Mom crosses her arms as she glares at our way. Or specifically at dad.
But then I see her puffy eyes and cheeks red and full with tear stains.
I look at Dad as he opens his mouth. "Agnes, I-"
She cuts him off when she runs into his arms. "I heard it all," she says. "You stupid old guy. Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"I wanted to surprise you."
Mom pulls back. "Surprise me?"
Dad nods. "It was supposed to be your original anniversary gift. For making it with me for two decades."
"And work yourself an early grave?!" Mom snaps. Dad's eyes look like searching for an answer.
"I thought-"
"I thought we were supposed to go through everything together," mom interjects. "Bad or good, no matter how hard it is, we were supposed to do it together. Am I that untrustworthy?"
Dad shakes his head. "No, never."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry," he says finally. "I'm sorry to do it all by myself. But it won't happen again if you forgive me."
Mom stares at him. Then before any of us can tell what's happening she hugs him again. That might've given him the answer he wanted as he visibly relaxes and hugs her back.
"You know," dad says after a while. "The lady who called me, she was a patient's grandmother and about seventy years old."
I almost choke. Mom blinks. "Really?"
"Yes," dad nods. "Her grandson's birthday is in two weeks, the ones whose operation I did last September in Seattle," I remember that one, the one that made him stay the night in Seattle and mom doubt him. "He's recovering well, despite the fact his situation was very critical before. He wouldn't have survived if something had gone wrong during the operation. So now his grandma wants to celebrate his birthday largely. And because I was the one who did his operation, she wants me to join the celebration with my family."
Mom's cheeks turn red. "You could've told me this before."
Dad lifts a brow. "I can't recall when you gave me the chance to explain myself." He pretends to think. "All I can remember is you screaming gibberish twenty minutes straight before running away." Mom hits him on the shoulder.
Dad only laughs in return, causing her to hit him more.
I watch them in astonishment. They've been married that long, still, their love feels so new. The way they forgive each other so easily.
'It is what true love is?' My brain asks.
Feeling like invading their private moment, I step back and try to leave the room silently, only to bump into another person.
"Is someone having a family reunion without telling me?" Did I mention how annoying it is to have a little sister who's three inches taller than you?
"Kat what are you doing home?" I ask her. "Didn't you tell me you're coming back on Thursday?"
"I told you I'm coming back on Tuesday. Seriously, who put you in charge of our house?" Kat rolls her eyes and turns to our parents. "Anyway, can someone explain to me why they're home? Weren't they supposed to come back on Sunday?"
I look at my parents and they smile at us. Mom looks at dad and he nods. Then she walks over to us and engulfs us in a hug.
"Because we were missing our girls too much," She says. Dad joins us too and hugs the three of us.
"Don't bother to think I believed that even for a second," Kat snorts. "But don't worry, I'll get it out of Kiara."
I stick my tongue out. "You can try."
Mom and dad chuckles.
We hear a meow from down my feet and see Grisbee sitting there licking her leg.
Mom coos at her and says, "Wanna join us girl?"
I swear Grisbee's eyes grow wide when Kat scoops her from the floor and squeezes her in a bone-crushing hug.
"So anyone up for dinner outside?" Dad suggests and all of us agree.
Anyone watching from outside can tell it's a happy family. And it pleases knowing we are finally a happy family again.
Actually, we've never stopped being one. Just had someone dumb enough to think he can save the world all by himself.
Which he did, by the way.
And I thought my case was long forgotten until mom brought it up after dinner.
"Why were you home early?" Mom asks me once when dad and Kat go to bed.
"N-nothing." I gulp. "Seriously Mom I'm fine-" She doesn't wait for me to finish as she walks inside my room. Groaning, I follow her.
She looks around my room. Her eyes pause on our family photo frame on the top of my desk.
"Remember how you used to tell me everything about your day at school?" She says.
"I'm not six anymore mom."
She whirls instantly. "Don't you think you're too old not to tell me about your problems as long as you live under my roof, understand young lady?" she tries to look mad but of course, fails badly.
We chuckle.
I look at mom from the corner of my eyes. It's true, I used to tell mom everything when I was young. But then things started changing.
I didn't tell mom anything about what's happening at school in the last two months. Both Kat and I agreed that she had enough on her plate already.
But now that everything has changed again, for good this time, I end up telling mom every detail about it. Maybe she can tell me what to do.
"-and then I also left the school, I didn't think I could face anyone after what had happened," I finish.
Mom looks like she's thinking of something important. "So you and Ashton became friends through this scandal?"
I roll my eyes. "Out of all the things I told you, those are all that concerns you?"
Mom chuckles. "Sorry, but I can't keep him out of my mind since Kat told me he managed to help you to get over your fear of water."
My jaw hits the floor.
"What? Did you think you're really going to get away with it without me knowing?" She raises a brow.
I shake my head. "No, it's just I wanted to tell you myself."
"And keep Ashton's name out of it?"
And that too.
Mom shakes her head. "Mother knows everything."
"Did you just quote Gothel from Tangled?" I grimace.
She laughs. "Well, at least Derek and you have broken up."
"For someone she claims herself to be my mother, you sound awfully happy about it," I mutter.
Before she can open her mouth, I raise a hand. "Don't say that, please." I make a face, which makes her more delighted, and she throws back her head laughing.
"At least Kiaton will sail now."
"Kiaton?" I ask her.
"Yes, you know, Kiara and Ashton," she explains.
"Mom!" She throws her head back laughing.
"Come on now, it's been a while since I've shipped people last time," she says in between her laughter.
I raise a brow. "What about Kat and Dylan?"
"They're still too young. You don't know what's coming next in the upcoming years."
"Yeah right," I roll my eyes. Does she really think Kat is getting over her ten years old crush anytime soon? "Anyway, your ship sank long before it was on board. Ashton probably hates my guts now."
"What? Why?"
I lift a brow. "Do you really think Ashton will like to see my face after what I did today?" I hug my knees close. "He looked pretty mad and disappointed at me before he left. I don't know what came up with me. I really should've focused on what Ashton was going through instead of-"
"Sweetie, look at me," Mom says and takes my hands in hers. "Ashton doesn't hate you," she says. "Yes, he yelled at you today and said a thing or two, but that he doesn't he hates you. He probably wasn't in the right state of mind after the threat."
I look at mom almost helplessly. "Are you sure?"
Mom smiles. "You really like the boy, don't you?"
I gulp. Do I?
He did so much for us, for me, in past months. He was there for me when I needed him. He helped us when Cora and Sophie wanted to shut it. He brought us allies to help. Ashton taught me to get over my fears, distracted me to get over my breakup, let me meet his sister. Above all, he taught me how to live again without the survival theory. But does that mean I like him?
Ashton's face flashes in front of my eyes. His eyes, his smile, the times he used to tease me when he held me after Derek broke up with me. How could I not like him after all he did for me?
So I remain quiet, which gives mom the answer she needs.
"You know what Kiara, your dad was right," she says.
"About what?" I ask her.
"Whenever you're having a conflict with someone, just talk it out."
I look up at her. "You sure it's going to work?"
Mom smiles and kisses my forehead before getting off my bed. "Just find him tomorrow and see what happens."
I stare at the door long after she leaves. Does she really think it's going to work in our case like the way it did with her and dad?
But it's different. Mom and dad-it worked in their case because they love each other unconditionally. Ashton and I, on the other hand, are not the same. We don't love each other.
Well, maybe not we, him. Unless he-
I shake my head. That can never happen.
Ashton can't possibly like me, can he?
ð¸
This might seem a bit awkward but I just wanted to clear out the stuffs between her parents, sue me.