Moms' Matchmaking Mischiefs

Chapter 02: Heart in Hands

Madilynn adjusted her camera settings, squinting through the viewfinder to frame the perfect shot. Marius stood beside her, a forced smile plastered on his face as he tried to look like he was enjoying himself.

"Come on, Marius, loosen up a little," Madilynn said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into his demeanor.

Marius sighed, rubbing his temples. "Madilynn, I know I agreed to this whole thing, but I'm really not cut out for all this posing and smiling. Can't we just get this over with?"

Madilynn shook her head, snapping a quick photo before turning to him. "We've talked about this, Marius. Our moms are determined to see us together, and we need these photos to make it convincing. Don't worry, I'm still paying you for this. I can add more if that can ease your mind."

Marius sighed again, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. "I know, I know. It's just... I'm not used to all this."

Madilynn softened her expression, understanding his frustration. "I get it, Marius. But we need to take as many photos as we can. Let's just try to make the best of it."

With a resigned nod, Marius reluctantly complied, allowing Madilynn to direct him into various poses and settings.

"Now, put your arm around my shoulder." Madilynn then instructed Marius. She then smoothly wrapped hers around his waist. 

This startled Marius a bit and it surprised Madilynn. "What, you never had a person hug you from the side?" Madilynn asked in confusion. 

"No?" Marius blushed in embarrassment as he admitted.

Madilynn's eyes widened. "What? Are you serious?" 

"Tsk, just take the photos." Marius answered annoyingly.

Madilynn chuckled and crossed her arms. "How about hands? Have you held hands with a person?" 

"Can we please stop talking about me?" Marius frowned as he responded.

Madilynn continued to laugh. "Oh my god, Marius." 

"What? It's not like you've been in a relationship before, either." Marius rebutted.

Madilynn raised her right brow. "So? I mean fine, I haven't held hands with a person romantically yet, but that doesn't mean I never tried flirting with anyone." 

Despite his discomfort, he couldn't deny that Madilynn had a talent for capturing moments. With each click of the shutter, they created a facade of a happy couple, smiling and laughing as if they were truly in love.

Then they walked towards the park, under the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, they posed, giggled, and clicked away. Madilynn couldn't help but feel a flutter of satisfaction as Marius's arm wrapped around her waist for a particularly sweet shot. "See? You can do it!" Madilynn chuckled as he teased Marius. He then just rolled his eyes at her and shook his head and smiled. 

"Perfect," Madilynn beamed, checking the preview on the camera's screen once more. "Our moms are going to believe this for sure!"

But just as they were about to snap another picture, Marius's phone rang, disrupting their little bubble of pretense bliss. He frowned at the caller ID before answering. "Hey, Maria, what's up?"

Madilynn watched as Marius's expression shifted from confusion to concern within seconds. Whatever Maria was saying, it was clearly serious.

"What? When did this happen?" Marius's voice rose with alarm, and Madilynn's heart clenched at the worry etched on his face.

"What's wrong?" she mouthed silently, but Marius shook his head, mouthing back, "My mom."
"I'll be right there," Marius said firmly before ending the call, his hands trembling slightly.

Madilynn didn't hesitate. "I'm going with you," she declared, already gathering their things even without knowing yet the reason.

Marius opened his mouth to protest, but the determined look in Madilynn's eyes silenced him. With a grateful nod, he followed her lead as they hurried out of the park.

--
Madilynn and Marius found themselves at the train station, their hometown a distant destination on the tracks ahead. With worry gnawing at their minds, the train seemed like a fitting backdrop for their journey.

As they approached the ticket counter, Marius reached for his wallet, but Madilynn's hand shot out to stop him. "I got this," she insisted, flashing him a determined yet gentle smile as she handed over the cash for both their tickets.

Marius blinked in surprise, but he didn't protest. Instead, he gave her a small smile and followed her onto the platform as they waited for their train.

Once aboard the train, they settled into their seats, but the atmosphere between them was heavy with unspoken anxiety.

Madilynn broke the tense silence. "What was that phone call about?"

Marius's brow furrowed as he glanced out the window, his thoughts troubled. "It was Maria, my neighbor. She mentioned something about my mom and the landlord."

Madilynn's heart sank at the mention of Marius's mother. "Do you think everything's alright?"

"I don't know. I hope so." Marius shrugged, a deep crease forming between his brows. 

The train jolted into motion, the rhythmic clatter of the tracks mirroring the turmoil in their minds.

Madilynn chewed her lip, unable to shake the feeling of unease. "I can't stop worrying about it."

Marius nodded, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside.

They lapsed into a tense silence, each lost in their own thoughts as the train barreled forward.

"I didn't realize Maria still lived in your neighborhood," she remarked, her voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and concern. 

Marius nodded, his own thoughts still preoccupied with the call he had received earlier. "Yeah, it's been a while since we last caught up."

As the train finally pulled into their hometown station, Madilynn and Marius rose from their seats, their worries still evident in the air between them. As they stepped off the train and into the familiar hustle and bustle of home, Madilynn couldn't help but sigh deeply. She's here again. But she needs to focus on Marius and his mom. Despite the lingering tension, there was a sense of relief in being back in familiar surroundings.

After a few minutes of walking, Madilynn and Marius approached his childhood home. They spotted Ruth sitting on the front porch steps. Her shoulders were slumped, and her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. She looked up as they drew near, and a mix of relief and anguish flickered across her face.

Marius's heart clenched at the sight of his mother's distress. Without a word, he hurried forward and enveloped her in a tight hug, Madilynn hovering close by, offering silent support.

"Mom, what happened?" Marius asked, his voice laced with concern as he pulled back to look at her.

His mother took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she struggled to compose herself. "I'm sorry, Marius. I tried to handle it on my own, but I couldn't keep it from you any longer."

Marius felt a knot form in his stomach, a sense of dread settling over him as he waited for his mother to continue.

"The landlord... he kicked us out," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "We've been struggling with the rent for months, and I didn't want to burden you with it."

Marius's heart sank at the revelation. He had been so caught up in his own world that he hadn't even noticed the struggles his mother was facing.

Madilynn, her heart heavy with concern, stepped forward. "But why didn't you tell my mom? You know she would have welcomed you both with open arms until you figured things out. You guys are practically like family to us."

Tears welled up in Marius's mother's eyes as she looked at Madilynn, overwhelmed by her kindness. "I didn't want to impose," she admitted, her voice choked with emotion. "And I didn't want to worry you, Marius. You have enough on your plate already with university and everything."

"Dad would have helped," Marius muttered, a tinge of disappointment creeping into his voice. "Where is he anyway? Why isn't he around to support us?"

His mother's expression faltered for a moment, her gaze flickering away before she spoke. "Your father... he's... he's away on business, Marius. He's working hard to provide for us, you know that."

Marius furrowed his brow, a mix of frustration and skepticism rising within him. "On business, and yet can't pay the rent?" he questioned, his voice tinged with disbelief.

His mother's eyes dropped to the ground, unable to meet his gaze. "Things have been tough lately, Marius. But your father is doing everything he can to make ends meet."

"We'll figure this out together, Marius. You're not alone in this." Madilynn gently placed a hand on Marius's arm, her eyes filled with sympathy. 

Without a moment's hesitation, she reached for her phone, fingers trembling slightly as she dialed her mother's number. "Mom?" Madilynn spoke quickly as soon as the call connected. "I'm at Tita Ruth's. Can you come here?"

Rica's voice crackled with surprise through the phone. "Ruth's? What are you doing there, honey?"