Traizle
"Won't you hug your mother first?" My mother asked.
I can't still figure it out. What the hell is she doing here in Zarsuelo's company? "Why are you here?" I asked.
She smiled again. "I am with someone," she answered. "He is your new father." she added, which surprised me.
"And why are you guys here? How did you know that I am working here?" I asked her continuously, trying to know the reason behind their agenda here.
"I want you to do something for me." My mother said.
I arched my eyebrows at her. "Do you think I will follow you? It's been years since you left us. You did not check on us to see if we were still doing okay. And now you want me to do something? I am not that idiot, Mom." I argued.
She laughed.
Her smile.
Her reactions.
Everything about her makes me disgusted just by looking at her. There is no way I will follow her.
"I know your relationship with your boss, so you know." she said, smirking at me.
"You hired someone to follow us, do you?" I asked.
"So what? You are still my daughter, after all." she retorted.
"Right, you are my mother who gave birth to me. But after leaving us, I don't think so anymore. You did not even show any characteristics of a mother—"
I was not able to finish my words when she slapped me. Some of the employees are looking at us already. They are surprised by what they see.
"Tell everyone about us. I don't care at all. If that can make you satisfied, then I am glad to let you announce it. But, you won't make me think of you as a figure mother. It would not change my view of you." I told her and walked away.
How dare she act like our mother? Did she forget that she never came back years ago? We strive hard on our own without her. We surpassed every challenge we encountered without her. We can also live without her.
"Come back here!" I heard her yelling, but I did not mind her.
Shout until you lose your voice and can't even speak anymore.
I saw Zarsuelo walking with a man. His serious expression turned to a smile when he saw me. He even waved at me.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"Traizle!" She shouted again. "Oh, Honey. Good thing you are now here." she added.
Honey? Is she talking about the man beside Zarsuelo?
"Traizle," she said again, but her voice sounded more like a sweet mother calling for her daughter this time. "He is your dad. Steve, this is Traizle, my daughter, who we talked about before." she added.
The man smiled at me and was about to touch me, but I dodged it. No way. There is no way I will let them touch me.
"Ahh, excuse me," I heard Zarsuelo say. "Mr. Steve, is she your wife?" He asked.
I looked at the man. He nodded before turning his gaze to me. "I am sorry to surprise you, Traizle. I must have been excited about meeting you. I am so sorry about that," he said, turning to Zarsuelo again. "That is why we decided to come here personally with our proposal. I would like to meet Isabel's daughter." he added.
"We have been sending our proposals for years. Please consider it and tell us your answer." My mother said.
Zarsuelo smiled at them. "They don't fit my standards. I hope you can accept that. I also told you the reasons why years ago. If you have a new proposal, maybe I can check if it is okay, and we might be partners in the future," he answered. "I am glad to meet Traizle's mother, too." he added.
"Well then, see you again next time." the man said before walking away with my mother.
When I couldn't see them, I fell to my knees. I did not know that I was even trembling. "Hey, Wife. You okay?" Zarsuelo asked and helped me to get up.
He led me to his office and gave me a glass of water. He even helped me drink appropriately since I was still trembling.
"Wife, do you wanna go home?" He asked.
I shake my head. "No need," I said, stuttering. "They know about us," I told him. "I think the one who asked to follow us is none other than my mother." I added.
Zarsuelo sighed and patted my back. "I think so too. I just found out today that his wife is your mother." he replied.
I held his hands and look at him. "Don't accept their proposal if they say something about me, okay? Please don't do it for our sake. If you think their proposal is still not enough, then reject them." I reminded him. They might use me to lure him into accepting their proposal. I won't let them use me.
He nodded. "Don't worry, and I won't. Will you tell this to your brothers?" He asked.
"I think I have to tell them about her," I answered. "I am scared that they might take them away from me." I added. She won't show up if she has no plan with me or us. I have to make sure of my brother's safety first.
"Don't worry. We will fetch them later. I will be with you. I know you are too overwhelmed with what happened." Zarsuelo said.
"Thank you." I said, thanking him.
I don't know what will happen to me if he is not here. Will I keep on trembling or what?
"Give me a hug. I am too hungry for your hugs and kisses—which you did not even give me at all." he commented, smiling wickedly at me.
He remembered to make some silly jokes. Zarsuelo never fails me with this kind of situation. His oddball self is indeed his charm. I can give him tons of hugs, but a kiss—I don't think so. I am not ready.
"There," he said after stealing a kiss on my forehead. "I won't kiss you there," he added, pointing at my lips. "Although I wanted to smack mine with yours, I will try not to. Until you are not ready." he said.