Full of cheese

"Makena..." She peeped into the room to see me sitting comfortably. "Is everything okay?" Concern filled every corner of my childhood bedroom I was in, doing nothing but staring into space.

I responded, hoping my weak smile was enough. "Yes, mum. Why wouldn't it be?"

That pathetic excuse wasn't enough, as she found her way to the room, occupying the space beside me.

"My happerent daughter isn't usually this dull..." Her smile was also weak, but her eyes danced with pity.

It reminded me of when I turned 18. We were in this same room, in this exact position, sitting on the bed with our legs touching the floor.

The only difference is, then, she wanted to convince me to collect the present. Now, she noticed I didn't talk much during dinner and followed me here.

"I'm not looking dull." Catching her gaze, "I'm smiling...seeee" I tried to up my smiling game, by twisting the corner of my lips upwards. Kind of like the smile you shoot at a random stranger, coupled with polite greetings.

I heard her click her tongue, "I've seen happier faces on dead fishes." After sizing me up for a second, she also shook her head.

Firstly, there came a gasp. "Ouch." Dramatically placing my hand on my chest, "A dead fish smiles better than I do. Congratulations on murdering my self-esteem." I also shook my head in disappointment. Completely humored.

`There's the momma I know. ʼ I said inwardly as she smiled. A real smile that qualified as a proper grin.

"Don't mention it." An ear-to-ear grin and the usual punch of direct sarcasm, "Now, tell me what's bothering you."

I stumbled on words that didn't form, "Errrmm... " Bad bad. I hadn't even recovered from the moment of normalcy, when her stern voice found its way to my head.

I was waiting for her to urge me to talk, instead, she let out a sigh.

Cocking her head to the side, "Let's play Sweet and Suck." I could see the mischievous glint that danced around in her eyes. She knew I couldn't say no.

Sweet and suck is a game we play. We talk about the sweet things we are grateful for, and then the terrible ones that sucked. It is usually a fun thing to do because I reflect on past events that I normally won't. You'll be surprised at the little things we take for granted.

"Fine," We both knew I couldn't say no, "You'll go first."

What was that? A satisfied look? "Okay, as for sweet, Rea said her first words this week." A single tear rolled down her cheek making me worried, until she said, "It was Nana. She was talking to me."

Rea is my brother Andre's daughter. He had her at 19, and well....he still lives with mum alongside his girlfriend. Mum absolutely dotes on their daughter. Everybody loves Rea, despite the circumstances surrounding her birth.

Furrowing my brows in what I assumed was a sad face, "And nobody told me!!!!!!" I whisper-yelled, accompanying whatever face I had on. How dare they not remember to tell me that my favorite and only niece said her first words?!!!!

"I told Aurum yesterday while telling her about today's dinner. I thought she said something about it to you."

"She didn't." My somewhat good mood was pummeled at the mention of Aurum. I could guess why she didn't tell me.

If mum noticed my change in expression, she didn't mention it. "I guess it's a good thing that you know now." Her voice laced with gushes, probably at the memory of such an important event.

My jaw tightened, "I guess....." How dare she keep this from me?!!!! That's what I wanted to say but opted for, " Anyway, I'll like to start with suck." It turns out I've been itching to tell someone.

She trailed off waiting for what I had to say. "Okay..." Maybe a bombshell.

"Suck, I had a fallout with Aurum." It wasn't until I added, "It makes me feel bad." that I actually did feel bad. It's not my fault, but I still felt guilty. Not gut-wrenching guilt, but heart-tugging guilt.

"Oh, Makena." Mum cooed, clutching a fist full of her cloth. "You have never really been able to handle people being upset with you." That is not a lie.

I shook my head not wanting to see her pitiful expression. "She's hiding something mum. I'm sure of it ." A cloud of possibilities formed in my head. "Rather than telling me, she spins the situation on me somehow and mentions that I'm head over heels for fictional Jotham." Emphasis on the fictional aspect.

With some sort of mum expression, "She'll tell you in due time." she stated, and came to conclusions with a shrug

"But... What if it's a bad thing. What if she's endangering her life?" I can't deny thinking about the mess Aurum could have possibly gotten herself into. So many what-ifs. 

