A Sugar Baby
Celebrations
To celebrate Lea's birthday. Richard threw a small party at one of his houses that jutted to the beach. In the same place he celebrated his birthday.
Lea invites her college friends, including Nina and Vita. Although Vita did not budge and did not come, while Nina said that she had to bed rest due to the incident the other day.
There was Iqbal, Rama, Dani, Adisty, Ariana, Cindy and almost half of their classroom kids at the place. While the rest say congratulations via WhatsApp or DM Instagram and insta story, because of the absence of attending.
In a room, Richard sat down with a lawyer. In front of him was Leah who was sitting watching. Waiting for an explanation from the father, why he was invited to the place.
"Lea, you sign this letter. Think of it as your birthday gift."
Richard said, while his lawyer presented the file for later signed by Lea.
"Is this dad?" lea asked, looking at the paper, and then at Richard and his lawyer.
"This is the heir's letter." replied Richard.
"Wa, heir?" Lea doesn't understand.
"Yes Lea, your father bequeathed half of the treasure he had to you. Because right now your father is still alive, and still in need. So the other half still belongs to your father."
The lawyer helped explain. Lea herself was now stunned, not expecting Richard to do all this to her.
"Ta, but dad."
"Lea, this is your right. Take...!" richard said with a firm tone.
Lea continued to look at her father, her body now trembling.
"Sign...!" richard said again.
With a still confused look, Lea finally signed the file.
"This letter will be kept by the father's lawyer, if there is anything. Suppose one day you need it, you can contact this om."
Lea nodded.
"Well, isn't this going too fast?"
Lea asked Richard, when his father's lawyer was saying goodbye. Her friends were enjoying an appetizer outside. The show will start in 10 minutes.
"That's your right, and the earlier I give the better. Instead of later, suppose the father married the same person who turned out not so good. There should be no commotion about the treasure. Because you gave me half of this, the rest is business."
Leah was silent, she continued to listen to her father speak.
"You girls, Lea. You should have your own savings and money. Because no one can guarantee a marriage."
Leah looked back at her father.
"Many women survive toxic marriages. Because they have nothing. From childhood they are implanted to pursue rich men, not to become rich women. As a result they are used to asking, not accustomed to producing their own. When their men betray or hurt them. They will tend to survive, because if they separate they are confused. Where to find money, how to support children."
"You mean, I'm afraid that Dan?"
"Dad believed Daniel, he was a good man. I've known him since childhood. What you don't believe in is the people around you, around Daniel. Especially the female. Good people can turn 180 degrees, because of the influence and temptations of others. As a father, I must equip you. Because you've never worked, you haven't graduated college and you're married. By owning your own possessions, one cannot underestimate you."
"It's not the same, yeah. There are also many girls who have everything, but still betrayed or hurt their partners.
"At least you have power, and you have a choice. Not forced to hold on for your husband's money, when you're betrayed or hurt."
Lea leaned her head on Richard's shoulder, their gaze now equally detached towards the shore.
"Thank you father." said Lea later. Richard kissed his son's forehead.
"Yes." said Lea then moved on.
"Hunter, the show's about to start."
"Oh yes."
Lea rushed over, followed by Richard.
***
Leah went back to her friends, and Richard was now near Daniel and Ellio.
Happy birthday song was reverberating, Lea stood by her friends in front of a very beautiful cake.
While Daniel, Richard and Ellio were standing some distance away, near a pavilion. This is the event Lea and her friends, the elderly are expected to step aside for a moment. At least that's the word used by Ellio to describe Daniel and Richard, including himself.
"Make a wish was Le." as long as Ariana, when the song was done.
Leah prayed, helped by her friends.
"May Lea be healthy always, long life, her baby healthy, her marriage lasting. If it is not lasting, I tikung." said Iqbal.
Lea who was closed in her eyes was holding back a laugh. His friends were all chuckling.
"May Leah achieve her ideals, her son many." - Rama.
"Heh, bother anyy." Lea slouched.
Again they all laughed. Daniel, Richard, and Ellio couldn't help but laugh, since the first wish. But the three adult men tried hard to continue to behave cool, like a two-door refrigerator.
"Hopefully if Lea has a stepmother, her stepmother is one of us." Cindy classmate Lea said.
The audience including Lea herself and Ellio, did not hear all that. Ellio reflexively hit Richard on the shoulder, Richard turned his face away while holding a smile. Daniel has been chuckling ever since.
After raising an unusual line of hope, Lea finally blew the candle out.
"Yeeeay."
Applause resounded, they congratulated Lea.
"Cash the cake, slaughter the cake, slaughter the cake right now. Right now, 'cause we're laper."
"Maha."
Laughter after laughter re-echoed the place, Lea then cut the cake. The first piece he gave to Richard, because Richard was his parents. The second piece is of course for Daniel, but in the serobot by the envious Ellio. He wanted to be the uncle he had been.
They could only laugh at Ellio's behavior, and the third piece was given to Lea. Daniel received it while kissing Leah's forehead.
"Do you have any friends?" lea's female friend began to flirt. They were so excited to see the couple.
"If there's anything you can." says the other.
"Heh don't go on a gatel ya." chirped Lea's male classmate.
"You're on, you're shy." said the other man again.
They all came back laughing. Leah also gave her friends pieces of cake, then freed them to eat whatever was provided there.