"Thea, why did you go home later today?" Her mother asked as soon as Althea went to the shop.
Althea had changed into casual clothes suitable to work, with long sleeves and a pair of long jeans as Ray had requested. She tied her hair into a simple bun and her hands were holding a box containing some drinks needed to be placed in the fridge.
Kana was still wearing her amicable face she always give when facing the costumers as she was waiting for Althea's answer. Her mother might not show it as clearly when they're at home, which is literally the next building to this shop, but Althea could hear the disapproving tone her mother gave her.
"I'm sorry, mother. There was a meeting in the student council." Althea said as she placed the various bottles to the empty spaced on the fridge.
Kana frowned her eyebrows only for a minute, not wanting to disrupt her good image, "When will your student council membership ends?"
Althea gulped unconsciously, being asked this way meant that her mother really wanted her to quit.
"It will be soon, mother. Should be a couple of months."
"Good. You should look at your friend A who helps at home every time she goes home. She's so diligent." her mother said.
'Yeah because she didn't join anything.'
Althea pushed down the complaint stuck on her throat as she knew if she said that, her mother would ask her back on why didn't she just be like the friend, quitting her organization and just help at home. She tried.
"Yes mother." was all Althea could say.
Her mother was sitting on the cashier and talking politely with the costumers. Something Althea rarely even experience herself.
"Ririn, Is there anything I can help?" Althea said as she smiled to a woman on her 30s still weighing and wrapping the eggs.
"My, what a good kid you are." Ririn sent back a smile and pointed to a rack, "Can you check which products are should out at the shelf and fill them with the stock in the storeroom?"
"Sure," Althea said as she crouched down in front of the rack.
Ririn is one of her family's employee. Their shop is not that big yet, but since the flow of costumers kept increasing, Kana decided to hire some people to help out.
Althea sometime felt relieved of having these people, because her mother wouldn't nag at her too badly when she's in front of the others.
Althea had long believed that image is taking a big part in Kana's values. Kana wished to have a good home, good clothes, good car, any good looking things she could possess.
Having their neighbors think that they're having a beautiful house, good kids, and good home is just something she likes. Though it can get complicated sometimes.
Fortunately enough, she's not that much of a spendthrift. Kana still knows her limitations, though she does have debts here and there. In fact, she educated Althea to be someone frugal by telling her how they still have lots of debts and how poor they are when she was still a child.
"Thank you for your purchase." Althea smiled and nodded politely to a customer who just went out of the shop when she was done arranging the packs.
The door to her shop consisted of 2 folded doors which was big enough for 7 persons to pass at the same time when opened wide.
Althea was standing still on the edge of the left doorframe, hesitating when to talk about the student council events with her mother.
The other 3-4 projects would be fine to be delegated to the division in charge and she wouldn't need to attend fully so it'll be fine, but the two major events can't be without her.
"Umm, mother." Althea gathered her courage.
"Yes?" When her mother's judging eyes landed on her, Althea tensed up but continuing nevertheless, "I will have to attend a yearly meeting for two days next weekend."
"Then?"
"It will be at school but it might take longer and I might go home late." Althea stared at the floor after finding Kana's lips turned to a thin line.
"We'll talk about this later, Althea." her mother stated and Althea knew she was in for trouble.
She only followed obediently as her mother went inside their house through the backdoor connecting the two building.
"So, until when is it?" her mother asked as soon as she sat.
"According to last year's, it was around 10 pm in the evening." Althea didn't feel at ease enough to sit, so she just answered while standing.
"10 pm??" Kana's tone turned sharp, "What kind of girl goes home that late, huh?!"
Althea flinched at the harsh tone but kept quiet.
"Are you deaf or what?" her mother berated. She stood up, probably feeling anger raised in her and placed her hand on hip.
"No, mother." Althea's voice quivered as she could hear how her heart was racing in response to the tense atmosphere.
"This is nonsense." her mother huffed, "You, instead of being a filial daughter, you're more dedicated to your school extras." Kana started pacing, "This is not what I expected when I gave you permission to join this organization, Althea."
Althea felt her heart prickled, 'I have tried everything I could , haven't I?' she asked in her heart.
She might still be pursuing her own wishes, but Althea thought she had been balancing it out as best as she can. And yet she's still not good enough?
Then when will she be good enough in her mother's eyes?
"Yes, mother." Althea gathered the last bit of courage and patience she had, "But it'll be the last two events that I'll join and I'll retire so it will be fine."
Her sentence turned out faster than she planned to but fortunately Kana still could hear it.
"Are you arguing to me?!" Kana's tone turned sharp and Althea braced herself for whatever physical impact that might come while fiercely shaking her head.
"No, mother."
One second, two seconds, Althea was counting silently in her heart and heaved a sigh of relief when her mother just keep huffing like she's out of breath.
"You promise it's the last two?" her mother asked after some time.
"Yes, mother." Althea confirmed, and Kana spat out a "Fine." before going to her own room, probably to calm herself.
Althea was grateful for the permission, but another part of her which she had bottled up all these years; the yearning of a loving and understanding mother, the disappointment of being told as an unfilial one, the hatred when she's being compared to others, and all the pent up negative feeling started to eat her heart away.
'She's doing it for me.' Althea told herself and thought she should share her mixed up feeling with Ray.
'She is... Right?'