Second Arrangement

CHAPTER 23 - FLIGHT BACK HOME

JACKSON

"So?" my mother was back to her questioning mode once we stepped outside the room. "Are you two back together again?" I could see that she was hopeful that my answer would be a 'yes' and her smile broke when I confirmed her suspicion. "You'd better make it right this time," she warned me and I grunted. As if I didn't know it already.

"Anyway, did you two live together?" I almost hit my head on the door when she shot her question.

"What?" my voice hitched an octave. "Noo... I thought you're telling me to make it right," I argued.

"I'm not old school. I know young people nowadays live together before they're married," she shrugged. "And even though I don't completely agree with it, I'll let you off the hook if you did. And it's not like you two have never lived together before. And I don't mind at the prospect of having another grandkid. It's about time you give me one anyway.."

I rolled my eyes, "Noo ma.. I've just got my own place. It's too soon to ask her to move in."

"But it is on your agenda?" she pestered and I tried hard not to roll my eyes again at her. She studied me and then a quizzical smile appeared on her face as she pointed out, "You are..."

I felt embarrassed for a little bit there. My mother managed to read my dirty mind even though I almost hit 35. But then again, she said she agreed with it, so at least she gave me a green light? "Come on, we'd better go back inside or they're going to think that you have my neck."

The rest of the dinner went well. My mother bombarded Ellie with more questions, but she answered them easily. I was glad that Ellie still thought of my mother as her own, so her questioning felt like it was coming from a concerned mother, and from a nosy person. Even Henry started to soften toward Ellie. He started to see her from a different light. His wife was ecstatic as well. She had questions regarding her daughter, and Ellie was kind enough to set her up with one of her colleagues that worked as a pediatrician here in Beijing. My mother was relieved to find out that she was flying back with me back to Korea. But I had to send her warning glares since she almost spilled my plan to ask her to move in with me. I still thought it was too soon, but my mother kept on hinting that she felt worried knowing that Ellie lived alone in Korea.

The rest of the remaining days fled like a rocket. Then we were both on our way to the airport. She had wrapped up all her work the day before and after a back and forth bantering about her going with me, under disguise as one of my team, she finally agreed to the idea. I had to show her numerous pictures of my staff, half of them were ladies, to assure her that it would be okay to add one more face to the crowd. No one was paying attention nor keeping tabs on the staff anyway. Plus, they would always blur civilian faces so there was nothing that she should worry about.

ELLIE

"Yeah sure, they won't notice me, but they will if you're helping me with the bag," I hissed, trying to pull back my bag from Jackson's grip, which was a useless effort as he didn't budge at all.

"No, they won't," he said in between his teeth. People would see him smiling at me, while in fact he was arguing with me. "They won't question my action, didn't you check the reels from fans?" he questioned.

I shook my head, "No.." I closed my mouth instantly as I just remembered how he was famous for being kind to everyone, including his fans. He helped fans and even staff numerous times. When my gaze fell on him again, he smirked as he handed me his phone.

"Just look at this one," he pointed to a certain reel, and sure there it was, a reel from fans, recorded years ago, when he helped his staff with the bag. "See," he made a comment, probably after looking at the change of expression on my face when I watched it. "They won't make a fuss since I do help my staff," his smug smile made an appearance and I wanted to wipe it off.