"Get up, mommy."
I was in a deep sleep when Avriell started to push my shoulder lightly to wake me up. She was even fixing my hair and touching my face while trying to open my eyes with her little fingers. As far as I know today is Sunday and I don't have any training so I plan to make this day a long whole rest because this week was a hard week. Clyden was not just training me on modeling even in how to protect myself, like self defense which is so hard.
But I think Avriell didn't let me just rest all day.
I slowly opened my eyes, my eyes still looked like I wanted to sleep but I didn't let it for the sake of my daughter.
"Mommy still needs to rest Avriell, can you please just make me rest baby, even for a few more minutes?" I caressed her face hoping she would understand me.
"But mommy it's already 10 am, you need to get up." I sighed because of her reason, knowing Avriell she didn't stop bothering you unless you will do what she wants. "Don't be so lazy mommy, daddy is already waiting for us! Are you not shy? Daddy was looking at you with your messy hair and a little waterfall in your mouth, iww iww!"
She was talking about my saliva but wait, what? I opened my eyes so wide and quickly sat up. Avriell understands why Clyden doesn't sleep here. That's why I felt nervous when he said that her daddy was here. I covered my whole body and half of my face when I saw Clyden standing straight at the right of the bed. He's already in his suit and has obviously taken a shower while I'm wearing pajamas and a top shirt looking dirty.
"I don't have training today, we both agree to that. Are you forgetting that?" I make him remember what we talked about yesterday.
"I didn't say we will go on training, I will give you a reward as Avriell said because you did a good job this whole week." He pointed at my daughter.
Avriell was smiling at me. "Mommy, I know you are tired but I also know what makes you feel better."
"What are you saying?" I was confused.
"We were going shopping!" She was so happy when she announced and then pointed to her father. "His treat! You like it mommy?"
Compared to my reaction, Avriell seems to be happier than me. She was so excited to go shopping, that's what she inherited from me. I looked at Clyden, confirming if she was telling the truth.
"Go, I will wait for you downstairs." He nodded before walking towards the door to leave.
I looked at Avriell. We clap in so much fun while laughing together. We both love shopping so much. We like to go shopping but that didn't make Avriell feel spoiled because she knows her limit which is what I liked about her attitude.
We just stopped from clapping when we heard a chuckle from Clyden. I thought he had already left but no, for the first time I saw him smile, the genuine smile. When he noticed that he got our attention, his smile disappeared and he went out for good.
"He likes you, mommy." Avriell giggled.
"This is the first time I will tell you this to you," I whispered. "Shut up."
I thought she would be upset or snort but I was surprised when she got off the bed and gave me an aura. I know she was just acting so I can stop myself from mocking her. The way she crossed her both hands to her waist, even the face and action, I imitated everything that made her really annoyed.
"Whatever, Maureen." I was so shocked when she called me by my name while her right brow raised.
I was about to get her because of what she called on me but she ran as quickly as she could while laughing so hard. I just shook my head and laughed because I really saw myself in her.
However, I took my towel and went to the bath because I was sure Avriell would come back if I stayed here longer. She doesn't have patience in waiting. After I showered, changed and fixed myself before I went downstairs. I just wore a simple white tube top with a cardigan on it and my favorite skirt and a white heels.
"Gorgeous." Trina immediately appeared to me with rice in her hand.
When her stare turned to Dan, the disgusting look of Trina came out.
"Gorilla." Trina said in front of Dan.
I immediately pulled Dan away because it looked like he was going to punch Trina. I just gestured to Dan to sit and eat. He followed me, while Trina was still mocking him. I just shook my head at her attitude. Trina was already like that, maybe that's why she doesn't have experience with boyfriends yet.
I sat down next to Avriell, who just smiled at everyone. As usual, Avriell was in the middle of me and Clyden.
"Are you going somewhere?" Trina looked at us sad. "You will leave me here?"
"Yes and you will not come. Only for people." Dan answered.
I just laughed while putting food on Avriell's plate because the fight between the two never ends.
"Dan, just eat." Clyden tried to stop the fight but knowing Trina he wouldn't let what Dan said to her.
"Excuse me, you should be the one who didn't come because you're ugly!" She even pointed him to a spoon she was holding. "You know, if you propose to me, I will never say yes to you because you look disgusting! A super ugly, iww! That kind of face is not acceptable to society! No, I won't marry you!"
Me, Avriell and Clyden looked at Dan having a little smile on our face because of what Trina said. We are just refraining from laughing.
"I can't live long having this woman exist on my side..." Dan stood up while messing with his own hair.
I looked at Trina when Dan went outside. Dan didn't finish his food, I mean he didn't even touch it yet because of what happened.
