
Rico let go of his hand to Karen. He tried to smile as he could.
"Where are you guys from?" ask Papi in a flat voice.
Rico took a deep breath. He was sure his current Papi was just pretending nothing had happened. The man followed Arion's game. If Papi can pretend, so can he.
Karen just kept quiet and couldn't say anything. Just putting his feet up feels really heavy. Karen knew this was all her fault. As Arion's legal wife, she plays with her stepson.
"Have you guys eaten? If Papi hasn't. Papi is hungry, someone wants to accompany," said Papi in a still calm voice.
Rico admitted, if his Papi is very smart to control emotions. If someone new to him must have been fooled by his friendly attitude. Rico knows his father has an emotional nature, judging from his frequent Papi scolding mami.
Rico looked at Karen's face that looked tense. He smiled at the woman, as if to say, don't be afraid of me being here. Rico knew for sure that Karen must have been very scared.
With a certain step Rico followed Arion who had walked towards the dining table. Karen had to follow.
Arion forcefully pulled the dining table chair. He began to look angry at her.
"Why just shut up? Be eating. Why are you so silent like this. Especially you Karen. Is there something you're thinking about that makes you fill in?" arion asked, still in a flat voice.
Karen looked deep breaths. He had to brave Arion. Wasn't it a mistake he made. It was only natural that the middle-aged man was angry.
"I'm sorry, Pi" said Karen.
"Sorry for what? Did you make a mistake?" asked Arion still with her pretense.
"I left without Papi's permission" said Karen softly.
"Oh that. Maybe you often do all this so for you this is common. Didn't her father teach her how to say goodbye to her husband? Or did your mother do this with your father?" arion asked, returning in a flat voice. As if everything was just ordinary.
His words were very painful for Karen. He could accept any insults from people, but he would not stay silent if his parents were despised.
Karen took a deep breath. Everything he did to ease his emotions.
"Everything I do has nothing to do with my parents, Pi. They have advised me a lot and taught me about manners, as well as how to respect my husband. If I'm wrong, it's purely from myself, not from my parents" Karen said.
It was the slanted smile that Arion gave. Whatever her husband will do, Karen will accept it with sincerity. Think of it as punishment because she betrayed her marriage.
Papi seemed to eat the dish with greed as if nothing had happened. Rico became worried about seeing his Papi's attitude. Surely the man had planned something so that he could be so calm.
Rico and Karen also try to be calm by eating the food that has been served.
"Basic se*tan, how dare this fish bone hurt me. Don't you know, I hate to be betrayed what else gets hurt so bloody. I'll reply with something far more cruel" Arion said.
The man threw the fish on the floor and stepped on it until it was smooth. Karen looked nervous again. He knew everything the man was doing just to draw attention from her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" arion asked when he realized Karen was looking at him.
"Nothing, Pi."
Suddenly Arion hits the table hard. Until the food is arranged in a mess.
"It's quite a charade that we've played. I'm bored. I wonder, where did you go to stay?" ask Arion at last.
As Karen wanted to answer, Rico shook her head quickly. Luckily the woman understood Rico's intentions, so she chose silence again.
"Me and Karen went to see her father. Karen misses her parents so much. . If you wait for Papi, fear of slowness. Sometimes Papi's business trip exceeds the specified time" Rico said.
Arion seemed to dislike the answer from his son. What Arion expected, his wife Karen to talk.
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