My Spanish Love

chapter 23

Chapter 23 by syaminhazam

Unedited

“First stop, Clinic” Marcel announces as we enters the car.

I shake my head.

There is no real need to go to the clinic. Mel already attended to the wounds just now.

“Why, who is sick?” Leo gaze shifted between me and Marcel.

I narrowed my eyes at Marcel.  He was the one that decides that I need to cover the bruises with makeup.

“Mummy falls just now, so the doctor needs to see her, right?” he winks his eye at Leo.

“Ohh, does is hurt mummy,?” Leo asked, his small fingers brushing the sides of my elbow.
His lips kisses my arm. The same gestures I always do when he is hurt.

After seeing the doctor, which i regretted right now, simply because that doctor told Marcel that even there is no fracture, the muscle seems to be torn and swelling.

Other than the medicine that he gave, I need to rest and not to lift heavy things, not even lifting Leo.

Marcel seems to be in a very good mood which matches Leo’s but not me.

We are now having another argument while driving home after dinner.

“No, we are not going to stay at your apartment”

“Okay, I will stay at your place then,” Marcel grip on the wheel tightens.

“There is no need Marcel , I’ll take care myself and Leo. You don’t need to trouble yourself with us,”

“Are you deaf, you heard the doctor, you must rest for at least a week.. there is no trouble when I’m taking care of my family” he banged the wheel gaining attention from Leo.

“Are you fighting with Mummy, buddy” Leo gaze fixed on his buddy, his hand on his waist.

I smiled.

“No, there is something here, I just push it away,” Marcel lied.

I chuckled.

One thing I learned is that,  whatever fight or argument I’m having with Marcel, it can’t happen in front of Leo. Leo is an observant child as Louisa said.

“Leo, mummy needs to rest, so can you stay at Louisa place,”  Marcel asked Leo.

I crossed my finger, hoping that Leo will be on my side, agreeing to stay with Louisa during day time and with me at night, just as the same during my working hour. The difference is, I’ll be resting at home not working.

Right now, I feel that I want to strangle the doctor. He and Marcel might work together, just to make my life miserable.

“Mummy resting at home,?” Leo asked Marcel

“Yes, remember the doctor ask mummy to rest, cant go to work” Marcel look at Leo reflection in the mirror.

Leo rubs his chin as he thinks, “Hmm... no I will stay at home to take care mummy, gives her medicine and water... but ... I can’t cook” his face drops.

“We can order food Leo” I told him.

“Mummy, buddy can cook for us, his food is so yummy,” his fingers circled his small tummy.
Marcel laughed as he high fived Leo.

“So its decided, I will stay at your home,”

I want to argue with him more, but the high pitched squealed from Leo stopped me. His face light up as Marcel carry him up the stair.

Sighing, I unlocked the door and Marcel walks in as he owns the house.

“There is only one room and 1 bed.. where I sleeps with Leo. I do have an extra pillow and a very thin old mattress. So where will you sleep?”

Marcel walks into the room, and flicks the light switch on.

“Show me the mattress” he stands n front of my closet.”

My fingers shows him the neatly wrapped mattress in plastic bag up on the closet.

That was the first mattress that I bought when I came here.

He lift the mattress and pull it down. His eyes scanned the room and he walks outside then he walks in again.

There is no place for him to place the mattress in the room.

He unwrapped the plastic bag and lay it outside at the living room.

Without saying anything, he walks outside and came back a few moment later with a bag in his hand.

“Lucky for me, I still have my luggage.. didn’t unpack it yet.”

“Mummy, can I sleep with buddy?” Leo asked after changing into his sleeping pyjama.

I nodded my head.

Even moving my hand up was painful. I tried again, for second time, putting my injured hand into the sleeve but stopped midway as Marcel came in.

He lift the sleeve and put my hand in.

“See, you need me sweet Ella” he kissed my cheek.

I woke up early the next day. Leo need to go school and he wants his breakfast before going to school. His breakfast might be simple such as milk and honey star, but he wants it.

The sight of Leo and Marcel hugging each other melted my heart. Leo head rested on Marcel arm as he snuggle deep into his embrace.

Slowly I walked to them. I need to wake Leo now if not he will be late to school.

My hand was inches away from Leo when Marcel opens his eye. He squinted his eyes as his hand rubs his eyes.

