Chapter 84
84 Both Surprised
“On Zeline’s suggestion, I gave this gift to Mom,” Kalea muttered, looking at the flower she was holding and the small gift box with a purple ribbon filled with aromatherapy that had a calming smell. Kalea hopes that this is useful for her mother so she doesn’t get angry easily and can sleep comfortably without the slightest disturbance. Because Freya often sleeps late at night or doesn’t even sleep at all. No matter how many times Kalea told her to sleep, Kalea got hit by a bottle of alcohol, which luckily didn’t hit the girl directly.
At first, Zeline suggested giving away make-up kits, bags, cooking utensils, or vacation tickets. However, it was Kalea who knew very well what her mother was like, and she had made sure that such items would be of no use to Freya. After a long debate with Zeline, finally only flowers and aromatherapy were a little suitable to be given to the mother. Although she still doubted Freya would accept it.
She was now in front of her house after almost a month of not coming. Before that, Kalea had not contacted Arthur if she would not be at the apartment today.
[What is it?]
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m at my parents’ house tonight. So you don’t have to come over there.”
[Just one night?]
“Seven.”
[Huh?! It’s so long!]
“I’m kidding, I don’t know, I can’t be sure. One or two, maybe? I’ll call you later.”
.....
[Are you serious? Really being at your parents’ house.]
“When did I joke?”
[When you try to masturbate with a dildo, I-]
“D-don’t continue! I already remembered!” Kalea quickly cut off Arthur’s words, because she was shy to death. Why did Arthur have to remember the crazy incident that made Kalea want to disappear from the earth! Kalea wanted to hit Arthur if they were in the same location, especially now that he heard a loud laugh from the other end of the line.
[Okay. Have fun with your family~]
“Thank you.”
Call ends.
Kalea put her phone back in her bag. She took a deep breath before entering the house. When she was quite ready, she stepped open the gate of the house and entered the house, which was always dark. Kalea didn’t call her mother for fear of disturbing her. She was a little surprised when she saw that her house was still tidy as if there had been no change from the last time she came home.
She felt bad, let alone didn’t hear the signs of the television, which is usually where her mother watched. Kalea didn’t find Freya there.
“Mom?!” Kalea shouted as she walked towards the backyard, her mother wasn’t there. She checked all the rooms on the first floor, only her room and Freya’s room remained. She went upstairs to her mother’s room.
Kalea heaved a sigh of relief after her heart was beating wildly because she had thought of a bad possibility, like her mother died because she lived alone or committed suicide due to depression. But apparently, Freya was sleeping in her bed. She smiled and closed the door again carefully, not wanting to disturb her mother’s bedtime.
Kalea put down her bag and changed clothes before doing her routine at home. Kalea went downstairs to cook her mother’s favorite food because today was Freya’s special day. She still didn’t expect that the condition of the house was not too messy, even she only saw a few bottles of alcohol.
“Has Mom changed for the better?” Kalea muttered with a pose holding her chin, very serious. “Is it because I don’t come home often? I-is that how much Mom don’t want to see me?”
Instantly, Kalea wept to herself. There was no other reason than what she just thought. It must be because of that.
Wearily, Kalea continued to cook. She placed the bouquet of roses on the chair with her present. She hoped that her relationship with Freya would be better today and in the future.
“The food is ready!” Kalea exclaimed, happy to see all of her homemade food already on the dining table neatly and beautifully, don’t ask for the taste, because it’s definitely very delicious! Oh, and she also bought a mini birthday cake with ‘Happy Birthday, Mom’ written on it plus two small candles for Freya to blow out after finishing her wish.
“You’re home.”
The brunette haired girl immediately turned to the source of the voice, she smiled stiffly at her mother who had just woken up from her sleep. Kalea approached Freya and invited her to sit on the dining chair.
“What’s this?” Freya asked.
“Today is Mom’s birthday, I-I just want to celebrate, even if it’s a small party,” Kalea replied nervously, she was still afraid that Freya would get angry and ruin all her efforts.
However, Freya just silently looked at everything on the dining table. She didn’t even remember today was her birthday.
