He Only Married Me To Show Her That He Already Moved On

It's been 6:45 am when I decided to grab a taxi and headed to the airport. Sandy was right about booking a plane ticket for plan B, in case Gabriel don't show himself.. and yeah, she's right, he didn't come home last night. And thanks God, I listened to her. 

I've tried to call him last night and this morning but I just let myself become frustrated even more, he didn't pick up any of it. I already sent him some text messages but until now I haven't received any reply from him. Then.. so be it! I can go without him. 

I stopped myself from calling him when I reached the airport. He forgot about this for sure. Well, he always forget everything when he's with her... so what would I expect, right? 

-'Huh! The man you choose to love is still in love with someone else... so take the pain! If you're not just a big stupid and idiot, you already know that he hasn't gotten over yet from his past, but you let yourself fall in love with him! Take it!'-.... that's my mind, shouting inside my head. 

And to avoid thinking about him, I turned off my phone and tried to sleep. I just need to wait 2 to 3 hours and I am in my homeland again. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My baby!"

My mom screamed when she noticed a taxi stopped in front of the black gate. She immediately runs towards the gate with our two maids also running behind her. 

"Oh my God! My baby, I've missed you so much!" she pulled me into a tight hug and kissed me all over my face. 

"I missed you too, Mom." I said not noticing the hot fluid that are now flowing down on my face. 

"Ohh... is that how you missed your old mother?"

"Mom?"

I pouted with her tease but I hugged her again. I missed her, I missed her hug, I missed her comfort and everything in her.. I missed my mom. I wanted to tell everything like when I was a kid, when I was still her little Madi, but I can't. 

"Why are you crying, baby? You're here now and your old mother is in front of you." she said chuckling while wiping my tears. But you can see in her eyes that she's just controlling herself not to cry in front of me. 

Why am I crying? It's for two things.. number one, I've missed my mother's hug and number two.. I'm so upset with what's happening in my life right now. 

"By the way, why are you alone? I thought you're going to introduce your boyfriend to your Mom?"

"Yeah, but I told you he's busy person, Mom. He's a CEO of one of the biggest company in Chicago." I smiled and tried my best not to bite my lips. She knows when I'm lying. 

"Oh, I see."

"But don't worry, I'll call him later."

"Okay. Let's go inside.. so you can start telling me your love story with this lucky boyfriend of yours."

She kissed my temple and we walked our way towards the huge double wooden door. 

"Oh my God!"

I muttered loudly the moment I entered our home. I inhaled the familiar scent of jasmine and morning breeze that comes from the air conditioner. It's my Mom's favorite scent. 

"I've missed this Mom." I turned to her and hugged her again. 

"Don't worry, your home misses you too, sweety."

We stayed there for a moment, while I am enjoying myself listening on her non-stopped story about home decorations, business parties, new flavors of her cakes and all the life issues of her favorite actors and actresses. She pulled me to the kitchen, and the aroma of my favorite Italian Bolognese pasta hit my nostrils. 

"Oh gosh! I love you, Mom!" I kissed her cheek before I run and seated on the dining table. I really can't wait any moment to taste this recipe of my mother. 

"Hey! Take it easy, Madielyn. Nobody's gonna take that from you. That's all yours!" she pulled another chair beside me and gave me a glass of dalandan juice. 

"I'm shorry, Mom." I said while munching the creamy pasta inside my mouth. She just smiled and shook her head. I take the glass of juice and bring it to my mouth, just to spit it out accidentally with my Mom's next question. 

"Are you pregnant?"

I cough so hard when the juice entered inside my nose. Where did she get that question, for goodness sake? Even the maids were shocked by her question. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to startle you." she rubbed my back and gave me some tissue. 

"Mommy? Where did you get that question?" I asked while still coughing. 

"I - I just want to ask. Why is it true? Are you pregnant?"

I don't know if the expression on her face is something you would expect or the opposite. I couldn't read her eyes. 

"What if I am? Is it okay with you?" I looked at her and watched the changes in her expression. 

"Oh my goodness! So, it's true.. you're pregnant?" she squealed and quickly stand. 

"Mom! I'm just asking!"

"So, are you?"

"No! Of course not! I told you, I'm just asking!"

And she seated again and sighed. "I thought I'm gonna be a grandmom." I chuckled when she pouted at me. 

"Mommy, I promise.. I'm gonna give you a grandchildren someday. But not now, I'm not yet ready." I hold her both hands. 

"Hmmp! Madielyn, when are you going to get married? You're not getting any younger!"

Haist! When was the last time I heard this lines? I shook my head and rolled my eyes. 

"I really need to meet your boyfriend, Madielyn! I will tell him to i.m.p.r.e.g.n.a.t.e you, so you can give me a grandchild before this year ends!" she crossed her arms over her c.h.e.s.t. 

