FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

26. Lucas

Lucas took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He looked guilty from the emotions a moment ago. "Sorry," he said.

Valeda and Daniel exchanged looks. They did not expect that Lucas would apologize for criticizing their relationship.

"I shouldn't have gotten on a blackboard like that. I didn't come here to make the atmosphere hot and we got into a fight. I'm sorry," Lucas said again. "I'm here really curious about your situation."

Daniel lowered his head, putting his face close to Valeda's ears. "Let's talk inside" he whispered.

Valeda did not answer. He was still weighing whether to let Lucas inside, or just get to his doorstep.

"We should avoid paparazzi" Daniel added.

"All right" replied Valeda. "If it wasn't Daniel who asked me to, I wouldn't have let Brother in." Valeda turned around and went inside first.

Daniel threw an apologetic smile, he acted as if Valeda was his true lover and apologized for Valeda's childish behavior. "Please come in, brother," Daniel said.

Lucas walked past Daniel who was standing in the doorway. He took off his shoes and followed Valeda into the living room.

"Sit down!" Valeda. "Just say what you want to say."

Lucas sat down in front of Valeda. He rubbed his neck restlessly. His mouth was still tightly shut, though it had already passed a few seconds after Valeda asked him to speak.

Daniel goes to the mini bar of Valeda's apartment. He researched all the tools Valeda had. It was fortunate that Daniel knew several chefs and bartenders. It was from there that Daniel learned to use 'magic' tools that only rich people like Valeda had.

Daniel looked up for a moment, seeing Lucas still tight-lipped. Valeda glanced at him. Daniel's haste beckoned him to be patient. Daniel made a cup of tea for Lucas. Standard drinks that can certainly be enjoyed by all Indonesian tongues.

"Please," Daniel put a cup of tea in front of Lucas. Daniel sat down next to Valeda.

"Sorry, I rarely visit you, Val," Lucas began.

"We are both busy. I don't blame anyone" Valeda replied.

Daniel looked at Valeda and Lucas. He actually still did not understand the bad relationship that these brothers had.

In Daniel's eyes, Lucas seemed like a good person. Her face was covered in snow-white skin. His black eyes were exactly the same as those of Valeda and Madame Emely. His hair was neatly combed back, although Lucas only wore a polo shirt. Lucas looked neat and graceful.

"Hearing you had an ordinary boyfriend, I was shocked" Lucas added. "I don't think Mama would approve of your relationship."

"Yes, Mrs Emely was against our relationship from the start" Daniel replied.

Lucas lifted his face. "Then, you guys are still together?" tanyanya fast.

Daniel looked at Valeda. "I love Valeda. That's all that can keep us going."

Valeda did not move. Their eyes were long adrift and Valeda almost trusted Daniel's impeccable play. Valeda cleared his throat to wake himself from the wild imagination in his head. "So don't see for yourself, do you? I'm doing fine. There's nothing to worry about."

"Wait, wait! I want to know more. About how you avoided Mama" Lucas replied.

Valeda's eyebrows are up. "We only live what we think is right. There's no special way."

"really?" Lucas seemed to be in disbelief. His tone sounded suspicious of what Valeda said.

"Actually Mama hasn't done anything about this. Ever since Mama found out I was in a relationship with Daniel and against us, Mama hasn't called me since. Maybe Mama's snooping."

Valeda caught something suspicious from Lucas. "Don't know that I'm not easy to lie to, right?" Valeda. "Sadness wants to know how I'm doing, but what Big Brother's asking is how I'm dealing with Mama."

Lucas' eyes were perfectly rounded. Of course he didn't expect that Valeda would catch her wet so easily.

Daniel looked back at Valeda and Lucas alternately. He was amazed when he saw Lucas with a rancid face because of Valeda's precise guess. Daniel crossed his arms in front of his chest. He is increasingly interested in the strange relationship that the Valeda family has.

"Yes," replied Lucas. "I wanted to ask you about my mom."

"What does this have to do with Lucas?" ask Valeda.

Lucas was silent for a long time. He looked down, looking at his knees wrapped in black cloth pants. Valeda did not rush to ask him to answer. Valeda knew there was something Lucas was hiding and it was difficult for Lucas to tell him the problem. Plus, they're not too close.

Daniel moved, grabbing his coffee cup. Daniel sipped his coffee seriously, even though it was cold. He still misses the faint sweetness of Valeda's milk-made coffee.

"Don't drink anymore. I'll make a new one. Your coffee is cold" said Valeda, who saw Daniel drink his coffee.

"No need. It's still good" Daniel said. "You focus on hearing what Lucas says."

Valeda leaned on his couch. "Sister, can you not talk now? Actually, you need my help?"

Lucas lifted his face. His eyes sparkled with tears. "What... Can I ask you a favor?" asked Lucas in a soft voice.

"Depending on the case" replied Valeda.

Lucas took another deep breath. "Actually... I have a child."

"WHAT!?" Valeda got up from his seat. "What did you say!?" yells.

Daniel, sitting next to Valeda, was shocked. Not because of the news that Lucas had a child, he was shocked because of Valeda who screamed. "Val, calm down first" Daniel pulled Valeda back to sit down. "Listen to what Lucas has to say."

Valeda sat down reluctantly. His mind was flogging about everything. Lucas, an older brother he never met for even nearly five months, suddenly claims to have a child.

Then, suddenly he was present and admitted to it in front of Valeda. What kind of help did Lucas expect from Valeda?

"They're cute twins" Lucas added.

"Twin!?" valeda's great-grandson was shocked. He threw himself in the back as Lucas smiled discordantly. His hands were raised to massage his sick forehead. "God... My head hurts!"

"Sorry, Val. I had to hide the identity of my mother and children from the media. That's what they're going to use to bring down our family" Lucas said.

"Then Brother did not react when labeled as weird by society?" ask Valeda.

Lucas just nodded. "I don't want any trouble."

"Well!" Valeda snorted while laughing cynically. "But Big Brother is creating a big problem!"

"Makanya, I'm asking for your help to melt Mama's heart. He will not accept the mother of my children. She's just a country girl I met in Austria. The girl was not highly educated and we fell in love. Mama won't approve of our relationship."

Instantly, Valeda understood why Lucas had suddenly arrived uninvited. Lucas is in the same position as Valeda. His brother fell in love with an ordinary man. Unfortunately, he had a child.

***