Bubble Gum Kisses

Kapittel 5

Kapittel 5

Friso

"Drew, honey... wake up... wake up, sweetheart..." Friso groaned outwardly and yanked his mother's hand that was shaking his arm away softly. She had been doing it for the past ten minutes, and he wouldn't dare budge. After that wild party at Exzur's last night, he thought he deserved a long rest. The school wouldn't be a bother after all. A thick wad of bucks was enough for an instructor to put his name on a check on the record, and he had lots and lots of wads of cash. He kept my eyes closed and continued to delve into his deep slumber.

He heard his mother groan for the nth time. A ghost smirk crept into his face. His mother, Allison, finally professed her unyielding defeat.

"You're not waking up? Fine. I'm taking your phone with me." His eyes popped wide open the moment he heard her statement.

"I'm up! I'm up!" he exclaimed and hastily sat straight. Holding his throbbing head, he looked at his smirking mother, who was holding his newly bought iPhone 11 Pro Max, with a look of disbelief. Allison's hearty laugh resonated in the four corners of his room, melting his heart. "Good morning, baby." She sat on the side of his bed and leaned to kiss his forehead.

As much as Friso wanted to turn away, he didn't since he knew she would throw a fit of a tantrum on him, and that meant no car keys and credit cards for him until they reconciled. "Mom, I'm already 18," he groaned instead and took the heavy comforter off his body.

She gently placed his phone back on the nightstand. "But you're still my baby," she said with a slight pout on her lips. He looked into her eyes and saw them softening. Not again.

"I miss those times when you still sit on my lap and giggle loudly whenever I touch your ticklish spot," she said in a child-like voice as her eyes began to get teary. He clandestinely took a huge sigh. There his mother goes again, reminiscing and reminding him of the events back when he was young, when he was still a baby, knowing that she was fond of toddlers and babies. "And also back then when you were three. That time when you and dad were in a reality show. It was so cute seeing you talk to a mannequi—"

"Mom!" he interjected, his cheeks flaring into a deep shade of scarlet red. He didn't want to be reminded of that! God knew how much he wanted to forget that embarrassing memory— it was even broadcasted on live TV! Everyone, even his friends, knew about it, and they'd tease him, rubbing on his face that he talked to a mannequin!

"What's going on here?" a powerful, domineering voice asked. Both simultaneously looked at the door and found his father, Hades, standing by the door frame with their pet husky, Jojo standing beside him.

"Jojo!" he called, and the old dog quickly submitted to him, strutting towards him and jumping on his bed. He ruffled the latter's glistening fur and embraced it like a newly stuffed toy. Jojo was his mother's dog when she was in college and had been alongside him since he was born. He considered him as his only best friend. Even though the dog was already as old as a World War Veteran in his dog years, he still moved swiftly and alertly like a youngster.

A faint smack distracted him from cuddling Jojo. He looked at his parents and saw the last thing he wanted to see: his parents warming up. Hades' had his hand on Allison's head and his lips pressing on her forehead. Their proximity was incalculable but could be cited as technically close. "Good morning, love," his father greeted his mother, looking at her with loving eyes, becoming oblivious of his presence.

"Good morning," she greeted back and kissed his cheek.

Friso cleared his throat, grabbing their attention. "Good morning, dad," he greeted his father, looking at his father pleadingly to get a room with his mother. Fortunately, Hades got his message and immediately stood upright. "Good morning, son." He eyed his young man, who was wearing a tired face. "You look..."