One day of being sure about where they were and I'd had to leave Blane si as to meet them. I had 'experience' you know, from my brother but what I met wasn't something I'd expected.
"How much do you want?"
"Excuse me!"
"We already know who you are, just tell us how much and be on your way."
"You think money buts everything?"
"I am busy right now boy."
"Busy enough that you won't even pick a single call from your son?"
"He's old enough to take care of himself and you're nothing to dictate on how we treat each other "
"Right, then maybe him running away had been the right choice back then."
The man turned around to look at me, for the first time since I entered this office.
"You can't buy love, love for your family. I came all the way to tell you I am going to take your son, whether you like it or not. I think it best if I do, don't you think?"
"He's a fucking minor!"
"You realize that now, but you just said he's old enough to take care of himself."
The door behind me opened, the perfume was first before the sound of heels.
"We need to prepare...I... who's this?"
"Hello Mrs. Stephan! My name's Riley, Riley Bellan."
"The kid going after our son."
"Please excuse me! Oh...and by the way, he'll be turning eighteen this coming week, he'll be an adult then."
**********
Why are we here? How did he even know my parents house?
I stretch a little before rubbing my eyes to get rid of sleep.
"Good you woke up."
"Why are we here?"
"They wanted to surprise you. It's your birthday."
I don't usually celebrate my birthdays, there'd never been someone to celebrate it with me....Before, nana tried taking me places, bought me gifts but having the people that brought you to life is more meaningful, right?
Friday afternoon, we'd gone to the mall like always then to the movie theater before meeting his friends and mine for dinner... Barnard had conveniently not been there.
Saturday, he'd left early morning for something urgent but we'd gone hiking, Taffy, Nicole, Rashid and someone Rashid had introduced as Kaleb.
He didn't seem like a bad guy and we got along pretty well. Almost too well for someone we'd just met. Taffy looked bothered though he pretended to be okay. I think keeping away from Barnard doesn't look good on him. It still hurts him.
Afterwards, we went to wash up before coming out for dinner. It was when I showed him the dress I'd sown the previous week, it felt nice showing off mostly when he looked genuinely impressed. He promised to show me more tricks later on.
We had hotpot, as always, hotpot brings people closer. We learnt more about each other over steam than any other time. We learnt that Kaleb is into pastry making. He'd been taking nursing but had dropped it. He wanted to join a pastry school though his parents were against it.
He seemed passionate about it but if I'd paid for your schooling and you didn't even attend the first week, I'd also be royally pissed off so...
I got drunk... properly this time but I blanked out. Slept in Sunday and woke up with the worst headache known to man...I think. The soup Riley made helped quite a lot... though I had apparently made a scene. Kaleb had several videos of Taffy, Rashid and I and I think I don't want to get drunk ever. One thing though, helping Taffy curse at someone isn't sinful...wait a minute, had they already sent those to that guy, I hate my life.
Monday morning, I woke up in Riley's arms as always
"Morning!"
"Morning!"
I stretched perching myself onto him.
"Happy birthday!"
I froze. How had he known? Okay, my papers were in the room, I'd also been applying to get my ID and he was front, middle and center of the whole affair.
"I ordered a cake but it's taking it's sweet time... bear with me, okay?"
Damn it, I wanted to but couldn't get myself to move or even talk.
"I made seaweed soup though so you have to take it."
Soup? Yeah, I'd heard about the seaweed soup theory though I'd never tried it before. I wanted to cry.
"We also need to go somewhere."
I liked staying the way we were, him holding me, me scenting him no one getting involved. Him being mine to stare at the whole week. He'd not talked about a holiday or work so I'd been sure about being in hibernation...you know.
And that place was my parents house...I shouldn't have slept, so that I could put a halt to this. But he'd driven so calmly and peacefully, the music so soothing.
And we were here and they were apparently home. I feel a hand on my chin as my head tilts to look at me while the other rubs my brows.
"One hour... let's try then leave."
"Why?"
"Because after everything, they are still your family. And for us, we need blessings from our elders. Also, isn't it better to use that pretense to see them?"
He's right, like always. I want to see them, this was a great excuse to do it... pretend nonchalant and have a meal together.
"Stop frowning now, okay!"
"Okay!"
I look at his relaxed posture, isn't he worried about meeting his boyfriend's parents? People worry about this kind of thing, right? When he'd talked about meeting his parents, I'd had butterflies causing chaos within me. He seems okay....more than me and this was my own home.
He...wait, why had I not realized it was a new car. I watch him as he comes around to open the passenger seat for me, should I ask...on how I hadn't been clear on my own sorroundings?
"Blane!"
That's mom's voice... she's never come out to meet me, this feels... I gulp as Riley moves aside so I'd get to see her. She still looks the same; hair in a ponytail, little makeup...an apron? And slippers? Why is she in these now? I guess these two aren't as shocking as the hug.... oops! No perfume either, FYI I hate the boldness of her scents.