Chapter 86

86 It’s Hard To Hold Back The Longing

[I don’t know, I just thought your condition was the same as me? I rarely came home because I was too lazy to meet my dad, who kept telling me to get married. I don’t know what your problem is, but maybe there’s a reason why you rarely come home.]

As soon as Kalea breathed a sigh of relief, Arthur turned out to be just talking nonsense. Her condition and Arthur’s condition are the same? Of course not, Kalea is not lazy to meet her mother, but Freya is the one who is lazy to see her face.

“The point is I’ll be here longer.”

[Hm, okay. I can’t force you. But if it’s too long, I’ll pick you up.]

“No, don’t do that. I’ll be back alone.”

[Hey, I’ve been there, but why now you forbid me?]

I forgot I had a neighbor who was a little happy talking about other people’s problems..”

[Hmm, okay fine.]

“Arthur.”

.....

[Why? You changed your mind?]

“Don’t forget to wear condom.”

[So noisy. Don’t worry, I only did it with you without a condom.]

“Who said I wanted to?”

[Tch.]

Kalea chuckled amusedly, it was only natural that Arthur often teased her, it turned out to be this much fun.

[Is there anything else you want to talk about?]

“No, that’s all. You can continue to have fun.”

[Aight. Bye, Lea. I’m gonna miss you so much, babe.]

“Yep.”

[Tsk, that was short.]

“You protest a lot.”

[Well, let’s see.]

“Bye bye.”

In order to avoid chattering about less and less important things, Kalea took the initiative to end the phone call first. The girl was getting ready for bed.

Kalea had actually been at home for a whole week, before she told her mother the timeframe had changed to a longer one. Freya didn’t comment at all, as if it didn’t matter. The girl only took some of her material books stored in the apartment, while the clothes she still wore were at home. Considering the clothes he has in the apartment are more sexy and many are bought by Arthur with famous brands, Kalea is a little afraid if Freya finds out.

During that week, Arthur didn’t contact Kalea, even though Kalea thought Arthur would whine with his annoying behavior, but he didn’t. She didn’t want to admit that she was a little disappointed and felt strange, even she had even thought that Arthur had found a sweet and adorable sugar baby compared to her.

No, Kalea didn’t want the man she had thought of as a running bank to leave her!

“Wait,” Kalea muttered, stopping her writing movement, she had been studying for a while but suddenly her mind was full of that perverted man. “Because Mom doesn’t drink alcohol too often, expenses automatically aren’t as heavy as before. If the contract is over, I don’t think I’ll have a problem,” Kalea continued, scribbling on her book.

“But I’m so bad, I really only need his money. But, no! Why would I think that? After all, he only needs my body. Ah, but- argh! Why do I bother thinking about him?!” Kalea ruffled her brunette hair in frustration. The girl rested her head in her hands, her gaze became sad. “Why does he keep popping up in my mind lately? I don’t wanna know he knows this,” Kalea grumbled at the thought of Arthur getting a big head with an Arthur’s annoying face.

Kalea shook her head quickly to get her out of her mind. “I have to finish this material and take Mom out for some fun!” Kalea exclaimed excitedly as she clenched her fists. Tonight, she planned to take her mother out, with Freya’s condition improving, Freya probably wouldn’t refuse.

It was getting dark, all of today’s material had been reviewed by Kalea. She left the room and looked for her mother. As usual, if not in the living room, Freya was in the backyard with a cigarette, which was still the woman’s routine.

“Mom,” Kalea called, Freya turned to her daughter. “Tonight, are you free?”

“What is it?”

“Th-that, how about going outside? Shopping, maybe? Ah, think of it as an extra gift from me to Mom!” Kalea exclaimed looking at Freya expectantly with a racing heart. She hoped that her invitation would not be flatly declined this time. Kalea looked at her mother who got up from her seat and walked away from her.

“Why are you still sitting there? Hurry up, it’s getting late. I’ll change clothes first,” Freya said, stepping back up the stairs to her room.

