Black Swan's

The Reunion (Ninety Three)

            “Yeayyy we will go to home Summer aunty.” Ciara shouted excitedly from the living room while carrying a pack of dog food in her hand. The little girl ran around cheerfully to the backyard to feed her new dog that Andrew had just given her yesterday as a Christmas present. Aceil unceasingly nags at Eden after Andrew over-delivering Ciara the dog. Though Aciel does not like pets that roam in his house. But because Ciara liked him so much, Aciel could not do anything to throw the little dog into the streets.

            “Uncle, Ciara brings food for puppy. Today Hana is going to Summer aunty's house, said mommy Ciara should feed the puppy before going.”

            Ciara who passed by Sian in the back garden directly dragged her uncle to accompany her to feed the puppy that was placed in the cage. Yesterday Ciara had a chance to cry because Eden and Aciel forbade him to bring a puppy to roam around the house, and only allowed him to play with puppies outside the house. A little Aciel has an allergy to dog fur, so they forbid Ciara to bring the puppy too close to her father. At first Eden still let the puppy play inside the house with Ciara, but when he saw Aciel who continued to urinate while sneezing, he was still, only then did Eden realize that Aciel had an allergy to the beagle's coat.

            “Uncle, Ciara wants to take a photo with puppy.”

            Ciara began posing with her dog that Sian had removed from her cage. Andrew was not wrong to give Ciara a small brown striped dog to Ciara as a Christmas gift because the man managed to make Ciara more crazy about him. It made Sian feel amused every time he saw the expression of Aciel's face that was increasingly bent because it could not do anything to make Ciara dislike Andrew.

            “Already. Now quickly feed the puppy and get ready. Your mommy will nag again if you keep playing around with Puppy.” Sian remembers while keeping the puppy away from Ciara. The little girl looked unwilling and still wanted to play with the puppy, but the screams from her sister made her immediately run into the house and leave Sian alone with the puppy.

            “What's up? Why is Louise crying?” ciara asked her father who was holding Louise. The father then gave the code to keep Ciara quiet because Louise was sleepy.

            “Why doesn't daddy wear clothes? Didn't we go to meet uncle Andrew and uncle Tranz?”

            For God's sake, Aciel was now annoyed at Ciara who was getting infatuated with the two damn men. Especially after Andrew gave him a gift of a small beagle dog to Ciara, his little girl was increasingly unable to escape from the charm of Andrew's shit that sucks.

            “Daddy will prepare after this, first grab your pink coat in the room.”

            Ciara immediately ran to her father and mother's room on the second floor to pick up her pink coat so she wouldn't get cold in the Australian city of minus five second degree on the day after Christmas.

            “Mommy mommy... Where's my pink coat? I want to play snowball outside.”

            Eden pointed at the pink fur coat that was spread over the bed while continuing to polish her lipsticks. This morning he looks charming with a white coat that has perfectly wrapped his slim body. Behind the white coat, she wears a red dress below the knee that is combined with white leggings and white socks. Eden deliberately chose clothes with shades of white and red because he still felt the atmosphere of Christmas is so concentrated around him. And to beautify her appearance, Eden also added a dark green knit hat on top of her head to keep her warm this cold morning.

            “Ace, why are you still hanging around in shorts like that? Hurry up a little, the event will start at nine.” Eden's scolding on Aciel who just went into their room. I don't know where Aciel has been since then until he looks not dressed neatly like his son and wife. He is too lazy to attend a gathering at Summer's house with the rest of Summer's extended family because it means he will meet Andrew Osborn, the men he avoided the most while they were in Australia.

            “Ck, why do you look so impatient? Is it because of Andrew? I just grabbed the fussy Louise from drowsiness. Didn't I understand because I let you dress up for hours without thinking about Louise?” aciel's insinuating.

            “Ace, please don't start a debate on this quiet morning. I just don't feel good about Summer if we're late. He has been kind to me by inviting me to his big family gathering, even though I am not part of his family. But Summer had been kind enough to realize my wish of being able to get together with my friends and get to know her family at her house, so it was only natural that I would not let them down by coming in late. Andrew has become my friend after all. You can't keep showing your stupid jealous attitude” snorts Eden looks upset. Aciel's troublesome jealousy made Eden feel bad for Andrew every time Aciel showed his unfriendly face. Andrew has been very kind to his children, especially Ciara.

