The Tree's Girl

Chapter Twenty

Author's note:

First of all, I don't know how long since my last update but I know it was a long time since then. I'm really sorry for the late update >.<

I hope all of you can still appreciate this!

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Forgetting everything, the gore show, the killing and even the kiss, I went home. Maria and I went our separate ways when she reached her turn and I just continued to walk home. My slightly tattered face was healed due to the feeding of the tree, good thing too, I can't go home with a face all beaten up, and my mom would get worried. The night was still young, it was too early for me to be going home, because I know parties take at least up until midnight, I guess it's still 10 o' clock. My mom would be surprised, what she knows that I'll be going home late, maybe she'll think that I got kicked out or something. I chuckled on that thought. What am I saying? Maybe she's already asleep, besides, I didn't tell her to wait for me.

I arrived at home with the door locked and the porch light turned off, I knew it, she's already asleep. Good, she needs the rest she can get. I got the key under the mat; yes we hide our key under the door mat, and opened the door. The lights were off and it was silent, good thing she's taking the time to rest, a busy woman like her supporting a high school student like me isn't an easy job. Let's see, she has a job as an accountant, she's in her office every weekday but she's at home every time I arrive from school. She cleans the house every weekend and she takes care of me. See, she's busy.

I felt a little grumble in my stomach, oh yeah, I haven't eaten. I wonder if there's anything I could eat in the fridge. I entered the kitchen and looked inside the fridge, there's a lot of food in it, but I don't know how to cook. I can't believe how useless I am.

"Welcome home dear." I was startled when Mom suddenly spoke from behind.

"Oh Sorry, Did I wake you up?" I turned around as I closed the fridge.

"Oh no dear, I was actually waiting for you in my room but I fell asleep" she gave me a faint smile. I've noticed this sometime now, but my Mom's smiles are getting weaker. "So, is fried chicken okay with you?" She walks to the stove and opens it. No way will I make her do extra work.

"N-no need mom, I could just go to bed without dinner" I convinced her otherwise.

She tilted her head and observed me, she was always worried when I don't eat but she knows that I have a reason why. She always lets me off the hook and then she makes sure I eat a lot the next day. She was on the verge of believing me and leaving the room. But my stomach complained. It grumbled loudly! I thought the tree was fed! Why am I this hungry?

"By the sounds of it, you can't make it through the night without dinner. It'll be ready after a few minutes" she finally walked towards the stove and got a frying pan. I don't want her to exert more effort on me but then again she wants this, so why stop her?

I waited in the living room, watching a random show. I don't really care what Channel I'm on, my attention was set on my mother. While she was cooking, she was coughing. It was small coughs; it was like she was stopping them. I'm getting a feeling that my mom's hiding something from me.

After a few minutes, we ate at the table together. We bow our heads to give thanks to the food, and finally I dig in. My mom just watched me without even touching her food. When I was halfway done, she started digging in too, after every plunge of a spoon in her mouth, she coughs afterwards, I thought she was just having a hard time to swallow, so I didn't worry that much. We finally finished eating and I offered to do the dishes, but my mom did it without even letting me help. She's so stubborn for her age.