The Third Wheel - Part 28 (SPA)

"Can you pass me the salt?" Hugh said, looking at Maximiano. "Here". "Thanks" Hugh smiled at Maximiano, making the grown man shiver. "Hugh, reserve that smile for Bella, or I will get goosebumps all over my body" Maximiano said, his face screwing up in disgust. Isabel slapped him at the arm, making him yelp in pain. She was, of course, embarrassed by the statement made by her brother, and to add more of her embarrassment, Hugh was now looking at her, his lips splayed into a smile. She noticed that Hugh's eyes was shining with happiness. After being in a relationship with him for six months, Hugh's lonely and sad eyes have turned cheerful and bright. Even so, Isabel never asked about the source of her companion's sadness. She never thought of it before, too.

By this time, Maximiano was already leaning on Hugh's shoulder, his face droopy. "Look at her, Hugh, your darling over there just hit me. Shall I call her a barbarian?" he teased. Due to that statement, Maximiano was rewarded an arm shoving from Hugh and a pinching at the side from Isabel. "Ouch! Double hit!" he yelled out, making Reina giggle while drinking. "M-Max...you're being pathetic right now" she said between her giggling fit. Antonello, who was sitting between Hugh and Reina, gave a tissue for her to wipe her mouth. He then frowned at Maximiano. "Mind your manners" Antonello snapped. "Uh-oh, the old one has spoken" Maximiano said, his tone sarcastic. "Both of you, stop it. We're having a dinner" Hugh said seriously. Due to that, Antonello, who was already geared up to argue with his brother, continued on eating, Maximiano doing the same. This was also a change of pace ever since Hugh became part of the family.

Ever since he became close with the family (much to her father's joy), her two brothers less argued with each other. In fact, Hugh and her brothers became close friends, not caring of their difference in age. Even her sister, Reina, who was the reserved one in the family, had finally opened up a little to strangers. They could even joke with each other, like a brother and sister. "By the way, how's it going with Alex?" Hugh suddenly asked, making Reina cough out of surprise. He was talking about his close friend, Alexander Parker, who he introduced to Reina. Alex and Reina fell in love at first sight, and was in a solid relationship ever since. "H-he's fine! Totally fine!" Reina replied, blushing furiously. Maximiano laughed at this. "To see the day Reina the Loveless would ever have a man in her life" Maximiano teased, causing him to be kicked by Reina under the table. Isabel's mother, Lucia, calmed her two children, while the others peacefully ate. Antonello even asked Hugh about his family. Maybe it was because of Isabel's sudden realisation of Hugh's private personality, but she couldn't help but notice Hugh's eyes widening in surprise. "They are all right, thank you" he said stiffly. Vincent then spoke up, being as dense as ever. "I heard it will be your father's birthday in a four days! I got the invitation just a week ago!" he boomed cheerfully. Isabel noticed Hugh's expression was uncomfortable when her father said this. They remained silent throughout the dinner, though there were a few 'arguments' between Maximiano and Antonello. Hugh's presence also was a good chance for them to improve their English, though it was never a problem for them, since her father had forced the siblings to learn the language since they were babies, after 'falling in love' with Lucia's English, whose father was an Englishman himself. 

After the dinner, Vincent and Lucia will spend time at the living room, the balcony door opened, to let the breeze enter. Antonello will be playing chess with Reina in the same room, while Maximiano will be taking a nap near the fire place. Isabel and Hugh would be outside at the balcony, sitting on the white swinging bench while enjoying the scenery. Isabel leaned on Hugh's shoulder, and in return, he kissed her forehead. Before they could become cosy, however, Vincent suddenly burst into the balcony, breaking the atmosphere. "Hugh! About the invitation, it seems that I can't go after all. I've promised to go north with Lucia" he said sadly. Isabel noticed that Hugh sighed in relief, though it was somehow unnoticeable. "But the children agreed to go with Isabel and you for your father's birthday!" he added cheerfully. Isabel, who only heard of this during the dinner stood up, surprised. 

Maximiano walked over to the balcony, standing behind his large father. "It's about time you show yourself in front of your future parents-in-law, right?" he teased, making Isabel blush. Hugh stood up, nearing Vincent. "That's not necessary, Father. I think my father won't mind your absence" he said, panicking. Vincent let out a loud laugh, then pulled Hugh into a father-son hug. "Nonsense! You are considered my son now! Isn't it natural to let my daughter meet with your parents, now? It seems unfair for me to keep your company without my daughter showing her face" he said, patting Hugh's back. Antonello was already at the balcony by this time, too. "Yes, that's the proper thing to do. You've been calling our Papa 'Father', already. It's time for Isabel to call someone else 'Papa' now" Antonello said, high-fiving Maximiano. "What?! I just realised that! Isabela! You better not remember this Papa of yours when you meet the other one!" Vincent yelled out, letting go of Hugh to hug his youngest daughter. 

