My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

Part 40.

“Get out of here, Clara, hurry, get out of here!”

Joe’s words and his expression kept echoing in Clara’s mind. He truly expelled her.

What should she do now? Go back to Joe’s house and leave for London immediately? Or ask for Nadia’s help? It’s not possible because Nadia is on vacation. What about Mario? He’s already in London.

Clara deliberately chose the stairs to descend from the third floor of the hospital. At least, there wouldn’t be anyone else seeing her cry because no one was interested in walking through the stairs.

Step by step, Clara reached the ground floor. In the parking area in front of the hospital building.

“What should I do?!” Clara muttered, looking into the distance.

Suddenly, the rain poured down heavily. Clara was trapped and didn’t know where to go. The money she had was not much.

Usually, she would ask Joe and he would give her money. But now, Clara didn’t even have the courage to speak, let alone ask for money.

Worms in Clara’s stomach began to protest. She hadn’t eaten anything since morning.

Clara swallowed her saliva, feeling desperate. It was the first time she felt like she had nobody. Tears started flowing from the corners of her eyes. Her chest felt heavy, feeling alone, having nothing, and not knowing where to go.

Clara leaned against the wall, trying to strengthen her heart. She wiped away all the tears that flooded her cheeks.

“Mom, Dad, please help me!” she whispered. It felt so suffocating inside her.

Images of Joe being angry, Mrs. Linn slapping her, Mr. Bond giving her side glances, kept flashing through her mind. It hurt!

“Clara, you’re strong!” she encouraged herself.

Honk…

Honk…

The loud honking made Clara stop crying. Afraid someone would see her crying.

The front window of a black Luxury SUV moved down, revealing the face of a man Clara had recently seen.

“You’re Clara, right? Get in!” the man inside the car shouted.

Clara shook her head.

“You spoiled brat!” muttered Doctor Gaston. He decided to get out of the car and unfolded the umbrella that was always in the car’s dashboard.

Slowly, Doctor Gaston approached Clara.

“What are you doing here?” the doctor asked, observing Clara from head to toe.

“I…” Clara stopped her words. She didn’t know what to say.

“I’ll take you home. Joe won’t be coming home today because Kimmy hasn’t woken up yet!” the man explained, pulling Clara’s hand.

“Wait, Doctor!” Clara resisted.

But Doctor Gaston still took Clara into his car.

Doctor Gaston sat behind the wheel while Clara sat next to him.

He started the car and drove his four-wheeled vehicle.

“Did you just visit Kimmy?” Doctor Gaston asked, glancing at Clara. The girl was hugging herself.

Clara didn’t answer. Hungry, sad, and not knowing what to do.

Doctor Gaston felt ignored. How could this seventeen-year-old girl ignore him! Wasn’t he as handsome as Joe Sebastian?!

Doctor Gaston chose to focus on driving. He drove his car at a moderate speed. The rain was pouring heavily.

“Doctor Gaston,” Clara called softly.

“Yes, Clara,” he replied.

“I don’t want to go back to Uncle Joe’s house!” she pleaded. Her gaze wandered, unsure of what was on her mind.

“Then, where will you go, Clara?” the doctor asked. He already knew about Clara. Information from Joe, that the girl was an orphan. She had nothing and no one.

“Take me anywhere, Doctor, just give me a ride for tonight! I just don’t want to go back to Uncle Joe’s house!” Clara begged, sobbing. Tomorrow, when Nadia returned from vacation, she would stay at her friend’s house for a while.

Doctor Gaston changed his mind. Seeing a girl as beautiful as Clara cry, he felt sorry for her. It was predictable; maybe Clara was quarreling with Joe.

“Alright, but can you explain something to me, Clara?” he asked. Curiosity pushed him to find out.

“I’ll tell you, but not now!” Clara replied, clutching her stomach.

Doctor Gaston nodded softly. He stopped his car in the underground parking area of a multi-storey building where his apartment was located.

They both got out of the car. “Wear this!” the man instructed, handing Clara a warm jacket.

She took it and moved towards the elevator.

The door opened. Doctor Gaston and Clara entered. There were only the two of them inside.

The doctor could clearly hear Clara’s stomach grumbling.

“Haven’t you eaten yet?” the doctor quipped, looking at Clara with pity.

Clara bit her lip, not knowing what to answer.

Ding. The elevator door opened.

“Come on, let’s hurry!” Doctor Gaston urged. He wondered to himself why he should care so much about Clara. He felt sorry for the girl. She had no parents, no home, and… she was hungry.

Gaston entered the code, and his apartment door opened.

“Come in, Clara, there’s no one here. My parents live in Bali, and I don’t have a wife yet,” said the doctor, opening the door wide to welcome the girl into his house.

