And true to her word, Carol finished her humble dinner preparations in ten minutes and now Margaret was heartily enjoying her mom's culinary skills.
"Maggy, is there something you are not telling me?" Carol questioned from the opposite side of the small four chair table. Margaret looked up from her plate and tilted her head, confusion clear on her face as Carol continued. "Your university, is everything okay there?"
Margaret carefully swallowed the contents in her mouth and spoke calmly. "Why do you ask, Mom?"
"I don't know, I may be just overthinking it but, so many things are happening recently, it just doesn't add up." Carol dropped her fork and leaned back in her chair. "I mean, you are always careful, but since you joined the university, you have been constantly getting hurt for one reason or other. Just days before, you somehow sprained your ankle and today-"
"It's just a coincidence, mom." Margaret cut her off with a smile and resumed her dinner. "You are worrying over nothing."
Carol sat straight and propped her elbows on the table, clasping her fingers together as she looked straight at Margaret. "The doctor said that you collapsed because of extreme fatigue and overexertion. Tell me, why is that?"
"That-I…um" Margaret didn't know how to answer.
"Did you eat your lunch today?" Carol shot another question.
Margaret avoided her mother's gaze and turned to the side.
Not fair! She wasn't prepared for this at all. And with her heavy and muddled head, she wasn't in a state to construct a legible lie either. Dammit. That stupid doctor couldn't keep his mouth shut, could he? Where was the doctor-patient confidentiality?
But her mom was a genius too, she directly guessed the actual cause with just a sentence from the doctor. But that was to be expected, she was Margaret's mom after all.
"Answer me, Margaret. Did you eat your lunch today?" Carol repeated her question, her heavy tone instantly broke Margaret's chain of thoughts.
"I spilled it on the floor." She blurted out in panic and immediately shut her eyes close with disappointment. She really needed to work on her lying skills, it's basically an essential survival skill at this point.
"Wha- I don't understand, Maggy!" Carol cried out in an aggrieved tone as she fell back in her chair helplessly. "How are you being so clumsy?" She was practically whining now, as she couldn't believe her able daughter was turning more and more into a ditz.
'What's wrong with being clumsy? Clumsy is considered cute.' Margaret retorted unhappily in her mind but chose not to answer her mom.
Carol dropped her head in her hand, her fingers softening the knot between her brows. She then spoke again without even looking up. "What about cafeteria? Couldn't you have grabbed something from there?"
"I had no money with me." Margaret replied immediately without missing a beat, as she continued her dinner.
Ah! Did she have a breakthrough in her skill? She didn't hesitate just now. Nice progress Margaret! She had always been a quick learner, but looks like her mom was not happy with her.
"What?! Are you kidding me?" Carol immediately looked up at her daughter who was peacefully enjoying her supper without a worry. She took a deep breath and let it out. "What happened to your monthly allowance?"
"I spent it all." Margaret shrugged, her voice calm and her expression casual. Although that was a lie, she had indeed spent most of her allowance already.
Carol threw her hands up in exasperation as she didn't know what to say to that. She felt helpless as she couldn't understand her daughter anymore.
Was this what they call a 'rebellious phase'? Even if it was, wasn't it a bit late? Wasn't that only seen in adolescent teenagers? And Margaret never acted in such way when she was at that age, so why now?
"On books, before you decide to ask what I spent it on." Margaret finished her dinner and put her plate on the table as she looked at her mom.
Carol rubbed her temples and spoke in annoyance. "You spent your whole allowance on books? Don't you have a membership at the library and what about your university's library? Couldn't you have borrowed books from either of those places?"
She turned her head to the side and answered. "They don't have the books I'm looking for, so I had no choice."
"They don't have the books?" Carol was taken aback for a moment before she realized something and her lips curved into a thoughtful smirk. "What, you bought fashion magazines or something? Well, you did try to change your image couple times since last year but I think you are just wasting your money, you have no fashion sense at all. Why don't you let me-"
"I didn't buy fashion magazines, Mom!" Margaret glared at her mother as she took a sip of water. "I bought some beginner cookbooks and simple recipes."
"Oh? Why the sudden interest in cooking?" Carol wondered, but then her eyes sparkled as a mischievous smile formed on her face. "Don't tell me, is my daughter trying to make a lunchbox for 'someone'? Really? Is that it? Tell me..."
Margaret simply rolled her eyes and chose to ignore her mom as she would only get teased more with every word. Carol always felt a bit distressed about how Margaret can always be calm and composed in any situation, where as she, as an adult and her mother, would panic and run around clueless whenever things go wrong. So she would never miss any chance to tease her daughter as a form of revenge.
"But why didn't you ask me for help? My cooking skills may not be the best but I can teach you a few things too." Carol spoke, her voice low with disappointment as she looked at her daughter.