“Good morning,”  he draws my hand to his lip and kissed it.

This is so awkward, i told myself. All this while it has been only me and Leo in this house. We have never received any staying in guest.

“hmm... I need to carry him to the room and prepare him for school.”

Marcel nodded.

He gets up quickly and lift a sleeping Leo up in his arm. Groggily, he wakes him up by kissing Leo on his cheek. When that didn’t help, he rubs his beard on Leo cheek.

“Mummy, it tickles,” Leo said as he slowly opens his eyes.

He smiles as he sees Marcel putting him down on the floor.

I took out Leo shirt and pants before going to the kitchen. I was about to reach the cereal box when Marcel slides his arm around my waist while his other hand grabbed the cereal.

“Let me prepare the breakfast, Leo insisted that he wants to wear his shirt and pants on his own,” he said while preparing the milk and cereal.

A  while later, Leo screamed, “Buddy, I need help,”.

One question popped up in my mind. Will this how it be if we are really a family?.

After sending Leo to school, Marcel gets ready for work. He prepared a simple breakfast for me and makes sure that I have taken the medicine before he walks out of the house.

I have always busy at this time, serving table but now, I’m alone and doing nothing.

Marcel already left a message on my phone asking me not to cook and telling me that he will be back by noon time with food and Leo.

This is for just one day right, I told myself. No need to grumble or fight. I just need to calm and not argue with him.

I stared blankly at the television, flipping through channel. My eyes slowly dropping slowly and before anything else the remote that I was holding falls on  the floor and my eyes closed shut.

A light touch on my shoulder woke me up few hours later. Through the small opening of my eyes, i saw Leo squatting down smiling at me.
Slowly, I stands up and stretched my hands.

“Ouch”

Marcel yelled as my hand knocked his eyes.
I laughed.

“I’m in pain and you laugh?”  he said rubbing his eyes.

Leo joined me later, laughing together.

“ Leo, you just wait...” he said before running behind Leo.

Leo was running around the house, away from Marcel. Lastly he decided to hid behind me.

It was like a hide and seek game between Marcel and Leo. Marcel tried to grab Leo but Leo keeps on moving behind me.

He ducks down went Marcel tgies to grab his hand and stands up when Marcel ducks down.

I was like a big tree which they keeps on circling. I have to keep my hand on my chest in order for me to be save, not to be knocked down.

As a final attempt to stop them, i yelled, “stop”, however I was late as Marcel tripped his leg and pulled me down on him.

Both of us were stunned as we lay down with me on top of him. The giggling sound of Leo behind me reminded me that Leo is with us.

Averting my eyes away, i saw a new folded mattress beside the couch.

I tried to get up, but i was hard with my injured arm. Every time i got up, I fall on him again.

Marcel wrapped his arm around my waist and turned me around, landing me down on my back to the floor. He then stands up and offered his hand to me.

I took his hand in mine and he pulled me up. I want to ask him about the new mattress but Leo cuts in.

“Mummy, I’m hungry” his fingers showing his small stomach.

“Let me plate it up, and you wash your hand,”

Marcel said.  A wide grin plastered on his face. He seems to enjoy the moment a while ago.

“Marcel, why is that mattress here” I asked while swallowing the food that he brings in for lunch.

“Mummy, it’s rude to talk while eating” Leo said.

I want to ask again but then i closed my mouth. It was me who told him that and going against my rule will just spoil him later. Lead by example right?.

After washing Leo and changing Leo inti fresh cloth, Marcel changes his suite into a sleeveless blue shirt and a black short.

He is really getting comfortable in this house, and its not good. Not only him, Leo is getting more comfortable with Marcel.

He is sitting on Leo lap as Marcel coaching him on his homework.

My body was leaning on the door as my gaze fixed on them. The sound of Marcel clearing his throat brought me out of my reverie.

“Marcel, what is that mattress here?” my finger points the newly wrapped mattress.

“Oh! That... the old mattress is so thin, this is better comfortable to sleep on” he answers as he help Leo to put in his homework in the bag.

“You are not answering my question Marcel,” my hand on my hip as my feet tapping the floor impatiently.

“The answer is quite clear sweetie, I’m staying here until you get better.”

My eyes widen.. what?.

“No, I gave permission only for last night”

“I don’t need permission to take care my family dear,” he said caressing my cheek.

I was left speechless.