Chapter 50 - Last Person She Wanted To See

Jade stepped out of her room the next morning all dressed and ready for work. She was shocked to find Grace and Kevin by the door.

She looked at both of them suspiciously, wondering why they were keeping watch by her door.

"Mom?" She called with her brow raised.

"We were just checking up to see if you were fine" Grace replied with a concerned look while Kevin nodded in affirmation.

"I'm fine, thanks" She replied, but they remained on their spot still staring at her intently.

"I think you should tell us what happened last night" Grace said while Kevin nodded again in agreement, making Jade frown at him. He was concurring to whatever their mother said. It was either he had found a new habit or he had neck problems.

"Nothing happened" Jade replied nonchalantly as she walked past them. It was obvious they were not ready to step out of her way.

"What do you mean by nothing happened. You ran into the house looking like you were upset and.." Grace paused to look at Kevin in a way that asked him to remind her of Jade's appearance last night, as they followed her.

They were excited about Jade's decision to go to a party, since that was a rare occasion. Jade never liked crowded and noisy places, neither did she like socializing with people as much as her friends, Lair and Amy did. They had both stayed up late to ask her all about the party, but they were surprised when she came, running into her room, without as much as a word to them. And it was obvious she had been crying.

Grace ran after her but Jade had locked her door while she sobbed quietly.

Grace rushed outside the house to ask Lair and Amy about what might have happened to her daughter, but they too were oblivious to what might have happened.

She had practically stayed up till past midnight before retiring to her room, hoping she would get to talk with Jade by morning. And here they are...

"Crying" Kevin added.

"Yes crying" Grace confirmed.

"And you locked yourself up again" Kevin quickly added, while Grace repeated his words.

"Yes you did, and we knocked but you didn't reply"

"You sobbed all through the night" Grace said looking at Jade, who was secretly glaring at Kevin. She knew Kevin was concerned about her, but she thought it wasn't necessary to always concur to their mother's every word or add more to the already piled up list.

"And she has black eyes again" Kevin said with a frown making Jade desperately wanting to knock his head. His words were going to make it hard for her to brush off this matter and her mother's worry would only deepen.

"I don't have dark eye circles" She chided with a glare targeted at Kevin.

"Yes you do" They replied simultaneously.

"Jade what's wrong? You can tell us. Did someone get you vexed last night?" Grace asked worriedly. She had only one suspect in mind. And if her hunch was right, then she'll have to pay that jerk a visit right away.

"Tell us who made you angry. I promise to pick up a fight with them" Kevin said with a serious expression. Jade didn't know whether to laugh or cry by his current posture. Grace stared at him and she tried to stop herself from laughing.

He was just 17 and he lacked both bisceps and triceps, which made Grace wonder why he was always eager to fight for them, most especially when it was obvious he would be at his opponent's mercy.

"Mom believe I'm fine. And I'm sure nobody will be bold enough to upset me, not when I have Mike Tyson for a brother" The latter part of her words were hinted with sarcasm.

"Are you sure?" Grace asked.

"Yes I am" Jade replied with an assuring tone.

"I'll be heading out now" Jade said as she picked up her bag.

"Without breakfast?" Grace asked with crease between her brows. She never liked sending her kids off without breakfast, because that was the most important meal of the day.

"I'll grab something to eat at work, don't worry" She said before placing a kiss on her mother's cheek and gave a quick hug to Kevin.

"See you later kiddo" She waved at Kevin.

"I'm not a kiddo" Kevin called out in annoyance.

"Keep telling yourself that" She said before walking out of the house, making Kevin frown at her back as he hissed.

In his fight against age and time, it seemed he'd never win.

He turned to look at Grace, "Why wasn't I born a little earlier? Or maybe why wasn't I the first child?" He asked with a deep frown.

"Well I don't mind rebirthing you now as well" Grace replied.

"But that would make me far younger" He replied in anger.

"Well that's the plan" Grace said as she walked to serve breakfast. She couldn't understand Kevin's problem with his age.

People wanted to stay young forever, but here was her son, who's sole desire was to be older than he is.

Different individuals, different problems and different heart desires.

Jade arrived at work a little early. She wanted to bury herself with work till she completely forgot about those mean words Jake had said to her last night. She didn't want to brood on them, so her only escape route was to work herself to the bone.

She was about logging into the system, when she saw the last person she wanted to see slowly approach her desk.