Risa, like every day, goes home straight from work. It’s not because she does not like going to clubs or malls – she loves shopping - or that she doesn’t have friends – she has many- but because there is someone waiting for her at home. Someone important and very precious.
“Maris!” She called once she stepped in her spacious apartment and instantly thuds of footsteps echoed. “Mommy!” An eight year old beautiful charming boy with silky brown hair and beautiful pair of obsidian orbs squealed happily as he waddled his way to Risa. Automatically, Risa crouched down and the boy tackled her down making them fall on the floor laughing. “Mommy, where have you been? Maris missed you!” The boy whined hugging Risa tightly.
“I was at work. I told you that this morning before I left, did not I?” Risa replied pinching the boy’s nose playfully.
“You did but you should come home earlier so we can play. Jeanne is no fun.” The boy said with a pout.
A woman two years older than Risa with flowy bond locks appeared from the kitchen. “What are you saying, young man?” The woman said with playful gestures making Maris released a high pitched squeal, the boy’s arms tightening around Risa. “No! Jeanne will eat me!”
And Jeanne made biting noises. “I heard you said I was no fun.” Jeanne growled playfully at the boy as she took a step closer.
“Mommy, hurry! We need to run!” Maris shouted tugging on Risa’s hand.
“No.” Risa growled with an overshadowed face making the boy to look nervously at her before she grinned. “—because I am the one who will eat you.” She roared as she tickles the child carefully down to the floor while planting messy kisses all over the boy’s face. Maris’s laughter echoed loudly throughout the apartment.
“Okay. Okay, that’s enough.” Jeanne said from her spot a feet away from the mother and son. Risa stopped tickling Maris and looked up to Jeanne with a grin, who shook her head in fondness. Maris was on the floor catching his breath. “Mommy, Maris is hungry.” The boy said and Risa picked up the boy and pulled the child into her embrace. “C’mon, let’s have dinner then.” She stated glancing at the wall clock hanged on top of their television. It reads 8:15 p.m.. “Oh, it’s already this late.” Then she turned to Jeanne. “Thank you for picking up Maris and for looking after him for hours. I’m worried that I’m being much of a bother to you, Jeanne.”
Jeanne shook her head. “It’s alright, Risa. I have lots of free time.”
Risa smiled. “I’m really thankful to you, Jeanne. I don’t know what I would do if you’re not by my side through all of these years.”
“Really, I’ve done nothing big. I’m just helping my best friend. Besides,” She stated as she lifted her hand and ruffled Maris’s locks. “—I would never abandon you like your parents.”
Risa looked at Maris, who is busy playing with her hair. “—I don’t regret anything. He’s worth it.”
When they settled around the small table in the kitchen, the door thud opened and a loud cheerful voice boomed echoed. “Maris baby, I got something for you!”
Maris who is diligently eating his vegetables while singing Pororo’s opening song stopped and hastily tried to get out of his chair. “Mark! Mark is home!” The boy cried happily about to welcome a much older boy.
Risa shook her head in defeat but a fond smile is plastered on her lips. “Don’t rush, Maris.”
“Hello!” The new comer exclaimed as he entered the kitchen, a big Pororo plushie in his hands.
“Pororo!” Maris shouted running to the man and attaching hugging the older’s torso.
“You bought him another stuffed toy!” Risa huffed, crossing her arms in-front of her chest. She’s not mad but neither delighted. “Mark, that’s, what, the fourth toy you bought for Maris this week. Are you planning to drown him with stuffed toys and you’re spending too much, really. You’re still a student, save up for Pete’s sake.”
The man smiled as he crouched down and present the Pororo plushie to Maris. “You like?” He asked.
Maris nodded eagerly, too enthusiastically actually. “Maris likes Pororo! Is this for Maris?” He asked pointing at the stuffed toy.
Mark’s smile disappeared and his face saddened. “Of course, but your mommy, I think, she’ll be angry with me if I give Pororo to you.”
The mother and son both gasped in horror by Mark’s revelation. “Mark!’’ Risa hollered while Maris’ head whipped to her mommy’s direction. The child’s eyes already wide with signs of incoming tears. “Mommy,” Maris sobbed. “—is it true that you don’t want Maris to have Pororo?”
Risa instantly crouched down beside Mark. She took the stuffed toy from Mark and gave it to her son who instantaneously brighten up, clutched the stuffed toy tightly close and waddled to Jeanne to show off his new toy. Risa then turned to glare at Mark and snarled. “How dare you!”
Mark chuckled before leaning close and planting a kiss on Risa’s cheek. “I got you something too.”
Risa rolled her eyes. “Of course you do, you spendthrift.”
Mark smiled pushing himself up before helping Risa to stand. “I didn’t buy those toys just because. I bought those toys because that smile,” He nodded towards Maris, who is happily cooing at his Pororo plushie. “—is worth spending for.”
A/N: Please excuse the grammar errors.
