Episode 4: Our Date

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NEXT DAY

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Not long after William left yesterday, I closed the store as it was time. And went back home. Today is the day. The day Max and I planned to go on a date.

'By the way, how would we meet when we don't even text each other about time?'

'Anyway, since he got my number, he can just text me what time and where we meet. I will just get ready for the day.'

I got up from my bed to the bathroom to get ready for today. I walk to the kitchen to have breakfast after I finished what I was doing. As usual, mom was there preparing for breakfast.

"I told you; I can do it myself. You don't need to wake up every morning to prepare for me."

"I want to. This is all I'm doing anyway and beside you are busier than me."

"I know I'm busy, but you should focus more on your health than me. Because of me-----." I lowered my voice at the last park. I told myself I wouldn't blame me anymore, but I couldn't ignore it. Everything happened was all because of me.

"William came to my workplace last night." I said as I watched her cracking eggs. She stopped as what she was doing and turned to me.

"So, he hasn't giving up on apologizing to you." She returned to doing what she was doing as she spoke. I don't know what she's thinking right now. Deep in her eyes there is sadness.

"Yes, he came to apologize. I kept telling him the same thing as it's not his fault." I looked down on my hand as I fidgeted, I'm sure she missed him so much.

"Why don't you meet with him, mom? I'm fine with it."  I suggested. She placed a plate of scramble egg in front of me and turned around to grab a spoon. She handed me a spoon as she pulled the chair to take a seat across me.

"Actually, he called me last night too saying he wished for me to move in with him." She faintly smiles. I looked at her nervously. 'What if she moves back in while he's also there?"

"I know you are worried, but Wills told me he moved out. That's why he wanted me to move in with him." She said. I left out a sigh relief as I placed my palm on my chest.

"Don't tell me you refused."

"I did."

"What? Why? Was it because of me?"

"I couldn't leave you alone and move in with him. After what happened, I can't do that."

I see. She's worried about me. Because of me she couldn't do what she wanted and couldn't spend her time with her son. She's too good to be stuck with someone like me. I am just thankful that she chose me after what happened. I shouldn't be too greedy. She has her life she needs to live.

"Actually, I've been keeping secret from you. I'm seeing someone. He's nice and always understanding." I lied as I fake a smile. "What I meant is you don't need to worry about me. I'm not a teenage girl anymore and he will be there if anything happened to me. And beside it's not like we won't be seeing each other anymore." I tried to convince her.  She's been stuck with me for the last four years and I'm sure she wants to live the life she wanted too. Not stuck with someone like me.

"You have a boyfriend? Since when? You are not lying so I could move out, are you?"

I have no idea why she chose to leave with me when I have nothing but myself. 'Was it because she felt guilty? or was it because she promised my mother, she would take care of me and at the end I end up being a mess.'

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Flashback

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In a small house with a nosy neighborhood, I lived with my only mother. My father passed away when I was 5 years old. Since I was an only child, I lived with my mother. It was just the two of us. My mother was trying her best to take care of me while working multiple jobs. Because of she worked multiple job to support me, her health gradually deteriorated.

Even with everything she went through, she would come home with a smile. She would always tell me about true friend. She would always tell me about her friend and how much they love one another. She says, "If you want a very good friend, you also have to be a good friend. You will find out if your friends are a good friend once you struggle."

That's what she always said. I never understood any of her words, but I think I do now.

"Larset, don't forget we have an appointment today, okay? And make sure you dress up well." My mom said as she prepared to go to work.

"I got it, mom." I replied while also prepared to school.

After I finished, I walked to my school. At my arrival in front of school, there stood a boy waiting for me with a smile. He waved as he saw me approaching him. We are both in our senior year of high school and we only have a quarter for us to finally graduating.

"Let's go."

My boyfriend William. He transferred to this school last year at the beginning of our junior year and that's when we met since we are in the same class. Our fingers were intertwined as he slipped his hand to hold mine. He smiles brightly as he looked at me. We walked side by side while entering. As we enter, eyes were everywhere watching us with envious. Only few looked at us with disgust and they are friends of someone who liked my boyfriend. Well actually, it's me that they were disgust while looking at me because I'm poor.

