My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

9.

Days at school felt bland with the usual routine. Clara eagerly anticipated Sunday, the day Joe promised to take her shopping.

Sunday morning arrived. Clara stirred her closet, looking for her best clothes, but found none. Eventually, she settled for casual attire. Clara had never bought clothes, not because the money Joe gave her was too little, but because she preferred saving money rather than spending it on clothes, considering she would start college soon. She couldn’t rely on Uncle Joe for the rest of her life.

Joe: [Come down quickly! I’ve arrived!]

Clara opened the incoming message.

“I’m leaving now!” Clara informed.

“Have fun!” Nadia replied.

Clara quickly went down, walking briskly towards the gate.

“Clara, come in!” Joe requested, throwing a sweet smile at the young girl walking towards him. Meeting Clara momentarily distracted him from his impending divorce proceedings.

“Alright, Uncle,” Clara replied, running a little to reach him. Joe opened the door, and Clara sat in the car beside him. She was overjoyed to be out with the man who filled her heart.

‘This is our second date, right, Uncle! I’ll consider it that way! Don’t protest; let me daydream freely.’

Clara laughed, realizing she was too infatuated with him.

“Put on your seatbelt,” Joe instructed. He was ready to drive.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara answered enthusiastically. Spreading joy because such moments were rare. Usually, Joe would only take her on vacation or shopping once a year, during the second-semester break. But this time, it was just the beginning of the semester.

The car started moving through the city streets, heading towards the shopping center. Clara occasionally glanced at the man sitting beside her; she wouldn’t waste this opportunity.

Uncle Joe parked the car, stopped it, then got out. He opened the car door for Clara. They walked side by side into the mall.

Joe unintentionally touched Clara’s thigh, which was only covered by shorts, making the girl suppress a giggle and sometimes smile to herself. They genuinely looked like they were on a date-one handsome adult man and a sweet-looking young girl.

They stopped at a women’s clothing store.

Clara started picking out clothes she liked. A pretty salesgirl was accompanying her. Meanwhile, Joe just sat and waited, feeling a sense of sadness. Accompanying Vivian’s shopping would never happen again.

Joe observed a group of young men looking at Clara with mischievous glances-curious looks at Clara. Understandable; Clara’s skin was very fair, her black hair sweet, not too tall. She wore rather daring clothes-short jeans and a short-sleeved shirt with a wide collar that revealed her ample chest.

Joe walked over to Clara.

“Next time, don’t wear shorts!” he ordered, glancing at Clara’s thighs. He was tempted if he lingered too long looking at that part. However, he couldn’t admit it.

“Why, Uncle? This is very comfortable, and I like it,” Clara replied, indifferent to the lecherous stares from the young men.

“And don’t wear this thin shirt!” Joe ordered, pointing to Clara’s somewhat see-through shirt. His expression showed his annoyance.

“Why, Uncle, this is light and comfortable for hot weather like this,” Clara replied excitedly. She didn’t understand the meaning behind Joe’s instructions.

“Alright, suit yourself!” Joe replied, irritated at having to argue with Clara. He liked Clara wearing that shirt, but he wasn’t willing if someone else saw it.

“Have you chosen the clothes you want?” Joe asked, seeing Clara’s shopping bags.

The girl nodded.

“Okay, I’ll pay for them,” Joe said, handing his credit card to the cashier.

They both walked to the ground floor via the escalator.

“Let’s eat!” Joe invited.

“Just ice cream, Uncle,” Clara replied, remembering Joe’s promise some time ago.

“Okay,” Joe replied.

Then, intending to take Clara to the ice cream shop nearby.

Clara placed her shopping bags on the back seat, sitting next to Joe. She wouldn’t waste this precious opportunity.

Upon arriving at the ice cream shop, Joe went in alone, deliberately not letting Clara exit the car as many guys crowded the entrance.

Joe took some ice cream boxes and paid. Then, he returned to the car. Feeling relieved because one by one he fulfilled his promises to Clara.

