28. A New Mother Figure
"I heard that someone went out for fun yesterday. Who was it? Why isn't there any story about it?" Eston raised his voice as he stepped up to the dining table. His booming voice distracted Diego, Stellina, and Arianna who had gathered for breakfast.
Eston's arrival and his words made Arianna immediately spread a smile. Enthusiastically, Arianna raised one hand while prancing in her seat.
"Me! Me!" Arianna replied exclaiming, her smiling smile unavoidable. "Yesterday I was the one who went to have fun with Mommy!"
Eston was already sitting in his seat and was intrigued after hearing Arianna's words. He was slightly surprised to witness Arianna's enthusiastic reaction to his answer, briefly glancing at Stellina with an amused smile.
Meanwhile, Stellina felt a bit nervous at being looked at by Eston. She did nothing but shake her head at Arianna's behavior, letting Arianna tell her story.
"Oh, is that so? Did you go with mom?" asked Eston as he picked up the cutlery.
Diego and Stellina hadn't said anything yet. They both watched Arianna and Eston's interaction in turn.
Diego was secretly curious about Arianna's experience yesterday. Because he hadn't heard any stories from Fabian, Arianna, or Stellina.
"Yes, it was fun. My mom and I did a lot of shopping, Grandpa! Papa also gave me a lot of pocket money!" Arianna complained so passionately to Eston.
Eston's gaze now shifted to Diego, as if to declare himself proud, just as he had to Stellina. Eston then returned his attention to Arianna very intensely.
"Is the money from papa enough?" Eston asked.
Arianna nodded again for the umpteenth time. "Of course, Grandpa. If you had come with me and mom yesterday, you would have seen me buy lots of new clothes! And, did you know? I got some really pretty clothes! I also bought the same clothes as mom. Mom, what do you call the same clothes?"
"Couple clothes," Stellina replied with a chuckle. She couldn't help but be amused by how passionate Arianna was about her story.
Diego raised his eyebrows, instantly more interested in Arianna's story.
"You and mom bought couple clothes?" Diego asked after leaning over to Arianna.
Receiving Diego's curious gaze, Arianna smiled mischievously. With an expression on her face that wanted to tease Diego, Arianna nodded proudly.
"Of course, Papa. I have a couple outfits with mom. It's so cute!" Arianna wiggled her body in excitement as she held the doll tighter.
After Arianna answered, Diego then put on a pouty expression. His lips were drawn forward like a sulking child.
"Didn't you buy a couple's outfit for papa too?" Diego said pleadingly. "We can wear couple clothes together. You, mom, and-"
"No, it's just me and mom," Arianna replied with a smile that grew even more mischievous.
Suddenly, Diego's hopeful smile, which had curved slightly, faded in an instant. Diego sighed heavily as his shoulders slumped limply. Slowly, like a man who has lost hope, Diego lowered his seat.
"Papa is so sad..." Diego said in a weak voice. "Why didn't you buy him one?"
"Papa can buy his own," Arianna replied casually and innocently. "Papa has a lot of money. It's also his fault for not being able to go with me and mom."
Hearing that, Stellina couldn't help but laugh. Stellina immediately covered her own mouth to cover her mocking laughter.
Eston, meanwhile, could only chuckle, and Diego gave Stellina an annoyed look.
Diego's annoyance did not last long. The look on his face turned back into a teasing smile at Arianna.
"Well, then you'll have to buy papa some couple's clothes," Diego replied, coaxing and acting threatening.
Unfortunately, Arianna was not scared by Diego's fierce expression. Arianna lifted her chin and smiled mockingly at Diego.
"But papa has to come along and give me more money for shopping!" Arianna counter-offered.
Diego was surprised because he didn't expect it. "Wow, what did you hear? Why is your daughter already able to make a counteroffer?"
Arianna just smiled proudly after hearing Diego's praise. Arianna was just happy that she could tease Diego, her papa, and luckily not upset him.
"I want to have more fun. Yesterday, I didn't just go shopping with my mom," Arianna said once again, continuing her sentence. "I also had ice cream! Near the clothes shop, there's an ice cream shop, Papa and Grandpa! Do papa and grandpa know that I can eat ice cream with Uncle Fabian?"
Hearing Fabian's name mentioned along with the ice cream, Diego and Eston spontaneously stopped eating. Diego almost choked on his food.
"Uncle Fabian? Eating ice cream?" Diego looked at Arianna in disbelief.
