Loving You Too Long

“At first, I thought Gilbert brought his girlfriend, considering your haircut…” The girl touched the end of Haisley’s hair. “Since when did you cut it?” She teased. Haisley was about to answer, but Loretta quickly pulled her body. “Oh, Haisley, I really missed you,” she said with a wide smile on her face. Haisley hugged her back and smiled. “How have you been?” Loretta asked again. She looked at Haisley, holding her face with her soft and fragrant hands. “You look thinner than I remember, or is it because of your new haircut? Is your college life that challenging?” she asked again.

Haisley shook her head. “Not too much,” she answered honestly. Because indeed, her college life wasn’t that challenging; it was forgetting her love for Nathan that made it difficult.

“Why did you guys come here?” Gilbert repeated the same question.

Loretta shrugged. “I came to your house and heard from Nathan that you were picking up your parents. I didn’t want to be seen as a disrespectful potential daughter-in-law, so I forced Nathan to pick them up here too. I didn’t know you would come with Haisley.” She said it in her usual cheerful tone.

Gilbert glanced at Nathan. He knew that wasn’t the real reason his sister came to the airport. He then looked at Haisley, who tried not to look in his sister’s direction. Gilbert’s gaze returned to Nathan. Maybe his brother didn’t realize it, but since Gilbert noticed the presence of those two, Nathan’s gaze never shifted from Haisley. And what was that look? Anger? Or longing?

“It seems their plane has landed,” Gilbert said, then gently put his arm around Haisley’s waist.

Haisley looked up, surprised by Gilbert’s action. But she didn’t say much and chose to follow Gilbert wherever he led her. Meanwhile, Loretta, with her womanly charm, clung to Nathan’s arm and followed Gilbert from behind.

They were in the waiting area, watching the exit door and waiting for the couple they hadn’t seen for months. Ten minutes standing there, they finally saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with nearly white hair embracing a slender woman who looked like a runway model in her not-so-young age.

The middle-aged couple’s eyes searched among the crowd, and when they saw their children, they waved enthusiastically. The woman even left her luggage and ran eagerly toward the waiting group.

“Haisley, dear. Oh my goodness, what did you do to your beautiful long hair?” Mrs. Monica protested while grabbing a handful of Haisley’s hair and pouting in annoyance. Mrs. Monica really liked Haisley’s long black hair. “Anyway, long time no see. Oh dear, auntie missed you so much.” The woman, who was almost fifty years old, continued while hugging Haisley tightly.

The height difference between them didn’t seem to be a barrier for the woman to embrace the almost adult teenager.

“Look at your face,” the woman said while holding Haisley’s face with both hands, just like Loretta had done before. “You look thinner. Are you on a diet? Or is it because of your new haircut?” She asked, furrowing her forehead, once again caressing Haisley’s hair affectionately. Then she looked at her second son and narrowed her eyes. “Or you’re not comfortable living with G and Nath? Did my two children make it difficult for you while you were here?” Haisley couldn’t answer with words. She could only respond with a shake of her head and a smile that never left her face.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

How could she answer if he wasn’t allowed to open his mouth?

“If my child does something unpleasant to you, just tell me. Let me punish them.” Mrs. Monica said with a more threatening look towards Gilbert.

“Why me, Mom?” Gilbert asked, confused.

“Because all this time, you were the one who often teased her.” His mother said irritably.

Gilbert chuckled but then took his mother’s hand and hugged her. Meanwhile, his father, who had walked over with two suitcases, preferred to hug Nathan first. After Mrs. Monica released her hug from Gilbert, she realized that her eldest had come to pick her up at the airport.

“What are you doing here?” she asked Nathan.

Nathan didn’t answer and chose to roll his eyes in embarrassment. However, Mrs. Chayton still stretched out her arms and hugged her son’s body, who was taller than her.

“I’m waiting for your explanation, Nath.” The woman whispered in her son’s ear. Nathan winced.

It was clear that her mother had not noticed Loretta’s presence beside her since earlier. Nathan saw the woman glance at Loretta before kissing Haisley as confirmation.

“And who is this beautiful lady?” asked the woman in English. The woman previously spoke Miami to Haisley and her two sons.

“Loretta,” Loretta answered shyly. It was clear from Loretta’s face that the girl wanted to get a warm hug like Haisley got. However, apart from the friendly smile on her face, Mrs. Chayton seemed to be putting some distance between the two of them. Meanwhile, Haisley was in Mr. Samuel’s Chayton warm embrace. That hug made Loretta jealous again.

“Monica.” Mrs. Monica Chayton answered. “So, where do we go now? I really hungry.” She asked his two children.

“Mommy doesn’t eat on the plane?” Gilbert asked, confused.

Mrs. Chayton shrugged her shoulders. “Eat, but yeah, I’m hungry again.” The woman said with a chuckle that made Gilbert roll his eyes.

“They walked towards the parking lot, aware that Nathan and Gilbert each had a car. Mrs. Monica exclaimed, ‘Dad’s going with Nathan, Mom’s going home with Haisley.’ She said, furrowing her brow at Mr. Samuel.

“Mom…” her husband pleaded.

“Yes, I knows you will miss me. But don’t worry, Darling. We’ll meet at the pasta restaurant in a little while,” she said, pulling Haisley and handing her bag to Gilbert. ‘Where’s your car?’ she asked, immediately pointing at Gilbert. Mrs. Monica pulled Haisley’s arm, ignoring her husband, her eldest son, and also her ‘future son-in-law.’

“They stopped at a pasta restaurant. The male waiter who welcomed them at the door led them to the table Mrs. Monica desired. A round table with six chairs near the window was Mrs. Monica’s choice. She was clearly accustomed to coming to the place, able to choose a spot with a good view.