            “I'm not stupid, I just want to keep my wife out of the sight of other men who want to pounce on you.” said Aciel coldly. The man grabbed his shirt and immediately put it on in front of Eden. Blue jeans, long-sleeved shirts and grey sweaters are the options today for Summer's home gathering. Although he was actually quite lazy, but he could not possibly reject it either. Cliche reasons such as not wanting to make his wife sad or angry became the main reason why Aciel was willing to take his time to attend the gathering at Summer's house.

            “You think Andrew is a Tiger? Ck, you're so funny Ace.” Eden's comments are endless. The longer Aciel the more absurd and childish just because of Andrew Osborn.

            You're not wearing your coat, Ace?” Eden rebuked Aciel who was about to walk out of their room without using her coat which Eden had prepared on the shoulder of the sofa. It is clear that Aciel is still in an annoying sulking mode, but Eden tries to be patient and holds the black coat of Aciel to wear on the man's body.

            “I don't want you to be sick.” The beautiful woman painstakingly attached the coat to Aciel's body to keep her husband's body warm. “Ace, I think your hair is getting longer. You have to cut it after this.” said Eden while pinching a little Aciel hair that dangled to the ears.

            “Let it go, I feel cool with a hairstyle like this. Reminds me of when I was in college and became a campus cassanova.”

            Eden rolled her eyeballs lazily while taking over the comb held by her husband to be placed on the dressing table. Many years of living with Aciel made him no longer surprised by the big attitude of the head that sometimes makes him careless.

            “You are old Aciel, remember how old you are now. You've been head four.” grunts sadistic Eden. Aciel scrunched his forehead and began to prepare to protest his wife's grunts. “Although I am old, but my charisma still radiates well and makes the men out there look at me enviously. You should be grateful to have

a handsome husband like me Ed. Even because of my good looks, you can have cute kids like Ciara and Louise.”

            Eden increasingly snorted furiously at Aciel's words. The longer her husband's confidence level increases at the most severe point.

            “Are you done boasting yourself Ace? Let's go, you make me nauseous with those disgusting words of yours.” snorted Eden mala

            “Honey, why are you like that. Admit it if I am handsome and charming. If I wasn't charming and handsome, you would've turned to Andrew.”

            “Yes God, stop to be proud of yourself Ace, I'm tired of listening to him. For more than five years I lived with you, you always boasted the same thing in front of me until I was really nauseous right now. Let's go down, Ciara and Louise are already waiting downstairs. Poor Olivia who has to look after Louise because you've been dressing up too long.”

            Eden pulled Aciel's arm and slightly dragged the handsome man out of their warm room. They had unknowingly spent more than ten minutes on a completely unimportant conversation about Aciel's true good looks.

But Eden didn't seem to want to admit it in front of her husband because it would further aggravate her husband's confidence levels.

            “Honey, where are the kids?”

            Aciel arrived on the first floor and did not find her children there. He actually met Sian who was playing with puppies. Seeing the puppy in the family room makes Aciel immediately prepare to avoid the puppy and close his nose tightly so as not to breathe the fine hairs of the puppy that sometimes fall out.

            “Sian, have you seen Ciara and Louise?”

            “They play snow outside. I mean, Ciara was playing in the snow, whereas Olivia and Louise were just watching from the terrace” tell Sian while pointing at the spacious courtyard of their house filled with snowfall. Obviously Ciara will definitely not miss the chance to play snow in Australia because not every December Vegas has snow. If the temperature of the Americas is really extreme, then Vegas will have snow in December.

            “You're going all day?” sian asked in curiosity. Eden nodded her head assentingly and slightly glanced at Aciel next to her.“What's wrong? You're not leaving today?

            “It looks like today I will only be at home with Olivia and puppy.”

            “Saddening once you're this.” Cibir Aciel with scorn. Sian snorted loudly in front of Aciel, but he did not seem to want to respond to the sneers of his best friend that would only lead to his defeat.

            “Take Olivia around Sydney, she will be delighted. Don't make Olivia bored just for following your lazy desires. I know, you're actually just lazy to get out and get hit by the cold winter wind here.” Aciel's taunts are getting crueler.

            “Ace.” Eden. She felt bad for Sian who was always the subject of her husband's ridicule. Let it go if Sian doesn't want to go anywhere during Christmas. After all, it was good because they had to maintain Olivia's content and not make Olivia too tired.

            “Thanks Ed, you are the best. And merry christmas to you, I'm happy if you like it.” said Sian as she glanced at the green knit hat worn by Eden. Instantly Eden stroked his hat and smiled sweetly at Sian for the man's kindness.

