Best Defense

chapter 27

Franda and Nino are on their way to their parents' house for dinner, as Marissa's mother said yesterday, all day this relationship looks almost like the first although sometimes there is awkwardness when Franda accidentally discussed her husband's mistakes.

Nino parked his car lined up with other cars there. Cars that are not too luxurious like his Tesla Model 3 electric car, but still look awesome because it is maintained. At the end there is a German car, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace owned by Edward, then beside it parked Mazda CX5 red car obtained by Mia as a birthday gift. And lastly is the car owned by Father and Mother Franda, Toyota Camry Type V.

"You okay?" franda asked before getting out of this car, her husband looked agitated.

"Yes, yeah... I'm fine!... No, I'm not fine!" nino replied nervously, He took a breath and exhaled slowly trying to let go of his fear of facing the Franda family. This time it was even scarier when he proposed to Franda seven years ago.

"Ofcourse, you are not! Relax, they won't do anything to you. I asked Mom to tell the others. Don't worry,**verything will be okay!" franda calmed her husband. He hugged Nino for a while and patted the man on the back.

"Yes, I was just too embarrassed to meet them remembering what I was.." Nino's speech was cut off when Franda suddenly******* her lips.

"You don't have to, we're just gonna have dinner, honey. They're my family, I know them well. Trust me, okay?" franda said after pulling his lips.

Nino nodded. Thinking tonight will not be easy to pass, the Franda family must be very angry with him but he does not want to hide and avoid them, Nino must accept whatever his wife's family will say. Now or later it's the same, or maybe it's worse if he acts like a coward and runs away.

Inside, Father, Mother, and Edward were sitting watching television that aired a talent search event from the land of uncle sam. Mia who came down from above saw the arrival of Franda and Nino immediately greeted.

"Have you come?" greet Mia. His voice made the other three people in the sonta family room turn their heads.

Nino smiled clumsyly at Mia and the others. He could not cover up his nervousness at all, especially when he saw Edward looking at him cynically. Father and Mother looked ordinary, smiling to welcome the child and daughter-in-law as if nothing had happened, at least the attitude of the two parents made Nino a little calm.

After a bit of small talk in the family room, they went straight to the dining room and devoured the food cooked by Ms. Marissa. There was not much conversation in the middle of the dining table, only Satya's father occasionally asked about Nino's company. They were all trying not to discuss Franda and Nino's problem while eating. But Nino's fear came again when they had returned to sit in the family room after eating.

"Can I talk to you?" edward said to Nino breaking the silence.

"Ofcourse!" nino replied briefly, trying to look relaxed.

Edward immediately walked out, carrying two bottles of beer he had taken from the refrigerator, followed by Nino behind him, leaving Father, Mother, Franda and Mia in the family room.

"Drink, don't be so nervous! I'm not gonna bite you!" edward said with a smile and gave Nino a bottle of beer in her hand. Nino accepted, He is not good at alcohol but can still receive beer or wine occasionally when there is an important event.

"Thank you!" said Nino.

"So, did he forgive you?" edward asked without looking at Nino.

"Yes, I am very lucky to have a wife like her" Nino said as she looked at the beer in her hand and smiled in memory of her beloved wife.

"I know!" answer Nino. He was ready to accept all the words that Edward would say, and he would not even fight if his brother-in-law hit him, Nino deserved it.

"You know, all this time I didn't want to know what happened to my sister, but that doesn't mean I'm just gonna let you go. Franda was the favorite child of the house, since childhood my parents were very pampering, almost 50 percent of their attention to Franda, and the rest for me, Mia, and other things. Me and Mia try not to get jealous of that, at least we can hide it. Franda's life since being abandoned by her uncle and aunt is not easy, she is so devastated and so lost her way..." Edward was silent, his thoughts drifting far back to childhood when Franda lived with them.

"Every day he just cried, blaming himself for his parents' accident happened right when he forced them to come home from Surabaya... I'm sure you already know." Edward continued.

"Yes, he told me." replied Nino. Still down to listen to Edward's words.

"It wasn't easy for us to restore his confidence and make him stop blaming himself, which is why my parents paid so much attention to him. As Franda slowly went back to his normal state, he was able to get through it after many months, but the trauma did not go away easily. We should always keep her away from things that remind her of her parents..." Edward stopped again, telling him about Franda again made him sad and sorry for his sister.

Nino still listened without saying anything, He did not know that Franda's childhood life was as bad as that because of course his wife would not tell it as detailed as Edward.

"Some times he was hysterical because he remembered his parents, but the worst was when he was nine. We're watching TV at home, there's news that shows a car accident that killed a couple, you can imagine what happened next...

It is not easy for a child of his age to accept such a painful reality, especially he himself who causes it, although in fact it is not but that is what he thinks." explained Edward, who is not a child, He took a deep breath and tightly grasped the beer bottle in his hand.

"I'm sorry!" said Nino.

"It's okay! Now he's fine, and I'm glad that since you came to him his life has gotten better, I'm grateful for that... Can I ask you one thing?" edward asked, looking at Nino.

"I'm listening!" answer Nino briefly

"Please don't hurt her again. I might've beaten you from yesterday if he hadn't begged me not to touch you. Franda loves you so much, his life is more colorful when he knows you. Well, it was actually good before you came but we know he still has his own grief, and we weren't really sure of his cheerful attitude until he found you, that's when we believed Franda was really okay."

Edward held onto Nino's shoulder, looking at her seriously.

"I trust you, never hurt her again because I won't let you next time. Take good care of what is already yours before someone else comes and snatches it from you" Edward reminded Nino. Edward already knows about Sean helping Franda, and also finds out that the man is putting his heart on his sister. Sean is Edward's unknown friend to Franda.

Nino who heard Edward's words looked confused, He asked in his heart what his brother-in-law meant to say such a thing. But Nino did not dare to ask.

"I promise I won't hurt her again, and thank you for believing in me" Nino said.

The two were still chatting outside for almost an hour, discussing some matters concerning personal or work. Nino looks comfortable talking to Edward, his brother-in-law was a warm man and can be invited to tell stories. During this time there were not many opportunities for the two to chat intensely, just a short conversation while they were visiting.