Albern and Lily

Fresh Wind

"How are preparations for the company party?" Aaron asked Albern while sipping on his favorite herbal tea.

That afternoon, Albern returned home sooner than usual. And now he is joining the two parents and his only sister in the family room.

"There's no obstacle. It's almost done." Reply Albern.

"Then what about your plan to introduce Lily to the party?" Ask Aaron again.

Albern did not answer. He took a long breath.

"What's wrong?" Aaron knitted his eyebrows together when he saw the change in Albern's countenance.

Zaya who had been busy peeling fruit seemed to turn to pay attention to Albern. And so did Zivanna.

"What's up, honey? Did nothing go according to plan?" Zaya asked her son gently.

"Yes. I'm afraid Lily can't be at our company party. So maybe I'll cancel introducing her as my future wife." Albern replied rather disappointedly.

"Why is that?" Ask Zaya again.

Albern again breathed.

"Me and Lily had agreed to meet Uncle Evan and tell him about our relationship. Lily also just agreed to our relationship being exposed if she got the blessing of her Papa. We'd like to ask Lily's parents for their blessing before the party. But now it's all a little messed up. Uncle Evan actually went to Singapore because something happened with his hospital. And most likely will be back home after our company party is over."

Replaced Zaya who was stunned to hear Albern's speech. Aaron and Lily.

"I could've called Uncle Evan over the phone, but it felt really disrespectful. Nor could I have come to Singapore and appeared all of a sudden. There he will be disturbed. Besides Uncle Evan must be busy taking care of his hospital matters, so there might not be time to listen to my words." Albern looks a little sad.

"How about Mama Lily?" Again Zaya asked.

"Tante Carissa said he couldn't help anything. Even though she's agreed to our relationship, she can't allow anything without her husband's consent."

Everything came back silent and dissolved in each other's minds for a while.

"If you hadn't introduced Lily to the party, what would have happened?" Aaron's voice finally broke the silence.

"Nothing's gonna happen. But I feel a little bad for Mr and Mrs Graham. When they expressed their desire to make me a daughter-in-law in New York the other day, I refused on the grounds that I already had a wife. I also promised to introduce my future wife to them. If I hadn't kept it, it would have seemed that I was bragging and just had reason to reject their daughter. This fear will affect the cooperation of the company." Albern nodded a little.

Aaron looked a little stunned.

"Adrian is an open-minded person. He and his wife are also very professional. So, they're not going to confuse work with personal business." Aaron finally said.

"But still, if Lily can come to the party, I'll be calmer. At least I don't need to make up excuses to reject the girls that were thrust upon me. And most importantly, the cruel rumor that says if I don't like women will disappear."

Instantly Aaron chuckled.

"How can a rumor bother you like that? Since when do you care about people's judgments of you?" Ask Aaron.

"I didn't care. But since Mama wanted me to check in with the doctor, it looks like I have to restore my reputation." Answered Albern while glancing at Zaya.

"Why be Mama?" Grutu Zaya while putting pieces of fruit into his mouth.

"So so far there's no way Lily can attend the party?" Ask Zaya later.

"Yet. Lily did not want to attend the party secretly. He won't let his father get angry and blame his mother."

"Oh, it's appropriate that while on campus Lily looks sad and not excited. Maybe he's also eager to go to the company party later as Kak Al's partner, but doesn't know how to tell his Papa." This time, Zivanna commented.

"He looks sad?" Repeated Albern with a worried tone.

Zivanna nodded.

"Even he speaks very little. Just this time I saw Lily wasn't fussy."

"Albern, do you really think Lily's the best for you? You really don't want to consider Briana?" Ask Aaron in a serious tone.

Sontak Albern looked at his Papa with a facial expression that changed dislike. And so did Zivanna.

"Why is Papa still asking? Isn't the answer obvious?" Albern replied in a tone no less serious.

"But I think Briana is also a good girl."

"I don't care what Briana looks like. All I want is Lily. If Papa likes Briana so much, why isn't Papa married to Briana?"

Eh?

Albern speaking. Hurriedly he turned towards Zaya who was seen looking at him sharply. Her mother did not seem to like Albern's words.

"You're talking now." Aaron muttered while embracing Zaya's shoulder. The middle-aged man silently smiled seeing his wife angry.

"How can you say that in front of your mother?" Aaron rubbed Zaya's back while holding a smile. For some reason, he was always happy if his wife felt jealous like this.

"Sorry, Ma. I just wanted to talk." Said Albern in a sorry tone while throwing his face in another direction.

"Papa too, anyway. Already know Kan Al is upset, even fishing a commotion." Mumbled Zivanna grumbling.

"Here you go, Mama's not mad." Zaya unravels Aaron's embrace, and looks towards Albern.

"So, your heart's really settled on Lily, huh?" Ask Zaya later.

Albern nodded.

"Yes. I just want Lily, just like Papa just wants Mama."

Everyone was stunned to hear Albern's words. They didn't think it would turn out that Albern's feelings for Lily were that deep.

"All right..." Aaron broke the silence.

"So there's actually a problem what Doctor Evan went to Singapore?"

"Lily didn't tell me in detail, but from the information I received, one of the doctors who worked at Uncle Evan's hospital did malpractice. The patient filed a lawsuit. Uncle Evan came there because the plaintiff refused the way of peace."

Aaron was silent for a moment, looking like he was thinking.

"And it looks like the patient's family is an important person there, which is why the situation is a bit difficult to deal with." Added Albern again.

Aaron looked at Albern's worried face for a moment, then sighed. As great as Albern is today, he is still a son who sometimes needs his father's help.

"A few years ago, I helped a Singaporean businessman. He has many relatives of important people. If I ask for his help now, he'll be happy to help."

Albern looked at his father.

"Don't worry, I'll help Doctor Evan solve his problem in Singapore, and make sure Lily will be present as your partner at the company party later." Aaron pats Albern on the shoulder.

With an expression that was difficult to describe, Albern looked at his Papa. The middle-aged man who often acts annoyingly, but remains the most admired figure.

Albern was silent for a moment, then was seen sighing in relief.

"Thank you, Pa." Albern muttered with a faint smile.

Seriate...

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