Chapter fifty-six: To become a better man for her

"A friend and a suitor?"

"Yes. What's that boy's name again?"

She said thinking the name of whoever it was. I felt my heart stop beating as I waited for her to speak again. 

"Oh, it's Garry!" she squealed excitedly. 

"Garry?"

"No.No, wait! It's not Garry." then she tried thinking again. "Ahh... it's Greg! Yeah, it's Greg I'm sure of it. Thank God, I finally remember the name of that sweet boy."

Then I was left thinking. Greg. I wasn't sure if the person she was talking about was the same person I know. Greg also studied in Florida and Florida is Madi's homeland. But as they say, there's no harm in trying... trying to ask. 

"What's the name again of her friend?"

"His name is Greg. Come here, she has a picture of him. They were so close back in their school days. They took the same course and this sweet boy was always taking care of my daughter."

She took my hand and we sat on the three-seater sofa near the last cabinet. She took something from the drawer. An album. A photo album. 

"Here. You can see their pictures and their circle of friends in college."

She gave me the green album and started scanning the pages, but my hand was stuck in one of the photos. It's Madi with three girls and 'Greg' my cousin and my best friend, wearing a cooking school uniform. 

"Greg Anderson," I muttered just to myself but she heard it. 

"Yes, Greg Anderson. How did you know him and his last name?" she asked looking directly into my eyes. 

"Uhm..."

"I usually call him Anderson boy. He's the one who never stopped being friends with my daughter and you know what, I remember once he asked me if he can go out and court my daughter. And then I told him, it's not my decision to make, but he never stopped. Until now he keeps coming back just to know if she's okay and ask about her situation. He's very persistent and has great patience because it's been eight years since his feelings for Madi started.

I frowned with the newest information I heard. Madi's identity was a lot to take, but knowing she and Greg were best friends in college and he's still insistent on going out with her until now, it makes me want to punch something. I put my fist under the photo album and formed it in a hardball. 

"Wait, I'm not telling you this to make you jealous. I'm just sharing a little bit of my daughter's life and school days story."

"No, Mom, it's okay and I'm not jealous."

I tried to smile but deep inside, I really wanted to see my dearest cousin and punch him over and over in his face. Now, understand why he told me to take care of Madi for him. Why he was so affected when he met my assistant and when we got married. Now I know his reasons. He likes her since then. 

"Anyway, don't worry, it's in the past and my daughter already has you right now."

"Uhm... I have something to confess, Mom." I said closing the cover of the album. 

"Yes, what is it."

"Greg Anderson is my best friend. He's actually my cousin. First cousin on my mother's side."

"Whoa! Is that true? But I didn't see you with him in the last few years?"

"Actually both of our families were originally from Chicago, but after our high school graduation, they moved here to Florida and he finished his studies here while our family also migrated to Belleville, but our business remained in Chicago."

"Ohh... I see, but does my daughter know about this too?"

"Yes, I actually introduced her to my family and Greg was there."

"Hmm..." she said nodding. 

"We're actually engaged, Mom."

Her eyes widened with what I blurted out. She also straightened her seat. Actually, I don't really know why I did that, but I just felt a little possessive now with Madi, especially when I heard that Greg wasn't just a friend to her, but he once became a part of her life even until now. 

"Oh my God! Is that true? Were you and my baby engaged?"

"Yes---" I didn't finish my sentence when she lunged at me and hugged me tightly. 

"Oh my gosh! I'm happy, son with this news! Thank you good heavens. Praise the Almighty God! My daughter is finally engaged and I'm gonna have a grandchild and grandbabies!"

And because I got shocked, my mouth fell open with what she said. 'Grandbabies'. 

"Ohh... thank you, Gabriel," she said when she calm down already. 

"For what, Mom?"

She took both my hands. "For loving my daughter and for being there for her. I know sometimes she's really stubborn, but she's a fine woman, son. I hope you can extend your patience even further with it comes in her mouth. She's a little bitchy and has a smart mouth most of the time."

I chuckled when she said 'smart mouth' because that's exactly my first impression of her daughter. 

"Anyway, what's your favorite food, dishes or cake flavor? I'll cook for you personally!" her eyes were filled with happiness and amusement when she got up.

"You don't need to do that, Mom, it's okay."

"No, I insist! Come on, tell your mother-in-law, don't be shy, you're part of this family from now on."

I smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of my neck. Madi is going to kill me if she knows about it. 

"Maybe we can just help Madi in the kitchen." I tried to suggest but she grabbed my hand. 

"Oh, my son, trust me, Madi doesn't even need our help," she said with a chuckle and I frowned. "Remember, she comes from a cooking school and she's a professional cook. All of her restaurants have been started by her own hands, her dishes and even a single detail of it." she winked at me. 

I couldn't help but smile with all the information I heard about Madi. She's a completely innocent woman, but she knows how to move well in this huge world. I've never met someone like her before and I admit the respect I already had for her got deeper after the conversation with her mother and at the same time, my eagerness to become a better man for her has doubled. She deserves someone who can love her and protect her against this cruel world. But right now, I'm not that person who can do it because it was I who personally dragged her into this cruel yet fake reality. 

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Madi's POV:

I can feel his stares while we're eating dinner earlier. It's creepy and I don't know what to feel. It started when he got back from I don't know where, with my Mom. But now we were in the swimming pool, both of us sitting on the edge, while both of our feet were submerged in the water and still, I can feel his intense gaze on my face. I sighed and looked at him. 

"Is there something you wanted to ask? Something that my mother told you about me?"

But he half smiled and shook his head. 

"Come on, Gab. I know my Mom wouldn't drag you somewhere in the house if she has nothing to say and I know it's about me."

He just smiled again, so I looked back at the water but kept looking at him through his reflection. I really have no idea what he's thinking at the moment or what my mother told him that has made him quiet until now.

"You didn't tell me Greg was your friend since college and you also took the same course."

-'Oh Gosh!'-

"Mom told you everything about me." I gulped and looked at him. 

"No, she told me half of the part and the other half will come from you if you're willing to tell me about it.

I sighed and bit my bottom lip. "Okay, so what do you want to ask?"

"Are you really going to answer my question if I ask you?"

I shrugged. "It depends."

"It depends on what?"

"It depends on your questions. If you're going to ask me to drown myself here, of course, I won't answer you. I won't do that!"

And then I heard his laugh. He shook his head and splashed me some water using his foot. 

"Ahhg!"

I wiped my face with my hands and glared at him, but he just continued to laugh. Then we both fell into silence... both were looking at the water. I don't know what he was thinking but I was preparing myself for any questions he would possibly throw me. 

"Can you share a little part of your childhood with me?"

I hitched my breath and gulped after hearing his first question. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"If you're not ready or if you're not yet okay---"

"No, it's okay. I think I really need to move on from it."

"Moved on? What do you mean?" he asked with the deepest frown on his face. 

I sighed again and bitterly smiled. Then I looked at him and started sharing the part of my childhood.