Kalea was flabbergasted, her mother had really changed! She couldn’t help but smile, which grew wider because she was so happy. The girl rushed to get ready because she didn’t want to make Freya wait too long.

That night, Kalea took her mother to eat at a restaurant even though it was not too expensive because she was worried that her mother would suspect if she spent too much money. She also bought clothes, bags, and so on for Freya. All Kalea wanted was to make her mother happy, maybe this was the first time she had fun with Freya after the departure of her bad father.

A major accomplishment for Kalea, even with the hot money she made serving a rich old man. Even though Arthur wasn’t too old and still very handsome.

“There’s no need to buy anything else, this is enough,” Freya said when Kalea wanted to take her into one of the stores for the umpteenth time. “Our hands are full,” she continued, showing the many shopping bags they carried.

“Eh? Are you sure? I can still buy some things for you, although it’s not too expensive,” Kalea said again reassuringly.

“We’ll take the bus home in case you forgot.”

Kalea blinked, her spirits dropping. She completely forgot, she thought the car she could drive was tucked away in the parking lot. “Okay then. But is it okay, Mom?”

“What do you mean? I’m tired of walking here and there anyway.”

“I see. Whereas in the past, Mom was very excited when we went shopping at the mall!” Kalea replied while laughing softly because she suddenly recalled past memories. Freya, who really liked shopping and other necessities, was contagious to little Kalea at that time.

It could be said, when her family was still intact, Kalea didn’t lack for anything at all. She is happy to be the only child. Her father works in technology, and the family finances are very organized by the mother, who is good at managing finances. However, everything changed when Kalea’s father had an affair with a coworker. As if it was planned, her father suddenly disappeared after the affair was discovered.

Kalea’s father even quit the company where he worked at that time, Kalea never once saw him as if he had been swallowed up by the earth.

Kalea was confused when Freya stopped her steps after she spoke like that.

“Mom?” Kalea called because her mother kept her head down. Kalea swallowed her saliva roughly. Damn, did she just misspoke?

“Hm? It’s okay. Let’s go on,” Freya said, forcing a smile at her daughter and walking back. Kalea was silent, she looked at Freya’s back which was getting further away. Will she be okay when she gets home?

During the way, Kalea was still trying to get her mother to talk to forget what she said earlier. Freya was still responding even though she was mostly silent. The girl still thinks positively, maybe the mother is tired because it’s been a long time since Freya hasn’t left the house and has activities outside. Kalea let her mother rest along the way. Today she finally can realize one by one her desire to spend time with her mother.

And pray that it will stay like this in the future.

***

“Mom, I’m going to college first,” Kalea said after finishing breakfast and cleaning the kitchen first.

“Be careful,” Freya said, already watching television in the living room with only one bottle of alcohol accompanying her. Kalea’s mother really proved that she had cut down on such drinks which would only damage her body over time.

“I’ll be home in a week or two. Is it okay, right?” Kalea asked, actually a little doubtful.

“Up to you.”

“Okay, if you need anything, just call me, okay?” Then Kalea left the house, just as happy as she had been the previous days since her relationship with Freya had improved. As if she didn’t need anyone anymore if Freya was by her side. Who is Aluna? Only pests come to take advantage of it and are happy to see Kalea miserable.

Kalea was humming happily until she was surprised by a car she knew very well in front of her alley. Her hunch became uneasy and the hunch matched her expectations. Kalea’s eyes were rounded perfectly when someone got out of the car.

“Hi!” someone said with a very neat dress and a sweet smile on his face that shone above the sun in the morning. Okay, that’s too much.

“W-why are you here, Arthur?!” Kalea asked gaping in disbelief, even though she had already told Arthur never to come to her house again.

“Hm? I called you, but you didn’t pick up. You want to go to campus, right? Let me take you.”

Kalea walked quickly to the man and pushed Arthur to get into the car, while Kalea was sitting on the chair next to him. “I told you not to come here, didn’t I?”

Kalea was surprised when the man with the mole under his eye suddenly kissed her lips. “I’ve missed you too much, little girl.”