Chapter 73 MUM
\[BLAKE'S HOUSE\]
The sun rose, filling the sky with its orange color. It fell on Blake's room, draping its bright light and warmth on Blake's face.
Blake tossed around, using his hand to block the light. The sun from the other side shone on his face.
"Who opened the curtains so brightly?" he groaned, his voice draggy. He rubbed his eyes and sat up.
"Ouch." He rubbed his temples. "Why does my head hurt so badly?"
His hand paused on his forehead as the smell of the room caught his nose.
He remembered going to the bar last night. How then did he end up in his room?
"Great, the drunkard is awake," Audrey said, coming in with Skye.
She pushed in a trolley, making Blake wonder what it contained.
"What are you doing with that?"
Audrey stood akimbo, raising her brows at him. "Oh, that? A drunkard needs a lot of hangover soup, and I made it. You can choose whichever one you like."
Skye prevented himself from bursting into laughter. The way she stood at akimbo made it look like a mum scolding her child.
Blake looked away, rubbing his temples. "It hurts."
"You should take the soup while it's hot." She sat on the bed and scooped up a spoonful.
Blake made faces. "It's bitter."
"You deserve a more bitter one." She forced the spoon into his mouth.
Blake squeezed his face, opening his mouth as she fed him. "That's enough."
"Hmm," Audrey nodded and set the plate aside.
Blake's eyes met Skye to see him smiling. "What?"
Skye shook his head. "Just admire your relationship. Now I know why you fell for Ixora. She's the only one who'd be able to take care of you just like Audrey does."
Blake's face fell at the mention of Ixora. He might have gotten drunk to forget about how he behaved with Ixora, but now that he's sober, he remembers them all, and the feeling of guilt rolls in again.
Skye saw the looks on their faces. "I didn't mean to mention her, I..."
"It's fine." Blake cut him off. "I acted like a jerk yesterday, and I'm sure she probably hates me now."
"The Ixora I know will never hate you. She's quite understanding, and she wouldn't have called me to look for you if she felt resentment towards you." She held his hand. "Cheer up, okay. I'm sure whatever you did, you did it out of overwhelming emotions. If you feel like talking to her today, then fine; if not, you can see her another time."
Blake smiled, ruffling her hair softly. "You've grown up so much."
"Yeah, right." She rolled her eyes. "I have to, you both need me to deal with your heartbreak issues."
Skye frowned, his mind drifting over to Bonnie and his conversation.
"Can you help me with every single piece of information about Ixora?"
Blake's voice brought him back to the present.
"That reminds me, who brought me home?" he asked.
Audrey shook her head. "We found you at the front gate, and the security men told us a woman brought you home."
"A woman?" Blake asked, his mind slipping into memory lane.
His brow knitted in confusion, and that alerted Audrey.
"Yes. What are you thinking?"
"Nothing. It's just that at the bar, while I was sulking over Ixora, I think I saw Mum."
"Mum?" Audrey asked, standing. "No way. What would she be doing at a bar? And why would she even bring you home? Remember, she left us to die when we were just kids."
"I'm definitely not mistaken. I admit my vision was kind of blurred, but I'm sure I saw her. Don't know why I can't remember what we talked about," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as if it could recollect forgotten memories.
Audrey curled her fist, feeling anger bubbling up in her. Was their mum trying to make her way into their lives again by stalking them?
She had thought it was her intuition the day she saw her at the mall, but now, she's sure there's no mistaken identity.
If Blake was sure he had seen her, and she too remembered seeing her, then it means their mum is somehow close to them.
"Audrey," Skye called, sensing the anger burning within her. It's even visible on her face.
"At this rate, we need to ask God why he gave us a coward as our mother," she mumbled, her voice depicting the bitterness she has for her mother. "Leaving us was one, and now she's stalking us as well."
She turned to leave.
"You should freshen up. Don't think too much about any of these. Rest if you want," she smiled, a fake one though.