"See, what you do." I said to her and pointed to Dan's food that he didn't even touch. "You are so bad Trina, go and apologize to him and bring his food and so he can eat."
"Yeah, you bad aunt." Avriell nodded, agreeing to what I said while she was eating.
Clyden was just feeding Avriell, letting me handle the situation. He already used to do it for our daughter when we eat together.
"Well, I don't know if I can do it. He is the one who started." I noticed the guilty look on her face.
I was about to speak when Avriell came down from her seat holding Dan's plate. She walked towards Trina and handed it to her.
"Give that to her aunt Trina or else..." she pointed to her dad. "Daddy will not treat you, I will tell him."
Trina looked at Clyden. When it comes to Avriell, she will definitely include Trina in things like this because she is always with us when we go shopping. And Dan will be our driver so it was required that they need to be with us.
"It's not my habit to disobey what I first said, but at Avriell's command, I will." Clyden was willing to disobey his promise just to our daughter.
Trina pinched Avriell's side. "Just tell your dad to buy the bag I want later."
Avriell nodded, which made Trina get her plates too and went out to give the food to Dan outside and talk.
"Sorry for that..." I looked at Clyden feeling sorry. "Whatever Trina buys, I will pay."
He might think that we are just using him for money and we are abusing it.
"Even you," I looked at Avriell when she sat back. "My rule in shopping, okay?"
"Come on, Maureen, I want my daughter to choose what she wants. Don't listen to mommy this time." Clyden said to Avriell, he was spoiling her. "As I said, it was my treat so buy whatever you want."
"Don't spoil her too much..." I pulled Avriell away from him.
Avriell laughed because of our quarrel even though we weren't at the mall yet, like she already knew what would happen later. A spoiled dad and a strict mom at her side.
Avriell held my hand. "Don't worry, mommy. Trust me, okay?"
I smiled and she smiled. When my eyes turned to Clyden, I looked at him intently before continuing to eat.
After we ate breakfast, the five of us left. When we arrived at the mall, we didn't see even just one person around. No one else but the staff who welcome and will assist us. Clyden paid big to close the mall this day, for us and so we can look around and choose what we want freely.
"Great, the mall is ours. Avriell's dad is really big time, he can buy a world for you both." Trina pinched my side, teasing me.
I pushed her lightly and just shook my head. Avriell was so fun looking around. Her smile gets bigger when we stop in the clothing area for kids. Her face shines when she looks around and sees different clothes. She is happier with having new clothes than new toys.
"Mommy, can I try this?" She showed me the pink dress she liked.
"Try what you want," Clyden was the one who answered before looking at the girl staff. "Assist her to change and everything she would like to take it."
"Yes, sir." The staff girl nodded.
The girl staff guide Avriell to go to the changing area. While Trina and Dan are looking for something beautiful for Avriell. Dan was holding everything that Trina gave to him. This was the first time I saw them without fighting so I just let them. I feel ashamed to buy even one because Avriell and Trina already got many.
"You don't want anything?" Clyden asked.
I pointed to all the kids' clothes. "Why? Do you want something here for yourself?"
He sighed and pulled me. We weren't far away from the kid's clothing yet when I removed his hand on me.
"What are you doing?" I looked at my back, looking if they would follow us but no.
"We will go in women's clothes."
"What about them? Will we leave them?" I asked.
"Dan was there, he won't let the two go away from him so let's go." He pulled me again and this time I didn't fight anymore.
He took me to women's clothing. He sat on the waiting couch and gestured to me to get everything I wanted. I just followed him and shopped a little to finish it off. After I got three dresses and a pair of jumpsuits, I went back in front of him. I presented it, gesturing to him to pay for it.
"Wear it, I want to see if it fits you." He commanded and didn't even give me a stare, he was just looking at his phone.
"Every outfit fits me." I proudly promise.
"Then prove it to me, change." This time he looked at me.
I brief hard before turning my back to him to go into the changing area to wear everything I get. I put them on one by one and showed him. All of his reactions were just a simple stare, he would look at me from toe to head and then gesturing to me to change to another one.
"This is the last one." I wore the jumpsuit and pointed it out. "Now, did I prove to you that I fit everything?"
He didn't speak, instead he stood up and came closer. I stepped back as he walked closer.
"What are you doing?" I was looking at him scared, mostly when a wall was already at my back so I stopped him in the way that I put my both hands in our middle and so couldn't get closer to much.
"Proving that you won't." He smiled before standing normally and stepping back on me.
He looked at the girl staff and pointed out everything I wore to get it and so he can pay how much it all. I know that the girl staff saw it, I looked at her and I saw a hiding squealing on her aura because of what Clyden did. I just ignored it and waited for her to get everything I get. When the staff left, I came a little closer to Clyden.
