"Welcome home, young lady. You should have shopped the whole of America."
Priyanka's soul almost left her. Whew. Her mother can be really scary sometimes. One hand on her chest, she turn around with a shaking smile. "Good evening, mom." She strode down the stairs, touched urumi's toes and touched her own chest.
"I need a straight answer. Where were you and who was that Rolls-Royce that dropped you off at the gate?"
"Rolls-Royce?" Damn her. That stupid gate man couldn't keep his filthy mouth shut for a single minute. "Uh….." Her eyes grew big as she think of what to say. "It's umm….a friend." She almost whispered.
Urumi's brows corked, "A friend? Male or female?"
Oh God. She knows how curious her mother could be. If she doesn't tell her now, she might find out later and it won't be funny for keeping such secret away from her.
Just when she was about to answer, her phone chimed. She looked at it. A notification message from Justin. He already gave her a kiss in the car. It's not even up to ten minutes since he left and he's sending sweet text. He is so romantic.
'HEY WITCH. PUT ON YOUR BEST NIGHTWEAR LIKE AM THERE WITH YOU. MY CHOPPER WILL COME PICK YOU UP ON SATURDAY. WE'LL BE GOING TO THE BEACH. I MISSED SEEING YOUR MERMAID FORM.'
He added a kissing emoji and a gif kissing goodnight. Priyanka was smiling without knowing. She texted back, 'COPY THAT, SILLY.'
Urumi cleared her throat, distracting her.
Didn't her mother ask her about something a while ago? "Male?" She answered without hesitation.
"I know it'll be a guy." She winked. Priyanka looked at her strangely. "Was that him ?" She pointed at the phone. "Nevermind. You've never brought home a guy before and I know you don't have any friends so tell me, how did he came on your list? Is he married? Where does he live? A friend in college?"
Geez. Too many questions at a time. "Mom," She called out when Urumi won't stop blabbing lewd things. "He is Justin Chadwick. The president's son. Find more about him on Google. I'm going to shower." She made her way to her bedroom quietly.
Urumi stood there in shock, still wondering how her daughter crossed path with the president's son. Of all people in the universe, she was able to meet with him, talk with him, and he even gave her a ride? There must be many things Priyanka must be keeping from her about that guy. That is one of the most hardest thing to do. It's not easy for one to see the people who lived in the white house face to face. Even the senators has to book an appointment before having a meeting with him. She usually see him on TV shows and magazines covers. The guys is dead handsome and gorgeous. Priyanka owe her a big explanation. She has to tell her how she got the link to his portal.
...….
"Your father said you'll be going with him to the board this weekend. He has an important meeting with the ministers." Adela entered Justin's room and sat on the bed.
Justin came out of the bathroom with a white robe on. His hair freed on his shoulders and wet. "He has to go with his vice. I'm very busy this weekend."
"Busy? You don't go to office during weekend."
"Something seriously needs my attention, mother." He wiped his hair with a towel.
Adela was not liking the vibe. She crossed her arms. "This meeting is so important, Justin. It concerns the upcoming project of the country. You have to put aside whatever occasion you have this Saturday."
He looked at her blankly, "This occasion is so precious that I can't put it away for a common project dad can do without me. He doesn't needs me there. Why does he have a vice?"
Adela suspect something. "What is this all about? You not having spare time for your father's meeting?"
Justin groaned in frustration. Why is it that whenever he has something important to do, that's when his family logs in with their problems. This is not the first time they're doing it and he knows it's not gonna be the last. Anyway, since his mother demands reasons from him, he won't hesitate telling her the truth.
He sat beside her, "I'll be going out with my girlfriend. That is what it's about."
Adela's eyes opened in shock. This is not her son talking, right? "It's a lie."
"I'm dead serious, mom." He grinned. "Now you see how important this is to me. I don't want to turn down our first hangout because of a cheap meeting."
Adela finding it interesting, put on a wide smile and leaned closer. Wanting more information. "So, tell me. What's her name? How did you meet her? Was it hard? Where is she from? Tell me more, son. I really want to know."
Seeing how eager she was, Justin chuckled. "Well, her name is Priyanka. The same one you and everyone saw on the accident's magazine and before you'll say anything, let me quickly add these. She's from Mumbai, India. From a family of five. She has two older siblings. She lives with her parents in LA. Her dad is the Senate of Mumbai. Her mom, a retired banker. She's 23. She's in her finals and she study's geography in LA university."
