Notice about Part 26 and so on~

The Sophie's Past Arc will begin in the next chapter. Look forward for the long story of each part! To not make you guys confused, I will be writing it in story mode, where I will write it like how I've always write in; third person's view, though it is more to Isabela's side story. I will be putting it as The Sophie's Past Arc Page to avoid confusion, though it's for the first part of Sophie's Past Arc(SPA) as in Part 26. Enjoy reading~

The Third Wheel - Part 25

Sophie stepped out of the car that she and Matthew rode on. She heard Jordan, Robert and Samantha closing each of their car doors. Sophie refused to make eye contact with Jordan, though she took a glance at Robert. His expression was unreadable. After two hours drive, they have reached their destination. Sophie then followed Matthew who was already walking towards a normal sized cozy house. She could hear the three footsteps behind her, following suit.

When Matthew knocked on the door, Sophie took a look around. Just outside of the house, there was a garden with a bird fountain. She noticed that the hedges and flowerbeds were well tended to. She smiled to herself at this. He sure doesn’t change, does he? she thought to herself. She saw Jordan staring at her, making her blush and look away quickly. Even when she was ready to accept her feelings for Jordan head on, it was still quite embarrassing. Especially when Matthew suggested involving him, too. But then, Jordan would have to meet him sooner or later, if his feelings were real.

Sophie realised that the door to the house was opened. There, standing at the doorway, was a friendly looking man in his mid 50s. He was wearing a light brown jumper over dark green pants worn to velvety softness. His warm smile as he saw their sudden appearance was so warm, Sophie could feel it from just smiling back at him. His eyes were crinkled up when he smiled, making his dark brown eyes brighten up more than usual. His somehow graying hair was combed neatly, though Sophie noticed that it was getting thinner than the last time she saw him. With his appearance, he looked like the typical country grandpa who was just enjoying his afternoon tea. This was what he is.

“Pappy” Matthew said, pulling the old man into a hug. “Ah, Nicolas. You’ve grown so much! Have you gotten taller? Or is this old man already shrinking due to old age?” the old man teased, calling Matthew ‘Nicolas’, his accent having a slight Spanish tinge to it. “Seems that Sophie and Roberto is here, too! Oh, and I see visitors!” he added cheerfully. Sophie heard Jordan and Samantha saying “Roberto?” in unison, making her giggle by herself. “Now, come in, come in! It’s not proper to have guests waiting on my doorstep!” he invited them in.

Sophie and the other stepped into the house, and caught a whiff of jam, honey and…scones? Pappy sure loves baking, she thought to herself fondly. The house was warm, just like the resident himself. He ordered them to sit on the sofa, while he complained of the fact that they should have hinted their visit, or he would have “whip up a killer tea snack!”. As he fussed over things in the kitchen, Sophie and Samantha helped him, while the boys sat on the sofa, unsure of what to do. When the tea was served, Samantha positioned herself beside Robert, who was sitting in the middle with Jordan on his left side. Matthew sat on a single sofa seat by himself, leaving Sophie to take a seat with the old man.

“My, we should introduce ourselves, shall we?” he asked Samantha and Jordan, who smiled awkwardly at the friendly old man. “My name is Carlos Manuel, grandfather of Sophie, Nicolas, Roberto and Antonio. By the way, where is Tony?” Carlos or Pappy asked Sophie and Matthew or ‘Nicolas’. “He’s busy with work” Matthew said quickly. As if sensing Matthew and Sophie’s discomfort, Jordan spoke up. “My name is Jordan Watson. Excuse me, but, if you are their grandfather, meaning, grandfather of the mothers’ side?” Jordan asked, thinking of Charles Bradford. “Oh, a sharp one has appeared! And a handsome one, too!” Carlos cheerfully said. After Samantha introduced herself, Robert spoke up. “Pappy, my name’s Robert, not Roberto. My friends will be confused” he said shyly. “As long as this old man is alive, I will be calling you my Roberto till my last breath!” he said stubbornly. Sophie unconsciously whimpered. “Pappy, don’t say that, you’re a strong man, you will live long. And who was the one who said that he was going to live long to see me get married?” she said. Her last words made Matthew and Jordan choke into their tea.

“That’s quite right. No worries, Sophie. Pappy here will live to see you marry. Hopefully long enough to see my great-grandchildren!” Carlos teased, this time making everybody except Sophie spit out their tea. “Well, it seems to be soon, right, Nico?” Carlos asked Matthew. Matthew smiled, glancing at Sophie, then at Jordan. This exact action made Sophie, and Jordan, who noticed this too, blushed together with her. “I hope you understand. I made an agreement with Tony, Nico and Sophie, once they approve of a future partner for one of them, they will bring that person to me” he said, smiling at Jordan.

“How did you know?” Jordan asked shyly. Carlos laughed at this. “Surely Roberto won’t be Sophie’s life partner! He has this pretty and spunky young lady here!” Carlos replied, indicating the ‘young lady’ at Samantha. This made her blush, making Robert blush even harder when he saw her blushing face. “I know this may be rude, but I’m very confused. You call Sophie by the name we know her as. But when it comes to” he hesitated, “Matthew, you call him Nicolas, like Robert who you call as Roberto. I know another brother of Sophie to be Phillip, so who is Antonio?” Jordan asked.

“This is the reason why we made the agreement. Our family history is very complicated. So, let me give you a warm up” Carlos answered wryly. “As I said, I am Carlos Manuel, but ‘Carlos’ is an alias. My birth name is Vincent Manuel” he began. Jordan and Samantha gasped. “Yes, I am, no, was the head of the famous Manuel, a Spanish family with a bloodline that lasts for centuries” he said. “Which makes Robert, Matthew and Sophie to have Spanish blood” Samantha said, in awe.

It was Sophie’s turn to nod. “I haven’t told you guys about this, since I wasn’t sure it was the right time. My full name is Sophie Agyness Manuel. Matthew’s full name is Matthew Nicolas Manuel. As for Tony, he is actually Phillip Antonio Manuel” she explained. Samantha didn’t look quite surprised, since she knew about this, though, Jordan was so shocked, his jaw dropped. “I am officially confused” he said. Robert patted him in the back. “This has just begun” Robert said wisely. Matthew and Vincent nodded in unison.

“You are here, to hear the story of how my daughter, Isabel Seraphina Manuel, and Hugh Christopher Bradford fell in love” Vincent said. “It’s going to be a long story filled with romance, turmoil and sadness. Are you ready?” he warned. Everyone kept quiet. “Go on, err” Jordan hesitated. “Just call me, Pappy, Jordan son” Vincent said warmly. “All right, go on, Pappy” Jordan said, struggling on the word ‘Pappy’, unsure if it was all right for him to call the old man so. “It all started 26 years ago…”

TO BE CONTINUED