"Gold digger."

A girl suddenly said as she bumped into me. Will grab onto me so I wouldn't fall.

"Don't listen to what she said." He whispered into my ear. We ignored other people stares and go on our way to class.

A long day after class end. I walked toward my locker.

I grabbed my books from my locker after school and quickly walked toward the entrance and there stood him. I ran to him as soon as I saw him.

"I have an appointment, so I won't be able to walk you home today."

He stroked my hair as he smiles.

"It's okay. I can walk by myself." I said and he nodded.

We go on our separate way and as soon as I arrived home, I quickly shower and dress up. Since my mom asked me to dress up so I can't disappoint her.

Ding````

I grabbed my phone as soon as I heard the sound of a text message.

Mom: I will be a little late so be on your way first. I informed her that you'll be arriving before me.

Me: Okay.

I throw my phone in my bag after I texted her. 'I guess I will have to leave first.'

I took a bus and walked inside the restaurant my mom asked me to come. I grabbed my seat at an empty table. My back facing the entrance and since I have nothing else to do, I looked at my phone.

"Are you Larset?"

I heard a very low voice asking me if I am her and I turned around to see a beautiful woman standing with a warm smile on her face.

"Yes." I answered.

She grabbed a seat across of me and as she did so her phone rings. She answered the phone.

"Are you already here?"

"Okay, come inside."

She must have talking to my mother. I feel at ease knowing she's here. I felt uncomfortable talking to someone I have never met.

"Oh, son! Here." She suddenly stood up and waves her hand. 'It wasn't my mother but her son?'

I turned my head to see who her son is.

"Will?" I asked.

Will looked at me surprise as I did. He looked at his mom with a questionable look and his mom cleared her throat. She went back to sit down, and Will walked toward his mom and take a seat beside her.

"So, are you the girlfriend he always mentioned?" She asked. 'How would I know when he mentioned me?'

I looked at Will and witness him blushing. His eyes met mine and quickly turned his head away. 'He's shy. I see.' I laugh at his reaction and his face got redder.

"Did he talk about me often?" I asked his mother and she nodded.

"Yes, I was even getting tired of him talking about you all the time." She chuckles as she nudged him.

"You are all here."

Just after my mom came, we all ordered foods. My mom and Wills mom talked about the old days when they were in high school and how they became friends. I introduced Will to my mom as my boyfriend and she didn't mind me having a boyfriend.

"Larset."

That's where I met her for the first time. I didn't know I would end up troubling her. Shortly after they met, my mom fell sick and passed away. After she passed, I decided to drop out of school to get a full-time job, but Will mother came and asked me to move in with her. I refused but she told me she will feel at ease only if I move in with her, so I did.

"Larset, honey. Your phone is ringing." I came back to reality as she tapped on my shoulder. I looked at my phone and it is an unknown number.

"Oh, it must be my boyfriend."

I quickly picked up the phone. Sure enough, it is him.

"You are here? Okay. I will be there." I hang up the phone and tossed it in my purse as I rush to put on a shoe.

"I will be going now. We will talk more when I come back." I said to her, and she nodded her head. I ran down the stair and a thought came to me 'how did he know where I live?'

I brushed out that thought and just ran down the stairs toward the entrance. There he is standing. He reached out his hand and I placed my palm on his hand without much thought. He smiled at my quick action. He opened the passenger seat door and let me inside.

He got in the car and drive off.

"Where are we going?"

"You will know when we get there." He said as he reached out his hand and I flinched as his cold and big hand suddenly touch my hand.

"You hand is cold." I told him. He looked at me and turn his head to focus on his driving.

"Keep my hand warm for me?"

"By the way, how old are you?" Since I took a year off, I'm sure he's younger than me.

"I'm 22 and how about you?" He asked.

"Just as I expected you are younger than me."

"You are 23? You don't look 23 at all. You look younger. And we are here." He said and I look around to see where we are and I was surprise.

"E'vry1 Dream." I read the name out loud as we got out of the car. "Is this the place?" I asked as I feel he approached me and stand by my side.

"Yes, I thought you would like it if we came here." He said and with a smile on his face he slipped his hand to hold mine and our fingers intertwined.

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