11. About Diego

"It will be given to Ariana?" Diego held back the steps of a maid-woman who was walking down the aisle carrying a tray of food. The maid-woman whose steps suddenly stopped was suddenly surprised by Diego's arrival. For a few moments, the maid-woman was motionless for a moment with a shocked expression on her face and nodded her head awkwardly. "Y-yes, Mister Diego. What's wrong?" asked the maid-woman who sounded awkward to Diego. The maid woman was worried that she had made a mistake. With a crooked smile, not showing any anger at all, Diego held out both hands. "Just let me bring this food to Ariana." Diego provided assistance to the maid woman, but unfortunately the maid woman took one step back while shaking her head slowly. The maid woman before Diego smiled. "No need, Mister Diego. If you're feeling overwhelmed with work—" "Not at all. I'm done with my work," Diego answered quickly. He really wanted to check on Ariana's condition after being too busy dealing with Stellina matters at the hospital since yesterday. When the maid woman seemed to hesitate, Diego then took one step forward without lowering his two outstretched hands. Diego nodded reassuringly even though his face was now straight. "Here, give me the tray. I want to meet Ariana. Since yesterday I haven't seen her condition directly," Diego replied. In the end the maid woman gave Diego a tray of bowls of porridge to give to Ariana. Not without reason did the maid woman refuse Diego's request. Because he knew Diego was busy with work matters, especially since the news of Vellina's accident spread to all the residents of this mansion. Diego must be overwhelmed taking care of everything. "Master Diego," called the maid woman in a hesitant tone. Diego raised his eyebrows after the tray was in hand. She didn't reply through words, but the look on her face seemed to be waiting for what the maid woman would ask. "I heard about the news of Miss Vellina's accident..." The maid woman was very careful in her words, causing Diego to watch her intensely. "How is Miss Vellina now in the hospital, sir?" Diego thought for a moment, then put on a slightly sad face. "His condition just woke up from a coma. Yesterday the doctor explained that there was a collision hard enough in his brain to cause amnesia." "Amnesia?" The maid woman in front of Diego immediately looked surprised. He was stunned. While the maid woman was speechless, Diego nodded his head and looked at the maid woman seriously. "But outside of that condition, he's fine. He's just doing the recovery phase after waking up from a coma," Diego replied, adding his explanation. The maid woman still looked disbelieving and sad at the same time. For some reason Ariana's thoughts came to mind after hearing the condition of Vellina—Ariana's mother. For the past few days, Ariana has been having a fever. But there is news of Vellina's accident like this, so Ariana is definitely sad to hear it. "I'm so sorry Miss Ariana," answered the maid woman in a very low voice, almost even softly. Diego could not comment more. He just took a deep breath, then let out a long breath. There was nothing he could say about Ariana's condition when news of Vellina's accident spread. "That's why I'm going to see him now. He hasn't been with his parents, me or Vellina, since yesterday." Diego gave a faint smile at the end of his sentence, intending to convince the maid woman in front of him. Diego understood that this maid woman was the one closest to Ariana. That's why when something happened that definitely had an impact on Ariana, this maid woman was the one who was most worried about her child's condition. "Please accompany and talk to Miss Ariana properly, Mister Diego," said the maid woman in front of Diego with a worried expression on her face. "Excuse me if I am presumptuous in asking, sir, there is so much news about Miss Vellina floating around. So I just wanted to make sure." "Okay then. Thank you for your concern for Ariana," Diego replied, the kind of reply he would give to anyone who cares about Ariana. Without prolonging the conversation with the maid woman in front of him, Diego immediately took the tray in his hand. His steps immediately moved up the stairs to get to Ariana's room. With enthusiasm in his heart, Diego really imagined how Ariana's condition would be now. Diego hopes that his only daughter is getting better than a few days ago. Diego couldn't see Ariana's state since yesterday. And it really disturbed his concentration. But now, after he had finished taking care of the plans for the Stellina to become Vellina play, Diego was more relieved. Moreover, Eston managed to believe that Stellina was Vellina. Diego just had to watch Ariana's condition. Knock! Knock! Knock! "Ariana? Did you sleep inside?" asked Diego after knocking on Ariana's door for a moment. There was no answer for several seconds. Diego waited for Ariana's reaction. Because if Ariana fell asleep— "Papa?! Come on in, Papa!" From inside, Diego heard the cry of his beloved daughter. Spontaneously both corners of Diego's lips curved into an enthusiastic smile. Diego slowly opened the door using one free hand holding the tray. His steps moved into the room, then his head