Secret | h.s

Chapter 7

After me spending an hour with Hazz, cooking and drinking wine, my mom returns home, with dark circles encircling her ocean blue eyes. She looks exhausted. This is the thing with her. She is trying to isolate herself from the world for almost half a decade now. After my dad left us, all she's trying to do is suppress her emotions and appear to be happy. Since she knows she can't hide her feelings all the time, she keeps working so that her brain and her heart do not have any space or time for that.

Entering the house, she quickly drops her vanity bag on the couch and ties her dark brown hair into a bun.

"Mom, we've already cooked supper. Don't worry." I inform her, guessing that's why she's in a hurry.

"Oh. Thank you. And I hope it's tasty." She says in her thick accent, while her shoulders relax and she immediately collapses on the fluffy couch.

"You'll have no complaints, Mel!" Hazz raises his brows, assuring her mischievously and continues setting the dining table.

"Umm...it smells good." Mom remarks as soon as Hazz gets the meals out of the kitchen.

After serving each other, we enjoy the most amazing sausages and mashed potatoes ever. Hazz is a good cook, in the sense he does everything you say, very sincerely. And one, for God's sake, should never commit the mistake of leaving him for himself in the kitchen. He can end up messing every inch of it, for real. So, he'll make a good worker, if you make a good manager. And I think I am a good manager, given the food. I basically hate cooking. I'm great at it, but I hate it. Unlike Hazz. So I love giving instructions, and he loves following them. Now that I'm thinking about it, we make a perfect pair.

The supper comes to an end, after a session of my mother complaining of how fast me and my brother were growing up and Hazz supporting her.

We all sit on the couch with the TV on. My mom surfs through the channels and complains about how bad the aired shows are nowadays. Hazz is sitting beside me and is teasing me of how I could perfectly fit in the role of a damsel in every movie possible while I keep asking him to shut up.

I finally lay my head on his lap and curl myself up against him. His lap is the most comfortable pillow in the world and the way he is brushing his fingers through my hair, is making me cozy as ever.

A ring from his phone disturbs me from my sleep and I sit awake, while he excuses himself to attend it. My mom is watching Masterchef and I can't help but chuckle at how intently she's watching it.

"Mom.." I decide to begin. I have a lot to tell her.

"Hmm?" She raises her neatly carved brows at me.

"I...I had to tell you something.." I mutter.

"That...Harry proposed to you?" She asks cheekily and takes me aback in surprise.

"How'd you know?!" I widen my eyes and furrow my brows at her. Clearly confused.

"I...kinda guessed it." She smiles with a wink, "And well, you know I'm so happy for you two! Finally, you two will always be together! And..." She hesitates for a moment, "You and Pat, my kiddos, you went through a lot...because of me and...your father." She's almost on the verge of crying.

"Mom, forget about that. There's actually more to this.." I interrupt her before she dwells into her past again. Our past actually.

"What?" She asks curiously.

"Well, this might sound a little..you know..weird." I struggle to find the right word but fail, "Hazz wants to keep this marriage a secret." I announce. Not a bit of sadness or anger in my voice. Only firmness.

"And are you okay with that?" She asks. Her face has already dropped in what looks like disgust.

"Honestly, I don't know." I let out a chuckle. I hate how unsure I am of things, except that Hazz and me love each other.

"Well, for how long?" She furrows her brows, "This...secret thing?" She clarifies.

"I don't know that too.." I shake my head in disgust for myself, "I don't know, mom. I don't know anything right now. I even don't know if I'm right in agreeing to this...whatever." I don't know what to call it.

"Can you live without him?" She asks the question which I thought she already knew the answer to.

I shake my head in a no and a drop of tear escapes my eye.

"Then of course you're right, darling." She wipes my tear away and takes me by surprise again. Being a mother, I didn't think she'd agree to something like this.

"But, mom...a secret marriage? A hidden relationship? I don't even understand how that works!" My voice cracks at the end.

"It doesn't work, Precia. It cannot work. That's the reason I told you you're right. Things are made in this world to be discovered. No man can ever keep something from being discovered. It's beyond his capability. And a relationship?" She lets out a chuckle, "A relationship can never be hidden, my dear. It's the most transparent thing in the world. Harry is a young boy, drowned in fame and the game of this world. But trust me, he'll soon come to know he can't hide this. He can't hide you." She cups my cheek and smiles a very satisfying smile. She was always the more philosophical one in our family.

"Mom...if he is doing this to maintain his fame or anything like that...then..do you think he'll keep me happy?" I feel like asking her every question I have. Now that she's speaking such satisfying and convincing words.

"Of course, baby. He'll keep you the happiest. I know that. Why do you think he'd propose a marriage to you if he didn't want to reveal it?" She asks, maintaining the same composure, making me think of some unturned stones.

"Because...darling, he wants to do what you'd like him to. He knew that's what you liked and he knew this is something that'll keep you happy, unlike how you were during those sad years. He loves you, Precia. There's no doubt in it and your life, with him, is going to be beautiful." She answers her question herself when she doesn't get one from me. I smile.

"Mom..I love you." I say, while she embraces me into a tight, happy hug.

"Oh! What's going on, girls?! I really want to be a part of this too.." Hazz comes in a few seconds later and his long arms cover both of us. Another beautiful moment in my life to cherish.

"Mom...will you please inform Pat and convince him about this.." I ask her a few minutes after we break the group hug, while waving between me and Hazz. I really want her to do this because I realise now that living through these five, probably the hardest years of her life, has emerged her as a more stronger woman.

"Sure, love. I'll inform him...and, your dad." She smiles, making me glare at her with anger building inside me. How can she even think of informing him after what he's put us through?!

"Not dad, mom." I snap and walk away with Hazz following me.

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(A/N) : Hey, lovelies. Hope you enjoyed it. Please do vote. Because only they encourage me to type the next chapter lol.

Idk why but I'm not able to attach pictures. I had such a beautiful picture of Harry cooking :(

Loads of love! ❣

And to know more about what's happening in Raylen and Zayn's at the same time, check out ENTWINED FATE by riya_thewriter