angel baby (heavy editing)

18.5

    Oliver stood in front of the house in a neighborhood he never thought he would step foot in. But come to think of it, he had been here before, the neighborhood he meant or a place like it. Despite using a face cap and kept his head down, he still attracted attention to himself like moth to a flame but that was partially his fault. He was still in his school clothes and wore the wristwatch his father gave him for his seventeenth birthday, which he believed cost a fortune; it was too late to take it off when he realized it was on his wrist. He was thankful he didn't get robbed or something. He knew he was sounding stereotypical and like an asshole because he could get robbed anywhere and not only in a poor neighborhood.  He really didn't think his biological mother would be living in an environment like this. Perhaps the community wasn't that bad, he was just filthy rich.
Oliver shook his head reprimanding himself for his train of thoughts. That wasn't what he was there for but now that he stood at house's entrance, he was having cold feet. This was idiotic. His parents would kill him if they found out where he was at the moment. He would never hear the end of it.
Maybe this isn't such a good idea. I shouldn't be here, he thought.
He would leave it to his parents. He didn't need the headache and potential heartache. What if she didn't want to see him? What if she was mean? He needed to get away from there and fast.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, the door opened revealing Lia who seemed to be in a rush to get somewhere. Sighting Oliver at her front door, she froze. She couldn't believe her eyes. Oliver on the other hand stood like a statue, unblinking as if scared if he did, she would disappear forever.
The silence continued for minutes? Hours? Neither was sure. Somebody had to say something and Oliver was well aware it wouldn't be the woman frozen a few inches from him so he took it upon himself to.
"H-hi", he stammered a bit as he spoke. He cleared his throat and tried again, "I'm Oliver and I believe you're my mother"
        Just when Lia thought life was done playing games with her, the grand finale appeared. At first, Lia thought she was dreaming, or rather hallucinating due to the stress she'd been under those past few days. There was no way he stood before her but then he spoke and she realized it was no hallucination at all. He stood before her and he knew the truth. She did the only thing she could do: invite him in for coffee. It wasn't the best decision considering Chris would arrive soon and would be really confused since he didn't know the truth but she prayed he went to the hospital instead since that was where she was headed before he showed up. She also doubted Oliver knew who he was switched at birth with or he wouldn't have come here. He had hurt Chris once before. She couldn't even find it in her heart to be mad at that anymore.
Lia returned to where Oliver sat, a tray, kettle and teacups in hand. She could feel how nervous he was. The boy seating in her presence was nothing like the boy she used to see on TV standing with his family with so much confidence. Not to say he didn't have confidence now, he did. It took confidence coming to see her.
Oh god, he looks just like me, Lia thought groaning to herself.
How did she not see it before? Perhaps because it hadn't cross her mind that Chris was not hers biologically. Sure, there were times she wondered why he didn't look anything like her but she knew it happens and nature loved to play games.
"I only have cappuccino, I hope you don't mind" , she told him as she set the tray on the table.
"It's alright", he replied almost whispering.
Lia made the drink, offered it to him, which he accepted and took a seat at the other side, a table between them.
The only sounds that could be heard in the room for the next few minutes was the random sips of their hot drink.
Lia knew she had to talk. She was the adult here. She had to be the bigger person.
"Does your m-mother know you're here?" As soon as she asked, she knew the reply without him telling her. Of course she didn't. Jessica didn't hide the fact that she hated Lia.
Oliver shook his head as he set his cup down.
The silence reigned again. Oliver looked around and he had to admit, the interior looked nice, full of life which was ironic because only dull colours were used.
"Your house is nice", he complimented looking back at the woman at his presence. His nerves were shit but was eager to know more about her. In the old photograph, he realized he bore a resemblance to her but seeing her in person, in her older self, the resemblance was uncanny. She was truly his mother.
"Really? Thank you"
Oliver nodded and before the awkward silence filled the room again, he spoke,
"You were on your way out when I arrived, right? I'm sorry to have delayed you. I'll leave-"
"No!"
The sudden raise in her voice startled him a bit.
"No, you can stay. I'm glad you're here"
He fought hard to hide his smile. She wanted him there. Lia finally dropped her cup on the table and let out a long exhale. 
"Listen I know what's happening right now isn't convenient, like at all. I would be lying if I said I was going to give up my son", she noticed the crestfallen look on his face and immediately continued, "but I would really love to get to know you because at the end of the day, it's the kids that matter, what you both want. I-I haven't told my son yet. This weekend has been really hectic for us. My daughter was sick and had to have surgery"
"Oh I'm so sorry"
"Thank you Oliver", she smiled at him, "she's alright now. Chris doesn't do well with novel situations"
Hearing that name, Oliver froze. There was no way, no way.
"He's autistic and I admit he has been fending well these past few months. When he had to move schools, he wasn't affected at all and though Kathy's illness took a toll on him, it wasn't all that bad"
It was them. It was them.
Fuck.
"They recently transferred to your mother's school. Do you go there too? You must know them"
He did, he fucking did.
"Y-yeah, I do", Oliver let out swallowing the lump in his throat, trying not to give away anything he might be feeling.
Lia knew that he knew them. And when Oliver looked up, he figured out that she knew. Like she earlier said, she couldn't find it in her heart to be upset with him.
"I-" he started to say but she interrupted him.
"It's alright, it's all in the past"
He kept quiet and looked down.
"Just don't do it again"
He quickly nodded.
Oliver clenched his fist as a new emotion, joined the ones he was feeling. Jealousy. He was jealous, jealous that Chris grew up with a mother like Lia. Then he felt hate, hate for Chris, hate for himself because he had just promised her that he wouldn't hurt him again but why was that only thing he felt like doing?