Black Swan's

Daddy Aciel (Fourty)

            Aciel suddenly groaned slowly and slightly moved his head which felt heavy. His two eyes that were still slightly closed, slowly began to open slowly to adjust to the bright light that continued to pierce his retina. And slowly but surely, Aciel began to be able to adjust to the bright light installed in his treatment room while frowning in wonder at his hand that had been adorned by an infusion needle.

            “Rest, don't move too much.”

            The voice made Aciel immediately turn to the right, and immediately found Eden who was picking up a glass filled with water.

            “Drink, you must be thirsty.”

            With the help of Eden, Aciel drank the water to the toilet while occasionally glancing towards Eden who looked serious.

            “What happened to me?”

            “Fatigue, lack of sleep? Too much work.. hmm, what's more? You still live with such an unhealthy pattern? Have you been eating regularly?” eden's nagging is noisy and annoying. But Aciel did not take Eden's nagging too seriously, he only considered it as one of Eden's forms of attention to him. Deep down in Eden's heart, Aciel knew that the woman was actually still watching him.

            “Since you left, my life has actually turned a little healthier. But last night I didn't sleep.”

            “So you kept in your room all night until I came? Overtime?” guess Eden's origin. After giving Aciel water, he intends to feed Aciel food, but Aciel immediately refuses and just wants to peel the apple. Really spoiled!

            “Before I was overtime, working on many company reports that I received from my subsidiaries in various cities. But I then got too late in the messages that Zyan sent me.”

            “Message? Impossible.” said Eden suddenly with a paled face. Zyan was long gone, there was no way the man would come back to life to send Aciel a message. Or maybe someone is pretending to be Zyan?

            “What message?”

            “You seem very surprised, are you hiding something?”

            Aciel reacts the opposite by saying something that makes Eden tick dead. Eden then tried to avoid the gaze of looking at Aciel by busying himself with the activity of peeling the apple.

            “Hah, what ap? Why do you think that?”

            “That strange attitude explains everything. Confess Eden, I won't be angry.”

            “You sure? Sometimes confessing to you will only trouble me. Never mind, just eat your apples, then go to sleep. Your blood is still needed by Ciara.” snorted Eden while putting a plate of apples in the lap of Aciel. There was not the slightest intention to feed Aciel, or at least act sweet in front of the man because he always hated hypocrisy. But not infrequently he himself is also hypocritical in front of others.

            “How big is your love for Ciara?”

            “Very big.”

            “Which do you love more, me or Ciara?”

            “Ciara.” replied Eden firmly, and Aciel immediately changed the look of his face to be more cloudy. It seems that he was too childish to ask Eden because obviously the woman's answer would definitely lead to Ciara, not to him. Even if Aciel did want to confront, he could have attacked Eden by bringing up the story of a suicide attempt Eden had done years ago to remove Ciara from her womb.

            “So I already have no place in your heart?”

            “What did I say that?”

            “Then?”

            “Do not force me to choose, it is very difficult as long as you know. Between you and Ciara, I actually don't know which one means more to you because you have the same pattern. Ciara is your daughter, she owns some of you. Loving Ciara is the same as loving you. But if it only loves you, it's not necessarily love Ciara. So isn't that fair? Never mind, why are you more chatty today?” reply Eden riled. Aciel subconsciously hid a relieved smile on her lips while picking up one of the apples

which Eden had cut in his plate. He's honestly a little hungry now, but he's not at all tasteful with hospital food that looks like convict food, looks disgusting in Aciel's eyes.

            “How is Ciara's condition?”

            “Ciara passed her critical period an hour ago. Just need to donate a little more blood to him, then his condition will be more stable. I... I miss him a lot.” Eden cried out from where he sat. The woman clearly seemed to be worried about her beautiful daughter, and right now her greatest hope was only for Aciel. If the man would once again be kind enough to give his blood to Ciara, Eden would be very grateful for it.

            “I know you love Ciara more than anything. Zyan has told me everything.”

            “When?”

            Eden immediately remembered Aciel's story about Zyan. It was a little awkward indeed because Zyan couldn't possibly send a message to Aciel. And if before he died Zyan had sent a message to Aciel, then it was Aciel who was too late because he had never read the messages even once.

            “During this time Zyan always send messages by email. There were many photos of Ciara in every message she wrote. Unfortunately I never opened those messages. Maybe if I open it early, I'll know soon if Ciara is actually my daughter.”

            “Wait... actually when did Zyan send those messages?” ask Eden to interrupt. He seems not very familiar with the direction of Aciel's conversation, but he tries to do so by connecting each story of Aciel with how everyday Zyan was before the man died.