Kalea took the birthday cake and brought it closer to Freya, the candle was already lit. “Happy birthday, Mom,” Kalea said with a sweet smile. Today, Freya is 45 years old. Kalea hopes that Freya can become a loving mother again like before, and that their relationship will return to harmony even without a father figure.
That’s the only hope Kalea has for her mother, who even from a few years ago has never changed.
Kalea was flabbergasted when Freya blew out the two candles without any drama scolding her or throwing the birthday cake like last year and other years.
God, was Kalea’s prayer finally answered?
Kalea was still standing still because she couldn’t believe what had happened, while Freya was already sitting on the dining chair as if waiting for the next activity. Kalea blinked, awkwardly she started to sit up.
“Th-these are flowers for you, Mom. Ma-maybe a little weird, but I hope you like it, and they smell so good! E-even though all flowers do smell good ....” Kalea was really nervous in front of her own mother, hoping that Freya wouldn’t be upset to see her like an idiot now.
Once again, Freya gave Kalea a deep shock. The woman accepted the bouquet of roses and said, “thank you.”
Kalea gaped, this really is her mother, right? Actually, what made Freya suddenly change like this?
“Th-this too! You can open it now,” Kalea said as she held out the gift box.
Without asking much, Freya accepted and started to open it. Two aromatherapy pieces with lavender and sandalwood scents.
“U-usually you have trouble falling asleep quickly, that’s why I think this aromatherapy can help you sleep soundly,” Kalea said explaining occasionally glancing at Freya’s expression, although still flat but at least not angry like she usually does.
“Yeah, thank you.”
For Neptune’s sake! This is going to be Kalea’s best day ever!
Kalea couldn’t contain her emotions and happiness at the change in her mother’s attitude. However, in order to avoid Freya’s emotions coming back because Kalea still doesn’t understand what happened, Kalea decides not to ask too many questions and invites her mother to eat her homemade food.
Kalea watched as Freya started to eat, this should have made her mood better because it was clear that everything on the dining table was Freya’s favorite food.
Unfortunately, there were no comments whatsoever, but that’s okay. Kalea was already very happy because Freya accepted all the effort she put in.
“A-are you eating right?” Kalea asked, a little scared. After all the food has been finished, even without any talk that breaks the atmosphere between them. Kalea immediately tidied up and washed the dishes and other cooking utensils.
“Yeah,” Freya answered very curtly.
Kalea smiled, though Freya couldn’t see it because the daughter had her back to her. The woman had no intention of getting up and leaving the dining room as if she still wanted to spend time with her daughter.
“I’m reducing alcohol,” Freya said again, opening her voice. Suddenly, Kalea accidentally dropped the plate she was washing. The girl washed her hands and sat back down in front of her mother.
“Ma-may I know the reason? Why did you suddenly do it?” Kalea asked, looking at her mother so curiously.
“Of course, because it’s not good,” Freya replied, still looking at Kalea sarcastically.
Kalea covered her mouth, her hazel eyes started to tear up ready to burst into tears at any moment. “Then what do you eat when I’m not here?” Kalea asked enthusiastically.
“As usual.”
“Eh? Junk food? That’s not good, Mom ....”
“Shut up, The important thing is that I keep eating,” Freya snorted.
Kalea chuckled amusedly, finally Freya could be spoken to without resorting to violence. Even though her tone was still curt, but that’s okay. Kalea believes that everything needs a process and Kalea is not in vain, always believes and waits for her mother to return to the way she used to be.
“Please use aromatherapy. I hope you can sleep well tonight,” Kalea said, smiling sweetly at her mother.
“Hm. I take a shower first,” Freya replied as she got up from her seat and went to the bathroom.
After Freya left, Kalea clenched her fists up and shouted without making a sound. It seemed like she had never been this happy after all the things that had happened in her life. Kalea resumed her dishwashing activities with a cheerful hum, at this rate, she would not be returning to the apartment for a long time.
However, did Arthur allow it? What if the man came over to her?
Kalea took a deep breath. Furthermore, it seemed that Arthur had been very clingy to her lately and had come home to Kalea’s apartment more often.
After finishing with the cleaning activities, Kalea intended to take a shower upstairs. She took the clothes from the closet, and suddenly her cell phone rang.