VIRIDITY • jb

twenty five.

          “We should leave now, I think there's gonna be a mild traffic on the way to the airport,” Wil patted my head, messing with my hair.

          “Oh no Wil not the hair!” Justin dramatically says, messing with my hair more.

          “I hate you guys.”

          Wil always gave me what I want, what I need all my life, he spoiled the life out of me since I was not the one who always wishes for materialistic stuff. He let me live freely. But there was this time yesterday about him being a little different from that.

          Justin did all the talking. I wasn't there with him and help him talk to Wil and Claire, confident enough to say that he knows what he's doing. I almost hit him and said I could do it myself, but he says it's him who needs something from me.

          Wil was hesistant on allowing me to go. Considering it was my first time not spending Christmas​ with him, and my first time leaving without him. What made him agree is when Justin promised to keep in contact as long as we can. Most people would hate their guardians to treat them like that but not me, I love that he's overprotective to me, Dad will probably do the same thing.

          It's my first time in Canada, and I've heard it's gonna be a lot colder there so Claire helped me to shop for winter clothes this afternoon. I recall her saying that Justin mentioned absentmindedly to her that he admires the mixture of my complexion and velvet red, so she chose most of my clothes to be in that color.

          Both Claire and Wil thinks I'm excited and hyped to visit Canada and Justin's hometown. I let them hold onto that thought because I wouldn't want them to ask why I feel so nervous about stepping on Canada's ground.

          Claire even asked if we're already at it, and I just simply told her that we decided to take it slow and see if this is right, which is a hundred percent true. She even told me that Wil's gonna be so proud of my maturity.

          On our way to the airport, Justin held my hand as he probably sensed my nerves everywhere. He squeezed it and smiled warmly, enough for him to deliver how happy he was that I'm with him with this. His eyes showed fear though. Is his history really that bad? Bad enough for me to run and leave him again?

          I don't remember unclasping our hands in the plane. We were silent, comfortably silent I should say, throughout the ride and he told me to go to sleep while he can't because I'd have to stay awake so if he could already sleep, I'd watch him. I think riding a plane wasn't a piece of cake for him.

          When we landed in I don't exactly know where in Canada, I'm not sure if it's the high level of coldness or I simply am just very nervous to watch things go unravel themselves. I hope it wasn't as bad as Justin makes it seem like. Or even worse.

          “You okay?” he smiles sleepily as we search for his Mom.

          I sent his smile back. “Yeah. You look so cute.”

          His eyes widened, probably lost his sleepiness. “Excuse me? Don't call me that again.”

          “Sure,” I nodded. “But that won't stop me thinking about how cute you really are.”

          “Whatever,” he rolls his eyes while he scans the crowd. “I think I saw mom. Let's go.”

          Shît shît shît. This is it. I'm going to meet the mom. Why am I so damn nervous? It's not like I'm Justin's girlfriend.

          The next thing I saw is a short curvy woman with long hair running over Justin as she screams his name. Aww, since when is Justin last visit here again?

          I let them have their moment and I almost cried on how Justin shows his affection to his mom. I let them to their reunion greetings and my heart almost dropped on the floor when his mom's green eyes met mine.

          Damn, she's gorgeous. Gorgeously alike to his son.

          “You must be Olive!” she exclaims as she ran into my arms, taking me aback. I was smiling as I questioningly eyed Justin behind his mom and he just grinned at me.

          “Hi Ms. Mallette,” I say, not certain if I should call her Mrs. Bieber or Ms. Mallette.

          “Wow you got a nice and polite woman right here, Jay,” she pulls away. “Just call me Pattie, dear.”

          I wonder how Justin introduced me to his mom. “Pattie. It's nice to meet you.”

          “Likewise, hun! You're much prettier than how  Justin have described you.”

          I snap my eyes at Justin again and he was containing his laugh. “Oh uh, thank you... I guess?”

          I hope she didn't hear what I last said and Justin thankfully saved me by asking where Seth is. She says he's at work and we should go to their house already because she's excited to introduce her dishes.

          Justin insisted his Mom to drive us to their residence. She was responsible for keeping us in a conversation, and I like that she's so nice to me. She tells us stories about how their town, Stratford, had been.

          “She was never talkative to my ex like that,” Justin admitted, nudging my arm as we get our baggages in his mom's car.

          “Oh, there's someone before me?”

          He laughs, clutching both of my shoulders as he looks deeply into my eyes. If looks could burn, I would be ashes on the ground. “I told you that to make you think she likes you. Don't think too much okay? There's more to reveal.”

          I breathed and smiled. “Yeah, I'm ready.”

          He pats my head and kisses it. “Now go help my Mom make her dish. I'll take care of your stuff.”

          “I was kind of hoping you'll show me your room first,” I teased, just testing the waters. It was hard to contain my laugh when his jaw dropped.

          “You're turning into a bad girl, Liv,” he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear.

          I made a face and followed him to the kitchen. Pattie was already mixing something on a pan and I went straight to the sink to wash my hands. “Is there anything I could do?”

          “Sure sweetie. Could you please take care of those potatoes?” she asks nicely. “I wish you like mashed potatoes.”

          “They're actually my favorite.”

          “Justin's ex hates them,” she exhales and gasps seconds later. “That's too rude of me, I'm sorry Olive. I'm just happy Justin found someone better than her.”

          Who is this ex?

          “No it's fine, I understand,” I say as I started on doing the potatoes. “I hope you don't mind me asking, where's Sophia by the way?”

          “She's on a business trip. Left just yesterday. I think she'll be back in a week.”

          Justin's footsteps were soon heard behind us. “I hope you guys aren't discussing about me and my past.”

          “What past do you mean?” I ask.

          “Something I would be telling and showing you soon."

          Pattie wipes her hand on her apron and gives his son a hug. “What did this woman do to you? I'm so proud of you.”

          My heart swelled for the second time today, both by seeing them act so cute and by Pattie's compliment. Did I really just turn a bad boy into a good man?

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guyss wth i'm sorry for making you wait, let's just say my momentum died and WRITER'S BLOCK is annoying tf out of me. luv yall xo