Two years ago…..
Adira
It was so sunny today, I was under a tree shade in the garden, having butter cookies and beetroot juice while watching something on the TikTok app when a black Porsche 911 speed into the field across.
It's not my husband. That one treads SUVs. Neither is it my daughter.
I recognise one person who always fancy sport cars a lot in the family.
And that one person is my son, Sebastian.
He strolled out of the driver's door, feeling so pumpous and majestic in his swag. My baby is Thirty-four already but still look so much like twenty-five.
He had his dark long hair tied underneath a black bandana. His hands tucked into his black pants pockets as the wind bubble his blue button-down sleeves.
It's been over a year since I last saw him in person, though. We'd call on phone, sometimes—short and former-like. He is a very busy business tycoon, taking care of a lot of things in the continents. And whenever you see him come around, you know it must have to do with something very important that he couldn't discuss on the phone.
He barely smile and when he does, one will surely melt into fantasy. Sorry, I'm talking about my son like this but it's the truth.
I like having him around but he just keeps departing himself from the family. Maybe because he is a man of few words or because he hates crowdy environment or because he hates noise or maybe because that's just how my good God created him for me.
I beamed the moment he entered under the tree shade and peck my cheeks. He always does that. That's the sign of him greeting me.
"Hi, mom." He sat across my table.
I couldn't contain my smile, seeing him after a whole year. "Hi, honey. You good?" He looks so stressed and worked out.
Oh my baby. I always tell him to take out time for himself but he just can't spend a whole day without doing something.
I offered him some cookies and a drink but he declined immediately.
I understand.
Not his kind.
He placed his car key and two iPhones on the table. "Why are you so happy?" He answered my question with a question.
"Well, why shouldn't I?" I giggled. "I haven't seen you in a year. That's the cause."
He mumbled something I don't understand. And fixed his eyes on the garden flowers.
I used the opportunity to fast-forward. "Seb, dear." He turns to me and my smile broadened. "Your sister is engaged. She'll be getting married soon." I nearly squeal out my guts.
I thought he'd feel excited too. But no. It was actually the opposite. "So?"
Why is he always a joy killer?
I frowned, "Aren't you supposed to rejoice with us?"
"Mom, let's discuss the main reason why am here—"
He was about to start but I didn't give him the room of listening ears.
In fact, I kicked the button. "Sebastian, isn't it about time you settle down as well?"
I knew it. I was pushing him to the edge again. "Mom, please don't start now. I'm telling you in God's name."
Look who's talking about God. When was the last time he ever stepped into church—that's if he ever. "Sebastian, you're Thirty-four. You're not getting any younger by day nor by night! If I don't tell you, who else will?"
For goodness sake, please.
He's not liking where this conversation is going now. "The last time we had this conversation, I went home with a bog headache dangling inside my brain cells."
"Sebastian, I can't live a life not carrying your babies." God forbids that. "It's an abomination to my existence."
He rubbed his temples. "Oh god, mom, this marital conversation thing with you is getting out of hand. It's killing my little joy. I'm not here to talk about this, okay? Jesus Christ."
Does he even know the meaning of joy? Talk more of having a little?
"Sebastian, you're rich." He gat all it takes to be a vibrant married man and a father too. "When I mean rich, I'm saying you're bloody rich. Handsome, very extravagant, extroverted and very fertile for having kids. Women are gawking over you everywhere. Dying to be on your bed, some just wants to carry your baby and take care of it themselves. Why can't you put every other things aside and face reality? Your sister is about to get married after a four years relationship and you? You don't even have a date."
"Mom, for goodness sake, I have a girlfriend!" He dropped the bomb and my mouth fell.
This is not true. He has a girlfriend or he has hook-ups, which one?
I gasped in deep shock of my life. "You….have a girlfriend?" Hoping I heard well. This is the first time in his existence I've heard him having a girlfriend.
"Damn! I said too much already." He cursed, feeling guilty as if he just said something he shouldn't have.
I shook my head, "No, dear. You said exactly what I wanted to hear." I don't know if I should have jumping or beaming about. My smiles keep saying it all.
That's it. My baby is growing maturely now. He's becoming the man I wanted him to be.
One of his iPhones chimed and I caught glimpse of a woman's picture on his wallpaper.
As if he caught me spying. He shut the screen lock and everything went blank. "Stop peeking and mind your business." He hissed.
