My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

30 || Wrong Target ||

Part 30.

Clara looked at herself in the mirror! Seeing her face this morning. It’s the fourth day of her Final Exams. This afternoon she will be free from the pressures that forced her to study.

Mr. Bond, Mrs. Linn, and Uncle Joe. They never stopped reminding her to study and study.

And..

Starting this afternoon, Clara will be free to pursue her hobbies in her spare time. Watching Korean dramas or reading novels.

Clara stepped out of her room. She walked to the dining room to have breakfast together.

“Good morning Mrs. Linn, Mr. Bond, and Uncle Joe!” Clara greeted politely.

“Good morning,” Joe replied.

“Good morning Clara,” Mrs. Linn.

While Mr. Bond chose to remain silent. Glancing briefly and then focusing back on the food on his plate.

Clara sat down and picked up her breakfast menu. She chose to eat bread with chocolate spread.

“Clara, is today your last day of exams?” Joe pretended not to know. Even though he had marked and remembered today.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara replied.

“What gift do you want from me?” Joe asked flatly. He wanted to make sure his parents didn’t suspect anything. Yes, for Clara’s comfort, Joe had no intention of revealing their relationship in the near future.

“Nothing, Uncle!” Clara replied, eating pieces of bread filled with chocolate spread.

“Ma, Pa, do you want to go on vacation?” Joe offered.

“No!” Mr. Bond refused.

Joe looked at his Mom. He could only follow his husband’s words.

“Papa and Mama have an invitation to stay at a new villa owned by Papa’s associate, for three days!” Mr. Bond explained.

“When, Pa?” Joe asked.

“This afternoon Mama and Papa will leave!” explained Mr. Bond.

“Oh, and will Kimmy go?” Joe asked.

“Kimmy won’t go, Mama asked Vivian to stay here for three days!” Mrs. Linn said flatly. As if it didn’t affect her son.

“What?” Joe squinted hearing what Mrs. Linn said.

“Mama is sure this won’t harm Kimmy?” Joe confirmed.

“It’s impossible, Vivian is her mother, she wouldn’t hurt or endanger Kimmy, Joe! Get rid of your bad thoughts about Vivian!” Mrs. Linn requested. “She is your ex-wife who has hurt you, but despite all that, you and Vivian must both love Kimmy!” she added hopefully.

Joe bowed his head. There was no reason to object.

“When will Vivian come?” Joe asked. He glanced at Clara briefly and then focused back on his plate.

“She will come this afternoon!” Mrs. Linn replied.

“Is there no other intention behind all this, Mom?” Joe inquired. “Mom doesn’t intend to reconcile me and Vivian! Right!!” he added.

“Isn’t it you who wants to reconcile, you still love your ex-wife, right?” Mrs. Linn began to wonder who the woman was that Joe called every night. Because Joe always smiled to himself when exchanging messages with that woman.

“No, why would I love a woman who doesn’t obey her husband!” Joe replied firmly. “Because Mama approved Vivian staying here, please tell her to behave!” he commanded.

Mrs. Linn swallowed hard. Her assumption was wrong, Joe had actually moved on. Not Vivian, there was another woman who filled his heart.

“Clara, I’ll take you!” Joe said. He stood up from his seat and walked towards the garage.

“Mr. Bond, Mrs. I’m leaving!” Clara asked for permission.

They both nodded and gave a smile to Clara.

Now there were only Mr. Bond and Mrs. Linn there. Mr. Bond, who knew the situation better, sighed irritably.

“Why, Pa?” asked his wife.

“Nothing, Ma, did Papa agree to something with Vivian?” Mr. Bond inquired. He understood his wife’s demeanor very well. He didn’t want his wife to suspect anything.

“Emm…, actually Vivian once said something about Clara and Joe!” she said.

“What did Vivian say?” Mr. Bond tried to stay calm. He didn’t want his wife to be suspicious.

“Vivian said, if Joe and Clara were in a relationship, of course Mama wouldn’t believe it right away. Maybe that’s Vivian’s strategy to get Joe back!” she explained. She looked at her husband with convincing eyes.

“Why does Mama think that?” Mr. Bond inquired.

“Vivian, she failed to get a job with a fashion magazine in Paris. Her status now is a widow, after divorcing Joe, various job offers are not as many as when she was Mrs. Joe Sebastian. And…, the articles about Joe and Celine must surely make her regret,” Mrs. Linn expressed her feelings.

“According to Mama, Joe and Clara don’t have a special relationship?” Mr. Bond asked again.

“It’s impossible, Pa, Joe has taste! His taste is high and it’s impossible for him to like a high school girl like Clara!” Mrs. Linn insisted.

“What if Mama’s guess is wrong?” pressed her husband.

“What do you mean, Pa?”

“What if what Vivian said is true, that Joe and Clara do have a special relationship?” Mr. Bond lowered his head.

“No, Joe couldn’t possibly like that little girl!” Mrs. Linn rejected.

“What if Joe is like Papa, loving Mama who is decades younger than Papa?”

Silence.

“Don’t talk like that, Pa, no matter how you look at it Clara is not the right woman for Joe!” Mrs. Linn insisted. And left the dining table just like that.

==❤==

Going to school escorted by Joe was a special motivation for Clara. She could do her exams smoothly and also happily.

Because, even though Uncle Joe couldn’t pick her up from school this afternoon, tonight Uncle will take her to dinner. Special, to celebrate their relationship.

“One school, with exams and no boredom, that’s just you, Clara!” Nadia said. They were walking towards the school gate. Along with other students.

