Surviving Long Distance (ON HOLD)

Chapter 23

***Jenis's POV***

I woke up is his arms and saw him already staring at me.

"Good morning, sunshine." he said gazing deep inside my eyes.

"Morning, baby." I said and we kissed.

He got up and said he'll go and find where his car is and then he'll directly wend his way to meet Zave. I agreed.

I took a quick bath and went outside. Mom was sitting on the couch massaging her forehead. I grabbed my cup of coffee and sat next to her.

"Good morning, mom" I said. She didn't respond.

"I said, good morning, mom" I repeated.

"Where's Erica?" she asked ignoring my greeting and kept massaging her forehead.

"In her room. Maybe" I answered.

"Call her."

I went to her room, she was still sleeping. I woke her up and we came out. We sat on the couch adjacent to moms', sharing confused glances.

"I lost my job" mom said looking up.

"What!" I almost shouted.

"Oh no" Erica whispered.

After dad passed away, mom joined a job of nursing in a reputed hospital outside the town. Erica also started teaching as a path time job. I asked for my contribution, but they both declined saying I was too young. Dad's pension wasn't enough and so mom's job was kinda needful.

"Yes." Mom sighed.

"It's okay." Erica said. "We'll manage somehow. I'll work extra time. Don't worry mom. Okay?"

"I'm sorry" Mom mumbled.

"Shut up! It's nothing! Everything's fine. Right Jen?" Erica turned towards me. She gestured me to speak something, but I didn't knew how to, and what to say in this kind of situation.

"Yeah" I said absently.

"Jenis. Erica" Mom referred us "I know we'll manage. But.. have you girls forgot what a family is? You know we're our only family, right?"

Erica and I looked at each other, completely confused as to why mom started this topic. Yes, my dad's parents don't accept us because they dislike mom. Still, mom treats them like their own parents. And mom left house to move in with dad. So yeah, we're the only family.

"What's up?" I asked bewilderingly.

"We don't at all spend time with each other anymore" she said. Her eyes sparkly.

"You were always out mom. Erica at college and me at school."

"I worked hard every day. When I come home I at least expect you to behave like my daughters. But you both are always so busy"

"This is not true mom"

"It is. You two are so busy in your love lives that you don't care about your mother anymore" Mom finally broked down.

"This is bullshit" Erica stood up and hugged her. "We love you more than anyone else, right Jen?"

"Of course" I averred.

"No. Especially you Jenis" Mom continued "The day Aaron stepped in your life, you pushed us out."

Shoot.

My heart felt heavy and I didn't know what to reply. How can she say this? She is the one who was always out of town for work.

"W-what? Th-that's not true!" I shuttered.