Chapter 4 "Our Histories"

After preparing my boy to sleep, the two of us went to bed together. And I felt so happy spending time with my son.

When he grew up, he mostly stayed in his own room. But the younger version of him always wanted to be with me.

‘I shall treasure my time with my baby boy.’

As I pulled the blanket up, my eyes caught the tape and cotton on my son’s arm.

When I introduced Eugene to his father this morning, Eric demanded that we should run a DNA test as soon as possible. He does seem that he doubted if Eugene is really his son, even if the two of them resemble a lot. But aside from the DNA test, he didn’t ask for anything.

Then, his secretary said that they will contact us again once the result is out. Well, I have nothing to worry since I knew it well that Eugene is Eric’s son.

‘But, I was shocked how Eric changed so much.’

He was a bright and kind guy before. But now, his eyes are lifeless and he barely shows his emotions.

‘Why am I getting worried about the b*stard who left me on the bed after our accident s*x?’

 I shook my head and thought of another thing.

It is still so hard to believe that we will see each other as soon as I come back. Is this really a coincidence?

In the past, Eugene and I moved out of the house. Perhaps, there was a chance for us to see Eric, but we moved out before it happened.

‘Ahhh. This is hard to solve. I should sleep first.’

Just meeting Eric made me feel so tired; both physically, emotionally and mentally.

During my deep thoughts, I felt a stare towards my direction. I lowered my head and saw Eugene peering at me. So, I quickly smiled.

“Baby, does your arm still hurt?”

“No. It wasn’t that painful,” Eugene said as he caressed the tape and cotton on his arm.

I could tell that Eugene felt so scared when the nurse took his blood with the injection. But I should praise him for being brave.

“Wow. My baby is so b…”

“Mom,” Eugene cut between my words.

“Yes?”

“Is he really my father?”

At his direct question, I went wordless for a while.

Even if he’s only a six-year-old kid right now, he has a mature way of speaking.

Eugene is a smart boy. I heard a lot of praise from his teachers because at a young age, he learned how to read and write, faster than his classmates. When it comes to looks, his handsome face is also admirable. On top of that, he’s very polite and kind to grown-ups. However, it seems that Eugene does not want to act politely in front of Eric.

I can understand that. My son grew up knowing that he has only me as his parent. He was teased by kids around our neighborhood for having no dad. Therefore, instead of talking to kids the same age, Eugene preferred talking to adults who can understand our situations.

  

“That man is my father, right?” Eugene repeated the question to me.

I looked back at him.

I was thinking how I will answer the question, even if I already told him the truth before.

“Was it because of his handsome face? That’s why you liked him?” Eugene tossed a question that made my jaw drop and roll onto the floor.

‘He’s a six-year-old kid, right? How can he think this way?’

If the teenage Eugene asked me this question, I wouldn't be shocked. But he’s too young to think of this question.

“I heard from the grown-ups that if you are going to like someone, you should not only look at their face,” he added.

I wanted to say that Eric and I weren’t in that kind of relationship, and that everything happened because we were both drunk. However, this is difficult to bring up to a young boy.

Therefore, I held my son’s shoulder. Then I asked, “Where did you hear that?”

“Don’t change the topic, mom,” he rebuked.

My mouth parted a little.

If Eugene got his looks from his father, then he probably got his ability to give powerful reasoning from me.

‘My mother told me that I should be a lawyer someday.’

 “That man is my father who left you even before I was born,” Eugene told me in a low voice.

A scowl marred on my forehead. Eugene used to hang out with old people but to know all of these, I was perplexed.

‘Guess, leaving him in the hands of the other grown-ups while I work, wasn’t great. He probably heard all of these from the people around him.’

“Even if he is handsome, I don’t like him,” said Eugene who lowered his head and folded his fingers one after another. “Don’t ever come and see him again. I hate him. We don’t need someone like him.”

After telling what he wanted to say, my son turned to the opposite side and covered himself with the blanket.

‘The two of us feel the same thing. So, I can’t blame him.’

For years, I hated Eric.

I was so sure that I cannot forgive him until I die.

But when I really experienced death, it was so odd that the first thing I regretted before dying was not finding Eric and introducing his son.

‘Maybe, deep in my heart, I really wanted to see him again and tell him everything.’

Having these thoughts, my eyes peered at the space between air. Then, bit by bit, the memories which I tried to forget, flashed back on my mind. It as as if everything happened yesterday: 

The first time I met Eric was when we were  in college. He was really famous among students and teachers because he is handsome, tall, smart and kind. All simp over him as he was the best-seller among the men in the university. If there was an exemption, then it’s me, Jane Cameron.

Eric and I became friends after we made a thesis together. And in terms of academic grades, it is right to say that we always fought for first place. Maybe that's why we became close. Because we focused on our goals.

Since we were always together, some thought that we’re dating. Although we denied the rumors countless times, many still believe that it is true. Despite that, we remained good friends. Not until the accident happened in 2016.

“Jane!” My classmate, Mariel, waved her hand as she called me.