"Where are you going?" Blake asked.
"I will send in your breakfast. Rest well, you'll need it." She left.
Skye gave Blake a sign, going after Audrey.
Blake exhaled and took his phone.
On switching it on, the first missed call he saw was Ixora's. It was around the time he left her house.
He behaved badly with her yesterday, and she cares deeply enough to call him.
He dialed her number, contemplating what he should say to her.
When he found none, he ended the call before it could connect.
He's not gathered enough courage to talk to her, at least not yet.
\[FLASHBACK\]
"I... M... Mum."
Joanna held her breath, thinking he'd cause chaos at the bar. Her eyes were shut tightly, and her heart was beating faster than normal.
She pressed her fingers on her skirt, suddenly regretting why she had to show herself at the mall.
"Mum."
She slowly opened her eyes when she felt his head on her shoulder. His arm wrapped around her neck, sniffling.
"It hurt," he muttered, hugging her as if she'd run away.
Joanna slid her finger into his hair, stroking it. Her heart hadn't stopped beating, and her eyes were red-brimmed with tears.
She was holding her son in her hands again. He called her mum. He still remembers her.
"I... I feel like I'm going to die. My heart..." he choked, burying his face on her shoulder.
Joanna sniffled. "Everything will be okay." She was helpless. Finally having her son in her arms after years of stalking him, though he's under the influence.
What was she expecting, that he'd hug her in his right senses? Regardless, she was very happy.
"I love her a lot. I can't lose her," he cried harder... just like a baby.
Joanna patted his back.
"Nobody told me loving somebody would be this painful. I... want her mum. She's the only girl I've ever loved."
Joanna's lips quivered for a soothing word, but none came out.
"It's okay," she whispered, the only soothing word she could think of.
Blake slowly broke the hug, staring at her face.
Joanna's blood ran cold despite the hot conditions. The fear of him realizing his mother was truly beside him, not his illusions, got her.
Then he smiled. The smile was filled with bitterness. "W... Where were you all this time?" he asked, wiping her tears.
Joanna pressed her lids together, tears pouring out like a heavy downpour.
She abandoned him, and he cares about her. What a mother she is.
"... The girl I love doesn't love me back. S... She's in love with a p-sychopath. W-What do you think I s... should do?" he asked, blinking repeatedly as he tried to keep himself awake.
She opened her eyes, flashing him a brief smile. She cupped his cheek, feeling the soft flesh under her palm.
Her eyes went around the bar, and she saw that some people's attention was beginning to shift to them.
"I... I will take you home." She stood and helped him up.
Blake held onto her. "The people I love keep leaving me. First my mum, and now..." he staggered his way into Joanna's car.
Joanna wore his seat belt and stepped on the brakes to life.
Throughout the drive, her eyes were occasionally on Blake, who kept mumbling Ixora's name until he fell asleep.
\--
A smile was plastered on Joanna's cheek as she kissed Blake and Audrey's picture. She had met Blake face-to-face, and he opened up to her.
Though he was under the influence, she's going to cherish that moment forever. His voice, tears, and the hug. Her precious son wiped off her tears.
She rolled her hand over her teary cheek. At times, she regrets abandoning them, but the circumstances she found herself in were unbearable for her.
She knows she's a coward—one who knows how to run away from her suffering, and she tends to keep watching them from afar.
Letting them know would ruin a lot of relationships, including her relationship with Drexton.
How would Blake react knowing both the girl he likes and his mother are all with Drexton?
"Selfish, right?" She said to the picture, caressing it.
She nodded. "I hope you both will find it in your heart to forgive Mummy. Mummy never meant to hurt any of you. Circumstances put me in a position where revealing myself would break so many relationships." She brought the picture closer to her lips. "And don't think I found people to replace you both because I didn't. You will be my kids forever."
She kissed it, a voice said from behind, startling her.
"Are Blake and Audrey your kids?"