53 Chapter fifty-three: A mother's hug

It's was 6:45 am when I decided to take a taxi and headed to the airport. Sandy was right about booking a plane ticket for plan B, in case Gabriel didn't show up. And yeah, she's right, he didn't come home last night and thanks to God, I listened to her. 

I tried to call him last night and this morning but I got even more frustrated, he didn't answer my calls. I've already sent him some text messages but so far I haven't received any reply from him. Then so be it! I can go without him. 

I stopped calling him when I got to the airport. He forgot about this for sure. Well, he always forgets everything when he's with her... so what would I expect, right? 

-'Huh! The man you choose to love is still in love with someone else, so take the pain! If you're not just a big stupid and idiot, you already know that he hasn't gotten over yet from his past, but you let yourself fall in love with him! Take it!'- my mind screamed inside.

And to avoid thinking about him, I turned off my phone and tried to sleep. I just need to wait 2 to 3 hours and I am in my homeland.

***

"My baby!"

My mom screamed when she noticed a taxi parked in front of the black gate. She immediately ran towards the gate with our two maids also running after her. 

"Oh my God! My baby, I missed you so much!" she pulled me into a tight hug and kissed me all over my face. 

"I missed you too, Mom," I said not noticing the warm fluid flowing down on my face. 

"Ohh... is that how you missed your old mother?"

"Mom?"

I pouted at what she said but I hugged her again. I missed her, I missed her hug, I missed her comfort and everything in her. I missed my mom. I wanted to tell everything like when I was a kid when I was still her little Madi, but I can't. 

"Why are you crying, baby? You're here now and your old mother is in front of you." She said chuckling as she wiped away my tears. But you can see in her eyes that she's just controlling herself not to cry in front of me. 

Why am I crying? It's for two things... number one, I missed my mother's hug and number two... I'm so upset about what's going on in my life right at that moment. 

"By the way, why are you alone? I thought you're going to introduce your boyfriend to your Mom?"

"Yeah, but I told you he's a busy person, Mom. He's the CEO of one of the largest company in Chicago." I smiled and did my best not to bite my lips. She knows when I'm lying. 

"Oh, I see."

"But don't worry, I'll call him later."

"Okay. Let's go inside so you can start telling me your love story with this lucky boyfriend of yours."

She kissed my temple and we headed towards the huge double wooden door. 

"Oh my God!"

I murmured loudly the moment I walked into our home. I inhaled the familiar scent of jasmine and the morning breeze coming from the air conditioner. It's my Mom's favorite scent. 

"I missed this Mom." I turned to her and hugged her again. 

"Don't worry, your home misses you too, sweetie."

We stayed there for a moment, as I enjoy listening to her uninterrupted story about home decorations, business parties, new flavors of her cakes and all the life issues of her favorite actors and actresses. She dragged me to the kitchen and the aroma of my favorite Italian Bolognese pasta hit my nostrils. 

"Oh gosh! I love you, Mom!" I kissed her on the cheek before running and sitting at the dining table. I really can't wait any moment to taste that recipe of my mother. 

"Hey! Take it easy, Madielyn. Nobody's gonna take that from you. That's all yours!" she pulled another chair next to me and gave me a glass of dalandan juice. 

"I'm sorry, Mom," I said as I nibbled the creamy pasta inside my mouth. She just smiled and shook her head. I took the glass of juice and brought it to my mouth, just to accidentally spit it out with my Mom's next question. 

"Are you pregnant?"

I coughed so hard when the juice got into my nose. Where did she get that question, for goodness sake? Even the maids were shocked by her question. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to startle you." she rubbed my back and gave me some tissue. 

"Mom, where did you get that question?" I asked while still coughing. 

"I - I just want to ask. Why is it true? Are you pregnant?"

I don't know if the expression on her face is something you would expect or the other way around. I couldn't read her eyes. 

"What if I were? Is it okay with you?" I looked at her and watched the changes in her expression. 

"Oh my goodness! So it's true, you're pregnant?" she squealed and got up quickly. 

"Mom! I was just asking!"

"So, are you really pregnant?"

"No! Of course not! I told you, I was just asking!"

She sat down again and sighed. "I thought I was going to be a grandmom." I chuckled when she pouted at me. 

"Mom, I promise, one day I'll give you a grandchild, but not now, I'm not yet ready." I held both of her hands. 

"Hmmp! Madielyn, when are you going to get married? You're not getting any younger!"

Haist! When was the last time I heard those lines? I shook my head and rolled my eyes. 

"I really need to meet your boyfriend, Madielyn! I will tell him to get you pregnant, so you can give me a grandchild before this year ends!" she crossed her arms over her chest. 

