Black Swan's

Engagement (Fourty Six)

          A day had passed since the horrendous incident that had befallen Aciel. The man is still receiving intensive care at the hospital because of his bleeding stomach condition. Even if Eden had not heard Aciel's vague voice that night, perhaps the man's life would not have been saved.

            “Go home Ed, you've been here since yesterday. Look at your blackened eye bags.”

            Sian tried to persuade Eden to have the woman ready to go home. At least Eden needs to rest for a while at home, meet Ciara, and clean up to look fresher.

            “Sian, will he be okay?”

            Like not hearing Sian's words, Eden asked with a flat face that looked very frustrated. Fear for fear was brewing in Eden's chest, but he himself was at a loss on how to reveal it to Sian.

            “I'm sure Aciel will be fine Ed. This is not the first time Aciel experienced this, he also had experienced it when his mother had just died.”

            “Huhh... Why should I worry about this? Isn't this good? The more sick he is, then my chance to get away from him will be even greater.” Eden suddenly monologued to himself with a wry laugh made up. But Sian knew that Eden was only trying to comfort his heart that was in turmoil. He knew that Eden could never really hate Aciel.

            “Aciel will be angry if you hear you say this.” said Jessica sounded annoyed while walking toward Eden who was standing next to Aciel's blanchor.

            “This arrogant and stupid man loves you very much. Why do you want to leave her again like you used to?” jessica asked in an annoyed tone. Eden then glanced at Jessica at a glance, and walked unsteadily towards the long chair to pick up her sling bag.

            “Looks like I should go home, Ciara needs me at home. I trust Aciel to you.”

            Seeing Eden come out of Aciel's nursery with a tangled face made Sian immediately look at Jessica full of accusations. The woman's lips were indeed very spicy and annoying. Even in times like these, he still hurts others who are in turmoil.

            “What?” jessica asked as she folded her hands in front of her chest.

            “You! Can't you just be sweet to Eden once? That woman is fucked up, and you aggravate her situation with your annoying words.” Omel Sian gauntlet.

            “What have I done? Aren't I right? I was defending Aciel because he would be offended if he heard the cruel words of Eden.”

            “You're right, but that's not how it works. Now you just make things more complicated.” snorted Sian annoyed while walking towards the long sofa in the corner of the room. It is exhausting to wait for someone who is sick in the hospital. Moreover, Aciel had not opened his eyes since yesterday. According to the doctor, Aciel will soon wake up after passing her critical period this morning. But until tonight, Aciel has not opened his eyes and makes people who care about him worry.

            “Will he be okay? I've never seen Aciel as weak as this.”

            “Aciel is also a Sica man. Sometimes he becomes weak and helpless like this. Maybe Aciel is too forced to do various things, without thinking about the condition of his body that began to decline. Aciel should have a healthy lifestyle since he was declared to have a severe digestive disease years ago. But Aciel is still Aciel. He is very difficult to change his unhealthy lifestyle and continues to drink alcohol when he feels stress.”

            “Didn't he have obtained Ciara and Eden? What other problems weighed on his mind?”

            Jessica looked concerned at Aciel who was filled with life support tools. In addition to the cage, a cardiograph continues to display a graph of Aciel's heart rate moving stably. At least for now the condition of Aciel is still quite stable, but they do not know what will happen in the future and the worst possible they will face with the condition of Aciel.

            “Many. Do you think Aciel only thinks of Eden and Ciara? The company's problems also burden him. Love is important, but a man like Aciel will not let his whole mind be ruled only by love. Aciel is not that semelancholic man, although his attitude has lately led a bit to it. But lately there is a lot of work in the office because Aciel got two tenders at once this month. And actually his condition has not been okay since he returned from Canada.”

            “Hmm.. Sometimes a man like Aciel can make others envious of his success and perfection. But behind it all, they do not know if Aciel has to work hard to achieve everything. Sian, about when will Aciel open his eyes? I now feel worried about him.”

            “Come, may God still be kind to him and give him a chance to live.”

-00-

           “Mommy!”

            Eden hugged her daughter sadly while bringing her daughter inside the house. He almost cried in front of Ciara when he saw the image of Aciel from Ciara's eyes which was very similar to Aciel's brown eyes.

            “Daddy where? Is daddy healed?”

            “Daddy is sleeping in the hospital. Does Ciara miss daddy?”

