EPISODE 13 ANYBODY HOME?

IT WAS almost one o'clock in the afternoon when I got home.

"No answer!" I said, annoyed.

I'm upset because I've called Mama Cha a few times but she doesn't want to answer.

When I came home, she was not even there. She didn't leave a note or anything saying where she was. I went to the coffee shop, but she was not there either. I saw that she had left her car again, and Gemma said that she had just passed by for a while because someone was waiting for her outside. A man driving a red car picked her up at the cafe. I didn't hang out at the coffee shop anymore because I was disturbed and it wasn't good for business. I just went home afterward.

I'm restless and upset at the same time. I know that she already knew that Trina was there because Nick said that they picked her up at Aunt Maggie's house and surely mentioned it to Mama Cha. I thought to myself, that's the reason why her phone has been dead since last night. She's ignoring me.

I have all that she asked for. I purchased another box of Ramen because it was her favorite, and then some boxes of Macadamia Chocolate Nuts that she loved the most, and she always demanded that whenever I went to Japan. I'm really angry when I see all the things I bought for her. Then, I don't have anyone to go to. She's not there to greet me.

My cell phone rang.

Trina is calling! To my irritation, I pressed 'cancel' to end the call. I'm not in the mood to talk today, then another---I'm guilty of what happened last night. I'm drunk but I know what Trina and I are doing. Even though I tried to avoid it, I admit I was still really seduced, especially when I was enjoying it! Fuck!

I’m sick with myself right now! I felt so guilty for what I did. It's just that—after I confessed that I love her so much and made love with her, is this how I'm going to do it? Just because I was drunk, I was seduced! Fuck! I'm such an asshole!

Shit! You're annoying Clint! After knowing that at that age she kept her virginity, that was given to you? Ugh! You're nothing, Clint! Ugh! I feel so sorry!

I go to the kitchen and straight to the fridge to get a bottle of beer! I'm in the mood to drink now because I had a bad trip from what I did as well as when I found out that she was with a man now. I'm sure it was Jet! I pretend I don’t know or I’ve forgotten, but I’ll never really forget that goofy guy!

I know she denied their commitment before because she didn’t want to get hurt when I said I saw Jet with someone at the mall who was with a girl younger than her. Now here it is again! She's hiding from me again! I hope she thinks that we are not like before, that our relationship is no longer just siblings or mothers!

Because---because I'm like that to her! Yes, I made a mistake last night, but I didn’t mean to. I just can't ignore it anymore. It's too late for me to run! But I won’t do that again!

Promise!

So I hope Jet isn't in her life because I won't let him! I'm going to mess them both up.

IT'S four o'clock.

Mama Cha is not yet home and is still not answering my calls. She even turned off the phone.

I looked at the table, and I saw that I had almost five bottles of beer. It wasn't very strong, but because I was tired and didn't get a good sleep, I got drunk easily. I have a bit of a headache, but only because I'm unhappy and I don't f**kin' care!

Where the hell is that woman?

Why am I so upset? I was overprotective while I fucked with Triina last night.

Why do I feel this way? Am I jealous or what? Is this right? Is that normal?

I'll go back to the coffee shop later when it's dark and I'll wait to see who will drive her there.

I will stay steady even if I see Jet.

I'll finish drinking first; it'll be dark shortly. I'll take a bath before leaving. I wouldn't call her, so she wouldn't know I was going to the coffee shop.

CHARI'S POV

It's already seven o'clock in the evening. I know he's mad because I keep on dismissing his calls. I even turned off my phone so he wouldn't reach me.

I didn't even take Jet to the parking lot of the coffee shop, instead, I just went down to the main gate and let him go. It's only a few walks anyway, and I'm obstructing someone's view. I'm still a few minutes' walk away from the cafe and I saw a lot of people; there were so many customers tonight. I almost forgot that it's Saturday and we have "Special Treats" every Saturday of the week.

I have fixed myself. I'm only wearing denim shorts and an anime printed black shirt, and, of course, my favorite Red Chuck Tay! Jet and I just went to the site where he said a coffee shop would be constructed. We would like to work together to finance a new shop quite far from here. In short, it's more likely to be a business trip, not a date!

I zipped up my blue sling bag tightly and turned it back. I'm going to speed up because I need to be inside the cafe soon but I was distracted while walking because I was keeping an eye on someone...

But I haven't taken a few steps yet...

"Who's that Ma?" I heard a low voice coming from the back.

"H-huh? Clint? " I was startled.

I saw Clint behind me. I don't know where he came from, but he unexpectedly came out. He was wearing black jeans, a plain white shirt, and brown sneakers. The hair with the red closed cap is ponytailed.

"Who is that, Ma?" He asked again, with a rough voice.

"Ah! Jet! " I replied quickly.

He moved toward me. He was not yet that close, but I already smelled the alcohol on his breath, and then I saw his puffy eyes, and his face was a little red. Drunk!

"Did you have a drink this early, Clint?" I asked, frowning.

He snatched me by the neck as I stepped, but I pushed him away.

"Why?" He asked.

"Come on! What's the matter with you, Clint? Not fed up with alcohol!" I said irritatedly.

"Why are you dressed like that, Ma? You're with a guy; you're supposed to dress properly! Never expose your sexy thighs!" He said, frowning too.

He keeps on talking while I'm walking ahead of him. There's no one in the parking lot, so nobody can see us arguing. I just kept on walking and he kept on following me.

"Ma! Where have you been? " He asked again while catching up with me.

"Clint, come on, let's just talk at home! This is not a good place for that!" I said, walking straight ahead.

When I was about to get near the cafe, he grabbed my right arm and clenched my hand.

"What! Stop that attitude, Clint! " I said. "Where in a public place!" I muttered.

I removed my hand from him and walked even faster to go first.

"Ma!" He yelled and kept on catching up on me.

I stopped near the coffee shop's door, and so did he.

Then, unexpectedly…

"Hi, Clint! Hi Aunt Cha!" Trina greeted.

"Oh! You have a visitor, Clint! " I said, rolling my eyes at him.

He lifted off his closed red cap and scraped his head swiftly while looking at them while I left and went right inside the cafe.

"Oh fucck! Hooh! Here we are again! Damn!" I heard him say.

June_Thirteen