The Swirl

Ep. 16

She sat down in front of the TV while Oratile prepared supper. Today had been a long day and she was exhausted but she still had to go to Hiroto's house because Courtney was insisting that she be there. She decided to just go after resting.

When she got to the house, she rang the doorbell and what sounded like a celebration inside reached her ears. She wiped her sweaty hands on her dress and then waited until someone answered.

It was the CEO and she and Mabea stared at each other in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" the CEO asked.

"Um...I got invited by Courtney-"

"Hiroto's fiancee?" the CEO shook her head. "I don't think you should be here considering that you slept with her fiance. I don't trust the man that made me aware of this and he might spill the beans-"

"His family knows everything."

"Are you ready for this, Mabea? The tables could turn at any given moment. You have to be sure about this."

Mabea nodded and the CEO let her in. But as soon as she stepped foot into the house...she got cold feet. There was celebrating in the house and her presence in the house would just dampen the mood. She walked back out and into the street.

"Heading back home so soon?" Hiroto's mother suddenly asked, braking before her. The woman smiled.

"Um...yeah. I can't...I know that I'm not welcome here and I don't want to make everyone sour. I'm just heading back home."

"Nonsense. It's Saturday evening and you should go out more often. I told you you were living crazy rich Asians. You have to be like the main character. Fight for your man. I fought for mine and my being pregnant and married kind of made it easier.
But if you love my son as much as you say you do, get your Wakanda on."

"Where do you get these references you keep making?" Mabea giggled. "Look, let me just let everyone have fun and we can try again another day."

Martha only grinned and drove off just before Mabea felt a presence behind her. She jumped and turned to look back.

"Oh my goodness!" she breathed. Hiroto was a whole snack. He had cropped his hair shorter and he was dressed in formal pants, a nice T-shirt and a pair of sports shoes. He had even grown a small beard that was neatly trimmed and brushed.

"You were about to leave without talking to me?" he asked. He didn't smile or show any positive emotion towards her.

"I...didn't want to intrude. I just thought it best if I let everyone have fun and enjoy themselves. I know that my presence is not welcome-"

"You always wanna play the victim, talking about how everyone hates you but I don't hate you. You push people away when things aren't going according to what you had envisioned. Mabea...this is not about you, OK?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you wanna blame me for everything but you're also at fault here. I wish you knew how hard I am trying to make my family to not be hostile but you...you just walked away from me. You gave up on us just like that and you want to make me the bad guy?"

"You didn't stand up for me when your family was attacking me! You let them call me a gold digger and you just walked out!" Mabea was getting worked up. "I love you so much but you make it so difficult to love you! We all have cultures and yours is no different...you won't understand, Hiroto.  You just don't understand."

"You just think I don't!" Hiroto yelled, frustrated.

Mabea recoiled and stared in shock at him. She had never heard him yell before.