Chapter 59: Chapter 59

<Azaria>

My husband doesn’t have social media. Sa akin niya nalalaman ang mga balita sa social media, I know he doesn’t cares to someone else live but he is listening to me attentively.

We both mock people we don't like.

I tried to convince him to create social media accounts, but he refused many times. When I got angry, he made an account, but I ended up deleting it too.

He doesn't care about social media life. His family contacts him through iMessage. My husband is a very private person. My feed mostly features my face.

He agrees when I ask him to take selfies, and he supports me in whatever I want to do with my accounts. There was a time when he captured a photo of me reading a book and used my Instagram account. He posted my picture using my account, and I got bashed.

"We're joining!" I looked at the two men who arrived.

"Why the hell are you here? This is a family dinner," Nick angrily questioned his cousins, Keith and Xyrile.

"I'm here to eat," Xyrile reasoned.

"Auntie invited me," Keith replied discreetly.

I was surprised when Nick suddenly pushed Claudine forcefully. I didn't notice that Claudine was already clinging to Nick's arm.

"Why the hell are you hugging me!?" Nick angrily questioned his sister-in-law.

We were all surprised by Nick's push on Claudine, it was a strong push. Claudine almost fell because she lost her balance.

“Nick,” I called to calm my husband down.

"Hey, we're taking selfies. I didn't know that we were so close," Claudine reasoned.

"Tsk!"

Nick switched places with me, now I was closer to Claudine.

"Don't let that woman come near me," Lanvin grumbled to me.

"She's trying to steal me from you," he added.

I chuckled. My husband was cute today. He is so cute and childish.

"Just chill, Lan," Kieth said.

"Claudine, you're here too," Xyrile commented and sat next to Ysabelle.

"Of course! I'm still part of the family, right, Lan?" Claudine asked my husband, but it seemed like Nikolai didn't hear anything.

Claudine seemed embarrassed.

"Let's just drink! Let's go to the pool area!" Keith suggested.

"We haven't eaten yet," Ysabelle said.

"Yeah, where's the food?" Keith asked.

"Auntie is not yet done. Let's wait for her," Ysabelle replied.

We seated ourselves in the dining area while waiting for Nikolai Lanvin's parents. Lanvin's cousins were making a lot of noise.

"Let's go to the Safari!" Xyrile suggested while looking at his phone.

"When? I'm in! Oh my god! I have something to post on my Instagram feed again," Belle said excitedly.

"When are you guys free?" Xyrile asked.

"Later in the morning. Let's book our flight," Charles said.

"Tomorrow. I want to take a rest. I came from Davao," Keith said while massaging his shoulder, looking exhausted and sleepy.

"Can I come?"

All of us turned to Claudine as she spoke. I didn't realize she was still here. I noticed that she isn't close to Lanvin's cousins, or maybe they don't like her. Well, Lanvin's cousins aren't particularly fond of me either, but they are kind to me in some way and they get along.

Belle is neutral to everyone. Keith seems upset with the world. Charles is playful and goes with the flow. I don't have much to say about Xyrile; he looks mature and ready to get married.

We came back from Croatia, Finland, and Paris weeks ago, and they are planning to go to Safari.

"Mag waka-waka, eh, eh tayo," Belle said, giggling.

"This time for Africa," Charles sang.

No one answered Claudine's question.

"Mom! Look!"

Claudine shifted her attention to her daughter showing her a toy watch.

"It's pretty, where did you get that?" Claudine asked her daughter, but Kianna ran away with Maeve.

No one paid attention to Claudine.

"These poor people keep on bashing me," Belle said angrily while looking at the screen of her phone.

"They are telling me I have a different boyfriend. People on the internet know how to make bad assumptions without knowing anything! Duh, this is my cousin! Dimwit! I don’t have a boyfriend, bitch!" Belle said while angrily typing on her phone, she's cute when cursing.

Lanvin placed his palm on my lap while drinking water.

"That's how people are on the internet. They bash you when they don't like what you post. Just ignore them, Belle," Claudine advised.

“Yeah, right. Keep on posting. Make them angry, girl!” Charles commented.

Xyrile snatched Belle's phone. They were sitting next to each other.

“Stop with these stupid people online,” Xyrile irritably said, hiding Belle's iPhone. I heard Xyrile say the same thing to Lanvin. I posted Lanvin's pictures, and he gets more likes than me. Whenever I saw something on social media and felt jealous, Lanvin scolded me. We even fought once because he hid my phone.

The male McLarens cousins don't care about social media; they have their world.

The conversations stopped when the parents arrived.

“You’re here too, Xyrile and Charles!” Auntie said after greeting me.

“Of course! Auntie!” Charles replied.

“I thought I only invited Belle,” Auntie joked.

“Uncle invited me,” Keith replied.

“I'm just here for the food. I passed by,” Charles said.

They joked around until the conversation turned serious. Keith was opening up about his parents pressuring him to settle down.

“You’re an only child. You couldn’t blame your parents. They want the best for you,” Uncle said.

“Tsk.” Keith’s face was sour.

“You’re the best, Auntie!” Charles flattered.

“You're not pressuring us to settle!” Charles added.

The cousins seem close to Lanvin's parents.

*

We're all in the pool area. Belle and Claudine are in the pool, taking selfies. Claudine wore a bright red swimsuit, showing off her body. I didn't change my outfit since I didn't bring a change and I wasn't in the mood to swim. It's chilly, and I just wanted Lanvin's embrace.

I'm seated in a chair beside Lanvin. His hand rests on my shoulder as he drinks; he asks permission before he takes a sip. I noticed him hiding a cigarette in his trouser pocket, but I ignored it. Lanvin and his vice. I didn't want us to fight over that.

Charles and Xyrile got some drinks and snacks.

“What are you looking at?” He asked, somewhat rude, raising an eyebrow at me. I was looking at the pocket of his trousers.

I raised an eyebrow too. My mom once advised me not to give in to my stubbornness to make Lanvin love me more; it’s advice from my husband's mother.

“Feeling cold?” He asked, noticing I was shivering. It's chilly because of the wind.

Before I could answer, he took his coat, which was hanging on the chair, the one he removed earlier, and draped it over my shoulders.

I suddenly glanced at Claudine, who was looking at the two of us. I've noticed her watching us for a while.

“Bell, can you get my towel? I forgot it, and I want to get up now,” Claudine asked in a sweet tone.

“You can borrow mine,” Belle said with a smile to Claudine, “I'll stay here, I’m enjoying the water,” Belle added.

“Please, that’s my favourite. I have a cold, you might catch it,” Claudine reasoned.

I diverted my attention from the two of them.

“Why are your cousins taking so long?” I asked Lanvin.

Claudine doesn’t deserve my time.

Lanvin shrugged.

“It's good they're not here,” he replied.

“Are you still jealous of Charles?” I teased him.