            “Ciara wants to meet daddy... Ciara loves daddy.”

            Eden felt stunned when she heard a plain sentence full of sad tone that was thrown from Ciara's lips. How much the little girl needed her father, but she wickedly planned to take Ciara away from her life and return to living her life as before.

            You're selfish...

            Eden recalled Aciel's words as they fought, before the man fell unconscious in the hospital. Is this a punishment because he has wasted the opportunity God has given him? But he is really worried right now. Receiving Aciel to be her husband with all her painful past traumatizes Eden. In the end his heart would always say backwards if Aciel began to remind him of the love that the man had thrown a few days ago.

            “Mommy.. Can Ciara see daddy?”

            “Emm.. maybe later when daddy is awake, now daddy must sleep to heal quickly.” replied Eden gently while poking Ciara's nose. The two of them then entered the mansion together to eat together at the dining table. Since Aciel was sick, he never fed Ciara and only left Ciara to the servants here. Lucky Ciara is an independent girl who does not have to always be accompanied by Eden.

Drrt drrtt

            “Before dear, uncle Sian contact mommy.”

            Eden took Ciara down from her sling, then she immediately reached into her sling bag pocket to raise a sudden call from Sian.

            “Eden, where are you?”

            “I just arrived home, what's up?” tanya Eden tried to calm down. Although at this time his heart was rumbling due to the phone call from Sian, but he kept trying to calm down by stroking Ciara's long mane many times.

            “Come to the hospital now Ed, Aciel needs you.”

            “What's with Aciel?”

            Eden started to be unable to hide his worries when Sian started mentioning Aciel's name across there.

            “Aciel had convulsions Ed. A team of doctors is trying to save his life. Quickly come here, the atmosphere becomes more chaotic at this time.”

            Eden immediately turned off her phone connection unilaterally, and immediately called Kathy to feed Ciara.

            “Darling, looks like mommy should go now, daddy looking for mommy.”

            “Ciara follow.”

            “You can't come, baby. Kath, please take care of Ciara for a while, Aciel is dying in the hospital.” Eden said quickly to Nara who just arrived. He then ran to the garage to ask Mr. James to drive him back to the hospital.

            “Aciel is dying, please take me to the hospital again.” Eden said in a hurry with a frightened face printed clearly on her face. Suddenly her tears just dripped as the car carrying her slowly walked out of the courtyard of the luxurious Aciel mansion.

            When getting word from Sian if Aciel's condition worsens, inevitably the memory of Eden was thrown into the events of three years ago when Zyan was declared critical by the police after an accident. The sound of police sirens roaring in front of Zyan's parents' house makes Eden can not forget the slightest detail of the incident when Zyan had an accident until finally the man was declared dead by the doctor due to injury severe enough in the head and spine.

           “Nona, are you okay?”

            “No. Absolutely not Mr. James.” replied raucous Eden as he bowed his head in a frenzy. He shouldn't be sad like this. He should have been happy with Aciel's pain, for he would not have been played by Aciel again. He will regain his freedom, and live quietly with Ciara. Unfortunately what was happening right now was not as simple as his mind. He now feels claustrophobic when he remembers Aciel and really wants to cry roaring for no apparent reason.

           “Nona, we've arrived.”

            Suddenly Mr. James awakened his daydream and made him immediately jump down from inside the car. In his heart since then he kept praying that everything would be fine, and the man would still be haughty as usual. It was better to see the jerk Aciel than the weak Aciel, who lay helplessly with life aids all over his body.

            “Bba how is Aciel?” condition eden asked stammeredly as he had just arrived in front of Aciel's treatment room. There Sian and Jessica had been waiting for him with grim faces, which looked very alarming to see. He was afraid that something bad would soon slap him.

            “Bad Ed. Aciel had a seizure a while ago, now the team of doctors is handling it inside.”

            “How can? Hasn't he been declared stable?”

            “It turns out that in addition to having stomach bleeding, Aciel also had an infection in his intestines. You know for yourself how Aciel's life has been pretty unhealthy. All of that caused his digestive diseases to develop into more severe.” explained Sian sadly. Instantly he felt both knees limp and he almost fell if Jessica did not swiftly hold his shoulders. The blonde haired woman then led her to sit on the waiting chair while stroking her shoulders several times for her to be strong.

