Days After You's

Chapter 25 - A Call from Mom

After dinner, Stella and I went to congratulate Kat and Alvian on their table. At that time I witnessed the change of women who had walked towards the pelaminan so gracefully into women who behave like men.

"Yo Stella! Luiz too! Thanks for coming" Kat hugged Stella and clenched her hand to poke at me. I knocked him back a little awkwardly for the first time I spoke to him.

"Thank you for coming, Mr and Miss Wilcolm," Alvian, who instead showed the inverted nature of his wife, bowed softly to greet us. How different but suitable for them to be met with each other.

"Kat, don't forget to read the card I tucked in your gift box. I chose the gift to be helped by Luiz who taught me what it meant, so it was important" Stella clasped Kat's hand and spoke in spirit. Now I can only hope that the gift will not be so disappointing, however, because of the nonsense that I spontaneously pushed Stella to decide to buy the item.

"Region, Stella. I'll open your gift first" Kat said, winking her eyes. He then turned and patted me on the shoulder, "Eh you too, Luiz. I can't believe you two could be this familiar anytime soon. I was worried that you wouldn't get along with Stella and end up making her sad. But thank goodness it's not so. I don't know what I'm gonna do to you until I hear Stella's sad about you."

The last sentence was said in a half-joking tone, but I kept remembering it as a warning. Stella and I are not familiar. But I was too lazy to correct his words and preferred to clench my lips tightly and follow the flow of chatter.

Kat told her about her relationship with Stella to Alvian before she decided to move city and I could see the man hearing and staring at the woman from start to finish with heart-shaped eyes. Sometimes falling in love seems scary, just imagine he can turn a lawyer who is said to be famous for being like a puppy around his wife.

"Mr Wilcolm, if you need any help or legal assistance on a business, just call me. I will help you as best I can" Alvian offered a business card. There's the Your Advocate logo, which I assume is the name of Kat's father's law firm and where she works.

I nodded and pocketed it, "Alright, thank you. And call me Luiz."

The ringtone from my phone in my pocket was heard shortly afterwards. I saw that it was a call from my mother and asked for a moment's permission before picking up the phone from some distance away and less people.

"Hello, ma'am."

"Hello, Luiz. Where and what are you doing now? Why haven't you stopped by the house in a long time?"

"I'm at Stella's cousin's wedding in City D, Mom. I'll try to stop by once I get home."

"Wedding? Why aren't you and your dad invited?"

"Maybe it's because Stella's cousin doesn't know you and dad? It's a distant cousin ma'am, not much is invited..."

"Remain, we're going to be with Stella's parents..."

"Mother..." Sometimes you sound sad when you're talking about small things like this.

The sound of breathing was heard from the other end of the phone, "Give up. I'm just saying I want you to stop by right away, Luiz. Me, dad and grandpa miss you.and Stella."

I frowned at the mother's tone which turned strange when I mentioned Stella's name. It was as if he didn't mean it when he said that.

"OK, I'll stop by, just so. I promise to treat Stella well."

"When did I not treat him well? I always welcome him home. Did he say anything bad about me?"

"Mom you understand what I mean. He never said anything about you, I witnessed your attitude with my own eyes."

I didn't even change the tone of my voice than I normally would, but that sentence had the power to make you pause for a moment before you spoke again.

"...Yes, I will try to be more friendly. What matters is that you stopped by the house. Grandpa grumbles because you rarely stop by."

"OKAY. I'll call you back later. Greetings to my father and grandfather."

"M..dah."

I waited for my mother to turn off the phone while staring at my phone screen. Aside from being busy, sometimes it is the nature of the mother who is not pleasant to Stella that makes me reluctant to stop by the house. Even if there are grandfathers and fathers who are on Stella's side, you can always find time to 'talk yourself' with her. And even though Stella has started trying not to let her down again since Christmas last year, I often still feel sorry for her attitude.

Every now and then, I try to stop by myself without Stella and that makes dad and grandpa unhappy. I was so wrong, so I rarely go home now.

Breathing free from my mouth, I turned around and walked back towards Stella and the others. Stella was still chatting with Kat and her husband so I chose to tell her about the mother's call later.

"Vian you know why I'm so good at cooking? Because he taught me. He is very good when it comes to cooking, every time I go to his house I always see him cooking various foods. I teased her to open her own restaurant, knowing that it was already in her plan" Kat hugged her husband's shoulder while chattering.

Stella shook her head, "Oh about that I haven't thought at all. It was also Kat who helped me a lot to find places and the like..."

"If you want, we'll help you Stella. Many strategic places here and Vian can help to take care of the legal documents later. Don't worry" said Kat.

"I think that's a good idea" I said. The three men looked at him.

Stella looked at me curiously, "You think so does Luiz?"

"Yes. Your restaurant is quite distinctive with its traditional nuances and the menu in it is quite diverse. I think it's quite interesting for tourists to stop by."

Kat lifted her thumb, "I agree."

"Alright.I'll think about it then," said Stella with a big smile.

Shortly after, Kat and Alvian pleaded with some of the other guests and family members while Stella and I returned to her father and mother at our table. We sat for a while before we decided to return to the hotel when the night was getting late and the guests had also started to disperse. Stella's mom and dad got in our car.

"When do you plan to go back, Luiz? Do you want a vacation here first?" Ask Stella's father on the way back to the hotel.

"No, I have to go to the office again, so tomorrow morning we go back," I replied, as much as possible showing a tone of regret as if I were hoping to be able to vacation with her daughter here.

"When is my mom coming back?" Ask Stella from next to me.

"Yes, tomorrow morning too. Because the day after the schedule of checking up mama to her doctor so can not linger here."

"Then we can take papa mama to the airport, all of you" I said, glancing at Stella for a moment, nodding.

"Oh no need, Luiz," Stella's dear mother I thought had fallen asleep said slowly, "The direction is opposite to the path you take."

"It's okay, ma. We're not in a hurry either" I said.

Stella turned around in her chair, "Yes ma, we'll take her with us."

"Oh well, son..."

Once at the hotel, Stella and I parted ways with her parents to go to their rooms. As soon as I came in, I immediately thought back to my mother's phone and told Stella about it.

"So my mom called."

Stella's snappy pecking, "Oh..."

"He wants us to stop by the house. Haven't been there in a long time, Grandpa must've missed you so much."

Stella's facial water still looks stiff even though she tries to smile when she hears Grandpa's words. Stella is like an open book, you can almost always tell what she feels from her expression alone. Right now he must be very nervous thinking about a visit to my house later even though he was happy to see grandfather again.

I'm so sorry to tell him tonight when his mood might be good from meeting his cousin earlier. Instead of me not knowing how to comfort him, he just raised his hand and patted the top of his head slowly. I might also have slightly ruffled her hair even if it was just a split second.

"All will be well."

Stella looked up until her bright eyes met my dark one, "...Aye." Yeah."

I cleared my throat, "I used the bathroom first then..."

"Oh, let me put some hot water on it."

I shook my hand, "No need, I don't want to take a hot bath."