Chapter fifty-six: To become a better man for her

"A friend and a suitor?"

"Yes. What's the name of that boy again?"

She said thinking the name of whoever he is. I felt my heart stopped its breathing while waiting for her to speak again. 

"Oh, it's Garry!" she squealed excitedly. 

"Garry?"

"No.No, wait! It's not Garry." then she think again. "Ahh.. it's Greg! Yeah, it's Greg I'm sure of it. Thank God, I finally remember the name of that sweet boy."

Then I was left thinking. Greg. I'm not sure if the person she's talking about is just the same person I know. Greg also studied here in Florida and Florida is Madi's homeland. But as they say, there's no harm in trying... trying to ask. 

"What's the name again of her friend?"

"His name is Greg. Come here, she has a picture of him. They were so close back in their school days. They took the same course and this sweet boy always caring with my daughter."

She grabbed my hand and we seated in the three-seaters couch near the last cabinet. She gets something from the drawer... album..photo album. 

"Here. You can see their pictures and their circle of friends in college."

She gave me the green album and started to scan the pages. But my hand was stacked in one of the picture... it's Madi with three girls and...'Greg' my cousin and my bestfriend, wearing a cooking school uniform. 

"Greg Anderson." I muttered just to myself but she heard it. 

"Yes..Greg Anderson. How did you know him and his last name?" she asked me looking directly to my eyes. 

"Uhm..."

"I called him as Anderson boy. He's the one who never stopped from being my daughter's friend. And you know what.. I remember one time, he asked me if he can date and court my daughter. And then I told him, it's not my decision to make, but he never stopped, until now he keeps on coming back just to know if she's okay and ask her situation. He's very persistent and have a big patient in him, because it's been eight years since his feelings' started for my Madi."

I scratched my eyebrow with this new information I've heard. Madi's identity was a lot to take, but knowing her and Greg was bestfriend in college and he's still persistent to date her.. until now, it makes me want to punch something. I put my fist under the photo album and formed it in a hardball. 

"Wait, I'm not telling you this to make you jealous. I'm just sharing some of my daughter's life and school days' story."

"No, Mom.. it's okay. I'm not jealous."

I tried to smile but deep inside, I really wanted to see my dearest cousin and punch him over and over on his face. Now understand why did he tell me to take care of Madi for him. Why was he so affected when he met my assistant and when we get married. Now I know his reasons. He likes her.. for himself since then. 

"Anyway, don't worry about it, it's in the past. And my daughter already has you right now."

"Uhm.. I have something to confess, Mom." I said closing the cover of the album. 

"Yes, what is it."

"Greg Anderson is my bestfriend. He's actually my cousin. First cousin on my mother's side."

"Whoa! Is that true? But I didn't see you with him over those past years?"

"Actually our both families were originally based from Chicago. But after our graduations in high school, they transferred here in Florida and he finished his studies here.. while our family migrated also in Belleville. But business remained in Chicago."

"Ohh.. I see, but does my daughter also know about this?"

"Yes, I actually introduced her to my family and Greg was there."

"Hmm.." she said nodding. 

"We're actually engaged, Mom."

Her both eyes widened with what I blurted out. She also straightened her sit. Actually, I really don't know why I did that. But I just feel a little possessive now with Madi, especially when I heard that Greg wasn't just a simple friend to her.. but once became a part of her life, until now. 

"Oh my God! Is that true.. you and my baby were engaged?"

"Yes-----" I didn't finish my sentence when she lunged at me and hugged me tightly. 

"Oh my gosh! I'm happy, son with this news! Thank you good heavens.. praise the Almighty God! My daughter's finally engaged.. and I'm gonna have a grandchild and grandbabies!"

And because I'm so shocked.. my mouth hanged open with what she said. 'Grandbabies'. 

"Ohh.. thank you, Gabriel." she said when she's calm already. 

"For what, Mom?"

She holds both of my hands. "For loving my daughter, and for being there for her. I know she's really stubborn sometimes.. but she's a fine woman, son. I hope you can make your patience extra longer with it comes to her mouth. She's a little bitchy and have a smart mouth most of the times."

I chuckled when she said 'smart mouth' because that's exactly my first impression with her daughter. 

"Anyway, what's your favorite food.. dishes or flavor of cakes? I'm gonna cook personally for you!" her eyes were full of happiness and amusement when she stand. 

"You don't need to do that, Mom. It's okay."

"No, I insist! Come on, tell your mother-in-law.. don't be shy, your part of this family from now on."

I awkwardly smiled and scratched the back of my neck. Madi is going to kill me if she knows about this. 

"Maybe we can just help Madi in the kitchen." I tried to suggest but she grabbed my hand. 

"Oh, my son.. Trust me, Madi doesn't need even a single help from us." she said chuckling and I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. 

"Remember... she came from a cooking school and she's a professional cook. All her restaurants were started from her own hands, her dishes and even a single details of it." she winked at me. 

I can't help not to smile with all the information I've heard about Madi. She's the woman of full innocent but she knows on how to move well in this huge world. I've never met someone like her before, and I admit the respect I already had for her got deeper after this conversation with her mother. And at the same time, it doubled my eagerness to become a better man for her. She deserves someone who can love her and protect her against this cruel world. But right now.. I'm not that person who can able to do that, because I was the one who personally dragged her into this cruel yet fake reality. 

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Madi's POV:

I can feel his stares while we're eating dinner earlier. It's creepy and I don't know what to feel. It started when he got back from I don't know where, with my Mom. But were now in the swimming pool, both seated on the edge, while our both feet were dipped in the water... and still I can feel his intense stare on my face. I sighed and I looked at him. 

"Is there something you wanted to ask? Something that my mother's told you about me?"

But he smiled a half and shook his head. 

"Come on, Gab. I know my Mom, wouldn't drag you in somewhere part of the house if she hasn't anything to say... and I know it's about me."

He just smiled again looked back at the water. But I just keep on looking at him. I really don't have a clue what he's thinking right now, or what my mother's told him that made him quiet until now.

"You didn't tell me that Greg was you friend since college and you also take the same course."

-'Oh Gosh!'-

"Mom told you everything about me?" I gulped and looked at him. 

"No, she told me half of the part and the other half will come from you, if you're willing to share to me all about it."

I sighed and bite my lips. "Okay. So what do you want to ask?"

"Are you really going to answer my question if I ask you?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "It depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Depends on your questions. If you're going to ask me to drown myself here.. of course I won't answer that.. I won't do that!"

And then I heard his laugh. He shook his head and splashed me some water using his foot. 

"Ahhg!"

I wiped my face with my hands and glared at him, but he just continued to laugh. Then we both fell into silence. Both were looking at the water. I don't know what he thinks but I'm readying myself in whatever the questions he would possibly throw me. 

"Can you share to me a little part of your childhood?"

I hitched my breath and gulped after hearing his first question. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. 

"If you're not ready or you're not okay-----"

"Moved on? What do you mean?" he asked with the deepest frown on his face. 

I sighed again and bitterly smiled. Then I looked at him and started to share the part of my childhood.