Chapter 22 — It’s Not Right

“When Elise told me you went off and took a short break, I was quite surprised. It’s not often you drop your studies for something.” Mom’s tone of voice wasn’t helping my tense nerves, scared that she might find out. “Was it so urgent that you had to leave without even telling me?”

Looking up from the chopping board filled with unevenly sliced potatoes, a weak smile spread across my face when I stared at the camera. At that moment, seeing my mother’s skeptical expression, I knew that whatever came out of my mouth wouldn’t matter. At least, I tried to explain.

“Nah…” I drawled softly. “I just… went out on a short trip to calm my head. I was feeling stressed out and needed space. That’s it!”

Mom hummed in thought, flipping through another book that she may have bought last week. As much as I wanted to do the same, college was being a bitch since winter break is coming again. Going out and trying to surprise Aurelius was a big mistake, considering that finals are close.

If I screw up this semester, I’ll never see daylight again!

My train of ideas came to a stop when Mom cleared her throat, still reading the book, and didn’t look me in the eye. If it was going to be this way, what was the use of calling? But then again, she rarely calls and when she does, it’s usually to scold me. Even if all she ever does is nag or complain, it’s better than having her remain silent. Because when she’s silent, it’s never a good sign.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah…” I mumbled, moving the potatoes to another plate, carrots ready to be sliced after washing them clean. “I mean, it was for the best, I guess.”

“I never raised you to become a liar, dear.”

I visibly swallowed at her statement, prepared to run for the hills at the oncoming onslaught. However, it never came. All she did was heave a sigh and stare at the camera solemnly as if she was actually looking at me in the eye.

“Alex, it seems that you’re not putting any importance to your studies—”

“Yes, I am! I’m not dropping out or anything.” I interrupted quickly. “I just took a break, that was it. I wouldn’t go anywhere else, besides… I have finals—”

“Finals?” She raised an eyebrow and I knew at that moment, I made a mistake mentioning it. “So you decided to take a vacation despite having finals next week? How irresponsible.”

Shit…

“Don’t w-worry, Mom… I’m studying as best as I could and—”

“Is this why you wanted to leave? So you could be careless and stupid while you’re away from me? Why, are you scared that I might ground you for life?”

“Mom, it’s not like that… I just really needed a short break and I used my funds to go out! I didn’t use the money Dad gave me—”

“How many times do I have to tell you not to mention anything about that man?” She groaned deeply, looking irritated and tired at the same time. “He’s still trying to send money, huh? I told him right after the divorce that he has no obligation to do so.”

I scratched my head as I heard her continue to ramble over the sound of boiling water. She didn’t stop complaining until I was seasoning the soup I just made for dinner.

“Alex, you’re coming home after your graduation.”

A gasp escaped my lips and then glared slightly at my mother. “That wasn’t the deal! I told you, I’m old enough and I can carry my own responsibilities. You can’t treat me like a child forever!”

“Your actions—going on a break despite having a huge exam next week—tells me to do otherwise!” She narrowed her gray eyes at me, not pleased with my attitude. “I don’t want that old woman go ranting about how I’m raising you poorly to god knows who! She should’ve just remained silent and out of our lives. She and her son are the same!”

Mom went on about how Grandmother is a thorn on her side even if she is already divorced from Dad and has nothing to do with us. Dad wasn’t present much in my life back when they were together. When they got divorced, he promised to write to me every week, yet I never received any letter from him after that day.

So much for promising letters, my father continued to contact my mother and me. Mom did not like it one bit. It puzzles me how he never wrote me anything, but still manages to send us money.

Unwanted money.

Trying to stop the ill thoughts surrounding my father, something Elise is capable of doing, it annoys me how he sees us as poor individuals. He may have never said it to our faces, but sending money to us every month—that wasn’t part of the plan—is a telltale sign.

However, I really like my grandmother. Putting the cultural differences aside, she is a fucking cool old woman. But Mom couldn’t agree with that.

I guess fantasizing and being crazy about Korean dramas didn’t teach her well enough. Thank god my grandmother and father are not the same as those rich snobs on tv.

“I swear, that old woman is just waiting for my downfall so she could laugh about it.” She hissed as she put her book down and pulled out her paperwork. “I wished I never married your father in the first place.”

Working in a bank since I was a child, all I could ever associate my mother with are spreadsheets. It’s insane just thinking about how she has been dealing with numbers all her life, while I struggle with just a single problem in math.

Why can’t I inherit the ability to understand math?

A knock diverted my attention and I hurriedly excused myself from my mother, explaining when I could get back to her later. She gave me a dismissive wave as she would do with one of her subordinates and ended the call.

Not expecting anyone other than Elise—who would sometimes drop by without any notice—I peeked through the peephole only to widen my eyes in surprise. To see Karen, Desmond’s wife outside my door, is a flabbergasting event indeed.

Wait, didn’t I see her the other day? Out in the streets, crying? I can’t believe I forgot about that…

Biting my lip, I weighed my thoughts of whether or not I should let her in. It was when I saw her about to leave, probably thinking I was out, that I hurriedly opened the door.

“Karen?”

She immediately turned around upon hearing her name and once she saw me, she smiled. “Oh, hi! I thought no one was in, so I was about to go…” She giggled lightly. “Is now a bad time?”

Hold up. Who told her where I lived? Desmond did? Why?

“N-no, I was making dinner.” I chuckled, wiping my hands on the apron I wore. “It’s… shocking to see you here. I wasn’t expecting to see you, Professor Desmond’s wife.”

Does she even know that her husband and I—

She nodded, quietly agreeing with my words. “Yeah… I’m surprised to be here as well. I practically forced him to show me or perhaps guide my way here but he refused to do so. Only giving me directions by word. Men, right?”

“Um, not to be rude or anything…” I leaned against the door, greatly convinced that Desmond didn’t want her to be here. For her to show up and practically seek my house despite lack of direction, could only mean one thing. “Why are you here? The last person I envisioned to be visiting me at this hour is either you or your husband.”

Karen stood up straight, her innocent smile now replaced with a grim expression.

“Is it true? That you and Desmond used to be lovers?”