Reaping Me Softly

Chapter 21 - His Choice

Everyone was silent in the dining room. Unlike Lia’s, the table only consists of eight seaters. But instead of seven people, only six chairs were occupied. There were food — not a lot but enough for them. Different dishes and wine, too.

She could barely name the food in front of her. There were familiar but she can’t remember how it tastes like. It looks appetizing and mouthwatering. Just the smell had her stomach groaned.

She wanted to dig in yet Simeon’s mother was still praying.

Lia sat on the second to the last chair on the right aisle, Simeon was beside her. Across her was Mallory who has an exciting expression while peering at the food. She even caught her pinching the roasted whole chicken then, lick her fingers before closing her eyes.

“...for food. Amen...” Everyone opened their eyes, except for Lia when the prayer finished.

“Amen!” They said in unison.

As one cue, Simeon quickly grabbed the bowl of white rice and filled her plate. Then, some fried fish and barbecue, as well as greenies and the drumstick part of the roasted chicken.

He was about to put some other dishes but she immediately shook her head.

“My plate is full, Simeon. I’ll grab some if I finish the first batch.”

His gaze went to her plate. “Oh, right. Dig in, babe. There’s still a lot of food to taste so I hope you don’t easily get full.”

She smiled awkwardly when she heard Mallory laughed a little. The girl was obviously mocking her and she's too old to fight with her even if she wanted to. Lia has no patience for brat girls. If she's not just her boyfriend's cousin, she will probably teach her a lesson.

"So, how long have you been together?"

She turned her head to Simeon's mother. She actually doesn't know what to call her. Auntie?

"Uh... For me, it's more than a month..." she answered.

She didn't know Simeon even before although he knew her for years now. She can't help but blame him a little. Only if he showed up himself to her years ago, they could have been best of friends. They could have been created a strong bond if not because of his cowardice.

Lia thought no one liked her. To be even friends with her... Turned out there was one person who has been watching her from afar. Secretly admiring her beauty, and staying by her side without her proper knowledge.

She felt good knowing that someone liked and now, love her for a long time.

"What does that even mean?" Mallory rolled her eyes. Her mouth was full of food yet still managed to ask questions with her b***h face.

"Just eat, Mallory. You're being a brat again," it was Simeon.

"Whatever..." She continued to eat and never talked again.

"I have known her for almost five years, Ma." Simeon motioned her to eat which she did. "I met her when I was in tenth grade, only got my chance a month ago when she was stuck in the shed, waiting for the rain to stop. Luckily, it didn't so I saw it as my chance. I shot my shoot and she's my girlfriend now, obviously."

"You are a bad story-teller, Simeon..." his mother commented with a laugh. "But glad that you did not let your fear overpower you. Finally got her, eh?"

He smirked and Lia felt her blood rushed to her cheeks.

"Hell, yeah..." Happiness was evident in his voice. "It took me years ad now, I can't be more than happy, Ma."

"How about you, Lia? Have you introduce my son to your parents?"

She stilled, not expecting the question that was thrown to her.

She never thought that his mother would be asked her that. Lia was not ready... Yes, she might have told Simeon the reason why she can’t let her parents know that they are in a relationship, but to hear this from his own mother...

She felt like her tongue was cut out. Her mind can’t even decide if she’d tell her or just keep her mouth shut for the better of their relationship.

“Uh...” She swallowed hard. “I haven’t...”

How would she tell her that she can’t do it even if she wanted to? Things were not just in her favor. Growing up in a fixed marriage family has never been easy for her and now that she has loved someone, she realized how hard her situation is.

She didn’t care about it before. Now that she’s involved with someone, she cares, a lot.

“I haven’t introduced him yet. We just got together and I’m still uh... looking for the right timing to tell my parents.”

“And who are your parents? If I may ask.”

She wet her lower lip. “Gregorio and Laura Possenti...”

“Oh... Their names sound familiar. Are your family inclined in the medical field or something?”

