MyStandIN: Back to Joe (alternate ending)

18- Open secrets

After dinner, we remained a little longer by the river. His eyes closed, Ming's head was resting on my shoulder, his arms around my waist. So many things I wanted to know, all those questions I had in mind... but being with him here felt like stopping time... Rocked by the waves, the cool night's air, I filled my lungs with the ambient scents, his perfume... before heading back, drowsy, with the last boat.

The following weeks, we would find any excuse to meet up: a new vegetarian buffet, the opening of a vintage café, Ming buying a new Leica, an indie concert in town, readings for a future role... With each rendez-vous, a new secret. I was dying to know more : his first loves and heartbreaks, his adolescent antics, his young adult tribulations. A new date was set. His voice, his words, his facial expressions, the twists and turns of his anecdotes always intrigued me. I had heard these stories from Mum more than a dozen times, but they always had an unknown twist when they came from him. Mothers do not even know a quarter of their child's reality. Ming had also managed to extract a few secrets from my old life. I was a mystery he was delighted to decipher, albeit cryptical. His patience impressed me. Hardly a day went by without me hearing from him. When we went out together, I found myself looking for him every time he was out of my sight... ever since that evening at the market... without realizing it, constantly seeking out his presence.

End of the month. Ming returned home after a little over a dozen days. We had not told Mum about us yet, wanting to wait and see where this would lead us. A few hours in the kitchen and once again, he had outdone himself, making us a tasty dinner. Our finest cutlery, fresh and fragrant flowers, him decorating the table, a feast: fried fish, rice and green curry, sautéed vegetables.

- You've been scarce lately Ming !, Mum pointed out.

- I'm preparing for business studies next semester!

- That's good news! Your parents must be over the moon!

- They say the ceremony following my coma was the best investment they ever made! They never thought their prayers would come true so quickly.

- Cheers to that, to your upcoming success !

We raised our glasses to a promising future, clinking them together, intending to overshadow any evil eye, before emptying our cocktails.

- These days, I hardly ever see Joe at home... Your name often appears on his phone...

- He helps me from time to time to rehearse my lessons...

- I thought I'd lost you to a pretty brunette... monopolizing all your time..., she disclosed.

- More like a dark-haired man... he dreams about every night...

As soon as I had said those words, I realized my blunder.

- I'm sorry... I didn't mean to...

- No... it's all right... I...

Ming took a deep breath, lowered his head, staring at his empty plate.

- So... you're... like my son?

Ming nodded silently. Seeing his face falling, Mum took him in her arms.

- My door will always be open to you, dear... If you need someone to talk...

- Ming... I...

Getting up from my chair, Ming waved at me, signaling me it was nothing. I stood there helplessly, having hurt one of the people I cared the most about, knowing what this moment meant to him. Thus I sat down, letting both of them have a mother-son moment. She hugged him tightly, while he clutched her arm.

- Sooner or later..., he added.

- ... you'll live the life you want and... hhappiness will come knocking at your door.

Mum wiped her eyes, uttered in a hoarse voice :

- What does he... look like... that gentleman from your fantasies?

Ming took his phone out, searched for something, he finally showed her.

- The one... next to Tong.

- That face doesn't look familiar... but... he's more handsome than my son...

Nervous, I gathered the dirty plates, took them to the kitchen.

- Someone looks annoyed... could it be jealousy?

In the living room, I could hear them murmuring, laughing. I was relieved, even though I was competing with an imaginary man.

- You've got lots of pictures... of my son on your phone !, Mum remarked as I walked back into the living room.

- I bought a new cell phone and Joey...

- Joey, huh?!

Silence set in the room, I was getting busier clearing the table.

- You've got a nice bracelet... Joe has the same, but in brown !, as she touched his wrist.

- They're really cheap ! You can find them everywhere these days...

My phone rang in my pocket. A reminder from my calendar: "Surprise for Joey ❤️❤️". Ming's phone vibrated a few seconds later. I saw him glance at the screen, trying to hide the message from Mum.

- We can move on to the dessert... I guess.

A wry smile on her face, she headed for the fridge. I seized those few minutes, ran over to Ming asking for explanations, hen Mum came back with a cake.

- A lot of sweet news today !

The dame calmly cut two big slices, serving Ming and me first.

- When the time comes... and you're both ready... I'll be all ears.

We both blushed, staring at our pastry, as if in agreement. Was this the confession she had been waiting for?