My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

15 || A Kiss ||

“Don’t go back to the dormitory yet as long as your feet are still sore, stay at my house!” Joe ordered, continuing to give gentle massages to Clara’s feet.

Joe didn’t dare to press on Clara’s ankles too hard.

“Okay, Uncle,” Clara replied, breathless! Then, panting.

“What’s wrong with you?” Joe asked, noticing Clara greedily inhaling oxygen as if she had just finished running.

“Nothing, Uncle.”

Clara evaded, unwilling to admit that she forgot to breathe because of his touch. Joe’s hand, rubbing her ankles, sent vibrations that stirred molecules in her blood, prompting her brain to release dopamine associated with the happiness she felt at the moment.

“Go to sleep, Clara!” Joe instructed, even though it was only 7:05 PM. He wanted Clara to rest to recover soon.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara replied shortly. Somehow, in front of Joe, she could only obey and obey.

Joe sat beside Clara’s bed. He glanced around. Tonight he would sleep on the couch. However, seeing Clara still not asleep made his eyes reluctant to close before watching Clara fall asleep.

“What are you thinking, Clara, why can’t you sleep?” Joe asked.

“Not sleepy yet, Uncle,” she replied, looking at Joe.

“Okay, I’ll wait until you get sleepy!” Joe said, adjusting the blanket Clara was using.

“Uncle, can you tell me about Mom and Dad first?” Clara requested.

“Why do you suddenly want me to tell you about your parents when you often stop me when I want to talk about them?” the man protested. Though tired and sleepy, he had intended to accompany Clara until she fell asleep.

“Clara wants to remember their kindness, so that this nightmare doesn’t come again!” Clara said, her expression turning sad.

“Didn’t you stop having that nightmare since you were 10, Clara?” That’s what Joe remembered.

“No, Uncle, lately that dream has come back, and I haven’t been able to sleep again after waking up because of that scary dream,” Clara recounted.

“Don’t worry, tonight I’m here,” Joe joked. “Okay, I’ll start telling you about your parents, Clara,” he added enthusiastically.

Clara focused her hearing. Getting ready to listen to Uncle Joe telling stories about her parents.

“Once, when you were around 5 years old, I lived in your parents’ house in England, Clara, do you know what was most memorable about your Dad?” Joe tried to grab the girl’s attention.

“What, Uncle?”

“Even though I was a stranger living with Devano and Cella, they always waited for me to come home before we had dinner together,” Joe recounted. His memories seemed to return to the past.

Joe kept telling stories until Clara got sleepy.

“Clara,” Uncle Joe called from the chair next to Clara’s bed.

“Yes, Uncle,” she replied, with barely awake eyes.

“Go to sleep soon, I want you to recover and get better soon,” he said. His eyes stared seriously at Clara’s face.

The man’s gaze made Clara melt, kneel, and dare not object. Slowly, she put down her phone again. Then, she lay back down. Her heart was beating very fast because the man had been watching her for quite a while.

“Is Uncle Joe going to accompany Clara to sleep here?” Clara asked softly.

The man didn’t respond at all. Clara waited for Uncle Joe to say something, but until Clara fell asleep faster due to the influence of the medicine she had just taken, the man didn’t say anything.

Clara was already asleep, her breathing regular and her eyes tightly closed. Joe, still sitting next to the girl, couldn’t help but admire the beautiful sight in front of him.

Slowly, Joe wiped the sweat from Clara’s forehead. He pushed her hair back behind her ears.

Joe planted a kiss on Clara’s forehead, carried away by his feelings.

Then, he quickly pulled his face away from Clara.

Joe decided to sleep on the sofa.

====?====

The next morning.

Clara woke up and found Joe sitting next to her. The man was watching her.

Clara hit her head. Yes, last night she had a weird dream.

Uncle Joe kissed me!

Huh! It seems like I’m starting to hallucinate.

“Are you feeling dizzy?” Joe asked, seeing Clara hitting her own head.

“No, Uncle,” Clara replied.

Stopping her hand movement.

“The doctor will come here soon and examine you!” Joe explained.

“Yes, Uncle.”

Clara got up and leaned against a pillow.

Not long after, the doctor arrived, examined Clara, and allowed her to go home.

====???====

“I can walk on my own, Uncle!” Clara insisted, not wanting Joe to carry her. She didn’t want to let her wild imagination continue to roll in her mind. She had to be aware, her love had been rejected. It was impossible for her to keep accepting kindness from accepting every touch of the man while his heart was not for her. Joe was clearly not interested in her.

“Really?” Joe asked to make sure.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara replied firmly, carrying her uniform bag. Then she walked ahead, enduring the pain in her feet. Joe walked behind her. He was not sure if the girl’s feet were fully healed.

And indeed, when they reached the stairs leading to the underground parking lot, Clara almost fell. Joe swiftly grabbed her.

“Quiet! Don’t refuse, let me carry you!” Joe firmly carried Clara down the stairs towards his car.

Joe sat in the driver’s seat. Clara sat next to him.

Silence!

Only the sound of Clara’s rapidly and loudly beating heart seemed to be heard by someone sitting next to her.

The car started moving at a moderate speed. Leaving the parking area towards Joe’s residence.

