Return of the hidden heir

Chapter 8: Losing his mind

Thinking that Harlan was telling lame jokes because he was going through a hard time because of the fact that his parents disowned him, Kelvin slowly covered his mouth with his palm, the other hand holding the phone remained where it stayed hung in the air.

Suddenly, Kelvin moved closer to Harlan and pulled him in a tight hug, surprising Harlan himself. He had thought Kelvin wouldn't believe him.

"I am sorry, Harlan, I should have asked about how you are coping with the reality of being disowned by your parents," Kelvin said, choking with emotion.

"You don't need to make a big deal about the fact that my parents disowned me, I have forgotten about them already," Harlan muttered, trying to pull away from Kelvin.

"I should have known you would be greatly affected by it, no need pretending to be tough, we can both cry over it if that is going to make you better, man."

Harlan finally pulled away from Kelvin and stared at him in confusion.

"I am now Harlan Smith, so my parents disowning me is a blessing in disguise."

"Stop that joke, man, let's find a way to make you get back to your right frame of mind again," Kelvin gave him a playful punch.

"Joke? As in?" Harlan asked, not hiding his confusion.

"Were you not making a joke when you told me you were Harlan Smith? I knew you were. I am sorry for not noticing how bad you must be feeling now. First things first, let's get something good to eat, next we will play soccer and discuss after that." Kelvin pulled Harlan back to the refrigerator.

Harlan speechlessly stared at his friend. So Kelvin had thought he was joking? Just how bad does he look that would have made his friend think he is pulling a joke about being Harlan Smith?

He decided not to convince Kelvin, he would wait for a suitable time to make things known to his friend.

"I feel guilty to have only been receiving from you all along, if you would allow me to pay you back a little, I will be better."

Kelvin glanced at Harlan, "I know this is the time you have to spend frugally, forget about being guilty of receiving from me, after all I am not complaining."

"It would make me better," Harlan said and watched Kelvin's reaction. He couldn't wait to see Kelvin's reaction when he found out about the restaurant he was taking them to.

As the cab took them to the restaurant, Kelvin kept making a big deal about how much he wanted to see Harlan Smith and see how he looked. Harlan didn't convince his friend further, it would just be a waste of time if he did, and he knew it.

When they got down from the cab and Kelvin realized where Harlan had brought him, he became more concerned about Harlan's state of mind. Of course, he knew Harlan would never in his right frame of mind think about coming to a restaurant as big as this with the aim of eating there.

"Why are you standing there? Let's go inside," Harlan said when he noticed Kelvin's hesitance to go inside the restaurant.

"I thought you said you had been fired from work," Kelvin asked, confusion clearly written on his face.

"Are you worrying about money already?" Harlan smirked.

"Come on, stop pulling my legs. The money we used to board a cab here would have fed you for two days; now you have squandered it just to bring us here to see how big this place is," Kelvin lamented.

"Man, stop worrying your ass and come inside," Harlan convinced. The money still remaining in the card that Mr Smith gave to him was enough to buy any kind of food in the restaurant.

Nervously, Kelvin looked around, not sure of what Harlan was up to. A prank in a restaurant like this isn't going to be funny. He was starting to get embarrassed as he saw rich people going in and coming out of the restaurant. Just comparing the clothes he was putting on to the clothes those folks were wearing was more than enough to make him wish something would hide his face from them. And, the clothes he was wearing were still a hundred percent better than the faded clothes Harlan was putting on.

"How much do you have on you?" Kelvin asked, just in case something funny started happening.

"I am the one bringing you here for dinner, don't worry about how much I have," Harlan said and with a light push, he got Kelvin walking inside the restaurant.

Harlan was very much aware of the side glance people threw at him and Kelvin but he couldn't be concerned. He was trying to get used to it now. As long as he remained Harlan Smith, people would give him that look. He also knew the glances would be more when his identity —as the adopted Harlan Smith — becomes known to everyone.

"Hey, man, are you sure you know where we are?" Kelvin whispered to Harlan.

Harlan smiled and pulled one of the chairs out for Kelvin before sitting down too. He picked the menu and glanced through it. A half a million dollars for just a meal? Harlan blinked his eyes repeatedly.

"Hey, man, let's get out of here before we are thrown out. There is no cheap food here," Kelvin, who had also read through the menu, whispered to Harlan.

"What do you want to eat? Just chose anything," Harlan said confidently. He could still afford to get food for himself at Kelvin at that rate.

"Hey, are you out of your mind?" Kelvin asked, eyes widened as he noticed Harlan looking through the menu with a smile on his face, seeming not to be concerned about the prices of the food.

"If you are not going to choose, I think I will chose for you," Harlan said and waved the waiter over.

"Christ! We are not going to leave this place alive! I saw some scary looking dogs outside the other time, they would probably be the ones to teach us that we are not meant for here," Kelvin whispered furiously.

Ignoring Kelvin's nervousness, Harlan placed an order for the food he wanted. Although it was expensive, Harlan could afford to be that extravagant if that would convince Kelvin that he is really the returned heir.

Just as the waiter was going to get to Harlan's table with the food he had ordered, the president of the restaurant rushed in, he looked around, fears evident in his eyes.

"He must be here for us, Harlan. I hate you for bringing me here, and I hate myself for yielding to you," Kelvin whose legs were shaking under the table nervously blurted out in a low voice.

"Calm down, nothing can be done to us," Harlan convinced.

"Excuse me, everyone," the President said in a slightly shaky voice, grasping everyone's attention.