Bitter & Sweet
The Part 56
It was already quite awkward for Chloe, as she had to be among the McLean family, while constantly getting sharp glances from Jackson.
Then, Chloe had to let her hands be held by the twin sisters, who were the center of attention in the extended family, other than Jackson.
And plus, with Matteo's babble reminding Chloe of what she did with Matteo last night.
Who can feel calm, if all of it must be experienced simultaneously?
Chloe's chest was pounding, accompanied by her breathing starting to hunt, so it felt like she might fall unconscious, due to insufficient oxygen to satisfy the needs of her lungs.
Fortunately, some other family members who awaited his arrival, soon arrived and joined there, so the dinner together then began.
At that moment, Matteo released Chloe's right hand, which he had held with his left hand, because of course Chloe and Matteo needed their hands to enjoy the dish.
Matthew, who sits to the left of Chloe.
Matthew, who is both left-handed like Matteo, can still hold Chloe's left hand using his right hand, while Matthew uses his left hand, to hold the tableware, and feed food to his mouth.
Matthew just let go of Chloe's hand, when the steak that became the main menu dinner there was served, and both himself and Chloe, both needed both hands to enjoy the dish.
Of the many members of the McLean family who had dinner together, Jordan seemed the most active to invite Jackson to talk.
However, Jackson still occasionally looked at Chloe, and looked at her intently, as if he did not care much about what Jordan was discussing with her.
Until the dinner ends, it becomes an opportunity for Chloe to separate from the McLean family, who want to have an intense conversation with Jackson.
Chloe goes to the front yard of Matthew's parents' house, and sits on a park bench there.
Suddenly, David looks to have caught up with Chloe there, then smiles widely while greeting Chloe. "Hi!"
David sat down next to Chloe.
"Hi, Sir!" Chloe greeted back, and smiled. "Why don't you join another family?"
"Can't I sit with you?" David asked back.
Chloe smiled, then shook her head. "That's not what I mean...."
"Yes ... I know," said David, then leaning on his back, relaxing on the bench.
"I'm not interested in parenting. Moreover, there must be someone who asks like, 'Where is your lover? When did you get married?'....
...Or, your 'Daddy and mommy must be looking forward to having Grandson!'....
... Tsk tsk! ... Do they think it's that easy to choose to get married? Let alone the rush to think about having children," continued David, while clucking and shaking his head.
David who mimics the movements and speech of others, while sounding like he was grumbling, was quite ridiculous for Chloe.
"Pff.ht...! Shouldn't you be getting married soon?" chloe said, laughing.
"Whether in terms of age or work you have, I think, you are more than capable of being married."
While Chloe continued her words while looking at David, the man also seemed to be paying close attention, the word-for-word chloe said.
David then hurriedly said,
"You think that's like that?"
Chloe nodded.
"The thing is, I haven't found anyone who wants to be my girlfriend. Then how should I?" said David.
Chloe shrugged both of her shoulders. "I don't know. But of course, you have to look for it first."
"What if you were my wife?" david asked, putting on a serious face.
Chloe was wide-eyed, but it soon dawned that David must be joking. "Pff.ht...! There's-There's just you this...."
Chloe who remembered something, then hurriedly continued saying,
"Oh, yes! ... Why not try a blind date? Or, do you want me to be the middleman for you?
... I will not promise. But I think I can do it for you. Because I know some women who are interested in being your lover."
David snorted violently.
"I like—"
David did not have time to finish his sentence, because Matteo's voice suddenly sounded, interrupting David's words.
"Chelle! ... David! ... What are you guys doing here?" matteo asked, then took a seat next to Chloe.
"Nothing ... We're just sitting here" Chloe replied to Matteo, then turned to David, then said,
"What did you want to say earlier, sir?"
"Later on," answered David, then grunted softly, and looked up at the sky.
"Matteo?" david continued, as if he wanted to make sure that it was not Matthew who sat with him and Chloe there.
"Yes" said Matteo, who appeared to be in the same position as David, leaning his back relaxed on the bench. "Matthew is inside."
"Hm ... Then why are you out here, sir?" chloe asked Matteo.
"I don't get along with the company talk" Matteo replied, then took Chloe's hand, and held her tightly. "I feel like an outcast."
"Don't be disappointed! ... I just want to be able to have a job like you, which does not need to be involved in problems within the company," said David, who sounded addressed to Matteo.
David then pulled Chloe by the hand, then grasped her tightly, as if he also wanted to get the attention of Chloe.
Chloe let out a long, deep sigh, as her hands were once again on target, to be held by the two people sitting flanking her right now.
Alternately, Chloe looked towards Matteo and David, while imagining how the two people could feel like her, who was uncomfortable to join their extended family.
