Mother Part 1

"What do you mean you hate them? They kept talking about how much you helped them and how nice you were and all that." He looked at her with so much confusion.

"They're only saying that because they think I'm pretty."

"What? What makes you think that?"

"How many of them mentioned Kaia?" She looked at him from the corner of her eyes.

"I started helping them because Kaia suggested it and I stopped because can see how they treated her. She was told to do more difficult work while I was given simpler tasks. Even though we just volunteered, they think they can make her do whatever they want just because they are a little superior in looks. They're no different from those people. They only want me because of my face. Just to see me smile and wave at them, then they discard me. Do they think that by giving me things, I'll give them my affections? What a joke. They don't try to learn about me. They don't really ca-"

��I'm sorry." Dorran interrupted her, looking to the ground. "I've been doing that too, giving you gifts to try to win your affection. But I want to know everything about you, I genuinely want to." Realising what he said he turned away in embarrassment. "I-if you don't mind, that is."

Caitlyn reached for his hand.

"Then, want to know my story?"

Why she trusts him, she doesn't know. She thought he would have left the moment she said that like everyone else did. But here he was, still by her side.

♣

"Mum and dad are both very well-known actors in the main city. They fell in love while shooting a movie together and slept together, regularly. But when mum became pregnant, they started to argue.

"Dad believes that having a child will ruin his career and mum was angry at him for making her pregnant. She still had me though, out of spite to my father.

"She never really wanted me, complaining about what I did to her body and all that. She moved to this town, where no one knew about her and put me in an orphanage.

"After that, she went on about her life and I did too. I met Kaia around that time, it was the best time of my life. But then the press found out about it and they both had to come to get me just to pretend that they are a happy family and protect their image.

"To the outside world, we are the perfect family. I got my father's hair and my mother's eyes, a real 'natural beauty' they called me. The first time I saw my father was in front of the public as he held me tenderly, smiling.

"All my parents have to do is post a picture or video with me every now and then, with that the public is happy and, even, envious. I only saw them for a brief moment but I was happiest when they weren't there. No shouting, no screaming, nothing."

She took a bite of another cake, staring blankly at the distance.

"How did you get back to the orphanage here?"

Caitlyn looked at him, "It's simple, they've been giving me everything I asked to keep me 'satisfied' and one day, I told them that if they sent me back to the orphanage here, I'll be out of their hair. I'll send them videos regularly to post and they can pretend that I was staying with a family friend because of their hectic schedule. They agreed almost immediately.

"It was such a reasonable deal that they couldn't refuse. I looked for Kaia again then and met Shia, Max, and Aliya. Something about them drew me to them. They weren't like the other people I met. They didn't care about how I looked and treated me the same way as they did to everyone else.

"My mum and dad may be my parents but they are my family. A family does not demand more than you are. Family isn't selfish. Family is not what my parents are to me." She turned to him and smiled. "Now you are family, too."

"I'm flattered, Caitlyn. But …why me?"

"Remember the day we met?"

"Yeah?"

"There was something about the kid standing in the rain, in his uniform, so I walked up to you and when we began to talk; you didn't mention my face even once. Not just that, you're so fun to talk to. I was sad to see you go. Both you and Ran, I kept looking for you but I couldn't find you at all.

"When I saw you that day, I was so so happy. But seeing Kaia crying made me sad again. I felt so happy and so sad that day. Ok, so what about you? Why me?"

Dorran looked to the gradient sky and smiled as he recalled the memory, "I was so angry with everything that day. My father remarried and wanted me to meet my new 'mother' but I didn't like her at all. So I ran from school in the rain, crying like a baby.

"Then a girl with the reddest hair I have ever seen and with the ugliest yellow dress and umbrella appeared, smiling at me. I thought I died and an angel came to pick me up.

"But then you talked to me and even addressed Ran, who hasn't figured a name for himself yet that time, so we got interested. You even knew when we switched back and forth, addressing each one of us correctly. Not even my father could do that."

"Wait. So you're telling me that when I said 'you are Dor and you Ran', you actually called yourself that?"

Dorran shrugged his shoulders. "We aren't very creative and you, the first person who could tell us apart, called us that so we accepted it in honour of you."

Caitlyn laughed, "You're more of a dork than what I originally thought you were. By the way, for some reason, I feel like it's the both of you here, not just Dor or Ran. But Dor-Ran, how is that?"

"I don't really know. I also feel like it's both of us with you now. We're both here, together. Anyway, what did you think I was like?" He also started eating the cake, sighing when it melted in his mouth.

"With your overly formal dressing no matter where we went and the way you behaved, I thought the boy I knew years ago was gone. But seeing you like this now made me realise, you're still you. Just older." She smiled a wide grin at him, the genuine smile that she only showed to her friends.

"People told me not to smile like this because I look ugly."

"They're right." He replied to her. "That's the ugliest smile you've ever smiled. But . . . I still like it. Finally, I get to see the real you."

"You're so weird and cringe." She playfully hit his shoulders.

They continued to talk for another hour, or two while the stars came out to play and the sun went to sleep.

