In Love With Ms. Manoban

Part 4

Jeremiah

'Calm down, heart' I thought as I ran away from Ms. Manoban. My heart is beating madly and I feel like I'm going to faint. 

'You two won't even happen, Jeremiah. I don't know why you're so excited.'

'Shut up, brain.'

I can't believe I'm actually quarrelling with myself, in my mind.

I really need to get home before 6:00 because my mother might arrive today and it is usually 6:45, and I want to finish dinner by then. Normally, I'm home by 4:00 - 4:30 or 5:00 if I hang out with Rain. But I was so caught up with Ms. Manoban that I completely forgot. Now I have to run in order to reach home because I spent all my bus money on ice cream. I don't regret it though because it was worth it.

I bumped into a lot of people along the way but... I got home on time! My stomach suddenly rumbled. 

'I guess it is time to prepare dinner.' 

I went to the kitchen to prepare for two, even though my mother hardly comes home or doesn't eat when I cook. But I do it anyway. I learned how to cook since I was fourteen because Mom seemed like she wanted to starve me.

Dinner is ready and the table is set as I waited for my mother. She is a bit late today but I'm happy anyway.

"Mom." I said as I came out of the dining room to greet my mother at the front door. She looked at me in confusion and slight panic. This again. "It's me. Jeremiah." That is when realization hits her.

"My darling." She said as she went to give me a hug. I single tear escaped my eyes but I quickly wiped it away before she got a chance to see it. 'Stay strong. Everything will work out in the end.' I repeated my four year old mantra.

My mother seems to be forgetting me more and more each year and I think that is her goal.

"I prepared dinner. Do you want to eat something?" I asked as I break the hug.

"Oh. No.. uhm.." Probably seeing the already defeated look on my face, she said, "Of course. What did you make?" We headed into the dining room.

"Your favourite." I replied, lifting the lid that is covering the food, as my mother started squealing.

It ended up being one of the best dinner I've had in years, even though, I heard my mother sniffing every now and then.

She took a bath after that and then left soon after, as usual. Whenever my mother comes home, she always heads back out an hour later, or less. It has been happening for years now but I eventually got used to it.

My phone lit up, showing that someone was video calling me. 'Rain🤗'

* "Hey Rain." I answered as I laid on my bed.

'Rain🤗': "Hi, what's up?"

* "My mother came home."

'Rain🤗': "Oh. How did it go?" My bestfriend/ cousin knows everything. We have known each other practically our whole lives.

I told her about everything that happened after school up until now. She was cheering me on when I told her about hanging out with Lisa, I only call her that in private of course. When I told her about the baby, she gave me a sympathetic look.

'Rain🤗': "How are you feeling about that?"

* "I'm really happy for her to be honest. You should have seen her face Rain. She was so excited about it. I'm sure she loves the baby already. And if she's happy then I'm happy, you know?"

'Rain🤗': "Yeah. Well, I'm still rooting for you guys no matter what." She said trying to lighten up the mood, which worked. I heard a commotion going on in the background soon after. "Sorry, Jeremiah but I have to go. I'm babysitting these little rascals."

* "Bye Rain, and thank you, for the talk."

'Rain🤗': "Anytime. Bye."

We waved each other goodbye then ended the call.

I grabbed my towel in my bedroom and went straight to the bathroom. After doing my nightly routine, I went on my knees at the side of my bed. The first thing I talked to God about is the woman I saw early. I always have the strongest urge to pray for her. Then I prayed for the little bun in her oven, hoping that their father would love them as much as their mother.

I went to sleep with a smile on my face that night when I thought about Lisa.