Chapter 4. Mom

“Mom,” I whispered.

She didn’t reply; she remained fixated at the door, staring at me. I was waiting for her to say something, but she just kept staring at me. I started to feel conscious and uncomfortable. I shifted in my position while avoiding her gaze.

“Mei,” she said and finally came closer to me. She held my hands and looked at me with pleading eyes. “Were you lying? You really do not plan to get married, do you?” she asked me.

This felt like a trap. Mom never called me Mei; she preferred to call me by my full name because she found it more unique. As much as I didn’t want to lie to Mom, I had to. My father could be outside listening to our conversation. I looked at her, a little sad about how I had to lie to her.

“Àmà” (mom) I called to her. “I am getting married. It’s the only way out,” I said.

She looked at me, shocked. “Out of what? You shouldn’t marry a man you do not love. You’ll live with him for the rest of your life,” Mom advised.

I only had a year; the rest of my life seemed far-fetched.

“I do love him, Mom, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him,” I said.

She stayed still and didn’t say a word.

“Mom,” I called out to her.

She looked at me and nodded. She stood up and walked to the door. “Come down for lunch. Your father and I would like to know about this new man,” Mom said sternly and walked out of my room.

I turned to look at my phone, and then at my door. Did I want to go down or stay here? I had never rebelled against my parents. I was the perfect child. But I had managed to go against all my parents’ decisions in the short span of waking up and getting home. One more violation of the law wouldn’t hurt.

I grabbed my phone and dialed the number. The user still wasn’t picking up. I was getting desperate but frustrated. I was missing lunch to talk to someone who might not even agree to the plans. But I was desperate, and I knew that when you desperately want something, you have to try all legal means to get it. I was trying, and it wasn’t working.

I tried the number again, and it rang. I stared at my phone as it dialed the number. Every second went by with no one answering the phone. What was taking so long? Answering a phone call was so easy; it shouldn’t take this long to pick up the freaking phone.

Each second and every buzz of my phone made my heart skip a beat. I just wanted it to be him, reaching out to grab my phone. But it was just another notification from work. I decided to keep calling the number like my life depended on it, well, it literally did. I kept trying, and it kept going to voicemail. Then, on the fifth try, it rang, making my heart jump in my mouth as I waited...

***

If I could name myself, I might add “Bad Luck” as my middle name because I don’t understand why nothing is going well. First of all, I have cancer. Isn’t that good news? And now, the one thing I need to complete my stupid plans won’t even pick up the phone! It was a simple phone call - all you had to do was swipe and listen to the crap I was saying.

“There’s lunch downstairs, you don’t have to eat all your nails,” my mom said, and that scared me. How long had she been standing by the door?

“Hello,” a strange voice murmured, and I had to quickly end the call.

“Lunch?” Mom asked, and I nodded.

I didn’t want to eat; I wanted to stay here and convince a stranger to marry me. I stood up and watched my phone ring. I turned to look at Mom and then my phone. I couldn’t answer the phone and talk with Mom in the same room as me. I groaned and followed her downstairs.

“Ámà,” I whined as she dragged me downstairs. I could walk around perfectly fine; there was no need to rush.

“Your dad is waiting, and the food will get cold,” she cautioned, continuing to lead me to the dining room.

The table was decorated with a variety of different meals, as always. All I had to do was eat, get through dinner without talking to anyone, and go back to my room. I had more important things to do than eat. All this healthy food, and yet I’m here dying. Maybe I should just eat a lot of junk and make the most of my life.

“Mei Xing,” Dad called out.

“Hmm,” I hummed and looked at him.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked, and I nodded.

“I’m not. I just want to be in my room,” I said, and he nodded.

“You probably have better things to do in your room,” he said, and I shook my head. “If that’s the case, then eat your food,” he ordered.

“I just want to be in my room,” I murmured.

“What did you say?” he asked.

I took a spoonful of seaweed soup and swallowed it. “I said the food is amazing,” I replied with the widest grin on my face.

Dinner dragged on for the longest time, and I just wanted to leave.

“So, you’re getting married?” Dad asked immediately after he dropped his spoon.

“Yes,” I said and shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

“What is his name?” Dad asked.