She shrugged. "I wanted to talk about that with you. I wasn't really sure, but now I think I've confirmed it from you."

My heart started beating faster. Had she heard anything? "About what?" I asked hesitantly, food forgotten.

Mom shrugged. "I suspect that you're in a relationship and if you wanted to keep it a secret, it's understandable, but you didn't have to keep it from me. He looks like a good person, he's kind and is everything your mother could want for you. Plus, you two have known each other for a while now."

I frowned. "What are you talking about? Or rather, who are you talking about?"

She smiled and nudged me. "Are you pretending not to know? You remember that time I told you that a friend of yours recognized me randomly because of how much we look alike?" She asked and I nodded. I could vaguely remember her saying something like that. Had she told me the name of the person? I couldn't recollect now. "Yes, I remember. What's the connection with that?" I asked.

She scratched her head. "He told me his name, but I can't remember it now. I think he has moved to my area. I see him more often now."

I shook my head. "I don't even know who you're talking about. Explain so I can understand." I said harshly but I could justify myself. I thought she had found out about Jonathan, and now, what was she even on about?

Mom frowned at me. "You should listen to me then. This your friend," She gestured with her fingers at the word 'friend' "…has been coming to my shop to get his hair cut. He has even brought a lot of his friends. And on all his visits, we're always talking about you, and I'm very sure about these things. It's clear you both like each other."

I bit my lips, trying to make sense of what she was saying. "Do you remember his name? Because I'm not in a relationship, and it seems very creepy that someone is talking to you about me. Don't you find it weird? What if I don't know this person?"

Mom frowned and then slapped my arm gently. "I don't remember his name, but it starts with either a J or D. Was it Lucas or Daniel or Jonas? I've been having so many male customers lately and their names are all scattered in my head." She rolled her eyes at me. "Are you trying to distract me? Of course, you know him, he told me you two met in college and you've been very good friends since then." She gestured on the word 'friends' again, and I rolled my eyes.

"Can you describe this person?" There was nobody I knew that was coming to mind to do something like that, and I wasn't particularly close to many persons. The person also not telling me was also a little concerning supposing we really knew each other.

Mom rolled her eyes, as if tired of me. "Fine. He's a man. He's very handsome. Should be more than an inch taller than you. He has bright eyes, and he's very attentive when he's listening to you talk." She smiled softly. "He has something that just draws you to him. He takes your heart when your guard is down." The smile left her face and she glared at me. "Does anybody come to mind now?"

I scoffed. "If you like him that much, why don't you stay with him, then. Seems like you already lost your heart to him."

Mom smiled cheekily at me. "Are you becoming jealous now? That your mother may take your man?"

I wrinkled my nose in disgust. "Ew. Don't even think about that." I turned back to serious mode. "Mom, I really don't know who you're talking about." It couldn't be Jonathan, right? There was no reason for this to be him.

Mom frowned. "Really? You're saying you're currently not in a relationship with this person? Wait, let me try to remember his name." She paused for a bit, intently staring at my table, then she gasped. "I remember now. I think his name was Liam, Levi, or was it Lucas?" She asked and I turned to her.

"Lucas? The Lucas I know?" I asked confused. He had no reason whatsoever to do that. He hadn't even met my mother before.

She nodded. "Yes. I remember now. Lucas. Do you know him?"

I nodded. "But I've never introduced him to you before, so how would he know you?" The descriptions she had described now came back, and they fit him perfectly. How hadn't I realized? What was that she had said. That it was obvious we cared for each other? Enough for her to assume we were in a secret relationship? "I don't like him that way, and he doesn't like me that way either. He actually has a girlfriend." I confirmed to my mother and her jaws dropped. What was going on with Lucas? First, why will he be meeting my mother without my permission and why hadn't he bothered to inform me after the fact. Even seeing her multiple times?

"Really?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yes. You said you both talked mostly about me. What was it he was saying?" I asked curious. With my extensive knowledge about Lucas, you couldn't be friends for that long and not gather quite some things about the person, he was very friendly and knew how to articulate his thoughts. He also rarely forgot faces and didn't mind approaching someone to ask if they were someone he recognized. And even when he got it wrong, it didn't put a dent in his self-esteem and he could repeat the same action that very day. So why hadn't I thought of him with my mom's description? It was simple, it made no sense at all for him to do something like that without letting me know.

