26 || I Love You, ra ||


    Part 26.


    Tonight the sky was overcast, mirroring Joe’s troubled mind. What he felt in his heart right now, he had felt before. Jealousy, which meant he already liked ra. Loved, to be more precise.


    Did the man truly love ra? Joe stared at the walls of his room. The 45-day contract with ra still had almost two weeks left. Mr. Joe wasn’t sure if he was truly in love, liked her, or just felt intrigued.


    Joe kicked his nket roughly, frustrated with himself. Sleep was elusive, and he was confused even when awake.


    He reached for his phone intending to send a message to ra. Dozens of messages from Mario on his WhatsApp were also visible. However, Joe didn’t open any messages from the teenager and focused on typing a message to ra.


    Joe: [Darling, are you asleep?]


    ra: [Not yet, Uncle]


    Joe: [I want to talk.]


    ra: [Okay.]


    ra waited for Joe to call her. However, her phone’s ringtone didn’t sound. She kept waiting until she received a message from Joe.


    Joe: [Open the door, I’m in front of your room!]


    ra’s hands trembled. The clock on her phone showed ten o’clock. And Joe was outside her room.


    Knock.


    Knock.


    Knock.


    A faint knocking sound was heard. ra, with her trembling body, quickly opened the door.


    And…


    The handsome Uncle was standing right in front of her. He wore a casual t-shirt paired withfortable shorts. ra was transfixed by Joe’s tousled hair.


    “Do we need to talk, ra?” Joe requested.


    “Um…”


    “May Ie into your room?” Joe asked. “Or should we talk in my room?” he offered.


    ra nced at her messy room. “Let’s talk tomorrow, Uncle, it’ste!” ra refused.


    “We can’t, ra, I want us to talk now!” Joe insisted.


    “Okay, let’s talk in Uncle Joe’s room then!” ra replied. She grabbed her sweater and followed Joe’s lead.


    For the second time, she entered Joe’s room. The room where he stole her first kiss. No, he didn’t steal it. Because ra liked it too.


    “ra,” Joe whispered as he reached for ra’s hand.


    “Yes, Uncle,” ra replied, looking up to meet the gaze of the handsome man. It was a bit strange because Om’s hair, which was usually neat, looked tousled.


    “Tomorrow, after school, I’ll take you out to eat and for a walk. There’s something I want to tell you,” Joe said. He really wanted to confess his feelings tonight. But Joe hesitated. He wanted to create a special moment for a special girl like ra.


    “Can’t you just tell me through messages or a phone call?” ra asked, smiling. Uncle Joe’s face looked different. With a smile he often restrained.


    “No, ra! Because I miss you too!” Joe replied.


    “Miss me?” ra asked to confirm.


    “Yes, I miss you, ra!” Joe admitted his feelings.


    They fell silent, looking into each other’s eyes for a long time.


    “Can I hug you?” Joe asked.


    ra nodded, smiling. A momentter, Joe reached for ra’s waist and they hugged.


    “ra, I’m starting to feelfortable with you,” Joe said.


    Hearing Joe’s words, ra secretly felt happy. Hopefully, her love would be reciprocated.


    Joe let go of the hug and guided ra to her balcony. The sky was still overcast, the wind blowing and caressing their faces, giving a chilly and romantic feeling.


    He sat leaning against the railing, with ra in hisp.


    “Darling!” Joe whispered. He felt truly smitten but didn’t know what to do next.


    “Yes,” ra looked up at Joe behind her.


    “If I were to like you, would we date or get married right away?” Joe asked.


    Wow!


    Married? ra had always liked Joe, admired him like crazy.


    But…


    Married? It had never crossed ra’s mind.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    “I still want to go to college, Uncle, and I still want to pursue my dreams!” ra replied.


    “Oh, I understand. So, should we date secretly for now, or how?” Joe asked again. He didn’t want ra to feel ufortable. The most important thing for him was ra’s happiness and being by her side.


    “Um…,” ra murmured. She didn’t know what to answer. Joe asking like this was never on her mind. “I don’t know, Uncle?” ra replied.


    “For now, let’s keep it a secret, thenter when we’re both ready, I’ll talk to Mama about it, okay with you?” Joe proposed.


