"Mom, happy birthday!" Aiden said. He was holding a bouquet of white roses that he bought this afternoon, complete with a note filled with sweet sentences.
"Aiden, my boy. When are you coming home?" Mrs.Tatiana immediately embraced her eldest son who, without a word beforehand, suddenly stood before her eyes.
"I meant it to be a surprise for you, Mom!" He said with a smile, he couldn't let go of the tight hug from his mother who missed him very much, after almost two years of not coming back to New York.
"You should have informed us beforehand, you didn't even tell us about your graduation. Your mom was crying because she couldn't come to see her beloved son get his doctorate at Oxford." Mr. Franz Andrich is also offended by the mindset of his proud son, who always deliberately avoids celebrations or parties.
"I think it's better to celebrate when I get home. Where's Jake? I don't see him?" Asked Aiden who did not feel the presence of his only brother.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrich looked at each other, reluctant to tell the truth, about Jacob who had been home very rarely since buying the luxury apartment from the proceeds from opening the Night Club and casino.
"What is it?" Asked Aiden. He was confused by this situation. As a child, he and Jacob were very close because they had to be non-identical twins. In the past, Jake had always been a person who deeply adored and loved him. A good brother, smart and most importantly, very fond of him.
"Jake hasn't been home, you know? He's bought a casino now and he's also bought a fancy apartment."
"He bought a casino? Really?" Aiden did not know this news. Since he returned to continue his doctoral studies at Oxford, they rarely communicate. Aiden who is busy with his studies and also has to teach as a Physics lecturer, makes him rarely contact his twin brother.
"Then, let me call him. How dare he not come home at a time like this!" An annoyed Aiden immediately took his phone and dialed Jacob's number. But Jacob didn't answer his calls.
"How?" Asked Mrs.Tatiana who actually already knew exactly that afternoon until evening, Jacob would not pick up the phone.
"He didn't answer my calls!"
"He can't be advised anymore. He's got his own life, he's not your cute twin anymore, Aiden. Just let him be, he can take care of himself!" Said Mr. Franz. However, even so there is still a longing that has not been cured.
"Okay, let's have dinner first!" Said Mrs Tatiana. Aiden nodded with a small smile.
"You cook, Mom?" Aiden asked looking at the dinner dishes on the dining table. Even though his parents didn't know that he came home today. However, still the dishes served are very much like a party.
"It's my birthday today. I thought we were celebrating just the two of us with your dad. But it turns out, you're home. I'd be so happy, if Jake came home too and we could be together again"
"Later, I'll search his apartment and force him to come home!"
"So, do you have a girlfriend?" Suddenly, his father asked a question that seemed to be asked by every parent whose son is over 25 years old. Hearing his father's question, Aiden could only smile shyly.
"What girlfriend, Honey?" Ask his mother who has the same thought. Aiden became uncomfortable, even though he understood where this conversation was going.
"Thank goodness you're home. That way, there are a number of things you have to do as a child of me and your mom. First, you promised to run our company if you have finished your PhD and now, you have graduated. So, you are ready to replace me became the Director of our family company, right?"
Aiden isn't sure whether he will be able to run one of the largest property companies in America owned by his family? For him, being the Director is a tough task for a 28-year-old young man. If he becomes a Manager or other position, maybe he is still capable. But the main director? Too much for him. He prefers to be a physics lecturer and teach students than to be responsible for the company that his family built since the time of his grandfather, who now has difficulty walking and spends his old age in Switzerland.
"Aiden?" Mr. Franz again asked his son who had always been known as a young man who was crazy about studying.
"Okay Dad, I'm ready. Don't worry, I'll do my best!" His answer is calm.
"Your grandparents also believe that you are the most trustworthy to run the company."
"Besides, when do you want to give your mom and dad grandchildren?" Ask his mother. The barrage of demands on his first night at home gave him a headache. Not to mention thinking about corporate responsibilities, at the same time, he also had to think about his soul mate. This is his burden as an obedient child and always obedient to his parents.
"If that's the case, I haven't-"
"You don't have a girlfriend?" Yes, the painful bullshit question.
As a mother, Mrs. Tatiana did not understand her son's way of thinking. In fact, Aiden's face is very handsome, tall, athletic body, brain is also very smart. Almost no flaws, but never once did he introduce his girlfriend.
"Are you gay, Son?" His Dad muttered, after thinking about the reason why Aiden never introduced his female friends.
Aiden fell silent. He immediately stopped eating from his plate. How could his father think he was gay, just because he didn't have a girlfriend?
"Is that true, Aiden?" And apparently, his mother was much more shocked to hear it.
"N-no, Mom. I'm not gay!" He answer was calm, even though a few seconds ago, he was in shock.
"So what?" Mrs.Tatiana shot Aiden a sharp look. There was a look of hope in his mother's gaze.
"Actually, there's a woman I've loved for a long time," He said. This is the first time in his 28 years he has spoken about women in front of his parents.
Aiden recalled his life journey. When he was little, he really liked to study, because he was always studying, he had no friends. In high school, after school he immediately took courses until the afternoon and even at home, he returned to studying, considering that Aiden has an above average IQ of 150.
When he started studying at Oxford University, Aiden started learning to socialize with friends on campus. He started working out in the gym and sometimes, going to parties his friends threw. Even though many women are crazy about him, Aiden is insensitive when it comes to feelings, perhaps that is his weakness. The only thing he was thinking about was study and study.
"There's a woman you like? Really? Who?" Hearing a rare confession from the child, made Mr. and Mrs. Andrich immediately excited. That means, they no longer need to match Aiden with a woman.
"Yes, Mom!"
"Who is that girl?" Aiden hesitated to answer. Given the name of the woman he will mention, his parents will definitely know him.
"Mr. James Anderson's daughter, Mom!" He said Instead of saying the name of the girl he adores, it's better for him to mention the names of her parents.
"His daughter? What do you mean Karen?" Hearing the name called, Aiden's cheeks flushed. Such a beautiful name, just like the person.
Aiden felt ridiculous, wishing he could marry a woman he had only met three times. That was also because he happened to accompany his father to visit a close friend's house during his college days. The last time we met was about a month before he flew to England for college.
Haven't seen Karen in 10 years. He didn't know how she was. At that time, Karen was a tomboyish girl who was very naughty and always made fun of him being geeky. However, on the one hand, Karen is also very sweet and kind. Aiden's first love is the daughter of his father's friend.
***