Diego"s impression remained the same except that he grew up to his age. Giselle could feel the sweat forming on her spine, chills running all over the body. Facing him could be risky since his relationship with Anna and Lillian can"t be expressed in simple terms. Already experienced his vicious pursuit, Giselle refused to pay him any attention. Even if she feels afraid of his existence, she chose not to convey it, or at least try to ignore him."It"s nice to meet you- too, " she said to return the formality.
A courteous smile shared between them and Giselle glanced away. Even averting her gaze, she could still feel Diego"s cold stare piercing into her spirit.
Lillian was happy to see Giselle again, but somehow the tension between her and Diego appears unusual to her sight. She had already felt that hostility with him that day in the bar. But right now, the Diego she is starting has a smile on his face, yet his eyes appeared a little cold to her. Lillian felt uneasy inside.
Anna looked at the time.
A few minutes left before they start their dinner sharp at seven as planned.
"That"s right. You guys must be freezing cold. I made hot chocolate-" Anna said to invite the two guests, but Diego interrupted her nonetheless.
"Is this your child, Giselle?" He asked, looking at little Lia who stood next to Jake.
The child having met him for the first time endured a natural distance. She couldn"t bring herself to be cheerful like with Jake or Anna or even Lillian.
Diego did not look fearsome but his cold stare is sure to frighten the child. Now, charging his question at Giselle, he was gazing at little Lia, reading her and amazed by the identical features.
The question directed everyone"s attention to Diego.
Jake worried why he is suddenly talking too much.
Lillian"s uncertain impressions returned to her doubts.
Meanwhile, Anna is a little bothered by Diego"s att.i.tude towards Giselle.
But Giselle, having known and experienced his violence, did not faze. Instead, she was furious inside to witness his nerves into bringing her daughter into this. She returned to his gaze, disliking him more, but hating herself from seeing Lillian standing next to him. Swallowing her anger, she replied sternly, "Yes."
Diego lifted his brows, antic.i.p.ating for an introduction.
Giselle clasped her hand behind her dress and followed his lead.
"This is my daughter, Lia."
She plainly said to him and ignored to enlighten Lia about the new man.
Seeing her not interested to introduce him to Lia. Diego took it to his own sleeve.
"Hi, Lia. I"m Diego, " he faced the child to say it with a sharp smile.
Diego waited to drag his introduced and ended it by revealing that he too, is her mother"s friend.
Little Lia, still feeling anxious about his manner, nodded her head with an effort.
"So, she is your- you gave birth to her-" Diego dragged his words, acting shy, but snarky.
"Diego!" Lillian snapped, failed in keeping her silence.
Giselle knew Diego is provoking her on purpose, but she refuses to yield to his play.
"Yes. Lia is MY child, " she replied begrudgingly.
Lillian fumed inside from finding it weird that these two seem to behave differently to her memory. They weren"t like this back then. It came in as a shock to her that Diego is holding such an att.i.tude with Giselle.
"Oh! I was just wondering. Knowing you, I thought it was weird that you gave birth to a child."
Diego purposefully said to let Lillian realize that Giselle might feign her s.e.xual preference.
However, the words he aimed at her only brought forth displeasure.
"Diego!"
Another voice broke out.
This time it was Anna who snapped against Diego.
"Is there any rule that says who should give birth or not?"
Diego saw everyone turned against him by now. He saw Giselle in anguish as well and realized he crossed his line in front of Anna. He side-glanced at Jake, recognizing his dissatisfaction as well.
Diego chose to retreat from spoiling the festive mood.
"I"m sorry!" he apologized to the crowd.
It took all a minute or two to cool down their heads.
It was also the first time Lillian ever saw Diego behave in such a manner. However, hearing him apologize made Anna and Lillian forgive their dear friend.
Nevertheless, Jake held back a little animosity for Lia"s sake. He worried for the child to hear such rude comments. Seeing how Lia still seemed timid, Jake tightened his grip and spoke to change the subject.
"It"s past seven already. We"re late for our dinner. Let"s go!"
His voice returned the cheer, sending a reminder to all, of the purpose they are here for the evening.
Lillian then remembered something to her mind.
"Jake and Ann" she said to give them her gift.
"Happy Thanksgiving!"
Jake signaled Anna to receive as he stood close to Lia.
Anna unwrapped the gift to find a bottle. She read the label, "Krug Brut Vintage, 1985."
All of their focus instantly turned towards the present that no one realized a minute ago they were in a bitter a.s.sertion.
Jake was quick to find that it is an expensive gift. He thanked Lillian for such a wonderful souvenir to commemorate the night.
"Let"s open the bottle and make a toast."
Anna said to search for the corkscrew to open the Champagne.
"Let"s go help her, Lia, " Jake called the child to follow his wife.
Giselle glanced the two and left without a word.
Lillian and Diego alone stood in a strange silence. Both completely aware of what had happened.
"What the h.e.l.l, Diego?" Lillian muttered closely to him as soon as Giselle"s silhouette disappeared.
Her face showed her resentment and her tone of voice displayed her outrage.
"What?"
"Why are being rude to her?" She asked.
Already overthrown from the previous clash, Diego had no energy left in him to face Lillian lashing out.
"I was only curious, Lilly."
"Go be curious by yourself. Why make her feel bad?"
Diego saw the return of the same countenance that raged at any cla.s.smate who teased Giselle in the past. Seeing the expression again, even after several years, broke his heart.
"I"m sorry!" he apologized, sincerely, almost regret ruining his image in front of her.
Lillian"s newly sprouted doubts disappeared to his earnest apology. She got sentimental for raising her voice at a dear friend.
A loud sighed released from her as Lillian warned him to be wary of his words with Giselle, never to pose such att.i.tude to her, and grabbed him to join Anna and the others.
"Let"s go before Anna chugs out the entire bottle. I"m afraid Jake can"t control her. Giselle and Lia might need our help."
Lillian said to drag Diego as their little uproar dissolved to the age of their friendship.
Diego was hurting inside once again.
Once again, he returned to the post of dwelling in the shadows, afraid he might earn a bad temper from Lillian and get completely hated by her.
Diego would think as such if he was still a teenage kid. However, being an adult now gave him the freedom to express, which he kept in his mind for now and followed Lillian to join for his Thanksgiving dinner.