Chapter 57 - BRINGING HER MOTHER HOME

Cayenne was a bit startled with this unexpected gesture from him. She kept her hands on her side while her eyes blinked several times. "I'm back." She mumbled while slowly pushing him away from her. "I thought you're home early today."

Stefan didn't mind being pushed away. He was still working on their relationship and she may feel a little awkward sometimes. That's understandable. "I had a late dinner meeting with a client since you were not home, I decided to attend the meeting while waiting for you to come home."

"I'm glad you have eaten already." Cayenne smiled at him. "Let's get inside. It's cold here."

"Did you tell your mother about us?" Stefan asked her while pressing his finger on the biometric.

Cayenne bit her lower lip and averted her eyes from looking at him. "I couldn't tell her yet. I'll tell her this weekend."

Stefan nodded his head in agreement. He wouldn't hurry her since it was her mother that she needed to talk. She needed to be comfortable when talking to her. "Do you want me to come with you? It would be better when I'm with you."

"But you are busy. Besides, our relationship isn't real so, you don't need to bother yourself."

Stefan opened the door and asked her to come inside first while he followed closely behind her. "I know this isn't real but, a man shouldn't let the woman bear the consequence alone. And, I'm concern with your mother's opinion. What if she won't like me? Wouldn't that mean she would stop you from seeing me? What about me? I won't be sleeping with you anymore."

"Maybe you're right. Then, do you have time on Saturday?"

"Sure. I won't come to work on that day."

The two of them talked about their plans and how they would tell Cayenne's mother about their 'relationship'. Stefan was very cooperative since he caused everything in the first place. He didn't want Cayenne to be burdened in something that he has a participation. Aside from that, he made her lie again to her siblings when she wanted to resolve everything with them.

Saturday came and the two of them woke up early since she needed to go home first and prepare her mother's room with her siblings. It was the first time that Stefan was able to come inside their living space.

Their apartment wasn't really that big. There were three rooms in total in which her brothers shared one of the rooms. She had her own space and her mother took the other room as well. Though there wasn't anyone who lived in that room for so many years, Cayenne and her brothers kept it clean and organized.

"How should we address you?" Kyle asked Stefan when he got inside the house. He gave him a glass of juice while waiting for them.

"Big bro. Bro. I don't know. Just call me with whatever you are comfortable in calling me." Stefan responded with a smile. "Thanks for the juice."

"No worries." Kyle faintly smiled and went to look for his sister. "How about you go and pick our mother up while me and Luiz will continue to prepare things over here?"

"That would be fine." Cayenne stated. "By the way, did anyone of you tell Arthur that Mama will be discharged today?" Luiz shook his head and Kyle did the same thing. No one said anything to Arthur knowing that their sister didn't want him to know anything. "Good. I'll be heading out now. I'll leave everything here to your care."

"You can always count on us." Luiz answered happily.

Cayenne and Stefan left the apartment and he drove his car personally to the hospital. He didn't want Cayenne's mother to think that he was a lazy person. He wasn't really lazy but he still wanted to give a good impression on their first meeting.

"Are you nervous?" Stefan asked her upon noticing that she had been taking several deep breaths ever since they left the apartment. "You will be talking to your mother so, why are you nervous?"

"I'm just worried that she'll be shock once she knew about us. I mean, this is not real and I'm afraid that she'd be taking things seriously. What if she'll ask you to marry me?! Have you ever thought of that?"

The two of them looked at each other and Stefan was lightly bothered with it. He knew that he likes Cayenne but he wasn't sure if he wanted to marry her. He wasn't even sure what's the difference between love and like. His mind went to a sudden overturn and he was a little confused. His car speed slowed down while he was thinking and Cayenne understood why. She didn't bother him and just looked outside the window.

"I'll think of a way if ever she asked me that question." Stefan said after a full minute. "Don't worry about it. I got your back. If she asks any question about our relationship, let me handle everything for you. I will answer the questions and just go along with me."

"Okay." Cayenne responded but she didn't look at him.

"Ayen?"

"Hn?"

"Everything will be fine."

Cayenne looked at him and nodded her head. She didn't believe that everything will be fine. For some reason, she felt nervous. She knew that something will happen in the future. A relationship which was built with lies to deceive others won't last long. She knew it would crumble sooner or later. She wasn't being pessimistic but she was being realistic and practical.

Not long after, the two of them arrived at the hospital. Stefan parked the car while got herself ready to get out. She was about to step out from the car when she saw Arthur going out of his own car as well. She was sure that he was going to visit her mother.

"Oh my god! You can't go out of the car." She told Stefan with a panic expression on her face. "Arthur is here. He will know about us."

"Why does it matter if he knew or not?"

Cayenne raised her eyebrow and stared at him. "We don't have any relationship but it would be troublesome if he thinks there is."

"I thought you don't like him anymore."

"I don't like him, alright. Didn't you think of what he will think after we separate? He might think badly of you."

"Of me? You're worried about my reputation? I don't even have a good reputation in the first place. Why worry about something that had long ceased to exist?"

"Whatever. Just don't go out. I'll pick my mother up and come back here."

"Will he be coming with you?"

"No, he won't."

"Okay. I'll wait for you here. If you need help, make sure to call me as soon as possible."

Cayenne felt something in her stomach when he smiled. She didn't know why but in the past few days, she had been looking forward to see his smile. She likes him when he's smiling and specially when that smile was directed at her. With these things in mind, Cayenne frowned.

"What's the matter?" Stefan asked her in worry. "Are you alright?"

Cayenne refused to look at his eyes and she directly opened the door without responding to him. "Please wait for me here."

Stefan followed her with his eyes but Cayenne didn't look back at him. "Did I say something wrong again?" he mumbled to himself while thinking back of their conversation.

With her heart beating like crazy, Cayenne walked to the hospital and finally got inside her mother's room. And just as she guessed, Arthur was really there.

"Hi." He greeted her with a smile, looking so pure and handsome in front of her.

"Hello, Arthur. What brings you here?"

"I visited someone downstairs and just dropped by here."

"I see." She didn't say much and went to her mother. "Are you ready to go home, Ma?" 

"Yes, Yen. I am so excited to come home. Didn't your brothers come with you?"

"No, they didn't. They stayed at home to prepare everything for you." Cayenne responded. "The discharge papers were processed yesterday. There's no need to worry about anything."

"Did you pay all the bills?" her mother asked her with a little sadness on her face. She knew that she was a burden to her daughter and she was sorry to her.

Cayenne hugged her mother while holding her hands and lightly squeezed it. "I promised to pay the remaining balance every month until everything's paid off." She couldn't tell her mother that someone secretly paid their medical bills, afraid that her mother would be worried and would think that someone was exploiting her. 

Arthur smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to do. "Uhh…if I have known, I would've brought something for Auntie."

"It's fine. We didn't really want anyone to know." Cayenne replied.

"Uhm…maybe I can send you home. Is that fine?"

"There's no need. I borrowed someone's car."

Since there's nothing he can do, Arthur just decided to bid farewell with the two of them and promised that he will visit them when he's got time. Although he said that he was leaving, he was actually following them secretly.