IT WAS DARK when we got home.
Nick greeted me as soon as I stepped through the gate. “Where have you been, brother?” he teased.
“Ha? Aah… Mama Cha and I ate,” I replied quickly.
“Ate? all-day? ” Nick asked, biting his lower lip and making a face.
I laughed at his expression.
“So, what did you eat? Did you enjoy it? ” Nick asked again, trying not to laugh.
“Stop it, Nick! Let’s just eat! Hahaha! ” I couldn’t help but laugh.
Mama Cha, who was just entering the house, turned to look at me because of my loud laugh.
“Trina arrived earlier and simply left because you were not here.”
“Aah… Will she return?” I replied.
“Oh my god, that’s your wife!”
“Wife? My wife? Hahaha! ” I exclaimed.
“You’re insane! You’re having a baby!” said Nick.
“I’m not going to deny it! I care about the baby but not the mother! ” I replied after a smirk.
Nick simply shook his head in response to what I said.
Getting inside..
“Hello, Aunt Cha!” Ben cried out.
“Hello! Let’s have dinner here, okay? ” She replied.
“Ah, okay, Aunt Cha!”
When Ben noticed me…
“Okay, you just came out, and the gate ate you!” He murmured.
“Hahaa! I just forgot to say goodbye, don’t be mad, brother,” I joked back.
“What happened, Clint? So happy Brother? Your smile is so different!”
“Do you need to memorize that? Hahaha! ” I laughed out loud.
A moment later, my cell phone rang…
“Hey! Your wife is calling! ” Nick added.
“Wife? My wife is up there! ” I answered while pointing upstairs.
Trina is calling.
WE WERE still downstairs chatting at midnight. We rested after dinner and then decided to have a drink.
“It’s late, guys, spend the night here,” Mama Cha said.
We don’t drink much. It’s just that we were in a good mood tonight to do it and taking a lot of pictures. I have something I need to tell them, and now is a good time to do so.
“I’m going up, you take care of that!” Mama Cha said as she stood up and walked upstairs.
I was simply staring at her. Today I noticed something about her.
“I don’t think Aunt Cha drank, did she?” Nick asked, his brow furrowed.
Yes! I’ve noticed that! She doesn’t even drink anymore. She used to drink more than I do, but it’s a miracle that she now refuses alcohol. Because of that point, I had a strong suspicion that something was wrong with her. She’s been acting strangely lately. I’ve noticed her staring at me a lot lately. Besides, she always seemed to despise me.
“Oh, brothers! Could you do me a favor, Ben? I know you know a lot about this! ” I asked.
“About what?” Ben clarified.
First, I checked the stairs to see if anyone was there. I looked around to see if Mama Cha was there, because I didn’t want her to hear what I had to say.
“Oh, I have a plan.”
“Hey, Clint! Conspiracy again! ” Nick exclaimed, still laughing.
I sat down and shot first.
“Brothers, I want to get married.”
The two lunatics remained silent, looking at me intently.
“I want us to get married, even if it’s just civilly. You two are the witnesses, and we’ll just pay someone to add, isn’t that okay?”
“Are you serious, Clint? It’s not a joke! ” Ben exclaimed. “And Trina?”
“Yes, Clint! You’re having a child with her; what if she finds out? ” Nick asked too. “What if she also decides to marry?”
“Ben! I don’t care about Trina! If she finds out that Mama Cha and I are married, can she do anything else? ” I replied.
“Nothing, Clint, but don’t you feel guilty? ”
“I think Trina will be able to find someone else soon, Brother,” I said.
“How did you say that, Clint? That girl is crazy about you!”
“Ben, look! She’s not serious, and neither am I! I don’t love her, and you know that, guys! I love Mama Chari so much! She’s not serious, which is fine with me! It’s okay if she meets someone, as long as we share the child,” I explained.
The two did not respond.
“Can you please fix it, Ben, when I leave next week?” I asked.
“All right, I’ll do it for you, brother! Besides, I don’t see anything wrong with what you’re doing; we’ve known Aunt Cha for a long time, so we all support your decisions; just be happy, and we’re happy! ” Ben said, shaking my hand.
