I stared. I forgot what I wanted to say. At Tanya's birthday dinner, I thought Tanya's envy of having two people love her was silly. Since she is young and will definitely find someone who will love her sincerely. While I felt deeply jealous of her having such loving and caring parents who never saw her omega status as a burden or abandoned her, I believed that the void left by my parents abandoning me was impossible to fill.
I suddenly felt that hole in my heart fill up when Mrs. Walker asked me to call her 'Mom'. I forgot that not all relations in this world are formed through blood. My eyes started welling up. I quickly looked down to hide my tears. I heard Mrs. Walker's tensed voice,
"Did I offend you? I apologize-"
"NO!" I said, raising my head and looking at her beautiful face with teary eyes, "I am just too overwhelmed by your words. I have not seen my parents ever since high school...."
I choked on my words.
The tensed look on Mrs. Walker's face relaxed to one of sympathy. She held my hand and said with deep, genuine care in her voice, "Tony, I don't know why your family didn't treat you well or why they left you, but from what I see and what I have heard from Robbie about you, they are the ones at loss. They lost the opportunity to be the proud parents of such a wonderful son."
I gave a bittersweet smile towards her and whispered, "I haven't done anything to warrant such kind words, Mrs. Walker. I am just your regular omega guy who is trying to live a normal life!"
She gave me an affectionate smile, "The pre-teen boy who had to endure rejection by a cruel and unjust society and even by the ones he loved and trusted the most; the young man who gave birth to a child at the age of seventeen despite all the odds; the poor man trying to provide for his kid when his own life hasn't been kind to him while working days after days! It is an extraordinary strength in an ordinary boy. I see every reason to warrant my compliment."
When she phrases it like that, it feels like an exceptional feat. I have never heard anyone praise me for all the struggles I had to go through. I stopped expecting anything from anyone ever since Robbie's rejection. Since I thought that my life would never be able to come out of the shadows, I worked hard for Twen so that, even if I don't get happiness, Twen will at least get it. I thought I would find my happiness through him. Today, I received something I never expected. I looked up at Mrs. Walker and said, giving her an emotional smile,
"Thank you, Mom."
Mrs. Walker's eyes sparkled on hearing me. She tapped my hand lovingly and looked at Robbie. Robbie looked like he was trying to be invisible. While Twen quietly swallowed his pastry. Mrs. Walker spoke to Robbie with seriousness in her voice,
"Robbie, can you leave me alone with Tony for a few minutes?"
Robbie's eyes slightly widened as he looked from his mother to me and then back at her. He nodded, got out of his seat, and called Twen to come along. Twen grabbed my shirt, not wanting to leave me alone. I smiled at him and said, caressing his soft black hair,
"Twen, granny Ash wants to have a talk with me. Be with..." I looked at Robbie, who was patiently waiting beside me, "dad for a little while."
Twen looked a little surprised at me, referring to Robbie as his dad, while Robbie's face broke into a smile, so did Mrs. Walker's. Twen eyed Robbie for a few seconds before nodding sullenly. Robbie held out his hand to Twen, who took it and walked away.
"Is there something you want to tell me...mom?" I asked once they were out of earshot.
"I am sorry," she said, looking very apologetic.
"Why are you-" I started, frowning at her sudden apology.
"Robbie's rejection must have hurt you a lot. Pregnancy was not your fault alone. I know I cannot turn back the clock, and I cannot make up for the pain you endured. All I can do is apologize for Robbie's thoughtless actions," Mrs. Walker spoke earnestly, looking sorry.
I remained quiet for a while. Indeed, Robbie's action has been very hurting, and I could never forget how poorly he treated me. However, I also know that he has gone through a lot. His actions worked as a double-edged knife. It hurt him just as much as it hurt me. I decided to frankly state what I felt about the whole situation. Sighing, I started gently,
"I agree that what Robbie did was hurtful and very painful. I spent so many years hating and cursing him for ruining my life." I saw Mrs. Walker, who looked even more sorry on hearing my words, looked down towards her hand, and shut her eyes,
"However, he also gave me the very reason to go on living, Twen!"
Mrs. Walker opened her eyes and looked at me. I smiled at her,
"I realized only two days back that I was not the only one who suffered. I hated him for years and thought I could never forgive him. But-"
Mrs. Walker shook her head, and her pretty gray eyes filled with a thin film of tear as she spoke, interrupting me,
"No, Tony. You had every right to be angry and every right to hate my son. I wouldn't ask you to forgive him either. That would be very selfish of me. I will only assure you of one thing, that he will never do it again. I know my son, and I know for a fact that he deeply regrets his actions. I also know that whatever he has done cannot be mended. However, the future can indeed be changed."
"Mom," I said, holding both her hands with mine, "I know he regrets his action, and I know that Robbie is being sincere. He really intends to make up for his wrongs. Although everything has not been resolved between us yet, I can say with all sincerity that I no longer hate Robbie."
Mrs. Walker looked at me intently before her face broke into a smile mixed with several emotions. She held my hand tightly and said with a graceful yet tearful smile,
"God has been very unfair to you, Tony. You deserve to be happy and loved! I will pray that the future will only bring happiness for you!"
"I will do my best to ensure both of their happiness, mum," Robbie said, appearing behind me with Twen in his arms, though his face is still a bit sullen. At least, he wasn't outright rejecting Robbie as he did before.
Mrs. Walker looked at us and chuckled lightly, "You three look like a family already."
I blushed and laughed along with Robbie and Mrs. Walker. Finally, we all walked out of the cafe. Mrs. Walker hugged me and said in her soft voice,
"It was great meeting you, son. Take care. If you ever have any problem, you can always come to me."
I smiled, murmuring a quick 'Yes...mom.'
She held Twen's shoulder, bending to his height, and kissed him on his cheek. She said with a wide smile,
"My little prince, do come to meet granny Ash again, okay?"
Twen nodded, throwing his arms around her neck. This is the best thing about children. They are innocent. Whoever is kind to them, they accept them wholeheartedly.