CHAPTER 14 Part 2: Didn’t Tasted Sour

The next morning rose and I woke up to a house without the old hag. It was to be expected since she had a lot of jobs, we argued about how many jobs she had but even without my approval she just walks out of the door every morning and comes back before dinner.

I went down to the kitchen, the wooden floor creaked as I step down the stairs. It was a perfect morning something I always loved, a quiet morning, peacefully having my fill.

Knock knock*

A loud banging on the door disturbed the peace that I was enjoying, I didn’t want to interact with anyone so I ignored the person knocking on our door and stuffed my mouth with the homemade bread I baked yesterday afternoon.

It became my routine to bake bread for me and my mom every afternoon so she could go out without bothering herself to make breakfast for me and herself, giving me something to keep myself busy these days.

KNOCK KNOCK*

I twitched an eyebrow, bothered by the person ruining my mood but didn’t had the guts to face whoever the prick that was banging on our door and I stayed eating the bread and drinking water to help it go down smoothly.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

[who in the hell!] I grew furious and without thinking I went towards the door creating loud footsteps which gave the other person the information that somebody was home.

[damn it! Now I had to open the door *sigh* sly fuck.] I barely opened the door, wide enough to peek through and see who the heck was knocking loudly.

“Can I help you?” I asked the little boy from last night who came alone.

“Hi… um, my name’s Surrivan Akira Pridesworth but you can call me Sura instead. I don’t know if you knew but I’m here for a request made by your mother”

“That request was solved long ago, so you don’t need to bother. Go home kid”

“Can I ask if you’re ‘Horhe’?”

“That I am”

“Can I go inside for a bit?”

“No.”

“It will only be for a while I promise”

(*Sigh* this little shit) I unconsciously opened my mouth but thankfully he didn’t seem to understand the Dwarven language

“Fine”

I didn’t know what came over me but I opened the door wider so the little shit could come in. He walked towards the living room and sat on our sofa. He sat up straight, both hands firmly on his legs and some sweat dripping down from the side of his face.

“What do you want kid you’re disturbing my breakfast.” I remained standing up to face him.

“S-sorry about that, um can I ask you one thing?”

“Go on”

“What led you to become like this? Hiding inside your home all day not a care in the world what’s happening out there. Your mother’s out there killing herself just so you could learn a thing or two from the second best academy in the continent.”

“You would never understand even if I explained.” I held myself from smacking the kid in the face, angered from his stabbing words.

“Ow? Did you watch your own village burn to the ground, separated from your family and friends? Have you felt powerless as you watch from the sideline unable to do anything even if all your life you’ve been working hard to protect everyone that’s important to you? Because if you don’t I can’t think of anything that would corner you so much.” His voice grew louder towards the end, his hands curled inward, his thin body looked like he lived on the streets trembling from the cold breeze from a starless night.

“No. It’s not like that’s the only experience that could push anyone to a corner, not everyone can be strong. I’m not like my father nor am I like my mother.” I answered, calmer than the auburn brown haired boy who stared down on the floor.

“Then explain. It’s only the two of us and last I know it is easier to talk to a complete stranger about your problems than those who you meet on a daily basis. Talk.” His eyes now stared at me, even if I stare right back he remained firm.

“I… I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Scared that if I fail I prolong my mother’s suffering, s-scared that if I repeat a year ma would be disappointed *sobs* I’m scared she would die from overworking and leave me all by myself. I won’t be happy even if I graduated knowing my last family member died for me, I wanted to ease her pain so I remained home to sleep all day not wanting to hug all the food she bought, I wanted her to stop from working and wait for my turn… *sobs* I-I don’t know anymore. We were always so close, I don’t want to tear our family apart more than it is.”

“See, it wasn’t so hard to say now does it?” he turned towards the door that led to our front yard where my mother came with the companions the boy was with yesterday.

“Jorge *sobs* I-I didn’t… I didn’t know you’ve been feeling like this.” She came crying to me, forcing me into her arms.

[was she always this strong? Mother…]

“I’m sorry… for being a disappointment to our family”

“No! No you are not a disappointment! *sobs* You never were! And I’ll never be disappointed in you Jorge.” She shook her head too many times that I lost count.

“Come on ma’am tell him what you wanted to say” the little girl who had 2 different colored eyes, dressed casually just like her 2 other companions said patting my mother’s back

“I-I’ve saved money… so much that you can repeat how many time you can. And if that won’t be enough I’ll work more.” She wiped her tears.

“I-I can’t!”

“No Jorge! This is my duty as your parent to give you a life. I won’t let you go astray.” She looked me in the eye, held my arms tightly, her lips were closed shut waiting for my answer.

“I-I… it won’t be easy for me to go back out there.”

“I’ll go with you until you’re able to stand on your own, like I used to when you’re but a babe.”

“It won’t be easy for me to catch up with my class”

“It’s alright I’ll help you with your studies, just like when you’re 6”

“I won’t be able to talk to my peers”

“It’ll be fine you can talk to me like you used to when you had your first crush.”

“What if I don’t make friends?”

“You’ll make some, I know it.”

“Why is that you’re so confident in me? When I don’t even have a drop of confidence in myself”

“Cause I raised you boy… you grew up to be an understanding man, funnier than your father who made me fell for his sense of humor, stronger than your mother. I am confident on the boy I raised and loved”

“What if your body can’t handle the jobs you are taking?”

“Don’t compare me to your father Jorge, I am far sturdier than any man in this kingdom and I plan on having a long life.”

The tears that I held back for so long just burst out of control, I hugged my mother tighter than ever not wanting to let go. She embraced me in her arms, one of her hands rested on the back of my head caressing it softly. I stayed in her arms longer than I was planning, both of us on the floor crying our hearts out.

“Umm!” I suddenly found myself slightly outside trying to talk to the ones that helped me realize how badly I was living life.

“Do you need something Jorge?” the elf lady asked as the trio glanced over to me

“Thank you so much, you helped me and my mother and for that I am grateful” I bowed slightly, my pride not letting me to go further.

“Just… make sure to study hard Jorge.” The boy who had a thin body said and smiled synchronously with the other 2.

I felt embarrassed after the whole ordeal and couldn’t even look the trio in the eyes who helped me solve my relationship with my mother, but I was grateful now I know what I needed to do.

That was the day I had lunch with my mother for the first time in years and the food didn’t tasted sour.