And here we open on Diego and Gerardo's side of the situation. Hopefully our smooth talking, retired diplomat still has the touch to get through to his stubborn grandson. Hope you all enjoy it! :)

(Diego's POV)

While I did heed and take action on my abuelo's advice of taking a shower and shaving… I had to admit I did feel slightly better.

The same couldn't be said for my appetite at the moment however.

After I was dressed and ready, Abuelo and I went to this restaurant with some of Padre's security that I frequented from time to time with my parents. Actually we usually would go with both my parents and grandparents if they came to visit us and primarily served seafood.

And I am particularly a fan of fish and that along with Chicken and Beans are the main sources of protein in my diet for training.

Though, at least in my opinion, chicken and beans can get quite bland and boring after a while in my opinion no matter how much is done to season them.

But, fish? I have always loved fish and seafood just in general.

One of my favorite places that I haven't been to since we took a trip there when I was 13 was in Tokyo and their shrimp tempura was incredible. Even here at one of my favorite restaurants I ordered my usual bacalao (which I always love), I just wasn't in the mood.

It was like I just had no appetite despite not eating a proper meal in days.

All I kept doing was just pushing the food around my plate as the swirling hornets' nest of thoughts kept barraging my brain.

Well, until Abuelo must have caught my obvious mood shift as he asked, "Something on your mind, mijo? You seemed a bit 'out of yourself' earlier and you haven't spoken much at all. If I may use a common phrase from Gemma, you can give me a 'penny for your thoughts' if there's anything you have to say?"

My reaction was almost immediate and bordered on indignation as I scoffed, "A penny? Ha! More like an entire country's treasury for my thoughts would seem more 'sufficient' in my opinion."

It was almost like my insides were converging and twisting (almost making me feel nauseous from stress) and felt almost like I was going to snap when Abuelo leaned forward and put a hand on my shoulder as he started started, "Diego, perhaps you need to take a deep breath to calm down and help yourself feel relaxed."

My eyes slowly looked up as I felt everything in my body practically coming to a rolling boil, making me feel as if I was about to blow a gasket, "Calm down?... Relax?... You know, it would be so nice if everyone would stop telling me how I should 'feel'." I retorted, feeling like my teeth were going to shatter at this point as my mind kept going a million miles an hour. "Diego…" Abuelo tried to cut in as I immediately cut him off on impulse, "NO! I'm sick of it! I don't want to be told how to feel since NO ONE TELLS ME ANYTHING! In the past 2 days I felt like everything and everyone in my life has been nothing but a sick and twisted cluster fuck of lies and took some strange crazy old man to tell me any sort of 'truth' about my parents! But anyone else?! HA! Nothing… Not even my own parents respect me enough to tell me anything! Since I had to find out how they met on some insane reality TV show and showed me nothing other than the fact that my parents are both equally just as insane as the show itself and I have no idea who they even are anymore! Even Claire knew before me and was the only one to bother to tell me anything and… I just… AGH! I'm confused, I'm angry, and I'm PISSED OFF! AND on top of that I still can't even tell Claire, my own fucking best friend, how I feel about her since I'm too much of a damn coward! I mean… just… AGH! CARAJO!"

Almost as if to punctuate my rant, I slammed my fist down on the table.

Fortunately, we were in a private room at the restaurant and no one was around to see or hear apart from security outside the door.

Of which two members of the security team immediately came in, most likely because the Prime Minister's son, i.e. 'me', is deciding to apparently act like an absolute lunatic with no control or restraint.

Luckily Abuelo was quick to calm the situation as he sat back calmly and assured, me seeing why my grandfather was such a talented and respected negotiator and diplomat after all these years, "Lo siento, gentlemen. We're just having a lively exchange of stories in here. We apologize for the false alarm."

The guards both looked to me, almost as if to confirm. I gave them a nod in confirmation without hesitation.

Abuelo saved me just now and I was not about to take it for granted.

That and I really didn't want to make the security team privy to this conversation… not at all. Especially not to keep whatever remains of my pride and sanity intact.

The guards eventually went back out and closed the door, leaving Abuelo and I alone.

We sat in almost cryptic silence for a few moments until I saw him lean forward slightly with his hands folded on the table. I glanced up a bit only to see him really looking at me. Not judgmental or angry, but almost thoughtful.

Eventually he started, "Diego, I am not in anyway trying to tell you how you should feel or what you should do. However, and I speak from experience, it can sometimes help to seek an outside opinion to help make things more clear. If at the very least to lighten your own burden. Now, if you'd like to tell me anything, you are most welcome to do so. All I ask is that you try not to give me anymore cheek. I am not your enemy, I am your ally and I prefer to be trusted like one. Though the choice is yours. You can either stew in silence to yourself or you can tell me about anything you wish in a calm manner."

