Days After You's

Chapter 17 - Overcoming Alan & Choosing a Gift

"Luiz, do you know that Naomi's husband has moved out of her unit? The security guard told me a friend of his came to take care of his house papers this morning and he hasn't been back here since the night he tried to break in. Relieve but weird."

Stella talks while washing dishes. I looked up from my tablet and glanced at it.

"What's so weird?"

"On him who never came back here again. I don't think he's the type to just stop in one try, so I was worried that he would try to break in again after being released from the police station. You know, the security man also said that he was bailed out by the same friend who came to take care of his letter here that night. I wonder who her friend is so loyal to her? Ah and you don't remember if she really liked living here, where she might suddenly want to move now."

For someone who uses her heart more often than her brain, Stella can quite well capture the gist of Alan's situation. I wanted to tell him what really happened but I guess he better not know.

"You think too much. Nothing strange, he just wanted to move on."

"Oh, yeah? Maybe you're right," Stella laughed softly as she rubbed the glass plate carefully, "What matters is that it's over. At least for us. For Naomi and Kevin everything is just about to start, I hope they can get a big share of the share of the property. They deserve it for justice. Her husband was truly barbaric, and yesterday was terrifying. Once again I'm lucky to be married to the best and wisest of Luiz."

I'm speechless. Again, I don't feel like I deserve that compliment. If Stella knew what I was doing to Alan to force her to move, I doubt she would still look at me and talk about me with great admiration. Stella was too innocent whereas I had just utilized my position and treasure to deprive someone of their right of residence. Although it was the man who was looking for it first, but still felt I felt a little cowardly for deceiving my power.

A few days ago, exactly the next day after the night that Alan tried to break into this unit, he was taken to the police station and ended up being a suspect for forced intrusion, I told my men to go and guarantee him immediate return. Alan was so annoying that no family member was willing to come to vouch for him, whereas I was unwilling to buy time just to wait for him to settle his case at the trial. Be I send my man to pretend to come as a friend of his family, pay bail and bring him to me for his next plan.

I heard a handful of conversations at the police station from the voice recording.

"Hey, your family came to make sure."

"Who—"

"A, Alan. We're all worried about you. You must be so drunk that you can be this aggressive. You take it easy, let me solve this problem."

"Huh...who...?"

He was confused, but did not refuse when he knew it meant he would soon be released from temporary confinement.

The original plan I just wanted to give him a little warning and force him to move on without having to hurt him. Maybe with a little threat and a slight bluff but not using real violence. I didn't want to dirty my hands by doing it and Stella wouldn't like it either, so I threw the choice away.

But Alan is still Alan. What can be expected of him who is drunk and likes to play hands? He attacked the man I was assigned to come to assure him it was on the way back to the place where I was waiting. Therefore he almost caused them an accident but thankfully no one was injured or outsiders were affected.

About Alan who was battered later, it was none other than my man who became really furious and beat him all out.

"Arkh.arkh," Alan grimaced in pain as he knelt before my feet, his face wrinkled in fear, "You.apparently..."

"Sir, I'm sorry. I can't bear to hit him. He kept stirring up my emotions, because of him I almost hit someone else on the street," Dennis the man scratched his nape while reporting to me.

I could only waste my breath looking at Alan's current state. I don't know what to think about the beating apart from him who deserved it for the guy who almost got hit and if it was so effective in making him feel scared of me. He didn't even have the guts to just look me in the eye and say everything after that.

It could be said that the process of 'coercion' was much faster than I thought. And Alan agreed to move somewhere else with the compensation money he gave and promised not to show up in front of us again. The problem of the former unit where he lived and Naomi downstairs, I still gave all the documents to him. Because as Stella said, the issue of division of property will be resolved in the trial. The important thing is that he's no longer wandering around here.

"Ah, it seems like it is now so," said Stella who simultaneously returned my mind to the current situation.

My eyes then landed on the figure of Stella who after washing dishes moved towards the refrigerator to pick up something. With a smile she placed the ice cream gelatin still in the mold with her stick in front of me before pulling one for her to eat.

"Eat, Luiz. I used to eat this when I was a kid, especially after every meal. I want to make the one with the biscuits, but I didn't have time. I'll make that one later, this time just sober hehe."

I realized that I'd been waiting at the dinner table just to eat the jelly that Stella said she hadn't eaten in a long time. What's up with me lately? I shouldn't waste time on things like this.

