7 Your Parents Are Total Failures

After Ciko was satisfied with humiliating him in front of Nana, Marcel went to the lab on an empty stomach because he didn’t want to eat anything the Delvino family gave him anymore.

Venya had just finished cleaning Meru’s body when Marcel appeared.

“How did you and your father eat?” Marcel asked curiously. “Do you feel comfortable living here? Do you need to clean the place first ....?”

“No, it’s better like this so that none of the Delvino family members will be interested in entering this lab.” Venya shook his head disapprovingly. “The important thing is that there is a place for me and my father to sleep ....”

Marcel shrugged and did not insist.

“Speaking of eating, how was it?” Marcel repeated curiously.

“Don’t worry, we have a formula that if taken can cause a sensation of fullness for the next two-three days.” Venya explained.

“Are you serious?” Marcel was wide-eyed. “How is that possible?”

Venya took a breath and replied, “It can’t be helped ... we had to live frugally after the lab stopped operating, Mr Herman stopped the funding – and then my father got sick like this ....”

Marcel thought hard about what he wanted to do today.

“I have some money,” Marcel said, remembering some of the money he had taken yesterday. “What do you and your father usually eat? You can buy something with this money.”

Venya was stunned when Marcel pulled out a few bills in front of her. “Here, buy some food for you and your father.”

“But ....”

“It’s okay, just use it. You two still have to eat,” Marcel said. “I know what it’s like to go hungry.”

“But you live with the Delvino family,” Venya said with a frown. “You won’t lack anything.”

Marcel smiled sadly.

“You can never imagine how hellish life must be in there,” he said frankly. “Every day I’m only allowed to eat leftovers, and only this time did I have a little money to buy whatever I wanted.”

Venya was stunned, having no idea that the Delvino family was not only greedy, but also miserly.

“Then I’ll buy some food!” Venya said as he accepted the money Marcel gave him. “I’ll leave my dad for a while ....”

“Sorry to trouble you,” said Marcel. “It’s because my wife knows that I’m helping out at home to pay off debts, so it could be serious if she sees me leaving the house without permission.”

Venya nodded in understanding.

“Don’t let them see you,” said Marcel. “So you have to be careful!”

“Don’t worry, there’s another door in the lab.” Venya told him as he picked up his coat from the floor. “Dad, I’ll be gone for a while. Don’t trouble Marcel ....”

Meru didn’t answer, but just sat and stared at the ceiling.

As soon as Venya slipped away through the back of the lab, Marcel crouched down near Meru and looked at him straight on.

“Mr Meru, do you remember working with my parents?” Marcel asked, trying to make conversation. “I want to get this lab operational again, what do you think?”

Meru showed no sign of listening to what Marcel was saying.

However, Marcel didn’t mind.

“It must be nice to be here, huh?” Marcel commented as he stood up and walked towards a worn glass cabinet.

“Research that makes us feel like ourselves,” Marcel continued with a dreamy look, recalling a moment in the past when his parents were still actively working in this lab.

He never knew what his parents did every day in this lab, because at that time he was focused on studying for a better education.

***

“Are you going to continue your parents’ research?” asked Herman as he passed Marcel halfway down the stairs.

“I ... it’s still in the plans, Dad!” Marcel changed his statement in the middle. “Because I think what you said was right ... Continuing the research requires a lot of money, and I’m just a business graduate-plus, I have to find competent people to help me understand the research.”

Herman looked at Marcel with an unreadable look in his eyes.

“Then you already know that it’s almost impossible to do, right?” Herman commented as he looked at his son-in-law.

“Maybe you’re right,” Marcel said with a heavy sigh. “Not to mention that the equipment in the lab is probably damaged from lack of use ... but I’ll try to find a sponsor to fund the research!”

Herman smiled faintly.

“Are you sure?”

Marcel nodded vigorously.

“I’ll try, Dad!” He said. “I still want to continue what my parents started ... As well as to pay back the damages they caused to my family.”

Herman could no longer contain his smile.

“You sure seem as if the research will lead to something surprising,” Herman commented again. “You seem to forget that your parents failed miserably in their own research.”

Marcel blinked his eyes.

“I understand, Dad. But I want to at least try,” Marcel said. “Wouldn’t my sweat be enough to pay for all the damages you’ve suffered?”

Herman raised his hand.

“Whatever you say, you remember everything I said before, right?” He looked at Marcel straight on. “I don’t want to spend another cent to fund your research ....”

“I understand, Dad.” Marcel nodded. “But I asked you not to let Ronnie and the others into the lab.”

Herman shrugged.

“They won’t be interested in a dirty, dusty place like your lab,” he said bluntly, after which he continued on his way and left Marcel alone.

Not wanting to give up before he started, Marcel was determined to continue his parents’ research.

That day, it was business as usual in the Delvino household, with Marcel helping to serve breakfast in the kitchen and stepping aside when the whole family was at the table.

“Here’s some bread, Mr Marcel can eat it first.” Nana whispered as she slipped a piece of sponge bread into Marcel’s hand when she passed him at the kitchen door.

“Thank you, Nana.” Marcel nodded silently and continued towards the laundry area, separated by a sliding glass door.

He sat down, and ate the bread with relish.

Surprisingly, in no time at all, Marcel felt his stomach was as full as if he had eaten a full portion of rice with side dishes.

As usual, as soon as Herman and his wife stepped out of the kitchen, the atmosphere would turn tense as Ronnie led his younger siblings to force Marcel to finish their leftovers left on the plates.

“Marcel, eat!” shouted Ciko.

“Don’t shout in my ear!” Alvon snapped while covering his sense of hearing.

Ciko laughed when Marcel appeared with a wary face.

“I don’t want to eat,” said Marcel. “It’s okay if you don’t want to feed me ....”

Ciko glanced at his first brother and said, “What should we do?”

To Be Continued—