The Mask That They Wore

Parent Time

It wasn't uncommon to see the Mell moms, or M&Ms as nicknamed by a young Jeremy, hanging out with Mr. Heere. Ever since their children befriended each other, they all became good friends. Today, they went to a coffee shop near their homes to talk about some pressing matters. They first talked about what was going on with their life, laughing about stuff here and there. Tala and Vale did end up bringing up how Mr. Heere was taking the divorce, they were really excited to know that he was finally getting over it. They even promised him to help with future dating if he wanted.

“As much as I love taking about life, I think it's time to talk about our sons' future together.”, Tala said going into this fake business accent.

“Ah yes Mrs. Mell, I believe you also received the call from the friends.”, Mr. Heere said also copying the business voice.

“I can't believe they are so blind to see the love, amor, thing between them.”, Vale said clearly amused. “They're even worse than all the love stories I've read.”

“Is that what we are calling your fanfictions now.”, joked Tala as she hugged Vale.

“Don't expose me angel.”, she answered, blushing heavily.

“I see what you mean, we have to figure out a plan to make them confess.”, Mr. Heere said, laughing at his friends antics. “Wait I have an idea. Let's put some ideas in their heads, as in annoy them with it.”

“That could work, we could also give them some alone time, Tala is soon leaving and we can create this fake story about wanting to do something else.”, Vale said excitedly.

“We can put on our serious parent voice and tell them that they have to be together since we are all leaving and we want them to be safe.”, Tala added.

“That could totally work, it was a pleasure doing business with both of you.”, Mr. Heere said as she shook their hands.

“Likewise”, answered both of the moms.

They finished their coffees and parted ways, leave no clues about their meeting.

“Hey mahal ko?”, said Tala.

“Yes angel?”, answered back Vale as she grabbed her hand.

“Gusto mo bang manood ng sine?”

“You make it sound like if it was a secret.”, laughed Vale, but then she quickly added. “Claro que sí amor.”

They both laughed at their actions. Since both of them are multilingual, they liked to speak in their own language to act like if it was a secret. They used to redo it all the time when they were friends and they wanted to comment stuff without other people interfering. They went to watch a comedy, since if the wanted some romance drama they could just see their son's life.

***

Two days after his impromptu sleepover, Jeremy found himself talking with his dad in the living room. The place looked way bigger after getting rid of his father's bowflex after the renovation that they did around the place after the play. Mr. Heere thought that it was finally time to get rid of anything that reminded him of his ex wife. To start a new page, it's not like he was going to really use it anyway. He did tell Jeremy that he might go into a diet or get a gym membership next year for New Year's resolution or something along those lines.

“Hey son, I've been meaning to tell you about something.”, Mr. Heere said after a while of just laughing at the high expectations of men in this romance type game show on TV.

“Sure dad... what is it?”, Jeremy started getting nervous, Mr. Heere never tended to get serious when it came to conversation between them, except the one before the play.