I pulled one stick and ate slowly. It feels.yes of course just like ordinary gelatin, there is nothing special other than if this is pierced with ice sticks. Then why did Stella seem so happy eating it?

"Fresh right? After eating hot food is the best to eat cold. No ice cream, no gelatin."

"...Hm."

Stella laughed for a moment before suddenly in a soft voice calling out to me, "Um...Luiz?"

"Hm?" I'm glaring. Found Stella picking up a stick and looking down. It was rare for him to be nervous when talking to me except the first time I met, but I kept waiting patiently.

"Three weeks from now one of my cousins living out of town is getting married. I just wanted to ask, can you come? Of course it's if you're not busy, but if you're busy it's okay, I can go alone. I'm not forcing."

"Who?"

"I don't remember. Did he come to the wedding too..we?"

"coming. But he couldn't linger that time. He seemed to be having a lot of trouble with his girlfriend at the time, so he wasn't very enthusiastic about the party."

Both of my eyebrows went up, "That doesn't sound like a good cousin."

"Oh no, it's not," Stella shook her head, "She's been apologizing about it over and over again and deeply regrets it. His state of mind was only really bad at that time. Luiz, believe me, he's my best cousin."

"...Okay." Okay."

Stella then waved her hands quickly while chuckling, "But I'm not pushy. Really, I was just asking if you wanted to come or not. Otherwise, I can bring you souvenirs if you want something."

"I'm coming along."

I haven't checked my schedule yet, but I can make sure there won't be anything on that day. I wouldn't let my wife go to her cousin's wedding outside of town by herself. It's nothing and don't get me wrong, I don't love him or anything to act caring about and this is it. My opinion of Stella has indeed increased, but never love. I just imagine what kind of man I am in the eyes of his family if I let him go there by himself? What did his father and mother say?

I should have gone.

"Really?"

Stella's delight dazzled me. I pulled my third gelatinous stick and nodded slowly.

Stella clapped her hands, "Ah, I thought you'd say you were busy or not going."

Is he that happy I'm leaving? Is that why he was so nervous asking, for fear that I would reject him and put more importance on my work? I don't know why, I feel bad because he thinks so.

"Then Luiz, do you have any suggestions for the gift we should bring? I know the show is still a long time, but I want to really give something nice and if possible a little special to Kat. He gave me a talking doll with a recording of his voice congratulating me and it was so funny."

Wedding gift yes.if there is only one wedding gift that comes to my head.

"Hampers?" Mumbles. When a friend, acquaintance or co-worker invites me to their wedding. I always give you that gift. Besides I just order it and it's more practical, I think it's also a good gift.

"Oh that's good, but it feels like a lot will give him that. When we get married, we also get a lot of skincare hampers and food. I haven't even used up all the skincare."

Ah, true. I remember seeing a lot of hampers in the living room when our wedding gifts were just sent here. The whole room feels like a hampers shop display.

"Bed covers and kitchen utensils are also off the list then," I said. In addition to hampers, those two things, if my memory is not mistaken are also the most dominating among all our wedding gifts, the rest are giving watches, shoes, and some bouquets, "It seems like everyone has the same thoughts when it comes to choosing a wedding gift."

Stella chuckled, "Yes yes."

If it is from a relative or close friend it is definitely bed cover and kitchen utensils. If it is from a distant relative, acquaintances or co-workers are usually hampers and accessories. I just realized that now and couldn't hold my own laughter because of it.

Stella looked at me full of twinkle. I suddenly cleared my throat slowly and took another gelatinous stick, "How about thinking about it while shopping? I mean while looking around at the other stuff in the store."

"Oh right too!" Stella shouted as she let out a wide grin and patted her hands, "So when do we want to go? Where's where?"

We were? I-I never offered to leave. Stella, I'm just giving you advice, not taking you away together. This kind of thing, especially if it's for your best friend, I don't think it needs my opinion.

The thing is if we were alone, wouldn't it look like a date? But however much I wanted to straighten this out, the face of Stella's expectations continued to force me to undo the intention.

"Luiz?"

"I can't this week" I said.

Stella's shoulder withered, "Oh..."

"But... How about next Saturday? If you want I can accompany you to the mall or the gift shop and the like."

Stella's sad face immediately shone again, she nodded, "OK!"

Ah...is this what I am now? Weak on the face of a woman?