Exceptional Spot
Lucas trailed behind Admiral Wan into the home office and locked the door behind him right away. As Admiral Wan comfortably sat on a chestnut leather armchair, he scrutinized his eldest son who blended into the background among the bookshelves.
Lucas Co, the Young Master of the Wan Household. Everybody says he is a bastard behind their family's back, but to him, Admiral Wan, he is his firstborn son.
Admiral Wan was the first person to hold the hideous newborn Lucas, who was wrinkly and purple and covered with a mixture of green and creamy white fluid the moment he was born. It was the infant's big round brown eyes that could pierce into a person's soul which stole the Admiral's heart the moment those eyes laid on him.
Newborn Lucas stopped crying and gazed intently at the man who was carrying him with utmost care. Tiny Lucas swaddled like a burrito wriggled his arm free and wrapped his twiglike fingers around the Admiral's finger, seeking comfort in the cruel world that he was born in. In an instant, the Admiral placed the baby boy in an exceptional spot in his heart. The baby he cradled in his arms is his son.
Lucas did not resemble his parents, and the Admiral was thankful for that. Lucas was blessed to be a carbon copy of the great Co Patriarch; sun-kissed skin, a medium build body, and a height an inch shy from being six feet tall.
Admiral Wan cleared his throat when his sight landed on his son's light brown eyes that could mirror whatever it sees yet no longer has the same gaze as when he was born; wholly tarnished by the brutal society they called the top 1%.
The Admiral straightened his back and shifted in his seat when the wave of memory started to reach his steel heart. He abruptly pushed a piece of document towards Lucas, then asked, "How was the bid for the marine salvage?"
Lucas glanced at the paper and pursed his lips into a thin line. It was a letter from the military academy telling him to report back to school. He placed the paper on the table and replied, "Stevenson won the bid. After all, he has more interest in the carnage because he is one of the survivors."
"What about the agent? Have you found her?"
"..." Lucas thought for a second before answering. He did not want to divulge their findings, especially now that it concerns Jenny Huang.
"I believe that is a no," Admiral Wan concluded, "but you do not need to find her. We only need the evidence, and that might be floating in that boat."
"I will give Stevenson a visit one of these days before I go back to the academy and finish my schooling."
"Ah, yes. You are right."
"If that is everything, I will take my leave, Father."
Just when Lucas turned on his heel, Admiral Wan stood from his chair and sympathetically said, "Lucas, son, if you could stay away from Jenny… she is still young and… there are a lot of prettier girls in the Capital too. I am sure you will meet someone else."
Lucas walked towards his father, his height towered above the decorated Admiral. He did not want to go against his father's words, but Jenny Huang was his sun.
"I am going to be a disappointment then, Father," Lucas's eyes did not dilate one bit, he stared right into his father's eyes and continued to speak in an imposing tone yet his respect towards his father could still be felt, "You can make me do anything else, except that."
Admiral Wan nodded, his tired eyes from a day's endless work softened at Lucas. He was not intimidated nor angry at his son's sudden loss of control. He knew Lucas hid all his emotions six feet underground, or even deeper, and oh how he wished Lucas would be as vocal as Grant too.
"I am just afraid of Yiu Lala getting her hands on you."
"I would cut her hands off before she could."
A burst of booming laughter echoed that everyone outside turned their head towards the room's direction. Admiral Wan patted his son's shoulders and said with confidence, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Looking forward to it, son." Father and son shared smiles, and Lucas was out of the home office in no time.
Admiral Wan opened the small drawer on the mahogany executive desk and took the solitary thing inside. He sniffed the cigar he confiscated from Grant, tempted to give it a try, but the cigar ended up being tossed inside the small drawer, never seeing another daylight.
Meanwhile, in the living room, the Wan Household was filled with life. The youngins were in a circle looking through sketches of gowns and suits for their graduation ball. They were months away from their graduation and were mostly excited over showing off their custom-made outfit. They never mentioned the disaster that Jenny underwent, and the friends were back to their carefree selves again.
Out in the pocket garden, Auntie Lala handed an address and a credit card to Chaste and ordered, "Go to that address and get me something nice to wear." Chaste nodded, then left for her mission. Madam Wan eyed the new assistant and sighed at the pitiful girl's fate.
"When are you going to stop with your games, Yiu Lala?" Madam Wan asked as she sipped her fine tea. She had a rough idea of how her best friend tied down the great Senator Travis, but she did not dare cross the line; it was too much for her.
Auntie Lala tsked at her best friend's question then stared at Chaste's back, and she curled her lips before letting out a sigh. "I intend to give her to your son, but I don't want to break my daughter's heart. I'm a bit late to ruin the party. Don't worry, they will break up without my help. And that girl... I have to make use of her, somehow."
"Hmph! You talk as if you're the one at the losing end of the stick," Madam Wan's snide remarks earned her a glare from the imperious Yiu Lala, but Madam Wan did not flinch. After all, an arrow could only fly as far as the bowstring could stretch.
The sky was clear, and the moon shone brightly. The small reunion culminated when the Capital glowed, mirroring the blanket of a billion sparkling stars.
...
On the way to the Capitol Hills, Jenny cuddled with her mom. Auntie Lala would brush her youngest daughter's hair from time to time and hum a tune she knew by heart. Jenny smiled at her mother's sweet voice and joined her little concert.
~Hold me close and hold me fast
The magic spell you cast
This is la vie en rose
When you kiss me heaven sighs
And though I close my eyes
I see la vie en rose
When you press me to your heart
I'm in a world apart
A world where roses bloom
And when you speak
Angels sing from above
Everyday words seem
To turn into love songs
Give your heart and soul to me
And life will always be la vie en rose~ [1]
"Sweetie, you are still young, hmm? Don't be too hasty and give everything to Lucas. I don't want to watch you mend a broken heart," Auntie Lala said, her high-pitched voice now calm. Senator Travis was right, Jenny was still young, and there is room for change. As for now, her sweetie's happiness was her sole wish before Jenny faces their destructive world.
"We haven't gone that far yet, mooom!" Jenny blushed pink and cheekily replied to her mom.
"Let's see how far you can go, then. But don't let me catch you lovebirds, or I will tie Lucas up and serve him to the wolves."
"Not before he cuts your hands first. Maybe your legs too, "Jenny said, her face smug and brimmed with pride at the mention of her Lucas.
Auntie Lala could not retaliate because she knew her daughter was right. Lucas's backhand dealings in that pretentious little office did not go unnoticed by the Capital's High Society. Why else would the government award him with military schooling?
"Be careful, sweetie. He is a dangerous man. I don't want you to get hurt," Auntie Lala mumbled in Jenny's ear, kissing her after that.
"But I love dangerous… just like you…"
"Omo omo omo, you stinky child!"
Mother and daughter evilly laughed in the car, and Uncle Tawi smiled from the front seat too. Of course, besides Senator Travis, the Huang's Third Young Miss could make the madam laugh silly.
Once they reached the Huang Household, Uncle Tawi alighted the car with a flashlight in his hands. He opened the door for the ladies of the house and cast a spotlight on the gap between the car and the curb. Aunt Mari stood by the curb and held out a hand to assist Auntie Lala out of the car.
"Good evening, Madam."
"Prepare my bath," Auntie Lala said before she sauntered towards the mansion.
Aunt Mari bowed and held her hand once more for Jenny, but the third young miss surprised her with a ninja hug.
"I'm home, Aunt Mari!"
"Welcome back, Sunny."
Edited by Swaning