♣

"So. You've met with Kaia?"

Dorran choked on the water he was drinking, coughing as he tried to talk, "What makes you think that?"

Caitlyn smiled as he coughed. "You're a very bad liar, you know that?"

"Only to you." He mumbled to himself.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Ok. Fine. I did meet up with Kaia, I can't tel-"

"Does she look well?"

"Yeah." He thought back to her smacking his mother like a piñata. "She was very energetic."

"That's good. As long as she is fine, I can relax. We're a family. In a family you don't know everything about each other but if she ever, ever needs me, can you let her know that I'm there for her?" Caitlyn looked up at him and pleaded with her eyes.

She obviously learned this from Kaia.

"Sure. I'll tell her that."

"Thank you."

Just then, his phone rang. It was from Alex.

"Sorry. I need to get this. Hello, Alex?"

"Young master, she's awake. And your father's been asking about you the entire day."

"Ok. I'll be there. Tell dad that I'm at a friend's house and will be back soon. Come pick me up. I'll send the location."

As soon as he kept the call, he looked apologetically at Caitlyn, "I'm sorry, Cati. I-"

"Hey, it's ok." She stood up from the bench and dusted her dress. "Thank you for spending time with me today. I feel better now."

"I should be the one to thank you. For everything." He opened his arms wide, hoping for something.

Caitlyn laughed and hugged him, "Take care of Kaia, ok?"

"I promise I will."

♣

Dorran stared at the spot Caitlyn stood long after she disappeared.

"Young master?" Alex called from the car.

"Yeah." He gave one last look at that direction and walked to the car.

"Did you go shopping, young master?" He asked, a smile on his face.

"Yeah. A little bit." Dorran looked at the huge buildings and luxurious stores, now they looked so bland compared to what Caitlyn had shown him.

"This style suits you, young master."

"Thank you, Alex. Can we go straight to my father first? I have some questions I need to ask him."

"Of course, young master. Are you feeling ok?"

"Better than ever."

♣

"Son! There you are. Tell these people to leave me alone."

His mother looked so happy to see him, but he was feeling anything but happy. The moment they made eye contact, Ran took over. He had a smirk on his face when he looked at her.

"Look what the cat dragged in." He pulled up a chair and sat on it, back to front. Two soldiers remained behind him in the room.

Just then the door opened again and Kaia entered the room.

"Hi." He waved at her.

"What do you want? You even told me not to bring my phone." Kaia signed at him, looking at his mother who cowered with one look from her.

"I needed a witness." He signed back, still smiling.

"I am not going to be a witness. Unless you called me to kill her, then I'm off."

"I really need you here. If I could I would have called Caitlyn but I don't want her to see this. Keep me from letting my emotions take over. Please"

Kaia looked at him then at the woman. She sighed and stood by the men.

"Why is she here? She's just going to fill your head with lies about me. Get her out." She screamed at her, but Kaia hardly flinched.

"Hmmmmmmmmm. No." He smiled playfully at her.

"I am YOUR mother. Treat me with more respect. If I say she goes, she goes."

"Ok."

"Good."

"When you can tell me what my name is."

"Bulls-"

"Ma'am, you're in front of children. Please watch your language." One of the men answered her, while Ran looked at her with amusement dancing in his eyes. Even Kaia was enjoying herself, seeing the woman squirm.

The woman tried to compose herself then spoke, "My dearest son, you know how much I lo-"

"That's not my name."

"It's been years since I last saw you. How am I supposed to remember your name?" She snapped.

"Yeah, your right. Maybe that's a little too hard."

"Thank you. I always knew I rai-"

"How about my birthday?" He gleefully exclaimed at her.

"That's even harder! Why don't you just take out a picture and compare them? I am your mother. You have to believe me."

"Oh, I know you're my mother. Your face is embedded into my memories." He got up from the chair and walked to her.

"Then? Why the questions and suspicions?"

Kaia looked over at Ran and she could see the raw pain in his eyes, hidden by that cocky attitude of his.

"The question here is, do you that you're my mother?" He took the flower from the vase and looked at it.

"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course, I know that I'm your mother. I gave birth to you."

"Ok. Let's go to the simplest question." He leaned against the bedpost and stared at her in the eyes. "What is the name of my father? Simple right? I'll give you five seconds to tell me and that's being generous. Kaia, get ready. If she doesn't answer, you can do whatever you want."

Kaia took the gun from one of the men and aimed it at her head.

"Five."

"N-now, let's be reasonable here."

"Four."

"Listen to me."

"Three."

Just as she was getting more agitated as he counted down, so was he. He looked like he was rooting for her. Like he wanted her to get this right.

Come on, just say dad's name and you'll be free to go. I'll give you everything you want.

"Two."

"P-past! Remember the song I used to sing to you? I could sing it again and prove myself."

"One."

"William!" She shouted, closing her eyes. Hearing nothing she opened her eyes happy she got it right.

But when she saw the pain and hurt in his eyes, she realised what was coming.

"Wrong." He looked at her with so much revulsion, Kaia could feel it from where she stood.

Bang!