Once Again

20.

Sky glanced outside the window as the last rays of sun scattered through the sky, painting it red. The streetlights flickered on at the very moment.

Sky was sitting on the couch, glancing outside all the time until even the last part of the sun disappeared and the darkness made its way taking away every bit of the natural light, yet the road still illuminated by the soft glow from the streetlights and the headlights of vehicles bustling through the busy evening road.

He turned his head around, shifting his gaze inside. He tried to take a peek inside his bedroom whose door was left ajar.

The morning was quiet,that passed by so quick and gave way to a soothing afternoon. The mother and son duo closed all the curtains after having a delightful lunch. The dimly lit room had a single source of light that came from the television which played a movie on its screen.

The afternoon went by with them watching the movie together after which his mom made some evening snacks for them. And Sky must admit it did wonders on his tongue after eating light and healthy food for days.

A few moments ago, his mother got a call to which she went inside to answer. Sky tried to get a view of his bedroom where his mom was roaming while talking on her phone. He was also somewhat curious but actually more bored sitting all by himself in the room.

Before this they were having a little fight which included his mother taking out the collection of all his ugly childhood pictures, showing him all of them one by one and him nagging about why she still has all those pictures.

Sky already had some of the cute pictures of his childhood kept in his home but he couldn't really let anyone find this version of him especially of his teenage years.

Only if he could get a hold of his mother's phone and delete all those pictures of him with a face full of acne. As smooth as his skin now is, earlier it was pretty much prone to acne and that's a secret he wouldn't let anyone know, probably take it to him to his grave.

Soon she made her way out. Sky's eyes were glued on her phone with a playful intention of stealing away and deleting those photos. She followed his gaze and thought that he was interested in knowing whose call it was.

"Well it was your father's call."

Sky shifted his gaze to her face and then sideways once he heard what she said.

"Oh I am sorry, I almost forgot that you would also want to talk to him. I will call back right away don't worry."

"Don't! I mean- it's alright. I have his number I can call him anytime." Sky lied through his teeth, the truth being that he would never do that.

It wasn't like there was some kind of conflict between them yet the indifference the man used to show sometimes in Sky's interests and problems, created an unspoken disconnection between them that no one tried to resolve.

She just nodded at that, as she was about to keep her phone back, it buzzed with a few new email notifications. She checked all of them and just sighed.

Sky just gave a sad smile to her as she looked at him. Back when they used to live together, Sky knew how much workload she had on her, especially all at uneven times. He would accept it, working in a hospital wasn't easy at all.

"Hhh, it's just from work."

She gave a short smile and sat next to Sky on the couch.

"To be very honest Sky, I don't think I can stay here long. I really can't afford that many holidays right now."

Sky nodded, "Of course. You can leave whenever you want. I would be alright by myself."

This was something Sky knew since the first day but also something that he had desperately hoped to avoid.

"How can I leave you like this my baby." She said patting his head before aiming for his hair which he keenly avoided.

"Like what mae! I can take care of myself since I am not a 'baby' anymore." He said, emphasizing the word 'baby' so that his mother could already stop calling him that.

"Just shut up, you don't know more than me." Sky rolled his eyes at that.

There was a moment of silence before his mother spoke up.

"Sky why don't you consider marrying. I really can't see you all alone by yourself here my son." She said keeping her one hand on his cheek. Her rings felt cold against his cheek. His eyes desperately sought for some place to hide from his mother's gaze.

Sky's silence gave her the incentive to continue as she said, "Look at your sister, she has a caring husband, loving children. What else does one need in life except career and respect."

"Exactly- career! Career is important too na mae."

"Come on, you have a good job, what else do you need. Also it isn't like you can't do anything after marriage."

Sky just looked down, creating circles on the sofa fabric from his thumb.

"Son, who knows where life takes you. Don't you want me to at least see my child being happy and having his own children before dying peacefully."

"Mom, you already have grandchildren, that too both girl and boy. What else do you need." Sky snapped, recognising the emotional manipulation.

"A daughter-in-law." She replied to his question, taking him off guard.

The room engulfed into an awkward silence since Sky didn't bothered to reply what his mother said.

The silence shattered with the shrill ringtone of his mother's phone. She quickly answered and had a short conversation before putting it down with a sigh.

"Sky, I think I would have to leave tomorrow only."

Sky finally met his mother's gaze, his eyes locking onto hers for a moment before he nodded silently.

"Uhmm why don't you come with me back home. We can have dinner together, the whole family. Then you can come back after spending some time."

Sky's eyes brightened at the moment, he took some time to consider the offer. Of course, he wanted to go but until he spoke that up, his mother had already started speaking, and the words she uttered as arrows aimed straight for his heart.

"You know, that's perfect, I will also invite your father's colleague and her daughter to have dinner with us."

"Why mom?" He managed to say in a shaky voice despite already knowing the answer to it.

"Sky, you don't know how nice she is. She is talented, beautiful and moreover has a good job and reputation. She also studied architecture just like...."

His mother continued for a minute but the words started blurring in his mind, his gaze fixed on the door at a distance.

"Sky! Sky?" She shook him out of his trance.

"Uhh I am sorry what were you saying?"

"I was saying, I am going to call your father to send me a picture of her. Of course I won't make you meet her if you don't like her." She said with a reassuring smile and patted his head, walking towards the bedroom.

She dialed the contact and waited for the person on the other side to pick up. After a long bell and no one picking up, she hung up and left a message for him, asking him for the photo. She smiled in satisfaction as she finally had that talk with Sky that she wanted to have since so long.

She exited the room, closing the door behind her. But she found herself in an empty room, standing in the middle all by herself. The main door was slightly ajar and her son was nowhere to be found.

Frantically, the woman rummaged through all the rooms, in an effort to find the boy but all in vain. She glanced at the open door. At the same time her phone beeped with probably the notification of her husband's message. Yet the concerns about Sky's whereabouts consumed her and she ignored the message. The ticking of the clock and the open door sending chills down her spine.

~~~

What do you guys think of this chapter??

I ain't that mean to leave the cliffhanger right?? But you'll have to wait anyways (sorry not sorry👽)

Any guesses for the next chapter? I think it was *whispers* the pirates who took him.