Midway through the journey, Clara felt something coming out and wet in that area below, in her body’s sensitive part. Then she took out her phone from her bag. Checking the date displayed on her lock screen. Spending one night with Joe made her forget everything, including forgetting the day and date today. Clara’s menstrual cycle was regular every month, always at the beginning of the month.

Clara covered her mouth. Forgetting that today was the first day of her period.

What should I do?

I can’t ask Uncle Joe to buy me sanitary pads!

But if I keep sitting here and later wet the car seat???

That would be more dangerous and Uncle Joe could scold me!! This is a super expensive car!!

Clara scooted while the fluid below continued uncontrollably. Coming out more forcefully, she could feel it.

“U… Uncle…,” Clara called out hesitantly.

“Could you please stop the car?” Clara requested.

“Where to?”

Joe started to feel anxious due to a sudden meeting with his client.

“Stop at that mini-market, Uncle,” Clara requested.

Joe complied and pulled over his car.

Without answering, Clara quickly got out of the car. However, Joe noticed the red stain on Clara’s pants as well as on his car seat. He was stunned, torn between wanting to get angry and not knowing what to do.

Joe hurriedly got out of his seat. He walked quickly, approaching Clara, then grabbed the girl’s hand.

“What’s wrong, Uncle?” Clara asked.

Joe took off his jacket and tied it around Clara’s waist. Without saying a word, Joe carried Clara back into the car.

Then, Joe went into the mini-market and bought sanitary pads for Clara. He then returned to the car. He handed the woman’s supplies to Clara.

“Next time, don’t let it happen like this, Clara!” that’s all that came out of Joe’s mouth. He wanted to get angry because his car seat was dirty. However, he couldn’t bear to scold Clara.

“Yes, Uncle, I’m sorry!” Clara said.

Joe fell silent, starting the car’s engine and driving at a moderate speed. Throughout the journey, they remained silent, busy with their own thoughts. Joe was busy thinking about his love for his ex-wife, while Clara was busy with her feelings still admiring Joe even though the man never glanced at her even once.

Upon arriving at Joe’s residence, Clara was attended to by one of the female servants in the house. Meanwhile, Joe chose to meet with his daughter.

Not much was done by Joe; he only kissed and hugged his little daughter, then chose to talk to his ex-wife.

“Mom,” Joe called as he sat beside Mrs. Linn.

“Yes, dear, how is Clara?” the woman asked.

“Clara will stay here for a while, her foot is sprained and I can’t bear to leave her alone in the dorm!” Joe said.

“Yes, dear, mama doesn’t mind, if Clara wants to stay here, mama won’t object,” Mrs. Linn replied. With Clara in the house, she wouldn’t feel lonely. Clara’s cheerful aura brought color to the house. Actually, three years ago when Clara decided to stay in the dorm, Mrs. Linn was sad. However, she couldn’t do much because Vivian also didn’t like her much.

“As for that, let Clara decide later, Ma!” Joe replied. “I’ll take a shower, and I have to go to work soon, Ma!” he added.

“Yes!” Mrs. Linn smiled at her son. She felt relieved that Joe didn’t seem sad anymore.

===?===

Cold water always invigorated Joe. For a moment as he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he remembered Clara.

“How dare she confess her love to me!” Joe muttered. The next moment, he rubbed his lips. Last night, he had kissed Clara’s forehead. “Nonsense! I will never like you, Clara, you’re not my type!” the man muttered again, shaking his head.

After combing his hair and applying perfume, Joe decided to leave the room. He didn’t forget to kiss his daughter’s forehead.

“Kimmy, daddy’s leaving, okay!” he bid farewell.

The little girl nodded, returning to her caregiver’s care. Joe descended the stairs. Then, he stepped onto the terrace. He found Clara sitting there.

“You’re not resting? Rest inside, so your foot can heal quickly and don’t walk too much!” Joe advised. There was a caring feeling welling up inside him.

“No, Uncle, I don’t feel comfortable inside the room!” Clara replied. She intentionally sat on the veranda because she wanted to watch Joe leave for work. The kiss last night was a good sign. Perhaps the mature man had changed his mind, and was giving her a little chance.

“It’s up to you!” Joe replied, staring at Clara for too long, causing him to remember the events of last night. Hah! He was sure it was all because he got carried away. Not because he liked Clara.

Clara swallowed hard. Joe was indifferent!

“Wait!” Joe said, turning to Clara. “About last night, I want to make it clear that it didn’t mean anything, Clara!” Joe explained, not wanting the girl to misunderstand.

“And then?” Clara, who had already hoped, replied.

“I know you like me, but you should also know that I could never like a little girl like you, I only see you as a sister!” the man explained again. Compared to Vivian, his ex-wife whom he still loved, Clara was nothing. Joe didn’t want to hurt Clara, nor did he want to give her false hope.

“I already know, Uncle!” Clara replied, meeting Joe’s gaze without fear. “Uncle may not like me, but I will keep liking Uncle Joe! Just wait and see, Uncle Joe will like me later!” she added boldly.

“Nonsense, when did she start going CRAZY!” Joe muttered as he walked away towards his car.

Clara just chuckled. She hid her sadness. It seemed like last night’s kiss meant nothing to Joe. It was completely different from how she interpreted the kiss, full of meaning.