Chapter 48 – October 30th

I look at the dress that my mom bought me for tonight's dinner. I grabbed it and decided to wear it before fixing my hair and applying a thin layer of makeup onto my face. After I finished wearing the dress, I look at my reflection in the mirror.

It is a mauve lace dress with a thin waistline, and a flowy skirt that I was sure could fan me when I twirl in it. I grabbed my comb and started brushing my hair, leaving it straight. I applied a little bit of foundation and concealer under my eyes. After doing those, I applied a light shade of matte lipstick on my lips.

I grabbed my phone and a small pouch that matched the dress my mom bought me. I grabbed the white flat shoes that have this cute ribbon on them. I slipped it on and jogged downstairs. I stopped and stare at my mom in awe when I saw her in her dress.

Sure, I have seen her wore lots of formal dresses for dinner parties, but she doesn't look this stunning. I smile at her as she applies her makeup to the mirror. She wore a beautiful beige dress. The neckline didn't plunge but rather showed off her breasts in an elegant manner.

Wearing a really eye-catching diamond necklace. "You look beautiful, mom," I said, and she smiles at the mirror as she fills in her eyebrows. 

"Thank you. You look pretty yourself," She says, and I chuckle as I watch her apply makeup looks very satisfying to watch. I don't even know why. "I have a question," I started as I sway, feeling the flow of the skirt of the dress.

"What happened to Luke?" I asked. She applies her own red lipstick to her lips, her favorite kind of shade makes her lips appear bold and makes her appearance scream, confident.

"Luke?" She questions. I look at her, giving her a questioning look. She didn't forget about him already, did she? "Luke, the guy you were dating—"

"Before," She finishes my sentence. "He cheated on me. Actually, I found out that I was his side chick and that he was married," Mom says as she continues to apply more makeup.

"Hmm," I said as I scratch my chin, "What about Eric? Daniel? Tristan?" I keep on mentioning the name of the guys she dated, but I only managed to memorize and recognize the faces of a few, "And the others?"

"Don't mention them, Felicity. Those were the guys I dated before," She said as she spares me a glance in the mirror, and I roll my eyes playfully.

I watch her dig into her makeup bag, finding an eyeshadow palette, perhaps. "I just hope that Liam will be the last guy, you know? Or maybe, hope that you won't keep on dating every single day, like before and date different types of guys."

"I'm just dating new guys to find the right one. Just be happy for me," Mom said as she turns around, giving me a sad smile. I look at her eyes and smile.

"I am. I just hope you find the right dude for you, or you can always stay single," I said as I throw her a thumbs up, and she gives me an annoyed look in the mirror, "Joking."

Nope. Not really.

I look at her dress once again, smiling at how beautiful she looks tonight. "Mom," I said. She looked in the mirror, "How come you didn't cry when you found out that Luke was cheating on you—rather, knowing that you were his side chick?"

She pursed her lips. Putting all of the makeup products back in her makeup bag, she turned around and looked into my eyes. "I don't like wasting my tears at the wrong guy, no matter how much he told me he loves me or how much I love him. Because I know that I am stronger than letting myself be showered upon weakness."

"Your dad was an exception because I know that he is the one for me but, everything turned into chaos. So..." she says, walking towards me, placing both of her hands on my shoulders, "If you find someone that you love, I hope you won't waste your tears on the wrong guy," She says as she caresses my cheek with the palm of her hands.

"Because tears that are meant to be wasted are for the one who is worth every teardrop in our lives," She says and smiles at me, "Like your father," she added as she turns around, grabbing her purse on the table.

"And I guess Luke wasn't worth every teardrop in my life, nor was he worth being loved by me," She finishes. I blink my eyes at her, out of words to say. "Shall we go?" she asks, and I nodded my head.

We left the house and hopped in her car. I bring out my earphones, connected them to my phone as I plug the earphones into my ears. I clicked the music app and started scrolling down, finding myself stop at The Neighborhood.

I play their album. I love you. My favorite song is Sweater Weather. That song is one of the best songs that they have ever performed and played. My mom starts driving, watching the streets that we've passed by.

She stops at a nearby gift shop. She parked her car, removed the keys in the ignition, and hopped out. I followed as I give her a questioning look, "What are we doing here?" I asked as we enter the shop.

"I picked out a watch for him, and I'm going to buy it," She said as she greets the worker. I walked off and started looking at the accessories that are displayed. A worker comes up to me as I try my best not to shout because of the sudden approach.

"Hello, how may I help you?" She asks as I look at her name tag that says 'Kelly.' I look up to her and smile, "Oh, I'm not buying anything, but thanks anyway," I said, and she nods her head and walks off to the customer beside me.

My phone vibrates. I unlocked it and saw a new message. I click the iMessage and smile at Cayden's message.

Cayden <6:55 PM, Tuesday> So, I thought of going out on a dinner date. So what do you say? ;)

I chuckle and roll my eyes. 

Me <6:56 PM, Tuesday> That's nice. Actually, I'm going out on a dinner date with my mom.

I sent the message and looked at my mom, she gives the worker the bill, and they wrap the watch that she's going to give to Liam. I look back at my phone and saw him typing as I wait for his reply.

Cayden <6:58 PM, Tuesday> Dinner date, tonight?

Me <6:59 PM, Tuesday> Yep. At 7, but I think we'll be a bit late. We're going to Everest Restaurant.

