That night, Raymond took Victoria home. His mother was home earlier. She could see her mother's car parked in the yard of the house.
"So, this is your house?" Raymond looked around her house.
"Yeah." Victoria nodded. "Home sweet home."
"It seems like it's nice living here," Raymond said with a smile.
The smile looked a little sad because there were bruises on his cheeks. Even so, Victoria must admit that Raymond still looks handsome.
"Yes. Uhm… do you want to stop by my house?"
"May I?" Raymond looks delighted.
"No. There is my mother inside." Victoria bit her lip. She didn't know what she had just said.
She looks like a wishy-washy girl. When in fact, she meant to be friendly and polite, it was just a courtesy.
"Oh, of course. I can visit you another time, Victoria."
Victoria feels it is a date promise. She chuckles. The way Raymond pronounced her name sounded so sexy.
"Okay." Victoria smiled sweetly.
"Once again, I am very grateful for your help today. May your hands get well soon." Raymond looks sadly at Victoria's hand.
"You're welcome. Don't worry about my hand. I will be fine." Victoria tightened her jacket, her hands stinging. "Raymond, I want to remind you something. If you think there is something strange in your house or maybe someone is following you, you should call the police."
Raymond nods gravely. "Yes, you are right. I'll call the police if something weird is happening. I hope everything is fine."
Victoria nods as Raymond walks over to her. Victoria's smile disappears. She is too tense because of her closeness to Raymond. That guy looks awkward, as he is confused about what to do.
Then, suddenly Raymond hugs her. Victoria patted him twice on his back. She felt that the hug is very short. Raymond smiles awkwardly.
"Thank you, Victoria."
"You don't mean to say that a hundred times, do you?"
"I'll say it a thousand times in my lifetime." Raymond looks at Victoria's eyes intensely. She realized that her hands are shaking, not because of something like dealing with thugs.
Victoria folds her lips sheepishly. Raymond comes back and kisses Victoria on her cheek. Raymond's kiss made the muscles in Victoria's cheeks and jaw twitch, and it spread all over her body. This thing is terrible.
"Your blush is so pretty." Raymond praised her.
"I … I have to go inside," said Victoria, gesturing with a thumbs up to her house.
"Sure. See you later, Victoria."
"Goodbye." Victoria waved at Raymond; then she goes inside immediately before she hears a reply from Raymond. She didn't dare to look back.
After she stored his bicycle in the garage, she took the grocery bags into the house.
"Vicky! Is that you?" exclaimed her mother.
"Yes, Mom. Who else?" Victoria grumbled.
Her mother stands in front of her with her hands on her hips. "Why did you come home so late?"
"I ... I just did grocery in the supermarket." Victoria looks at her mother timidly as she handed the grocery bags over to her mother.
"Oh. Did you buy some eggs?"
"Yes. Oh no. I accidentally broke it earlier." It was on purpose because Victoria used the egg to hit the thug on the head.
Her mother sighs. "Alright. It is okay. Now you better wash your hands, I've prepared dinner for us."
"What did you cook, Mom?"
"I made a chicken steak and mashed potatoes. Then there's the salad too," said Victoria's mother as they walked toward the dining room.
"Sounds good."
"I hope you like it."
Victoria washes her hands and then eats with her mother. The chicken steak is too salty, but it doesn't matter. She can combine it with mashed potatoes.
"How was your day, Vicky?" asked his mother, chewing.
"I'm good," said Victoria, stirring the potatoes on her plate.
Victoria felt very extraordinary. She met a handsome guy, and then she turned into a Kulk, beating up thugs to help the handsome guy. Raymond should have saved her. This thing is the worst-case scenario of her life.
She couldn't possibly tell all that to her mother. She was afraid that her mother would forbid her to work and go anywhere.
"Who is the guy who takes you home?" asked his mother.
Victoria widened her eyes. "He's no one."
"Oh really?" Her mother seems not to believe what she said just now.
"I just got to know him."
"Ah." Her mother smiles, but her eyes stared hard. "So, finally my one and only daughter have a date."
"No! It's not like that. Raymond and I just met this afternoon. He's a customer at my workplace, Mom. "
"Ah, so his name is Raymond. Well, you and he had just go home this evening."
Victoria sighs. She didn't want to argue with her mother.
"Is he a good guy? You should introduce him to me sometime."
"I don't know, Mom. We don't talk much. What if we hear the story about your work? How many stomachs have you cut today? "
"I don't always cut a stomach, Vicky."
"So, what? Head? Throat?"
"You make me sound like a butcher."
Victoria laughs. "It's okay, Mom. What you are doing is a very extraordinary thing. You have saved people's lives. I'm proud of you, Mom."
Her mother smiles and hugs her and frowns. "You are stinky. After dinner, you should take a shower."
Victoria takes a strand of her dangling hair near her cheek and smells it. There is a slight smell of sweat. It makes her imagine when Raymond hugged her. Did Raymond think she stank too?
After they finished dinner, Victoria washes the dishes, and her mother tidies up the food.
"Mom, have you ever studied martial?" asked Victoria.
"What? Martial? Of course not." Her mother shook her head. "I spent all my life in school and became a surgeon. Why? Are you interested in martial arts?"
"Not really. Uhm ... what about grandma? Has she ever studied martial arts as well?" asked Victoria, scrubbing the plate with a foam sponge.
"No. Uncle Bruce had studied kung fu, but that was a long time ago. You know that now your uncle's tummy is very fat. He doesn't like sports anymore."
"Ah, I see." Victoria nods slowly.
"Why are you suddenly asking about martial arts?" her mother asked, looking at her suspiciously.
"I'm just curious." Victoria shrugged.
"Did Raymond like martial arts?" Her mother seduces Victoria.
"No."
"You met him at a martial arts club?"
"No."
Victoria has finished washing the dishes. Then she turned off the tap and wiped her hands with a towel.
"I'm going to take a shower and sleep," said Victoria, walking toward the stairs.
"Don't forget to always use safety guards!" exclaimed his mother.
"I never slept with any guys before," said Victoria.
"Really?"
Victoria rolled her eyes. Even her mother did not believe that she was a virgin. She is not the type of girl who has explored many guys in her life. Any guy has never kissed even her lips. Raymond was the first guy who kisses her cheek.