Chapter 70 - WHO?
After the presence of Briana and her son, the residence of Lucas and Ellena looks more alive with all the activities in it. At least, Ellena will have friends to hang out with, as long as her husband is working.
This morning, Ellena, Lucas and Martin had gathered in the dining room. However, not with Briana whose condition is still not fully recovered.
"Have Mom eaten yet?" Lucas asked as Ellena poured fried rice into his plate. He took a pair of spoons that were already available on the left and right side of the plate.
"Yes. Mom has eaten and taken medicine." Ellena answered without stopping her activities and Lucas just nodded his head in response.
Ellena then slightly lifted her buttocks from the chair, then leaned forward. Her hand moved from Lucas's plate and she poured the fried rice onto Martin's.
"Eat a lot." He ordered her younger brother who sat opposite her.
Martin had no intention of responding to Ellena's words. He immediately grabbed a spoon and started eating the breakfast menu that was in front of his eyes. The mainstay fried rice he had been missing for a long time.
Ellena's cuisine has always been his favorite menu so far. However, since Ellena was busy with work and decided to stay in the city, he rarely got to taste his sister's cooking.
Ellena landed her body back, after she finished her activities. They started to eat their own food.
"Martin, what about your school? Are your teachers okay with you leaving school long enough?" Lucas asked in the middle of their activity. He paused for a moment and looked at Martin questioningly.
Receiving a question from Lucas, Martin's expression immediately turned sour. He stopped his breakfast for a moment, then looked scornfully at Lucas' face. It was clear that he didn't like Lucas' question this time. I don't know what made him like that.
"You kicked me out?" asked Martin a little smugly.
This suddenly made Lucas frown in surprise. 'What's wrong with my question that Martin said that?' He thought.
"Martin, watch your mouth!" said Ellena, wide-eyed at Martin. "He just asked about your school, but why are you answering like that? Can you speak a little more politely?" She said annoyed.
"It's just a subtle way of him to throw me out of this house," replied Martin evasively. For some reason he still showed a dislike towards Lucas. Apparently, what Lucas explained when he was in the hospital, did not just melt his heart.
"What did you say, huh?" said Ellena as she put her spoon on the plate. She really didn't understand what Martin meant.
"It's true, isn't it?" rebuked Martin while throwing an intimidating look at his sister.
"You-"
"Never mind, Elle. Maybe he's being sensitive today." Lucas tried to break up the argument between the two brothers. He then began to stir again his food and chose not to pay attention to what Martin said, although in fact his heart was very upset by the young man's words.
He realized that Martin was too young to meddle in adult affairs, let alone interfere in his marriage to Ellena. Of course, Lucas will have a hard time giving understanding to a young man who is still in class XII of high school.
It is natural that Martin only sees a problem from one point of view and Lucas thinks that his brother-in-law's anger towards him is a form of affection for Ellena that is so great. If he were in Martin's shoes, maybe he would do the same.
Martin took a deep breath, then let it out a little rough. A lazy expression was plastered on his face. However, hearing Lucas' words, he also felt a little slapped. He admitted that he was wrong for responding to Lucas' question in such a curt and disrespectful manner, even though Lucas was probably really asking it, not out of sarcasm.
"I've finished the exam and I am waiting for the graduation results. Of course, it won't be a problem, even if I don't come to school," Martin explained as he lowered his head and intended to resume his breakfast activities.
Lucas smiled at Martin while hanging a spoon filled with fried rice in front of his mouth. At that moment he lowered the spoon back and refused to continue eating.
"When is the announcement schedule?" Lucas asked another question, just making small talk and wanting to establish good communication with his brother-in-law.
Martin was silent for a moment, then devoured a spoonful of fried rice, before responding to Lucas' question. "Maybe next week." He answered uncertainly.
"Have you found the best university to continue your studies at?" Lucas asked a little curiously. He then put a spoonful of fried rice into his mouth with his gaze still focused on Martin.
Lucas' expression suddenly turned flat when he found Martin who just shook his head in response to his question. "Why?" wonder.
"I don't want to continue my education. I will look for a job, after I successfully receive a diploma," replied Martin a little forced. In fact, his gaze was still focused on the fried rice that was only a little left.
"What do you want to do with only a high school diploma?" Lucas stopped what he was doing, before he finished the meal. He put the spoon and fork on the plate, then he reached for the glass of water next to his dinner plate.
