THIRD PERSON’S POINT OF VIEW
*Outside Joan’s**
“Come on, bro, let me drop you off” Miguel said to Ferguson who’s ignoring them (Jonathan and Miguel) since he stormed out. “We didn’t mean to trash your woman, we didn’t know she meant something to you”
The veins on Ferguson’s temple popped out, Miguel’s utterances seems to be provocative yet reasonable, he also doesn’t understand why he was so angry when he heard his friends talking about Stella.
He just felt an anger evaporate from the deepest part of him, and he couldn’t control his actions.
“She ain’t nothing special to me, she just my student” he gritted out.
“Student?!” Jonathan exclaimed.
He and Miguel exchanged knowing looks.
“You just said she’s your woman, and now she’s just your student?” Jonathan chuckled. “You’ve got to be specific fella, have you forgotten you punched me few minutes ago because of her?”
“Yeah, man, she doesn’t seem like just a student, you were acting all possessive and…”
His words were cut off when a car pulled up in front of them, but he continued immediately.
“… You feel something special for this student, don’t you?”
“I feel nothing for her, I just don’t want people talking about my students in that way” Ferguson replied.
Rob stepped out of the car, he quickly pulled the backseat door open and gestured Ferguson to enter.
Seeing this as an excuse to escape from his friends, he quickly jumped into the car and commanded Rob to drive off immediately.
••••••••••••••
*A minute later**
It’s been a minute since Rob drove away from Joan’s, and they’re a bit faraway but he still doesn’t know where they’re headed yet.
“Where are we heading, sir?” Rob asked.
“My penthouse”
Ferguson leaned back on his seat, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, and just when he was about to relax, his phone’s ringtone blared loudly which made him jump slightly and his eyes snapped open.
“Damn it!” Ferguson cursed after seeing his mother’s name flashing on the screen.
His eyes glanced at the time on his phone and the first thought that struck him was, ‘Why is mom is still awake by this time?’
He wanted to ignore the call, but he knew he couldn’t because she wouldn’t stop calling until he’d pick up.
He took a few deep breath, before answering the call.
“Hey, Mom, how are… ”
“Hey Mom?” there was a brief silence from his mom, then came a scoff from her.
Ferguson was imagining her reaction at this moment, he knew she’s trying to keep her cool and not scream his ear off, but…
“Finally decided to take my call after two whole months, and the first words that proceeded from your mouth was ‘hey mom’, as though we’re on talking terms!” she couldn’t keep her cool no more and barked these words at him.
He winced at how loud his mother was, and moved the phone a little bit away from his ear -it’s just a safe distance where he would hear her clearly, without getting affected by her high pitched voice.
“Mom…”
“Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking!”
“Sorry…”
“Sorry for yourself for not coming home in two months now”
He decided to just keep quiet and listen to her speak.
“You have been ignoring my calls, I have also been sending your father to invite you for dinner and you refused to come, may I know why?”
He furrowed his eyebrows in a tight knot. “Dinner? Or a blind date?”
“It’s not a blind date”
“It’s not? But I remember there’s always been a lady in each dinner I get invited to, if that isn’t a blind date, then I don’t know what it is”
A bang was heard from his mother’s side, which made him realize he’s on speakerphone and his father was also listening to their conversation.
“Claudia isn’t just any lady, young man, you’ve known her all your life”
“Then how come I…”
“She’s a good girl with proper home training, and I know she’d make a good wife too” his mother let out a shaky breath as though she’s gonna break down in a second. “Why can’t you understand that your father and I only wants what’s best for you?”
Having this conversation with his mom at this hour isn’t something he planned on doing, he massaged his forehead with his free hand and inhaled deeply.
“I know what’s best for me, mom, I don’t wanna be tied down to someone I have zero interest in just to help dad expand his business”
“Shut up, you ingrate!” his dad yelled, followed by the sound of something crashing on the ground.
There’s a brief silence, and the reason was pretty obvious -Ferguson’s mother’s trying to calm his father down.
“Listen up, Ferguson Ansaldo Alfonso, I’m telling you right now, if you don’t come home for dinner tomorrow…”
She trailed off and was talking in hushed whispers, as though she’s talking or arguing with someone beside her.
“… right, it’s 12:20am and we’ve started a new day already, so if you don’t come home for dinner today, your father and I will be forced to make a decision for you”
Ferguson’s eyebrows furrowed at once.
“Make a decision for me? What decision?” he asked even though he already know what the decision’s gonna be.
“Well, you should just skip this dinner today and you’ll find out what decision we made for you tomorrow!” she said in a finality tone, then hanged up.
“Wait, mom, mom…” but she’s long ended the call. “F**k!” Ferguson cursed under his breath.
He tossed his phone on the seat next to him, folded his arms on his chest and rested his head on the window.
He knows very well what’s running through his parents’ mind, and the decision they’re gonna make for him if he skips the dinner -he sighed.