    “Yes, Uncle, I’m not ready yet if Mrs. Linn and Mr. Bond find out that I actually like Uncle Joe!” ra said.


    “I like you too, ra!” Joe replied.


    “Uncle, you like me?” ra asked to make sure.


    “Yes, I like you, ra!”


    If ra were alone in her room, she might have jumped for joy. But because Joe was beside her, ra just smiled, adjusting her wildly beating heart.


    “It’ste, I’ll escort you back to your room, ra!” Joe suggested. He guided the girl to stand up.


    “Yes, Uncle!”


    “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to school, and I’ll make sure to pick you up!” Joe said as they walked towards ra’s room. They held hands, feelingfortable with each other.


    “Okay, Uncle!”


    “Have a good night’s sleep, ra!”


    “You too, Uncle!”


    Joe nodded and continued to stare at ra until the door closed. He then went back into his room.


    Uncle held his chest. ra had made him feel happy. Even without realizing it, Joe always smiled to himself.


    ==?==


    Joe’s car stopped in front of the school gate. It was still very early, ra hadn’t even had time to dry her hair.


    Her wet hair was tied up, which bothered Joe.


    “Don’t tie up your wet hair, ra!” Joe untied her hair. “I’ll pick you up after school,” he added.


    “Ready, Uncle,” ra replied.


    Om Joe observed ra’s every move. Her smile, her cheerful demeanor. She brought a new color to Joe’s life. ra, who was always obedient, was very different from his ex-wife. Perhaps that’s what made Joe feelfortable with ra.


    After ensuring ra entered the school gate, Joe immediately drove his car at full speed towards Blue Jewelry.


    “Good morning, Sir!” Antoni greeted, already at the office.


    “Good morning, Antoni,” Joe replied. He walked to his seat.


    “You look different this morning, Sir,” Antoni remarked. As usual, he was always interested in Joe.


    “What do you mean?” Joe asked, while looking at his schedule for the day. Yes, at one o’clock he would meet a new client from Australia, then he would pick up ra. He smiled again.


    “You seem happier, even your cheeks look rosier, Sir,” he pointed out.


    Joe just responded with a thin smile. Then he focused on looking at the magazine, choosing models for the new product photoshoot. Everything needed to be ready by the day after tomorrow.


    However, Joe couldn’t calm down. He kept looking at the wall clock because he couldn’t wait until two in the afternoon. He even skipped his lunch.


    “Why haven’t they arrived yet?” Joe asked anxiously. His client should have arrived before one o’clock, but almost half past one and they still hadn’t arrived.


    “I just received a message that they’ll likely bete and arrive by half past two!” Antoni replied, reading the message on his phone screen.


    Joe thought for a moment. He looked out the window, the weather was gloomy, and ra would be going home soon. But he still had to wait for his client who hadn’t arrived yet.


    “Can we postpone it, Antoni?” Joe asked, starting to worry about beingte to pick up ra.


    “We can’t, Sir. This is ourst chance, and if we can convince them to be customers, it will be very beneficial for Blue Jewelry because we can expand our reach to Australia. It could be a great achievement for us this year, Sir!” Antoni exined.


    Joe tried to contact ra but there was no response. His phone was off, and she hadn’t checked his messages either.


    The man started to worry. He walked around, waiting for the client while trying to contact ra who still didn’t respond.


    “Sir!” Antoni called. Seeing Joe pacing back and forth, he felt annoyed. But he couldn’t say anything because the man was his boss.


    “Yes! They’ve arrived!” Joe eximed.


    “They haven’t, Sir. They’re expected to arrive by half past two!” Antoni replied.


    “Why are they taking so long! Don’t you see it’s raining outside! What about ra!” Joe yelled, torn between wanting to pick up ra soon and not wanting to lose his client.


    “Who’s ra, Sir?” Antoni inquired.


    Joe didn’t answer. The clock kept ticking, and it was almost half past two.


    “You, meet the client yourself, Antoni!” Joemanded. He grabbed his car keys and his phone, ready to leave his office.


    “But, Sir, they want to meet you in person!” Antoni tried to persuade him.


    “I trust you can convince them, Antoni. I’m worried about ra, something might have happened to her outside in the rain, and I promised to pick her up!” Joe exined.


    Antoni fell silent, watching Joe walk away from him like that.