            “I like it so much because it's warm. Then we go first. If you change your mind and want to take Olivia for a walk, you can use one of the cars in the garage.”

            “You take it easy Ed, don't worry about me and Olive. See you later in the afternoon, have fun.” Eden waved slowly at Sian and soon followed Aciel who had left him to walk towards the terrace.

            “Thank you Olivia, you want to take care of my children as long as I have to wait for Aciel to sign.” said Eden lightly, but her eyes kept glancing at Aciel with a slack. He knew that Olivia had been looking after her two children for too long because of Aciel's deliberate behavior to stall for time.

            “No problem, I'm glad to see Ciara playing snow. He looks enthusiastic.” added Eden while watching Ciara who began to be scolded by Aciel because he had just pelted his coat with snow.

            “Ciara was just joking Ace, why are you so fierce today? Honey, let's get in the car, don't make your father even more angry.” call Eden to Ciara. The little girl immediately threw the snow that had been piled up on her palms, then she immediately ran towards her mother and hit Eden's feet to hide her face from the fierce gaze of the father.

            “Sorry.” great-grandson Ciara slowly. Aciel only responded to Ciara's tweet with a snort, and after that he immediately got into the car without wanting to comment further.

            “Sstt... daddy is angry, daddy is ugly when angry.” whispered Eden in Ciara's ear while chuckling. He deliberately teases Aciel and thaws the tense atmosphere between them so that Ciara does not feel afraid of her father. Aciel who is bad mood will indeed trouble many people, even scaring others because of his sarcastic attitude.

            “Hmm... daddy is ugly, but Ciara promises not to repeat it again.” said Ciara adorable while peeping Aciel's cheeks gently. In an instant the anger vanished from Aciel, replaced the guilt of having yelled at his daughter. He then stroked his daughter's head gently while whispering an apology for scolding Ciara for something that wasn't really a big deal.

            “Pardon daddy also princess.”

            “Hmm... Ciara dear daddy!”

-00-

            Eden gave a small smile watching the crowd presented before her. He opened the car door and waved at Summer, who was waving from a distance when he saw her coming.

            “Ed, don't you forget the parcel you're going to give Summer?”

            Aciel raised a little high brown paper bag containing chocolate cake and cookies that Eden made yesterday with Olivia and of course Ciara who also raved when she was mum and her aunt is making cookies in the kitchen. Eden reflexively patted her forehead while grimacing a little at Aciel. Too busy justifying the location of Louise's blanket still cool asleep warmly in her arms makes Eden forget on her package for Summer.

            “Thank you Ace, I always almost left this gift.” said Eden while reaching for the brown paper bag. They walk hand in hand with Aciel pushing the stroller containing Louise towards the courtyard of Summer's mansion which has been converted into a garden party arena with various dishes laid out on a long table. Some men were seen grilling meat while chatting coolly. While Summer and several other women were seen busy chattering near the warm fireplace.

            “Eden! You finally came.”

            Summer shouted furiously and immediately hugged Eden girly. The excitement began to be felt more after Eden and her small family came. Tiffany who has since come from Vegas has stayed at Summer's house also welcomed the arrival of Eden with no less frenzy.

            “Blame Aciel for dressing up too long at home. By the way a lot today, thank you for inviting us.” said Eden with a more calm attitude. Aciel who was beside him tried to smile gently at Summer's husband who was walking towards them to welcome his wife's best friend who had just arrived.

            “Congratulations on your wedding yesterday, I haven't had time to say it because yesterday was too crowded.” Aciel extended her hand towards Max and they shook hands with each other like they were old friends who had not met for a long time. Summer and Eden then separate themselves from their husbands to join the women by the fireplace. Louise has since been kidnapped by Tiffany and taken to a crowd of women in the Osborn family who are very anxious with the innocent face of Louise.

            “He woke up?” eden asked Tiffany, who had been holding Louise, who seemed silent. Eden was a little grateful because Louise wasn't as fussy as usual.

            “Hmm

just new. Maybe because we were noisy, and she was piqued with our voice.” chuckled Tiffany with her pretty smile. Eden had not seen Tiffany's sweet smile that always made her eyelids look curved like a crescent moon when she started smiling.

