Days After You's

Chapter 23 - The Message of the Father-in-Law

The blazing sunny morning made Stella and I have to stop by a nearby clothing store to buy a hat before walking along the beach. I chose an ordinary black hat and matching glasses while Stella chose a straw hat and sunglasses.

Thankfully, the chatter at the restaurant had not filled Stella's mind as she began to step cheerfully next to me.

"Luiz, now we really look like tourists after wearing these hats and glasses" Stella said as we walked along the sidewalk directly next to the beach. He smiled widely and folded his hands behind me while I just looked at him for a moment and muttered softly in response.

"But we are tourists in this city..."

Stella and I went for a walk while making sure so many people from all walks of life were playing on the beach. They play a lot of different games but some teenagers who are playing by burying one of their friends until only the head is seen to attract the attention of Stella.

Stella pointed and chuckled, "Oh looks like fun."

The whole memory of the past when I played something similar with some of my friends during school instantly resurfaced and I can say it wasn't such a fun experience to be buried in the sand of the beach.

I frowned, "Uh.I hate that game. It feels so hot and uncomfortable in there."

"You've been buried like that too?"

"Hm. I lost a suit to my friends. I remember when I came out, my head and body were also completely different colors from the sun."

Stella's smile widened, "Oh that must be very funny."

I shook my head, "I'd rather play tiring beach volleyball than that."

"Luiz played volleyball?"

"Lumayan."

"Oh that's good. I've always been bad with volleyball or any sport. At school, every time I had to practice servicing and passing, I always finished the last by repeating many times just to get a standard grade."

I rubbed my nape, "I'm not bad but I'm not that universal either."

Stella and I went for a walk for about two hours before deciding to return to the hotel. Coinciding as we stepped into the lobby, Stella's phone rang an incoming call sign. He spoke for a while before his call ended and told me who it was.

"Father and mother just arrived at the airport. They said not to bother picking them up and would meet later at the party. They're greetings to you too, Luiz."

"All right."

Because it was near the time of the party, Stella and I immediately went to get ready as soon as we got to the room. I, who finished first wearing my standard navy suit, was checking some incoming emails from my tablet when Stella got off the dresser. She uncovers her hair and wears a light yellow canister and a pair of white sandals.

Stella is still Stella. She may be trying to learn to dress up and dress more following the latest trends due to some criticism from my mother first, but she doesn't change much of her personality when choosing clothes. Always simple and soft-colored without wanting to stand out from the crowd at all.

I cleared my throat, "Are you ready?"

Stella nodded, "Yes."

"Come on!"

The wedding venue of Stella's cousin, because in the open space, looks simpler than is commonly done in buildings. There are two long tables and four round tables arranged for guests on the white sands of the beach and a simple stage that turns its back on the open sea in the middle. The decor consists of flowers arranged on the table and around the stage, and there are also chandeliers and spotlights above and below.

"Luiz, I'm going there for a minute, I want to see Kat before the show starts" Stella held my arm and pointed to a small building not far from the venue.

"Okay," I replied. But I kept him from going straight away and circulating my gaze. My hand then pointed towards the round table that was in the middle that had not been filled at all, "I wait at that table then."

Stella glanced for a moment and nodded.

"Ah that's yes. All right, I won't be long."

Stella then waved as she walked away. His clothes and hair were fluttering in the breeze. After seeing him enter the building he pointed at, I immediately went to the round table.

I sat there for a while checking and replying to some work emails before my shoulder felt patted by someone. When I looked up, I met the familiar face of Stella's father.

Spontaneously I put down my phone and immediately stood up, "Oh, Pa."

It still feels strange to call Mr. Wesley 'papa' but how else, he and his wife want me to call them with the same call that Stella uses. He said because I was considered to be their son also from marrying Stella, so I should call them that. It's the same with Stella on both my parents but wearing the formal call I used to wear.

Stella's father laughed, he pulled the chair next to me, "Oh don't have to be so formal. Where's Stella?"

"He was looking at Kat for a moment" I replied as I sat back down.

"Just like her mom, then. They'll be pretty long then."

"What's the condition...mama?"

"He was good, had a fever a few days ago but it's better now. Don'worry. Tell Stella not to worry too much either."

"Okay," I replied. I saw Stella's father looking out over the ocean smiling gently as he talked about his wife. Sometimes it feels amazing to see a change in nature in someone when talking about things that he cares about. I've known Stella's father long before marrying her daughter and I've never found her to be this warm and gentle when she was in the company. In fact, he was a fairly firm type on his subordinates.

Very different from my parents' relationship that is not based on love, the relationship between Stella's parents must be so warm and harmonious. My father always said that the relationship without love as he lived with his mother, as long as he respected each other and knew the limits, would be able to support the marriage lasted a long time. She said it because she knew I didn't like Stella and she hoped I could follow in her footsteps and mother's relationship. It might work impeccably for them and some, but Stella's father and his wife's apparent love affair always looks more whole and soothing to me.

"What about you and Stella? There's no problem? I know I've said this over and over again, but remember for those of you who are betrothed, it's normal to find it a bit difficult to adjust in the early years. I've never been betrothed but I quite understand that."

I glanced at the building where Stella was at a glance and nodded, "We're fine. Stella's a good and understanding woman so no problem really matters."

Stella's father's laughter sounded from next to me, "Of course. She was my favorite daughter who I studied well. That's why you take good care of him, I give you the treasure that I keep as best I can, so don't waste it. Don't make him work too hard, pity him later."

I am less than amenable to assuming Stella as a treasure, for she is not an object that is found can then be claimed or given possession of. But I understand what that word means. So I nodded again.

"I understand," I replied, "I will take good care of him."