“No, because Uncle Joe already replied to my love,” Clara replied. She smiled and Joe’s face seemed to flash in her mind.

“Seriously?” Nadia asked.

“Two Seriously?” Clara replied.

“I can’t believe it, Clara! Congratulations!” exclaimed Nadia, reaching out to hug Clara.

Nadia let go of the hug.

“Congratulations, Clara, I hope it lasts!” Nadia shook her head in disbelief.

“Yeah, I hope so,” Clara replied.

They continued walking towards the gate.

“Nad!” Clara called out, turning to her friend.

“What’s up?” Nadia asked, replying to a message from her mom.

“If I’m bored, can I stay at your house?” Clara asked. Honestly, sometimes she missed her time with Nadia when they lived in the dorm.

“Of course, when do you want to stay at my house, tomorrow or the day after?” Nadia offered. She also felt what Clara felt.

“No, for the next three days Aunt Vivian will be staying at home, I don’t want to be teased and bothered by Uncle Joe!” Clara explained.

“Aunt Vivian? Why is the ex-wife coming back?” Nadia inquired.

“I don’t know, I can’t just stay silent! Anyway, I’m more deserving of Uncle Joe!” Clara exclaimed, cheering herself up.

“Go for it, Clara, I support you!” Nadia said, equally enthusiastic.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Not long after, Nadia was picked up by her mom. Clara then ordered a taxi to go home.

“Please take me to this address,” Clara said.

“Alright, Miss!”

The taxi started moving at a moderate speed. Clara took out her phone and activated her internet data.

Joe: [Are you home yet?]

Clara: [Just now, Uncle, I’m in a taxi going home. What are you doing now?]

Joe: [Missing you Clara,]

Clara: [Uncle Joe is starting to flirt with me.]

Joe: [I’m not flirting, this is serious. During your exams, I never entered your room, Clara. Tonight, meet me in the library, we can’t go out because of Vivian. Sorry for telling you just now.]

Clara: [Okay, Uncle, I understand!]

Clara’s phone rang. The man who had just exchanged messages with her was calling.

“Hello, Uncle,” Clara greeted.

“Hello, Clara! Are you almost home?” Joe asked.

“Almost, why, Uncle?”

“Vivian has arrived home, I don’t want you to get into trouble. How about you go back to the apartment first, and around three we’ll go home together?” Joe offered. Remembering Clara crying because of Vivian’s words the other day, Joe was worried. Worried that Clara would cry again because of his ex-wife’s harsh words.

“No need, Uncle! I won’t get into trouble, don’t worry!” Clara replied, reassuring him.

“Alright then, don’t forget to eat later, okay! And take a clean shower!” Joe instructed.

“Yes, Uncle! Got it!”

“See you at home!”

“See you!”

The call ended. Clara still smiled, feeling unbelievable that Joe had reciprocated her love.

The taxi slowly pulled over as Clara prepared to get off.

“Here’s your money, Sir!” Clara handed over two fifty-thousand notes.

When the driver wanted to give Clara the change, she refused.

Clara entered Joe’s main gate. Something was different there. Usually, Joko’s car would be parked in the garage. But this time, Vivian’s car was parked there.

Clara reassured herself that everything would be fine! She immediately entered the house and went straight to her room, hoping not to meet Vivian.

==❤==

That night.

Joe, Clara, Vivian, and Kimmy were sitting in the living room on the second floor. There was a cold war between Clara and Vivian. But Clara tried to act indifferent and focused on texting Joe.

Meanwhile, Kimmy kept cuddling in her mommy’s lap.

Vivian looked at the clock, which showed 9:03 PM. She decided to send a message to Clara.

Vivian: [Clara, step back, tonight I will prove that Joe still likes me.]

Clara: [What do you mean, Aunt?]

Vivian: [I can be Joe’s partner in bed, but you can’t! You won’t give your most precious possession to a man who may not even be your husband, right? Or…]

Clara: [Watch your fingers, Aunt! I’m still sane, I’m not that low!]

Vivian decided not to reply to the message anymore. She told Cici to take Kimmy to her room. While she herself went down to the kitchen, leaving Clara and Joe.

In the kitchen, Vivian made a drink for Joe. Mixing it with an aphrodisiac. Yes, Vivian was trying to seduce Joe.

After finishing mixing it with plain water, Vivian went back up to the second floor. Joe and Clara were not there.

“Where are they?” she muttered as she placed the glass on the table.

“Ma’am!” called Cici as she walked towards Vivian.

“What’s up?” Vivian asked.

“Miss Kimmy is crying and wants to sleep with Mommy!” the nanny replied.

Vivian left the drink there and followed Cici to her daughter’s room.

==❤==

“Clara, I miss you!” Joe said, reaching out to hug Clara.

“Wait, Uncle!” Clara stopped him. She just realized she left her phone on the living room sofa. It could be dangerous if Vivian took it.

“What’s wrong?” Joe asked, abandoning his intention to pick Clara up.

“I’ll go get my phone first!” Clara asked for permission.

Joe nodded. “Hurry back here and make sure Vivian doesn’t see you entering this room!” Joe requested.

“Got it, Uncle!” she replied.

Clara began to move out of the library. She walked to the living room.

“Thank goodness,” she grabbed her phone and saw a glass of drink. It was perfect timing because she felt thirsty.

Gulp.

Gulp.

Gulp.

Without much thought, Clara finished the drink that Vivian had specially made for Joe. She even drank it to the last drop.

Then, she returned to the library to meet Joe.

To be continued.