Those Three Words

...Mom's POV...

These two are driving me to insanity. They are stubborn; they plain well do not want to listen. The one thinks the other is better off without the other; all clarity in their heads have gone out the door.

Something has to be done; Sebastian knows full well not to ignore his mother.

I decide to text him first.

"Sebastian, it is time this bullshit stops. Fair if you don't want to speak to Kati, you don't have to, just come home."

Not even a minute later, he phones.

"Hey, mom."

"Don't you hey mom me."

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I am okay; I have been at a friend's place."

"Don't bullshit me; you don't have friends."

"I guess you are pretty mad at me?"

"Whatever gives you that bullshit idea?"

You have used the word bullshit three times already; I don't think I have ever heard you say it before."

He is damn right that I have not said it before, but I am beyond my patience with these two.

"If you two are not going to act like grown-ups, by all means, carry on with your bullshit, just get your ass home."

"Okay, I will stop my bullshit; just stop saying bullshit."

"I expect you home within the hour."

"And Sebastian."

"Yes, mom?"

"Do not test my patience, or bullshit is definitely hitting the fan."

"Mom! Stop saying bullshit!"

I am not telling him that Kati is staying with me; they need to sort their problems out once and for all. They are supposed to be together; they just too blind to see it.

I hope this works out.

...Sebastian's POV…

Mom is mad, very mad if I know what is good for me, I better get home; I don't think I can stand hearing another bullshit from her. The chances of bumping into Kati is slim to zero. She has not been around to our place in months; I am sure that if she felt any least bit like me, she would be hiding away as well.

I just want this to be over; sad to say, I just want to get on with my life. I am not made for a broken heart; I am not made to give broken hearts either. I am not saying I am going to forget about Kati; I just realize that maybe we better apart.

As I turn the corner around my house, I could almost swear that I see Kati. I swear she just walked inside from the porch. I know that I miss her, but am I imagining seeing her now as well.

I don't know about this; something is off.

I pull out my phone and dial mom.

"Hey, mom."

"Sebastian, where are you?"

"I am close, very close."

"What is the problem then?."

"Who says there is a problem?"

"The tone in your voice."

"Is Kati with you?"

"What on earth gives you that idea?"

"I could have sworn I saw her on the porch."

"So you are telling me that you in your car across the road phoning me?"

"Yes, I am."

"Have you gone completely nuts?"

"Promise me that you are not setting me up?"

"Do I look like the kind that set things up?"

"I am not answering that."

"Sebastian, what did I say about wearing my patience thin?"

"Please don't say it again."

I decided to take mom for her word; I park my car and head into the house. I hear her going about in the kitchen. 

…Kati's POV…

The weirdest thing has just happened. I am sitting on the porch enjoying the afternoon sun; I could have sworn I just saw Sebastian. I know I miss him but am I imagining seeing him now as well.

I head back inside and join mom in the kitchen.

"What is wrong, sweety?"

"I could have sworn I saw Sebastian across the road."

"Why on earth would he be sitting across the road from home?"

"Mom, promise you are not trying to set us up together."

"Do I look like someone that set things up?"

"I prefer not to answer that."

Just then, there is someone at the door; as I get up to go investigate, I stop dead in my tracks.

"Sebastian!"

"Kati!"

We both turn to mom that has a stupid grin on her face that she can hardly hide.

"I knew you were talking bullshit," Sebastian says as he is getting ready to leave the kitchen.

"No one is leaving this kitchen until this is sorted out. Both of you sit down."

"What, are you going to stay here and listen to us talk?"

"Yes. Now sit down, Kati," Mom says as she gently touches my shoulder, but more like trying to force me to sit down next to Sebastian.

"No," I hear Sebastian say as he refuses to listen to her.

"I agree with Sebastian. I say, no!"

"We off to a good start; you already agreeing to something," Mom says as she seems quite pleased with herself

I can see amusement building in Sebastian's eyes; he knows just as much as I do that this is going to be very interesting and fun. Not that I am saying our problems are fun.

"So," mom begins. "Where do you start, Kati?"

"I don't know." 

Sebastian looks at mom, somewhat irritated, "Yes, I don't know either, but please enlighten me?"

"Three words?"

"Mom, how on earth do you see resolving an argument by starting with I love you?" Sebastian asks.

"You are being dumb," I laugh at Sebastian. "It is; I am sorry."

"Don't call me dumb."

"But you are!"

"I am not; you are the dumb one."

Mom moves to come to sit in front of us at the table, "Stop it! I want to hear those words, say it, and better mean it."

Then Sebastian turns to me, "I am sorry, Kati."

"That is four words."

Mom looks at me; I watch as she is grinding her teeth while she warns me, "Stop it!"

I look at Sebastian underneath my eyelashes, and I tell him what truly comes from my heart, "I am really sorry, Sebastian."

"That is five words."

Mom slams her hands down onto the table; it is so loud that the plates rattle, "I am glad to see you both can count. Do you mean it, Kati?"

"Yes."

"Yes," Sebastian adds.

"Who started the fight?" mom asks; I don't think she even knows herself anymore.

"He did."

"No, she did."

"I did not."

"You told me I was unreasonable and immature."

Then out of nowhere, mom jumps and shocks us both. "She is right."

"Mom!" Sebastian shouts out in shock.

"Sebastian, you told mom there was no future for us."

"If you continued to eavesdrop a little longer, you would have heard the whole story."

"I don't eavesdrop."

"Yes, you do."

"Maybe don't whisper then."

"I did not whisper."

"Yes, you did."

"Then how did you hear me from where you stood?"

"That is not the issue."

"What is the issue then?"

"Don't worry."

Mom, who has been relatively quiet, seem to get angry again, "We will stay in this kitchen for as long as it takes."

"You are being crazy, mom," Sebastian says.

"Do you want to see crazy? I will lock you two in the broom closet."

"No!" I look at mom, completely horrified.

"You would not dare," Sebastian adds.

"Don't tempt me," Mom warns. "Kati, what were you saying?"

"The issue is you," I point to Sebastian.

"And how did you figure that one out?"

"You don't know what you want."

"Oh my god, do you expect me to answer to that?"

"You are being impossible."

"No, you are."

"Why are you avoiding my question?"

"Does it look like I am avoiding it?"

"Yes."

"Mom," Sebastian turns to mom. "This is not working."

"Yes, he is way beyond helping to fix it."

"What does that mean?" Sebastian furrows his brows at me as he seems to be getting upset.

"You are a big baby throwing his toys out the cot."

"Says the one sleeping with a teddy bear."

"Take it back!"

"You do first!"

"For fuck sakes," mom pushes her chair back so hard that it topples over. "I have had enough of your bullshit!"

With that, mom shoves both of us with all her force into the broom closet and lock it behind her.