Arlyn and Adrian

7

Azel and Riel's hand movements stopped. They looked at Abi worriedly.

Arlyn frowned. "Why do you think that?"

Abi lowered his face. "....Umi takes men home.."

Arlyn still did not understand the child's intentions. "Then?"

"......Umi will marry ... Then have a child. Then Umi will forget about Abi.."

Adrian jumped to hear the boy's words.

....Maybe they weren't really Arlyn's kids?

Arlyn. "Married? Me?"

He scoffs. "Don't think strangely. You were a kid. Why do you understand such a thing?"

Arlyn moved her hand to open Abi's food package. Spoon food directly from there without moving it to the plate first.

"Open your mouth." Said governing.

Abi slowly complied. Taking a bribe from Arlyn.

"Do I have to bribe you or can you feed yourself?" Tanya Arlyn flat.

Abi hesitantly took the spoon from Arlyn's hand. Slowly scooping the food.

"Umi's. I'd like to be fed, too." Complain Riel. Arlyn grunting. "No. Use your own hands."

Riel pouted. Azel did not wince.

Abi's eyes suddenly widened. He scooped up his food, then looked up at Arlyn who was observing Riel with a bored face.

"Eye." Call her.

Arlyn. "What?"

Abi lifted his spoon. "Eat too."

"No way."

Abi put on a disappointed face. "But Umi must have not eaten either. Wouldn't people get sick if they didn't eat?"

Arlyn shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe."

"Feeding me." Abi tried again. But Arlyn just knocked on the tip of her nose.

"No need to think about me. I'm an adult. You were a kid. Just think about yourself."

Abi put her lips together. "I don't eat either."

Riel released her grip on the spoon. "I am too."

Azel did the same without a sound.

Arlyn clucked. "I've gone a long way and you don't want to eat?"

"But you should eat too. I'll bet you haven't eaten since morning." Riley complained.

Arlyn was stunned to hear the selection the boy said. "Are you threatening me?"

Abi was surprised and shook his head quickly. "No! We're not gonna do that to umi."

Arlyn raised her eyebrows consoled. So they would do it if it was someone else?

"Name ... We don't want Umi to get sick." Azel who had been silent since then finally made a soft voice.

Arlyn grunting.

"alright then. I'm gonna eat. You satisfied?"

Abi raised his face quickly. Pushing his food on Arlyn. He pointed his spoon at the woman. Arlyn reluctantly takes the spoon from Abi's hand. Throwing food into his mouth.

He realizes the existence of Adrian who did not take his eyes off him.

"Oh I forgot you're here."

Adrian showed no reaction.

"You don't mind if I eat, do you?" Ask Arlyn.

Arlyn still did not get a response from the man. Except for the sight that never left. Makes Arlyn wonder if her head will be hollowed out someday by that gaze.

He didn't see any reaction so he went back to eating his food. Then return the food to Abi. Abi returned to eating after seeing his umi eat.

Arlyn spoke again. "I thought you were gonna ask me a few things. But it looks like you're really just gonna use both of your eyes."

Abi, Azel and Riel turned to Adrian. Makes the man realize.

"A, Ah. Yeah." yeah."

Arlyn received a response that gave a indifferent look. "Maybe you want to go home? Does the existence of these children bother you?" Arlyn scoffs. Adrian heard it wiggling both his hands quickly.

"It's not so."

"....Uncle likes umi?"

Adrian aghast. The one who asked was Riel. Adrian and Arlyn both looked at the boy. Adrian with eyes wide open while Arlyn with frown.

"really. What are you taught in school? What are your friends like? You didn't watch the movie outside of my knowledge, did you?"

Riel closed her mouth tightly. Arlyn clucked.

"Do what you want. I have banned. You guys see the consequences for yourself. Azel, watch your sisters."

Azel answered with a flat face. "Yes." Yeah."

".....But umi is good ...Umi never gets angry ...It's not weird that any adult likes umi.." Abi hesitantly peeked at Adrian's figure.

Adrian felt his face heat up.

Arlyn clucked. "Don't make things up. You folks. Quickly finish your food. Then wash the dishes. Hey." He looked at Adrian whose ears were red. "Control yourself in front of these kids. They like to think things."

Adrian pressed his lips together.

...***...

"How's it?"

Nevan asked over the phone.

Adrian timidly tells his friend how he spends his time with Arlyn and her three children.

Not much actually. He was really just watching the interaction between Arlyn, Azel, Riel and Abi.

".....What's?"

Nevan was silent across the street.

"....She already has a child? Three???"

Adrian could see Nevan's figure closing his mouth dramatically.

"....You still gonna get close to him?"

Adrian looked at the night sky through the glass of his house.

Adrian could not deny. To approach someone who already has a child to take care of, three, even. Will make his friends, as well as Nevan, propose Adrian to rethink it.

They'll say, there's still a lot of women out there.

Butno. His heart told him that Arlyn was the only one.

He had no idea what sort of thing would appear in the future. But he'll do what he can.

The most important thing is Arlyn and her heart. Adrian thought, a little obstacle won't hurt him.

...***...

"Don't approach umi."

Adrian was silently stared at with cute but cold eyes by Abi.

Adrian visited Arlyn's house again after receiving Arlyn's approval yesterday on condition of not interfering with her activities. He was about to press the bell, but the door of the house was already open. Abi looked up at him with Azel and Riel behind him.