"I-I won't Papa, I promise" she said, while being crushed in her father's arms. "I also forgot about Reina. Seems that she wants to get chummy with the Parker family, too" Maximiano teased, getting a pinch at the side by Reina. "Ouch! What's with the women of this family? Pinching an innocent person!" Maximiano yelped. Reina started attacking Maximiano with her pinches when he said that, earning a laugh from Antonello. Vincent was now distracted by his children's antics, exclaiming; "I have such energetic children!". Isabel giggled at this scene, looking at Hugh. She jolted in shock. There it was again. Hugh's eyes was full of sadness. She gently grabbed Hugh's arm sleeve. "Hugh...?" she asked softly.

Hugh, snapped out of his trance, then he looked at her, as if he just noticed her presence. "Yes?" he asked her. "It's not 'yes'! I only called your name. Is there something wrong..?" she asked, worried. He shook his head, then stroked her hair. "There's nothing" he said, though his voice was tight. Noticing that her family's attention was already drove towards another topic, Isabel brought him to the swinging bench again. "Are you sure? You look awfully pale" she said, putting her hand on his forehead, checking his body temperature. Hugh took hold of Isabel's hand, and kissed the back of it. "No. There's nothing. Really" he said, giving her a smile. He gently grabbed her chin and pulled her into a kiss. Isabel pulled herself away from him, displeased. 

"Hugh. We've been in a relationship for six months, can't you give me some credit?" she said, her tone half-angry. "Credit for what, actually?" he asked her, stroking her hair. "Hugh! I can tell that you're uncomfortable. It may be late to ask this of you; but you seem to be not open of your family. Even when I do ask, you will always brush it off with a laugh or just find something to preoccupy me" she said, her tone getting higher as she spoke. "Isabel" he said tiredly. "Don't 'Isabel' me like that! I have the right to know everything about the one I love! Isn't that natural?" she said, now close to tears. "Oh, Isabel" Hugh said, pulling her into a hug. This time, Isabel didn't try to push him away. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. "It's not that I didn't want to talk about it. I'm just unsure if you would accept me after knowing my true background" he said, his tone gentle. "Well, it's too late for you to have that type of assumption. Of course I would still love you! I'm going to hold you responsible for making me into a lovestruck maiden!" she said, now hitting his chest with her fist. Hugh grabbed her fist and kissed it. "I will tell you everything, but on one condition; when we are in England, be by my side always. Don't ever trust anybody else, just stick close to me" he said, looking into her eyes. 

Isabel wiped her tears, and looked into Hugh's eyes. He could see the fire in her eyes. "I'm not going to let you regret it" she said. Hugh was so touched by this, he couldn't help but pull her into a kiss. The moment was then broken when they heard a yelp. Hugh and Isabel looked at the direction of the moment breaker, and they saw Antonello on the ground, crouching as if he was looking for something. "What are you doing?" Isabel asked, frowning in confusion. "What? Oh, I was just searching for  a missing chess piece. Reina got mad and threw it here, so here I am, searching for it! Don't mind me!" Antonello assured them, frantically searching for the chess piece. "That's such a blatant lie! I don't have that type of temper until I could throw a chess piece!" Reina suddenly burst in, and was then followed by Maximiano and their parents. They all fell to the floor, Reina covering her mouth out of shock. Maximiano joined Antonello in searching the missing chess piece. "I wonder where did it go...? Chess piece, where are you?!" Maximiano yelled out, frantic. 

"You heard everything" Isabel said, Hugh stifling his laugh behind her. "No we weren't! We were finding the missing chess piece!" Antonello said furiously. 

"With five people?" she countered.

"The more the merrier" Maximiano yelled out during his so-called search.

"It's small too" Vincent added.

"It was the black chess piece, Bella. Since it's dark, it's hard to search a tiny and dark object" Lucia said.

"You should just take the candle" Isabel said, still sticking to her assumption that they were eavesdropping.

"Like I said, we were finding the missing chess piece" Antonello said, not losing to Isabel.

"I admit it! We were all worried when we heard you yell outside, so all of us just had to go and listen to what you've been talking about! We were worried, honest!" Reina blurted, obviously uncomfortable in lying to Isabel.

"Reina!" everyone said, except for Isabel and Hugh. Isabel was looking at them furiously, while Hugh was already laughing out loud, unable to contain himself.

Everyone was now arguing among each other, Maximiano messing with Reina's hair, Reina pulling Antonello's shirt, Vincent and Lucia calming the kids down. Among the chaos, stood Hugh and Isabel. Isabel was too furious to join in the chaos, while Hugh was still laughing, now clutching his sides. Isabel forgot about her anger for a while, when she saw Hugh calming down, though he was still shaking with laughter. She was surprised by Hugh's tug at her shirt and pulled her into a kiss. He cuddled her, breathing into her hair. "I love you" he whispered into her ear, and all the anger melted away, along with her heart and soul. Even so, she was still curious...Why was Hugh being so secretive of his family backgrounds until now?

TO BE CONTINUED