A/N: Writing these recent Chapters while listening to Queen of Tears OST, especially Last Chance by So Soo Bin makes grin like a fool :3 The English translation of that song is sooo heartwarming and romantic!
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Leslie’s words enveloped Calix’s heart with comfort – like a spring breeze passing by a field of flowers. He should have been the one reassuring her yet, the roles got reversed instead.
Lowering his head, Calix smiled sheepishly before whispering, "Sorry... I don’t an to doubt you."
Calix’s apology earned laughter from Leslie. The echo of her chuckle eased the slight tension in the air. She inwardly thought how adorable this side of him was.
From a confident and jokester of a man, she witnessed the rare mont of him being vulnerable and uncertain.
Each of them was a part of him, the ones shaping the personality of a man nad Calix Xu.
"This is a heavy subject so... I understand why you’re... doing this. Calix, I believe... you wanna give your best... I’m grateful for that..."
Leslie spoke earnestly from her soul. The llowness of her tone expressed the sincere gratitude of her heart.
If Calix was indifferent toward this issue, he wouldn’t take every aspect into consideration. His action right now expressed volus of his desire to make everything right not only for her but also for Calliope.
Calix blinked, sensing faint heat rushing to his ears from his cheeks. His gloom turned into embarrassnt as he was t with Leslie’s genuine concern once more.
"I’ll call Dad. I’ll tell him we have sothing important to talk about with him."
"Hehe, okay..."
Calix abruptly stood up from the couch. Without looking at Leslie, he hurriedly half-ran to the balcony. The heat of his ears and cheeks traveled to his heart, prompting him to stay away from her for a mont.
How could he be so flustered ah?
He was a full-grown adult man! Not so high school boy with a crush!
Inwardly shaking his head, Calix brought up the phone inside his pants pocket. He told himself to focus on the matter at hand instead of being swept by his feelings.
’Focus, Calix. Focus!’
Standing on the balcony, Calix threw his gaze around to the surrounding yard. He saw two gardeners tending to the flower beds. Their faint chatter echoed in the air.
Calix withdrew his eyes from the garden. He sped-dialed Andrian’s number. Instead of ssaging his father or mother, directly calling either of them was more efficient.
Andrian picked up within three rings.
"Yes, Calix?"
Andrian’s short greeting tensed Calix despite his father sounding as usual. Heaving out a sigh, he replied, "Dad, when are you coming back with Mom? I’m at Grandma’s now."
"Oh? You’re at the old house? With your wife?" Andrian was slightly surprised. He had heard nothing of Calix’s visit to the ancestral ho, "Your mom and I are on a date ah. We’re having so coffee at the park."
Calix didn’t know which park Andrian was talking about. But, it seed like his parents were done visiting their friends.
"Yeah, Les– Charlene is here too. Can you co back sooner? We have sothing important to talk about with you and Mom."
"...huh?"
Despite being confused by his younger son’s words, Andrian didn’t ask further. He simply told Calix to wait for half an hour. The park was quite near to Phoenix Heights.
Lowering the phone from his ear, Calix stared at its screen. A breathtaking night scenery of a wooden deck surrounded by a stream entered his line of sight.
It was the photo taken during the night he surprised her with a candlelight dinner by the river in Ro.
’She’s in this photo but... only I know.’
Calix still rembered the mont he captured this photo on impulse. He went away for a mont to get so water[01]. As he turned to look at Leslie, he was entranced by the scene.
Leslie was sitting on the edge of the deck, imrsing her legs in the water. The string of fairy lights and flickering candles cast a glow on her, unknowingly charming him.
Perhaps, the magic in the air played a part.
Despite knowing Leslie wouldn’t be visible in the photo, Calix still took it. He hoped he could bring her to Ro again – to enjoy all the things she couldn’t last ti.
Curling up his lips, Calix whispered, "We’ll go there again. This ti with our daughter."
Yes. He would realize that vision no matter what.
Stepping away from the balcony, Calix returned inside the bedroom. Leslie was still sitting on the couch. He swiftly inford her of his parents’ return.
"If they’re tired, we can talk... about Calliope tonight..." said Leslie while patting on the seat next to her, gesturing at Calix to sit, "Your parents will surely... be as surprised as Grandma..."
"There’s no doubt," Calix threw himself on the couch. Turning his head, he stared at Leslie, "Dad and Mom will react differently tho. I’m sure Dad will ask why he didn’t find any clues about us that night. As for Mom... I hope she won’t cry much ah."
Speechless, Leslie blinked before a faint chuckle slipped out of her mouth.
"They will be worried... about you..." replied Leslie quietly, "After all, you’re their child... They care for you..."
Calix was blessed to have a supportive family while she—and Charlene—were not so lucky. Their parents and other family mbers scorned their existence.
"They’ll worry about you too, Leslie," Calix put on a tiny smile, "My parents are yours too now. If they’re concerned about , it ans they feel the sa for you."
His sister-in-law Lucille was a good example. Calix noticed how quickly his parents ward up to her when his elder brother introduced her as his partner.
Even though Vernon and Lucille hadn’t talked about marriage, Andrian and Harper genuinely treated the young lady as if she were family from the beginning.
Calix was proud of how considerate and benevolent Andrian and Harper could be. Aside from him, Vernon and Evelyn also strived to be like their parents.
Softening his smile, Calix continued saying, "Leslie, I really wish you find happiness with us. Even if you can’t leave the past behind, expect how bright your future days will be from now on. Not only you but, Calliope too."
If possible, Calix wanted to cast Leslie’s unpleasant mories of the past into oblivion. But, he was no wizard.
There was only one thing he could do.
Guiding her to walk on the flowery road ahead after leaving the dark tunnel.
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Reference:
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