“Mom you did this?” Amy was dumbfounded. How was this even possible?The person who she has been trying to hunt down all this while was actually just her mother? Her very own mother?Mrs Walker suddenly felt tongue tied. She couldn’t find a word to reply Amy, when she met Amy’s gaze.”Why? Why did you do that?” All this time, she had thought Blake has been the one sending her gifts, at least until a few days ago when he blatantly turned her down.Amy stared at her mother with mixed expressions of anger and confusion in her eyes. Anger because she kept hoping and wishing this gifts were truly from the guy she loved, and these gifts had some added to her courage of confessing her feelings to Blake. Confusion because she didn’t understand why her mother would go as far as doing this.Amy’s gaze on her mother was sharp and intense, demanding an immediate answer for her actions.”We wanted to help you guys” Mrs Walker blurted out.”Help us?””Help us with what?” Amy and Ethan asked simultaneously. Ethan was as confused as Amy, if not more. He never knew they needed help, even if they did, what for?He was certain he has never asked for his mother help, so what was all this about?”You know, to patch you guys up” Melissa replied this time.”Yes. We knew Amy was angry because you guys broke up when you left. So we decided to help you guys sort things out” Mrs Walker swiftly added.Amy glanced at Ethan seeking some sort of help in understanding what this women were talking about. But Ethan was equally lost.What things were they sorting out? When did they break up? More like, when were they ever in a relationship?”Mom? Aunt?” Amy was bewildered by the turn of event. Never in her dreams would she have thought that her mother and her best friend were the ones behind this. Sending her gift like a secret admirer. So many times she had tried guessing who this person could be. She couldn’t even count the times she had wished she could tear that person into pieces for giving her the wrong idea, making her to take a bold step of embarrassing herself in front of Blake.Mrs Walker shrugged innocently like she hasn’t done anything wrong. To her, they were only helping them work things out, nothing more.”You guys should work things okay. We’re out of here” Mrs Walker pulled Melissa by the hand and gently dragged away leaving the stunned couple, who were still trying to understand things.”Do you think we did the right thing? She looks like she’s about to kill someone” Melissa whispered to her friend as they walked away.”Yes I think so. Do you think Amy would talk to him if we didn’t arrange this?” She asked thoughtfully. She knew her daughter well, and she felt proud she had done something great for them.”And you shouldn’t have asked Ethan to give her those chocolates yet. I had a better plan” Mrs Walker said.”The deed has already been done. Stop complaining” Melissa firmly stated.”Yeah, let’s leave them to figure it out. Let’s hope we get to plan a wedding soon” Mrs Walker said as her lips curled up into a side smile.”How great would it be when we become in-laws” Melissa cheered.”That would be perfect. Let’s just hope they work things out”Amy and Ethan stood rooted to the same spot their mothers had left them. Amy’s hands were folded across her chest as she stared intently at Ethan.”So can you tell what’s going on?” Amy asked, her chin raised up in an accusing manner. They were both still as lost as they were minutes ago, but Amy had a feeling Ethan should know about this.”Why are you asking me? I should be the one asking you that” Ethan replied. He wasn’t at fault, so why the accusing look?”Guess whose name was attached to the gifts, you! so why won’t I ask you?” Amy asked back in a defiant tone, her gaze on him was sharp and challenging.”Wow! Did you not hear when my mother said it was your mother’s idea?” His words sounded defensive. They both heard his mother’s word, so why was she trying to act like she didn’t?”And I’m supposed to ponder about who gave them the idea that we were dating?” Amy asked back in a not so friendly tone, eyeing him from head to toe.”How would I know? I have no idea. I only told my mother that we….” Ethan’s words suddenly trailed when he finally realized something.It seems he was truly at fault after all. Ethan thought to himself.”You only did what?” Amy cocked a brow as she took a step closer to him. She impatiently waited for his reply but Ethan remained silent, which she found to be annoying.”Ethan what did you tell your mother?” Amy pressed, she found his hesitation suspicious. His silence was beginning to irritate her and she hated it when someone kept her hanging.”I’m sorry Amy, I didn’t know she’ll take it so seriously….” Ethan said with a small voice.”Take what serious?” Amy was really getting impatient. She didn’t understand why he was hesitating with his words. What was so hard that he couldn’t say, and he keeps acting like an adolescent. This was Ethan’s nature after all. Even as a kid, he always behaved in this fashion.Stressing his audience out and piqueing their interest over a small detail. Seems age has done much to his character.”I told her i was going to get married…” Ethan’s speech slurred again, which greatly irritated Amy.”And what has that got to do with me?” Amy snapped. “You’re not getting married to me, are you?” She said matter of factly.”Speak u…No way!” Amy eyes widened when she finally realized what was going on. Her eyes peered intensely at him.”You didn’t tell her you were going to get married to me right?” This time Amy’s tone sounded different. It sounded like she was