But me... I was left speechless by that, and I don't know if I am going to laugh or what.. but in the end, I choose the first one. 

"You're really not that eager to have a grandchild Mom, are you?" I asked still chuckling. 

"Because I am so bored in waiting!"

"And just because you're bored, you want your baby to get pregnant in an instant?"

"Hey, Madielyn! You're not a baby anymore! I'm just calling you baby, because you're my only child."

"I love you, Mom." I stand and kissed her on her cheek. 

"Hmmp! I love you, too. Are you done eating? Let's go to your room and I'll help you unpack your things. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, what are your plans now.. you and your boyfriend?"

I sighed when she opened that topic again. We're in the living room, watching TV while my head is resting on her l.a.p as she combs my hair with her fingers. 

"Uhm.. for now we're still enjoying our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend."

I avoid looking up to her eyes. I just focused myself watching some random commercials while waiting for my favorite drama series to start. 

"Hmm.." she said and I noticed her nodded her head. "By the way, one of your friends in cooking school visited here... last month."

I crunched my eyebrows and this time I looked up to her face. 

"Who's friend?"

"Uhm.. I always forgot his name... Oh! It's Anderson boy!"

I chuckled when I heard that name. 

"Mom! It's Greg!" I said, laughing. 

"I told you, I always forgot his name!"

Anderson boy, was her nickname with Greg since we were in college. And sometimes I was also calling him that. 

"What did he say? I mean.. why did he visit you?"

"I don't know. He said he wants to see you. But I said you're not staying here and you're now in Chicago. He also brought some food and fruits here. You know what, I like that boy. He's so sweet and caring."

"Mom! You're always telling me that since in college."

It's true, she's always been a fan of Greg. Anderson boy is so sweet, Anderson boy is caring, Anderson boy has a cute dimple, and Anderson boy is blah..blah..blah..blah.. 

"Why hadn't you learned to love him, or even like him, Madi?"

I sighed and get up from her l.a.p. I settled myself in a comfortable sitting position before I answered her hundred years old question. 

"Mommy, I already told you my answer to that. And please, I now have a boyfriend. Let's not talk about this Anderson boy of yours."

"I'm just asking, baby." she chuckled at me. 

But I remember to ask her one question, maybe she could give me an answer to my own questions. 

"Mom, why did you loved Dad?"

Her laugh instantly died and her face became serious. But then she smiled and patted her side, gesturing me to sit beside her. And I sighed before I asked her again. 

"Why did you loved him, Mom? Even though, you know that he was already taken by that time, and that.. he has his own family? Why did you choose to stay when you know.. you're just his second option?"

She smiled and take both of my hands. 

"I loved him since we were young, Madi..like I always told you. We're bestfriends, sharing everything and anything. But his parents have another planned for him by that time. They went to Canada and forced him to marry his wife. But when we met again after five years, we both realized that our love for each other has still remained. And because I love him, I once became his mistress, I once became a stupid and madly in love with your Dad."

She sighed before she continued. 

"And about your question, why did I choose to stay? I don't know another reason for that, Madi.. it's just because I love him."

"Even when you know, that it can affect his relationship with his wife?"

"No, Madi. I didn't mean that thing. I was just in love and choosing what my heart dictates than what my mind was telling me by that time. I didn't say it was right, because it's not. But if there's one thing I didn't regret that love... it's having you inside me, Madi."

I smiled and hugged her tight. 

"But I'm hoping that you will choose a better man for you. Don't fall in love with a stupid.. and don't become a stupid!"

I gulped after hearing the word 'stupid'. 

"Our story was different Madi, we loved each other, before he got married to someone else. I've been a fool, a stupid and a mistress. So, I am telling you.. I want you to choose the one who can love you...who would love you and make you his number one priority. The one who's heart belongs to you and only you. Don't you ever follow my footsteps.. don't make me your model, Madi."

I hide my face into the crock of her neck. 

-'I'm sorry, Mom. I wish I could teach my heart..'-

"I want you to be happy, my baby. I want to see you walking at the altar with a happy smile and tears in your face. Promise me, baby." she rubbed my back and kissed my hair. 

"Tell me something about this boyfriend of yours. Is he handsome and cute like this Anderson boy?" I started to roll my eyes. "Is he tall, having a broad shoulder, pointed nose like my favorite hollywood star -- Tom Cruise?"

"Mom... he's like a Greek God." I said and I laughed at her reaction. 

"Oh my God! I'm really excited to meet him, Madielyn!"

I laughed again, but before I could open my mouth, the intercom beside my mom.. buzzed. The call was from the guards and they said there's someone on the gate who introduced himself as my 'boyfriend'. 

My Mom looked at me and my eyes widened. 

-'Oh shit! He's here?'-