    Joe drove his car through the city streets, which were being poured by heavy rain. His four-wheeled vehicle moved at full speed.


    ==?==


    ra reluctantly epted Mario’s offer to take her home. It was already two o’clock but Joe still hadn’t arrived. She also forgot to bring her phone.


    Midway through the journey, Mario pulled over his motorcycle, suggesting they take shelter. The rain was pouring heavily. They stood side by side.


    Mario’s eyes always paid attention to ra.


    ra crossed her arms, covering her chest. Her wet uniform exposed the bra she was wearing.


    Mario couldn’t deny he enjoyed the sight. His chest was heaving! His white face looked flushed, the cold rain couldn’t quench his desire.


    Then, Mario took a warm jacket from the motorcycle’s trunk and gave it to ra.


    Mario reached for ra’s arm, not wanting her to catch a cold. They looked truly like a romantic couple.


    Unbeknownst to the two teenagers, a ck McLaren car had just passed in front of them. The man inside the car watched the scene with wide eyes.


    “ra.”


    “Mario.”


    “Bastard! Damn brat taking advantage!” Joe cursed. One hand gripped the steering wheel, the other clenched in anger.


    Joe turned his car around. He drove at full speed towards the two teenagers taking shelter.


    The man stopped his car. Joe opened an umbre and opened the car door, then walked towards ra with a mix of anger and jealousy.


    Joe was furious, it was clear that Mario didn’t heed his warning. Without saying anything, Joe grabbed ra’s hand. Then, he gently took off the warm jacket from ra’s shoulder and harshly threw it towards Mario.


    “Watch out, you brat!” Joe cursed as he took ra under his control. Then, he led ra away with him.


    “Get in!” the manmanded firmly. He gently sat ra down. His two eyes stared intensely into hers.


    He closed the door and circled around, then sat behind the wheel. Without changing direction, Joe intentionally took a different route home.


    Joe nced at ra sitting beside him. Her wet school bag was ced on the backseat.


    The girl sat close, looking out the window, observing the heavy rain falling.


    “Why is your phone not active?” Joe asked, trying to remain patient. Actually, he was still upset about the scene earlier when Mario reached out to ra.


    Silence.


    “I left my phone at home, Uncle!” ra answered.


    Joe sighed. There was no reason to be angry; ra would just be scared.


    The man pulled over on a fairly quiet street, the heavy rain making the road deserted.


    He turned to ra.


    ra’s hair, tied back, looked wet, as did the cor and her school uniform. He observed her for quite some time, but ra didn’t turn around to meet his gaze. She continued staring out the window, whatever she was contemting.


    “ra, didn’t you listen to what I saidst night?!” Joe asked. His voice trembled with anger. “Did you ignore my order not to get too close to Mario?” he added.


    ra shifted, instead of answering she bowed her head. It wasn’t without reason that she epted Mario’s offer to take her home. She didn’t bring her phone to order a taxi, and the school was already deserted.


    Seeing the teenage girl’s reaction, Joe became even more agitated.


    “Answer me, ra,” Joe urged, lowering his voice and guiding ra’s face to face him. His strong hands held ra’s face in ce.


    “It’s not what Uncle thinks!” ra replied softly but firmly. Her lips trembled from the cold. Yes, those thin and tiny lips that usually tempted men with their vibrant redness, now pale from the cold.


    Joe couldn’t hold back anymore. He embraced the girl tightly. His strong arms seemed to be able to crush the bones under his control.


    ra felt warmth andfort in every touch of the man. The wet fabric covering her body made every finger of the man touching her back feel so real.


    For several minutes they hugged each other, sharing body warmth. Slowly Joe guided ra’s face away, then without asking, hended a deep kiss on ra. They exchanged feelings passionately. When he realized their lips were still intertwined, he released them just like that.


    “What does this kiss mean, Uncle? Why does Uncle Joe like to kiss me so much!” ra thought.


    Unexpectedly, the man kissed her again, exploring her so skillfully. One of his hands hugged ra tightly.


    The girl’s heavy breathing brought the front of their bodies closer without a gap.


    Joe released the kiss again. Lowering his hand, he freed ra from his grip.


    “ra, I like you. From now on, don’t let other men touch your body!” Joe whispered with a deadly sharp gaze.