gaped slightly to see what Ariana was doing. Diego's appearance from behind the door made Ariana immediately arch a sparkling smile. Ariana was leaning her back against the back of the bed, but immediately straightened her back. "Papa! Papa has come at last!" Ariana immediately sat on the edge of the bed after watching Diego enthusiastically. Diego chuckled watching Ariana who was very excited watching his arrival. Then Diego, after closing the door to Ariana's room again, came to his only child in a silly style. Even though Diego seemed stiff, Ariana couldn't help but laugh. "Papa, have you finished work?" Ariana asked through her childish tone. Diego then nodded his head before placing the tray of bowls of porridge on the nightstand beside Ariana's bed. While stirring the porridge slowly, acting like a chef who inhales the aroma of cooking, Diego finally chuckled. "Such delicious porridge for papa's little miss." Diego reached out and poked Ariana's chin who couldn't stop her smile. Ariana shook her legs on the edge of the bed and waited impatiently for Diego. "Papa is done with work matters. It's not all finished yet, but at least daddy's time is freer," Diego explained to Ariana. After gently stirring Ariana's porridge, Diego then moved to his son's side. One mouthful was put into Ariana's mouth using airplane flying style. Diego's hand snaked through the air. "Watch out, the food plane is coming..." Diego deliberately made his voice sound like a low screech. "Where are the patients who need food? Let me find it from above the air!" Ariana couldn't hold back her laughter as she saw Diego's hand waving in the air. Moreover, the look on Diego's face showed various expressions. As a result, Ariana's toothless teeth were exposed during a hearty laugh. "I'm here! I need food!" Ariana replied with an enthusiastic exclamation. On the other hand, Diego stopped contorting his arms. He pointed the tip of the spoon towards Ariana's whereabouts. "Wait. Are there any patients there?" Diego moved the spoon in his hand as if the spoon was speaking. Ariana nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes! There's a patient here! Hurry up, I'm so hungry!" Diego chuckled hearing Ariana's answer as well as watching her behavior. Then the spoon spun back while Diego made the sound of an airplane engine. "The plane is coming, come on open your mouth! Very delicious porridge is coming in!" So said Diego as he directed his spoonful into Ariana's mouth. Meanwhile, Ariana immediately devoured the food that Diego put in her mouth. With a happy head shaking, Ariana chewed the porridge which was indeed her favorite food. Seeing Ariana's behavior that couldn't stop laughing made Diego shake his head. Diego's two eyes that radiated happiness looked at Ariana for a split second. Curious how the porridge tastes in Ariana's mouth. "You like the porridge?" he asked. He knew that the porridge made by the maid woman that Ariana was eating now was indeed Ariana's favorite. Not just once, Ariana would repeatedly ask for this porridge if she was sick. So Ariana answered with a nod without hesitation. Ariana immediately swallowed quickly. "See, Papa, I can chew fast. The porridge is so good!" Diego chuckled the umpteenth time. He stretched out the back of his hand to Ariana's forehead and felt her daughter's temperature. "Hmm..." Diego thought for a moment, considering. "The patient's body temperature has started to normal. Not as hot as yesterday. Is the patient feeling better?" Ariana was silent for a moment letting Diego's hand on her forehead. After Diego kept his hands away and looked curiously at Ariana, waiting for an answer, then the girl nodded her head. "I've recovered!" Ariana exclaimed. "Papa, I'll definitely get a new toy, right?!" Diego thought for a split second. "New toy, huh..." Then before long, Diego nodded. "Yes, but you have to really fully recover first. Later you will keep wanting to play after getting new toys." Ariana instantly faded her smile and looked glum. "Papa... I'm cured now. Why wait for me to recover?" "You're still weak and pale, Ariana," answered Diego whose voice sounded very soft. Again, Ariana looked irritated and snorted. Even when Diego's mouthful of food entered his mouth, Ariana deliberately showed a cranky expression. Even so, Diego did not feel melted just like that. "Papa will not be affected by your annoyance, Little Girl," Diego said teasingly while touching the tip of his forefinger to Ariana's forehead. Ariana just kept a sulking facial expression at Diego. But not long after, Ariana's expression suddenly changed in an instant. Ariana smiled broadly as her gaze showed she was curious about something. "Papa, I want to meet Mama," said Ariana, who suddenly stopped Diego's movement. Diego was surprised to hear Ariana's words. He glanced at her but didn't say anything. "What?" Diego deliberately repeats. Ariana snorted in annoyance. "I can't wait to see mom, daddy. Why hasn't mom come home since you left?" Diego was unmoved. Instantly his heart felt congested hearing Ariana's question. More breathless than seeing how Eston reacted when he heard about Vellina's accident. How would Ariana react if he told Vellina that she had an accident?