Ch-1.2 Holland Residents

It was early in the morning, inside the Holland residence. A small beam of light somehow managed to get inside Natalia's room and hit her eyes, making her groan a little from the warm heat. Moments later she opened her eyes a little, and the first thing she saw was the source of the warmth. It was the small opening from the window curtain.

Upon seeing the morning she sat up and rubbed both her eyes. Then she sat on the edge of her bed, Natalia yawned, still drowsy and wanting to sleep more for a bit. But she pushed through her sleepiness and stood up, stretching her arms up and side to side.

Beaming with happiness and all wake now. Natalia walked towards the window of her room and pulled apart to embraced the morning sun, smiling at the beautiful day.

As a mother, Natalia knows she can't waste every second of every morning. She must prepare everything before she and her son leave the house. Clapping her hands together, Natalia goes back to her bed, but then she notices something in the corner of her eye. It is her reflection in the mirror.

Natalia is so beautiful—even in her early 40s, she is still stunning. But of course, she wasn't looking at how beautiful she was—she's not a narcissist, after all—she was more concerned about how she looked, messy.

Natalia's hair is tangled and needs a brush, and her clothes are rabbit and carrot-patterned pajamas. Even in her 40s, she is still wearing childish pajamas.

The first thing she did was clean her bed, fold the blankets, and arrange the pillow together. Next, she got ready to take a shower. getting inside the bathroom she began striping her clothes off and tossing them inside the basket sitting in the corner. She stepped inside the shower and washed her sleepiness away.

After taking a shower, Natalia got dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her and her son. She loves cooking, so it's a pleasure for her to make food.

On the table Natalia placed their breakfast; sunny-side-up eggs, two glasses of mango juice, and two grilled cheese sandwiches. It may be a simple breakfast, but food doesn't need to be flashy to be good, That is what Natalia believes in. She also prepared two lunch boxes for both of them to eat at work.

Happy about what she made, she reached out into her pocket and checked her phone to look at the time.

———

[10:47 AM]

[Messages]

Mitch: Hey, good morning!

Mitch: I have good news!

Mitch: Call me when you see this.

———

Opening her phone, Natalia noticed that she had some messages from her best friend, but for the time being she ignored them. Looking at the time, It was still early in the morning, but knowing her son—who is a sloth—she called out for him upstairs.

"James! Get up already, you're going to be late!" Natalia shouted upstairs, hoping her son was up already. Fortunately for her, He is awake.

Footsteps can be heard going all over upstairs. Probably James is getting himself ready for the day. 

After confirming James was awake, Natalia sat down and waited for her son to come and join her for breakfast. She could have gone and eaten already, but she always waited for her son to join her, since it's just the two of them. Natalia does not want to become distanced from her son.

Ever since her divorce from her late husband 5 years ago due to his constant cheating, her life has become extremely difficult. Without her husband, Natalia has to work twice as hard to race her son James. She took any opportunity she could get.

But everything is alright now, They are financially stable now, she got them a house and a car, James is on colleague now, and she is working in a daycare like she always wanted. The only thing Natalia is worried about is, did she and her son become distanced.

Since she had to work twice back then, There were times when she didn't get to see her son due to her work, That is why she always waits for her son to come and join her to eat breakfast. So that James does not think that her mother does not want to spend time with him.

What am I thinking?! Natalia shook her head, trying to get rid of the negativity away from her head. And she is right. There is no way Natalia and James will grow distant from each other. Natalia loves her son, and Natalia is confident James does as well

"Good morning, Mom," said a boy that came down the stairs

 Natalia looked to her left and smiled, It was James, Carrying his backpack. James walked towards Natalia, when he got right next to her, James leaned and kissed Natalia on the cheek. And with that kiss, Natalia's worries left like it didn't exist in the first place.

"Good morning," Natalia said "Come, join me now the food is getting cold" Natalia added.

James did as Natalia said, he sat right next to her mother, and with that, they both ate breakfast together. 

Natalia reached out to grab a grilled cheese and took a bite of it, Upon eating it Natalia nodded to herself. The texture was there, the crunchiness was mid but still good and the cheese was great. Overall Natalia thinks she still needs some improvement. And for the eggs, well they are eggs nothing special with it.

After finishing everything Natalia grabbed her juice and drank it. The mango juice though on the other hand was very satisfying. It was not too sweet and very refreshing. And with that Natalia is done eating her breakfast and so is James.

James stood up and grabbed his bag with him and headed towards the front door to leave. "Mom, I'll be going now, my friends are waiting for me".

Natalia nodded "Okay, sure. Oh, wait!" Natalia called out to James.

Natalia stood up as well and went to the kitchen counter and grabbed one of the lunch boxes she made. She walked back to James.

"I almost forgot, Here take this," Natalia said and reached out to grab James' hand to hold the lunch box with his hand.

"Oh thanks, Mom," James said and wrapped his arms around Natalia to hug her.

Natalia reciprocated and wrapped her arms around her son too "Your welcome~" Natalia said.

Natalia is beaming with happiness, she has nothing to worry about in the first place.

Releasing James in her arms, she steps back "You're going to be late, do you need me to give you a ride?" Natalia asked.

James shook his head and said, "No need to Mom, like I said I'm going with my friends I'll hitch a ride with them." He responded.

Natalia looked at James for a few seconds before sighing, "Alright, get going then" She said while patting James's shoulders.

"Alright then bye Mom!" Said, James.

"Bye~ Stay safe" Natalia replied while waving his son goodbye.

James opened the front door and walked out. Silence filled the house. Natalia let out another sigh "Alright, time for me to leave too"