The Unfulfilled Quest

Chapter 2

"Where was I?"

"What happened to me?" I asked myself.

My mum's eyes pierced through my body as she was also expecting answers from me.

Her eyes were a bit swollen and wrinkled in some way. Her lips were not as thick as I saw in my adventure. And her face? Damn it! She had grown uglier. I mean, the woman I saw in her early thirties was prettier, more shapeful and alluring than the one staring at me right now.

"Mum?" I called.

Her eyes widened as if she had expected that call for so long a time. Then, I realized that I was lying on a couch with a book placed on my chest.

" Goodness! I thought you wouldn't wake up today", her voiced sent chills down my spine.

Why would she be so cruel to me? I was just sleeping, for heaven's sake.

My mum? I wonder how she managed to help Lypha with such a cruel attitude.

She tried to snatch the book away from me and I slid the note from the last page into my pants. That way, she wouldn't get it from me.

I had to complete the story. No matter what!...

My mum stared at me suspiciously and I tried hard to avoid her eyes. She was the smartest person I know and if I didn't play smarter, she would find me out in no time.

She succeeded with the book and flipped through its pages. Her eyes met mine at intervals and I scratched my head.

Just then, someone walked into the room and my mood changed at once.

She jumped on my body as we hugged passionately.

" Travis, I just wrote a new song and I thought you should hear it. Let's go to my room. I have everything in place", she said not minding my wet clothes.

"Mum?", she turned to my mum.

The elderly woman gave her a smile. Can you imagine? She didn't smile at me but she's smiling at her.

Heavens! I really need to learn how to impress my mother.

As the young lady hugged my mum, I saw that enchanting smile that melted my heart a few hours ago. I squeezed my eyes as I tried to recollect and have a full picture of the smile.

Then, I saw that little creature in her.

" My goodness!" I exclaimed.

They both turned to me.

"Are you okay?", my mum asked.

" Of---c--ourse!", I stuttered.

The young lady dragged me to her room and pushed me into a chair beside the piano in front of her. Then, she pulled one for herself and settled in.

She took a deep breath and smiled at me. I couldn't get over that smile. It was the same I had seen before.

Her fingers brushed through the keys on the piano and she started the song. Her voice? It was angelic. I smiled all through the performance.

" Do you like it?", she asked immediately she sang the end notes of of the song.

I rose to my feet and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. Then , she giggled.

" Lyca, you're talented", I said.

She beamed with those infectious smiles and I was left with no option but to hug her tight.

" I am proud of you, Lyca" I said. She rubbed my hands which were wrapped around her shoulders and leaned her head against them. It was such a beautiful moment that I wished lasted longer.

Just then, my mind went back to the note I was reading which took me to ten years ago. The eagerness to know more about that overwhelmed me and for a second, I let go of Lyca.

" Is everything okay?", she asked.

A voice in my head urged me to speak up but another said otherwise. I held my head and she rose to her feet.

"Travis, are you sure you're okay?", she asked. I couldn't tell Lyca. I don't know anything yet. I have to keep it a secret.

" Yeah....I guess I just need some rest", I replied.

She wasn't having it but then, she shrugged her arms.

"Alright", she said.

I held her hand and stared into her eyes. They told me they weren't convinced but I had to pretend to be convincing enough. I smiled assuring her of that and she nodded her head. Lyca was so beautiful. Even more beautiful, whenever she smiles.

Why it's taking me so long to tell her she's gotten me to cloud nine? I really can't tell.

>>

Everyone rose to their feet as my mum stepped into Dessa's Hospital. It was such a big building with over 500 staff and thousands of patients.

As she took every single step, the staff bowed. My mum didn't smile. She put up that almost angry face she always managed to whenever she was serious.

" Good morning, Dr. Modessa", her secretary greeted as soon as she stepped into her office. There was coffee, sliced bread and cheese on the table just as Modessa liked.

" Good! I guess you're becoming better", my mum said to her secretary.

Over the years, she had always complained of having a bad secretary who mismanages her work and stresses her brain. From Theresa, to Dora, Rita to Sky and now, It's Sydney.

How she got Sydney was quite funny. She didn't pass the interview but because she put on my mum's favourite colour, green, Dr. Modessa employed her.

My mum sat into her chair and took the coffee from the table. She smiled and sipped.

" It's good to stay healthy", she said after drawing in a long breath.

Sydney waited patiently with some files in her hand. Then, Modessa turned to the young lady and said, " Spill it". Sydney opened the files at once and carefully dropped in front of Dr. Modessa. She explained some things while Modessa listened attentively.

That was the only moment Sydney and Modessa bonded. After work, no calls and Modessa was serious about that.

Their conversation was cut short when a patient was rushed into the hospital. The patient was a VIP and so only Dr. Modessa was allowed to attend to him.

She rushed quickly to the ward where he was while the nurses set the operation equipment. The patient had gotten into a fatal accident and his head was severely damaged. They had to carryout an operation immediately.

But then, Dr. Modessa needed permission from the patient's family to carryout the surgery and that was the problem!

She had no time to waste but the chances of getting the patient back to normal were slim. Nevertheless, Dr. Modessa took the chances.

She ignored the procedure and carried on with the surgery.

The nurses were scared as they reluctantly followed her orders to get the surgery started.

Dr. Modessa completed the surgery successfully and revived the patient.

In less than an hour after the patient became conscious, news had gone viral that Dr. Modessa is a champion.

That was how my mum, Dr. Modessa got an award of honour as the second most influencial woman in New York at the time.

That news brought so much joy to the family as it meant that Dessa's hospital has been put on the map.

The family thanked my mother graciously and gifted her a car. As my mum's only child, she gave it to me when I least expected.

At least, sometimes, she can be that sweet a mother.

>> I went back to my room and laid on the bed. Then, I pulled out the piece from my pants and opened it. I couldn't wait to read the rest of the story.

When I finally opened it, it was blank.

" No way!" my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

There was writing all over the paper a few hours ago where'd everything go? I wondered.

My door flung open and there was Dr. Modessa with her arms folded as she looked at me. My heart broke into pieces. I had nothing to hide anymore. I've been screwed.

She took a few steps closer to my bed and took a halt right in front of me. Then she bent over and sat beside me on the bed. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to explain.

" Travis, I've known you enough to know when you're hiding something from me. Come on, I'm your mother", she said and I agreed.

She was very smart and I couldn't beat her again, not this time.

" That letter you hid was stolen from Lypha", she said. I couldn't believe my ears.

So, she knew everything? I asked myself.

I turned to look at her.

" Lyca must not read that letter, Travis", my mother said coldly. But then, I could hear a warning from her tone.

Why? Why shouldn't she? I asked myself.

As if she heard me, she responded.

" You'll lose Lyca if she ever reads that letter".