Heartthrob of Aclea

Chapter 15 - Mum Dropped Some Hints About Her

'What happened to you, son?' Mum greeted me with I-didn't-know-how-to-answer-this question soon as I walked into my chamber.

Umm... how and where to start, eh? Shall I change the topic by dropping a bombshell, saying I would kill myself if Mum didn't take back her words for sending me off to rehab? Or shall I just be transparent with her that I was pushed into the swimming pool and being blamed for ruining the pusher's night? 

None of this made sense either way.

'I got bored because Camellia left early, so I went for swimming.' I shivered a little.
'In the middle of the night? You could've gotten a cold, sweetpea! Are you forgetting the fall is coming?' She headed to my closet and brought me a blanket and a towel. 'It's nothing, mother. Not that I have any important event to tend to. Has The Ball ended already?' I blew my nose. 'It ended fifteen minutes ago. I was searching for you to talk about tomorrow.' I heaved a disappointed sigh. Why didn't they decide this together with me? Why did they want things to rush as if there was going to be a doomsday the next time we blink?

'I didn't let you participate in the discussion because I knew you would storm off over us. I knew you would say no to this and give a million reasons why you didn't need such therapy.' Mum said softly but stern, her face was full of love and mercy.

'A happy Aaron makes a happy Hannah. You are my baby boy and I love you to bits.' 

'I love you too but I'm not a baby. Please, Mum. You're embarrassing me.' I pouted as she teased me that way. She briefly explained what I was going to get through and so on. The details bored me to the point I lost count of how many times I'd yawned.

'Julie is going to be Brian's assistant soon. I almost wanted to drink my misery away when she brought me a new lass. She looks like she could handle Julie's task although her character intimidated me. She's quite... a woman, quite a personality. A woman who you would want to bed with, but son, I'm begging you. Don't sleep with her. This palace already reeked of drama and headache and I don't want you to add another spice here.' She crossed her arms and her forehead crinkled in worry. 

Perhaps she didn't want this special woman to run away. Perhaps she didn't want me to get bruises after being roughed up by the woman. Who knew she could be so abusive?

'Can't promise something I can't keep.' I winked at her while she pressed her hand against her head in frustration. 

'I didn't raise my son to be a sex addict.'
'I am not a sex addict. I'm returning the favour of those girls who want to-'
'Don't finish that. I feel like puking.'
'But, mother. If the woman wants to shag, I guess I can't let her down.'
'Aaron...'
'Kidding.'

Taking a deep breath, she then enveloped both of my cold, shivering hands with hers. With a dim light illuminating her gorgeous eyes, her deep stare made a big hole through my soul. Oh no...

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

'She is a great lass indeed. If you want to sleep with her, make sure you ask her out on the next day.' Oh goodness.

'Mum, let me remind you one more time. I don't need and I don't want to date anyone as long as I don't reach forty.'

'A ton for me if you are going to wed before you reach twenty-nine.'

'I can't believe you made a bet on your own son's love life!'

'Before you were born, your nana betted on you...' Mum chuckled until tears of joy welled up in her eyes, 'being a girl.'

'You're joking.'

'I got five grand from her.'

'Why are you my mother?'

'Aren't you grateful to have a very wonderful birth giver like me?'

'I'm not at liberty to give the thumbs down for that.'

'Oh, sweet Aaron. Remember, if you want to sleep with her, make certain you will date her afterwards.'

I tsk-ed.

Stroking my head, Mum wished me goodnight and headed straight to her chamber.