Paula had a smile on her face as she shopped for groceries. She checked the time for the hundredth time that hour. It was past 6pm. She began to hurry with her shopping. Jaime was coming home today. He had been busy working in another city and they hadn't spoken much in the past 2 years. Thank goodness it was the Christmas Season. He had a break from work to go spend Christmas with his family which happened to be just her.
She couldn't wait to see her baby boy. Okay, maybe that was absurd calling him her baby boy since she was just 5 years his senior but it was too late to change things. Also, his behaviour around her made it difficult for her to change the way she saw him.
From when they were young, because she did a lot of difficult work, she looked more mature than her age back then. As a fourteen year old, people often thought she was already in her twenties and so they naturally assumed the young looking and adorable little boy who always followed her around was her son. Of course some people would have assumed he was her younger brother but Jaime sometimes called her 'mom' which gave people the wrong message.
Jaime looked really young back then. At 9, he looked like he was 5. He was so little, charming and adorable and he was always scared. He looked very fragile which made Paula refused to let him do any chores.
Growing in the Orphanage had really been miserable for him because he was always bullied by the bigger boys. And she later got to find out that some of those boys wanted to force him into doing some immoral things with them.
The first time she met Jaime, he had been scared to talk to her. She had been on her way to one of the old and abandoned buildings where she slept at nights when she bumped into a little boy crouched on the ground with red eyes from crying too much. He looked like he was shivering and it was expected since the weather was quite cold and he was dressed lightly.
He had been scared when he saw her because she looked haggard, dirty and wore big clothes. Her short hair back then made her look like a man.
"I won't hurt you." She said as she stooped low to meet his height. She touched his forehead and he flinched in fear but she noticed his temperature was high.
"Where are you from? What's your name? Where is your mommy?" She asked in her tiny feminine voice.
He must have figured she was a lady and looked up at her.
"I... don't have... a mummy." He said to her and burst into tears.
She felt her heart break for him. She couldn't leave him there even though her brain was screaming at her to leave him. She couldn't cater for herself so why was she being nosy about someone else?
But she took him home, asked him all she needed to know about him and promised she was going to be his mummy if he wanted. She had cried when she made that promise because she knew she couldn't take it back. She was doomed! How was she going to care for the two of them? It was already difficult for her to feed.
Looking back now, she was glad she had took him by the hand that night. He was the best thing that has happened to her.
Young Jaime always wanted her to cuddle him to sleep back then. He never slept until she was home and lying on the same bed with him.
Now, she anticipated seeing him. He had been gone for two years. Two good years!
She was busy with work and so was he, so they only spoke once in a while on the phone and there was rarely any time for them to chat on video.
About a year ago, he noticed his voice had deepened. He had a fine baritone and the last time she saw him, he was already sprouting beards which he whined about since he had always liked how smooth his face was compared to other guys who were eager to grow their beards.
It was funny how guys grew overnight. Now, he looked far bigger than her.
Thank God for good life, she now lived well— well, after getting herself involved in a lot of well... illegal things to earn money, she was able to take care of herself and now she looked good. Maybe she wasn't the overly gorgeous type that would make all heads whip around when they saw her, but she was beautiful. A lot of people had told her that and she knew that also.
And now, she looked even younger than 30. Thanks to having money, eating well, exercising well and using good cosmetics.
Anyone who saw herself and Jaime would think he was her older brother. Some people even assumed they were a couple much to their embarrassment but they usually laughed it off.
She really couldn't wait to see him. She couldn't wait for him to tell her all he had been up to. His work, love life and everything she needed to know about him that she had missed these past 2 years.
She paid for the groceries and hurriedly drove down to her flat to prepare something he could eat when he returned.
An hour later, she heard the doorbell.
She ran to the door excitedly and opened it. The excitement in her eyes dwindled when she saw it was a postal man.
"Miss Paula Scott?" He asked.
"Yes. That's me." She answered with a nod trying not to show her disappointment.
"A mail for you ma'am." He said before handing it to her and showed her where to sign.
She looked at the mail in hand with a frown. Who was sending her a mail?
She checked the body of the envelop, it was plain. Nothing was written there.
She closed the door, went back in and was about to open the envelop when the doorbell rang again.
She quickly dropped the envelop on the table and ran to the door.
She knew it was Jaime. She could already smell him.
She opened the door and gasped in surprise.
"Jaime!" She said with wide eyes.
He was grinning right back at her. His blue eyes sparkling.
She would have doubted it was Jaime in front of her if she didn't know him too well.
This man before her was a stud or what was it called? An adonis?
She was amazed at how a lot changed with him in two years.
He was far more good looking and it seemed like he worked on his abs.
His face was smooth except for the sideburns he had. She wasn't surprised. He always said he hated beards and always made sure to take care of it every morning.
He usually kept his hair long and messy but now it was a bit shorter and styled to the back making him look like one of those aloof CEOs in the Kdramas she usually watched.
He wore a fine shirt and tucked it in his plain black pants with a nice pair of office shoe.
"You don't have to look so surprised. It's me." He said with an amused laugh before he pulled her into a hug totally burying her small body in his.
"Oh God, I missed you." He said as he hugged her tightly.
"I missed you too. And Jesus! What did you do with my Jaime. This guy here looks like a real fashion model." She teased and laughed.
"Did you get shorter?" He asked pulling away from the hug to look at her.
She wore a short house gown and her hair was in a messy bun. Her face was plain and she looked even prettier than the last time he remembered.
"You grew taller you snitch! I thought you said you were not going to grow taller anymore?" She said faking a pout. Comparing her 5"5 to his 6"3 made her look like she was his child.
"Haha! I just couldn't help it." He laughed before hugging her again.
"I missed you so so much" He declared before planting a kiss on her cheek which made her giggle.