Family Dinner

The sun had just greeted on the eastern horizon, Lavelle had just opened her eyes when a delicate hand removed a strand of mischievous hair covering her face, Lavelle stunned when she saw Theophile who is now in front of him in a casual pink suit, the knit vest seemed to fit the body of the athletic and tall Theophile.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up,” muttered Theophile quietly.

Lavelle sighed then tried to get up when she realized she had woken up again in Theophile’s room, her eyes increasingly roaring as if asking why she had always been taken there.

“A little drizzle this morning, do you want to eat boiled noodles with half-cooked eggs? Doctor Charlotte will come around ten o’clock while some butlers will pick up your mother later in the day.” Theophile got up from his seat and turned off the Chandelier lights in the middle of the room, letting the sunlight in and illuminating his spacious room.

“Why did you take me to sleep here?” asked Lavelle.

Theophile sighed. “I felt bad for Daniela, I couldn’t get into a room where there were other girls. Why are you uncomfortable sleeping in my room?”

“Um....”

“Take a shower first, I’ll make you a little warm breakfast,” muttered Theophile.

“Theo....” Lavelle called Theophile who was about to walk out of the room.

Theophile stopped and slightly turned his head however, not saying a word.

“Why are you doing it?” asked Lavelle quietly.

“Because I love you,” Theophile replied immediately.

“But... isn’t love always about having sex? Theo... you know about my worries, don’t you?” Lavelle said it in a slightly comused voice as if holding back her tears that she had been holding for several days.

“I see, even I don’t want to stay away from you for a second,” Theophile replied, “If you ask me why I did it, it might be memorable that I’m the most selfish and evil person, right?”

“How many selfish and evil people in the world are in the name of love?” said Lavelle, “I’m afraid you went too far after doing it, that alone made me always think more.”

Theophile wiped the rest of the tears in the corner of his eyes, then smiled, somehow what smile he showed Lavelle at that moment, the atmosphere in the room really felt like déjà vu, Lavelle wanted to cry when thinking how different the two of them could not be connected to just the word love. They can’t force if their relationship is challenged by many people, it’s just that Theophile can hold all his responsibilities.

“We can leave a life of luxury for love, right?” asked Theophile.

“Theo... I’m not sure about that... I’m really not sure about our relationship, who the fuck i am?” replied Lavelle.

“Stop asking who you are in my life, you’re pricking my heart and mind too far because to me you’re a diamond that might be lost if I don’t take care of you,” Theophile muttered with a hint of a slightly chivalry, his jaw straightening hinting that he was holding back his own anger, the anger that almost took hold of him and perhaps that anger would hurt Lavelle even more.

“Please give me more evidence than just evidence.”

***

“Your house is huge, Theo. You must be very rich,” Christelle said as soon as she entered the kingdom’s main door.

“It’s nothing, it’s all a relic of my late parents,” Theophile said humbly.

Christelle touched every expensive urn she met for the first time, the middle-aged woman just came alone without Liza, she wore a salmon-colored suit dress, with a thin hat fitted with thin white nets and synthetic goose feathers. At the age of no longer young, she still looks graceful and beautiful.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Christelle. I am Tristan, Theophile’s first brother.” Tristan who had been waiting since earlier near the dining room immediately came and shook the middle-aged woman's hand enthusiastically.

“Well, it turns out that Theophile also has an equally handsome older brother? Nice to meet you, Tristan” Christelle replied with a hint of surprise.

“Actually... Theophile has many brothers, and by the way... go into the room first Mrs. Christelle. Lavelle and Daniela are still preparing in her room,” Tristan said.

Christelle nodded and Theophile guided Christelle to sit on one of the soft and comfortable dining table chairs. Christelle was completely amazed when she realized her youngest daughter was acquainted with an unusual man.

Some butlers prepare various dishes until finally Lavelle and Daniela go down the luxurious stairs that directly face the magnificent dining room. Lavelle wore a white dress with a very beautiful sunflower pattern accompanied by twinkling bead embroidery at the end of the skirt of the dress, while Daniela only used a nude asymmetric dress combined with silk fabric as a slightly exposed shoulder covering.

Christelle smiled happily when she saw her youngest daughter, immediately she got up and stretched out her arms wanting to hug her youngest daughter.

“I miss you, Mom,” Lavelle muttered as she hugged Christelle’s waist.

“I miss you too, my dear. You are my youngest daughter, and I love you so much. It’s hard to lie if I’d be fine if I didn’t hear from you for a second, how did you get here? You’re fine, aren’t you?” Christelle appeared to be crying in silence.

Lavelle sighed. “Theo takes great care of me, Mom. I’m fine.”

“Thank God that’s the case, I’m so grateful to you, Theo as well as your brothers who have been looking after Lavelle and Daniela while here.”

“It’s all our duty, Mrs. Christelle. Lavelle is our future sister-in-law and of course keeping her as well as the baby in her stomach is the job of all of us,” Yonathan said.

Christelle was shocked, she looked into her youngest daughter’s eyes as if asking if Yonathan’s words were the truth, while Lavelle only sighed a little worriedly.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Christelle. But, my younger brother Theophile promised to marry her as soon as Lavelle had recovered from her trauma, I also as the oldest Theophile brother felt it was a bit of a mistake to let them not—“

“Is Lavelle really pregnant?” cut Christelle.

“I don’t know, Mom,” Christelle replied quickly, even her face looking flushed.

“It’s better if we talk about this while starting dinner, we’ll explain in detail Lavelle’s current condition Mrs. Christelle,” Johnny made the atmosphere melt a little.

Because it made Christelle sigh then go to sit next to Lavelle and Daniela who looked anxious