Margaret sighed and shook her head. "You are thinking too much, Mom. I just want to learn it for myself, nothing else. And I was going to ask you, but you seem busy these days. So I thought-"
"Oh, Maggy, I'm never busy for you, darling." Carol's features warmed up and a gentle smile formed on her face as she stretched her hand across the table and squeezed Margaret's hand in hers.
Margaret gave a bright smile and nodded. "I know, Mom. I'll ask you if I need any help, okay? Now finish your dinner."
Carol resumed her dinner with a smile while Margaret grabbed her plate and glass as she stood up and walked to the kitchen. She deposited her plate and glass in the sink and returned to the table. She then turned to her mom once again and spoke. "I'm still tired, so I'll go sleep first. Good night, Mom."
Now that she was fully fed, she better get away before her mom realizes that she had been completely distracted from the main topic.
Does anybody still remember what the mother daughter duo were actually talking about in the first place?
Exactly.
Margaret walked to the staircase and took the first step when her mom's voice halted her.
"Maggy?" Carol called back from the table.
"Yes, mom." Margaret answered, without turning back. There was a pause before her mom answered. And Margaret felt as if she was walking on a thin rope.
"Don't forget to take your tablets before you sleep." Carol voice spoke in a reply and Margaret blew a sigh of relief. "And be sure to call your friend and thank him, okay?"
"Okay, mom." Margaret chirped happily and skipped up the steps to her room, in her good ol' brace.
- -
Margaret weakly laid down in her bed as she stared at the plain ceiling above and her thoughts immediately flied towards a certain sleepy dude.
Did Arthur really accompany her mom to hospital and back home? And did he really… carry her? The thought and image warmed up her cheeks instantly.
Her fever must be rising again.
She never thought someone would carry her in their arms ever again. The last person who did that was…
Her eyes instantly teared up and she quickly blinked them away and shook her head to clear her thoughts.
Damn these tears, they never cooperate.
Back to point. Arthur. Why did he do that? He had nothing to do with a weak, pitiful girl who just happened to be his partner, for better or for worse. He could've just let her to fend for herself and nobody would've blamed him. Most of all, he wouldn't have had to deal with a sick girl or her mom.
And what her mom said about him left her wondering.
'That boy, he truly cares about you.'
What was that supposed to mean?!
- -
As the clock read 9:22 AM, Margaret slowly sat up in her bed and stretched her arms. She yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, as she pulled the shutters of the window beside her bed, letting the sun light into the dusky room.
She faced the sun and let herself bathe in its rays as her lips curved up into a pleasant smile. She still felt a bit tired but she should be alright with a day's rest. Most importantly, her head felt light and it's not throbbing anymore, so things were looking good so far.
She got up from the bed and limped into the bathroom. She washed her face, brushed her teeth and carefully hopped down the stairs and walked into the living room. She slumped into the couch and let out a yawn as she grabbed the TV remote.
She suddenly felt a slap on her shoulder and her heart jumped into her throat. She immediately turned around and jerked away, falling off the couch in the process.
"Good morni-" Carol was stunned at the scene and wondered what exactly happened just now.
"Mooom!" Margaret whined and Carol looked at her with wide eyes and in confusion. Margaret climbed back on the couch and put a hand over her heart to calm it down as she spoke. "Don't scare me like that."
"Oh I had no such intention, darling." Carol chuckled as she patted her shoulder and walked around. She sat beside Margaret and put the back of her palm on Margaret's forehead. "So, how are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling much better." Margaret replied cheerfully with a grin and Carol nodded, smiling. "Anyway, why are you still here?"
"I live here too, you know." Carol winked, smiling at her daughter and Margaret simply rolled her eyes. Carol laughed at her daughter's reaction and adjusted Margaret's hair behind her ear. "I took the day off, darling."
"Oh mom, you didn't have to…" Margaret drawled and her mom just shrugged casually with a smile.
She tapped the tip of Margaret's nose with her finger and smiled. "My daughter comes first. Everything else can wait."
Margaret was overcome with emotions for a moment as she threw her arms around her mom. Carol was surprised for a second but returned the hug and rubbed her back gently.
"Now c'mon, I'll make you some breakfast." She stood up and slowly pulled Margaret on her feet as they walked into the kitchen.
Carol made some delicious pancakes and Margaret gobbled them in record time. And as the pancakes turned into energy, she went back into her room and took a refreshing shower.
They spent the next hour and a half preparing themselves a feast of a lunch. Carol wanted to showcase her culinary skills and impress her daughter on what she can offer. And since it's been so long the last time they both had a hearty meal together so they decided to go all out and cook up a feast.
