Chapter 67 CRACKS BENEATH THE SURFACE
Godiva POV
"What, Mama!" I exclaimed, turning back in panic.
"Mum!" Dina echoed.
Tension thickened the air. We all stood still, staring at our mothers without a word.
"Good evening, Aunties," Ben greeted, finally breaking the silence.
"Evening," Mama and Mrs Job chorused.
"You both look too pretty to be mothers," Jerald added with a smile.
"Well, thank you!" Mrs Job beamed.
All eyes shifted to Mama, waiting for her response. Ignoring everyone, she fixed her gaze on Jerald.
"Who are you?"
Jerald was about to introduce himself when I cut in.
"Mama, Mrs Scott, this is my boyfriend, Bling," I said quietly.
"Who names his child Bling?" Mama mocked.
"Oops, sorry, I meant Jerald, Jerald Young," I corrected quickly.
"I told you that name is cliché, even your mum doesn’t like it," Jerald teased.
I pinched his thigh sharply, and he straightened immediately.
"Mum, Mrs Scott, this is my boyfriend, Ben Young," Dina said, smiling.
"Young?" Mrs Job frowned slightly after the introduction.
"Yes, Mamas, they are actually Chinese," I added, my tone dropping.
"What!" Mrs Job exclaimed. "You’re both Chinese? How is it you don’t really look Chinese?"
"Well, my mum isn’t fully Chinese, and we’ve lived here all our lives," Jerald explained, smiling.
"Wow, I now understand why you both look handsome in a way your nationalities can’t be traced," Mrs Job teased, studying them closely.
"Mum, their eyes look Chinese," Dina pointed at Ben’s eyes.
"That’s one Chinese heritage that can’t be taken from them," Mama replied, to everyone’s surprise.
"That’s not the point here. I don’t endorse this relationship." Mama pointed directly at Jerald.
Jerald’s smile faded into quiet disappointment.
"I’m sorry, Mama. May I ask why?" he asked suddenly.
"Don’t pretend you don’t know why. After all, you’re the one who spilled the secret in school," Mama thundered.
"This is bad," Dina whispered.
"I truly… I’m sorry, Ma. I did wrong, and I still regret that action," Jerald said somberly. "But about why… I promise I’d rather Div break my heart than I break hers."
"Someone who can spill a secret is never capable of being mature enough to handle a relationship," Mama replied coldly.
"Does that mean you endorse our relationship?" Ben asked eagerly.
Seeing Mama smile at Ben’s question eased something in me, but not in Jerald. He looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"I’m not endorsing you, but if you let your mum do anything to my girl, you’ll face the music," Mrs Job said, smiling at Ben.
"So what do you say?" she turned to Mama.
"I don’t have anything to say. I can’t endorse him when I didn’t endorse Jerald," Mama replied, turning her face away.
"I’ll make you believe in me, Mama!" Jerald suddenly blurted, his voice loud enough to make me flinch.
"Why does he keep calling me Mama, and his brother calls us Aunties?" Mama asked, confused.
"I call you Mama because that’s what my girl calls you," Jerald said quickly. "Sorry, I mean that’s what Diva calls you. And Ben called you Aunties because it’s a respectful Chinese way of addressing elders."
"Whatever. Let’s call it a day," Mama said coldly.
"Oh yes, Ma… alright," Jerald and Ben stuttered, handing us our bags.
"What? You even held their bags?" Mama stared in shock.
Knowing Mama, I could tell that single act earned them silent points. She always said gentlemen were her weakness back in the day.
"Dina, I always tell Diva this, and I will tell it to you now, ‘money isn’t the root of all evil, men are.’ Believe it or leave it," Mama said as we walked back toward our block.
"Yes, Ma," Dina replied, struggling not to laugh.
"You both go ahead. We need to talk," Mrs Job instructed.
Dina and I moved ahead, keeping a distance, but not far enough to stop ourselves from listening.
"Gabelle, take it easy with the kids, especially Diva. She may never open up about relationships to you in the future if you strongly oppose this. And even if she makes a mistake, she won’t tell you," Mrs Job advised.
"I really want her to explore her high school love, but I can’t help but fear for her because of my experience. Plus, she’s already going against me," Mama replied.
"She’s going against you because she’s in her rebellious stage, and you’re not letting her date," Mrs Job countered. "My friend, all we can do now is advise them on what they need to know."
"I just wish we could call Jerald and Ben to hear from them. I can’t help but worry because Jerald left really sad after Mama’s cold attitude," I whispered to Dina with a sigh.
"I really hope he feels better," Dina added.
"Good night, Mama," I said unusually calmly as I headed toward my room.
"Diva, honey, I want us to talk after school tomorrow," Mama replied.
"Alright, Ma."
I tossed on my bed all night, thinking about how Jerald must have felt, and wondering what Mama wanted to say to me.
...........
The night took forever to elapse but morning finally came.
I waited anxiously for Jerald to arrive. I stood in the lobby with Dina, scanning every corner just to catch a glimpse of him.
"Hey, Bling!" I rushed forward to hug him, brushing against his shoulders.
He ignored me completely and walked straight into the class.