[1] BROKEN ONE // t. stark

11

"Hey, Mom!" I called her as if she was the one who was distracted from the phone call. "I'm sorry. I bumped into someone and I nearly fell." Which wasn't wrong because I did bump into Peter Parker, the boy Dad wanted his help from; and I did feel like I almost fall when I look into his eyes. The feeling was far different from when I met Ryder's eyes.

     "Where are you?" she asked. I could see her eyebrows cocked in my imagination.

     "Uh...." I looked around the apartment, see if there was any word on the wall that could give me ideas to lie to Mom. But unfortunately, there wasn't. "I'm in Queens."

     Mom scoffed as if I made a joke. "You're in Queens? What are you doing there? I thought you're supposed to be in Upstate New York for the whole Summer?"

     "Uh-oh." I bit my lower lip when the expression of my tone that came out sounded more like I was doomed when I intended it to be just "oh." "Dad. He....wants to get away from work for awhile so we drove here."

     "Oh." Mom seemed like she didn't know what else to talk about. I was almost relieved to that. I can't wait to say goodbye to Mom so that I won't have to lie to her more. I felt as if I'm being whiplash every time I told her a lie.

     But then, Mom spoke. "Honey, can we meet up?"

     My heart leapt.

     "Meet up?" I frowned. "Mom, you're busy. I don't want you to waste your time. Plus, I won't be long here. Dad will-"

     "Please, Terri. I miss you." I heard her sniffling on the other side of the phone. Whether she's doing it on purpose or not, the sniffle made a hit in my chest hard like I wanted to cry too.

     I miss my mother, too. It's almost a month we haven't seen each other and never got to talk on the phone every night as what she asked me to do. If I ever got a time - a free time, really - I would spend the whole night with her, but even though I'm in New York, right now, under the same state with her, I have a mission to accomplish. It's like a job to me although it's rather a help for Dad. I can't meet her.

     "Terri? You're there?"

     "Yeap, yeap, I'm here," I said. "Look, Mom, I miss you too. But Dad and I won't be here for long. We will be back to-"

     "Who said I want to meet your father? I want to meet you."

     "Mom." I sighed. "I'm sorry, but I can't. Dad won't let me to-"

     "I'm your mother, Terri," Mom said, this time sternly. I didn't know if she was mad at me because of my reluctantness or because I'm backing Dad up. But either way, I made Mom angry and there's no way to stop Mom from coming to see me. "Come on. Tell me your location, I'll come and get to you."

     I turned to the door of Peter's apartment wishing Dad to get out of the house already. But, of course, he hasn't. Although he said it would be brief, but to convince someone isn't easy. I still hope Dad is-

     I got a good idea then. I didn't know how many more times Dad is taking, but I suddenly prayed that he'll take longer. I change my mind too fast that made me dizzy for a few seconds before opening my mouth once again and spoke to my mother.

     "Okay." I sighed in relieved. I talked to Mom in a whisper as if Dad was here and didn't want him to hear. I gave Mom the address of Peter's apartment and told her I'll meet her at the curb, but not too long before Dad finished relaxing himself - that I lied to Mom.

     When Mom said goodbye to me and told me she'll be here soon before I realised it, I heard her smile. That wide smile she gave me every time I blew the candle of my birthday cake; that wide smile she gave when I told her my good grades; that wide smile when I gave her her birthday present. I've always wished that smile won't ever fade as she gets older because that smile has always been my courage.