Chapter 8 - Every cloud has a silver lining

"18:42"

As usual, I arrived at home and there's no one here. Mom would get home around seven. I hit the kitchen and started making dishes that I could find in the fridge, I slice and dice the garlic, onion, and tomatoes. Scrambling the eggs before putting everything ito into the pan. I prepared everything for dinner. I heard mom knocks the door and entered the house.

Mark: "Welcome home, how's work?"

Celia: "Uhh. today's kinda busier than normal, well work is work after all." She said in carefree but tired attitude.

Mom is a toll teller and a bookkeeper. She's working in an expressway. I only once got there when I was a kid and sees mom working so earnestly, though she got scolded by her boss for bringing a kid, then mom scolded me in home for going at her workplace. A cycle of hate everyone.

Celia: "So, how's school?"

Mark: "Aaah... It's probably fine. I guess?"

Celia: "There you go again with those half-hearted answers."

Mark: "Th-ehe" I put my knuckles in the forehead and stick my tongue out. Copying Gina's expression.

Celia: "Don't tell me you got into a fight again." She stared at me.

Mark: "No… I don't... I guess?" I looked away.

Recalling my argument with Claire. [*Wait. Does that count?*] I thought.

Celia: "That doesn't sound convincing."

Mark: "It's the truth!"

Celia: She sighed exhaustedly. "Okay, okay."

Mom puts her hand into her neck and circling her knees into the air.

Celia: "Whew. I'm beat… "

Mark: "Want some massage?"

Celia: "Really? Thanks sweetie."

Mom shifts herself into the back of the chair while I stood and positioned myself into her rear. I started pinching her shoulder, which is very stiff along with her waist near the pelvis, maybe it was due to long hours of sitting.

Celia: "Haa. It feels good… nothing beats a massage after hard work."

Mark: "It'll be quick. You may not be able to get up tomorrow again, you know."

Celia: "Aww… Okay… but please massage it for a bit longer."

Mark: "Fine, but no more extensions

Celia: "Got it."

I knew the work is exhausting but not at this scale, you can realize the stiffness of her body. I wanted to cry, I felt sick of myself, I wanted to do something for my Mom who always works so hard for my sake. I shrugged off my head and think of a conversation that would make her happy.

Mark: "Hey mom."

Celia: "What is it, sweetie?"

Mark: "Nothing." I hesitated.

Celia: "Hmm?" Mom gave me a perplexed look.

[*I'm sure she'll make a fuss about this. Well, whatever.*]

Mark: "I think, I'm on for a date"

Mom's mood shifted quickly. Her eyes sparkled, staring with deep interest.

Celia: "Really?!"

Mark: "Yeah. I guess?"

Celia: "Hey, hey, what does she look like? is she cute? What do you like about her? How old is she?" asking me a barrage of questions

Mark: "Mom, I can't answer everything at once."

Celia: "Th-ehe. Oopsie, got carried away, sorry. So, who's this girl your dating?"

Mark: "Um… Nevermind, I don't really think we're actually dating. We just happened to use the ticket her friend gave us."

Celia: "I see… Then you were guided by a cupid!"

Mark: "No-No-No. I don't think you understand what I have said."

Celia: "Come on, don't be grumpy. hey, hey, sweetie what's her name?"

Mark: "But mom…"

That was not good. Mom's already jumping into weird conclusions, No. It was one of her delusional fantasies. I should stop it before the situation at hand get worst.

Mark: "Um…"

Celia: "Hmm?" Mom gave me again those perplexed look.

Mark: I dropped my shoulders in resignation. "Charlotte… Charlotte Sales. She's the school council president."

Celia: "Oh, so you like responsible girls, I see. I see."

Mom took out her textbook, that she's using in her work and started scribbling.

Mark: "Hey, mom, wait, are you taking notes?!"

Celia: She started laughing in weird manner. "Ho-Ho. Don't mind, don't mind. So, what do you like about her?"

Mark: "You could say that, I don't like her, yet" I gripped my chin and think about it. "Yeah, that would make sense, I'm not crazy enough to go into a relationship after meeting a girl in just a day."

Celia: "So, you don't love her yet, maybe few more days and the fruit of that secret admiration will come blooming like flowers of deep love." She acted it, as if she remember it from a play long time ago.

I look her with my disgruntling eyes.

Celia: "Ehem." She cough to try and get my interest. "So, how did you guys meet?"

Weird, but there was a glint of a smirk on my mother's face.

Mark: My eyes-widened. "Umm…" [*Crap! I can't tell I cut classes then bumped into her.*]

Mark: "Mom! Do you even really need to know?"

Celia: "Of course. You know, Your father and I met in a special place. we always hang out in our private spot."

Mark: "That's news to me." [*Sounds like a breeding nest though.*] I thought, while imagining.

Mark: "Maybe you could go there for a stroll, so you would meet another man to marry."

Mom made a face as she flicked my forehead using her finger.

Mark: "Ouch. I'm just kidding." Responding to her frustration.

Celia: "Jeez. what am I going to do with you." She pouted.

Mark: I smiled. "You know what, I'm in the chatting mood, tell me more about it."

Mon settled herself in the table, she placed her elbow on the table while both of palms on her chin.

Celia: "You know, It was years ago but I feel like it was almost yesterday. It started when, your father and I met in our work," She placed her palms into her cheeks. "aah… It was such a sweet memories, back then. Your father was the mysterious type of guy, he rarely talks and I thought he was weird at first, but you know when you get to know him, you'll see his cool and handsome side. You know, when we were together, he had never said he loved me but he always show it by action, your father used to kiss me as his proof of love and I--"

A fading sound amidst my background as I illustrate my thoughts [*Sigh, there she goes again, talking about my father, but she looks so happy. I don't plan on stopping her.*]

We finished eating and I cleaned our dishes, Mom dozed in the table; snoring. I carried her in the room so she could rest. After I finish the household chores, I entered mom's room to check on her.

Mark: Mom, was unsoundly sleeping in her bed, I lift her bangs and kissed her in the forehead. "Goodnight, mom. Sleep tight."

I retreated towards my room, normally, I'd do a routine on check on my phone, scramble around a few scrolls on the net, and go to bed after feeling dozy, but today, I didn't feel like doing anything. Maybe because too many things happened, my body felt heavy, as if it were swollen. I flopped down into my bed and drift off to sleep, expecting my cluster headache to begin around my dreams, but nothing happened, beatifically I slept the entire night like a log.