            “A long time ago, when Ciara was very small. Every month he always sends messages and also photos of Ciara's development. He also asked me to take you from him because he felt he could not be a good husband for you. Are you happy to be married to Zyan?”

            Eden silent. He doesn't know if he's happy or not, but he does know he feels comfortable living with Zyan. At that time Zyan did not look like her husband, but she looked more like an older brother who always provided protection for her and also Ciara. Love and comfort are two different things.

            “I'm happy. Zyan treated me well.”

            Aciel then just kept quiet. He no longer continued his conversation about Zyan and only allowed silence to surround them. The feelings of pain and jealousy that he had never felt before, now he began to feel it. Two sentimental feelings managed to shake his senses until he felt strange at this moment. He felt weak, helpless, and defeated. He is defeated by Zyan even though the man tells him that Eden is not happy with him.

            “Go see Ciara, I think I want to close my eyes for a moment.”

            Eden felt her heart break when Aciel gave a subtle swipe at her. The man now looked completely closed his eyes without heeding the wounded look that emanated from his eyes. In Eden's heart, she said to herself, what should I expect from this shitty man! Ck, you stupid Eden, so stupid! maki Eden is upset.

-00-

            Four days passed, and Ciara had passed her critical period. On the third day, he was fully conscious, yet still a little weak. Then on the fourth day, Ciara had been transferred to the usual treatment room and her condition gradually also began to improve due to the blood that Aciel had given her.

            “Mommy... drink.”

            Ciara pointed at the glass of orange juice on the table next to her bed while advancing her cute lips. Ciara's adorable behavior inevitably makes Eden's heart feel warm and also surrounded by thousands of gratitude because God finally granted his prayers to save Ciara.

            “This, drink. You must be healthy and strong so that you can meet with daddy.” Eden's promise really means it. Ciara immediately exclaimed with excitement in front of Eden, and he immediately finished his orange juice until it was completely toilet.

            “Mommy, where is daddy now?” ask Ciara to know. After getting enough rest and taking blood once again, Aciel has not met Ciara. The man had a pretty important business deal in Canada, so he couldn't wait for Ciara at the hospital until Ciara regained consciousness. Instead, Aciel sent Sian to accompany Eden while she was in the hospital while she finished her affairs in Canada.

            “Daddy is at work. Why is Ciara so eager to meet daddy?”

            “Because Ciara wants to hug daddy.”

            “Mommy, what is daddy Ciara's uncle Aciel?”

            “Where do you know kiddo?” eden was a little surprised. As he remembered he had not said anything about Aciel to Ciara.

            “Uncle Sian said it. Uncle Sian said I'm beautiful because daddy's handsome. Then uncle Sian told me that my daddy was Uncle Aciel.”

            “Ahh... that..”.

            Eden was at a loss for words. He was confused, which point should he explain his complicated past to Ciara? He is not sure that a girl as small as Ciara can understand the strange problems experienced by his strange parents. And Sian, that man has always been a troublemaker in the middle of his troubles. Start with

the problem of her miscarriage in the past was finally heard by Aciel, then now the problem of Aciel who is his biological father Ciara must also leak into his daughter's ears when he is not ready to explain everything to his beautiful girl.

            “Then what about daddy who was in the photo?” ask Ciara plain. Eden was instantly completely limp and could not explain anything.

            “Eee. But now Ciara's father is Aciel's uncle.”

            “What because uncle Zyan has died?”

            “Emm.. yes.” replied Eden unsure. Let this time Ciara take it that way. As time went on he would explain it to Ciara slowly. But now he still has one lie that he has not revealed. Regarding Zyan's death, he had not had time to admit it in front of Aciel. He was not sure that Aciel was listening to his words when the man was unconscious. And it seems that Aciel has not learned the news of Zyan's death.

Tok tok tok tok

            “Halo princess..”

            “Uncle Sian!!”

            Eden rolled her lazy eyes as she watched the furore of her daughter and Sian in front of her. The two people were somehow very compact, even though they had only met a few times. Maybe because Sian is friendly and full of sincerity, so anyone feels comfortable when close to him. Even so, he loved Sian as much as his own older brother, despite the fact that their age was far apart, and they looked more like uncles and nephews.

            “Uncle brings you a gift.”

            Eden shook his head inexhaustibly at the exaggerated Sian. The man brought a barbie house that was quite large, complete with a lot of furniture equipment. He was sure that after this Ciara would be more sticky to Sian and make Sian as one of his favorite uncles.

            “Horeee... home barbie!”

            “Yeah, you're overreacting Sian.”

            “No Ed, I'm glad to see my beautiful niece laughing happily like this. Has Aciel visited you?”

