ARC 1: The Abandoned Lover’s Salvation (9) Chapter 9: Seed of Doubt

Lumiere stared silly at the scene in front of him. Augustine being very affectionate to Richie while the little one boasted about his achievements.

"Dad! Since I won, let's eat out with mom, elder brother and elder sister!" Richie smiled while being carried as he counted in his fingers how many they were.

"Mnn." The other one nodded and kissed his son's left cheek.

"A-A-Augustine you cheater!" Lumiere forgot any ounce of manner and shouted so loud that everyone's attention were all on him.

Suddenly, a jacket wrapped behind him and a person said, "I just left to get your jacket and now I'm a cheater?"

Lumiere looked at the person behind him and it was the same person with the same suit and tie that he was talking to earlier.

"Gus?" he asked.

"Yeah?" the other one replied.

Tears filled Lumiere's eyes, unable to believe that he met a doppelganger in this world. He hugged his luck clover tightly and bawled like a child, "Waaaaaahhhh! Gus don't look! You can't die!"

"Hey? What's the matter?!" Augustine looks so panicked that the other person near them laughed. Augustine look over and saw the father and son pair in front of him.

"Uncle, you're here too?" Richie gasped in surprise.

Augustine finally knew what the problem is and forced himself to stop laughing with all his might. After only 2 seconds, he rubs his lover's back saying, "Yes, I'm here love, I didn't cheat. I don't have three children and I have no wife. I only have you, m'kay?"

When the other onlookers heard him say this, they actually noticed that the two person look so alike and guessed what's going on inside the teen's mind. They also couldn't help but laugh heartily.

Lumiere calmed down and gave him a glare, then he pouted while looking at everyone, feeling as if he's been wronged. Thus, everyone couldn't help but laugh once again and console him with words.

Jen watched silently as it happened. He's obviously the focus earlier, how come it's Eclaire again? He gnashed his teeth in rage.

"W-Who?" Eclaire, who's not letting go of his lover, asked.

Augustine found him very cute and lovely so he rubs his head before speaking, "He's my older brother, Clementine Leutraine."

"Different surnames?" Eclaire wondered.

"He insisted on taking our mother's surname, that's why."

Oh, I thought there'll be drama involved – Lumiere pouted.

Richie blinked twice and finally guessed, "Teacher, are you uncle's wife?"

Eclaire actually jumped in surprise upon hearing the word 'wife' and hid behind Augustine with his arms still wrapped around his waist. Another series of laughter was heard.

Soon, when the crowd dispersed and the place was quiet, Jen stepped forward and greeted, "Sir! I didn't think I would see you here!" he smiled kindly. If he didn't make a move now, who knows if tomorrow, his boss would no longer talk to him?

'This is all because of that damnable guy!'

Lumiere didn't move and waited to see how everything will unfold. He already put everything into place, although there were unexpected factors involved, everything can still proceed.

"En, me too. I was surprised to see that you're the mentor of the kids. Everyone is very talented." Augustine replied with a smile. It made Jen blush.

Just then, a group of three people followed. The woman happily said, "Isn't that right, brother-in-law? I can't believe our Richie improved so much all because of his teaching!"

"If I'd have known, I'd hire you much sooner. Do you want to work for our family?" Clementine offered.

Jen blushed once more and carefully declined, "I'm very sorry but I'm only working as a piano teacher in part-time. After all I work at Sir Lughrenoir's company…"

"Really? That's too bad!" Richie's older brother whined.

"Uncle! Can't you just give him to us?" the older sister begged cutely.

Augustine actually didn't find anything wrong. After all, Jen is the official teacher of Richie and Eclaire only tutored him after class. Also, because he isn't present whenever Eclaire and Richie play the piano, he also didn't know that what Richie played in this competition was from Eclaire and assumed it was Jen's composition.

Eclaire took a peek and listened to their conversation.

Richie frowned once again. Obviously the one who taught him wasn't Teacher Jen but Teacher Eclaire. Yet, because he promised not to tell, he couldn't say anything. He wants to mouth to his aunt that he's the best but saw him peeking from the side, looking so sad.

Richie caught a glimpse of Eclaire looking at him. His teacher forced a smile of his face when he obviously looks really sad. He wanted to call him but then Augustine faced Eclaire and asked, "Darling, still hiding?"

Eclaire flinched before asking with a small voice, "Can… can we go home?"

Just as Augustine was about to agree, Clementine spoke, "That's right! Since we're going to eat out today, what do you say… we all eat together?" he suggested Augustine and also looked at Jen, "With teacher Jen, of course."

Augustine thought it would be a good way to introduce his family to his lover so he agreed. Facing Eclaire, he said, "Come! I'll tell you many things while we eat." He pulled him over but Eclaire refuses to move.

"Love?" he wondered.

Eclaire's breathing became gasps, his feet were pasted on the ground, his head hung low, afraid to look up.

"Is there something wrong?" Jen wondered and tried to approach Eclaire. This is so he can provoke him. Eclaire hates him to the bone so coming near him, he will surely snap.