Clara entered, casting a glance around the room. It looked neat with a modern feel and minimal furniture.

“Please, have a seat! I’ve ordered food for you,” the doctor instructed. “I only have fruits and milk in the fridge! You can help yourself. I need to take a shower,” he added. As usual, after returning from the hospital, he would take a shower before doing anything else.

Clara just sat there. She didn’t do anything, feeling awkward and embarrassed to ask for help from someone she had only met twice.

Not long after, about fifteen minutes later, Doctor Gaston emerged from his room. He had changed his clothes and looked fresh, with wet hair and a hint of mint fragrance emanating from his body, reaching Clara’s nostrils.

“Put this on, you need to shower, or you might get sick!” instructed Doctor Gaston. He handed Clara a light gray sweater, his own. There were no women’s clothes in his wardrobe, so he chose that for Clara’s change of clothes.

Clara accepted it.

“Where’s the bathroom?” Clara finally spoke up.

“You can use the one next to the kitchen, or the one in my room,” offered Doctor Gaston.

Clara nodded and headed towards the bathroom near the kitchen.

While waiting for Clara, Doctor Gaston decided to call Joe.

The call connected.

“Hello!” greeted Joe on the other end of the phone.

“Did you lose something?” asked Doctor Gaston.

“Yes, I lost my family’s personal doctor who chose to rest at home while my daughter is still unconscious!” replied the man on the other end of the phone.

“I’m not a robot, I can’t work 24/7! Anyway, see you tomorrow!” Doctor Gaston quickly ended the call right as the doorbell rang.

The food he ordered had arrived.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Gaston poured soup into bowls. Then, he made two hot chocolates for himself and Clara.

The meal consisted of cabbage, rice, vermicelli, slices of chicken, eggs, topped with fried shallots, and drizzled with a flavorful broth, perfect for enjoying in the rain.

Before long, Clara emerged from the bathroom. She walked to the dining table where Doctor Gaston was waiting.

The man observed Clara from head to toe. Why did she look even cuter wearing the oversized sweater?!

“Let’s eat!” Doctor Gaston invited. “It’s not enjoyable anymore if it gets cold!” he added, holding a spoon and fork ready to eat the soup.

Clara nodded. She immediately scooped up some soup and enjoyed it. Eating together with Doctor Gaston.

Clara and Doctor Gaston enjoyed spoonfuls of soup until it was finished. However, the rain showed no sign of stopping.

“Do you want to rest now?” He observed Clara, who had swallowed her last spoonful.

“I’m not ready to sleep yet!” Clara replied, glancing at the clock on the wall, which still showed 7:05 PM.

“You’ve showered, you’re full, I want to know why you don’t want to go back to Joe’s house!” Doctor Gaston asked, to the point. He brought a tray with two cups of hot chocolate and gestured for Clara to follow him.

Now they moved to the living room. Outside, the rain still hadn’t stopped. It was evident from Clara’s seat that the rain was pouring in Jakarta.

“Uncle Joe kicked me out, and Mr. Bond wants to send me to London for college, on the condition that I can’t see Uncle Joe again for as long as possible!” Clara revealed. She smiled weakly to hide the tightness and pain in her chest.

Gaston observed the girl. Very beautiful, but fate really wasn’t on her side.

Honestly, Clara was very beautiful. Gaston couldn’t deny it. The feeling of pity in his heart grew even more.

“So, what’s your plan?” the man asked again.

“I won’t go to London because I can’t possibly not see Uncle Joe for the rest of my life. I also won’t go back to that house. Aunt Vivian and Mrs. Linn were right; I’m just a burden!” she said. “I’ll look for a job and work, and maybe start college next year. I have to start organizing my life. It’s quite difficult because it’s the first time Uncle Joe has kicked me out, but I’m sure I can do it!” Clara let out a breath, accompanied by tears that couldn’t be held back anymore. Tears rolled down her cheeks once again.

“Stop crying! I’m sure Joe isn’t that cruel. Don’t be a drama queen like his ex-wife!” the doctor comforted her.

For a moment, Clara widened her lips hearing the doctor’s joke.

“Okay, doc!” Clara replied, wiping away her tears. She tried to control her sadness.

“Don’t call me doc; I feel like I’m in the hospital if you keep calling me doctor!” he protested.

“So, what should I call Doctor Gaston?” Clara asked.

“Anything!”

“Uncle Gaston?”

“Don’t, I feel very old with that title, besides, I’ve never been married!” he refused firmly. No way would Clara call him ‘Uncle’ like she called Joe.

Clara shrugged her shoulders because she didn’t know what title to use for the doctor.

“Call me Mas!” he explained, smiling satisfactorily.

To be Continued…