Days After You's

Chapter 28 - A Conversation Before Bed

Alejandro or Ale Sister Esther's son brought laughter at the dinner table with his anxious manner at dinner time. I haven't seen my niece in a long time, I think she's gotten bigger. He kept pulling the arms of Esther and Stella who were sitting flanking him to get food at the table that he could not reach.

I and Stella were once again the subject of attention because she once again went to get me a side dish even though I didn't ask for it at all. Despite seeing Stella do this every time we come here, they still find it unusual and tempting.

"I'll never get tired of watching Stella get food for you, Luiz," Esther laughed, "I rarely do that for Bram."

"It is good that you are still familiar" said the father.

Grandpa chimed in, "It's good, it's good."

Among all that, only the mother who did not participate laughed even though she looked at us fixedly. I couldn't do anything about it so I chose not to pay so much attention to it. When he opened his mouth next, I hope it is not an uncomfortable sentence but of course mother has her own intentions for his words.

"Luiz, I heard from Caryna's mother that you met her in City D. We were at the rally together when he called his mother and told her that."

I nodded, "Yes."

"It's been a while, isn't it, the last time you've met and been so familiar. How's the business shop? it must be more successful now."

"I didn't get to ask."

"Oh I'm sure it was very successful."

"Caryna's? Who's that?" Sister Esther and I spontaneously looked at her. I knew she knew Caryna so she must have lied when she asked that. He even switched to tasting Stella's chicken and praising her before she answered. It's the first time Esther's sister has shown a response to her mother's attitude towards Stella, usually she's more neutral without saying anything.

"Esther, you shop at his boutique a lot, when you forget."

"My mother shopped at many boutiques, I didn't know the owner one by one unless she was very famous."

Mom squinted, "Oh she's very famous, Esther. Stella you've met her, haven't you? I hope you're not jealous or anything, you know he used to want to be betrothed to Luiz."

I put the spoon. Mom really...But before I said anything, coinciding with my movements, Stella immediately straightened her body and nodded quickly.

"Yes. Luiz told me himself that he ever wanted to be betrothed to Miss Caryna. But take it easy ma'am, I'm not jealous at all. I feel it's unnecessary and will just be a waste of time."

Stella still looks a little afraid to greet mom but it manages to leave mom speechless from her attacks. And of course Stella wasn't jealous, she didn't like me the way I thought she would.

"I believe in Luiz, ma'am. As much as you believed in him as your son, so did I. So take it easy," added Stella with a confident face even though her cheeks slightly reddened. Without thinking the tip of my lips was raised.

"Good is Stella, trust is crucial in a husband and wife relationship. Crucially, crucially," said the grandfather and all turned to him, "And Diana...you used to be so much fun, but why do you like to destroy the atmosphere at the dinner table every time Luiz and Stella come here. Suddenly talking about another woman who's not even our family. This is why they rarely come here. Stop, stop."

Mom put on a grim face and nodded, "Yes forgive me dad. I didn't mean to."

Father then changed the topic in another direction after that and all left the chat earlier as quickly as a wink. I sympathize with my grandfather's mother, but on the other hand, he is also the one who fished himself. At least Stella can respond well to mother's sentences.

Heavy rain suddenly flushed as soon as Stella and I intended to go home. My grandfather and mother, who were worried about the slippery and dark conditions, forbade us to return tonight. If I can, I actually do not want to stay the night but because the rain is very heavy and I do not dare to break through when carrying Stella, I also obey the words of grandfather.

I took Stella to the room I used to occupy as a child until before I decided to stay alone. Tonight, she and I had to share another bed. But what we can do, we can't sleep in separate rooms when there's grandfather and father.

"This is my room first. I thought it was going to be dusty because it wasn't liveable for a long time, but it looks like mom still told people to clean it."

"Excuse me," Stella looked around, "Your room is plain once Luiz."

"so. I don't really care or have a special hobby to decorate the room just yet."

Stella sat on the bed and laughed. Soon Sister Esther came to call him to go change into her pajamas to be lent to him.

I shouldn't have let Stella go follow Sister Esther. Because when he came back in pajamas with very minimal material I knew my brother must have done it on purpose. I could see the part of his body that had been hidden behind his normal clothes.

