My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

**7 || No Response ||**

Clara remained silent, waiting for Joe to do something. However, her hope seemed to vanish as Joe didn’t bring a tray to feed her.

Joe continued to be engrossed in his phone until he stood up and walked toward Clara.

“It seems I can’t wait for you here. Today, rest, and I’ll be back in the evening to take you back to the dormitory. Take care! I have some work waiting for me!” His voice was as heavy as usual. Despite having just showered and not getting enough sleep, he still looked handsome, even while just standing there in silence.

“Okay, Uncle,” Clara responded, disappointed.

She played with her fingers while looking down.

Her hopes were shattered. She thought that by hugging her last night, Uncle Joe would pay more attention to her, but no! The incident seemed to mean nothing to her idol. Proof of that was Uncle Joe now walking towards the door, leaving her alone in the seemingly spacious treatment room.

Around 2 PM, after school hours, the door to the treatment room opened, and a nurse accompanied Nadia to Clara’s room.

Nadia didn’t come alone. Mario followed behind her. Mario, a male student in the same class as Clara since the tenth grade, had stuck with her through the twelfth grade.

Clara, who initially felt very bored, became cheerful with their arrival.

“What happened to you?” Nadia walked closer, looking worried since Clara was fine yesterday. She was surprised when the homeroom teacher announced that Clara was hospitalized.

“Last night, I got stuck in an elevator, and I passed out,” Clara replied, recalling the unfortunate incident.

“Did you get stuck in the elevator with your Uncle Joe?” Nadia exclaimed enthusiastically. She couldn’t wait to hear the next part of the story. It must be more exciting than Clara’s previous tales.

Clara nodded softly, holding back a smile, remembering the dinner, just the two of them – could it be considered a date?

“Who is Uncle Joe?” Mario inquired, breaking his silence.

Nadia and Clara exchanged glances, staying silent and waiting for the other to speak.

Silence. No one could provide an answer.

In reality, Mario was deeply worried upon hearing about Clara being in the hospital. In the three years of being in the same class with Clara, this was the first time she didn’t attend school due to illness. Mario’s forehead creased as his eyebrows knitted together, showing his displeasure upon learning that Clara was alone with a man. Since their first meeting during orientation week, Mario had liked Clara. He even personally requested the school authorities to be in the same class as Clara. However, up to this point, Mario hadn’t dared to confess his feelings to Clara. He planned to reveal all his hidden emotions to her after graduation.

Many students admired Clara at school. She was beautiful, smart, and friendly, but Clara wasn’t easily swayed by love. Whenever a male student approached her, she remained indifferent, showing no reaction. Consequently, over time, all the boys at school who liked her distanced themselves.

However, not Mario. He remained consistent. Clara was the only girl who met his criteria.

Observing the reactions of the two girls in front of him, Mario tried to ask about something else.

“When can you go home, Clara?” Mario’s voice was higher than before, containing a suppressed irritation. He continued to wonder.

Who is Uncle Joe?

What is his connection to Clara?

Why did Nadia mention Uncle Joe as if the man belonged to Clara?

Mario’s heart heated up, burning with the flames of jealousy, even before he saw the man named Joe.

“I can go home this evening, and maybe I’ll be back at school tomorrow. Don’t worry; I’m fine!” Clara replied.

Nadia smiled, feeling relieved to hear her friend was okay.

“Then, who will pick you up and take you home later?” Mario asked, even more curious. He didn’t want Joe to be the one to take Clara home.

“Someone will pick me up and take me back to the dormitory,” Clara replied flatly, looking displeased with Mario’s apparent disapproval.

“Is it Uncle Joe who will take you home?” Nadia asked with sparkling eyes.

Nadia and Mario stared sharply at Clara, waiting impatiently for her answer.

Clara nodded slightly, a thin smile gracing her lips. Her cheeks even appeared slightly flushed.

Initially, Mario just wanted to get a glimpse and make sure Clara was okay. However, after witnessing Clara’s radiant happiness about the man named Joe coming to pick her up, Mario changed his mind. He decided to stay at the hospital until Clara was picked up. He was very curious about this Joe person. Consequently, he reluctantly decided to skip his scheduled private physics and chemistry lessons this afternoon.

Nadia clapped her hands, fully understanding Clara’s immense joy. Clara treated the brown envelope containing the money given by Joe as if it were the most precious treasure. And now, with Joe offering to take her home, Clara might not shower for another three days.

Nadia and Clara started chatting about various things, excluding Joe from their conversation. Meanwhile, Mario sat on the sofa, waiting, and indulging in his favorite online game.

At 5:15 PM, Joe entered Clara’s room. He was wearing a black sweater paired with matching jeans. It was a sharp contrast to his fair face and hands.

Nadia and Clara swallowed nervously, watching the man full of charisma walking towards them. Even from a distance, the fragrance of his cologne filled the room.

A nurse who walked ahead of Joe stood next to Clara, removing the IV from her hand and then covering the puncture site.

“I will take you home,” Joe said firmly. Clara and Joe exchanged a fleeting gaze. Joe seemed nonchalant, but not for Clara. Her heart raced just because of one second of eye contact with him.

Nadia helped Clara down from her bed. Then, she invited Mario to leave. Joe walked at the front, while Clara, Nadia, and Mario walked side by side behind him.

This was the first time Mario met Joe. One thing he understood immediately was that Clara was not Joe’s type. Joe was too mature for Clara, who was only 17. Another thing, Mario acknowledged that Joe was cool, handsome, full of aura, trendy, charismatic, and masculine. However, Mario was confident that when he grew up, he would be cooler and more handsome than the man in black walking ahead.

“Why are you like this?” Clara asked, noticing Mario preparing to hit Joe from behind.

[To be continued…]