MEETING HIM
-Levi POV-
"I'm just telling you how we know each other, not the details. But your mother did help me a lot, and she also changed me to be a better person. And I believe I'm not the only one. Even your grandfather changed after Kuchel got married to your father. Kuchel had the power to change people's hearts. Not towards the bad side, but towards the good side. I'm glad I got the chance to have a person as great as Kuchel in my life." She said that with a sincere smile. I can tell just from her smile that she really cherished my mother. I know my late mother was a wonderful person.
"Why are you telling me all this now?" I don't know what I should say, so I just ask.
She smiles before speaking again.
"Kuchel wants you to be happy, and so do I. I came here not only to tell you that, but because I wanted to ask something from you. Levi, you're going to bring Haruka back."
"I'm sorry, Madam Auclair, I don't quite understand what you mean here." I said that politely. Why would I be the one to bring Haruka back? I don't even know where he is.
"I mean, it's exactly what I just said. You're going to bring Haruka back here in France." She said the same thing, making me more confused.
"I understand that, Madam Auclair, but how can I do that? I did my best with all of my power to look for Haruka's whereabouts until today, but I still had no clue. Even Miss Hanabi, who is closest to Mr. Auclair, doesn't know a single thing for now." I said that, disappointed with myself.
"Well, first of all, I know where Haruka is, and secondly, the one who is closest to Haruka is me, and the one who is closest to Hanabi is Haruka. I think you misunderstood things there." Madam Auclair said, smiling like she's trying to tease me actually.
"I thought it was Hanabi. Well, I can see that now that you mention it, Madam Auclair. So, where is Mr. Auclair now?" Without wasting any time, I ask it directly.
"Haruka's in Australia right now, living at one of our family villas there. It will take more than 24 hours to get there. Have you been to Australia before?" Haruka's mother asks me.
"Never." I answered shortly. I haven't travelled to many countries except for work, but Australia was never on the list.
"Well, no worries. I did assign one of my assistants to accompany you there, so you should be fine." She said that with a smile again.
"It's okay, Madam Auclair. I can manage on my own." I tried to refuse her politely.
"It's okay. It's just until there. I'll tell Haruka to take care of you later when you arrive there." She said that with a mischievous smile. For some reason, I'm getting a bit nervous.
"But, may I know why you're asking me to do this? Why not Hanabi since she's close to him and she's his sister?" Honestly, I've been thinking about this since earlier. Yes, I'm his boss, but not his family, so why me?
"I saw Hanabi exit the building with Lauren earlier. Did she come meet you to talk about Haruka?" She didn't answer my question, but she asked another question instead.
"Yeah, she did." I just answered, and I can see a faint smile forming on her lips.
"You see, ever since she turned 18, Hanabi used to think about her pride more than anything else. Since she is the second smartest, she doesn't really listen to anyone except for his brother, Haruka. Seeing that prideful kid asking for your help to find her beloved brother made me realise that you're the only person who can do this, Levi. That's why it has to be you." She said that with a very soft tone and a genuine smile.
"I'm sorry, Madam Auclair, but I just really love your son, so of course I'm going to bring him back here even though you didn't ask me to." I don't know where I got the courage, but I really said that. Haruka's mother's chuckles make me nervous.
"I know you're the one. You know what your mother told me, Levi?" She looks at me. This time, her gaze is still soft but a bit serious.
"What is it, Madam Auclair?" I answered.
"I don't mind with whom Levi ends up in the future. As long as he's happy, I'm happy. That's enough for me." "That's what she said to me 24 years ago. Her words made me realise that as long as our children are happy, that's enough." She said that while looking at the cup of tea, as if she's trying to avoid eye contact with me.
"I'm sorry, Madam Auclair, but did you know that your son is gay?" I try to ask it as politely as possible. She looks at me and smiles.