My excitement popped so many questions in my head I needed to ask. "Sebastian, is she the one? Oh my world, she's so pretty." Very, very. I swear. "She looks foreign. Where's she from? Is she a descent of this country? Oh Seb, I can't wait to meet her—"
"Mom, my relationship is private, get it?" He is always like this. Protective over everything. He keeps his life private from the internet and now, even drags a beautiful woman to the same privacy .
"Come on, dear." I sighed. Hoping I could get the best out of him. "I'm not a man that should steal her away from you."
"Mom, I'm trying to protect her. " He said and I know. "And you stop acting like you haven't met her before."
Wait. "Have I?" But she's not familiar.
"Oh god, mom." He groans, rubbing his face. "Remember the chauffeur in disguise from few years ago?" He said. "The one you and Sharon kicked out?"
I try to remember. "Rodriguez?"
"That's her surname." He firmly stated. "Her name is Elizabeth."
"Oh no…." I gasped. Knowing how I rebuked her the moment I found out she was a woman and not a man.
She used to hide all her beauty under moustache and beards and ragged clothes. I almost thought she was on a mission that's why I booted her out of my property.
Sharon did the same by resigning her from working for her. And that was the last I heard from the girl in disguise. I didn't know she would end up being my son's girlfriend someday.
This is so heartbreaking for me. I don't think I would ever forgive myself.
"Please, don't gossip about her, please." Sebastian seems so serious protecting this girl. "I'm telling you this because you're my mother." After a brief silence, he burst my bubble. "She's the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."
I was tongue-tied. What did I just hear him say? Was he talking seriously about marital success now? Did he just mention spending his life with the girl? Did he just insinuate getting married?
Oh, lord Jesus. You're wonderful. Always. "This is…..amazing." The water gathered in my eyes. "Does she knows about this? I mean, your intentions to marry her?"
He was getting tired already. "Okay, that's too much questions for now. Let's get into real matters that brought me here."
I know he's still upset with my actions towards the girl. "Seb, I didn't know she was your girlfriend. I swear, I wouldn't have behaved the way I—"
He was not giving me room for explanation. "Mom, let's talk business, okay? I have a lot going on inside my head these days." Oh, my poor baby. "I have so many projects in hand to handle. So, tell your flour teams I won't be available for launching. I have an ongoing project in Japan and it seriously needs my attention. So, your teams shouldn't be expecting me. I'll be leaving this week."
I don't know why, but the thought of him becoming so responsible is exciting. Making me super proud of him.
Now, this is the exact son I raised.
"I need to see her. Elizabeth." I flatly stated. "I'm feeling guilty from the way I and Sharon bullshit her. She's such a sweet girl."
He frowned. Not liking it at all. "Mom, stop talking about my girlfriend like this. Especially in front of me. The wind has ears."
Yeah, he's right. "Okay, how about I invite you two for our usual Sunday family dinner? Sharon and Jide will be here too."
I hope he agrees.
"Not coming." He blankly said.
My liver failed. "Seb—"
"Mom, mom, mom," He groaned. I know how he feels whenever he's angry like this. "I have to go now, please."
"But...so soon? I thought—"
He won't even let me finish. "I have a meeting with some EXCOs by 2 and it's just 1:45."
"Okay, can I come to your house and see her—or if she's not living with you, you can simply send me her home address." I don't know why but I just want to start building a future mother-in-law relationship with her.
He disagreed. "Mom, for heaven's sake, I don't want family buggers, bugging my girlfriend. And please, don't come to my house. If you need anything, just give me a call."
"But, I just want to visit her." I said when he stood up and started picking his car key and iPhones.
"Mom, for the love of God, please stay out of this. Gosh! I'm trying to protect her and you're stepping in. I'm tired. I'm leaving. This is another reason why I disappeared for a whole year. You're just too nosey and noisy."
He walked away without giving me a goodbye kiss on my cheek. But did I say anything wrong? I was just trying to be nice. I know I'm already a nice person before. Why is he always agitated around me?
Oh, back in the good old days when he used to call me the best mom in the universe. Gone are those days when he buys me gifts whenever he comes to visit me. But nowadays, he only buys me something if I demand it or if it happens to be my birthday.
I don't need to ask what changed him. Love changed him. He's so focus and time taken by the love of his life. It almost felt like someone stole his attention from me.
Still, I'm super happy. That's what I wanted for him. To settle down and become very responsible like every other young men out there.
I'm so happy for you, son.