           “This is the worst. You have to be strong for Aciel and Ciara.”

            “I could never hate him even though I wanted so badly to do it. And I'm sorry why I never responded to his earnestness when he wanted to fix everything. Aciel proposed to me several times, he wanted to make up for all his past mistakes and be a good father to Ciara. But I always rejected him, scolded him, and told him I wanted to be free, because I was traumatized by everything that happened in the past. I think I should think about it again carefully before I step into the marriage stage.”

            “I know how you feel Eden. That's normal, but maybe now you should pay more attention to Aciel's sincerity because he never messes around if he wants to do something. Now look, have you ever seen Aciel go on a date with ******-the thing? Ever since you left, Aciel hasn't been as passionate as she used to be. He was just entertaining himself at the club with some of his friends, then he will go home without doing **** anything with his net.” explained Jessica look bitter. Eden after that was just silent, he was not

he knew what to say to Jessica. For her all this has been a fitting recompense from God because she has been a woman who is too proud all this time.

            “Eden, comein. Doctor Blemis has come out and allowed you to enter.”

            Eden gave a small nod and immediately wiped away her tears that kept dripping from her two round eyes. He hoped that he would not cry again when he went inside and saw Aciel sleeping with many life support tools in his body.

            “Ace...”.

            Eden muttered softly as she touched Aciel's cold hand adorned by an infusion hose. This is the second time Eden has seen Aciel helpless like this. Back when Aciel fainted after donating blood to Ciara, the man also looked weak and helpless like this. But at that time the condition was not this bad. It used to be that the man hadn't slept all this time and made him this worried.

            “Are you going to die and leave me with Ciara?” eden murmured sadly while wiping away the tears that came back to drip on the back of Aciel's hand. He really could not hide all this distress when he saw that Aciel was lying weakly on the cage.

            “You know, I'm sorry about everything that happened between us. I regret that I deceived you, ruined your relationship with your father until your father died after you cursed him with harsh words. Then Jessica, I poisoned your best friend because I was upset to see her being so possessive of you. Jessica got all the attention you had. As for me, you always make me hurt and end up miserable like this. And for that DNA test, I did lie to you because I knew you wanted the baby so badly. Slowly you began to care for me and put great hopes on the foetus I was carrying. But hate is hate. I will never be satisfied if I have not seen you feel what I feel. So I decided to do everything. I decided to destroy you and make you lose one by one the people you love. And see, I did it! I managed to do it all with tears of regret that never stopped flowing from my eyes. Even because of my selfish attitude, Zyan must also be a victim of all of this. He ultimately died tragically from having to bear all my unforgivable sins. Wake up Ace.. we start everything from scratch.” sigh Eden frustrated. It drowned

his face was deep on the back of Aciel's hand which he had been holding. He hoped that this man would soon open his eyes at this moment and give his best smile to her. Oh, or perhaps his coldest sneer? He really hopes that Aciel will open his eyes now, no matter how bad Aciel's response will be when he sees it is in a state of chaos like this.

            “Eden...”.

            “Ed...”.

            Eden still kept her head submerged on the back of Aciel's hand without heeding the voice that kept calling out to her like a whisper.

            “Eden Morel.

            Eden immediately looked up his head while staring in disbelief at Aciel who was staring coldly at him. The man finally woke up like he had hoped just a moment ago. Aciel's cold face and cynical gaze were more than enough to warm his heart, as well as pounding with excitement as the man finally opened his eyes as well.

            “You.... You are aware!”

            Eden can't hide his happiness, and he immediately hit the weak body of Aciel so that the man had to groan in pain several times because of the skinny body of Eden that hit his body filled with life support cables.

            “Tast. But seeing you finally open my eyes makes me happy. Don't be like this again.”

            “Why?”

            “I'm worried about you. You're so scary when you're unconscious.”

            “You're crying?”

            Eden directly touched her own wet cheek, then she nodded softly assenting. There was no way she would say no if she was crying. She had been crying since last night, and even today her tears were still flowing for Aciel.

            “You're crying because of me? I'm sorry, you've shed too many tears for a jerk like me.”

           Eden shook his head quickly to deny Aciel's words. He hugged Aciel's body once more, but in a more gentle and careful gesture.

           “Today I cried because I was worried about you. And now I cry because I'm happy.

