Xiang thought long and hard about the upcoming holiday. Mother's Day. It was tomorrow, and usually it'd just pass for Xiang, but not this year. He actually had his mother back in his life, so what now?
With a sigh, Xiang got up from laying on his bed and went to look for his father. "Ba?" Xiang called, running into him in the living room.
"Yes?" Yao responded, turning to the teen.
Xiang bit the inside of his lip, confidence dropping. With a breath, the teen spoke up. "We're not... doing anything tomorrow, right?"
"No, I don't think so," Yao answered, though still glanced at the calender to double check.
"Do you think Ma's busy...?" Xiang almost inaudibly asked.
Yao's eyes widened a bit, what tomorrow was clicking in his mind. He smiled, turning back to Xiang. "I can call and ask aru."
Xiang instantly backed out, turning on his heel. "No, it's okay. It's kinda last minute anyways."
Xiang stopped his retreat when feeling his father's arms tightly hugging him from behind. How'd he reach him so fast?
"I'll call right now," Yao said after releasing Xiang. "I'm sure she'll be happy you want to spend Mother's Day with her, Xiang."
"Yeah..." Xiang muttered, watching his father grab his phone. He sheepishly followed behind.
Yao dialed the number and after a few rings, Mei picked up. "Mei," the Chinese man started. "What exactly are your plans for tomorrow?... Oh, so you're taking a personal day in the afternoon? How about an extra tagging along?" Yao turned to his son, seeing Xiang's eyes widened and shaking his head. "Well, Xiang was asking." Yao smiled as he watched Xiang throw up his hands in a silent 'unbelievable.' He turned away. "It's his first Mother's Day." Next thing the two knew, Yao was holding his phone away from his ear, Mei's voice booming through the phone. "O-okay. Okay. See you tomorrow... 12:30."
"If she rather have the day to herself," Xiang started, watching his father hang up, "you shouldn't have had her bring me along."
"Didn't you hear her?" Yao asked with disbelief. "She's excited to spend time with you."
Xiang remained silent. He was still unsure about being with his mother. Especially alone. He sighed, questioning why he did this to himself. "So... 12:30?"
"She's coming over to pick you up," Yao responded.
"And then what?"
"Didn't say."
"Ba..."
Yao smiled, ruffling Xiang's hair. "You'll be fine, Xiang."
"Yeah, yeah..." Xiang said through a breath.
When the following day came, Xiang had no idea what to expect. He sat at his desk, contemplating what he should do. Just follow behind his mother all day? He wasn't given much information on what they'd be doing. What if they just stayed at her house? That'd be fine, but then what?
Another thought snapped into Xiang's head.v"Crap..." he groaned. Didn't kids get their mothers something on Mother's Day?
After a moment of quick thinking, an idea hit him. Xiang began rummaging through some of his drawers. "Come on, please still be here..." he grumbled before pulling out what he was searching for. "Yes!" He turned to the clock. He had time. With another deep breath, Xiang went to work.
Time flew by, but Xiang was too engrossed in his gift that he didn't notice his clock, his father calling for him, or one of his stepsiblings coming to get him until he tapped him on the shoulder.
"Xiang!" Peter yelled as he shook said teen's shoulders.
Xiang jumped, catching himself before accidentally cursing in front of his stepbrother. "Peter, what?"
"Baba wanted me to make sure you were ready," Peter answered.
"What...?" Xiang finally noticed the time, leaping out of his seat to get ready. "Shoot," he hissed, grabbing his clothes and speeding towards the bathroom.
With his task complete, Peter headed down to the first floor. "I think he's almost ready," the boy said to his stepfather.
"Thank you, Pete-" Yao paused when hearing the shower start. He sighed. Well, at least he had some time.
When 12:30 came along, the door bell rang. Yao went to answer, glancing up the stairway beside the front door. Looked like Xiang was ready, grabbing his things. Turning back, Yao opened the door, greeting his sister. "Hi, Mei. Xiang's just grabbing his things now."
"Okay," Mei responded with a smile. It faltered for a moment. "You... You didn't force him to do this, right?"
"I told you, Xiang was the one who asked," Yao answered.
"Alright, I just-"
"He's a good kid, Mei," Yao cut off his sister's uncertainty. "Don't worry so much. He can sense that kind of stuff aru."
