“Do you like Lance? Last night, I saw you and your boss hugging each other in the garden. What was that?”The answer to Eric’s question is very simple. Jane can tell him the truth. She does not like Lance and they weren’t hugging last night. It was an accident.However, Jane couldn’t bring herself to answer the question because she wanted to know the reason why he had to ask this.Just a moment ago, they were talking about why Eric is kind to her, and also about his upcoming marriage. But suddenly, Eric asked her if she likes Lance.‘How did he think of this and how did he see that?’ Jane wondered inside her head.While they were staring at each other, silence cut through. As the quietness bounced back and forth inside the huge house, Jane felt her heart being ripped from her chest. One second beating, the next silent and still.Seconds passed by but Jane couldn’t figure out why Eric needed to hear her answer. It was then Eric’s voice returned.“Let’s eat.”He turned around and walked
Early in the morning, Eric asked secretary Byron to buy food in the Supermarket. On his way home, he picked up Eugene from the Desmond mansion. But before they go, Eugene asks Byron to stop somewhere. Byron was surprised that the place Eugene wanted to visit is the supermarket. The kid said that his grandfather gave him money. And so, the boy wanted to buy something for his mom. And Byron did not expect what the boy bought. Eugene bought detergents. While driving the car, Byron glanced at the happy kid who is still holding the bag of detergent with a smile on his face. Who would have thought that a six-year-old would think of buying soaps as a gift? Byron thought he’s so cute that he couldn’t help but to chuckle silently. “Are we there yet?” Eugene asked him. “Almost, Eugene. Just a few kilometers away.” “I see,” the kid murmured, nodding his head. “Where is my mom? I thought we would go there together.” “About your mom, she called me this morning. She said that…” Byron stop
“Back off, mister. Why do you want mom to pat your head? You are not a kid anymore.” “Kid, don’t discriminate people with their ages. Anyone can pat someone’s head if you do something good to them.” “Then, giving cereal to mom is not enough. We have cereal in home.” “I saved her from falling down.” “I don’t think mom is thankful for that. She looked very uncomfortable before.” “So what? As long as I saved her. That is still good deeds worth of praise.” “Hah,” Eugene scoffed. “Good deeds? I don’t think you have the rights to say that Mister. After all, you abandoned mom and I.” Eric froze at my son’s harsh words. I never told Eugene that his father abandoned us. But I guess, not explaining it affected my son’s perspective towards his father. I felt both sorry and unapologetic to Eric. It does not feel good to see how he reacted after hearing our son’s accusation. Eric stared at Eugene as if he was so embarrassed to even face the kid. At the same time, I blamed Eric too. I ke
The first time I found out what Eric’s favorite food was when I cooked in his apartment during our college days. We were working with our research paper with our classmates. Since Eric was living alone, we chose his place. “Eric, can you taste this and say if it is okay?” Eric, who entered the kitchen just because he would get something to drink, walked towards me. “Chicken Curry?” he asked while at the pan. “That is my favorite dish.”He quickly grabbed a spoon. “You like Chicken Curry?” “Yeah.” He scooped the curry with his spoon and tasted it. “How is it?” “Give me meat,” he begged. I wanted to say no because our other classmates will surely get mad of they found out that Eric got to eat meat before them. Since we collected the money from our allowance to buy this, we need to share in fair. However, because Eric was looking at me like a giant puppy, I gave him the meat he wanted. “Don’t tell it to others, okay?” I whispered, putting the meat on his spoon. Excited, the co
For many years, Jane thought that Eric abandoned her and their baby. Eric left her alone on bed and disappeared after that. So, it is natural for her to think that he abandoned the responsibility for sleeping with me. Even that was just a mistake, she hoped he would come back and find them. That’s why, within the long years, deep hatred rooted inside her heart. ‘But now, he is telling that he never abandon me?’ While staring at Eric, Jane clenched her fists until she dug my nails onto my pale palms. She told to herself that this is not the right time to talk about this. But since it already happened, she thought it would be better hear the rest of it. “You what?” she asked him. “Something happened to me,” Eric continued. “That’s why I couldn’t come back soon. When I did, you are already gone.” “You mean you searched for me?” Eric lowered his eyes before he slowly nodded his head. Jane is not sure if she will believe this or not. But there’s a part of her that I hoping he’s
Two hours ago… Jane’s boss, Lance, went to the department store to buy things he needed for camping. Jane and Lance agreed to hike and camp next week. He was so excited that the next morning, he dashed to the store to prepare. “Give me all of the jackets on display,” Lance said to the saleslady. The saleslady looked at Lance with widened eyes. “All of those, Sir?” she asked. “Yeah, all of that. I am not sure which color or design she would like. So I will buy everything,” Lance answered. The saleslady observed the tall and handsome man standing in front of her. Lance is wearing just a plain shirt and ripped jeans. If it is just his face, he’s oozing with handsomeness which made the women around stare at him. But his outfits are very plain. Therefore, the saleslady could not believe that a guy like him has the ability to buy all of the hiking outfits displayed in their store. Not only that, but he also bought shoes and other equipment needed for camping which are worth thousan
Jane closed the door as soon as Lance left.Then, she fell on the floor while hugging the paper-bags and the broom within her arms. The tension she experienced was too much. Her knees weakened and wobbled. She stared at the blank space, as if savoring the piece of silence.‘It feels like I just saw the end of the world,’ she said to herself.Did Lance believe her? Did her lame excuses work? Will there be problems in the future just because she lied to her boss?Jane lifelessly shook her head. Words and ideas have seemed to explode inside her head, and left it empty right now.Eugene returned to the living room after taking a pee. When he turned his head to find his mom, he saw her sitting on the ground.“Mom!” he shouted and dashed to her side. “Mom!” He approached his mom with a pale face and observed her.“Are you fine, mom?”Jane turned her head to her son at a slow pace. Looking at him has brought her thoughts and rationality back.‘Eric needs to know what just happened,’ Jane th
Jane’s POV Out of thousands possible reasons why Eric couldn’t come home, I don’t quite understand why a kid like Eugene thinks that his father is having an affair. Eric is engaged to another woman. But that is not an affair! When I asked my son how he came up with this idea, he said he saw it on Television before. That when a man left home and stayed overnight outside, then he is dating someone and that is what everyone calls an ‘affair.’ Oh my gosh. I never thought that my son would be exposed to something as toxic as this. And yet, there’s only one person whom I can blame. That’s me. When I was working so hard with my part time jobs before, I left Eugene to my neighbors. Probably, Eugene watched and heard about this from the adults surrounding him. But there’s no need to worry. Starting from now on, I will watch over him as much as I can. ‘But first, I had to make sure that this won’t reach Eric’s ears.’ “It’s fortunate that Eric wasn’t there when Eugene said that.” “Wh