desperate to hear his reply, and also unwilling to know what the answer truly was, because deep she had the answer already. She only wanted to confirm that she wasn’t assuming things.This shouldn’t be what she was thinking?Amy nearly lost her footing when Ethan nodded affirmatively.”Are you crazy?” Amy cussed out in surprise.”Why would you do such a thing?” Amy asked angrily. She couldn’t believe Ethan could do something that stupid. Telling their mothers that they were both getting married?Ethan was fully aware how both mothers were eager to match make them, so they could move from being soul sisters to in-laws. He knew how they would react to such of information, most especially her mother, yet he did something this stupid.”Amy I’m sorry” Ethan apologized. He shouldn’t have done that, but at the time, this was the only lie he could come up with.His mother kept calling and harrassing him with the marriage topic. She kept asking when he was going to settle down and bear children, instead of roaming around in another country probably humphing from one bed to another. He had no choice to tell his mother that and he really regretted it after blurting it out. But fortunately, his words worked magic on her. She had stopped calling, at least not until a week ago when she called to ask him to come back for the weekend, so he could accompany her somewhere. She promised it was going to be quick.”You’re sorry?” Amy could feel her temper rise. Ethan was actually the cause of the mental torture she has been receiving from her mother about marriage?”Didn’t it occur to you to inform me before telling a lie such as this?” What was really riling her up, was the fact that Ethan knew both their mothers weren’t the kind of people to tell such lies or evem make such a joke with. So how could Ethan be so stupid as to tell such a lie?”Amy I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional. I was only trying to get her off my back. You know how she is about the whole marriage stuff..””And telling her a lie with my name was the best you could come up with?” Amy interjected him.”You can’t exactly blame me, you’re partly to blame” Ethan suddenly took the defensive making Amy stunned.”What?” Amy raised a brow at him.”Yes, this all started with you and micheal, maybe if you didn’t lie back then, just maybe if you didn’t, then maybe my mother wouldn’t have hoarded me on why I broke up with you or why I’m still single, and then I wouldn’t have lied to her” Ethan blurted out. He couldn’t take all the blame for this, Amy should also take some responsibility for it.If she had not been too scared to introduce her high school boyfriend, Michael, to her mother, because she was certain her mother would never approve of him, because according to mother, boys of his social status were not befitting of her.It was just unfortunate that Amy had fallen in love, or as her mother might have called it, infuatuated with a boy who was from a humble background, a background that Mrs Walker sorely despised.Amy could not summon the courage to tell her mother that she was dating a boy from the social class she despised most.Amy and Michael were both madly in love at the time, and Amy couldn’t bring herself to break up with him, or even stay away from him.Amy had to up come with something, anything that could let her spend time with her boyfriend, most especially on their prom night, and she had somehow thought about lying to her mother that Ethan was her boyfriend. Since both mothers were best friends even more like soul sisters, they easily accepted their faux relationship.Ethan’s mother would not stop bothering him about why he had broken up with Amy. She had recounted to him several times about how great they looked together, and about how gorgeous their kids would look like.It was easy for him to have just told his mother that, what ever happened back them was just a lie fabricated by Amy to escape being chaperoned by mother to their prom, and so she could actually spend quality time with her boyfriend. But he couldn’t bring himself to do that. Amy’s mother would not let go if she found out, they had both lied to them. He feared what that would do to Amy.When Amy had begged him into agreeing to pretend to be her boyfriend, he had easily agreed at the time. Who would have known their mothers would not forget about it.”So its my fault? Just in case you have forgotten, that was long ago. You can’t use that as an excuse for the lie you told””Okay fine, I’m sorry for lying” Ethan raised his hands up like he has surrendered. He could never win an argument against Amy.”Let’s just say we’re even now. You used me back then, now I’ve returned the favor, so that settles it. And don’t forget you tactfully spilled your drink on me” Ethan sighed, as he slipped back on his seat. He was tired from all the argument.”Then I guess you deserve it” Amy eyed him, before joining him back at the table.”What exactly did you tell her?” Amy was curious.Ethan sighed. “That I was only interested in you. And would only marry you, but unfortunately you won’t talk to me because I left” He said.”Wow..How great of you. Even I didn’t tell such lies” Amy said rolling her eyes at him. His words has given their mothers reasons to put their match making talents into use. How great!”So what do we do now. Knowing them they won’t stop” Ethan said as he turned to look at the two women who were sitting at the other side of the club. This was a huge problem, more serious than they could imagine.”Why don’t you get married first. You mother isn’t that bad, she probably be ecstatic as long as you’re married. Then maybe my mom would give some breathing space while she mourns the loss of a potential son in-law” Amy suggested with a expectant look.”Amy it’s not that easy. My mother would never agree to my choice of a partner” Ethan said in a sad voice, which Amy took note of.”What choice could that be?” Amy asked, making Ethan sigh not bothering to answer her question as he looked away.”Maybe we should give them what they want by getting married” He said with a dull voice.