Chloe then leaned back on the bench, relaxed the muscles that held her spine that had felt tense, and looked at the stars in the sky.
"Not ... I love someone. But I don't know if he feels the same way as me. Because he's been with other people more often, and barely sees me."
Matteo sounded without hesitation answering David's question.
And according to Chloe, right now Matteo is probably talking about Marrie.
Marrie may still be loved by Matteo, but the woman prefers to be with Eustache, and gives his attention to her new lover.
If it is true that Chloe's guess, then Matteo who does not remember that he had kissed Chloe last night, would be a good thing.
Because in doing so, Chloe can continue to pretend as if there is indeed no kiss that is a misunderstanding, which will probably only make her embarrassed when dealing with Matteo.
"Then, what about you?" Matteo asked David.
"Not much different ... I haven't had a chance to convince the woman I like, that I really love her" David replied.
"Ugh? ... Really true?" ask Chloe, curious. "I'm sorry, Sir ... Well then, I don't need to find someone for you."
"Yes ... But the thing is, the woman always thinks that I'm just kidding, every time I talk about how I feel about her" David said.
"Hm ... Forgive me, Sir ... But I think you joke too often. Actually, I think it's a good thing if it's just for friendship....
...In fact, it's your sense of humor that I like about you. But it is quite the opposite, if you still joke too often with the woman you like....
... Because the woman certainly can not believe it just like that, even though you actually have really expressed your love for her."
While looking at David, Chloe spoke at length about what was on her mind to the man.
"But, hopefully you can succeed in convincing him ... Don't give up! ... Fighting!" chloe continued, smiling broadly.
While staring at Chloe fixedly, David then gave a rough snort, then turned his face and looked back at the sky.
"Is there something wrong I'm saying, sir?" ask Chloe, who feels like David is upset right now.
And David, who didn't respond to her question, convinces Chloe that he may have spoken to David too much.
Chloe really regretted that she was too relaxed to talk to David, so she did not think long, if possible her words would only make David offended.
Therefore, carefully, Chloe then said to David.
"Truly, I have absolutely no bad intentions when I say all of those things to you....
... But apparently, I've probably been too presumptuous when talking about you, to the point of offending you... Please forgive me, sir."
David looked back at Chloe, and furrowed his brows deeply, so he looked like a confused person, and said,
"You don't have to apologize ... You think I'm upset, because I'm offended by what you say?"
Chloe paused for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Do you really not know? I'm upset, because the woman I like is—"
David could not finish his words, because suddenly Matteo cleared his throat with a loud enough voice, so Chloe and David simultaneously turned to Matteo.
And as if he was feeling upset about something, Matteo clucked and then said,
"Nrt! ... I'm thirsty ... Don't you two want something to drink?"
Both David and Chloe, just silently staring at Matteo, until Matteo stood up from his seat, then continued to say,
"Australia! ... You come with me! ... Accompany me to go grab a drink and a snack!"
Although he looked confused, but David still stood up from his seat, then followed Matteo's steps to walk into the house.
Chloe sat alone on the park bench for a long time, before Matteo and David were seen walking back to meet Chloe there.
Like a pair of old friends helping each other, Matteo carries a bottle of wine, and David is seen carrying his glasses, as well as a plate containing several mini-sized meat pie grains.
Matteo sits to the left of Chloe, and David sits to the right of Chloe.
After a while they were silent, Matteo then handed Chloe a glass of wine. "It!"
So does David, who is thrusting a plate filled with meat pie to Chloe. "It feels good."
"Thank you" said Chloe, accepting Matteo and David's gift.
While enjoying the meat pie and holding a glass of wine in their hands, the three fell silent again, as if immersed in their thoughts.
Until suddenly, Matteo then broke the silence by saying,
"Chelle! ... You already know that David and I have someone we like. Then what about you? Is there someone you like?"
Not immediately answering Matteo's question, Chloe took a sip of the wine liquid to wash her throat.
"Hm ... Which I like.... What do I mean as a lover?" chloe said, hesitating.
"Yes, of course! ... Does it already exist?" david said hurriedly, staring at Chloe fixedly.
"Hmmm...." Chloe muttered, thinking.
"Sin...!" Matteo and David both seemed impatient to wait for Chloe's answer.
"Excuse me!"
The voice of someone approaching them there attracted the attention of Chloe, Matteo, and David, and together they looked at the person, that seems to be one of Matthew's parents' domestic assistants.
"Are you Miss Chloe Fern?" asked the housekeeper, sounding cautious.
"Yes" Chloe replied. "Can I help you?"
"Mister McLean wants to meet you now" the housekeeper replied.