Sighted

Chapter 15: Don't Take What Doesn't Belong to You

Gin

      Silence reigns in the small, private room of the restaurant.

        After my embarrassing first impression in front of Alex's mother, my mom had gotten up and helped me right the chair, but I was still too stunned to sit back down. Of all the people to be at the same restaurant as us, it had to be his mother. I hadn't even accepted Alex's date proposal yet. Although, it hadn't really been a question, more of a comment.

       I had looked over at Alex, but he looked equally stunned. His mother, gave me a weird look after I jumped out of my chair. Crap! She walked further into the room, giving Alex a slight hug. He leaned down slowly, wrapping his arms around the elegant woman. She looked around with a polite smile at my parents and myself.

"Alex, I thought you had a meeting for work, but I know what this is," she said with pout.

"You do?" Four voices echoed throughout the room.

       Still pouting, "Of course, that young woman's reaction gave it away." Alex's mother brushed non-existent lint off of her son's sweater. "You're also at one of my favorite restaurants, so it's obvious."

       It is?

       The confusing woman suddenly smiled up into her son's face, one of her delicate hands pinched his cheeks. "Of course, you sweet boy. They're event planners! I didn't think you'd be thinking of my birthday next month already!"

       Event planners? My parents face reflected the same confusion and relief that I felt. It wasn't ideal, but I could pretend if it meant we escaped this awkward situation without having to explain everything.

"Mother," Alex had said, before removing his mom's hand from his cheek. "They're not event planners."

       What did he say? I tried to catch his eye and communicate that we should go along with it. He did look into my eyes, but it was clear he was going to ignore my message. He disentangled himself from his mother, before walking quickly around the table.

       I was frozen in place but I could shake my head at him slightly. Didn't he realize that it would make all of this harder? Alex ignored my pleading looks and wrapped his hand around one of mine. I was pulled in front of the beautiful woman who was looking between her son and me blankly.

"Mother," Alex started, "this is Gin. She's my..." He seemed to struggle to come up with the right word. All I could do was stare at him anxiously. "Well, she's my..." I inwardly cringed, for him, when he couldn't say anything, not that I blamed him, we haven't even had two minutes alone, let alone time for labels. I did realize one thing though. Owen had been right, Alex handles weird amazingly well.

       I was watching him, I hadn't been able to look away since he took my hand, and I saw him take a deep breath. He looked directly at his mother and seemed to pull me a little closer to him. "Gin is responsible for the rest of my life, Mother. Just as I'm responsible for her."

      After that bold statement, that had quite honestly taken my breath away, his mother hasn't said a word. Alex introduced us to Jane Chen, but since those initial and strained greetings, no one has really spoken. Ms. Chen turned down the invitation to eat, but she did join us at the table. No one else feels like eating right now.

       The stunned disbelief on Alex's mom's face was quickly replaced with a cool, indecipherable look, still in place. My mother had switched seats with Alex, placing both of us to one side of Jane and my parents on her other. Mom and Dad seem to be throwing glances between themselves, communicating with just looks.