"You insulted me?" Martin again looked up at Lucas so bravely without the slightest bit of fear. Apparently, he really did not accept his brother-in-law's question. "Don't think you can go to high school, so it's easy to look down on someone who only has a high school diploma like me!" He growled then.
Lucas stared at Martin stunned. There was a piece of tissue stuck to his lips. The surprising statement that came out of Martin's mouth made him stop wiping his lips that looked a little wet and greasy, after finishing half a plate of fried rice.
"Gosh, Martin ... Lucas is right, you're very sensitive today. What happened to you? Are you premenstruation syndrome, huh? Why are you so shallow? I wonder at you!" rebuked Ellena while shaking her head repeatedly. She certainly didn't like seeing Martin look so bold to Lucas.
"Why do you keep defending him? Don't you realize that he deliberately wanted to insult me?" Martin protested as he turned his piercing gaze to Ellena.
"I'm not defending him. I just wanted to remind you that what you did was wrong. I'm sure my husband didn't mean it that way, you're just overreacting!"
"Husband? Are you seriously saying that, Sis?" Martin confirmed Ellena's words.
For the first time Martin heard the call directly from his sister's mouth. It was really surprising, especially for him who already knew the real relationship between Ellena and Lucas.
Not only Martin, even Lucas was surprised to hear the call addressed to him. It felt like he wanted to hear Ellena call him that one more time.
Ellena was immediately nervous and embarrassed. She didn't even notice it. It's hard to believe, how come he can suddenly call Lucas with that nickname in front of Martin and Lucas.
Ah, Ellena felt like running away from there, then hid in a place that was very hard to find. Her face immediately turned red, even more so when she found Lucas who was staring at her so closely while smiling as if he wanted to tease her on purpose.
"There's no need to overdo it. Remember he's just a temporary husband—"
"Looks like you've gone too far in judging me." Lucas cut in and there was a moment of silence in the room, because there was no more arguing between Ellena and Martin.
The pair of brothers immediately turned to Lucas, who was now intertwined with his fingers on the table. I do not know since when he removed the tissue from his lips. Lucas's stare made Ellena feel sure that the man was already very disturbed by her young brother's words.
"What's wrong with what I said?" Lucas asked with his eyes focused on Martin.
"Lucas, I'm sorry, Mar—" Lucas stopped Ellena with a flick of her hand.
"I don't know why you hate me so much, you definitely have to know one thing. I didn't mean in the slightest to insult or demean you ..." Lucas explained, pausing his speech, then took a short breath. "If what I said offends you, I'm so—"
"You don't need to apologize like that, Lucas. It was him who was at fault, not you. I don't know why his attitude suddenly turned like that." Ellena cut Lucas off because she felt bad. "I never once taught you to be rude to someone. Apologize to your brother-in-law, now!" growled Ellena seemed unable to contain her anger anymore.
"No, Elle. Maybe I was wrong." Lucas argued as if he wanted to be humble, even though it wasn't normal for him. Only in front of Martin did he act like that. I don't know what he's up to right now.
"You heard one thing. I never want to continue my schooling. I just want to work and earn a lot of money for Mom and Sister!" Martin said that suddenly made Ellena's heart slit a little because she felt sad and happy at the same time.
Ellena's eyes glazed over. She did not think that Martin had thought far for the family's future. It hurts Ellena to hear the words of her yaoung brother who is willing to sacrifice his school just because of herself and also her mother. Even more sad, when she realized that there was not much she could do to prevent Martin's intentions.
Yes, of course. In fact, she still didn't have any spare money for Martin's next school fee. Then, how can Martin continue his education, if there is no money?
Not wanting Martin and Lucas to realize her current sadness, Ellena immediately tried to neutralize her feelings. "You don't need to think that far. Your living and school expenses, let me bear it," Ellena whispered as she looked at Martin's sad face.
Before Martin had time to respond, suddenly the doorbell rang. Not long after, Joana seemed to approach them.
"Miss, someone is looking for you out front," said Joana with her gaze fixed on Ellena.
"Who?" asked Ellena in surprise. It seemed that today he had no appointments with anyone.
"Sorry, I forgot to ask about it, Miss," Joana answered quietly.
"Is the guest a male or female?" Lucas asked in response.
"Male, Sir."