Nate POV
I left the hospital as soon as I woke up this morning. I need to go home and take care of something.
Thinking of Ren now is the least of my problem, as the only thing I’m concerned about, is finding the solution to Lilian’s problem. I can’t let her get entangled with that bastard again, not ever again.
Are you wondering how I knew about what happened between Ren and Lilian that led her to stay with him? Well, somehow, I managed to locate her stepmom before yesterday, which was the second time I was going to see the woman. I already know she was Lilian’s stepmom, but I didn’t want to let her know, so she won’t start asking me questions about how I got to know the woman. Lilian is my friend, and I ought to know the background of my friend, right? Well, after I met the woman, I asked her what happened, and she told me everything, not after I gave her some money to open her mouth. It was heartbreaking to have known that she was used as collateral. I’m still going to make the woman pay for everything, but definitely not now.
Pushing all the thoughts to the back of my mind, I park at the corner of the road and reach out for my phone that’s laying beside me on the passenger’s seat. I scroll through it and dial the number once I spot it.
“Has my son remembered me today?” Mom’s voice sounds from the other end once she answers the call on the first ring.
“Good morning, mom,” I greet her politely, and I bet she rolled her eyes even though I’m not there with her. It’s what she always does.
“What do I owe this early morning call?” She asks with sarcasm playing in her voice.
“I need your help, mom,” I say to her, and gulp down nothing. I know what I’m about to ask for is difficult, but I have no choice at this point. I have to make this sacrifice if I want to help my friend.
“I said it. You wouldn’t have called me if you had not needed my help. What is wrong with you, Nate? This is not the boy I raised. What has come over you? You don’t even call to say hi to me anymore except if you need something from me,” She rants, and I sigh silently as I rest my head on the headrest. This is one of the reasons I always hesitate to call her.
“I was avoiding your rants, mom,” I wanted to reply to her with that harsh words, but knowing that I need her help and that she’s still my mom, I dare not say that to her.
“I’m sorry, mom. I’ve been really busy with work…”
“That is the path you have chosen for yourself when you can become the boss here and control people? It was because of you I and your dad worked hard to secure this company so you can have a future in it, and I now wonder why you’re running away from it,” She nags again, and I bite my bottom lip.
“I’m sorry, mom. Can I state why I called you now?” I speak to her, trying to be as polite as I can.
“Oh, does that mean that I talk too much? I should please stop my rants so you say whatever reason you had called, and end the call, yeah?” She yells, and I close my eyes as I take a deep breath.
“No, mom… I’m sorry if you felt that way,” I apologize to her, and I hear her sigh.
“What do you want?” She inquires.
“Mom, can you please unfreeze my account? I need…”
“Are you broke now? The people you’re working for are no longer paying you, are they? Don’t say any more words, because there’s nothing you would say, that’ll ever make me unfreeze the account,” She bangs the call afterward.
“Hello… Mom… Mom…” I call her name, but the call was long-banged.
“Damn it! What a stubborn woman,” I mutter as I hit my hand on the steering wheel. What the hell am I supposed to do now? That is the only way I can get money to free her from bondage, and also help her take care of her dad. What do I do now?
Just when I’m about to start driving, my phone starts ringing and I check the screen to see a strange number displayed on the screen.
“Who is this?” I mutter as I pick up the phone, and slide the answer button, waiting for the person to say something first.
“Hey, Nate. It’s me, Kira,” Her annoying voice sounds through the phone, and I hiss loudly before I bang the call on her, not even waiting to hear what she has to say, because why the hell should I? Maybe I would’ve listened to her if she had not called at the wrong time, but I’m not in a very bright mood now. Wait! Come to think of it, who the hell gave that bitch my phone number?
“That doesn’t matter now,” My subconscious mind reminds me, and I sigh before I start the car and drive away.
I arrive at my house about twenty minutes later because I was speeding on the road, and I dash into the bathroom as soon as I step into my room. I spend a lot of time in the bathroom, thinking of another alternative since my mom is a stubborn woman that would never do what she said not to do.
I finally resorted to leaving the bathroom and back to my room after I spent over an hour there.
As I walk into my room, I meet my phone’s screen light on, with a message displayed on the screen. I amble toward it and pick it up before I swipe the unlock button.
‘Have you been going through a hard time lately? Things must’ve been hard for you to have reached out to me today, but I’m sorry that I can’t help you unless you’re ready to do what I want. I didn’t want to do this, because the imagination of you getting hurt and going through a hard time is really tough for me to handle, but your stubbornness is pushing me off the limit. I will do whatever you want, Nate. Can you please come home? I just want to see you, please’ I read the message from my mom, and I sigh deeply as I throw myself on the bed, and run my fingers through my hair. Although I am not there with her, I can feel her pain through the test. I know she will be fine if I go there, but I can’t leave here. I don’t want to, because I find here more convenient than being there with her.
“What should I do?” I mutter as I lay on my back, and stare up at the ceiling…