I frowned, "What's with Sister Esther giving you such skimpy clothes? You wear my pajamas then, maybe big but much warmer and more comfortable."

Stella's face reddened, "Um. I think I'll just wear this."

Stella then ran towards the mattress and covered her entire body to the bottom of her chin. It happened so fast, I got stuck in the same position for half a minute. Stella peeked out from under the blanket, "This is better. Good night, Luiz."

Still feeling quite amazed and amazed at what I just witnessed, I stepped to the other side of the bed and laid myself under the blanket next to Stella without saying anything.

I stared at the ceiling, "Aren't you cold wearing that? You don't have to feel bad for my brother, you know he's a bit ignorant. Pajamas are much warmer in this weather."

"I'm fine, Luiz."

Silence then fell on the whole room, leaving the sound of raindrops touching the glass window from outside.

"I'm sorry that I'm being unkind to you again tonight. She just hasn't warmed up to you yet, she's a good woman."

The story caught Stella's attention because I immediately felt the movement next to me and felt her fixed gaze on me.

"Luiz, are you close to your mother?" Ask Stella.

"Lumayan. When I was a kid, if my dad was teaching or scolding me, my mom would cheer me up and play with me. That's why I said he was really good, I hope you can understand and be patient about his current attitude."

Stella nodded, "Of course, Luiz."

I then turned to him, "Normally I would ask how about you and your parents, but the answer is definitely not? You yourself said that you were spoiled by them."

Stella laughed, "Yes."

But as soon as the laughter subsided, Stella continued, "Your father doesn't look that loud as Luiz."

"Now it's not so much. He used to be very hard and always made sure my ranking in school never went down. If there is a repeat value that drops just a little, I will be told to stand outside while memorizing the subject matter until smooth."

"I don't know" said Stella slowly, she showed a gloomy expression but soon replaced it with a smile, "But your father would just want to see you grow up to be an amazing man. Even though the way he wears seems hard, the good thing is that it managed to make you an amazing man who has a lot of expertise like now Luiz. If you get pampered, you might not be much different from me who lacks nothing."

I was silent for a moment. Honestly, I was a little surprised and happy because instead of continuing the sentence that clearly wants to lead to the side that shows pity at first, he immediately turned his back and took the positive side of my father's upbringing without needing to say or hint at him as a bad person as most people do. I don't need to be pitied and to hear someone else call my father negative in my name doesn't change anything, so I'm grateful he said that instead.

"You keep praising me, but I'm not as amazing as you think, Stella. I'm a stiff and skeptical person, I'm less able to interact with children, use my money and position to drive people out of their homes. And worst of all I secretly called you boring the first time I met you just from your looks."

Therehewas. I told you everything honestly. Now I want to see how Stella reacts to it.

Stella blinked before letting out a crisp laugh, "Luiz I said awesome doesn't mean I think you're perfect. Of course you have shortcomings, good ones are behind those shortcomings, you keep trying to do good things. You said you were stiff and skeptical but you always cared and were willing to help me with this from the start. Even if you don't really understand the kids, you're still trying to cheer up Kevin first. You won't use your money and position unless it's necessary and important, after what he's done, Alan deserves that treatment. And the opinion of me. It's normal to have a perception, yet you're still good to me even though you think so."

"That's just the beginning, I don't think so much about you anymore," I hurriedly chimed in.

Both of Stella's eyes sparkled, "Because of this you are admiring Luiz, you can acknowledge all that and still be willing to adapt to any inconvenience that comes your way with an open mind. I think it's really great."

I took a breath, "I gave up on changing your mind..."

I couldn't have won this debate regardless of the stirring feeling that had arisen in my stomach after hearing Stella start her little speech earlier.

Stella laughed again before the drowsiness soon came covering up and she fell asleep in the same position. I looked at his face for about ten minutes. The strange feeling that emerged from the moment of seeing him under the sunset rays again overshadowed me.

Pimply. I've been getting involved with Stella without me noticing. I was afraid to let myself get too carried away by my side. Tonight I can even feel comfortable chatting with him from a close distance about my childhood without feeling awkward at all.

I turned my back to Stella. Nnnnope. Control yourself, Luiz. It's nothing.