Mom smiled. "He was just telling me about how you were in college and how serious minded a fun averse you were. He said you tutored him on most of your subjects." Her look turned sober. "I must have projected, since I liked him, and you had never brought anyone for me to see. Did I offend you?" She asked with a wink that was meant to make me laugh, and I shook my head, laughing.

"No. Of course not. It's easy to get confused when your mind is already fixated on what you want."

We stopped talking and continued eating our forgotten and almost cold meal. I took the last spoonful and sighed, laying back on the couch.

"That was delicious. I'm full, but I could use another plate right about now."

Mom laughed and also dropped her plate on her empty plate. "That was really delicious. You surpassed my imagination. I hadn't even been able to imagine you cooking anything."

I smiled and leaned against her, taking in her very familiar scent.

"Mom, can I ask you a question?" I asked after thinking about it for a while. I'd always wanted to ask her this, but I'd never really gotten the courage for the answer or the memories that might surface, but, since she'd had a positive outlook on my possible relationship, I finally had the gut to.

"Of course sweetheart. But shouldn't we tidy up first?" She replied, and I shook my head, still leaning against her.

"No. I don't want to move from this position anytime soon. I'm too comfortable, and I've missed staying like this."

Mom started running her hand down my hair. "Me neither. What do you want to ask?"

I fixated my gaze on my ceiling. "How was it being married with dad, even thought it was for a short time. Like, from when you guys met till when you had me, till he left."

She glanced at me. "Why do you ask? Have you been thinking about your father more often recently?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I've been thinking about you as much, too. I've just been curious about how you must have felt. Of course, you loved him, but I would like to know everything I couldn't understand as I watched since I was much younger."

Mom sighed. "What do you remember?"

I cast my mind to the past, remembering my father. My strong dad who was always present for me when I needed him. He was mostly the one that was stuck putting me to bed and even though he worked long hours, he always made me laugh with his jokes. "Daddy was the best. He was always there when I got hurt. He was never tired, and I always slept better when he put me to bed. I remember he was always smiling too." I recalled sentimentally.

Mom sniffed. "You're right. He was the best, and he loved you so much. Most of our conversations were about what amazing thing he could do for you next. How he could make himself a better dad for you. He loved you." She responded and I glanced at her.

"How about you, Mom? Did he love you? Did you love him? You're always against me getting married, and so I've been curious about the reason."

I felt her flinch and she broke our eye contact to stare at my peeling walls. She laughed a little. "He loved me and I loved him. He was the best thing that could ever happen to me, and I doubt I can find anyone else that can make me feel the same. He also used to tell me you were the best thing that could ever happen to him because you were my carbon copy. We lived a good life together until we couldn't.."

I frowned, confused."What happened"

She smiled sadly. "He left us, don't you remember?" She replied sarcastically, and I let out my breath. I thought she had meant something had happened while they were still together. I shook my head. "So why have you been so against me being in a relationship?"

She shook her head and glanced at me. "I wasn't against you. I've just been supporting your opinion. It's never been a secret that you feel uncomfortable being intimate with someone else"

I contorted my gave into a disgusting expression, but she shook her head. "I don't mean physically. I mean emotionally. It has always been difficult for you to give that much of yourself to other people, and I don't mind. It actually suits me better that you remain happy by yourself, rather than potentially going through what I went through. Even if it's not too early, you will still experience the pain of losing that person, and I want to spare you so you don't have to go through that."

I nodded and burrowed closer to her. "Alright mom."

She glanced at my face again. "You're not in a relationship, though, right? If you are, you can always let me know, you know?"

I forced a smile. "Of course" I lied, but technically it wasn't a lie. It was just a contractual situation, and she would be none the wiser after the contract expired.

After remaining in silence for a while, Mom checked her wristwatch and started standing. "It's almost 6pm. I should start going now."

I pull her back. "Let's just stay like this. I'll book a cab for you, and you cannot argue with that. I won't be able to sleep if you go with the train again, and I need my rest to get ready for work tomorrow. "I replied. I could feel her going through that and considering not wanting me to spend so much on her before she finally nodded.

"Alright. I should start reaping the reward of raising you all those years." She teased and pulled me closer, and I laughed.

"Exactly. That's my girl"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.