Mei raised a brow. Though she didn't have time to question what her brother meant, Xiang coming down the stairs.
"Ma," he greeted nervously. He pulled out the gift he was working on that morning, a beautiful origami bouquet. Thank you, Uncle Kiku. "Happy Mother's Day..."
Mei cautiously took the bouquet, handling it as delicately as it looked. The folds of the paper were so precise and the pastel patterned paper complimented each other perfectly.
Tearing up a bit, Mei hugged Xiang tightly, a bright smile on her face. "Thank you!" she squealed, all her uncertainty gone as she squeezed her son to death. "I love it!"
"Mei, Mei, Mei!" Yao called out, trying to pull his sister aside. "He can't breathe!"
"Come on, Xiang!" Mei enthusiastically started, finally releasing her son. Though she was still holding onto his arms. "We're going to have a great day together!" With that, she pulled Xiang along to her car, waving goodbye to her brother.
Xiang looked back at his father, now nervous for a different reason. All his father offered him was an encouraging smile as he waved goodbye.
The two of them decided to head to lunch first, Mei asking, "Hungry for anything? What... do you like?"
"Anything's fine," Xiang answered honestly, picking up on his mother's guilt for not knowing him much again. "It's your day, so you choose. Really, I can eat anything." The two of them ended up at a local shop.
"I come here occasionally. Does your father ever take you here?" Mei asked as they walked into the small restaurant. "We came here a lot when we were younger."
"Oh, I didn't know that," Xiang responded first, sitting at their table. "He used to when I was a kid I guess," he answered. "But we don't eat out as much anymore. Kinda hard with four little kids."
The mother-son duo continued talking throughout their lunch, slowly learning things about each other. Xiang learned of how his mother was just like any other woman, having no need to feel so anxious around her. He also learned a bit of her childhood, how she had a nice life despite how strict his grandparents were. She did a lot in school, extra curricular wise, and was quite the popular student.
Xiang learned a lot about his mother, however his mother didn't learned much about him.
It wasn't Mei fault she wasn't learning as much. Xiang just gave very little information to her questions. What she did learn was how ahead her son was in school, how close he was to his stepsiblings, and a hobby or two outside of school. Nearly nothing about how he grew up, his social life at school, goals for the future, just nothing.
"We have nothing in common," Xiang flat out said as they excited the restaurant. It wasn't a bad thing; it was his observation.
Mei laughed. "I guess that's true."
"What were you planning to do next?" Xiang asked as they entered the car, buckling up.
"Well, I was planning on doing some shopping with all the Mother's Day sales," Mei started, sounding as if she was going to change her plans.
"Alright, let's go," Xiang cut her off before she could say otherwise. "Don't change your plans because of me."
Another big smile grew on Mei's face. She leaned over to give her son another crushing hug, an added kiss on the cheek this time. "Aren't you the sweetest little gentleman?"
"Ma!" Xiang huffed, struggling against his mother's hug. He wiped his cheek when freed.
Mei kept smiling as she began to drive. She wasn't upset that her son denied her motherly affections. It made her even more happy. It was how boys Xiang's age would usually react to their mothers and it made Mei feel like Xiang was growing more comfortable around her in a way.
"If you want anything, anything at all, tell me, okay?" Mei said to Xiang.
"That's okay; I have a lot of clothes-"
"No such thing as too much clothes!" Mei cut her son off, pulling into a spot in the parking lot. "And not just clothes. Anything!"
"I'll keep that in mind," Xiang said as he followed his mother. That was what he did throughout the whole shopping experience.
Xiang walked behind his mother as the Taiwanese woman shopped. He was mainly carrying everything his mother wanted to look at and try on, not much of a chance to walk off on his own even if he wanted to. The teen looked around and noticed he wasn't the only one. Seemed like another motherly occurrence he missed out on as a kid, tagging along with mom and holding her stuff. Xiang also got a sense of what his mother meant when she said there was no such thing as too much clothes.
"Ma, how much longer?" Xiang called from the waiting area outside the dressing room with a handful of other husbands and kids.
"Last one! I promise!" Mei called.
"You said that last time..." Xiang muttered to himself, regretting not bringing his 3DS along. When his mother finally came out with what she was planning on purchasing, Xiang noticed it wasn't nearly as much as what she took in to try on. He didn't question it, not wanting to see another article of clothing on sale for a while.
