After Us

Chapter 12 : Mistakes

It was the heavenly smell of a delicious home-cooked meal that woke him, feeling rather disoriented at first at the unfamiliar surroundings that greeted him when he opened his eyes.
However, his confusion was short-lived, because as soon as he sat up trying to remember where he was and what he was doing there, his bones cracking in seventeen different places, Type's mother was there to jumpstart his memory. She was also carrying a tray of that mouth-watering food he thought he was only dreaming about earlier, a mug of steaming tea and a beautiful smile to match it.

"Mom," he stood and quickly met her half-way, taking the tray out of her slim hands to help her. She rolled her eyes at him in answer but letting him take the tray away from her anyway. "Good morning. I'm sorry I fell asleep. I thought I was dreaming when Dad invited me over for tea. Guess it wasn't a dream, huh?"

Type's mother chuckled as if he was being funny on purpose, gesturing for him to sit as she did the same. Tharn put the tray down first at the low table before he sat down again.

"He insisted that it was him trying not to get the neighbors from talking. That they eventually would, once they saw you loitering outside his property like a common stalker, his words not mine." she said, shaking her head, before her gaze zeroing on his neck and frowning. "Oh, Tharn, those mosquito bites look nasty. Do you want some cream to treat those? I think Type has some in his room, son."

Tharn's hand automatically went to his neck, laughing awkwardly when he realized what she was pointing at. Mosquito bites? More like Type bites, he mused to himself, but wisely didn't voice it out. If only she knew how many of those bites he himself had left on her son's body, she probably wouldn't even let him inside her house, not even for a cup of tea.

He shook his head. "Uh, no, it's okay. I...think I have one in the car as well. Don't worry about it, Mom," he said, scratching his neck. Then, he pointed at the tray, specifically at the steaming tea, quietly asking for permission.

"Oh, go ahead. No need to ask, you silly boy. It's for you. Come on, drink it while it's hot." she said, gesturing with her hand. Tharn reached for the cup, took a quiet sip, letting the warm liquid down his throat, well aware that she was watching. A moment of silence passed between them, while Tharn drank the tea and Type's mother quietly watched him.

The cup was half-empty when he'd put it down. He met her gaze and cleared his throat.

She probably already knew what he was about to ask, but to hell with it. "Is Type still in his room? I...I forgot to ask him what time his shift is at the clinic today."

She gave him a look. "No, he already left. About half an hour ago, I think."

Oh. He didn't...well, he didn't expect that. He checked his wristwatch and realized that it was only a little over eight, still too early. He honestly thought Type's shift at the clinic started late in the morning.

"So he saw me sleeping here before he left?" he asked. Type's mother nodded. He blinked at that, contemplating what to say next. "Um. Did he say anything before he...he went to the clinic?"

He could see her struggling, probably contemplating if she should tell him exactly what her son told him to say. Knowing Type, and remembering exactly how he'd turned him away last night, Tharn knew better than to expect to hear something that wasn't so - hurtful. Or disappointing.

"I know. He wants me to leave, doesn't he?" he said, answering his own question and feeling entirely justified for wanting to burst into tears right then and there. It was hard but he held himself. He couldn't let her think that a little disappointment would be enough to deter him.

It wouldn't, because if anything, he was more determined now than he was hours ago, determined enough to take on whatever he needed to do to show Type he meant every word he'd told Type before he asked him to go.