“Do you think, Clint, how long can you keep that from Trina?” Nick inquired.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure if we’re okay again!” I replied.
“Doesn’t it seem like she avoided you? But she recovered quickly, huh? Like nothing ever happened,” Nick said.
“Nick, that’s how strong women are! Cry today, smile tomorrow! ” Ben exclaimed.
“Yeah! It’s scary to have a girl like that; it’s like, even if you say you want to break up, she’ll just answer-okay, be careful! See yah! Ugh!” Nick, who was still making a face, said.
What Nick said made me laugh.
“So, Nick! Stop staring at that new lady next door!” Ben teased.
“Hahaa! There’s a new neighbor? ” I exclaimed, laughing.
“Yeah! It looks like Aunt Cha too! Full sleeve tattoo! ” Ben exclaimed.
“Haha! Your magic won’t work there, Nick! Believe me! You might cry even louder than me when it happens! ”
“She’s different, Clint! I don’t know! But I feel like I’ve fallen! She’s something like Aunt Cha! ” Nick said, still embarrassed.
“Well, there’s no harm in trying; have you talked to her yet?” I inquired.
“Yes! He always talks to that lady!” said Ben.
“Can you bring her to the coffee shop so I can meet her?”
“OK, OK, OK, I hope so!”
“When that lady comes along, believe me, Nick is so lucky! She’s a wife material, a single mother five years his senior; do you think you can handle that, Nick?”
“Aah… Cool. That’s nice, Nick! ” I exclaimed.
“Since we’re already here, let me say that I want to date that woman, so please help me,” Nick said solemnly.
“You won’t be embarrassed even if she has a child and is older than you?”
“Yes, Clint! I like her; I don’t care what they say, like you! ”
“Are you ready to be a stepfather?”
“Yes, Ben! I don’t know why, but I’m prepared for anything! ”
“Nick! Are you ready to stop being a jerk?” Ben asked, holding back his laugh.
“Yes, Brother! I am in love! ”
We didn’t laugh when Nick told us he was in love. We could see the seriousness in his eyes. We’ve known each other for a long time and have memorized each other’s reactions when what is said is true.
“All right, brother, invite her to the shop tomorrow so we can meet her,” I said.
The madman only smiled. He is madly in love.
WE FINISHED at twelve. The two were already sleeping in the living room, so I washed before going to Mama Cha’s room to sleep with her.
“Clint, why are you here?” she asked.
I hugged her before folding her blanket. I was lying behind her, so she leaned over.
“Hmm… Smells like alcohol! Hmph!” she exclaimed, one hand on her nose.
I wrapped my arms around her. I could smell the candy-like scent of her shampoo because her head was right in front of my face. I was also holding her hand as she did the same to me.
“Ma, when I’ve saved up enough money, I’ll buy a bigger house here…” I said.
“Ah, for more; it’ll be crowded here as your child grows,” she replied.
“F**k Chari! I love you so much!”
When I mentioned her name, she laughed, “Ahaa!”
“Just stay here with me, Ma. Don’t leave, huh? I can’t… ” I said quietly.
She didn’t say anything, but I could hear her take a deep breath.
“No matter what happens, I won’t let you go. I love you so much… I love you so much, Ma.. ” A moment later, I felt something drip down my arm where her face was lying.
“Ma, why are you crying?” I noticed she was crying.
“Hmmm! No, I’m just glad for you, Clint, I’m so happy and proud of you,” she sniffed.
I squeezed her even more tightly.
“Always take care of yourself as I did for you… When your son comes out, you will take care of him and do everything for him, huh? Don’t spank or scold him when he hasn’t committed any serious sins. Be a good father, Clint,” she said in a soft and unhappy voice.
“Hmmm… Of course, you’ll take care of it, so I’m sure they’ll be fine. Can you handle seven, Ma? I need at least one dance crew!” I joked.
“I love you so much, Clint,” she said, “take good care of yourself and your child.”
“Yes, Ma… Take care of us, huh? I love you so much and that can’t be changed until my last breath… I love you so much, Chari! You will be the mother of my children. No one else.. ” I sweetly answered back.
She no longer answered. She just squeezed my hand.
“You sleep now, Clint. Tomorrow is another day,” she said.
June_Thirteen