late-night meetings I'm fine with too but... they cut into my study time sometimes," Kalvin said truthfully. He picked up his sandwich and resumed eating it. "I mean I know I can ask for a break when I really need it but it just wouldn't feel right to leave things hanging. But it's fine because I make time in the morning instead to hit the books. And the next big exams aren't in a couple of months yet anyway."

Kal gave Rafael an easy, appreciative smile. He certainly hadn't gotten much of this kindness even when he was working odd jobs. Also, was it strange that he liked the thought of Rafael not willing to let go of him just yet? "Thanks, boss. I think I'd like to join you," he said. "It might just be the break I need."

He finished the rest of his meal and moved on to slowly enjoy his coffee. He checked the time on his wristwatch. They still had a good while to spare in the diner before they had to get back to work. "When you say everyone will be there, do you mean this trip will count as a corporate outing?"