"What if a picture comes out? If a picture is spread and Gezel sees it, she will definitely spread it and people will recognize you. Your company will be attached to it. Are you not afraid?" I asked him, worried.
"All of the CCTV are close, I assure you too that they don't have any phone or a camera. I pay them too for their silence." He looked at me so sure. "They are all paid so nothing to worry about."
"Okay."
"By the way, this number is calling you over and over." He gave me my phone, it was in my bag but maybe because someone was calling he took it. "Who is it? Did you give your number to someone? I told you that you need to be careful."
I took it and looked at it but eventually shook my head. "Only Freza, only her unless..."
"Unless?" He was patiently waiting for me to continue.
When my phone rang again I gave him a wait sign. I walked away and answered the call.
"Hello? Mom?" I murmured.
"Let's meet. Only you, now. I will message the location." That's only what she said and ended it up quickly.
My conclusion was right. My mom knows Freza so I wouldn't be surprised that she forced Freza again to give my information to her. She knows that Freza and I are close so it's not impossible for her to think that Freza didn't know anything about me mostly when the news came out that I was back. I didn't tell her that I will go back, and I don't think she will need to know and it's my obligation to tell.
"I'm just going somewhere, you take care of them first, I will be quick." I shrugged to Clyden and was about to leave when he grabbed my hand to stop me.
I looked at him, waiting him to talk.
"Take care, maybe someone caught you." He reminds me.
Even in confusion I nodded to him before going away. He doesn't need to remind me of that.
The address my mother sent was close to here so I just walked. I bowed a little while walking but maintained a normal walk and posture so that I did not look weird. Until I reached the building she said. I was looking around, looking for my mom but I didn't see anything not until someone grabbed my hand.
"Why are you here?" It was my mom.
"You said I came here." I answered casually before getting back my hand. "And so I did."
"That was not I mean," she insisted as she looked around nervously. "Why did you come back? I did everything and so people won't remember you anymore mostly the scandal happened, and yet you came back doing an action again to get fame in the wrong way again? Are you not thinking about what gave this back to me? I have a business and this will affect it."
"A business that comes with my hard work, right?" I slightly fixed my hair having an expression of disappointment, she was so stunned to speak. "You know what, I suppose to be the one who will be mad at you by getting money and accepting the offer to the brand I endorse for the reason that they will not be guilty of removing me because of my hard work to them."
She couldn't speak.
"How did I know? Of course I will know mom, but did you ever hear anything from me after that? Did I tell you that your action will affect me? No. I can't believe I wasted another time talking to you. " I uttered.
I thought she wanted to see me because it's been a long time and she will miss me but I got a dissapointed again, again and again. I was about to turn away when she touched my hand. I looked at her with no expression on my face.
"That doesn't matter anymore, I did it for you after all. I did it so you could stay away for your own good, so people wouldn't feast on you." She tried to explain her reason.
I just shook my head, and couldn't accept her reasoning. She did it for herself, for her personal wants. She didn't even try to ask me first before doing such things, how can I trust her that she really did it for me?
"Go back to the U.S, your life is better there. If you need money I can have you just go back, hide again if possible." She offered.
I smiled at her and pulled my hand back on me. The way she looks at me, it's like I was a dirt and she was ashamed of having me as her daughter.
"How can I follow other people without questioning, while I can't do it to you? To my own mother," I shook my head smiling at her.
"Maureen..."
"I will stay here if I want, whether you like it or not. Don't act like you are a caring mother, you let me live alone didn't you? If someone attached me to you just said, "Maureen is not my daughter because I never take care of her." and then you're free, so easy right?" I uttered my last sentences and decided to go back.
I only had a few steps back to the mall when I bumped into something that made me stop. I was looking down so I didn't notice it. It was Clyden, he looked nervous when he looked at me.
"What are you doing here? Did you follow me?" I browsed up looking at him.
"Y-Yeah, I was just sure you're safe." He reasoned and looked at my back.
When I looked behind me, I couldn't see mom, not even her shadow, maybe she also hurried to leave because someone might see us. It was good.
"It was my mom, she just told me something." I said when my stare turned back to him. "Let's go? I know Avriell is looking at us now, she will be mad at us."
He grabbed my hand to stop me from walking. I looked at his hand. He took it off when he noticed how I was staring at his hand. He likes holding hands I guess.
"What did your mom say to you?" He asked, trembling.
"You looked so concerned about it," I chuckled. "It's nothing, a mom and a daughter talk only. Why?"
I lied because it's just worthless if I will tell. It's nothing, nothing important to it.
He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at my answer. "G-Good, let's go."