Chapter 5

Rachel

I decided to focus more on her protecting action instead of the cringy nickname that dropped from her lips.

My mouth twitched a little and I stumped the urge to argue about that nickname. This was not the time. We have an enemy to face off with.

There should not be infighting within allies.

At least, I used those words to console myself or I would have gotten my mother to change the nickname immediately.

What in the world was baby chick? Who would give their child that kind of nickname?

What happened to sweetie, darling and other similar endearments?

She had not called me that nickname for years and I have forgotten about it.

She just had to bring it up again.

"Oh! It is Mrs Micheals." Julie said but there was no hint of respect in her tone.

I had to curb the urge to run forward to smack her head.

"We touched this dress first." My mother began.

Julie rolled her eyes.

It seemed she did not want to keep her barely veiled disrespect under her superficial layer of respect anymore.

"With all due respect, this mall doesn't belong to you and your daughter. Besides, only an omnipresent being would know who touched the dress first." Julie retorted and she folded her arms, "I can also say that I touched the dress first."

"I did not want to speak uncouth words before but you leave me no choice. I don't know if your parents taught you or you refused to accept their teachings but I am going to put my two cents in educating you today." My mom said as she copied Julie's stance of folding her arms.

People were already gathering around us.

Julie's eyes could almost spit out fire, "How dare you talk about my parents like that! Besides, aren't you ashamed of arguing against a girl the age of your daughter? Shameless!"

My mother's smile grew, "Respect is to be given to humans. You say I am arguing but I am trying to clear up the confusion you want to cause."

Julie pointed at my mother in fury.

"You! Are you trying to call me an animal?" Julie screeched. Her clean image was nowhere to be seen.

I don't know why she was reacting erratically but I could understand some of it.

My mother was using a type of gaze I called the terminator. Whenever I and Norman did something wrong, my mother always had this eyes.

I don't know about other people but I know her 'terminator' gaze always rang my warning bells.

"Did I call you an animal? Don't put words in my mouth." My mother took steps towards Julie.

Julie evidently took two more steps back.

She was not able to cover her action by trying to act tough now.

It was clear for all to see.

I almost felt sorry for Julie even as her intent was to humiliate me in the first place.

I smiled.

It was karma.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see people whispering and pointing at Julie. Some people were recording this incident on their phones.

"We can check the CCTV if you want. It is not like I have anything to hide." My mom commented.

I chuckled.

My mother had a way of implying the opposite with her words.

On the surface level, her words were upright and normal.

Still, the person being addressed would understand what she was trying to say.

Right now, she was trying to imply that Julie had a secret to hide.

I felt like it was unlikely for Julie to do anything shady in this mall because she loves her reputation but her words would make Julie uncomfortable.

"Stop your nonsensical arguments. You can have the dress but I would be waiting for you to make a fool out of yourself." Julie's eyes was as venomous as the eyes of a viper.

After dropping her words, she stormed off.

"Don't go! We have not resolved this! You can try to get a similar dress to see how my daughter would make a fool of herself by using yourself as a contrast. You know you are beautiful so this is the only way." My mother managed to say sarcastically as Julie left.

Julie almost stumbled at her words but she kept going. She did not look back as she blended into the crowd.

The spectacle was over so the crowd began to disperse and I saw that a store attendant was coming towards us.

"I was hearing arguments here. Is something the matter?" The store attendant asked.

"No issues here. We just need a little bit of help with moving these outfits to the counter." My mother said sweetly.

I did not see any of the agressive attitude she had with Julie.

It was like the person that confronted Julie and the person talking to the store attendant wasn't the same person.

My confrontation with Julie ended with a win.

Most times, I fight my battles with my fists and in my confrontations with Julie, she usually have all the advantage of getting public opinion on her side because of her nimble mouth and words.

It felt good to see that she lost in the war of words.

My mother's words might seem like nothing special but it successfully sent Julie away.

I felt like learning to war with words was a necessary thing for me to learn.

I was more mature now. I can't beat everybody that offended me up like I did when I was still in college and high school.

Warring with words are the current trend.

Words leave mental wounds instead of the physical injuries that I might get reported and sued for.

"Mom, you were awesome." I whispered as we headed to the counter to pay for our items.

My mother's words might not be sassy or funny but it solved my pesky problem without me having to use my fists.

That was enough to motivate me to learn.

Julie left without being able to do anything. She could only leave lame threats.

I wanted anybody that was behaving unreasonably towards me to end up like Julie.

Although I did not get to bash her face in, I was able to get the satisfaction of beating her back.

After we paid, we left the mall with our goods.

"So," My mother was starting to have that sneaky smile that screamed of impure intentions again, "Do I know this guy you want to seduce?"

I nodded, "You do. It is Chase."

My mother's tone was joking but I knew that an underlying care was hidden within.

She wanted to ask about my seduction target without getting me to lock that information up within me.

She did not want me to be enamored with the wrong man.

"Chase? Is it the Chase that is friends with your brother?" She asked with wide eyes.

I saw something strange in her eyes but I thought that was an illusion.

"If your story is a novel, it would be called something along the lines of Love Game With My Brother's Best Friend or My Brother Best Friend Is My Crush." My mother said with a smile on her face as she looked at me.

I rubbed my temple.

I knew it. I should have been warned when I saw that strange look in her eyes but I ignored it.

"Mom, you have read too many novels. Our story isn't a novel and even if it is, it would not be that kind of name." I said.

"Does Norman know that you like his best friend?" My mother sent me another bomb.

I choked on my saliva.

I was reminded of Norman's blunder at Chase's house again.

Norman and my mother really had a biology relationship between them. Even their way of dropping bombs are the same.

I did not want Norman to know anything about my love for Chase. I did not want to do it maliciously.

Norman is my number one buddy. He and I shared more secrets than the ones between my mom and I.

I am just scared that he would destroy everything.

Never fear a powerful teammate, fear a pig teammate instead.

He would not follow the plan and everything he would do tends to be unpredictable.

I don't need unpredictability right now.

I plan to tell him when I and Chase have gotten together or when he notices the signs himself.

"No. I will tell him later. There is no rush." I replied her after I have gotten my choking under control.

"Now that we have chosen outfits, it is time to change people's impression of you. It is time for you to blind the society's eyes." My mother said as she drove back home.

I focused my eyes on the window and I watched as the scenery sped past.

I hummed in agreement.

Everything was in my mother's hand right now.

I would start planning my own moves after I am familiar with the basics.

"Do you have any function that requires people to get together to hang out?" My mother asked and the school reunion party came to my mind.

"Yes. We are having a school reunion later this evening. I think that is why Julie came to get a dress." I explained and my mother modded excitedly.

"That is perfect! You have to go. It would be like your coming of age ceremony. You would make them speechless." My mother's joy and excitement was palpable.

It felt like the excitement of not dressing me up for my 22 years of life came together.

I have never tried something so feminine before and I hoped the reception of other people turns out well.

Still, the most important person I wanted to see me in my new look is Chase. He was the target.

The thing is, I don't know if he would be there.

I don't know if he would be around to see me bloom for him.