Five: Commotion

I kept staring at her. I was getting furious. This woman was definitely crossing her limits. I had gotten far in my relationship with Roy, so leaving him was too impossible. 

I had won the battles in this relationship. Sean, Kathleen and every other person who had tried to interfere, had been gotten rid of. Now that I had the chance to enjoy my man, I wouldn't let anyone ruin my relationship with him.

I scorned at her. "Karen, what's the problem here?"

I had wanted to call her “Ma”, but it seemed like she didn't deserve to be called that. She was such a meanie. 

"It seems like you'll prefer to get arrested." The look on her face became menacing as well. She slammed her purse against the table, snorted. "Don't make me do something you'll regret. Leave my son. That's simple, right?"

I smirked. It was time to be rude. "That's simple for a woman who's left her husband a couple of times. So, I guess that's why it's easy for you to say."

"How dare you?" She gritted teeth, her hand balled in fist. "Wow, so you aren't just poor, you're also very rude. Who the heck do you think you are?"

"Then learn to speak with respect!" I retorted. Noticing my voice had become loud, I tried to keep myself calm. "For jeez' sake, what's your problem with me being with Roy? Why are you making me feel like an idiot for dating a rich guy?"

She swallowed. The anger in her eyes reduced, another emotion glinting in them. It was like she had to say someone, but was being so hesitant. For some reason, she averted from our gaze, tension coating all through her. What was with this woman?

"Renee…" her voice was lower. "Leave him. This is more like a warning. I know what I'm saying."

"This is a threat, not a warning," I corrected. 

She turned to me, shaking her head calmly. Was that tears in her eyes? Was she this desperate to send me away, that she was now starting to cry? Was this woman a demon or something? How could anyone be this heartless? All because she wanted her son to be with a rich lady? 

"You see, there's a reason I need you to leave him," she said. Her voice was soft, but the softness had no effect on me. 

My anger rose. Overly flustered, I slapped my palm against the table, stood up with so much force. 

"What's wrong with you?!" I cried. The intensity at which I yelled, grabbed everyone's attention towards us. "Is life all about money? Can't the poor be given some chance? Just because I'm not rich doesn't mean I'm the wrong woman for your son!"

She stood up as well, still shaking her head gently. A tear left her eye, and she sniffed. Gosh, this woman was making me hate her even more. 

"It's not—"

"Just because I'm not so successful today, doesn't mean I won't be successful tomorrow," I continued to lecture her, tears in my eyes. Of all the things I hated, being underestimated was what I hated most. 

She sighed. "Renee, calm down. I've got something to tell you. You might—"

"No!" I cut her off. Wrapping my arms around my chest, I glared at her. "Tonight, you'll be the one to listen to me. You might be older, but that doesn't mean you know everything."

"That's enough," she warned. "If you aren't ready to listen to me, that doesn't mean you should be rude. I'm not a child, okay?"

"So you'll keep threatening me?" I turned to the other side of the table, stood beside her. 

She sighed again. Turning to me, she was already frowning. "Enough of this embarrassment. Remember who I am, okay? I won't take shit from you."

"Another threat?!" I snarled. "Wait, I really need to know your problem."

"That's. Enough." Her threatening tone aggravated. 

"No. I won't stop speaking. I've had enough embarrassment from y'all!"

"I said it's enough."

"You should keep quiet instead!"

She sighed. I could tell her frustration was rising. "For the last time, keep quiet."

"I won't ke—"

"Enough!"

I couldn't tell how it happened. I didn't know what went wrong. I didn't know what was going on. But, all I could say was I felt my cheek burn. Did she… hit me? What?!

She hit me hard to the extent my neck jerked sideways. Enraged, I slowly turned to her. As expected, she was scowling. Scowling so much. 

She raised a finger, pointed it at me. All I could do was stare blankly at her. "How dare you act so rudely?!" She yelled at the top of her voice, only wrath beaming on her face. "Just because I'm helping you doesn't mean I'll permit shit from you! Roy's only—"

"Mom?" And then, he appeared. 

I had heard his voice, but I didn't turn to him. His mom was all I could focus on at this moment. I couldn't stop thinking of the reason she hated me this much. What had I done to her? She had the audacity to hit me in a public place? So upsetting. 

He hurried to us. I hadn't seen him in weeks, but now that he was here, looking at him wasn't something I felt like doing. I was so embarrassed.  

"What did you do to her?" He asked her. He sounded angry and worried, but that wasn't my concern. 

I looked down, weeping silently. I wished I didn't have to come here tonight. If I had known this would happen, I would have waited to see Roy by tomorrow morning. 

"Re—"

"I'm fine," I cut into him. Grabbing my backpack from where I had sat, I walked past them, heading out of this suffocating place. 

I should just go to my dorm, I thought. He would probably come over to visit me. For now, I just had to leave this woman. And, one thing I knew was, irrespective of what she had done tonight, I wouldn't leave Roy. She had only been babbling. 

Again, I had come too far to let go of him. We were locked to each other, and that would ever be it. 

***