"I-I'm f-fine…" Eclaire's voice became smaller.

When Jen touched his shoulder, Eclaire hit his hand away, "Don't touch me! Go away!" he shouted.

Jen took a step back, looking very scared. Others felt pity so they tried to comfort him but Augustine approached Eclaire, "What happened, hmm? Love, tell me…"

Jen tugged on Augustine's sleeve, "S-Sir, don't scold… I'm fine…"

Augustine sighed wondering, 'Did I ask?' but when Eclaire saw the two of them, he took two steps backwards with difficulty. Richie, who's watching, felt very sad for his teacher. First, his teacher's achievement was stolen by this guy. Now, is he trying to steal his uncle from his teacher?

Richie is an innocent child so he couldn't think of any other reason and quickly connected the two. He felt very annoyed and asked his dad to put him down.

When Eclaire is still trying to step away further, Augustine caught his wrist and pulled him into his arms without being forceful. However, because Eclaire could no longer feel his legs, he almost fell on the ground. Luckily, Augustine's reaction is fast so he caught Eclaire before he scrape his knees. In the process, he shook Jen's hand away.

Upon having Eclaire in his arms, only then he noticed the abnormality. Eclaire is gasping for air and his legs are trembling so badly.

Jen felt annoyed that things aren't going in his way so he tried to get in the picture once again and said, "Sir, his complexion is pretty bad, should I call an ambulance?" he played the concerned party part as he approach the worried Augustine.

Trying to touch his boss' shoulder, he stretched out his arm but was pulled away by a child.

"Richie!" his mother scolded.

"Stay away from uncle!" Richie still continued and spread out his arms as if he's defending the lovers from an enemy. His action surprised everyone, even the panic-driven Augustine.

"Don't you realize that auntie is too uncomfortable around you?! Auntie is feeling better earlier but when you came, he feels painful and sad!" Richie shouted at the top of his lungs, as if he's afraid that no one would listen to his words because he's just a child.

His tears fell and continued shouting, "You already stole auntie's achievement in teaching me the piano! The original piece I played was created by auntie! So why are you trying to steal uncle away too?! Teacher Jen, you're so heartless!"

Everyone was speechless and looked at Jen with doubtful eyes. Jen's face distorted. He was petrified at the sudden interference of Richie. He's just a kid, how dare he meddle?!

"I didn't!" Jen answered, "I didn't steal anything!"

[Ding! Ding! Ding!]

AFFECTION LEVEL: 45% --> 35%

FAVORABILITY LEVEL: 90% --> 93%

MISFORTUNE LEVEL: 15% --> 25%

"You did!" Richie shouted, "If you didn't, why didn't you tell everyone that you didn't teach me?! I attended your class but I was never cooperative! You know I won't play whenever you tell me to! That means you know that you didn't teach me anything! Only aunt taught me! Only aunt painstakingly taught me!"

"I didn't know someone else was teaching you!" Jen tried to explain, "T-That's why I thought you still listened to my words in the end—"

"You're lying! You know you're not that skilled in the piano! Now I am much better than you! If I listened to your words only but never cooperated, I'll never be able to surpass you! Aunt already didn't complain when I couldn't speak up for him, but now, you're too much! Go away! Don't come near my uncle and aunt! Go away!"

[Ding! Ding!]

AFFECTION LEVEL: 35% --> 32%

MISFORTUNE LEVEL: 25% --> 38%

Finally Richie couldn't help but to sob, "Don't steal my uncle! I don't want you to be my aunt!" he sniffed while bawling.

[Ding!]

MISFORTUNE LEVEL: 38% --> 45%

While Jen was thinking furiously on how to reverse the situation, he saw Augustine looking at him full of doubt. His eyes are filled with questions and complex emotions.

Jen bit his lower lip and lowers his head, "I'll be leaving now." He spoke and left while Clementine and his family members are still baffled.

Augustine continues rubbing Eclaire's back with his hand and said, "It's alright, he's gone now." He actually doesn't know what to say. He only said that because he was too stimulated by Richie's words.

Clementine once again carried his crying son and gently pats his back. He knows his son isn't the type of person to lie. Plus, he's just a kid. Therefore, something is really up with that Jen person. His wife also came to calm Richie while the other two look at each other, very confused.

"I-I'm s-sorry…" Eclaire tried his best to calm himself, "I… I don't want to be like this… I'm really sorry… Gus, don't be mad okay? I'll… I'll try to ch-change… s-so… don't hate me, okay?"

Augustine hugged him tighter and the speed and pressure of his hand rubbing his back increased, "Ssshhh… It's okay. It's okay. I'm not mad, alright? I'm here, aren't I? Everything's okay…"

Augustine finally realized something… what if… what if Jen truly thinks of him in that way? He only treats Jen a little bit better because if he happen to have a little brother, he would very much like Jen to be one but now… No matter what, he doesn't feel the same way at all. Besides, he already has Eclaire. Jen should also be aware of that. Augustine sighed as he coax his lover. He never thought that things would be this way.

[Ding!]

AFFECTION LEVEL: 32% --> 30%