Then the direction of Diego's gaze turned to Fabian who was standing not far from the dining table. Not only Diego, but also Eston and Stellina. All these looks made Fabian suddenly misbehave and look down while pretending to wipe his face - even though he wanted to cover part of his face.
Diego was still surprised. So was Eston. Because they both knew that Fabian couldn't eat ice cream. Also, never once with Diego or Eston, Fabian had relaxed to enjoy ice cream.
As a result, Diego smiled wryly because he knew Fabian would be forced and could not refuse Arianna's request.
"Yes, Uncle Fabian ate ice cream, Papa. Right, Uncle?" Arianna exclaimed at the end of the sentence as she faced her sitting position towards Fabian, inviting him to talk.
Fabian just smiled awkwardly while holding up his thumb, nodding slightly.
Arianna shook her head left and right with a proud smile. As if she was proud to be able to invite Fabian to eat ice cream.
"Poor Uncle Fabian. I've never seen him eat ice cream," Arianna complained like a child.
Diego couldn't help but laugh, albeit briefly. "Arianna, do you know that Uncle Fabian doesn't like ice cream?"
With a spoon in her mouth, Arianna looked confused.
"What?" Arianna briefly looked at Fabian and then back at Diego. "Why doesn't Uncle Fabian like ice cream, Papa? Yesterday, Uncle Fabian wanted to eat ice cream."
Diego immediately shook his head with an incredulous smile. Arianna must not have understood anything.
"Well, Uncle Fabian might like ice cream after eating with you, Arianna." Diego's words slightly nudged Fabian who was holding his embarrassment where he stood.
Fabian still stood his ground even though he wanted to cover his face tightly. Very embarrassed.
"It's okay. I'll make Uncle Fabian like ice cream!" Arianna exclaimed very cheerfully.
Stellina couldn't help but laugh after witnessing Arianna's behavior from earlier. Stellina couldn't resist pinching Arianna's cheeks, just lightly, and made Arianna chuckle as well.
"How did you get Uncle Fabian to like ice cream?" Diego asked as he shook his head in astonishment.
Arianna just enjoyed her food while swaying her body to and fro. Her hands were still clutching the doll that Fabian had gotten yesterday from the doll claw game.
Realizing that Arianna had been holding the doll since before, Eston finally couldn't hold back his curiosity.
Eston then asked, "Arianna, where did you get that doll?"
Arianna stopped moving her body left and right and turned her gaze to Eston. Arianna immediately raised the doll low, at chest level, then grinned.
"I forgot to tell you about this doll!" Then Arianna seemed to change her sitting position to make it more comfortable. "Om Fabian played the puppet game."
For the second time, Diego almost choked on his food. Between small coughs, Diego looked at Arianna in confusion.
"Om Fabian plays the puppet game?" Diego asked. "What do you mean, Arianna?"
Arianna nodded innocently. "The doll game, Papa..."
"The doll claw game, Diego. Do you know a doll claw machine?" Stellina interjected so she could explain more clearly.
Diego immediately put on an expression of disbelief. Still speechless, Diego turned his gaze to Fabian. This was already the second time he had heard something so unexpected from Fabian.
"Since when did Fabian get to play the doll claw machine?" Diego asked Stellina.
Stellina shook her head with a nervous smile. She gave Fabian a quick glance, then squared her shoulders.
"I didn't expect Fabian to change so much in front of Arianna," Eston replied afterwards. On the other hand, Eston couldn't help but giggle as well.
"Fabian has a hidden talent," Diego replied, deliberately poking fun at Fabian's ignorance. "Are you happy, Arianna?"
"Very happy! Mama accompanied me shopping and let me try on clothes! Mom and I also got to eat ice cream!" replied Arianna happily. She couldn't help but smile.
Diego and Eston, on the other hand, couldn't say anything. Seeing Arianna who was beaming and couldn't hide her happiness, Diego and Eston suddenly felt calm inside.
Diego secretly watched Stellina, who was joking around at the time. Stellina poked Arianna's nose briefly because she was feeling anxious, then Arianna also wanted to hold Stellina's nose. Then the two of them talked about nothing until they were both giggling.
A sight like this made Diego arch a smile. Diego couldn't hide his happiness. In all the years since Arianna was born, Diego had never seen Arianna get such warm treatment from a mother figure-Stellina.
As he watched Arianna and Stellina interact, Diego wondered if Arianna could laugh with a mother figure from the beginning. As it was now. Stellina was so much like Vellina that Diego felt his heart throbbing with pain.
