angel baby (heavy editing)

2.0

SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD {PRESENT DAY}
           Jessica sighed as she undressed. She was exhausted. Their annual In-House Fundraiser ended a while ago. The proceeds were going to the largest children hospital in the country.
Aside from the cause, it was a good day for Jessica if she ignored the glares from the women who after years still couldn’t accept the fact that she bagged the Daniel Borghese and not them(they were all married by the way), or the older women who tried every possible means to prove they were better than her.
Who am I kidding? Today was terrible.
No one really cared about the fundraiser, they were all there to see who was richer and who was falling into debts. Rich egocentric fuckers who wanted to prove they were better than the next rich individual.
She hated them all.
Her attention drew to the window as she saw her son by his car by the fountain outside as he made out with his new 'girlfriend' 
She was the fifth one in less than two months.
Her son took the word player to the next level. She was worried, more than she was letting on. He was only seventeen.
Over the past year, he had brought home so many girls and boys that she had lost count.
He came out as bisexual to his parents the year before and his parents had accepted him.
While Jessica hadn’t minded his sexual orientation, she was worried about his lifestyle. Since he was attracted to boys and girls, that meant more fishes in the fish and that meant more sleeping around, though he had told her that was a faulty stereotype. He even brought it home.
          At that moment, something else bothered her as she stared at her son who had his tongue down the girl’s throat. She winced at that. She was trying to be the 'progressive parent' but with the way her son was going...
“Honey,” Jessica called her husband who was at the other side of the room.
“Hmm”
“Is it just me or does Oliver’s skin become paler and paler these days?”
“It’s probably the weather. You know how these things goes. Tan one season, pale the next”, Daniel answered absent mindedly as he typed away on his laptop.
“Baby, it’s summer and pay attention”, she whined and walked towards him.
He finally looked up.
“Honey, not this again”
They had had this conversation when Oliver was about twelve years old and didn’t look like any of his parents. While everybody in the family was tan due to their ancestry, Oliver was "pale and pasty", in Lisa's words.
“Come on, look at him. Tell me you haven’t questioned it”
“Questioned what? Baby, did you cheat on me?”
Jessica cocked an eyebrow that said ‘really’
Daniel smiled shaking his head.
“Jessica, he’s fine”
“Danny, he’s blonde. Nobody is blonde in our family”
“Baby, these things happen. Biology is faulty"
“Babe”, she shut the laptop and tossed it aside as she fell into his laps. He exhaled as he pulled her to him holding her tight.
She hid her face in his chest.
“I’m worried about him”, she mumbled in his chest.
He kissed her hair. He was too. More times than often, he felt he’d failed as a father.
“Me too”

