Repressed (Wattys 2014 Winner)

Chapter 5

“Hey mommy, guess what?” I teased my mother as I unpacked my bags in our suite. I could hear my mother’s over-excited breathing on the phone, “Oh darling, don’t play such games, tell me what is the matter?”

“I am in London.” I simply said and held the phone away from me as my mother began to squeak in joy, “Oh mia cucciola, I have missed you, mia Tesoro.” My mom spoke fluent English, but in emotional times, she immediately switched to Italian mixed with English. I wondered how Alex would understand her once we went for dinner. He’d probably be stupefied and dumb founded at the Italians who would be rapidly speaking their mother tongue. And my father, oh that was a reaction I wanted to watch.

“You will come here for cena, no?” My mother asked.

I walked to the living room of the suite and sat down on a couch, “Si, mamma, forse domani.” I told my mom that we might come for dinner tomorrow.

“Va bene, non vedo l’ora.” She said.

“Okay mamma. I had to tell you something else too.” I replied. Alex was sitting in front of me. I grinned at him as I put the phone on speaker mode, “Yes, Milla?” My mother asked.

“I am bringing a boy with me.” And like that chaos broke out on the phone as my mother launched into a dialogue filled with Italian, I could barely keep up.

“Mamma vacchi piano! Acqua in bocca, capito? No telling papa!” I said. Alex bit his lip, he was trying really hard not to laugh. I blushed at my mother’s eccentric behaviour.

“Thank God!” My mother exhaled sharply, I could hear it.

“For what?” I demanded.

“Oh darling, it’s just that we thought you were a lesbian.” My mother said plainly.

Wait. What? And that’s when Alex started laughing loudly, I motioned for him to shut up but he couldn’t. Now, I was furious.

“Mamma, che cazzo? What the hell? Why did you think that?” I asked, the phone was still on speaker and Alex was still laughing. I quickly switched it to normal mode and told her that I was not a lesbian. In fact, I was as straight as someone could get. I didn’t mind being one, but the fact was, that I just wasn’t one.

“Okay look, don’t prepare a feast, two pasta dishes or something British will do. He is British, by the way. Don’t insult him and don’t talk shit, in front of him. Tell papa, the last point. It applies more to him, than to you. Okay? I am cutting the phone, see you tomorrow at seven.” And with that I hung up.

I sat on my bed, brought my knees up to my chest and bent my head to my knees, I wonder what Alex thought of me now that he had heard my mom’s bull crap. I heard a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I sighed. Alex said, “Hey are you alright?” His eyes were full of concern as he came and sat next to me.

“Yeah, I am fine, don’t worry.” I replied, sighing again. Alex took my hand in his, “We don’t have to visit them if you don’t want to. It’s your call, captain.” I was touched by his feelings, I shook my head, “No, they would like to meet you. It’s not their fault for thinking what they did. I hardly dated as a teenager or as an adult.” Something nagged at me. I blocked out the painful memory.

 “Really?” Alex asked.

“Yeah, I was the ‘awkward’ one.” I laughed and continued, “Hellenia was the one with panties on fire. I wonder how Caleb, ever ended up marrying her.”

Alex laughed and cupped my face, “Chill, don’t worry. That crap don’t matter to me. You do. Alright? Come on, get dressed, I am taking you to a casino.”