-chapter four-
-present day-
He looks at the boxes she had packed for him, he doesn’t even want to open it just yet. He gulps down his beer, and still stares at the boxes. He scoffs at the fact that she put that much effort in packing his life away. He gets up and starts to open up the first box. He takes out his Nintendo Wii, a couple notebooks where he used to write his ideas whenever he’s in her place, and his clothes. When he pulls out his clothes and something falls with it. He picks it up on he floor and his heart sinks. He sits down on the couch and looks at it. The reality of the situation finally sinks, it is really over.
-sometime last year-
He woke up and looked at his side. She was still asleep next to him. A rare sight, she usually woke up before he did. He watched her asleep, he couldn’t believe what they went through for the last three months. He had the ride of his life, it was rollercoaster, sometimes she drove him crazy. But he loved every moment.
He stroked her hair and she stirred.
“What time is it?” she mumbled sleepily.
“6.30,” he said, “I have to get ready,” he leaned to kiss her forehead.
She mumbled her response. He smiled.
“So I’ll see you tonight?”
She sat upright and looked at him, “Tonight?”
“My mom’s coming over, we’re having dinner tonight with Chuck and Karen.”
“Excuse me what? You haven’t told me this.”
“I might have mentioned it a couple of times,” he faltered, “when you’re working on your dissertation.”
“Darren Eugene Mitchell! You know I’m distracted when I’m writing that! I won’t remember a thing you say.”
“Yeah, I know,” he stated amusingly and walked out of the room to the bathroom.
“Ow, you think you’re so cute,” Adya said trailing him.
He was so amused at her tantrums. “Yes, actually I am,” he said and kissed her forehead and he shut the door to the bathroom.
“I don’t have anything to wear!” she screamed over the other side of the door.
“We’re going for sushi,” he shouted while he’s brushing his teeth, “You don’t have to dress up.” He could hear her frustration from the other side. He smiled, he finds it really cute whenever she’s nervous.
He got out from the bathroom to find her pouring her cereal.
“Can you pour me a bowl please,” he said to her.
She poured the cereal without saying a word. He chuckled. He came around the counter and put his arms around her waist.
“It’ll be okay Addy,” he said and kissed her temple.
“I suck at this, and mothers tend to not like me,” she said, sounded truly frustrated.
“I find that hard to believe.”
She gave him a look.
“She’ll like you alright, don’t worry,” he wrapped his arms around her, trying to ease her frustration.
“You’re just saying that.”
“I’m her kid, I know,” he gave her a kiss on the cheek and went to grab full cream milk from the fridge. He could not stand the skim milk she used for her cereal. “You’ll do great.” He said as he took a seat next to her and ate their breakfast. They ate their breakfast in silence, and when he was done, he kissed her on her head, “I’ll pick you up at seven tonight.”
She nodded weakly.
“Addy,” he said caringly as he held her face, “it’ll be fine. She’ll love you, I guarantee that.”
She gave him a small smile, he knew she was trying to believe that, but he also knew, she was not quite there yet.
“I’ll see you tonight.” He said and left for work.
He picked her up that night and she became very quiet.
“You’re okay?” he asked her as he put his hands on hers.
“Does she know that I’m older than you?”
“Why is it really a problem with you?”
“She’s Southeast Asian too Darren, I know the culture.”
He rolled his eyes, “My mom spent almost all her life in this country, and I’m sure it’s not a problem. Is it a problem for you?”
She looked at him, not saying anything.
“Is it?”
“It’s not that it’s a problem per se….”
He sighed, “How many times do we have this discussion Addy?”
She cocked her head to the side, “Just drop it,” she said. That was it for her, whenever she said that, she meant it. Usually he kept pushing her buttons then they get into an argument, but tonight, he chose to drop it.
They arrived at the restaurant, he took her hand, squeezed it to reassure her that he was there for her. She gave him the same small smile she gave him before he left in the morning. They walked in and found his brother Chuck and Karen, were already there, and his mom too. It was the open mic night for the karaoke at the sushi place, the place was a little crowded. His mom didn’t want to take them to a formal place, it was not their thing at all.
“Hey you guys, sorry we’re late,” Darren said and gave his mom and Karen a kiss.
“It’s okay, we just arrived,” his mom told him, and he knew she was genuine, not annoyed at all. “This must be Adya, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Hi Mrs. Mitchell nice to meet you,” Adya said in a polite way.
“You’re really a Southeast Asian are you child? Just call me Ceri.”
Adya gave her a small smile, “Okay Ceri.”
“See, no one’s dropping dead,” his mom said to her.
Adya laughed.
“Darren told me so much about you,” Ceri said as they settled down. Darren pulled out a chair for Adya, “Does he do that every time? Or just around me?”
Adya smiled, “Your son is one of those rare breed of chivalrous men that still exists in this world. I’m lucky to have him.”
“She made me blush in three minutes, how does she do that?”
“Wait ‘till you hear her sing,” Chuck said and laughed.