*********""********
“I won, you lose”, she threw her arms in the air. She then proceeded to place her thumb and middle finger on his forehead ready to flick him.
He pouted.
“Oh come on, don’t do that. You’re so cute when you do that” she whined.
He gave her the puppy dog eyes pouting with it.
She groaned, “Ugh, you little shit. Fine I won’t flick you”
He smiled.
“Fucker”
“Kathy, what did I tell you about swearing?”
They both turn at the sudden intrusion to see Lia standing by the door of their small door.
“Sorry, mom”, she smiled innocently.
She smiled softly. Ever since Chris brought Kathy home those three years ago, she had living with them. It had been tough at the beginning and Lia had to take four jobs at a time but things got better. She didn’t have it in her to let Kathy back out on the streets and her son had a special connection with her. Ever since she showed up, he was more vocal and he smiled a bit more. Lia loved Kathy like she would love a daughter and since nobody came for her, she raised her along with Chris
She looked over at her son who had his knees to his chest as he stared back at her.
Suddenly, he smiled at her. Lia felt her whole world light up.
Since she gave birth to him seventeen years ago, Lia could count the number of times Chris smiled at her so that moment was special to her. He mostly wore no expression on his face. She could also count the number of times he spoke to her. With Kathy around, it's been a lot better; though she wished he would communicate with her better.
Keeping her happy tears at bay, she said,
“Come on kids, it’s time for dinner”
They both immediately stood and followed her out of the room they shared.
Lia’s home was small, very small. It was a one bedroom apartment. The living room, which was also Lia’s bedroom, was the biggest in the room. The kitchen was also where they ate. The only bedroom was shared by Kathy and Chris. The bathroom was the outside and was also used by five others who lived in the apartment complex with their family. The mornings were like the hunger games.
Though the house was small, it was very neat and well designed. Lia had always wanted to be an interior designer but due to circumstances, she couldn’t fulfill that dream so she made sure her home was designed to her taste.
They all gathered and sat by the small table. Lia served them and they dug in. Lia then proceeded to start a conversation as she did every night. Chris almost never spoke but a few times he did smile or react that showed he was listening.
After seventeen years, Lia had learnt to adapt. It did hurt sometimes. She thought after years past, he would be comfortable with her.
“So are you both excited for school’s resumption tomorrow?” Lia finally asked.
Kathy and Chris attended the community high school with about three thousand other kids. Chris was starting his final year while Kathy was in the 7th grade. She was one of the oldest but that didn’t bother her.
“Yes, I can’t wait to bully those gross boys”
Lia tried to chide her with her eyes but it was no use. Kathy was bit rugged.
She turned to face Chris whose attention was focused on the plate as if he was just seeing the meal for the first time though they ate the same thing every other night.
“Chris, what did I tell you? When mom asks you a question, you must always reply”
Chris looked up.
Lia was sometimes jealous Kathy understood Chris better than she did. It was petty but she couldn't help it.
Chris turned to face his mother. He stared at her for a while before he nodded and went back to focusing on his meal.
Lia smiled softly and stared at her son.
He had a very bright future ahead. Chris was an artist and a good one at that. He was responsible for the numerous paintings and graffiti in his community and even helped with the funds sometimes. Sometimes he was cheated on because of his timid nature and the people who lived in the community were sometimes horrible but Kathy always went with him when he delivered to a customer. He already made a name in the neighborhood.
Lia often prayed that a rich person would discover Chris’ talent and sponsor him to a nice art school. Lia had been saving hard but she knew it wouldn’t be enough. She wanted the best for her son.
She just hoped he was ready for the real world out there.
“Mom”
Kathy’s voice drew her out of her thoughts.
“Yes?”
“Are you OK?” Kathy asked worried.
“Yeah, don’t worry my love”
Kathy then smiled, “well, Lia, Chris and I have a surprise for you”
Her and Chris exchanged looks and Lia was very curious.
They both stood abruptly and left the table. Lia was very confused but excited still.
Chris returned first. He had his hands behind him and a small smile on his face.
He moved and revealed what he was holding. It was a mug which he stretched towards Lia.
She took it smiling and read the inscription on it.
Super MOM
For the nth time that night, Lia fought back tears but she was happy. Her son thought she was super.
“Happy Birthday to you,” Kathy started to sing as she appeared with a lit up birthday cake.
Today was Lia’s birthday and she totally forgot.
She held her chest which felt like it would explode. She felt so loved right now.
“…Lia. Happy birthday to you. Make a wish. Make a wish” Kathy said excitedly dropping the cake on the table in front of Lia.
Lia smiled as she joined both her hands together and closed her eyes.
She only wished for one thing that her kids have a better life than she ever did.
She opened her eyes and blew out the candle smiling wide. The last time she smiled that big and felt that happy was when she discovered Chris’ artistry.
Suddenly, Chris kissed her cheek. It caught her off guard so much that she almost thought she imagined it. But the smile on his face afterwards assured her she didn’t.
He then hugged her. Kathy jumped excitedly behind them. She put her arms around him hugging him tight to her unable to control her tears. Kathy joined them afterwards.
My kids.