            “Do you know Ed...” Suddenly Summer pats Eden on the shoulder slowly, forcing Eden to look at her and she starts telling him about her husband who just told her to change her attitude. “Max keeps telling me to be gentle like you. He envies seeing you because you can quickly change after marriage.” said Summer fiery with a funny mimic. While Eden only laughed blandly in response to Summer's babbling because she was actually the same, she was never really as gentle as what Max or Summer had said. Sometimes he also still shows his bar-bar attitude when he is angry.

            “I think Max is overvaluing me, I'm not soft at all. Just ask Aciel.”

            “Of course I know. Even you used to scream hysterically when you first learned the facts about your pregnancy, then.. yeah.. you did a lot of things that were quite dangerous for yourself.” Summer did not intend at all to mock Eden or to mock Eden's past. However

as a friend, Summer just wanted to share a little story between friends to reminisce about their strange youth.

            “Well, you should have told Max that I wasn't the gentle woman he thought I was. I am very far from it.” said Eden giggled. Summer who was next to him also laughed when imagining their past that some of them had filled with funny memories.

            “By the way where is Andrew? I haven't seen him since.”

            “Ohh, he's picking up wine in the warehouse. There he came.” pointed Summer towards Andrew who was carrying a large box of wine that had just been taken from inside the storage warehouse. From a distance Andrew smiled gently at Eden, then a few seconds later the man waved his hand. But when Eden saw the wave of Andrew's hand, Eden suddenly giggled and began to nudge Summer's arm next to him.

            “Since when did they look close like that.” whispered Eden While pointing towards Tiffany who was blushing shyly. Seeing that Summer also directly teased Tiffany because now her brother is more often seen chatting with Tiffany during the woman's stay at Summer's house.

            “They have been chatting lately in my garden. I don't know, but I'm glad to see they look familiar like that.”

            “I too. I hope their relationship will grow to be more serious.”

            “Ed..”

            “What?” Eden turned to look at Aciel who suddenly came while pointing at Ciara.

            “Your son messed up and snow-throwed there.”

            “Let it be Ace, kids are just as common as that. You see Violet, she is very happy because she finally has a friend.” comments Summer who feels amused by Aciel's attitude that is too stiff on children. Eden who was next to him also justified Summer's speech because the world of children is like that.

            “He will be cold and sick if keep playing snow.”

            “Ace, I know you only want to protect your precious daughter, but this once you let Ciara have fun with her new friend. This will be an experience that will never be forgotten until Ciara grows up. Believe me, Ciara will be fine.” said Eden tried to calm down. Aciel still snorted furiously next to Eden because the woman did not listen to her words at all. Summer codes Max, who happens to be passing by to get Aciel to gather with the men grilling meat in the middle of Summer's back garden.

            “Dude, looks like we should make room for the ladies to chat. How about grilling meat with the elders there.”

            Max embraces Aciel's shoulder casually and immediately brings Aciel to join the men who are busy grilling meat. Summer and Eden did not care much about their husbands. They look busy chattering about pregnancy and also the baby's problems because Summer wants to have it soon

son so that she can be a wonderful mother like Eden. Meanwhile, Tiffany was still faithful looking at the sturdy back of Andrew who was busy grilling meat with other men from the Osborn family. I don't know why his heart was warm when he saw Andrew there and looked like he was

a gentleman while serving the strange desires of Ciara and Violet. He loved to see the man familiar with the little boy, making his dreams fly towards his future if they were destined to be with God.

            “Hey, what do you see?” Summer nudged Tiffany's arm softly and made the woman gasp with a shy grin. “Nothing.” He then perfected his alibi by pretending to make a joke in front of Louise for the baby to laugh. Unfortunately what Tiffany did before has been known to Eden,

and that actually makes Tiffany cornered because of the mischievous acts of her friends.

            “Ehem..what need we say to Andrew to immediately propose to you.” seductive Eden with a plain pretentious face. Tiffany immediately pretended not to listen to Eden and was just busy patting Louise's thigh even though the baby was not fussy.

            “You take it easy, I will influence Andrew to propose to you immediately.” added Summer spirit who managed to make Tiffany cheeks met red. The woman immediately dodged in front of her friends and confessed that and Andrew was only a friend.

            “It's okay if you are still friends, but one day we pray that you will be a sweet couple.” words Eden increasingly makes Tiffany cheeks hot. The woman then ran into Summer's house on the grounds that she wanted to take a drink in the kitchen. Though clearly the drink had been provided in front of them and Tiffany did not have to bother to step her feet too far into the house. Just sober it makes Eden and Summer fight each other tos because it managed to make Tiffany not struggling with their temptations.

