''Mom, it's better if we talk downstairs.''
Diana heard Maxim's voice and she curled behind the couch on all fours.
''Why? Why downstairs? I want to talk upstairs. I kept you in my womb for almost 10 months. You hear that, boy? While other women were popping kids at 37, 38, or even 39 weeks, you took your own sweet time in coming out. On that note, you don't get to tell me where we will talk.''
'Silence'
'Pfft'
Diana pressed her left palm to her mouth when the door was pushed open. Her right palm formed a fist as she banged it on the floor lightly, trying to stop laughing.
How satisfying!
Hmph, this must be Warner's karma for acting all bossy with her.
Did he think everyone was as sweet and gullible as her?
She met Maxim's mother once or twice when they were in high school. The woman was very warm and welcoming but Diana never knew she had this sassy side to her.
Or maybe she did not notice it because she was young back then.
Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Diana pressed herself closer to the couch.
''Alright, let's talk here then," Maxim said.
Diana looked up, horrified to find Maxim sitting on the couch.
She gritted her teeth. Damn, couldn't they talk in the room?
How long would she have to kneel here?
Holding her breath, she pressed her arm on the couch and gently glid it up like a snake, pressing it straight to Maxim's back.
He stiffened.
And then, without holding back, she poked him and then pinched him alternatively to let him know of her presence.
Maxim gritted his teeth to ignore the ticklish sensation.
When Maxim felt the hand on his back gliding down, he glanced at his mother who was examining the place, ''Or maybe let's talk in the room,'' he pushed himself to his feet, nonchalantly tucking one of his hands inside his pocket while he rubbed the back of his neck with the other.
''You are being suspicious. Are you hiding someone here?" Hazel Warner looked at him suspiciously.
Diana's eyes widened and she pressed her face to the floor.
Maxim's expression did not change.
''No?'' His mother frowned and she looked around the house while approaching the couch.
Maxim's lips thinned as he put himself forward as a sacrificial lamb, ''Mom, I will tell you when I hide the woman who will give you grandkids.''
Diana choked. She pressed both her palms on her face to restrain her bout of violent coughing.
''Omo. My baby. I just knew that keeping you in my womb for 40 weeks was worth it,'' the woman flipped her long hair as she approached her son, ''Look, you came out so reliable and mature,'' she stroked her son's face.
''What are you doing here?" he asked.
''Oh, cutie Ryle told me that you are here so I came to see you,'' His mother waved her hand, ''But now I can see that you are obviously doing fine. It's time for me to go shopping. Byeeee~"
Maxim nodded, not surprised by his mother's antics.
She hugged him, ''Just take care of yourself and stay away from those cake-faced women because you won't know how many plastic surgeries they had,'' she whispered in his ear.
Maxim stroked her back, wanting to say that he was too busy for dating and that he was just as uninterested in it.
''You will be late for shopping,'' he said instead, holding her shoulders and turning her around.
His gaze paused at the empty branch extending from the wall. The parrot must have flown to his bedroom at some point and that was a relief.
''I know right?" His mother said, checking the expensive watch on her wrist, ''I need to buy that pair of limited edition shoes before anybody else eyes them.''
When Diana heard the sound of retreating footsteps, she slowly pushed herself up, just in time to catch a glimpse of the woman's long coat as the door closed behind them.
She glided down the couch, slumping on the floor.
''That was close,'' Diana patted her chest, slowly relaxing.
She remembered Hazel Warner as a very kind and docile lady but it seems these years have not only changed Maxim but his mother too.
She pressed the side of her face on the couch wondering what exactly cause these changes...Suddenly, she was reminded of something.
Earlier when she had her face pressed on the floor... she thought she spotted something under the couch.
Diana lowered her body and pushed her hand under the couch, grabbing the things that her fingers grazed past.
"..."
Her face turned dark when she saw what it was.
As she looked at the spread of undergarments in front of her eyes, her eyes twitched.
She cringed.
It was right at that moment when Maxim came back, ''Don't worry. I checked on the baby. She is still sleeping—'' His words came to a halt when he noticed the goods that he hid with expertise, spread like butter over bread in front of Diana.
She looked at him, at the goods and her lips parted slightly but in the end, she said, ''Thank god that you checked on her. I was worried about her. I should get going—''
Maxim cut her off in a rush, ''These aren't mine,'' he gazed at the panties and bra with an accusatory gaze.