CHAPTER TWO: The Sin She Can't Confess
712 Words
“What feelings, my dear? What’s wrong? Are you okay, Mia? I’m here for you!” She walked toward her, looking directly into her eyes with great love and affection. She gave her a kiss on her forehead and leaned closer.
“If there’s anything you need me to know, just know that I will always be there for you. Don’t keep things away from me.”
Mia’s eyes widened with shock as she looked at Grandma with great relief after listening to the first line of her words. She brightened up and gave her a comforting look, like Mia would always do.
“Grandma… I’m fine. It’s nothing serious. I… I… was having a chat with… mmm… mmm…”
She stammered, realizing that Grandma was looking directly into her eyes to get a response immediately.
Then she started coughing. Grandma got up quickly to get her a glass of water. “So sorry, dear. I think you need ginger and mint juice; that will help you heal. But just have this first.” She helped her drink from the cup.
Grandma continued, “Who were you speaking with? Oh! Ava, right?”
Mia cleared her throat. “Yeh… No… Yes… I mean…”
At that point, Grandma sensed deeply that something was wrong.
“Mia, please speak to me,” Grandma said.
“I’m sorry, Grandma… I really need you to give me some time to process my thoughts, but I promise to tell you everything. I will let you know everything. I have just realized that I can’t hide this from you anymore… please, Grandma…”
She said with a cold and quiet voice, tears gently rolling down her cheeks.
“Come here, my child… don’t cry. I’m here and I will always be here for you… don’t cry,” she said, drawing her closer. Mia placed her head on Grandma’s lap.
“So sorry,” she muttered.
“It’s okay… whatever it is… take your time… process your feelings before you share it. I’m always here for you, whatever it is. We will tackle it, my heroine.”
“Love you, Grandma,” her one last word before she slept off as a result of Grandma’s lullabies.
Mateo had been on the phone the whole time, he heard everything, the conversation, Grandma's words, Mia's cries, everything was open. To him, this is betrayal.
He just got up quietly, cut the call and flung the phone to one corner of his room. He put his two hands in his pocket, already deep in thought. He was walking, no direction, just moving. Then he stopped.
Mia... what did you just do? What exactly did you do? Could this mean that Mum was right? You hid our relationship from your family. Who then am I to you?
Saying that, he remembered specifically what his stepmother, Mom Victoria, told him earlier that day.
"Women from middle class families are gold diggers, they are selfish and only want your money. Work with people of your class, Mateo. That's the bitter truth you have to accept, it's a fact.”
The day his family found out Mateo Langston was into a relationship with Mia Sinclair, a girl from a middle class family, not anywhere close to the luxurious life of the Langstons. The family opposed it. His dad was furious and his stepmom, cold. But then he stood his ground. Refused to listen. He remembered his words to them that day.
“I refuse to let any of you get into my relationship with Mia Sinclair. You have always made decisions for me, Mum and Dad. You choose top class women, but what happens? Aren't they all after the money? Mia is a decent girl and I don't care what you feel about our relationship.”
Remembering this, he sank back on his bed, two hands folded over his head.
Why did she stammer? She is ashamed of me? Ava's name isn't hard to say. She says she can't hide this anymore... she has been hiding me? She is crying to her Grandma, I'm the problem causing her pain! I'm the sin she can't confess. If her Grandma says no, I lose her.
Nooooooooo. I can't. Miaaa... I don't want to believe this is true.
- Writer