-00-

            The gathering held at the Osborn family residence ended at four p.m. All the people who since morning had gathered there slowly began to disperse themselves to go home. Ciara who made new friends there began to feel comfortable and did not want to go home. Time and again Eden had to seduce him with various persuasions so that Ciara would go back to the resting house of Aciel because Louise had fallen asleep in the sling of Aciel.

            “Ace, your beloved daughter does not want to go home.” complained Eden while looking sullenly at Ciara, he said, because he was quite tired and wanted to immediately meet with his comfortable bed at home. If Ciara was constantly stubborn like that, she did not guarantee that she would remain as calm as what Summer had said just a moment ago.

            “Let me persuade him. You wait in the car.”

            Aciel hands Louise to Eden and immediately walks over to Ciara who is sitting on the swing with her new friend, Violet.

            “Ciara, let's go home. Look at the sleeping Louise and your exhausted mommy.”

            “But dad..”

            Ciara began to issue her protests by whining in front of Aciel.

            “You remember, no crying, no whining.” perspiration Aciel firmly. A little bit he imitated in Eden who had been more assertive to Ciara than himself. Ciara immediately looked pouted and slowly came down from the swing leaving her new friend with a lasu face. He then followed behind his father to get into the car and met his mother who had been waiting for him since.

            “Well, you've only complied after your daddy intervened. Ace, did you put Louise's stroller in the trunk? I forgot.” added Eden while rubbing Louise's fine hair slowly.

            Aciel nodded his small head and immediately put on Ciara the seatbelt that was available next to her particular chair. Eden then held Louise tighter into his arms and stroked the top of Louise's head many times so that the youngest son did not wake up. He must have been very tired, after almost all the time

the day he became a summer aunty-aunty and also Tiffany who was very anxious with her innocent face. Just wait until Louise is a little adult, the little guy will definitely inherit his father's player trait.

            “Gathering today is very fun, all Summer family turned out to be very friendly.” comments Aciel when they started out from the spacious yard of the Osborn family home. Eden nodded in agreement and added. “They are all very friendly and welcome our presence well. Aunty-aunty Summer is very funny. They were fascinated when they saw you.” said Eden giggled. Aciel scrunched his forehead and turned his head curiously towards Eden. He is completely inexhaustible with his extraordinary charisma. Not only was the innocent woman like Eden, she was even able to bind the old ladies of the Summer family

            “What did they tell you?”

            “Hmm... You'll be big head if I say it. Better you do not need to know.” taunted Eden full of victory that makes the face of Aciel immediately look riled.

            “Ck, do you know if you suck Ed?” Aciel who had turned the steering wheel towards their house was slightly upset at Eden who was still laughing next to him. He was sure that the woman must have been keeping something ridiculous inside her head about him.

            “Waah.. are you angry, Ace? Your face is red.” Temptation of Eden with a ignorant sneer. Aciel cursed in his heart and left Eden after he managed to park his car smoothly in the yard of his house which was increasingly covered by the increasingly mountainous snow.

            “Finally you guys came home too.” Olivia who first opened the door looked so happy when Eden entered the house with Ciara and Louise. The long-haired woman immediately pulled Eden in because outside the weather turned increasingly cold.

            “I almost died of boredom because Sian only slept since earlier.”

            “Now you know that Sian is indeed the king of sleep.” comments Aciel who just joined them after he came out to pick up Louise's stroller in the trunk.

            “You were right, since then he was just lazing on the carpet, then he moved

go upstairs and sleep for hours. Now he hasn't even woken up.” Olivia humbly complained about her behavior to Aciel like she was her own mother. Eden who saw it just laughed out loud while imagining how upset Olivia is today who must be stuck with her

lazy Sian.

            “Leave it if Sian is like that, maybe he is tired. Sometimes the hormones of pregnant women can be transmitted to her husband. Yeah, at least that's what I read from my subscription magazine.” Eden said trying to comfort the upset Olivia.

            “Ckck... I didn't expect you to be able to respond that wise. I thought you were still my childish wife and even still like to go berserk if your wish is not granted.” Aciel's tease sucks. Eden snorted dejectedly in silence and began to bring Louise up to her room. He was quite seduced like that by Aciel. Although he knew that Aciel had just taken revenge because the man had been the subject of ridicule with his friends. Seeing his wife begin to sulk, Aciel soon follows Eden to their room to defuse his adorable wife's anger. He knew that Eden could never be angry with him for too long. Because whatever their problem, big or small, Eden will always end up with him, again and again.