            “Aciel? Isn't he still in Canada?” eden was confused. Since Ciara is still in the ICU room, Aciel has not raised his nose there at all.

            “He's been home since yesterday.” tell Sian. Eden immediately spread his shoulders clueless and chose not to discuss Aciel. But in his heart Eden was busy thinking about Aciel and various speculations why the man did not come to visit his son? Didn't the man love Ciara and want to hear Ciara call her daddy? But why hasn't the man come? Or the... Aciel was actually still angry at him, because that afternoon after the last blood draw, Aciel immediately left without saying anything.

            He remembered if they had had had a disagreement that afternoon. I don't know, the two of them always end up in a disagreement even though honestly Eden doesn't want it all. And the funny thing is that it all happened because of a trivial problem about Aciel's desire to bring Ciara to live in his house. Of course it was not a big issue that could be decided with anger, but at that time Eden just felt emotion because Aciel arbitrarily determined his will justly on Ciara's life. Remember, she was the one who conceived Ciara for nine months, and all this time she was also the one who worked hard to raise Ciara, so it is wrong if he was angry at the man when he was asked to bring Ciara to his house.

-00-

            Amidst the noise and stomping, Aciel pensively himself while sipping his vodkan quietly. This day he was quite dizzy with various jobs that always took his time. But that's not really the main point of the problem, but his heart. Since his return from Canada, he has not visited Eden. It

I don't know what his name is, like jealous of the closeness of Eden and Jensen or the story of Eden's life with Zyan. It seemed like what Zyan had been saying all along was a lie. If Eden was unhappy, there was no way the woman would smile broadly when she told him about Zyan's problem. Although his heart was indeed linked to her, but that happiness was actually created by Zyan.

            “Hai, are you alone? May I join?”

            “God.”

            A beautiful woman in a mini dress above the knee rested herself rigidly before Aciel. Either because she was an innocent woman or felt uncomfortable with the noisy atmosphere around her, but the woman looked very uncomfortable with her current state.

            “You want to drink?” bargain Aciel while pointing the bottles of drink on the table with her chin. For some time Aciel was still indifferent to the woman because she was not wanting to play around with them. To be honest he was bored, they now felt boring on his bed.

            “Aa ah.. no need, I just want to look around the atmosphere here.”

            The woman answered nervously while occasionally glancing fearfully at someone not far from her. His fingers had unconsciously been squeezed over his lap, and he occasionally rubbed his face with a stiff movement that succeeded in making Aciel's attention tidied to the woman. It seems like he is under someone's pressure.

            “You why? You're like a freak.”

            “Aa i...”.

            The woman suddenly stretched out her hand and stroked Aciel's thigh stiffly. With quite a provocative gesture, he then glued his body towards Aciel while whispering a forced spoiled whisper.

            “Please me...” whispered the woman shriveled. At once Aciel understood and only let the woman do her duty. She must be a new woman hired by one of the pimps at the club. Tonight he might be kind enough to help that woman. There is no harm in doing this, but he is also tired of all his emotions are uncertain like this. Now he is like a snot guy who is feeling in love for the first time. Disgust!

            “So you're a new woman?”

            “Yes, that's it. I'm sorry I had to do this to you, but you're my only hope. I see you're not like the other guys who look like jerks here.” said the woman while sticking her body on Aciel. Aciel involuntarily laughed discordantly at the woman's assessment of him. Not like other men

she say? But even though they actually did nothing, others must have thought they were doing indecent things there. Especially with the position of the woman who is now sitting on top of Aciel's thigh, others will definitely misunderstand just by looking at her.

            “Where are you from?”

            “Carson City's. I was forced to take this job because my father was sick. But now that I changed my mind, I wanted to go home and work at the fruit shop, albeit for a meager salary. Can you help me, sir? I'm sorry for bothering you like this. Dan... have you married?”

            “Not yet, I'm not married.” replied Aciel calmly. He then asked the woman down from her lap, and stood up to approach the pimping boss who was lurking from upstairs. Let's just say that today Aciel wants to be kind by redeeming the woman from the pimp who has been stalking them.

            “Come, we'll meet your boss.”

            “Aciel...”.

            And as Aciel turned around, he found Eden looking at him with a surprised, hurt, hurt look, or any gaze that Aciel thought was not the usual kind of gaze while looking at Aciel's right hand that was still perched on the shoulder of the sexy woman he had just met a moment ago. Without saying anything, Eden immediately left the place with a grim face as dark as the gray Las Vegas sky tonight.

            “Ttu sir, what is your lover?"

            “Not. He is a nobody.”, Aciel replied coldly, banishing the woman from going to meet her pimp boss.