I walked inside the pub with an apologetic smile on my face, because I was almost 2 hours late.

“Why are you late?” she asked as I sat down beside her.

“I finished something,” I answered.

She narrowed her eyes on me, as if she read my mind correctly. “You mean, studying at the library until you forgot that we have a welcome party for the freshmen tonight?”

Yup. She guessed it right.

I forged a laugh on my face before I avoided her gaze. If I ask her a question, she will surely just nag me. As soon as I looked forward, I saw Eric from afar. He’s drinking ice tea, and that’s good. This guy cannot handle his alcohol well.

Eric met my gaze. The smile spread on his lips, like a kindergarten student who saw the person who will fetch him home, and then he waved his hand to me. However, I pretended that I did not see him and looked somewhere else.

Every welcome party for the freshman, Eric became the center of attraction for the first year female students. Because of that, I purposely avoided him, just like what I did that night. I was so tired of being asked if Eric and I are dating, and from the jealous stares of the  women which made me feel so uncomfortable.

So that night, I stayed in my seat and ignored the lonely Eric, who was probably tired of shooing all women who tried to get his interest.

As the night went by, I had an idea how Eric dealt with the women trying to flirt with him, all because I did my best to play ignorant.

‘This will be the last welcome party. So, let’s have fun,’ I told myself.

We will graduate that year, and I wanted to have fun for the last time, being a student. I never had a boyfriend while I was studying, not because I didn't want to. There were two reasons why I did not experience dating. First, I have to secure my future by studying hard. And second, all men thought that I am dating Eric.

So, during that night, I thought that if I don’t stick with Eric, maybe I might find a man who will make my college days exciting before I graduate.

“Hello.”

And a handsome freshman came to greet me.

I looked at him and without knowing, I was already smiling.

“Do you remember me? We met yesterday?” the man said. Even though he’s only a freshman, he has a nice build and long legs. He might be the most handsome student I saw, second to Eric.

“You look familiar. But I am not sure.”

“We met in the library yesterday. I dropped my back and you picked it up for me,” he explained. “When I was about to ask your name, a man pulled you and said that he’s hungry.”

‘That’s Eric!’ I shouted inwardly as I recalled our past and first encounter.

“Ahhh, that man,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ear. “He’s my friend. Eric.”

I glanced at Eric and to my surprise, he was glaring at me.

I quickly avoided his gaze and looked at the man again.

“Ahhh, right. I remember now. Eric who’s sitting on the other table,” the man said before he glanced at Eric and saw him sending piercing glare towards our side. “Why is he looking at me like that? Is he mad at me?”

I tapped the man’s arm, saying, “No, no, no! That’s how he normally stares.”

Tilting his head as if he’s confused, the man looked back at me and smiled. “Really?”

“Y-Yeah,” I said, glancing at Eric. When I gander at him again, I saw Eric drinking a glass of beer.

‘That b*stard. Why is he drinking?! He will get drunk later!’ I complained inwardly, biting my lower lip.

“Jane?” the man called so I snapped out and tried to give my focus to him again.

“Yes?”

“I’ve been talking to you but you are not responding.”

‘Thanks to Eric who never lets me rest worrying about him!’

Smiling at the man, I responded, “I was distracted for a moment. Anyway, how did you know my name? You said you couldn’t ask before.”

“Because when I came here, almost everyone was talking about you. In the Botany department, there’s an angel named Jane Cameron. And I guess they are right.”

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at his brown eyes which spoke sweet words to me. Even though I gave no interest to the men who tried to court me before, does not mean that I have a stone ice.

“My name is Griffti, by the way.”

That night, I promised that I will try to have fun during my last year in university. And so, I decided to entertain Griffti and see where it will go.

Time passed by.

Griffti and I had fun talking while we were drinking beers. As the night went on, I felt tipsy. I was so engrossed talking about plants with him that I did not notice that I already drank a lot.

“I am so excited to visit the garden in our university,” Griffti said.

“I am sure, you will like it,” I said, finishing my last bottle of beer.

“Really? Then, I hope you can come with me tomorrow.”

“Huh?” I uttered.

“Well, I think I will enjoy seeing the plants in the garden if I am with you, Jane.”

He asked me for a date. I am sure of that. I hesitated if it would be a good idea, but in the end, I accepted the offer and blamed it on the alcohol.

“Sure,” I said. “I will tour you in the ga…”

Bam!

 I was interrupted by the loud sound resonating inside the pub. When I searched where the sound came from, my eyes widened.

Eric fell down on the ground while holding a bottle of beer!

He was so red from his neck to the tip of his ears while smiling like a weirdo.

“This sh…”

I almost cursed  out loud as I stood up.

‘Why did this j*rk drink a lot when he knows that he will be drunk?!’

I was both confused and annoyed at him. Confused why he drank a lot, and annoyed because I know what might happen at the end of the night.

Our classmates and friends will give all the responsibility to me for taking care of Eric and bringing him home, all because I am his closest friend.

And it really happened. Sadly, it freaking did.