Wait a minute, Adela is puzzle. "She's 23? Justin, she's way more younger than you. Even Francesca is three years older than her."
"So?"
"So..." She shrugged, not knowing what to say. "Don't have unprotected sex with her yet. I don't want anyone crying for getting pregnant out of wedlock, especially when she's still in college."
Justin laughed, shaking his head. "We haven't even gone to that direction yet. Infact, that is not my first priority, mommy." When Adela placed a hand on her chest and breath a sigh of relief, he added. "All I want to do now is make her trust me. She's my first girlfriend and I don't want her to hate me or judge me with my past."
"You're seriously in love with her, aren't you?" She smiled. "Your father will be so proud of you when he hears this."
"But," He took her hand in his, "There's something I want you to know, mom. You're the only person I can count on when it comes to keeping secret. Dad must not find out about this too. Not even Francesca or any of the Chadwick's. Not even an outsider. Just promise me you won't be mad if I tell you."
"What is it, sweetie?"
He lowered his voice, almost in a whisper. "She's a mermaid."
"Mer—what the fuck?!" She pull back her hand, eyes and mouth widely open in deep shock. "Are you sick upstairs, Justin? Of all the women in the world, you choose….a mermaid?"
"Shh…" He looked at the door. "Someone might hear you."
"Don't tell me that." Adela frowned. "You could have dated one of your whores, that would have been better. You don't know what you've gotten yourself into. You know your father, he doesn't play with his family's linage and reputation."
"Yeah, yeah, that's all he only cares about." Justin wasn't liking the mention of that. "I love Priyanka and I want to make her my better half."
Adela waved her hands in the air briefly, heavenwards. "Oh dear lord, what has this woman done to my son? He can't even think straight or hear himself talking." She looked at him. "Baby, you know this is not right."
"She told me so too. Yes, I know. But she's the only woman I'm addicted to." He took her hand in his, "You have to believe me, mom. Priyanka is a good woman, she's not like every other bad mermaids we used to read in books and watch in movies. She's legit."
"I'm still scared, honey. Do you mean that I'll be expecting mermaid grandbabies in the future? You have to rewrite your diary, Justin. Your father will kill you. He'll bury you alive for flooding his name with baby mermaids."
"As for dad, I'm ready to face his wrath. But you have to know that she saved your life. Dad's life. My life, uncle Rojas' and the whole of the Chadwick. Me being number one of the top five celebrities today is because of her. She blessed me, mommy."
Adela is confused. "How?"
"Your leukemia didn't just go away overnight, mom. If you remember the sugary glass of water I gave you, it wasn't sugary. Priyanka gave me a tablet to dissolve in it. And when you took it, the whole thing wiped off."
"Jesus!"
"Not just that." Justin continued, telling her all the wonderful things she did. "She gave the revelation about uncle Rojas plane crashing in the desert. She was the one who told me to warn dad about the party."
Adela gasped, covering her mouth.
"Dad was going to be poisoned that night. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it, mom. She warned me not to. The dead men at the seaside were after my life. You remember the tsunami?" She nodded, he added. "She caused it to happen. She killed those men when they disguise to take my life the night of that same day. She even caused so many contracts from outside the country to come my way. She's the reason why am a hundred times richer than how I used to be before. She's a luck to this family. She's a blessing to my life."
Adela came to realize that everything her son said was the truth. From beginning to end, they're all genuine. Her leukemia disappeared, her brother in-law escaped a plane crash, so many wonderful things happening in their office—who has a sugar in his mouth and still spits it out?
No one.
She has interest in this woman. She wants to see her, know how she looks like in real life. It will be a pleasure to see a mermaid for the first time in reality. "I'll like to meet her, Justin."
Justin was shocked. He never expected that from his mother. He grinned. "Mom, are you serious? You want to meet Priyanka?"
"Sure, why not? I really want to see the woman that saved this family and, that took my son's heart." She winked. "It is not easy to convince you." She ruffle his hair. "I'm glad you're getting serious in life."
"Ow, Mom, am not a puppy." He complained, his head on her lap.