"Of course I know. In fact, I guess I'm the only one who knows this without him knowing. I even set him up for a blind date despite knowing that." Madam Auclair chuckles, but I can say it's not because that's funny but it's because she regretted it.
"What do you mean? And when did you do that?" My curiosity gets me more.
"I know he was dating William Anderson eight years ago, but I just let it slide that time. He's still young at that time. But after knowing that they broke up, I set up a blind date for him several times in the past. He did follow what I told him, but he didn't seem happy at all. That's when Kuchel's words hit me. Haruka wouldn't be happy with the marriage arranged for him. After that, I told myself, "It doesn't matter who it is, as long as he or she can make him happy, that's enough, and I know you can make it happen, Levi.."This time, she looks at me with a genuine smile, just like before.
"But how can you be so sure that I'll make your son happy?" I asked. This is a bit heavy for me. Two of Haruka's family members asked me the same thing.
"Because I know you love him, and you could say a mother's instinct is never wrong. I'll be counting on you, Levi. Oh right, you should leave early today, I guess, because your flight is at 11 p.m. tonight. I'll take my leave now. Please, Haru-chan back." Haruka's mother left after saying that. She didn't even wait for my response.
-Present Time-
That's how I ended up coming to Australia. And now, here I am at the Sydney International Airport, waiting for my flight to Airlie Beach. Yeah, Haruka is there, and his family owns a villa there.
"Haruka, why do you need to travel this far just to clear your mind?" I talk to myself. This is my first time in Australia and the longest trip I've ever been on. I have never been on a plane for more than a day before.
"Sir, you should be ready for boarding soon." A man spoke behind me. He's the assistant Haruka's mother mentioned before to accompany me until I arrive at their villa.
"Alright, thank you." I stood up from my seat and walked towards the boarding region.
//SKIP//
-Haruka POV-
It's been 5 days since I've been living here, in my family villa at Airlie Beach, Australia. I look at my phone. Just like the days before, I got many calls from Hanabi, of course, but strangely, there was no call from Levi today. He used to call me every day, but I never answered them once. I just need some time to clear my head before I return to Paris.
"But why doesn't Levi call me today?" Without realising it, I ask myself that. What is this? It's like I'm actually waiting for his call, but actually I'm not.
RING!RING!
My phone rings, making me startled. I look at the name of the caller. Mother. What is it this time?
"Yes, mother. Why are you calling me?" Without even asking how she's been, I ask right away.
"Oh my God, Haru-chan, you don't even say hello to me. This kid." My mom said, whining over the phone.
"Alright, I'm sorry, okay. Hello there, mom. How are you?" I was too lazy to hear my mom whine more, I just did what she wanted.
"I'm good as always. How about you, Haru-chan?" My mother asks.
"Well, me too. I'm good." I answered her shortly.
"Geez, this kid. When are you coming back to Paris?" This again. I just left not even one week yet, but she keeps asking me this.
"I'm going to clear my mind first, so it might take a while. Mom, please don't ask me this again, okay?" I told her, feeling a bit tired from this.
"I know you're going to say this, that's why I'm sending someone to rescue you. Make sure you prepare a room for one person to stay. Knowing you, you probably send all the maids home while you're staying there." My mother said it without me even having the chance to interrupt. She's right, I did send the maid home, but wait, who is coming now?
"Mom, who is coming here? Is it Hanabi? Hanaka nii-san? Mom, I told you not to tell anyone about me being here. I need some…"
"See you soon, Haru-chan! Bye, I love you!" She cut me off and just hung up like that. Ugh, she's always like that. But the problem now is, who is coming here?
DING!DONG!
The bell of the villa's main door rings. Is the person's mother mentioned earlier here? Should I open the door? Who is it? What if it's someone I don't want to see right now? Ugh, maybe I should just open the door first. I make my steps towards the door, and after a few seconds of hesitation, I open the door, revealing the face that I actually didn't expect I would be seeing here this soon.
"What are you doing here?"
TO BE CONTINUED…