My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

10.

Morning came, and although lacking enthusiasm, Joe still sat down at the dining table, not wanting to worry his parents, Mr. Bond and Mrs. Linn. Mr. Bond sat in the main chair, Joe and Mrs. Linn on his left and right.

“So, are you going to attend the divorce hearing today, or are you going to work?” Mrs. Linn asked her son.

“I don’t know, Mom, but I’m sure I don’t want to attend the trial, and as for work, Fadli has taken care of everything for me,” Joe replied, starting to fill his plate with bread and chocolate spread.

“Isn’t this the only chance? Mediation schedules could help you resolve issues with Vivian. Are you just going to let it pass?” protested his mother. She felt it was a pity if there was no effort at all from Joe’s side. While she understood that Vivian loved him very much.

“No reconciliation, Mom. Everything will not be the same. This divorce is Vivian’s desire, not mine,” Joe replied. “I’ll do anything to make her happy. Perhaps this separation and divorce will make her happy and allow her to pursue her dreams more freely.”

“In Mama’s opinion, both of you are selfish!” Mrs. Linn swallowed her saliva, still not believing that Joe and Vivian were both equally selfish.

“What about Kimmy? Both of you don’t want to talk about Kimmy. Don’t think too much about your feelings. Think about your daughter who is only 3 years old and has to live with divorced parents!” Mrs. Linn emphasized angrily.

“Enough, Mom! I have enough love. I will love Kimmy, and fulfill her needs without begging that woman, Mom!” Joe replied. He was angry but tried to restrain himself from exploding in front of his parents. Trying to control himself.

“Joe, please attend the hearing today,” Mrs. Linn insisted with hope.

“No, Mom, don’t force me!” the man refused. “I’ve tried enough. I’ve yielded and obeyed all of Vivian’s wishes, and I love her so much. But what’s the result now? Just pain, and it keeps hurting! I’ve given her everything she wanted – money, love, attention – but she doesn’t want what I give. What she wants is freedom!” Joe explained the actual situation.

“Joe!” Mrs. Linn called, looking sharply into her son’s eyes.

“There’s nothing I can do except to set her free and let her be happy with her choice!” Joe insisted.

“Okay, if that’s your will!” his mom conceded.

“I’m full; I’m leaving now!” Joe said, putting down his spoon and leaving the food on his plate. He stood up and returned to the second floor to meet his daughter.

“Ma! Joe is an adult now; let him choose his path!” said Mr. Bond. “According to Papa, Joe is a responsible man for his choices!” the middle-aged man added.

“Pa, Mama knows. Mama just pities Kimmy, growing up with divorced parents!” Mrs. Linn protested.

“Enough, Ma. Our love for Kimmy surpasses Vivian’s love for her daughter. Mama doesn’t need to worry if our grandchild will lack love just because Vivian doesn’t pay attention to her,” Mr. Bond said.

“Yes, Pa,” Mrs. Linn conceded.

Joe spent the whole day without enthusiasm, doing nothing. Just at home and spending time with his daughter, accompanying her to play, and running in the backyard, while looking at the rose garden.

Joe made that garden for Vivian because of her love for those flowers. Joe stared at those flowers with an empty gaze. Beautiful memories with Vivian floated away, evaporating with the impending divorce.

Now in front of him was Kimmy, seeing Kimmy, who looked so much like Vivian, made Joe constantly remember that woman.

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“Clara,” Nadia called, lying on the bed still in her school uniform.

“Yes,” Clara replied, glancing at the clothes she bought with Joe.

“Aren’t you going to call Uncle Joe?” Nadia asked.

“Why?” Clara asked back.

“Isn’t today the first hearing of his divorce? Maybe he’s already home now,” Nadia said, feeling this was the right time to get attention from the man.

“True,” Clara agreed, grabbing her phone and searching for his number.

The call connected, and a few moments later, a voice was heard from the other side.

“Hello,” Joe greeted.

“Hello, Uncle, it’s Clara,” Clara replied, feeling embarrassed as she rarely made phone calls. And if it weren’t for Nadia forcing her, she probably wouldn’t have called him.

“Yes, Clara, what’s up?” Joe replied. His opinion of Clara has now changed. If in the past, it was just about providing material sufficiency, this time Joe would pay a little attention to Clara. Like her parents who always treated her well.

“No, Uncle, just wanted to ask how you’re doing today, how was the trial earlier?” Clara babbled, overcoming her nervousness.

“I didn’t attend the trial,” Joe replied.

“Oh! Then how?” Clara waited for him to pour out his heart.

“Nothing, everything is fine!” Joe asserted. He would never show his weakness.

“In that case, can Uncle teach Clara to study? I’m starting to have trouble with my assignments!” the girl said, following Nadia’s suggestion.

“How about I enroll you in private tutoring?” Joe suggested. He felt disturbed by the phone call from Clara. However, he tried to maintain composure.

“No! No need. Clara just wants you to teach her,” Clara replied.

“I’m busy, I also have to work and don’t have extra time to teach you. Let me hire a private tutor for you, okay?” Joe offered.

“Not this time. I just want you to teach me, for this time only, Uncle, okay?” Clara urged. “This is an economics lesson, and I don’t like it!” Clara lied. She just wanted to seize the opportunity to meet him.

“Clara, I can’t,” Joe refused, with emphasis in his tone.

“This time, just this time, Uncle! Please, I promise it’s only this once!” Clara pulled out her trick with a sweet and cute voice.

“Alright, come to my house after school tomorrow!” Joe surrendered.

“Okay! Thank you!” Clara replied, feeling victorious.

The call ended.

Clara put down her phone and reflexively hugged Nadia.

“Thanks, Nad!”

“I’m happy for you, Clara!”

After that, Clara chose the best Osis uniform among the three Osis uniforms she had, it was ridiculous, but what’s wrong with that?

Moreover, soon Uncle Joe will be divorced from his wife. She is not a home-wrecker because Aunt Vivian doesn’t love that man anymore.

A 17-year-old teenager, fearless, wanting to fight for her first love without knowing how deep the gap separates her from Joe.

To be Continue…