Part 41."Try calling me?" challenged Doctor Gaston."Ma... I can't call you that, doctor!" Clara refused, scratching her non-itchy head."Emm, okay, I won't force you!" the man said. "Now, tell me why Joe kicked you out?" he asked.Clara lowered her head, the events of earlier that evening still vivid in her mind."I went into Kimmy's room and found the oxygen tube detached from her nose, and Uncle Joe came in, thinking I was trying to harm Kimmy," Clara closed her eyes. The image of Joe, bundled with his anger, was etched clearly in her memory."Do you really like him?" Gaston inquired. He was curious if Clara pursued Joe or vice versa."Yes, I like Uncle Joe, I don't know since when exactly, but I've always looked forward to seeing him every time," Clara said. She smiled, reminiscing about her feelings of love. Every meeting with him would become an unforgettable moment."Did Joe reciprocate your feelings?" he asked again. Clara was indeed beautiful, and Gaston couldn't help but no

Part 43.Joe felt annoyed. He didn't know what was really going on. Was Gaston really interested in Clara or was his friend just teasing him? Honestly, Joe felt very emotional and provoked. How could that man make him so irritated?The clock showed 7:10 PM WIB. In Bali, it was still late afternoon. Gaston would soon take Clara back to the hotel. Hufft. The image of Clara, her smile, her strawberry lips. The man clenched his fists tightly."Gaston damn!" he muttered.He grabbed his phone and searched for Antoni's number.The call connected."Hello, good evening, Sir..." the man's greeting stopped."Cancel all my appointments for tomorrow!" Joe shouted."But... Sir, we have to...," Antoni's speech stopped again."Book a ticket to Bali for tonight!" Joe ordered."But Sir!" protested the voice on the other end."Inform me immediately!" Click. Joe ended the call.Joe tried to call Gaston, but there was no answer at all. So, he decided to call Clara."Hello," Clara greeted from the other en

Part 45.Joe and Clara were in the car. Joe sat behind the wheel, while Clara was seated beside him.Silence.There was a longing between them, but it was awkward to say it out loud.Joe parked the car in a secluded spot. He glanced at his watch, which showed 5:03 PM."Sorry for being late picking you up, Clara," Joe began the conversation."It's okay, Uncle, I'm not a priority anyway," Clara replied, stealing a quick glance at Joe. Truthfully, she missed him dearly. She wanted to ask for his warm embrace. But... She tried to hold back, not wanting to appear cheap by admiring him too much."There's Kimmy, Uncle also has to prepare to reconcile with Aunt Vivian, right now I understand my place, who I am, and who you are!" she said, lowering her head. She had just realized that love, which began with happiness, could now become unbearable pain. When the desire to possess became greater, but reality spoke otherwise. She had to try to let go."I won't marry Vivian, both you and Kimmy are

Part 47.The night grew later. The king of the night continued to reveal its light, providing illumination, piercing through the darkness. Joe lay beside Kimmy. The effects of the medicine seemed to have worn off as his little princess was still awake."Papa," called Kimmy. She changed her sleeping position to face her father."Yes, sweetheart, you're not asleep yet!" Joe pretended not to know."Not yet, Papa, Kimmy is sad!" she sighed."Why are you sad?" Joe asked."Grandma said Aunt Clara will return to her family's home, is that true?" Kimmy moved closer."Yes, Clara will return to her family's home in a week," Joe answered. His chest felt even tighter. Remembering that Clara would soon leave his house and live with her real family."Is Papa sad?" Kimmy asked."Yes, Papa is sad!" Joe admitted."Kimmy will accompany Papa." Kimmy hugged her father and kissed his cheek gently."Go to sleep, it's late, or I'll call Doctor Gaston!" Joe said jokingly."Okay Pa, Kimmy will sleep now!" the

Part 49.Afternoon, the sun was shining brightly. Joe glanced briefly at Clara, who seemed engrossed in reading a translated novel by William Shakespeare."Clara," Uncle Joe called."Yes," Clara carefully folded her book and closed it. Then, she walked over to Uncle Joe, who was sitting in his armchair.Clara stood beside Joe, looking at the laptop screen he showed her."Which one do you prefer, this one or this one?" Joe asked, pointing to two options of a pink and a purple teddy bear."Clara likes the pink one, Uncle!" Clara replied. She was sure that he wanted to buy a gift for his daughter."Alright, I'll buy you the pink one, and I'll buy Kimmy the purple one," Joe said, looking up at Clara standing beside him."For me?" Clara asked flatly."Yes, I'll buy it for you as a farewell gift before you return to your family, Clara!" he explained."Thank you, Uncle," Clara replied with a restrained smile. She walked back to the sofa feeling irritated. The owner of Blue Jewelry, a company