Days After You's

Chapter 13 - Family Gathering Event

When someone says December, usually what will come to mind is the Christmas and New Year holidays. These two days, in addition to being a holiday and leave for some people who work, by some families are also often used as an opportunity to meet and gather with relatives.

My family and Stella are no exception either. Both of our families have a tradition to hold a special party or dinner to celebrate the two days. But if last year our family celebrated in their respective residence with their own relatives, this year would be different. By marrying Stella and I, our extended family wants to celebrate this year together at our parents' house in turn.

I told Stella not to bother cooking anything knowing my mother would have ordered a lot of food for the whole family to come, but he insisted that at least we should take something there. Be me and he arrived with two large food places that were immediately swiftly taken by Mr. Vian one of the servants who stood guard in front to be taken to the kitchen.

"Please come in, sir, Miss. The Master and Madam were big and some guests were already waiting inside. This meal I'll give to the one in charge of the kitchen."

I nodded and Stella smiled.

"Thank you, sir," said Stella.

We climbed the stairs of the mansion that had been in my family for more than forty years. First lived by a grandfather who was just starting a company, this house is only a simple building not storied enough for two rooms. Photos from the front of the house are still stored and displayed in the living room at the request of grandfather so that we do not forget the name of hard work to be able to maintain what he has built.

The first time he saw the photo, Stella was so amazed and amazed. So amazed, he was able to sit all night to hear the story of grandfather's all 'struggle' when young. That night, I began to understand why my grandfather and father liked him.

"Luiz! You've come, my dear child," Mother docked from among the other relatives who have arrived. Instantly I could feel Stella stiffening next to me.

Mom, you could say, disliked Stella as a couple for me. He used to be the only one who tried to oppose my father about our matchmaking, but when faced with grandfather, the courage of my mother shrunk until finally giving up and resigned.

I wanted to give Stella some encouragement and cheer her up a little by saying that my mom doesn't hate her and just doesn't like her. But it doesn't seem like it will make a significant difference. I can only hope you stop scaring or bothering Stella with her attitude.

"Mother" I said back, embracing her for a moment before retreating and putting my hands behind Stella's.

Stella bowed and smiled stiffly, "Hello bi—I mean mom. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."

The stiffness of the smile was reflected on my mother's face, "Oh Stella. Merry Christmas. You look.good. Isn't this the same shirt you wore a few months ago?"

"Ah, I don't remember," Stella scratched her red cheek, "I just love wearing it."

"Mother."

"What's? Mom just asked. The longer you look like your father and grandfather, Luiz. This is an important matter anyway. Stella, you're the wife of Luiz, the future successor to this family. You should pay attention to your appearance whenever and wherever it is. Even though today comes only family, you can't be lazy, okay? Don't be ashamed."

"Ehm..." Stella.

It's getting worse. I love my mom but when she doesn't like things, she tends to say mean and nonsensical things. Just because Stella doesn't meet the standards of what my mom calls 'stylish', doesn't mean she's lazy. Instead, the white sweater, long skirt, and bando she was wearing made her look quite adorable. Not to mention he also untangled his hair, something he rarely did.

"There's nothing wrong with Stella's clothes, ma'am. I love it," I said, because I felt bad for Stella, which was not wrong.

"Luiz—"

"Mother, aunts are waiting for you from there so you better go back. Stella and I would like to say hello to the rest of the family, too."

I smiled and embraced my mother once more before taking Stella away from her to a quiet place. I was worried that mother's words would make her feel sad, but when I turned around and turned her head, she just looked at me with her pair of round eyes.

"Luiz, you don't have to argue with your mother just to defend me. I think he's just giving advice."

I sighed and ruffled my waist, "Stella, are you feeling lazy with your clothes tonight?"

Stella shook her head tightly, "I followed this style from one of the magazines I read. And I also wear red lipstick instead of the usual pink color. I just forgot that I used to wear the sweater here..."

I nodded, "Then you should also be able to defend yourself if someone says something wrong or tries to demean you."

"Degrading me?"

"Hm. Just like my mom did."

Stella opened her mouth, but I wasn't done with what I said.

"And don't tell me you don't understand what I mean, because I know you're very aware of what my mother tried to say just now. Honestly, rather than what he said about looks, I would rather not have my wife be so easily humiliated in public. If you feel that is not right, do something or at least assert your body in the face of them, do not duck and agree with everything. I won't be next to you every hour, Stella. You have to stand up for yourself."

I'm not just talking about what happened tonight. But for all the things in the past I've seen.

Stella pecked, her face water then looked paled. Unknowingly, I've been lecturing him and now I feel guilty about making him fear the consequences.

"Stella—"

"Luiz, you've arrived" my voice made me turn, "Why are you two just here? And Stella, I haven't seen you in a long time. Your grandfather and parents are waiting in the living room. Go greet them first."