“Thank you, Uncle!” Clara said, looking at the ice cream box with shining eyes. It had been so long since she enjoyed the sweet and soft treat that melted in her mouth. Of course, she would share it with Nadia.

The car started moving at a moderate speed. Unfortunately, they got stuck in traffic and had to spend a long time alone in the car.

“It’s crowded, Uncle,” Clara said.

“Be patient, it’s Sunday, you know,” Joe replied.

“Uncle, is Kimmy going to school now?” Clara asked, suddenly remembering Joe’s child. The divorce of the parents would certainly have an impact on their child.

“Kimmy hasn’t started school yet; she’s only three years old,” he answered. “Oh yeah, Clara, where are you going to continue college? I’ll help you prepare!” Joe suddenly remembered that Clara was almost graduating from high school.

“Clara’s still confused, Uncle,” she answered honestly.

“Oh, okay, when you’ve decided, tell me immediately!” said Joe looking ahead. The traffic jam is getting longer, as seen from the Google map on the cellphone screen.

“Yes.”

Silence, both people were busy with their thoughts.

“What about Uncle Joe’s divorce?” Clara asked bravely. The reason is that he can still feel the sadness and destruction that Joe feels.

“Tomorrow, the first hearing, with mediation on the agenda, I will not come to speed up the whole process!” said the man, looking down. Vivian, that name is still etched in my heart, the only one until this moment. Even when that woman disappointed him, in Joe’s heart and mind there was only that woman.

“Cheer up, Uncle, whatever happens in the future, it’s the best for Uncle, keep smiling.”

Clara tries to encourage Joe. That’s all he can do.

Shut up! Joe didn’t answer. He chose to look down to hide his sadness.

“It’s hot,” complained Clara, pretending to wipe her sweat. Breaking the silence, actually, he just didn’t want Joe to linger in sadness.

His body started to get hot, and his thin t-shirt stuck to his body. The thin material makes the skin of the body visible very clearly. Making Joe look at Clara. Observe it for a few seconds longer.

For the second time, he agreed with Mario, Clara was really sweet.

Clara fanned her hands, but the cold air conditioner still made her hot. Looking right and left, look for a place to avoid this traffic jam. His habit of rarely leaving the dormitory made him unable to control his emotions when he was stuck in traffic.

“Uncle, let’s go to the park and eat ice cream,” said Clara. Found a great idea to entertain Joe.

“Okay, let’s wait until the T-junction, shall we?” Joe answered, his eyes briefly fixated on Kayla’s chest which he thought looked so charming. Normal! It had been more than three months since he had received warmth from Vivian. Restraining lust is something torturous for a young man like him. It is impossible to eat snacks outside, he is afraid of many infectious diseases.

“Yes, Uncle,” answered Clara, still busy moving her t-shirt and sometimes blowing at her chest. How hot!

Uncle Joe saw Clara’s silly behavior, it made him smile to himself. That girl is adorable. He covered his lips with his left hand, not wanting Clara to see him when he laughed. The attached t-shirt allowed him to guess what the girl’s underwear number was.

Danger! If he spends too long with Clara, his fantasies run wild.

Wake up, Joe! Clara is still 17 years old, and not your type!

The car started to move slowly, and after reaching the T-junction Joe turned the car into the City Park which was not far from the dormitory where Clara lived.

There are not too many visitors because the parking lot is still free. The weather is also hot, which makes people reluctant to go to the park. By late afternoon the park will be busy.

“Come here,” said Uncle Joe as he stopped his car on the side of the road, lined up with other vehicles.

“Yes, Uncle,” said Clara, carrying a box of ice cream. She will give another box of ice cream to Nadian. He opened the door and got out of the car.

They walk side by side. All eyes were focused on the two of them. One tall, handsome man with a strong aura, beside him, was a young, petite, and sexy-looking girl in the clothes she was wearing.

“Wear this!” said Uncle Joe as he gave Clara his jacket so that his exposed chest wouldn’t be visible to anyone who saw it.