Adya’s eyes widened, “No, no, you don’t want to hear me sing.” She panicked.
“Ow she’s just being modest. You should hear her sing Ceri,” Karen added.
Adya looked at his direction looking for sanctuary. He didn’t say a word, just trying to hold back the smile on his face. This was a set up, every time they brought new people, his mom always made them sing in front of public. It was sort of an initiation for them.
“Come Adya, it’s open mic night, you have to take the stage,” Ceri said.
“No, no, I don’t want people to loose their appetite.”
“Come on Addy, it’ll be fun,” he said to her and got up from his chair. “I’ll sing with you.”
“She can do a killer Nicki Minaj,” Chuck said.
Adya gave Chuck a look, he and Karen was just enjoying the joke. Darren found that really funny too. He actually had selected a song for her. He looked at the operator, as they walked to the stage, they came over with mics for them.
The intro of ‘Super Bass’ was playing. She looked at him she was scared. He leaned on her and say, “Come on, my girl can kill this.”
She rolled her eyes and started to rap. As the verses go, the crowd cheered for her. She flirted with Darren, as he helped her with the chorus. They brought down the house.
“Thank you, he said, we’ll be here all night, if you want an encore. But just for the record, the lady’s mine,” Darren said and kissed her.
“Did you plan this?” she asked him, more like accusing him.
“Yeah, kinda.”
“I really hate you right now Darren Mitchell.”
He smiled.
“What?”
“You don’t really mean that Adya Marya Sutrisno.”
She looked at him surprised. He had found out about her middle name. She rarely used it.
“You didn’t say my full name.”
“Shut up,” she rolled her eyes and pushed him away as they walked to the table. He laughed and put his arms around her so tight she couldn’t push him off.
“Child, you really are pure Southeast Asian. Humility could only take you so far. That will be your song with Darren from now on then.”
She blushed, “It’s really a romantic song huh?”
“You should’ve known theirs,” Ceri said.
“What is it?”
“’Baby Got Back’,” Darren said.
“What is it with the butt puns and this family?” Ceri said.
They laughed and begin dinner. The rest of the night went well, Adya was a little relaxed after her ‘performance’. Darren smiled at the scene. He reached out for Adya’s hand when they were waiting for dessert. She looked at him and smiled, her smile whenever she’s happy. He was relieved, he’s glad.
The dinner was over, and they were saying their goodbye. Karen and Adya were talking, and he took his mother’s arms.
“She’s wonderful Darren. Different from your usual picks.”
He chuckled.
“And I see what she’s doing to you. She made you a better person. You called me more often now.”
“Mommy, I called you a lot before that too.”
“Uh huh,” his mom gave him a judging look. “She’s great Darren.”
“So you like her?”
“Meeh, she’s okay.”
Darren laughed.
“Well, I have to rest, you kids have fun,” she said to the whole gang.
“I’ll see you Mom,” he said and kissed her cheek.
Chuck and Karen were saying goodbye to Ceri too.
“I’ll see you Ceri.”
“We’ll be expecting you in San Francisco then child.”
Adya smiled, “Okay.”
And they said their goodbyes. As they drove home Adya reached out for his hand. He jolted in surprised.
“Thank you.”
He took her hand and kissed it, “Told you she’ll love you.”
She smiled, “I’m sorry for what I said earlier.”
“What, that you hate me?”
“No, our age difference.”
“Ow, that.”
“Honestly, it still bothers me. I’m working on it. It’s just my background, and in the past….”
He pulled over and slammed on the brake and put the car to park. “I’m not them,” he said and looked at her. He was sick and tired of that too. He had told her that over and over.
“I know you’re not….”
“Then stop that! I’m here, not going anywhere, and I’m nothing like those jerks that you’ve dated!” he yelled at her.
She was taken aback, and became quiet.
“I’m sorry.”
She took a deep breath, “I need some time to get used to it. I’m sorry, I never meant to compare you to anyone. Just please, let me adjust to it, it’s just me,” she started rocking back and forth.
He softened, he reached out to her, “Hey, Addy, come on,” he took her in his arms. “One thing you need to know, I’m staying and not going anywhere.”
She nodded. But he knew, it won’t be that easy for her to feel okay. He held her for a while, he could feel warm tears against his shirt.
“But we have to go somewhere now,” he said and laughed, “or I’ll get a ticket”. They kissed and he drove away.
Adya looked at the street, “Where are we going?”
He looked at her, “My place.”
She smiled and took his hand again.
They arrived at his place. They have been there a couple of times. It was him who mostly went to her place. They got in the apartment, she put down her purse and he came to her. They kissed.
“I got something for you,” he said and gave her something. “It’s a key to the apartment,” he said.
“What are you saying?” Adya stammered.
“I just want to share my life with you,” he said. “Don’t freak.” He kissed her, “I just want you to have the key. So you can come in and out whenever you want to. Because this place is yours too.”
-present day-
He fiddles with the key. She gave it back. There is a pang in his heart. It’s over, and that’s that.
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