The next couple hours were filled with Carol's cooking lessons to Margaret. She shared all her tips, tricks and her techniques and emphasized on the simple mistakes beginner often make. Margaret listened to her intently and remembered everything she said.
She was extremely happy as it had been a long time since she saw her mom be so active and lively. It felt as if they went back a few years in time.
Margaret was setting up the table, humming a tune under her breath when Carol spoke.
"Maggy, why don't you invite your friend over to lunch?" Carol inquired from the kitchen, adding final touches to a dish.
Margaret set down the plates and glasses as she turned around. She raised a brow and scanned her brain for any friendly characters.
Nope, none.
"Oh wait, he must still be in university now, right?" Carol continued, as she finished her preparations.
'Ahh…Arthur.' Realization dawned on Margaret but before she could hide her expression, her mom stood in front of her with a hand on her hip.
"You didn't call him yet, did you?" she questioned, placing a small bowl on the table.
"Uh.."
"Maggy…?"
"Okay, I didn't." Margaret admitted with a sigh. "I don't have his number."
"What? You don't have his number?" Carol frowned, then narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she spoke again. "You guys are friends, right?" Margaret simply shrugged in response. "And yet you don't have his number?"
"Well, we see each other every day in college, so I didn't find the need to exchange numbers." Margaret gave her a very convincing and logical answer. She had to admit it though; she was getting better at giving excuses. "And you know how I am; I rarely carry my mobile with me. So it'd be useless anyway."
Carol sighed and walked to the living room, picked up her bag from the couch and pulled out her mobile. She unlocked it and tapped the screen few times and turned it towards her daughter. "Here, save the number and don't forget to call him later."
Margaret blinked at the screen and now it was her turn to narrowed her eyes. "Mom… Why do you have my friend's number?" Especially when even she doesn't.
"What? Don't look at me like that. It's not my fault you don't have your friend's number and I do." Carol huffed and crossed her arms. "And it's not like I asked him or anything, he himself gave it to me."
"Uh-huh, and why would he do that?" Margaret asked, mimicking her mother as she crossed her arms. She even raised her eyebrow and cocked her head for an extra effect.
"Maybe because, he was worried about you." Carol answered with a smirk and Margaret stumbled on the spot. She said it like that's an obvious fact.
Carol shoved her phone into Margaret's hands and went into the kitchen. She then came back with a big water jar and filled two glasses as she smiled at her. "He told me to call him if there was any emergency."
Margaret stared at her, blinking like an idiot while her mom sat in her chair and served the dishes.
After lunch Margaret helped her mom clean up, and it was 2:30 by the time they were done with all the chores. Margaret went back to her room while her mom decided to catch up with some office work.
- -
Back in her room, Margaret was lying on her bed, hands behind her head as she admired her plain ceiling. But soon her thoughts went back to Arthur again. She thought he was just a crazy, sleepy dude but he turned out to be… surprisingly kind and thoughtful. But why go so far for her when they barely knew each other.
If she thought about it, this was not the first time Arthur helped her either. The last time was… just before the second semester, when a group of 3rd years tried to drug her for evicting them from university.
She shuddered at that memory. That was a traumatic experience and she couldn't even imagine what they would've done to her if Arthur didn't show up. Just the thought was enough to send chills down her spine.
But she never got a chance to thank him for that or few other times when she escaped from tough situations because of his presence.
Margaret never liked to owe anybody anything, but her debt with Arthur keeps on increasing. She sat up and blew a breath as she made her decision.
It was time to thank him for all those times and then… he can go live his life and Margaret can live hers, like always.
Now, where was the thing called mobile?
- -
30 Minutes later.
Margaret was sitting in the middle of her bed, legs crossed and her mobile in hand. It was fully charged, displaying all signals and the number was typed in. But she was struggling to make the final decision to press the call button.
She was nervous. She was so nervous, she was chewing her nails. A very bad habit.
'Aah, why am I nervous?' She was just calling to say thank you, It's not like he's going to get angry for suddenly calling him.
Would he?
Dammit, what's with the negative thoughts.
She didn't think twice before talking to him face to face, so why was she this dramatic just to call him?
'Take deep breath Margaret. Just call him, say thank you and then it's done. No point in worrying about it.'
Okay, she was ready now.
She looked at the wall clock which read ten minutes past three. He must've left university by now, so she was clear to call. She turned to the mobile screen and took a deep breath then exhaled slowly. She tapped the green phone icon on the screen and placed the mobile next to her ear.
As she heard the dial tone, her heart began to beat out of her chest. But she gritted her teeth and held on.
Pick up. Don't pick up.
Pick up. No, don't pick up.
No, pick up. Please, don't pick up.
Just pick up already!
"Hello."