Cayden <6:59 PM, Tuesday> Don't.

I furrow my eyebrows at his response, "Let's go," my mom says, and we both left the shop, walking towards her car. We hopped in, and she started driving.

Me <7:01 PM, Tuesday> Don't, what?

After sending him the text, he didn't reply. I got curious as to what he was trying to say as my mind is starting to overthink. I shake my head, refraining from listening to myself, overthink. I increased the volume on my phone, hoping that it would help.

After a long ride with my mom, we arrived at the restaurant 20 minutes late because of the traffic. We hopped out of the car, brush any dirt off from my skirt, and started walking towards the restaurant.

We both entered and were met with the smell of steak and various types of food. "Hello, welcome to Everest Restaurant. Table for two?" The waitress asks, holding a menu in her other hand and her other hand on the door handle.

"No, actually. We're waiting for someone. I think he made a reservation?" Mom says. My eyes scan the restaurant, in love with the theme of it. It screams cozy and fancy.

"Can I get his name?" The waitress asks. I look at my mom, "Liam Anderson," she says, and the waitress walks off to the bar. We wait for the waitress, and a few seconds later, she returns. "This way, please,"

We made our way to the table that was reserved. We sat down and waited, "That's weird. His surname is Anderson?" I asked as my mom looks at the menu. She looks up at me and nods her head.

My heart starts beating rapidly fast for no reason. I removed the earphones and placed them back in my pouch. I unlocked my phone and looked at Cayden's messages, scrolling up. Trying to find if he ever mentioned the name of his dad.

My mom's boyfriend is not his dad, is he?

My mom's chair squeaks. I look at her and seeing her stand up. "Hi," my mom says. I turned off my phone and stood up from the chair. I look in the direction she was looking at and saw... him. I gulped down the lump that was stuck in my throat.

"Mr. Anderson," I said as I stare at him, he looks at me, a bit dumbfounded at my presence. I guess he wasn't expecting that I was the daughter of the woman he is dating. 

"Hailey Jones," He says. My mom looks at the both of us, "You know each other?" My mom asks, and I looked at her, nodding my head.

"He's our school principal and owner," I said, and my mom looks at him, giving Mr. Anderson a questioning look. "You didn't mention to me that you own a school," mom says as they both sat down.

I stood still in my spot, "Sorry. But I didn't know that Hailey is your daughter because you keep on mentioning the name Felicity," He says. They both stopped talking and looked at me, "Sit down, honey," my mom says.

I sat down, not uttering any word. "We have an announcement to make," My mom says. I look at her, my mouth still a bit open. She lifts her left hand and reveals a diamond ring on her finger, "We're engaged," she says, and they both smile at each other.

I think my heart just dropped. "Oh, and I brought my kids with me. I thought it would be a good idea if they met," Mr. Anderson said. They look at me and smile. My mom's smile dies, "Honey, what's wrong? Are you okay?" She asks.

"I had to force my eldest son to go here, and trust me, it was really hard to convince him," Mr. Anderson says, my eyes start pooling with tears. "They're here," he added as he stood up from the chair.

I look at the entrance door and saw a little kid running towards Mr. Anderson, "Daddy!" As he hugs Mr. Anderson, he is wearing a white long sleeve polo paired with navy blue pants and a suspender to top his outfit off.

"Where's your brother?" Mr. Anderson says, the little kid points at the entrance, and I saw Cayden standing there. I stood up from the chair as the tears trickle down my cheek. This can't be happening right now.

He starts walking towards the table, his eyes fixed on me. He stops in front of me, "So, this is what 'don't' means," I said as tears keep on trickling down on both of my cheeks. "You guys know each other?" Mr. Anderson says.

I look at my mom and Mr. Anderson, "Why are you crying, honey?" My mom says as she tries to wipe off my tears, but I refused to let her touch me. "And you knew it all along?" I looked at Cayden.

"This is great. Just great," I said as I continue crying, my hand slaps my skirt, "Thanks for being honest with me," I said as I walk out of their sights.

"Hailey," My mom says, and soon enough, I left the restaurant. I keep on walking, and my knees fell on the ground as I continue to cry my eyes out. The light behind me was covered by a shadow. I looked behind me and stood up.

"I'm—"

"Don't tell me that you're sorry. You knew all along that my mom was dating your dad and you didn't even fucking tell me," I screamed. He walked towards me, wanting to wipe off the tears on my cheeks.

"Don't touch me," I said as I slap his arm away in front of my face. "Is this why you want me to be your girlfriend? To let your dad be convinced to break up with my mom because you're dating me? IS THAT WHY?!" 

"That's not it—"

"Then what is it?! Tell me!" I said as I push him with all I can, "Tell me something that I don't also know. Tell me the fucking reason!" I screamed as I continue crying. I gasp for air. My heart was just shattered into millions of pieces.

I cried and cried. I sat on the floor, too weak of what I am facing, "Hailey," he says as he bends down on his knees. His hand touches my chin, "I said don't touch me!" I slapped his hand away.

I stood up from the ground, "Don't even come after me anymore. You figure out what is happening. I can't—I can't take this, this is too much," I said as I started running off. 

I ran as fast as I can, thinking and hoping that he would still chase me after that. I ran and ran, wanting to reach home. No—I want to go somewhere. Somewhere far from this place and somewhere far away from him.