Relationship
1088 Words
"Mom?" Soraya thought. She was sure she had just heard Robert call someone on the phone as Mother.
Soraya was nervous, from what she heard. It seemed like Robert's mother was coming to visit him and that meant they would most likely meet soon.
After Robert ended the call. He tucked his phone in his pocket and turned his attention back to the meat and peppers before his eyes. He didn't say anything, he didn't tell Soraya about the possibility that his mother would come to visit him.
In her place, Soraya grew restless and hoped that Robert would say something to her. However, the silence in the room made her hopeless.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" She asked. That was the only thing she could ask at this point.
Robert turned to her and stared at her for a moment. Soraya got up from her spot and walked over to Robert. She thought that if they could do activities together, she had a chance to ask him some questions.
"Are you sure you can do it? The last time you tried to clean the meat, your face looked really pale. You can just shower while I'm cooking. You don't need to help me!"
"I'm fine! At least before taking a shower, I want to do something for you. I don't want to just eat and sleep without doing anything!" She said. Robert looked at her coldly and then sighed.
"Okay, you can chop these peppers and potatoes. I'll prepare the stew!" He said as he handed Soraya his unfinished work.
"What are you going to cook?"
"Beef stew!"
"Wow, it looks delicious! You're really good at cooking, huh? Did anyone teach you?" Soraya started asking trick questions to get Robert to talk.
However, it seems that Soraya's wish will not be realized in the near future. Robert looked very calm with the pot in his hand as if ignoring his question.
"Uhm... that-" Soraya felt stupid. She was either completely ignored or Robert didn't want to tell her anything.
Come to think of it, since they were close. Robert never told anything about himself or his family. The only one enthusiastic about telling everything was Soraya. Even though Robert asked her to marry him, it was still Soraya who fell in love with him first.
"You said something?" Asked Robert.
"N-no, nothing!" She said disappointed. She thought Robert would completely ignore her.
Sorat looked down and continued with Robert's work of chopping peppers and potatoes. She didn't want to repeat the same question a second time.
"If you want to ask a question, just ask! I'll answer as best I can!"
"Is that true?"
"Yes!"
"Then, can I ask you something personal? You just said you'd marry me when I graduated from college. So I thought shouldn't we open up to each other?"
"Does that mean you accept my proposal?"
"That, I still need some time to think about it! That's why-"
"Okay, I understand! Feel free to ask if there's anything you want to ask!"
"Re-really? Well, actually I was wondering if you have a family like father, mother or siblings?"
"I only have a mother!"
"Mother? What about your father?"
"My parents divorced when I was little. Since then I've lived with my mother and my father went somewhere."
"I-is that so?" She said. Soraya was stunned, this answer was quite surprising for her considering the contents of the article which clearly said that Robert was Adam Joseph McCartney, the boy who had killed his parents a dozen years ago.
But, how is it possible for the man called Adam Joseph McCartney to have a mother? It seemed so impossible. Soraya hastily brought herself to her senses who was starting to be indoctrinated with the fake news created by that horrible stalker.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
"Were you born in this city? Where does your mother live now?"
"I was born in this city, but when I was 18, my mother and I moved to Boston. We lived there until I decided to come back to this city and teach at the university where you are currently studying."
"Your mother must really miss you, right? Because you're the only one she has right now!" She said, trying to say something that seemed concerned. But Robert just kept silent and didn't immediately justify her words.
"My mother is very busy, she is a psychiatrist working in a mental hospital in Boston. I'm not very close to her, I just think of her as someone who has raised and helped me all this time."
"But, she's still your mother, right? You must love her!"
"I think so!"
Soraya was silent, she didn't know what she had actually asked and it didn't seem like something Robert wanted to tell her. He is not very close to his mother and his father is also going somewhere. That means he's been lonely most of his life, especially with his cold and reserved demeanor. It's definitely hard to build relationships with other people.
Soraya gulped, she felt an awkward atmosphere because of her question. She didn't really expect Robert to tell her everything, including his relationship with his mother.
"I already told my mother about you, she wants to see you when she comes to visit. Can you meet her?"
"O-of course! But, did you also tell her that I was one of your students!"
"Yes! I told her everything. I also said you live with me now!"
"Re-really? But, why?"
"I promised to tell her everything that happened to me, the people I met and the problems I faced. That's why I told her about you too!"
"Is your mother mad that I'm only 19 years old? Would she disagree if I-"
"She won't go against my choice, that's why I ask her. She just wants to meet you and get to know who the woman who will be with her son is!" He said flatly.
Soraya felt her heart beating very fast, she felt happy because her love had been reciprocated. But on the one hand she also feels uneasy because it seems that Robert has formed an unusual emotional bond with his mother. Sounds very awkward and weird. Compared to mother and son, what Soraya heard was more suitable as a doctor and a patient. Soraya did not want to guess, she knew that not all family relationships would be as harmonious as her family.
"Okay, I'll wait for her!"
***
- Writer
