Babysitter Cougar [COMPLETE]

Chapter 7 page 1 - Chatterbox

"Hussaini, you look taller than I remember!" Mom wraps her arm around Saint as he gets out of Sabina's Toyota Camry. "How are you, sweetheart?"

"Mom, please don't embarrass him," I mutter and Saint giggles at our quirks.

"Thanks so much, Sarimah," Sabina calls out from the driver's seat. "So sorry for the trouble."

"Gosh! Don't mention it. He's like my own son," Mom ruffles Saint's dark ash brown hair while he waves vigorously at Sabina through the opened passenger's door.

Under Dad's strict order, I've to remain at home just so that I can focus on my revision for SPM which is coming in the next couple of weeks. So, I only limit my movement to school and tuition classes while Mom offers herself to look after Saint today.

Honestly, I'm a bit nervous about Saint coming over to our house because it's nothing compared to Freesia Court. Our house doesn't have Astro with 200 TV channels, a garden balcony, bath tubs or air conditioner. I'm worried he might get bored.

But my overthinking begins to subside when I see Saint adjusting well to our humble home with no complaints. I observe him from afar as he effortlessly strikes up a conversation with my mom as though they've been good friends since ever.

Mom's right about his growth spurt. He's tall, in fact taller than the average kids of his age that people might mistake him for a 12 year old. I don't notice this immediately until Mom points out on how he sprouts close to 5ft. And he gradually matures throughout the years of my service from a ruthless mutt to a well-mannered jovial. And he's only nine.

When he offers his help around the kitchen, I feel like tumbling and Mom falls in love. What had got into this kid?

"Thank you, Hussaini but you stay where you are and finish your breakfast first," Mom tells him.

"And then I can help you?" he gobbles up the nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf) on his plate.

"Sure but chew your food slowly, don't talk while you're eating," Mom gently reminds him.

I'm at the family lounge where the study/dining round table is, listening to the conversation emits from the kitchen between Saint and Mom. It's silent now as Saint's taking a break from talking while savouring his breakfast. Then, Mom promises him satay (seasoned, grilled meat skewered on sticks) for lunch which is expected to be delivered by noon. Usually we don't eat satay unless it's for a special occasion and Saint happens to be our special occasion. If Mom continues to spoil him like this, not only will he grow in height, he'll probably outgrow most of his shirt by the end of the year.

"How's mommy so far with her work? She's very busy all the time?" Mom resumes the conversation which I assume Saint must've finished his meal.

"Mommy's not really busy. I think she has a boyfriend at her office. So that's why she goes to the office all the time," Saint spills the tea.

"Are you sure about this?" Mom raises her voice in puzzlement.

"Yeah, one time I picked up a call and a man was asking for mommy. When mommy gets the phone, she's all laughing and giggling and stuff. You know, like a girl talking to the boy she likes."

"Really?" Mom's surprised tone exaggerates. "Does Kak Sofia know about this?"

"Kak Sofia doesn't know, I guess. The guy never calls the house when she's around," Saint answers.

"Has Kak Sofia ever given you a hard time? Does she bully you around or tells you to do things you don't like?"

Oh, please don't mention the part where I got caught getting hard on. Please don't! I'll kill you if you do! I thought.

"She does, yeah. Mommy does the same. But they do that for my own good, like making sure I eat, take shower and do my homework."

Phew! I sigh.

"I think if I ever find a wife, I'll find someone like Kak Sofia," Saint continues.

My mind freezes by his confession. I'm too shaken to move a muscle that everything I've revised dissolves from my mind. I can tell Mom is speechless too from the sudden silence in the kitchen.

"Not mommy?" Mom finally musters a question.

"Mommy's busy all the time. Kak Sofia always has time for me even if she's busy."

"Later on when she goes to college and starts to work, she'll be busy like mommy too," Mom points out.

"I won't let my wife go to work. She'll stay at home and look after the kids," he retorts.

"But that's taking away her freedom, Hussaini," Mom's voice suddenly sounds serious.

"No, she's going to be my queen. A queen doesn't go to work. She makes sure a house is a home," he clarifies.

I'm stunned by his honest explanation. Who fed him with all these chivalry ideas? I doubt his senior friends would, definitely not his estranged dad, Sabina's bogged down with work commitments, best believe it's the teacher.

"Gosh, Hussaini darling, please stay the same. You'll grow to know how notorious the world is with lesser men like you," Mom exhales in relief.

"But Auntie, do you know what Kak Sofia did last weekend?"

"What is it, dear?" Mom asks when Saint decides to break the news.

Shit, he's gonna squeal! I prompt. Save yourself. Now!

"She does this –"

"Mom, what time is the satay man coming?" I barge into the kitchen and cut him off.

"I asked him to come at 12.30 pm. Are you hungry already? There's still nasi lemak left if you want." Mom turns to Saint and gestures outside. "Do you want to help me dry up the laundry outside?"

"Yeah!" he jumps out of the table and glances up at me.

I give him a stern glare, warning him to keep his mouth shut and he responds by wiggling his eyebrows deviously at me.

Mom enjoys the company of a chatterbox that follows her from the porch, to the garden and back into the family room. Mom unloads the basket full of clean laundry from the clothesline onto the carpeted floor as Saint watches her fold them before attempting to help her out with the easy ones. Then, he continues to babble about his friend, Jeffrey moving back to Australia, that teacher who gives him too much homework and his dad's new gaunt wife.

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