Chapter 55: Chapter 55

What is the trait you most deplore with others?

<Azaria>

"I'm already dressed, and my husband is drying my hair.

He's not dressed yet, just wearing a bathrobe.

"Don't wear makeup. I want to see your natural beauty," he said seriously while focusing on what he was doing. I looked at him through the mirror.

"Lanvin, do you believe in love potion?" I asked out of nowhere.

He furrowed his brow.

"What's that?" he asked, still focused on my hair.

"When I put a love potion in your drink, you fall in love with me," I explained simply.

"No, no need. I'm deeply in love."

"All done, baby," he said as his eyes lifted.

"You're so pretty," he said - sounding like a loving husband.

I just smiled at him. I turned to face him and pinched both of his cheeks."

"Get dressed, mister," I commanded while pinching his cheeks.

He stole a kiss from me.

"Wait for me, okay?"

I scowled.

"Okay, wait for me in the kitchen," he said lovingly, kissing my cheeks again.

"Make it faster!" I demanded.

I’m having deep thoughts and realizations.

Life is much better when it's simpler and lived at a slower pace.

What if I hadn't met Lanvin? What would my life be like?

"Hi, pregnant lady," Charles greeted me when he saw me in the kitchen. He was with some other cousins, and Keith was drinking alcohol.

"Why are you all here?" I asked them, pulling out a chair.

"I needed to use the bathroom, that's why I'm here," Xyrile replied.

"You idiot! I'm eating!" Charles exclaimed.

“Why are you eating so slowly? It's been an hour. Are you pregnant, bro?” Xyrile asked Charles.

"Fuck you!" Charles cursed.

"What's going on here?"

I glanced at Lanvin as he arrived. He smelled good. He sat next to me and kissed my forehead.

"Why so distant?" I asked him irritably.

"Sorry, baby," he murmured in my ear and fixed my hair.

"Ahem, have some respect for us singles," Xyrile commented while eating chocolate.

"When are you getting married?" Keith asked Xyrile.

"Tomorrow," Xyrile replied, not being serious.

"Tsk!" Keith.

~

Lanvin brought me along, and now we're at Keith's house. None of them went to work. They've caught Lanvin's laziness.

We're in the garden overlooking the swimming pool.

Charles is occupied with his laptop, and handling emails. Meanwhile, Xyrile is lounging around, looking relaxed.

Xyrile seems carefree in his life. He's playing games on his phone and seems the most carefree.

“Motherfucker!”

I look at Keith when he says bad words.

I looked at what he was looking at and there were two old couples going to our place.

"Lanvin, you're here. I haven't seen you for a long time, how's your dad?" A man said hello when they approached our place.

Before Lanvin could answer, Kieth answered.

"Mom, Dad, you're here, how's your vacation?" Keith asked and he stood up to greet his parents.

"I have something else to do," Keith reasoned. He was about to leave when his mother stopped him.

"Where are you going?" His mother said flatly.

"I'll get you water," Keith smiled awkwardly.

"Don't believe him, Auntie. Keith is making excuses and is avoiding you, Auntie. He doesn't want to talk to you because if you can demand grandchildren from him, it's that easy," Charles said and his attention is on the commotion.

"I agree," Xyrile seconded the commotion.

"Fuck you all!" Keith cursed his cousin.

"Is this your wife, Lanvin?" The lady pointed to me.

"Yes, Auntie. Meet my wife," Lanvin introduced me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

I smiled at the parents in front of me while Kieth exited himself.

"Oh, daughter. How are you? I heard you're pregnant. How's your baby, huh?" Keith's mother asked me.

I shyly smiled at her.

“I’m okay, thank you,” I shyly answered.

"Auntie, uncle, aren't you worried? Have a sit," commented Xyrile.

The parents sat in the vacant chair.

"It's good that Lanvin is married and has children. The three of you, what are your plans for your lives? You are in your thirties. Remember you are not getting any younger. You should form your own family," the uncle said to the two boys.

Charles fakes a cough and goes back to his work.

"Uncle, I want to settle my life too but what can I do? I haven't found the right woman for me," Xyrile replied.

"How about you, Charles?" Auntie asked Charles but he put earphones on his ears. Charles pretended not to hear anything.

"Lanvin married before you, I thought Xyrile would be the first," Uncle joked and laughed.

"I thought too. Well, that's life," Xyrile answered.

Keith came back with glasses and wine in his hands.

"I thought you were getting water? Why do you have wine?" Keith's mom asked.

"Our water's out of stock, mommy. I got wine for you," Keith mischievously replied as he filled the glasses with alcohol.

"When there's alcohol?" Charles asked aloud.

"There's a plan!" Keith answered.

"There are snacks!" Charles said, smiling broadly.

"You all seem to agree on mischief," auntie commented while the others laughed.

Some maids arrived carrying snacks, fruits, and drinks.

“Keith, you should get married too. Give your mom some grandkids,” Uncle said to his son.

Keith almost spat out his drink.

“F**kers, can you hear something? I heard a bee. Am I deaf?” Keith asked his cousin, pretending not to hear his father.

"I want to see you settle down before I pass away," Uncle said seriously while pouring wine into his glass.

“Dad, don’t tell me you’re dying, and your last wish is for me to start a family.”

“F**k you! You’re not getting any younger, and it’s time for you to have a kid. I want to see my grandchildren before I die, and I want to see you with the right woman.”

I’m overhearing their conversation.

“It feels good to have a family,” Lanvin said.

“Dad, I want to expand the company. I have a lot of goals, and damn! I’m not ready to give all my money to kids. Kids are expensive!” Kieth said frustratingly, drinking his wine straight from the glass.

“Spend my money on your kids. I’ll buy them milk and everything,” Uncle said, trying to ease the tension between the cousins.

“Well, there's a sponsor!” Charles commented, focusing on us.

Keith feels pressured to settle down, while Xyrile wants to but hasn't found the right woman yet.

“Lol, what’s the point of getting married? We're all gonna die,” Kieth asked randomly.

“Yeah, what’s the point of love? I have billions; I don’t need a wife,” Charles agreed.

“When you get older, you realize the importance of having a family,” Uncle said deeply.

"Money can't buy everything. It gives you comfort and freedom, it's necessary, but it isn't everything," Uncle added.

"We only live once. Look for someone with whom you can share happiness, pain, agony, laughter, and everything," Auntie said.

We all fell silent.

Keith's parents were making sense, but Keith's behavior was different. Maybe he was adopted.

"I agree with you, Uncle and Auntie. My parents have been looking for a woman for me for years. Maybe I haven't met my wife yet because she's still in high school," Xyrile joked and laughed.

"Joking aside, I want to settle down with the right person. My cousins are not always available, and I want a woman with whom I can share everything I have. I want to have my own family with kids running around my house," Xyrile added. It's clear he wants to settle down, but he looks young for me; he doesn't seem to be in his thirties.

"But, our parents need to understand that we're not ready to settle down yet!" Charles hissed.

"That's okay, bud! Both sides are valid. Go for what works for you," Xyrile added.

Uncle shook his head.

"In my case, K, I want to see you settle down before your mother and I pass away."

"I'll give you a grandchild when you're close to dying," Keith said.