She slowly nodded. “Yes... They are both doctors.”

“Oh, doctors... Possenti... I heard your family was all made in fixed marriage. Am I right?”

Shock crossed her face for a moment. Everyone knows about it... It was not a secret. From her ancestors, down to her parents. They’re not even a family of Chinese...

Lia was hoping that the news didn’t reach them. But it was too late for that now.

She slowly nodded. “Yes, Tita...”

“I guess you’ll end up following your parent’s steps. I heard from Simeon that you wanted to be a doctor, too, like your parents. Do you know that you were the reason why Simeon chose the field he is in now?”

“Ma!”

“What...?” Her eyes immediately went to meet his. “What is the meaning of this, Simeon?”

Anger started to rise inside her heart. She was bewildered, her mind's in turmoil, and even her body was shaking in mixed emotion. Her grip on the spoon tightened that her knuckles turned white. Her eyes... She could feel the upcoming tears but she held herself.

Lia thought that this day would end up well. They were all nice to her, and his mother was brutally honest.

Deep inside her, her heart was bleeding. It was definitely not her fault, however, she felt like she has taken something away from him. His dream to become something else... To be someone he originally aspires to be before she came into his life.

Because of her, Simeon took up medicine. Does it mean that medicine was not really his choice? He chose it because it was her dream...

"Don't listen to her, Lia!" His face was red in fury.

He stood up and hastily grabbed her by her arms, then without saying anything, they went out of the kitchen. Her head was just fixed on the ground as tears left her eyes... She cannot believe what she just heard. And the way his mother spoke, she could tell that she didn't like his decision.

So does she.

“Was it true, Simeon?” she asked in a low voice.

They only stopped when they reached the outside of their home. He faced her with a puzzled expression. He looked like he’s having a hard time... and sorry, too.

She sniffed and bit her lower lip.

“Answer me, Simeon. Was it true?”

“Of course not, Lia!” He turned his back from her, pulling his hair.

He was silent for a minute, breathing heavily. She could see how his shoulders rapidly moved up and down. When he was calm, that was when he decided to face her again.

“Of course not. It was my choice and you were out of it, Lia. It was clearly my choice...”

A memory flashed in her mind.

“I could still clearly remember your answer when I asked you about your childhood dream, Simeon.”

“Time can change it, Lia. Yes, I dreamt to fly an aircraft before but that was a long time ago. My mind changed! My heart had a change of heart and that led me to medicine, Lia.”

She could still remember how his eyes lit up upon telling her his dreams before. He even didn’t share a lot of his experience as a medical student. He did but she can’t see the same happiness in his eyes whenever he talks about aircraft.

It was different.

Lia stepped back when he tried to reach for her hands. Pain crossed his eyes.

"You are lying, Simeon." Her lips shivered. "Why did you do that? Why?! You are smart and gifted enough to master everything but you didn't learn to follow what your heart wanted, Simeon. It was not my field that you desired."

She shook her head in disappointment.

"Lia..." he called wearily.

"I don't know, Simeon. I can see that you are willing to give up anything for me but it is your future that will be put at risk. Your happiness! Didn't you think of it?! You sacrificed a lot for me, secretly. And it's too unfair on my part!"

"I am not asking anything in return, baby..." This time, she didn't budge when he held her arms. "I didn't ask for anything, right? I did not change plans for you, it was my choice and mom was not sort of happy because of her bad experience with doctors. But to tell you, she is not against it. She just can't move on yet..."

She averted her gaze somewhere, "Your mom is not the issue here, Simeon."

He hushed her. "Things will not change between us, baby. Do not think of anything but your studies, me, and how we can work this relationship, okay? Just let me do things I didn't able to do with you before because of fear."

"But..."

"No more talking, Lia."

"It's still unfair... I still felt guilty for you chose something you are not passionate about because of me."

"Who said that?" He raised his brows at her. "For two years in college studying medicine, I have learned to love it, baby..."