"She's an adult." She informed me of the same thing Aurum wouldn't stop saying. "We can only hope that she makes the right choices."

Despite not liking it I had to agree, "I guess you're right."

"I always am." She might as well pat herself on the back at this point. Apparently, humility wasn't her strong forte.

"It's your turn, tell me what sucked this week."

Starting with a sigh, "Andre and Lola also had a little squabble." Her face fell, even more, punctuated with slumped shoulders, "I think Lola wants to move out."

Lola, is his girlfriend and mother of his child. She had to move in after the birth of the baby, and it has been that way for a year. I wouldn't blame her for wanting to move out and have their own place.

Seeing as it was my turn to be comforting, I held out my hand.

She took it in hers before I said, "Andre is an adult and all, and I love Rea." Very very much. "But I think having a baby is taking a toll on them." There's always a but, and I ended the statement with mine.

"That's not wrong." I caught a thoughtful expression crossing the features of her face. "I hope they figure things out." And her voice almost broke.

"If they don't?" Arching my brows questioningly.

There was no doubt that she was serious because her tone lacked humor. "We'll have to intervene. We are both too inquisitive to let it slide." She said the last sentence and nudged me by my side.

My light chuckle encouraged her action, "This is why I love you. You are willing to dig for the truth." It reminded me of my situation with Aurum.

Mum almost looked cross, "Is that the only reason?". Almost, because still looked as happy as ever.

Shrugging it off like it was nothing, "Also because you're my mother and all..." I also didn't do well with my shrug because a giggle slipped through.

"Haha." She loved it and cackled. "Your turn. Give me sweet!!!"

It seems like her excitement had increased since we digressed.

A perfect time to say, "I got a job!!!" Before waiting for her to recover, "Guess who would be working with Jotham Wright?" I had to include that bit because it was probably the most important part.

Pulling me into a bone-crunching hug, "Congratulations honey." I couldn't see her face thanks to the hug, but I bet there was a tear.

"Thanks, mum." Not wanting to be awkward or anything, I patted her back gently. One or two gentle pats.

Then came the affirmations, "Everything will be fine." I crossed my fingers behind her back as she continued, "Andre and Lola will be fine. You and Aurum will be fine. And Make designs...You'll get the hang of it eventually."

Finally, she ended our hug by pulling me back.

"You know what?" I asked tugging a strand of hair behind my ear, "I don't doubt that at all."

It was the warmth she radiated that made me feel fuzzy inside, "That's my girl!!"

Leaning forward to place a kiss on her forehead, "Thank you, mum. For being my mother." The mother to a happerent woman.

Right in the middle of our extreme cheesiness, my not-so-charming brother barged in bringing his voice along. "It smells like cheese in here."

While he stood at the door, scrunching his nose in disgust, I took notice of his appearance. Ginger read hair like Aurum's, mum's, and his one-year-old daughter. Always messy as usual in a shortcut. Sullen mysterious brown eyes from dad, and abs that graced his 6'3 body. Talk about unfair. My brother walked out of a vogue magazine.

Biting my tongue from telling him how perfect he looked, "Back off Andre." I went with a cheap taunt instead.

"Did you bring those cookies?"

"MUM," Widening my eyes and turning to mum for answers, "You didn't tell me that this dummy wanted it."

"He actually asked me to tell you to bring some." She scratched the back of her neck, as her gaze held maximum fondness. I'm not buying such sweetness!!!!

Yes, I rolled my eyes proving that.

"As opposed to doing so himself." Rather than send our mother, he should have asked. Pfft. Player.

Ever so smugly, "It saves everybody the stress." The douchébag {that I absolutely love} dared to smirk.

It hurts to be played like that, "Everybody except for me." I pointed out.

"Oops." Stroking his non-existent mustache. "I didn't think about that. There's a hitch in my plan." He feigned a confused expression that was totally buyable. So I bought it.

"Ha. I knew you weren't smart enough to pull off one."

Flipping me his middle finger, "I hate you!!" He called out across the hallway like a grouchy man child having left the front of my former bedroom.

"I love you too brother!!!" It took a lot from my voice for me to shout loudly enough for him to hear me.

So loud, that even mum had to flinch at the noise.