Thanks for coming back Ace. I'm afraid you're leaving me.” whispered the raucous Eden still by hugging Aciel's body. The man then raised his still weak hand to return Eden's embrace while patting the woman's back softly.

            “I'm back for you and Ciara. Marry me Eden, we started everything from scratch. I know our past is very bad, but we can definitely make the future better than the past.”

            Aciel felt Eden nod slowly shortly after he finished his talisman. Eventually the woman was willing to marry him, to be his wife, and the mother of his other children, after Ciara of course.

            “Ciara? How's it going?”

            “He is fine. But she cried when I left her to come here. Sian told me if you were convulsing and critical, so I came straight here without thinking of anything else.”

            “Sian?”

            Eden nodded while wiping away the remains of her sticky tears. He knew it was embarrassing, but he didn't care. He doesn't care if Aciel thinks he's a whiny, or a hypocritical sycophant, he doesn't care! He was even willing to cry all day for Aciel as long as the man could stay with him and become a father to his son, Im Ciara.

-00-

            Sian entered the treatment room after Eden came home five minutes ago. One of the servants at home called Eden to come home because Ciara would not sleep if not Eden who accompanied him. And finally Eden was forced to go home at twelve o'clock this evening with a disappointed face printed clearly on his face.

            “How? You seem happier now.” seductive Sian while holding back a laugh. Since then he and Jessica could not stop their laughter outside the treatment room of Aciel when Eden entered while crying hysterically beside Aciel. The idea to deceive Eden is indeed very extraordinary, even Eden does not seem to know if all this is only Sian's wits.

            “Damn it! You made Eden cry hysterically here because of your silly idea.” maki Aciel riled up. But Sian still smiled strangely while teasing Aciel who looked uncomfortable with the look of Sian's face.

            “You should be thanking me, because my silly idea is now Eden accepted your proposal. Huh, I'm anxious to see your relationship like this.” always Sian sucks. If only Aciel's body was not being weak like this, he vowed to beat Sian at this time as well because it had made Eden cry as much as she could in front of him.

            “But you're making up too much of the story in front of him. You're saying that I'm convulsing? Goddamnit! Do you really wish I was like that, arghh.

            Aciel growled stifled as his stomach ached again due to his sudden movements. He should not move too much, because his stomach is still in the process of recovery.

            “Ck, go to sleep again and let me take care of everything. By the way, why did your illness suddenly recur like this? Are you having a lot of trouble?”

            “Problems? Of course I always have it, but maybe because I'm getting older.”

            Sian instantly silenced his lips with his hand so that his laughing voice would not break at this very moment. Aciel Lutherford was self-aware at a young age. Forty-three, of course it is a very mature age to be a grown man as well as a parent right?

            “You're apparently quite self-conscious as well Ace. But this time it was the worst. You were never rushed to the hospital in such a completely unconscious state as yesterday. And I was thinking if your life might not be saved.”

            “Damn it! You wish I was dead?”

            “Not, not like that. I was just worried about your situation. This time you are really weak, and not like the Aciel I know.” Sian said earnestly. Aciel then exhaled a small breath, turned his gaze in another direction and seemed to be thinking of something.

            “That night his attack was indeed very painful and sudden. I thought my life was going to end that night. But it didn't. I still have a lot of business to do, and I also have to make up for all my jerk attitude towards Eden. If I die now, I will die unsettled.”

            “Huh, whereas I was thinking of replacing your position as Ciara's father if you die.”

Bugh

            Unexpectedly, Aciel threw a punch at Sian's stomach until the man grimaced slightly holding back the stifling sensation he suddenly felt.

            “Why did you hit me?”

            “You deserve it. Go home, I want to rest.”

            “You kicked me out? Goddamnit! After I helped you, you just kicked me out? Watch out for you Ace, I'll get Ciara's attention from you.”

            “Try it if you dare, I will break your neck after I am free from all these damn hoses.” Aciel replied fiercely while turning his body back to Sian. The pink-clad man then immediately came out of the treatment room with a grumbling face holding back his annoyance. But behind his upset face he was quite grateful because in the end Aciel got his happiness after four years waiting for the emergence of Eden. And as a friend he only wishes the best for Aciel and his best friend's daughter, Brexton, so that they can run a happy domestic relationship, free from quarrels and cries as before.

-00-

            “One... two... three....”.

            “Hwaaaa... it's mine, it's mine!”

