Chapter III

We fell asleep after we did it, and when I opened my eyes to reach for my phone, it had three missed calls on it. I checked who it was, and was surprised at what I found; the other two was from my mother, and one was from Lars. Why the hell would Lars call me? But there's no time for that now, my phone rang once again and it was my mom on the other end, "Thank goodness you finally answered me! Where are you? I've been waiting here for almost an hour now..."

"You've arrived already?"

"Oh yes I have, son. Your friends made sure I got a good flight so I can be here early. Are you going to come and get me?"

"Of course mother, I'm sorry, I fell... asleep. I'm on my way."

"Alright, hurry up. I love you!"

She hung up. I wish she changed even for just a little and I wish she would stop treating me as a kid. I kissed Kazuya on the lips to say goodbye as I sprang up to get dressed and head for the airport. I can't wait to drive that Ferrari.

I almost crashed the keypad on the elevator so I can get down to the lobby very quickly. I don't care about the fact that the other contestants gawked when they saw me inside that Enzo as I drove off the street. I bet they're wondering where I got it. Sorry bitches. My tires almost burned the asphalt on my way to the airport. I think I reached the twenty- minute drive to the airport in like ten seconds; I don't want my mother to get angry or anything. After parking the car I ran to the arrivals section of the airport to finally see my mother, and when I saw her I called her out; still the same petite, dark- haired woman from before. The only difference is she's wearing glasses now because of her being seriously near-sighted. Her face brightened up as she turned around to see me, and she ran to embrace me. Man, she sure smells like home.

"Oh, just look at you!" She said as she touched my cheeks, "you're still very handsome despite of those scars. I missed you, son."

"I missed you too, mother."

"So, are we going to have our family time here or leave already?"

"Well, let's go then. Let me carry your stuff."

"Ooh I missed you so much I could give you candy." She said as she pinched my face as while walked to the car. Please let that be the end of her mushy-mushy kid stuff.

"Mother, not here, it's embarrassing."

"You've really grown up. How old are you again?"

"Mom, it's only been four years since we last saw each other, and you forgot my age?"

"Hmm, let me see... you're twenty-two?"

"Twenty-six."

"Oh snap! Your mother's really getting old."

"Here we are."

"My, my! I see you've been earning a lot lately! Just look at this, I thought that having this car was nearly impossible for you to have."

"My boy—I mean, good friend gave it to me." Oops, almost slipped in there.

"Wow, he must be a really nice person."

"Depends..."

I stashed my mother's luggage somewhere in the back, which showed the disadvantage of sports cars' lack of room.

"I feel so proud of you, son. And I feel great seeing you again; I hope we see each other as often as we could."

"I wish for that too, but my schedules are making me too busy."

"I understand that. I know you're just upholding your father's honor. I'm sure he's proud of you too because of your achievements. I know you worked hard for it."

"Thanks, mother."

"You really remind me of your father. In fact, you kind of look like him now that you're all grown up. He looked like you during that age."

"I haven't seen any of those pictures yet."

My mother reached inside her purse and pulled out an old photograph.

"Here, the one on the right is your father."

"I'll check that out when we arrive at the hotel. I don't want us to get into an accident."

She laughed heartily and patted my lap. "Of course, of course. Forgive me for starting to get senile."

We finally reached back to the hotel and her stories of home kept me amused on the way.

"We're here." I said as I hopped out the car and opened the door for her.

"This is amazing, what a big hotel! I've only seen this on T.V and on magazines, and now I can't believe that I'm actually going to stay here. I heard that the services are top class..."

"Indeed." I replied as I took out her things.

"By the way, it should be expensive. I think I should stay here for a few days only."

"Why not stay for a week? We missed each other, right? It's been a long time since we last spent time together."

"Son, I don't have a lot of money with me. Don't get me broke."

"Don't worry about what you would spend. Everything will be on me." She smiled and embraced me. I sure love seeing her like this.

"You are very much like your father."

"Let's get inside, it's getting cold." I said as I tossed the keys to the waiting valet. "Take care of the car."

"You can speak Japanese now?"

"Someone taught me how to."

As soon as we got inside, Anna came up to me and smiled; "Hey there! And who might your companion be?"

"I am his mother, it's nice to meet you! You must be my son's fiancé." My mom replied as she shook Anna's hand and embraced her as well. I almost wanted to melt of embarrassment.

Anna and I laughed nervously. "Oh no, ma'am, you're mistaken. I'm just a friend."

I was eyeing Anna to tell her to shut up and not say anything yet. "So, Anna, don't you have something to do?"

"Oh, right, thanks for uh... reminding me. Excuse me..." She said as she left with a quick glance at me. Thank goodness I was saved.

"She's a beautiful woman, don't you think you should take it up a notch and start dating her? Who's really that special someone you're having a relationship with? You know, the one you told me when you last called. "

I didn't answer her right away as she kept on pointing at random female competitors walking around the lobby that I should "date", like the middle-eastern girl, or the short-haired blonde whom everyone thought was a boy at first, and when she started hanging around the pool area wearing a skimpy bikini, everyone knew they were wrong. I started punching in the numbers on the exclusive lift to the penthouse. "Wow, I didn't know you have to enter codes to get into elevators now."

"It's exclusive, mother."

"Wow, you're really a 'somebody' now, huh?"

"I'll tell you something later."

"I can't wait."