SHE CHANGED

My lips drooped in disappointment as Williams pulled out a stunning ceramic chair, its delicate patterns and beautiful design shining in the light. "Take a seat, sir," he said with a courteous smile. I forced a fake grin, my cheeks aching from the effort, and sat down, my silk pajamas feeling suffocatingly tight as I adjusted myself. "Uh, hey, Williams? Can you do me a solid and ditch the 'sir' thing? It's giving me major cringe vibes. Just call me Chester, Chess, or whatever, okay?" Williams' expression flickered with surprise, but he nodded curtly. "Sure thing."

As I gazed at the dining table, my stomach growled with hunger, the aftermath of that bizarre magical loop leaving me ravenous. I reached for the fork, loaded with a fluffy scrambled egg, but hesitated, my hand hovering mid-air. "Hey, Williams, quick question: where's my...uh, mother?" I winced internally at the awkwardness of the word, my mind screaming, What the heck, Sukani?! Why was I talking like a try-hard posh kid?! But my mouth seemed to have a mind of its own, spewing out cringe-worthy phrases like a verbal diarrhea. Williams raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "She's in her office." Office?! Whoa, go Mom! I placed a hand on my chest, feigning a dramatic sigh. "Aww, my mother's a total boss now!"

I cleared my throat, attempting to salvage what was left of my dignity. "Uh, another quick question, Williams: where exactly is her office?" My voice came out with awkwardness, my face burning with embarrassment. Sukani, what have you done?!

"Uh...are you okay?" Williams asked, his voice tanged with concern, his eyes fixed on me like I was a fragile, unpredictable creature. I could sense his unease, his thoughts practically screaming, What's wrong with this kid? Why is he asking such weird questions?! I shot him a glare, my eyes flashing with irritation, and he quickly got the message, ditching the "sir" "CHES...CHESTER, are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer, more cautious.

Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I'd think I was nuts too. I mean, who asks about their mom's office and then spacing out like a total space cadet? But Williams just stared at me, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Upstairs...first room on your left?" he enunciated slowly, as if speaking to a kindergartener. I nodded, my face burning with embarrassment.

Thanks to my growling stomach, I reluctantly took a bite of the food, forcing myself to chew and swallow. But honestly, the food was absolutely disgusting – like someone had mixed all the leftovers from the past week and served it with a side of cardboard. Williams just watched me, his eyes fixed on me like a hawk, as if waiting for me to crack or something. "Aren't you like going to eat or something?" I asked, trying to deflect attention from my own awkwardness.

"Ooh...I eat after you," he replied, his voice neutral, his eyes never leaving mine. I nodded mutely, not trusting myself to speak, my mind screaming, Fuck Sukani! You're already making a total fool of yourself! But Williams just kept staring, his gaze piercing, like he was trying to read my mind or something. It was totally weird, eating in front of him but I knew I'd had to get used to it.

"Should I get your doctor, Chester?" Williams asked, his eyes fixed on me. I rolled my eyes, my mind racing with sarcastic thoughts. Oh wow, I even have my own personal doctor now? How fancy! Good riddance to ugly nurse Louisa and her annoying bedside manner!

"No, it's fine, I'm going to see my...uh, mother," I replied, my voice caught in my throat. Ugh, why did I keep saying that?! It felt like referring to a cup as a "small vessel that holds fluids and liquids" – totally awkward and unnecessary. I rushed upstairs, my feet pounding the stairs like a drumline.

"Careful, Chester!" Williams yelled after me, his voice echoing through the house. I ignored him, my focus fixed on reaching my mom's office. I burst through the door, my entrance as graceful as a elephant in a tutu. "Mother!" I exclaimed, my voice a little too loud, a little too desperate.

She clutched a stack of documents, her fingers grasping them like a lifeline. Her outfit caught me off guard - an off-the-shoulder lilac maxi dress that did justice to her body - it was the first time I'd seen her in one of those. It was a departure from her usual attire, and I couldn't help but stare. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, accentuating her beauty and making her look like a stunning model on a magazine cover. She was rocking the "beautiful mother living the good life" vibe, but...

Her face, oh man...it was a different story altogether. The makeup was caked on thick, transforming her into a Barbie doll-esque version of herself. The foundation, contours, and highlighters seemed to suffocate her natural glow, replacing it with a plastic-like sheen. Her nose appeared tiny, her eyes lacked their usual sparkle, and her eyelashes looked like they were struggling under the weight of mascara and eyeliner. Every time she blinked, her lashes fluttered like butterflies, and I couldn't help but wonder if they were too heavy for her lids. Even her hair, dyed a light blonde, seemed sparse and lacking its usual luster. It was like she'd been airbrushed to perfection.

As I stood there, gazing at my mom, I was struck by her uncanny resemblance to Grandma - minus the over-the-top makeup and extravagant accessories, of course. The way she carried herself with poise and grace, her designer dress impeccably tailored to accentuate her curves, was eerily reminiscent of Grandma's signature style. I remembered how, when we lived with Grandma, I would often wonder what fueled her unwavering confidence. Now, it seemed obvious - it was the luxury and security that came with having plenty of money. And now, my mom had it too. It felt good to see her strutting around in outfits she could never have afforded before, her eyes sparkling with a newfound sense of self-assurance. But at the same time, it felt strange, like I was witnessing a transformation that was both captivating and unsettling.

But instead of a bright smile, her face seemed frozen in a blank expression, like a mannequin in a store window. Her eyes, once full of warmth and laughter, now seemed empty and hollow, like two voids staring back at me. It was as if she had lost her spark, her essence, and was just going through the motions. The confidence and poise she exuded were undeniable, but it was tinged with a hint of sadness, a sense of disconnection. For some reason, I felt like I was looking at a stranger. But I knew one thing, I would get used to it!