"Ready?" Mei asked.
Xiang stood. "Yes, Ma."
"Good! Shall we go to the juniors' section now?"
Xiang paused. "What?"
"You didn't look around!" Mei answered, already pulling her son along.
"I really don't need anything," Xiang distressfully responded.
Mei frown for a moment. "How about games? You said you liked playing video games, right?"
"My uncle got me a lot of games already," Xiang answered.
"...Uncle...?" Mei began to question, but Xiang was already leading her to the cashier.
"You should let me spoil you a little bit," Mei pouted as the two of them left the first store. Xiang only shrugged, following her lead. "Were you always like this?"
Xiang gave another shrug. "Honestly, I think so-"
"Mei!" another feminine voice cut the teen off.
Xiang and Mei turned, seeing a Vietnamese lady trotting up to them.
"Lien!" Mei cheered, her friend halfway. "How are you? Aren't you working today? I know a lot of mothers and daughters go out on beauty days today."
"I just finished my break," Lien answered. "Why don't you take a quick beauty day yourself? I'm sure I can squeeze you in."
Mei let out another cheer of excitement. "The perks of being friends with a beautician."
Xiang stood off to the side for a moment, watching the two women walk to a beauty salon a part of the mall. He glanced up at the elegant sign, then at the patrons in the salon. It was definitely a popular place. With a deep breath, Xiang followed. He did say he was going to accompany his mother throughout whatever she wanted to do.
"And then-" Lien and Mei were catching up as they walked through the salon when the former finally spotted Xiang. The teen was looking around again, noting a vast majority of the different chairs at different stations filled. "Oh, can I help you, young man?"
Xiang turned to the two women who finally noticed his presence.
"Xiang!" Mei yelped. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! This is probably the last place you'd want to be! I'm sorry, Lien! Maybe another time?"
"Oh, is this the brother you told me about?" Lien asked Mei before Xiang could say he was fine with staying.
Instead, Xiang looked curiously at his mother. She had spoken about his father before? What about himself? He wanted to know how she'd answer, and would go along with whatever she said. If his mother didn't want to say he was actually her son, then so be it. Having a child out of wedlock wasn't something to be proud of.
However, Xiang was shocked with his mother's answer.
"This is my first son, Xiang," Mei declared with no remorse. "He's 14 and look at him!" Mei suddenly latched tightly onto her son. "He's a precious cutie and despite not being in each other's lives for that long, I love him!"
"Ma!" Xiang groaned at his mother's display of affection, doing his best to pull away from her kiss on the cheek.
Lien was speechless at the two in front of her for a moment before revealing a kind smile. She cupped Xiang's face in her hand, ending his squirms from being in his mother's arms. Lien got a good look at Xiang before saying, "I can see some resemblance between you two. You have your mother's lips and long eyelashes."
"I have feminine features...?" Xiang incredulously asked, always saying it was his father with the feminine built.
Lien laughed. "If you really tried, you could pass," she teased. "Wanna try? You can have a spot next to your mom."
"I'm good," Xiang answered.
"Yeah, I'm good, too, Lien," Mei added. "I don't want to put Xiang through all this."
Xiang turned to his mother. "I'm really okay with it, Ma. It is Mother's Day."
Lien gave another laugh. "What a good kid. What do you say, Mei?"
"Well, if you're really okay with it," Mei said to Xiang.
"Just go, Ma," Xiang replied, practically shooing his mother away as the Taiwanese woman was lead to another part of the salon by Lien. He smiled softly with another sigh. So his mother was really okay with him, not ashamed.
Xiang twitched when hearing low giggling, turning and seeing some eyes on him. The small laughter was coming from an elderly woman waiting to get her nails done. She was smiling sweetly compared to some other looks from other ladies who now looked away. Xiang cursed inwardly. Seemed his mother's confession wasn't just to her friend.
"I'm sorry about the commotion," Xiang said with his head down mainly to the old lady. He dismissed the other eyes who were silently belittling him and his mother. Like they were so perfect...
"No need to apologize, child," the old lady said. "Come, come."
Awkwardly, Xiang made his way over to the lady, sitting on a low stool beside her.
"You don't see young men now a days willing to follow their mothers like this," she started. "And judging by the bags you're holding, you've been at it for a while."