He squatted himself. "...Can I know why?"

Abi bit her lip.

"Don't take umi away from us." He said with a trembling voice.

Adrian aghast.

"....I won't take Arlyn. ..Of you guys." He said hesitantly.

His wish was only as simple as being allowed to be in the same place as Arlyn. And can look at the figure of the woman when her mind is distracted to the appearance of the face of the adored one.

Azel walked over to Abi slowly. Gently placed his hands on both shoulders.

"Pig."

He called the boy's name slowly. Abi did not change his gaze from Adrian who was now on par with his low gaze.

"Why are you gathered there? Oh."

Arlyn appeared from inside the house. Realizing the existence of Adrian who was crouching in front of his three foster children.

"You came earlier than I thought. What do you expect from me?"  Ledek.

Adrian raised his body. He raised both his hands low.

"I. .. just want to be with you longer."

Adrian's face turned faint. Arlyn had a dumbfounded expression on her face. "I really can't understand that way of thinking."

He lowered his gaze at Abi who looked up at him with a face that Arlyn had never seen before.

Or maybe already.

"Abi? What's with your face?"

He knocked Abi's forehead slowly. Usually, the child will laugh while holding his forehead. But now the boy just silently looked at Arlyn with a face that was, heartbreaking?

Yesterday the boy was also acting moody.

Actually, since the appearance of Adrian, the three children behaved like never before. But Arlyn was too careless to realize that. Looking at Abi's attitude he sighed soundlessly.

Arlyn squatting. "What's bothering you? Say."

Abi lowered his head. He glanced at Adrian who was standing at the door. Observing him. Abi made up his mind.

".....Will Umi continue to allow uncle Adrian to visit umi's house?"

Arlyn raised her eyebrows. "I don't have the obligation to reject it." He observed Abi who was bowing. But now his eyes are level with the boy's eyes. He could see Abi's face clearly.

Abi looks like he's about to cry.

Arlyn remained silent.

Abi never cried before. He had a gloomy face when there was trouble in the parlour. But ever since she lived with Arlyn and her two brothers, she has never been moody again. Abi is the happiest boy in his class. Like a wicked Riel. Unlike the more reserved Azel.

Seeing Abi seem like she wanted to cry, Arlyn was troubled.

With a slow and slightly lazy movement he grabbed the shoulder of the child in front of him. "You don't like Uncle Adrian visiting you?"

Abi did not lift his face. Her lips were tightly closed. It was as if her tears would come out if she opened her mouth just a little.

Arlyn let out a light breath. He stands. Carrying his body standing in front of Abi. Riel moved her foot towards her sister. Hugged his sister's shoulder. Azel was standing next to Arlyn.

"Adrians."

Adrian, who had been listening silently, felt his heart cool to hear Arlyn calling his name.

He looked at Arlyn was. He has a bad feeling.

"I don't think I can let you visit this house anymore."

Adrian felt his heart cool. Throat's dry. His mouth lips are stiff.

".....Can I know why?"

Arlyn let out a small breath. His hand grabbed Abi's shoulder behind him. The boy's shoulder was stiff. Arlyn raised her eyebrows.

"You should ask this kid. But he won't answer." He turned back to Adrian. Look at that stiff face.

"Go home, Adrian. You might like me. And about you having the desire to be around me might be real."

Arlyn did not know much about the feelings of someone who liked others. But at least he knew that if what Adrian admitted was real, then the man would feel sad because his feelings were rejected.

"But you need to stop seeing me and these three kids." He patted Abi's head. "I don't have anything to make other people like me. I'm sure all you feel is a momentary attraction."

It might be a strange fetish that makes one happy when others are being mean to him.

"Forget me."

Arlyn voiced her ultimatum. Adrian felt his body stiff. He's having trouble moving. He just stood in his place. Receiving a flat gaze from the woman in front of him.

".....I can't see you anymore?"

Arlyn nodded indifferently.

"Go home. There are still a lot of women out there. I'm not the right person for you."

Adrian felt his shoulders drop.

He refused to believe.

Did ya? Arlyn is not the right person for him?

24 Years he lived. He never had any interest in anyone. Arlyn was the first. The only.

Can't she have a boyfriend as she wants?

First and last, and,

Is that impossible?

His father was very lucky.

Can't she be like her parents?

He has ruined his own will.

By letting her heart, mind and eyes get stuck in Arlyn, the first and last words could not apply to any woman for her in the future.

Disappointment filled him. He put one leg back.

With all the cramping, he pushed himself to make a sound. "....I understand ... Sorry to bother you ...I'll go ... May you always be healthy."

He nodded his head small. Then he stepped his feet towards the car.

Arlyn and her three foster children watch Adrian's departure. This is farewell. They will not see the man again.

Abi stiffly and hesitantly grabbed Arlyn's lower clothes.

"...Umi."

Arlyn lowered her head.

Abi knew Arlyn would listen. He asked doubtfully. "Angurge me?"

Arlyn grunting. "No. Don't think about the no."

Come to think of it, with the rich man gone, Arlyn would not be able to buy things without using her money anymore.

"Hey. That uncle bought you food yesterday. Don't you want to say thank you again before he leaves? You're not gonna see him again."

Abi's grip on Arlyn's clothes puckered.

"No?"

Not getting a response from the three he went back to watch the white sedan car whose engine was turned on and slowly walked away.

The End's

Yes, it is not.

7/9/2021 1.16