*************CALE’S HOUSE*Cale frown lines ran deep on his face as he looked at the documents sitting in his laptop with utmost confusion.He was supposed to prepare himself for a pitch which was to take place on Monday, but he was yet to get the relevant information ready. He didn’t even know where to extrapolate the results he needed. He was a huge mess.He has never faced this kind of problem before. This has always been where Jade stepped in. This was her area of expertise. That girl was blessed with so much intelligence and all this things just easily to her.’How could I have messed up this bad’ Cale asked out in frustration, angrily slamming his laptop close. He sighed deeply. ‘All of this was because of that bitch. If she hasn’t stepped into his life to ruin his relationship with Jade, then they’ll still be together, and she’d probably be here helping him out.”What’s wrong with you?” Helen asked with concern. She had heard a loud sound from the dinning room. Also she has noticed his gloomy attitude since morning and also he has been looking so down trodden for days now, and it was becoming alarming.She was beginning to get worried. Her son has never been this down in a long time.”Nothing” Cale replied indifferently.”That’s not true. I know you Cale, and as your mother, I know when something is wrong with my son” Helen replied.”Tell me what’s wrong” She looked down at his laptop and the few papers that were strewn around the table, they carried the letter head of his company.”Is it about work?” Helen walked closer as she placed her hand on his shoulder.Cale turned his head to the side face and sighed.”It’s not just about work” He sighed again.”Then what else?” Helen pulled a seat closer and plonked herself down.”It’s about…its about..” Cale couldn’t bring himself to say the name out loud. He ashamed to take Jade’s name in his heart in front of his mother.”Jade” Helen completed his sentence. Helen saw the hesitation in his eyes and she knew what this was all about.She gave him a stink eyes before letting out a long and angry sigh, in fact she practically hissed at him.Helen angrily got up from the seat. If his down trodden mood was because of Jade, then she wouldn’t be bothered by it. Because he deserved worse than what he was feeling.Cale turned to look at his mother as she walked away. He felt a sudden pang on his chest. Even his mother wasn’t happy with him. This was Stephanie’s fault. If she had not sneaked her way into his life, then he wouldn’t have hurt Jade and his mother wouldn’t be angry with him either.Helen stopped on her strides and turned to glance back at Cale.”You know for someone who was happy doing all the stupid things you did to Jade, you have no right to look this way. Do you know how you should feel?….You should feel like the earth is crumbling on your shoulders, like you’re about to die, you should feel so regretful that your shame begings to eat you up and believe me that wouldn’t even be enough.You deserve more than what you’re feeling right now” Helen sighed as she eyed him. She took a step to walk away again but abruptly stopped for the second time.”And don’t you dare show your face in front of that girl again. She has gone through enough for you and even suffered a betrayal and a wicked heartbreak for you. That woman plans a future with you. You should have heard Jade speak so highly of you. She spoke about your big dreams and how she was certain you’ll achieve them because she has faith in you.I have watched her sit on that chair you’re sitting on doing jobs you should have done and even when I pleaded for her to take some rest, she wouldn’t listen and then she’ll say, you’ve worked hard enough and she was only contributing her quarter towards achieving your dreams. Now cale tell me which girl does that for a man this days. I can forgive you as a son, but I can’t let go of the fact that you cost me a good daughter in-law and the fact that you did something so hurtful to a woman. I didn’t bring you up that way, that was not the way I brought you up..””Don’t you think you’re being too harsh?” Cale snapped.”Being too harsh? Didn’t you do the same to Jade?””Don’t you think I know that already? Can’t you see I’m suffering because of my mistake? Mom I am. I know you’re still angry with me since that incident happened and Jade won’t even talk to me either…” Cale said with a pained voice.”Would you if you were Jade?” Helen asked in derision.”I guess not. But mom I’m trying to work things out okay. I’m trying to get Jade to forgive me and you should too. Maybe she would forgive me if you…help me talk to her” He stood up and slowly approached her.”In your dreams Cale, in your dreams” Helen glared at him.”But I’m your son” Cale declared slightly raising his tone. He was her son, shouldn’t she be on his side, trying to help him get his woman back.”And she’s someones child. She’s someone who I promised to see as a daughter.” There was no way she could take back the promise she had made to Jade. No way.”Mom please!” Cale pleaded.”Never!”
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 64
