Rewriters [Completed]

Chapter 23: Is Right Here

Was his mother really coming back to his life?

Kaleo wondered that as he stared at the remaining crumbs of the cheesecake. He could hardly remember a lot of memories with his mother; the person who was more of a mother was his sister. When he asked his father about her, he always told him that she was working.

He hardly knew anything about his mother. He only knew that she was the one who proposed, and his father was so flustered that he accepted. She never talked about her family, and only her mother - his grandmother - came to visit him, albeit with confusing intentions.

Funnily enough, his father's friend, Albert, and his two daughters were the normalest visitors. Kaleo only remembered his name because of the famous scientist, plus he was an overall cool guy.

His mother said that she missed him. But why hasn't she visited him and his family once in almost two years? Why was she always away for work?

I miss you, Mum.

Kaleo started tearing up again, trying not to cry as he felt an unbearable ache in his heart. What he truly wanted for his birthday was his family to be together again, but he was the one who prevented that.

The broken pair of white headphones lay on the table was his painful reminder.

Next year...

What was Kaleo going to say to his mother again? Would he disappoint her like he did to his father?

At this point, he just wanted to sleep. Luckily, he wasn't meeting Lysa today; she wouldn't have to see him like this. He didn't want to add onto the burden she was already carrying.

The doorbell then rang for the second time this morning. Kaleo nearly jumped, not expecting anyone else to visit him.

Hurriedly, he strode to the door and opened it, this time actually jumping - it was more of a shocked hop - at who it was.

"L-lysa?" He quickly flattened his crumpled shirt and wiped off any remaining tears. "I... um... wasn't expecting you... did something happen?"

"You... didn't answer my text," Lysa responded. "I was worried..."

"O-oh... I'm so sorry, I'll get to it now..." He turned around to hide his reddened face of embarrassment. He was about to get his phone when she continued her words.

"... and... um... you said you wanted to see that video of Vahagn. The one that Sirius said was limited edition... do you want to watch it together?" she asked.

She remembered...

Stunned, Kaleo turned back to see her standing awkwardly at the door, waiting for his reply.

He smiled. "Sure."

He let her in and helped to set up the video on his laptop. Before he started playing it, he turned to her.

"Hey Lysa?"

Lysa gave him a questioning look.

"Thanks. I... needed this," he said. "This is a nice birthday present."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "O-oh... happy birthday, Kaleo. Sorry... I didn't get anything for you."

"That's alright." For a moment, Kaleo forgot about the ache in his heart. "Just you being here is enough for me."

••••

"You seem distracted today."

Lysa's comment snapped him out of his daze. He smacked himself, telling himself that he came to her apartment to seek advice on his writing, not to get lost in thoughts.