"Yeah, I have. It's been quite an experience for me. I'm sure you overheard my mom; she just recently became a part of my life and it's been pretty nice."
The old lady's smile widened. "That's wonderful to hear, dear."
Xiang looked away a bit, embarrassed. "So, are you here on your own, Ma'am?"
The lady let out another giggle. "Please, just call me Grandma Ruth. And no, I'm here with my daughter and granddaughter. They're in the back getting all done up even more. They're still young and can get makeup put on them. A little late for me now with all these wrinkles." Ruth let out another laugh.
"Well, if anything, I don't think there's a need. You're very beautiful as is, Ma'am," Xiang complimented, allowing a smile to escape.
"Oh you~" Ruth cooed. "Such a sweet young man."
"Lady's man, aren't we?"
Xiang turned, seeing Lien looking down at him slyly. He turned away again, more embarrassed. "Not really..." Both Lien and Ruth laughed at him. "Aren't you supposed to be helping my mom?"
"Don't worry," Lien said, pulling up another stool to work with Ruth. "She's being helped and will be here soon," she finished, already starting to do Ruth's nails.
Xiang watched curiously at what Lien was doing. There was a lot to it than just painting. He thought about how much work it was, then about how some people paint very detailed and intricate designs, and more.
"Having second thoughts about getting dolled up?" Lien teased Xiang once again when noticing his fixated gaze.
Lien's tone seemed to have flown right over Xiang's head with him so deep in thought. "No," he still answered. "I was just thinking about my younger sister. She's the only girl in a house full of boys, so there isn't anyone who could do this kinda stuff for her."
"So you're watching me so you can do this for her?" Lien asked, a growing respect for the teen. Xiang nodded at her question. "Tell you what, I'll show you some cool tricks to beautiful nail art when I'm doing your mom's nails. How does that sound?"
Xiang gave Lien an appreciative look. "That'd be great. Thank you."
"Sweetie, are you single?" another woman called out to Xiang, followed by a faint 'Mom!'
Xiang finally noticed all the eyes again. This time, they didn't turn away and were filled with awe.
"I was just thinking the same thing!" Another mother.
"How do you feel about cute redheads, dear?"
"Are you kidding me? A boy like that? Probably already taken."
"I wish my son was as kind as him."
"I wish my boyfriend looked as good as him."
The room erupted with similar talk and laughter, making Xiang shrink down with miserable embarrassment.
"Oh hush now," Ruth called out, coming to Xiang's rescue. "You're all embarrassing the poor child." Only more giggling arose along with apologies. "Now," she started again, back to Xiang. "I didn't catch your answer about whether you have a lucky little sweetheart," Ruth brought back. "You and my granddaughter, Michelle, are very close in age. I already told you to call me Grandma Ruth, why not make it official?"
"Grandma! What are you saying!?"
Ruth gave another innocent giggle to two ladies taking a seat next to her. Xiang could correctly guess it was her daughter and granddaughter, who were a little late to the commotion. He inwardly cursed again, recognizing the girl from school.
"Michelle, I was just talking to this sweet young man, Xiang," Ruth explained. "You're still not seeing anyone, right, hun?"
"Grandma!"
"So what do you think?" Ruth asked Xiang, ignoring her granddaughter.
Xiang looked back between grandmother and granddaughter, lost for words, until the latter spoke up.
"Wait... Do I know you?" Michelle asked.
Xiang's uncertainty instantly went back to his usual deadpan demeanor. It could be because they had two periods together...
"Xiang, I'm about to do your mom's nails," Lien said, having finished Ruth's. "You coming?"
"Yes," he answered, standing. Before leaving, he turned back to Ruth for a quick second. "It was nice meeting you, Ma'am."
"You, too, dear," Ruth said as Xiang left.
"Not a lady's man, huh?" Lien teased again, laughing at the look Xiang gave her.
"Best Mother's Day story ever," Mei cheerfully said, Lien starting her nails.
"You saw the whole thing?" Xiang anguished. His mother gave him a wide smile as an answer, making him groan.
"Remember, you're my boy," Mei said. "I finally have you back; I'm not letting another mother or girl take you away from me so soon."
Xiang chortled. "Yes, Ma."
Told you all, super behind and slow. Sorry, another 3k chapter. Cut a lot of things down in this. Do you guys mind big chapters? BTW, Lien's the owner of the super successful salon.