’Why is she asking this?’ Xavier wondered, puzzled by his mom’s sudden question.
"Yep. I’m fine," he said.
"That is good to hear," Anna replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"Why did you suddenly ask about my health?" he asked.
"What do you an? Can I not even ask how my own son is doing?" Anna said with a slight frown.
"N-no, it is not like that," Xavier stuttered, raising his hands defensively.
’Please do not tell she’s going to hit again, right?’
"Huhu~"
"Huh?"
"Huhuhuhu~"
"Um... Mom? Are you okay?"
’Why is she laughing all of a sudden?’
Anna laughed for nearly a minute before finally calming down.
"I am fine, son. It is just that... you reminded of your father a bit," she said with a small smile.
"Father..." Xavier echoed. Even though he now knew who his father was, the word still felt unfamiliar to him.
"Do you want to know more about him?" Anna asked.
"What? Really?" Xavier said, his voice laced with confusion.
"Yes."
"But why? Didn’t you always avoid telling whenever I asked about him, saying I was too young?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then... you think I am ready now?"
"Of course not," Anna said bluntly.
"Huh? But—"
"It is not like I’m going to tell you everything about him. I still do think it is too early for that."
"So, do you want to know or not?"
"Of course I do!"
"Alright then." She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm... where do I begin?"
"Oh! This’ll be good. Ahem. Let’s begin," she said, clearing her throat.
"Your father was a really busy man. He spent most of his ti working. Even after we got married, he could barely stay at ho because of it."
"Hmm?" Anna paused when she noticed Xavier raise his hand.
"What is it?"
"But wasn’t Dad a writer? Don’t most writers usually work from ho?"
Anna froze. She could not believe she had slipped. She had totally forgotten that she had told Xavier that his father was a writer. But she quickly composed herself.
"Y-yes, you are right. But... the company he worked for required him to work in their office," she replied, a little nervous.
’Did he buy it?’
"Really?" Xavier asked, narrowing his eyes.
"O-of course!"
"Hmm..."
’So she does not want to reveal that he was actually the Duke of Comilla’s Commander, eh? Well, I will give her so ti. It’s best not to force it’
"Alright. I believe you." Xavier said.
"R-really?"
’He actually bought that?’ Anna was having trouble believing that her son who’s usually quite sharp would believe this obvious slip-up by her.
"Yep. Why? Is it actually a lie?"
"Of course it is not!"
"Anyways, that is not really important. Moving on."
"As I was saying, he was a very busy man with little to no free ti on his hands. In the two years we were married, he never took a single day off. That is how devoted he was to his work. But..."
Xavier raised an eyebrow. His mom’s expression had turned emotional. But she quickly composed herself again.
"The first ti he ever took a day off since our marriage was when he found out... I was pregnant with you."
"...!"
’Dad...’
"Huhu~ I rember him being so happy that he almost fainted."
"He could not believe he had been blessed with a child. That day, he took a holiday and spent the entire day with ... and you."
"So thank you for that, Xavier. You were the greatest gift we ever received."
"Mom..." Xavier looked at his mother, who wore the happiest smile he had ever seen on her.
’She really misses him...’
"Everything was going great after that. Your father ca ho on ti, spent more ti with , and even started taking more days off. It felt like we were living the dream of every couple. Until..."
’What is wrong?’
Xavier noticed the change. Her beautiful smile faded and was replaced with a solemn look.
"Well, that is it. I will tell you more next ti."
"Mom... are you alright?"
"Hm? What do you an? Of course I am." Anna replied.
"Anyway, what I ant to say is—your father loved us. He loved you. So don’t you ever forget that, okay?"
"Yes." Xavier nodded.
"Good. Now co here."
Anna opened her arms and gestured for him to get closer.
"M-mom...!" Xavier’s cheeks flushed. He felt he was too old for such things.
Huup!
"Hmp?" Xavier let out a muffled sound as his face was pulled into her chest.
Not waiting for a reply, Anna got up and hugged him tightly.
"My son, rember this—no matter how old you get, you will always be my little boy."
"Okay..." His voice was still muffled.
"Huhu~ Good boy." She ruffled his hair, let go, and left the kitchen.
Xavier, now alone, had a swirl of thoughts running through his mind.
"She really loves you," a voice said as Samuel appeared out of thin air.
"Whoa...!"
Xavier was startled but relaxed once he saw who it was.
"You startled ."
"And yes, I know she does."
"Then, are you ready for training?"
Xavier closed his eyes and remained silent for a while. Samuel did not interrupt. After a mont, Xavier opened his eyes and looked directly at him.
"Honestly, when you told all those things yesterday, I did not believe you one hundred percent. But seeing Mom’s reaction... I know what I must do."
"Then, are you ready?"
"Yes," Xavier said, his eyes burning with determination.
"Then et outside in two minutes."
"Understood."
***
Two minutes later,
Xavier stood outside with his airboard in one hand and his backpack strapped to his back.
"Samuel?"
"Yes, Master Xavier?"
"I am ready. Let’s go."
"Alright. However, why are you bringing that?" Samuel asked.
"Hm? Why? You want us to walk to the training spot?"
"No. I’d carry you." Samuel replied as a matter of fact.
"Carry ? Look, I may not look like it, but I am at least fifty kilograms. It’d just—"
Reviews
All reviews (0)