“What’s wrong Uncle, it’s hot!” Clara refused. Give the warm clothes to their owner.

“Let’s obey Clara,” urged Uncle Joe in a deep and serious voice. Making Clara unable to refuse. “If you argue I won’t buy you ice cream anymore!” threatened Joe.

“Yes, Uncle,” said Clara smilingly. She complied when Uncle Joe put the jacket on his shoulders.

They sat on one of the chairs in the garden. Enjoy ice cream while watching people passing by. Clara also noticed the man sitting beside her. She was busy eating ice cream, just like her. The air blowing under the tree made the man’s aura radiate even more and he looked handsome.

It’s so sweet, sitting together enjoying ice cream in the city park with the person we love, Uncle Joe, I want to be the ice cream you eat, Clara thought mischievously. Even though Joe never once touched his ice cream. Yes, he still thinks too much about his divorce.

“Why are you smiling to yourself, Clara?” Uncle Joe asked, stopping Clara from imagining things.

“Uh…, no, Uncle,” answered Clara, surprised. She pursed her lips tightly and met the man’s sharp gaze.

“Wait a moment,” Uncle Joe replied, lowering his gaze to observe Clara’s face.

Clara fell silent; being that close to Uncle Joe made her heart beat faster. Her tongue was tied, her lips sealed, and her eyes closed. She even forgot to breathe.

Uncle Joe cleaned the ice cream stain on Clara’s lips with the back of his hand, causing the girl to stop breathing out of nervousness. Her body felt like it was hit by an electric shock; the man’s touch always made Clara react excessively.

“Haah…,” Clara’s breath escaped as if she had just sprinted away from a chasing dog. Her left hand gripped her chest, trying to control her erratic heartbeat.

“Are you not breathing?” Uncle Joe asked, puzzled.

“I just forgot to breathe, Uncle,” she replied, biting her lower lip to control her nervousness.

“You’re funny!” Joe chuckled, talking to Clara successfully made her forget her burdens and problems.

Uncle Joe was busy with his ice cream, enjoying the cold and sweet treat slowly. Clara frequently glanced in his direction, not wanting to miss that moment when Uncle Joe’s lips caught the ice cream from the spoon and pushed it into his mouth. Clara wished she could replace that ice cream.

‘Someday, I’m sure I’ll become the ice cream that’s currently on your lips, Uncle. Wait for me, okay? I want to grow up and become a beautiful woman, worthy of you.’

“Clara, why are you looking at me like that?” Joe asked. “Is there ice cream on my lips?” he joked again.

“Just a moment, Uncle, let me clean it!” Clara replied, lying; actually, she just wanted to touch Joe’s lips.

Soft. Wet!

After finishing their ice cream, they both returned to the car, ready to go home. Clara always looked at the man with admiration, more and more as time passed. It made Joe see Clara’s gaze several times, which he thought wasn’t an ordinary look but one filled with love and meaning.

“Clara?”

Joe’s voice snapped Clara out of her daydreams. Wandering around freely.

“Yes,” she replied shortly, immediately lowering her head.

“Don’t look at me like that!” he said, surprising Clara, who was lost in her thoughts. His voice was loud and firm!

“Sorry, Uncle,” Clara whispered, realizing there was something different about Uncle Joe. She lowered her gaze again, avoiding eye contact with the man.

Joe didn’t respond to Clara’s apology, but he looked at her with a sense of inquiry. Making Clara regret being too bold to stare at him without hiding or stealing glances.

Don’t be careless, Clara! Don’t let Uncle Joe find out everything right now. You don’t even have anything for him to love; realize that you’re just an unfortunate girl who won’t be able to live well without mercy from this man!All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

The car stopped in front of the dorm gate.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Clara said, taking her shopping bags. Not forgetting the ice cream she would give to Nadia.

“Yes,” Joe replied briefly.

Clara entered the dorm after making sure she saw Joe’s car driving away.

To be Continue..