If the figure beside Arianna had been the real Vellina, perhaps Arianna would have felt the warmth of a mother figure. But now Stellina could begin to repay Arianna's loneliness.
Arianna deserved this kind of love.
"We'll go for another walk later, Mama!" Arianna asked Stellina with an enthusiastic gesture.
Stellina gave a thumbs up and showed the same enthusiasm.
"Of course! We'll enjoy our time together again. Agreed?" Stellina then gave an upraised little finger.
Arianna also raised her little finger and linked it to Stellina's. "Agreed! I'm happy to be able to enjoy time with you!"
Diego was genuinely grateful that Stellina had finally gotten Arianna to enjoy some mommy time. Even though Stellina was only pretending to be Vellina, Diego was convinced: Stellina was not pretending to love Arianna.
-----
Diego's steps slowly moved into the room. His eyes were immediately greeted by the sight of Stellina relaxing near the balcony.
Diego walked over to where Stellina was. After a few steps behind Stellina, Diego stopped and watched her back.
"Stellina," Diego called out, reprimanding Stellina.
Stellina's shoulders jerked in surprise, immediately turning her gaze back. Stellina was immediately wide-eyed at Diego's presence.
"Since when have you been standing there?" asked Stellina in surprise.
"Just now," Diego replied, shoving both hands into his pants pockets. "What were you doing there? Have you been daydreaming outside the window?"
Stellina, whose shock had subsided, nodded her head. "Yes, I've been here ever since. Why?"
Diego smiled sarcastically. "Like someone who doesn't know what to do. I was going to tell you that I'm going to the factory today."
Stellina frowned. "Today?" she asked confused. "Why all of a sudden?"
"It's not sudden, but I scheduled it for today," Diego replied. "And I wanted to check how the workers at the factory were doing. Whether or not they're comfortable with the new policies now that I'm in charge."
Pausing for a moment, Stellina nodded her head repeatedly. Stellina then curved her smile and remembered something.
"Oh, I want to leave something. Please let me know as soon as you're done checking on the workers."
Diego raised his eyebrows. Noticing the hopeful look in Stellina's eyes, Diego understood something.
"Do you miss them?" Diego guessed.
"Huh?" Stellina looked surprised. "How did you guess that?"
Diego chuckled, just briefly, then showed pride in himself.
"Even though I look like a bad person, I can understand people's feelings."
Stellina's sparkling smile faded as soon as she heard Diego's answer. Stellina immediately looked flat and annoyed.
"Ah, annoying. Your reaction is so arrogant," Stellina grumbled in exasperation. "The point is, I miss them and want to know how they're doing. Please let me know, okay?"
Stellina didn't move, and neither did Diego. Stellina imagined herself always visiting the factory with Enrico, her father. That's why she was known so well by the workers. Those days are very much in her memory.
"I was always happy to be around them, and I considered them my own family," Stellina continued as she recalled her experiences with Enrico.
"Would you like to come there with me?" Diego offered.
Stellina came to her senses. "Huh? No need, I can't come today. You'll have to take care of other business at the same time, right?"
Diego laughed a little at that. He would indeed be doing other work at the same time. Stellina was someone who could understand that.
As he stepped toward the window ledge where Stellina was, Diego said, "I think you've really missed it. That's why I'm offering it to you."
Stellina was a little surprised when Diego was next to her. Without hesitation, Diego moved closer until the toes of their shoes were only an inch apart. Stellina gazed intensely into Diego's eyes, making her heart almost stop beating.
"Y-yes... I do miss them..." Stellina's voice became nervous as the rhythm of her heartbeat inexplicably turned into a rapid pumping. "But, I can't come now. I already said that."
Diego watched Stellina from two feet away. His mind wandered back to the interaction between Stellina and Arianna at breakfast.
Since Diego couldn't shake his admiration for Stellina, Diego nodded in agreement. To him, Stellina's request was too easy and not worthy of her kindness to Arianna.
"Alright then," Diego said for a second before taking a step back.
The distance between Stellina and Diego returned to normal. Only then could Stellina quietly let out a sigh of relief after Diego had put some distance between the two of them.
"I'm doing this in gratitude for your kindness to Arianna." Diego looked sincere and more gentle towards Stellina. There was no aura of intimidation.
"Lately, Arianna seems very happy because she can finally feel the warmth of a mother figure," Diego continued, then turned his gaze to the view outside the balcony window.