Binded Strings

Chapter 6

I sat on the couch, I didn't know how to reach Mitch, I really needed to give him his mom's dress, not like I had any other intention, we were just friends and he was a helpful one at that, nothing else.I switched on the tv and got my popcorn ready.
"Mind if I join you?".Came the deep voice.
"Mitch?".My smile faded a little when I saw it was Jacob.
"Who's Mitch?" He raised an eyebrow as he took a seat beside me.
"Nobody, just a name I love".I grinned foolishly, trying hard not to be suspicious.
"So what genre of movie are you going for?".
"Actually there's this movie that has been around, from what I have been hearing about it, it's a hit and it's really worth it".
"Nice".
"Wanna wash something different?".
"Of course not!Let's go for the movie you're talking about".30 minutes into the movie, he was already snoring deeply.
"Jacob".I called.
"Yeah".He slowly opened his eyes.
"You should go to bed and take a rest".
"I am perfectly fine".He frowned.
"You seem really tired to me".
"I think you're right".He stood up and glared at me.
"What?".
"Kathy.... nevermind".He stared at me for a while before heading for his room.
I picked up my popcorn and decided I had to finish the movie before thinking of going up to the bedroom for a rest.
Mom placed the spaghetti and sauce on the table, while dad pretended to be involved in his phone. I bet he wasn't doing anything on his phone.
"I really made a special dinner for you guys and I hope you love it".Mom smiles.
"Sure" .I said.
"Loving it already".Peter added throatily.
"Honored".Hilly says.
Jacob remained silent, he picked up his fork and dug into his food.
I began coughing loudly, mom and dad rushed to get me water but Jacob had it already.I took the glass from it and took a large gulp while he patted my back.
"Are you okay?".He said.
"Yes I am".
"Be careful" .He said, still patting my back, I raised my eyes to see everyone staring at us.They were all surprised I guess.
"Let's...".Peter coughed, "Continue this delicious meal".
"We will be having a family time".Dad announced.
"And we know just the perfect spot for it".Mom added.

"And we don't need anyone messing around".Dad peered at us.
"We wouldn't do anything funny dad".Peter says.
Dad made a sheep-like sound, "As if".I turned to Hilly and she caught my eyes and we both grinned.
"I hate vegetables."I said, pushing away the vegetables I found.
"No Kathy, veggies are good". Jacob added some of his own to my plate, "There, try that".
"Thank you".I found mom's mouth dropping and dad staring intensely.
"Am done, I should be heading to my room now". Jacob announced.
"I would follow, I really have a lot to do tonight, Goodnight mom and dad".Peter kissed mom lightly on her cheeks and nodded towards dad. I felt really upset when he didn't say a word to me.
"My husband would need my presence, so I should go check on him". She kissed both mom and dad but like Peter age didn't say a word to me.
"Eat up Kathy".Mom said.
"I am" .I said feeling really irritated.
"I want to wash the dishes tonight before going to bed".
"Do you need company?".
"Sure".Mom smiled.
When Dad had gone to his room, Mom and I stood together laughing.
"You don't mean it?".I said.
"I really mean it".Mom chuckled.
"Well that was an insane thing to happen".I smiled deeply.
"And there is another insane thing going on here".Mom began and like lightning I knew where the hell she was going to talk about.
"What could that be?".I decided to play along.
"You, Jacob, never really got along but what happened today?".
I frowned, "You and dad had always wanted us to get along, now we are mom, there is nothing suspicious about that".
"I know but are you guys just friends?".
"Mom! Of course we are just friends, Jacob isn't my kind of guy".
"People say that all the time but they end up falling deeply in love".Mom said.

"But he isn't".
Mom frowned as she stared at me, "Go sleep Kathy, tomorrow is a big day".
"Goodnight" .I kissed her cheeks lightly, "Don't stay up long".
"I wouldn't".

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I grabbed some apples from the basket, took a huge bite and savored the taste. Apples have always been my favorite since forever.
Hilly dressed in bulgy trousers held unto Philip and they seemed really deeply in love, Philip smiled down at her and then she brought her cheeks to his chin.
"Bored or tired?".Jacob startled me from behind.
"None of that, just".I hesitated.
"What?".
"Seeing them deeply in love, makes me think of my love life, mom's right, I needed to get over my ex".
"Tell me about it".He says softly.
"I'd rather not talk about it".
"Too painful".

"No, I have gotten all over it".
I looked over to find mom and dad laughing deeply while dad leaned into her.Mom met my eyes and seeing me talking to Jacob, she winked.
"No".I mouth back.
"No what?".Jacob asked.
"Nothing, just putting mom in her right place".
"Why don't we have fun too?".
"Huh?".
"Common!".He led me to an edge from where we could see the historical buildings of the acropolis.
He came up behind me, "What do you like most about this vacation?".
"I got to meet people, I got to bond with......with you, I mean who would have thought we could ever be friends".I stammered.
"That's one of the best reasons I am happy to be here".
"Yeah".I didn't know what else to say.
Mom strolled towards us and beckoned us to follow her. Soon we were all sitting on the picnic cloth, side by side and wondering what is going to happen next.

"Let's have some family fun questions".Mom grins widely.
"How's that done?".Hilly asked curiously.
"We all get to ask each other personal questions and stuff".
I frowned deeply, I don't know about you but why do I have this deep feeling mom's real reason for this family blah questions was not for fun but to get answers to her questions, answers I had decided not to answer, answers to figure out who was in my life at that moment and I really didn't like the personal stuff query and all that because from past experiences there never end properly.
"So I am gonna start with Kathy, is there any man currently in your life?" .Mom grinned widely, the kind of smile that says 'got you! Let's see how you can wriggle out now'.
"Let's skip,"I said.
"No skipping".
"Maybe she needs time to figure that out aunt". Jacob defended.
"Okay, but we would be back to that question later".Mom frowns at me.

"How did you meet mom?".Peter gestures towards mom.
Mom and dad smiling widely with hands linked together and glad that after so many years of being together and having their children, they were being asked about their love life, I bet it's gonna be a long day.
"Your mom and I met well...".Dad wrapped his neck, his stomach bulging out
"In my uncle's agency".
"I worked there and I have always had eyes for your mom, she was pretty, smart and really lovely but at that time she had this rich guy around her, from his looks he looked like he was no match for me, he was a good looking chap, while I wasn't really good looking".He pauses and stared at us all, "Not like I am not good looking".He smooth his hair in a dramatic way that had us all rolling our eyes. "I just thought I was out of his league".
"Oh poor Billy".Mom says, it was actually rare to hear mom call dad by his name.
"And he was damn rich, he had all the money, so your mom's parents actually preferred him to a scared average looking pal like me, but that didn't stop me from wanting your mom, and right now, because I didn't stop loving her and trying my best, I won her parent's heart and here we are".He drew mom close to him.
"Here we are".Mom murmured back, their lips lingering.
I coughed, "Could we eat now, I am starving you see".
Mom gave me the looks that says it isn't over yet and I smiled back in response, Kathy one point and mom zero point.