"The fear that shouldn't be felt because speaking the truth is much more comforting than continuing to avoid."
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My phone vibrated, there was an incoming message from Axelle. I ignored the incoming message while rolling my eyes. Continuing to drink watermelon juice is much more refreshing than reading a message from that former curse. Shortly after I ignored the incoming message from Axelle, he called and I lazily took the phone and rejected the call. I'd better help mom clear the dining table because sis Lovelace is busy helping Loretta create reels content with the help of Jae-Hwo as a cameraman.
By the way, the fake eyelashes that Loretta was wearing were successfully removed by Jae-Hwo and that made us feel relieved.
"Yesterday, Myung Hee's aunt called mom, she said to send Jae-Hwo to mom and dad. Even though Jae-Hwo has grown up, the child still needs parental supervision." My mom told me the story when I helped her put the dishes that had been washed onto the dish rack.
"He will often tell me to come here and eat with our family every day from breakfast to dinner. I will also prepare lunch for him too. So, I hope you understand because he lives here alone even though there is a housekeeper but still, he needs us more as a family."
I don't know why when mom said it, I felt like mom caught my attitude that objected to Jae-Hwo. Mom doesn't have to bother with this because Myung Hee's aunt also only ordered him to leave Jae-Hwo instead of raising Jae-Hwo by feeding him. It's not that I'm stingy but, I think you're exaggerating.
"What is this? Axelle doesn't know himself!" Sis Lovelace shouted from the living room which was heard in the kitchen. The voice was so low that it could be heard in the kitchen.
Wait,
I rushed out of the kitchen, causing my mom to shake her head slowly. Hearing Axelle's name being called by Sis Lovelace made my blood boil, especially since Sis Lovelace's screams sounded disapproving.
"What? So they were dating and Axelle cheated on her and then they broke up?" Jae-Hwo asked Sis Lovelace. A question that sounds like repeating a story.
Looks like Sis Lovelace told Jae-Hwo about the truth that I wanted to hide from Jae-Hwo. So, what am I going to do now? Looks like I have to go to the room and dodge again but, I'm not sure Sis Lovelace will let me hide in the room. She would get mad about Axelle.
"Why did he give you hibiscus flowers?" Sis Lovelace's voice sounded very annoyed.
My body felt like it was being blown by the wind when my mom ran into the living room still wearing her dishwashing gloves.
"WHAT DOES THE HIBISCUS MEAN?" Mom's screams exploded and mom's screams could make dad who was in the room immediately come out.
Father looked at me questioningly while I made a stupid face with glued feet. I can't move because I don't want to tell Jae-Hwo everything and I'm sure the guy won't accept it and will look for Axelle and then ... ah, I can't bear to think about it.
"Sis, that's ... mom, Sis Lovelace and Jae-Hwo, their faces are really scary!" I blinked my eyes in a daze when Loretta approached me and instead of going straight to the living room, I was silent with my lips parted in surprise. I don't know what surprised me, it's just that I was curious about what happened.
"Is Axelle here?" It was my father's voice and not mine because I was transforming into a three-dimensional statue.
Loretta shook her head. "Axelle gave a return gift to Sis Roosevelt in the form of a bouquet of hibiscus flowers!"
Father's feet immediately stepped into the living room and left me who was still a statue with Loretta pulling my left wrist to join the living room as well.
What accompaniment song is suitable for me at this time? Everyone looked at me with pitying eyes, not in line with what Loretta had said earlier. I don't see any angry aura on them, I look at their eyes alternately, yes there is indeed an angry aura hidden there. I feel like crying now. Not crying over Axelle but crying for myself because the people who love me look this sad. Except for Jae-Hwo, I don't know if that guy loves me like a friend and neighbor or if he just hates and hides his anger in the deepest of his heart.
"Roosevelt gave a mirrored gift to Axelle as a satire to make his self-conscious but what is this? Axelle gave a hibiscus flower? Roosevelt's favorite flower!" Sis Lovelace exploded again and the hibiscus flower was thrown on the granite floor by Sis Lovelace so that the flower stamens flew and scattered on the floor. My heart broke when I saw the hibiscus flower ending on the floor and my brain remembers the poem that Axelle wrote in the book.
Father crouched down and took the flower then stood up and gave the flower to me. My hand reached out to accept this hibiscus flower bouquet. I stared at this hibiscus flower with a broken heart. What does Axelle mean by giving this flower? Does he want to improve our relationship to be good as before or is he making fun of me back? Is this how Axelle felt yesterday when I gave him a mirrored gift? crushed.
"This flower is for Roose, so let her decide what to do with this flower and no one has the right to slam this flower," Father said and I felt like I wanted to burst into father's arms.
The mom looked disapproved and said, "My daughter is too perfect for Axelle so this is the best for their relationship." My body was pulled by my mom and we hugged. Mom's arms are always warm. It's as if a mom keeps the sun's rays in her body so that it feels warm and soothing.
"This is just a bouquet of hibiscus flowers from Axelle, why are you overreacting like this?" Loretta's chirps and Loretta's snarls made me let go of arms.
We all looked at Loretta and what Loretta said was true. Why are we overreacting like this? It's up to Axelle, right, what gift to give. "Besides, Roose was the one who started giving the mirror as a gift under the pretext of letting Axelle look in the mirror. Now it's better to return it with hibiscus flowers than nothing."
"I know, you must be angry because Axelle is cheating on me. Me too but not for this hibiscus flower."
Why is my sister who is still in junior high school so wise? I looked at the bouquet of hibiscus flowers that I was hugging then looked back at Loretta who was standing casually near my father. He is very much like father. Her face and character are the same as her father's. Their faces are beautifully imprinted with a calming demeanor. Even the way they talk is also similar.
"What Loretta said is true!" concluded father by patting my shoulder lightly and then entered the family room.
Loretta, who cleaned the equipment for live broadcasts on social media, spoke again. "I don't understand mom, sis Lovelace and Jae-Hwo, why are you angry? Even though the ones who got the hibiscus flowers, sis Roose and sis Roose didn't seem to mind."
"We are angry that he still dared to give Roose flowers as a gift after cheating and their relationship ended." Mom's tone was half-rising then followed father who entered the family room.
"When did you get promoted so that the Axelle family wouldn't oppress our family? I can't accept that my daughter is needed like this!"
Our ears heard the sound of mom sulking at father after that we did not hear anything because the bedroom door was closed loudly.
"Who knows, Axelle will get back with Roosevelt!"
"NO!" I shouted Sis Lovelace and Jae-Hwo in unison very loudly.
"Tskckck, the Ismoyono family and the Tamawijaya family weren't clear from the start!" Loretta said that with a giggle then took out her phone and started playing social media again.
Meanwhile, Sis Lovelace grabbed the bouquet of hibiscus flowers that I was hugging and brought it into the family room. I don't know what to do with the hibiscus flower.
I just realized that Jae-Hwo was looking at me with both guidance and disappointment. I gulped as he grabbed my arm to follow him out of the house.
It's gone. Jae-Hwo shouldn't have known so soon because the conflict between me and Axelle hasn't subsided. Especially mom, who hates Axelle's family so much now.
"Tell me!"
My breath roared wildly when Jae-Hwo's eyes stared at me filled with darkness like this.
Where should I start with? Ah, Jae-Hwo makes me want to cry with that look.
To be continued.