"Hello, dad. Nice to meet you," said Stella who forced a smile, "And um.k-then I went to the living room first."

All the relatives of the family present that night seemed to have no problem getting along, although some were still reluctant to join the others, apart from that there was no problem. The problem is that I can't find a chance to talk to Stella for a second.

In between the strains of violin and piano music from music players who accompany dinner and the voices of relatives who chat along the dining table, he said, I looked at Stella who was sitting quietly while enjoying her food next to me. He still didn't want to look at me from there, so I got more and more agitated in my chair.

"Where is this food from?" My mother's voice suddenly broke the peaceful atmosphere back then. I looked up, found that the rica-rica roast chicken that Stella made was in my mother's hands.

Oh naw. Don't again.

"I-I brought it, ma'am," said Stella who immediately looked tense.

"Gosh, Stella, why do you have to bring food? Did you underestimate me and think the food would be lacking? At least bring the appropriate. Tonight's a Western food special."

What happened next was something I had never seen. Stella lowered her head towards her food plate, her hand squeezing the spoon firmly. But just as I thought he would just be like that again and was about to speak for her, he suddenly straightened his posture. His eyes and chin were straight.

"I didn't mean to offend you or anything, mom. I brought food because it felt like coming to visit the house of in-laws empty-handed made me feel bad. Besides I wanted to share it with other relatives and.and grandpa said that he likes my roast chicken so I wanted to cook it for grandpa too. About the western menu, a-I really don't know, next time I'll ask mom to be able to prepare a more appropriate menu."

Stella's voice trembled and her chin seemed to tighten, she did not stop squeezing the spoon in her hand as long as she spoke. He must be very gerogi to say all that in front of all the eyes that look at him. But he kept trying to tell everything.

Mom frowned, "Stella—"

"Mother."

"Mrs Diana—"

"Diana, stop."

The voices of my mother, me, Stella's father and my father overlapped. But the thunderous sound of grandfather's laughter immediately afterwards instantly distracted everyone from the small scene.

"Good Stella, good Stella" said Grandpa, "Give me the chicken. I really like that. Very like. It's very like."

"It's grandfather," My sister Esther immediately served grandfather, she also secretly winked at Stella.

"We want to too. It's been a long time since Stella's cooking, isn't it baby?"

"Yes." Yeah."

Stella's father made a sound and Stella's mother confirmed it with a voice that shook. Honestly, before Stella's father raised his voice earlier, I almost forgot that they were here too. I became somewhat disappointed at the attitude of the mother who did not think about the feelings of both Stella's parents for her treatment earlier. Though he always emphasized about keeping the attitude in front of people, but this time he failed to respect Stella's parents as he should just because he did not like their daughter. I'm lucky Stella's parents aren't the type to go berserk when they hear her words.

"Oh this is so good. I didn't know that Stella was a cook, "Auntie Tere, who was tasting chicken, started to praise her.

"Yes this is delicious. Luiz you're lucky to have a wife who's good at cooking," Uncle Anton also said, his wife elbowed him, "Heh, am I not good at cooking?"

One by one uncle, aunt and other cousins went to taste Stella's cooking. Unconsciously the atmosphere at the dining table becomes more relaxed and lively.

"I also want the chicken" I said, hoarding among the voices of relatives. Stella turned. Those unusually clear round eyes looked at me so deeply, but he said nothing but to take what I asked.

Stella still said nothing. It was only when the show was over and we walked to the car to go home that she was willing to open her mouth again. In the garden yard, he pulled the arm of my shirt slowly.

"Luiz, aren't you mad at me?" Stella's small voice asked doubtfully.

I blinked and stopped my steps, "No. I'm not mad at you. You're the one who keeps away from me from here."

"Oh, that's because I thought I made you so upset. I dare not approach you daritadi."

"Maybe I was a little bit upset earlier."

Stella's shoulders instantly lifted, her mouth forming a straight line. Her face looks comical but I try to hold back the laughter given the situation.

"But I never intended to scare or pressure you. I'm proud of you for what you did at the dinner table, "I let a smile land in my mouth. Especially tonight, since Stella just did such a daring thing for herself, I'll spoil her a little.

"Thank God then. I was also happy to be able to express my heart. But I'm afraid it'll only make your mother hate me more."

"As for mother, let her see all your goodness as time goes on."

Stella nodded, "Thank you, Luiz. From now on I'll try to talk to myself and not trouble you anymore."

"...You're not bothering me."

Stella's smile after that— under the lights of garden—is the most innocent but also alluring smile I've ever seen from a woman before. How could he bring up such an expression, I don't understand. Perhaps it was because she was smiling with her eyes closed, perhaps also because of her unusual lipstick color of red. She was still an ordinary-faced Stella, she did not suddenly turn into a beautiful woman but I could conclude that I did not hate the visuals I had seen back then.