The Curse of Pepsi Lane [English version of The Witch and the Playboy]

Chapter 16 - Suppressed Emotions

JAKE'S POV

I immediately took a shower as soon as I got home because my scalp and whole body started to itch again.

Shaving my beard and cutting my hair have become an everyday routine now.  I am forced to do it because they grow a few centimeters each day. I immediately took the medicines and the itching diminished after like half an hour, thank God.

I'm drying my hair with my towel when Mrs. Danvers, our housekeeper calls me for dinner.

While going down the stairs, I'm surprised to see Dad sitting at the dining table looking so..kempt and normal. I mean, if he's not on duty, he's usually on the rooftop or out in a bar alone while drowning himself in alcohol with his unruly hair and a month-old beard.  

Sometimes, I wonder how he works in the hospital with his depressed state of mind. He has always been like this ever since Mom started bringing her boyfriends into our house.

This morning when I was leaving for school, I saw them bickering so loud in the living room. There were broken vases and bottles of wine littered on the floor. I initially wanted to stop them, but I knew that it was no use so I walked out of our house as if I didn't see anything. Aside from the traffic jam, it was another reason why I was late.

"Why don't you join me for dinner, son?" he smiles at me as he beckons for me to come. He seems to be in a good mood tonight and it's really weird. 

I join him at the table without saying anything.

"Cool hairstyle. It suits you." he compliments as we start eating.

A bitter smile slowly creeps in my lips as I lift the glass of juice up in my mouth. He's so not updated with his own son. He's a doctor for fuck's sake but he didn't notice the sudden growth of my hair and beard...

I choose to ignore him instead.

We continue to eat in silence, and after a while, he speaks again,

"Listen, son. I was wondering how does London sounds to you?"

I am stunned for a moment.

"Why?" I finally speak.

He drags his chair closer to my direction and puts his hand on mine.

"You have to come with me after you graduate. We'll start a new life there and you'll go to their most prestigious college."

I try to digest what he has just said, which was more of a command than a suggestion.

"But how about Mom?" Despite her appalling habits, I still managed to think about her.

"We started filing for a divorce. This is the best option for us, son, and you have to come with me."

I am not surprised by his revelation, but the look of pain in his eyes is breaking my heart. 

I know how hard it is for him. I know how determined he was to get my mom's heart when they were in college. I am fully aware of how much he loved her...

Well, until now, apparently.

But she doesn't deserve him. 

She's probably in another man's house right now, her flavor of the week, and they're doing some...unacceptable things which make me want to punch the wall in infuriation.

I hate to admit it but my mother is kind of a slut. Sorry not sorry, but dating different guys every week? Acting like she's single and doesn't have a son?

What kind of a mother and wife is that?

I would fly with Dad to London, that's for sure, but I'm feeling numb right now. It's not the right time to make a decision right away.