While I, I was left speechless and I don't know if I will laugh or what... but in the end, I just choose to laugh at her.

"You're really not that eager to have a grandchild Mom, are you?" I asked still laughing. 

"Because I am so bored waiting!"

"And just because you're bored, you want your baby to get pregnant in an instant?"

"Hey, Madielyn! You're no longer a baby! I'm just calling you baby because you are my only child."

"I love you, Mom." I got and kissed her on the cheek. 

"Hmmp! I love you, too. Are you done eating? Let's go to your room and I'll help you unpack your things. 

***

"So, what are your plans now? You and your boyfriend?"

I sighed when she opened that topic again. We're in the living room, watching TV while my head was resting on her lap as she combed my hair with her fingers. 

"Uhm... for now, we're still enjoying our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend."

I tried to avoid looking into her eyes. I just focused on watching some random commercials while waiting for my favorite drama series to start. 

"Hmm..." she said and I noticed her nodding. "By the way, one of your friends from cooking school came here last month."

I crunched my eyebrows and I looked up at her face. 

"Who's friend?"

"Uhm... I've always forgotten his name. Oh! It's Anderson boy!"

I chuckled when I heard that name. 

"Mom! It's Greg!" I said laughing. 

"I told you, I've always forgotten his name!"

Anderson boy, was her nickname with Greg since we were in college and sometimes I even called him that.

"What did he say, I mean why did he visit you?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "He said he wanted to see you, but I said you're not staying here and you're in Chicago. He also brought some food and fruits here. You know what, I like that boy. He's so sweet and caring."

"Mom! You've always told me that since I was in college."

It's true, she has always been a fan of Greg. Anderson boy is so sweet, Anderson boy is caring, Anderson boy has a cute dimple, and Anderson boy is blah..blah..blah..blah... 

"Why didn't you learn to love him or even like him, Madi?"

I sighed and got up from her lap. I settled into a comfortable sitting position before answering her hundred-year-old question. 

"Mom, I already told you my answer and please, I now have a boyfriend. Let's not talk about this Anderson boy of yours."

"I'm just asking, baby." she chuckled at me. 

But I remember to ask her one question, maybe she could give me an answer to my own questions. 

"Mom, why did you love Dad?"

Her laugh instantly died and her face turned serious. But then she smiled and patted her side, gesturing me to sit next to her. And I sighed before asking her again. 

"Why did you love him, Mom? Even though you know he was already taken by that time and that he has his own family? Why did you choose to stay when you know you were just his second option?"

She smiled and took both of my hands. 

"I've loved him since we were young, Madi, like what I've always told you. We're best friends, sharing everything and anything, but his parents have another plan for him at that time. They went to Canada and forced him to marry his wife, but when we met again after five years, we both realized that our love for each other remained. And because I love him, I once became his mistress, I once became a stupid and madly in love with your father."

She sighed before she continued. 

"And regarding your question, why did I choose to stay? I don't know another reason for that, Madi, I just know that I love him."

"Even when you know that it can affect his relationship with his wife?"

"No, Madi. I didn't mean that thing. I was just in love and was choosing what my heart dictated over what my mind was telling me at that time. I didn't say it was right, because it's not. But if there's one thing I didn't regret, it's having you inside me, Madi."

I smiled and hugged her tightly. 

"But I hope you will choose a better man for yourself. Don't fall in love with a stupid and don't become stupid!"

I gulped after hearing the word 'stupid'. 

"Our story was different Madi, we loved each other before he got married to someone else. I've been a fool, a stupid and a mistress. So I'm telling you, I want you to choose the one who can love you, who would love you and make you his number one priority. The one whose heart belongs to you and you alone. Never follow in my footsteps. Don't make me your role model, Madi."

I hid my face in the crook of her neck. 

-'I'm sorry, Mom. I wish I could teach my heart.'-

"I want you to be happy, my baby. I want to see you walk to the altar with a happy smile and tears on your face. Promise me, baby." she rubbed my back and kissed my hair. 

"Tell me about this boyfriend of yours. Is he as handsome and cute as this Anderson boy?"

I started rolling my eyes.

"Is he tall, broad-shouldered, pointed nose like my favorite Hollywood star, Tom Cruise?"

"Mom, he's like a Greek god," I said and laughed at her reaction. 

"Oh my God! I'm really excited to meet him, Madielyn!"

I laughed again, but before I could open my mouth, the intercom next to my mom... buzzed. The call came from the guards and they said there's someone on the gate who introduced himself as my 'boyfriend'. 

My Mom looked at me and my eyes went wide

-'Oh shit! He's here?'-