Pluck

            Aciel looked at the scene in front of him while holding Ciara away from the crowd of people who were fighting over a flower that had just been thrown by Jessica and Kris. In the middle of the crowd was hidden Eden and Sian who were fighting over a bouquet of white roses that unluckyly landed in front of their feet.

            “Your mother and uncle are crazy.”, Aciel told Ciara. The little girl was spoiling in her father's arms while looking at the people who kept walking around her.

            “Aciel, I got it.”

            Eden suddenly sat down next to him, with a roar of breath that was still hunting while showing off the bouquet of flowers that he had managed to snatch from Sian.

            “Cheat! You took it from me.”

            “Ck, you're childish. Besides you also will not catch up with Jessica if you get this bouquet, you do not even have a partner.” sneer Eden boomed.

            “Eden is right, why do you get Jessica's bouquet of flowers if you don't have a partner. Honey, Ciara wants to eat ice cream.”

            Eden immediately stood up while holding Ciara's hand to take the ice cream on the long table. And as he walked past Sian, he immediately stuck out his tongue scoffing at Sian, and laughed quite loudly afterwards with a happy look that looked annoying in Sian's eyes.

            “Look at the behavior of your future wife, she really sucks!”

            “Hmm. he is indeed very annoying. He even made me have to be his guardian for ten years, waiting for him for four years, and made me look stupid just to make him my future wife. Brexton right, Eden will grow up with his mother's more domineering nature.”

            “You mean?” sian did not understand. But Aciel stood up, and left Sian with all sorts of questions lodged in his head.

Epilogues

 Srakk

            Aciel raised his disturbed head towards Brexton while putting away the papers Brexton had just thrown in front of him.

            “What's up? You suddenly come and bother me who is busy taking care of all this mess?” ask Aciel annoyed. He was just about to speak to Brexton again before the man silenced him with a barrage of harsh words that were very disturbing to listen to.

            “Fucking bitch! How dare he deceive me all this time. Motherfucker! Eden was not my son, she was the son of****** that was with her man who knew who. He set me up on purpose and said that Eden was my son, but the DNA test results suggested otherwise.”

            Aciel picked up a piece of paper that Brexton had just thrown. He then read it carefully while wrinkling his forehead inexhaustibly on the sentences listed there.

            “Eden is not your daughter? Why did you suddenly do a DNA test on him?”

            “Eden hurts. Two weeks ago Eden was sick and had to get a blood transfusion. And it turns out that my blood type is not the same as mine, and then I remember that if****** it also does not have the same blood type as Eden. So I decided to do a DNA test to prove my guess.”

            “And it turns out Eden isn't your daughter? Hmm... outstanding.” comment Aciel while clapping. He did not expect that a cunning and intelligent man like Brexton could be easily tricked by a woman who had a caste that was not at all comparable to him. Come to think of it this might be karma for a crafty Brexton Morel.

            “Ck, ******it must have also given birth to an******, just like her mother. What am I supposed to do after this to Eden? I love Eden, but I can't behave the same way in front of her as before I knew this fact.”

            “Then what do you want? At least Eden is your current successor. You better keep him.”

            “I'm not sure I can do it. Even after a week of trying to spend time with her, I get annoyed every time I see her face. Eden reminded me of ****** damn it.”

            “Calm down dude, you won't get anything with your overflowing emotions like this. Remain his father, he will not grow up like his mother if you provide proper education.”

            “Then

as soon as I leave it to you.” said Brexton suddenly. Aciel immediately scrunched his forehead cluelessly towards Brexton while guessing what Brexton's gaze meant to her.

            “I have many enemies, and one day maybe I will die because of my enemies. So I will give Eden to you, educate her to be a strong strong woman. She must learn to be a strong woman before she takes over all the assets I have prepared for her.”

            “Why should I?”

            “Because you're the faster one. Your nature and my nature are not much different, you will be suitable if you become his adoptive father and give hard life lessons for him.”

            “I'm a jerk guy who doesn't like to be bothered by kids. You educate your own son!” reply Aciel ketus full of rejection. But Brexton immediately exclaimed earnestly before him while folding both his hands in

front chest.

            “You liked ******* right? One day he will surely also grow to be***** as well, just like his mother. And when that comes, you can use his body in return for your hard work all along.” Brexton's terrible grin with a sly smile that's cropped up on his face.