We both fell into silence again as I almost pondered. Practically as if I was weighing all my options.

Though as much as I despised this whole thing and had no idea where to start, I eventually took a deep breath to even myself out as I responded, trying to be honest through my frustration, "I would have no idea where to even start to waste your time on it."

Then, to my surprise, I saw Abuelo smirk as he responded, "Diego… I am retired. These days I have nothing but time. So, go on then… try me."

25 minutes later

I honestly had no memory of what I even said anymore.

It was like my mouth just opened like a floodgate and I unleashed any and every thought running through my brain. Seriously, it had to have been almost a half hour since I started talking and I have no idea why my grandfather seemed to listen to my insane ramblings.

My hand was practically clutched into my hair at this point as I tried to recompose myself until I heard Abuelo ask, "So, what is it exactly that is upsetting you most?"

I felt like I was about to snap again until Abuelo put his hand up and started, "Mijo, you are my grandson and I love you very much, but I want you to remember my terms. So I would appreciate for you not to yell or shout or be angry toward me right now when I am only trying to help."

Agh… Dammit.

I felt as if I was a back in the nursery in timeout when I was little as I eventually let out a resigned sigh and replied, "I… I don't know? I'm upset with madre for reasons even before, but padre?... I have no idea what to think?! I've spent my whole life listening to and idolizing him and taking his advice from his example. Always being a gentleman, always respecting women… for what?! For me to just watch him manipulate people, even mother at times, for no other reason than some stupid cash prize?! Was everything he taught me and showed me a lie! And then mother just…?!"

I had to stop myself or else I knew I'd open up all that when it comes to myself and my mother.

Eventually I watched Abuelo lean toward me again as he started, "Diego, I do not mean to wish to say anything against your judgement or credit since you are free to feel and think whatever you like; however, you are judging your parents without being in possession of all the facts."

My eyes went wide and I couldn't help myself as I snapped, "All? What more do I need?! What more to I need to see that my mother was willing toss my father off the side of a volcano for money while my father was manipulating women's feelings left and right to meet the same end?!"

I was expecting Abuelo to immediately snap at me… except that's not what happened.

As I coiled to brace myself for scolding, I felt him put his hand on my shoulder as he began, sounding calm, "Diego, mírame."

Even though I was still hesitant, I eventually did look up at him only to see a solid but calm expression from my grandfather.

Abuelo eventually squeezed my shoulder slightly as he elaborated, "Diego, as I said, you have a right to think and feel however you wish; however, it does not give you a right to pass unjust judgement. Mijo… you are much like both of your parents in the regard that you accept nothing but the best and perfection from yourself especially. Your father has always strived for being 'superior' to his peers his whole life and your mother for as long as I've known her is very much the same. Which can be a good thing to strive for success! Look at your parents in their respective careers, but more importantly… look at you. You're one of the youngest gold medalists at age 16 in the history of your sport and you are the youngest gold medalist in your home country's history at fencing. There are plenty who'd give an eye for that. But, you are not perfect, Diego. And neither are your parents… or even me for that matter. We're only human and all of us make fools of ourselves to one extent or another at atleast some point during our lives… all of us do. As far as your father is concerned, all I'll say is we had some very long talks when he was a young man about his behavior and his involvement with your mother on the show. But, he learned. He and your mother overcame their short comings and grew a very successful relationship and marriage from it. It wasn't instant and Rome was most definitely not built in a day with your parents, but they made things work to be together. And even I cannot entirely fault your father for making a fool of himself with your mother… because I did the same with your abuela when I was your age before she put me 'back in my box'."

My eyes snapped open in shock as he said that he made a fool of himself in front of my grandmother.

For my whole life my grandparents to me seemed almost like the model of a 'perfect marriage', almost as much if not more so than my own parents. My grandparents are always affectionate, holding hands, and seem almost inseparable even in their old age.

So to hear… this?

I'm speechless.

Abuelo seemed at catch and be amused by my shock as he chuckled and said, "Well, to spare your shock, I met your abuela at a dance class when we were 17 and randomly paired by our instructor. I thought she was absolutely beautiful and like most young men around a beautiful, intelligent woman… I made an absolute arrogant and stupid fool of myself. Mainly I was a bit too arrogant and even tried to kiss her when I thought I was being so smooth when I walked her to her door… only to realize how much of a presumptuous prig I made of myself when she stepped out of the way of my advance causing me to dive head first and fall out the side of a boxwood shrub in the yard. But… I didn't mind. I was a bit put out at first, but in that moment I gained a real respect for your abuela. Though she felt the same way toward me, she showed me in that moment that she was a young woman with standards… and I admired that. Even as young as I was, I realized how much I appreciated your abuela in that moment for showing me that not everything in life comes easy… and it made me a better man because of it."

