Quinn curled up further in her quilt as the irritating sound died down. She was relieved as she fell back to sleep. The only problem was that this was merely temporary relief. It was only snoozing for one minute before the irritating voice became louder and even more obnoxious. How much worse could it get? Well, her mother was an actress slash self claimed musician in the past so yep… the annoying singing was what came next. She was so tone deaf and sang like a dying chicken but that didn't stop her mother from singing.
"Wake up…. My little sunlight… it's time you get mommy proud …," the singing alarm started and Quinn couldn't take it anymore.
"Fck!" yelled Quinn throwing off the quilt before grabbing her phone and dismissing the alarm. She put on her panda slippers and got up while dialling her mother's number.
As the dialer tone rang Quinn slipped on her bunny headband to push her hair back before staring at her face in the mirror of the tiny bathroom by the corner of her room.
"Why are you calling me in the morning? Do you realise I am old and need my beauty sleep-," yelled Amalie her voice like that of a shrew but Quinn stopped her in her tracks,
"Mum, you can't sing... there I said it."
"You brat-," yelled Amalie who had been woken up only to be criticized out of nowhere.
Quinn knew she would be cursing for a very long time thus she put the phone in the nearby drawer and closed it muffling out the sound.
She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and took a shower all with the call still happening and her mother still yelling. She had a very bad weekend and wanted others to suffer with her thus she triggered her mother on purpose.
She put on the most dull coloured clothes and grabbed her keys while putting on her sneakers.
"Mum, I was just messing with you. What were you up to this weekend?" she asked while putting her wireless earphones in her ears and continuing with the conversation.
"What do you mean up to?...," she asked but Quinn knew she wouldn't be able to resist talking about herself. Hearing her mother's escapades seemed to always put a smile on her face.
"I went with Doris and Kaya at the resort up north and guess what?... Doris found herself a man and ditched us only for her to come back in the middle of the night looking pale like she had seen a ghost or something," explained Amalie while Quinn walked down the hall.
"So did she see one… a ghost?" she asked only for Nick's door to be pushed open. Quinn smiled at him while pointing at her earphones mouthing I am on a call but it was already too late. He had already opened his mouth.
"Morning, may you please take this downstairs for me? I will buy you the legendary strawberry shortcake from my work," said Nick, and Quinn smiled lightly while taking the black bag.
She whispered, "Is it recyclable waste?" Nick's lips stiffened while looking at her. Recalling the whites and other colours he mixed together in the washing machine he suddenly felt gloomy.
"Yes, thanks," he said and Quinn made an okay gesture before leaving but the loud shouts of her mother yelling could be heard through her earphones.
"Is that a man? Did you get a boyfriend behind my back? Quinn, you have really grown a pair of wings. You couldn't even tell me such a thing," she yelled and Quinn felt so defeated.
"Ma! He is my neighbor, Nick. You-..," she said only for her mother to cut her off.
"I don't believe you. Now I know why you always stay at home and refuse to go out after work. It turns out you have been going next door," said Amalie purposefully shaking the tree just to get her daughter a date. That man's voice over the phone was so deep and charming that it gave this old lady chills.
"Ma, I don't go out because I am tired," she spoke through gritted teeth while walking towards the elevator.
"Yah, tired doing your neighbour Nick," retorted Amalie with a slight quirk at the corner of her lips.
"Fck," she swore before walking back to the door that was half closed. She knew she would't hear the end of it unless her mother speaks to Nick.
"Nick, hie. Can you do me a favour and tell my mother that you are not my boyfriend otherwise I won't hear the end of this," she said and Nick's brow arched in surprise.
"Okay," he said with no reluctance. Quinn put the call on loudspeaker and moved it towards Nick.
The sound of Amalie's voice filled the corridor bouncing off the cheap walls and making Quinn embarrassed. "Are you still going to deny it? Send me a picture so I can see if he is suitable for you. Your mother is just concerned for….," said Amalie only for that mesmerising voice to bring her back to earth. She was instantly humbled.
"Hello auntie," said Nick while scratching his hair feeling a little awkward. He had never spoken to other people's mothers like this, especially under such embarrassing circumstances.
"…Oh so polite too. Hello Nick. Are you single by any chance?" she said and Quinn knew her mother had tricked her. She immediately put the call back on the earphone setting and smiled at Nick apologetically.
"Sorry… she is a little," said Quinn before circling her finger above her temple gesturing that her mother was a little crazy. Nick nodded his head in understanding before watching Quinn walk away while continuing her conversation with her mother.
"I am a little what? Are you talking bad about me in front of my future son in law?" asked Amalie with a naughty smile on her face.
"Son in law my ass. Are you still hungover from last night? Is that why you are talking a lot of nonsense," she said while walking into the elevator.
"I did get wasted last night how couldn't I when such a hilarious thing happened to Doris Hahahaha…. When she was making out with the guy ahahaha she she touched his schlong through the jeans and it was a beast… hahaha."
"That old lady got so frightened she asked for some room service and while he was in the other room making the call she snuck out. Aha ha haha you should have seen her face she looked like she avoided a great calamity… Hahahaha."
Quinn, "…"
Could she return her mother without a receipt or at least exchange her for another one?