I was taking in everything Abuelo just said, or at least trying to with how much my brain feels like it's on its last leg, until Abuelo continued, "What I'm really trying to say is, all of us have our flaws and we should all be conscious of them. I know you hold your parents to level of standard and respect, but don't let it sway you into thinking they are 'perfect'. Because no one is and I hope you can allow yourself to keep an open mind hearing their side of things rather than just basing it off what you saw happen. Every story has multiple sides… and don't ever forget that."

He paused as he took a sip of his glass of wine and right as I was about to slip into another thought spiraling abyss, my stomach dropped as my phone started vibrating from where I set it down on the table to show a new message from Claire as well as showing the picture I updated my background to of the two of us during that street festival last summer.

My stomach continued sinking when I realized Abuelo saw the whole thing as I desperately tried to remove it from sight.

But, I was an idiot to think that would drop the subject as he leaned forward with a quirked up eyebrow and a slight smile as he inquired, "So, speaking of us making fools around young ladies… what is this you were saying before about yourself and certain señorita across the sea?"

Dammit.

As much as I still felt embarrassed and frustrated about just everything and especially when it comes to myself as far as Claire is concerned, might as well tell my grandfather at this point how much of a 'dickless wonder' I am (to use one of Natalie's usual phrases to call me a coward whenever she sees me back out of telling Claire how I feel).

Eventually, I swallowed enough of whatever remaining pride I had left as I replied, running a hand through my hair, "I don't know Abuelo? I've known Claire my whole life. She's my best friend and I can talk to her about just about anything, but every time I get any sort of backbone to tell her how I really feel the few times I see her in person… I… I get… scared. I've felt like this about her for years and I'm too much of a coward to just tell her already every chance I see her! Am I demented?! Or at the very least an absolute idiot for not knowing what to do since Claire just seems to put me in a state of crippling, tongue tied paralysis."

As I felt like I was going to rip out my hair again, I hesitantly looked up only to see Abuelo smiling at me as he started, "Diego, you act as if you are the first person to ever have this happen to you. There's nothing wrong with feeling nervous about something like this, but if I may and I know I may be an 'old man'… I feel as though you aren't giving your young lady enough credit. Because as far as I can see, she seems to care about you as well from what you've told me… and what I noticed just now. So, the next time you see her, just allow yourself not to feel forced into a situation to tell her. You're young, mijo. Enjoy it! Try to just enjoy each other's company and let things happen naturally the next time you see her and allow things to progress however they may. At the end of the day, the worst possible outcome is that you both remain friends when it is all said and done after how long you've known each other."

All I could do was sit there and stare as I tried to sort out my thoughts and everything Abuelo said to me. I kept thinking until something crossed my mind in all this from what Abuelo said to me earlier back at the house.

…I'm your grandfather. My only job is to love and support you and your cousins. It's not my place to do anything else but that… for any of you.

I bit my lip in conflicting as my thoughts went in a completely different direction and I saw my grandfather looking at his phone as he stated, "Well… what do you say we get the bill and be on our way, mijo?"

Abruptly I stood up with him and cut in, "Actually, if we can, I want to talk to you about something while we're still alone… if that's okay?"

I was already regretting my decision a little already, but I had to.

Abuelo gave me an intrigued look as he responded, "Sí? Was it something you forgot to mention?"

I shook my head before evening getting out, "No, it's not about me… it's Natalie."

Then I had no idea what was happening as all the words just started coming out with no way of stopping them, "Natalie made me swear not to say anything about this to anyone, not even you and Abuela. She thinks you won't approve or understand… but I think she's wrong."

Abuelo was now looking at me with wide eyed and undivided attention, making me second guess now how much I should tell him exactly about Natalie and Felix… especially as far as Felix is concerned.

But, no turning back now. All I can do is hope Natalie won't beat me to death for betraying her trust even though I'm only doing this for her to begin with.

Agh… Dammit…

Well, looks like Diego is finally going to spill ALL the tea on Natalie's relationship with Felix to Gerardo. DRAMA! XD But, anyway, I do hope you all enjoyed the chapter and Gerardo now imparting some sage advice and food for thought on Diego to help him come to terms with his conflicted feelings toward his parents... as well as advice on not forcing a love confession to Claire. Sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger, but you all know I'm an unrelenting tease as a writer… and I apologize for that. Lol. -XD In all seriousness, I really hope you enjoyed this teaching moment from Gerardo and thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read. Constructive feedback is always appreciated and I hope this chapter helped add some escapism to your day. :)

Stay Classy!

Dexter1995