11 - You're kidding

***POV NOAH***


“I'm so glad you came.” My mother hugs me warmly as soon as she opens the door of her house for me to enter.

“Hi, Mom.” I return the hug, leaving a kiss on her head. “How are you?”

“How are you? Your father was furious with you early this morning; what did you get up to?” She asked, looking at me accusingly, closing the door of her house after I had entered.

I cross my arms and walk through the entrance hall of my parents' house. I sigh tiredly.

“You know your husband, he freaks out. And I can't even meet a woman and he thinks it's all a matter of interest or she'll take my focus away,” I replied.

“So, are you with someone?” My mother asked curiously, wrapping her arms around me. 

“No.”

I uncross my arms and reach into my pocket for my cell phone, checking that it's already two o'clock in the afternoon. 

"Is Melissa here yet?" I asked, now looking at my mother, who was standing next to me.

“Yes, she came with a colleague from school today. They're upstairs. Shall I call her?”

“No, I'll wait for her here.”

I walked into the living room and sat down on the huge white sofa.

“Noah,” the housekeeper says, appearing at the door. “Can I get you something to drink?” She asked, as solicitous as ever.

“I'll take a juice," I say, smiling kindly at her, who nods in response and turns away, leaving me alone again with my mother. “Where's your husband?”

“Your father's in the study; I haven't told him you've arrived because I wanted a moment alone with my eldest son.”

“What do you want to talk about, Mom?”

“I miss you, my son.” She takes my hand and squeezes it lightly. I look at our joined hands and back at her face. “You've been distant from your family.”

The housekeeper appeared in the living room again, now holding a tray with two glasses. 

"Pineapple juice," she said, handing me one glass and giving the other to my mother.

"Thank you," I said.

She smiled and quickly left the living room.

I took a long sip of the juice, savoring the pineapple. It was natural juice, and I liked it; it was delicious and cold.

My mother also takes a sip of her juice, but her eyes remain on me. I know she wants an answer.

But the truth is, I have nothing to say. I know I moved away from my family and I have good reason to...

I left home because it was unbearable living with my father. He charges me so much; he charges me with things that not even he can do.

My mother, a poor thing, has always been submissive to my father. He speaks, and she obeys. He always has the last word in this house.

And that makes me angry.

“You don't want to have this conversation, do you?” I asked, running my tongue over my lip and tasting pineapple. 

My mother looked at her hands without answering me. I knew the answer.

She can never talk about it. Because she never accepts that I tell the truth because I do. I do throw truths in her face. 

It's better to have a truth that hurts than to live a lie. 

We heard hurried footsteps on the stairs and then women's voices. My sister was talking to her friend, laughing about something I didn't know. They appeared in the living room, stopped laughing, and looked at me and my mother. 

My sister ran over to where I was standing and threw herself on top of me, almost knocking over my glass. It's a good thing I'd drunk almost half of it; otherwise, I would have fallen over with the impact. 

“Why didn't you tell me you were coming?” She asked euphorically as she showered me with kisses. 

“Is this all about missing me, little one?” I asked amid laughter. She showered me with kisses and I stroked her hair. 

“Yes. I thought you'd forgotten you had a sister,” she made a scene. 

“Never, my little one.”

She walked away, tidying up her messy hair, and looked back to where her friend was standing. My eyes followed hers and I watched the girl. She looked familiar.

"This is Isis," she said, pulling her friend by the hand and leading her into the middle of the room, "my friend from school."

"Noah," I stood up and held out my hand to her, who smiled like a fool.

"I know you. Who no?" she asked excitedly. "Can I hug you? I'm your fan!"

I smiled at her and opened my arms for her to hug me. Her small body joined mine in a tight hug.

"You smell so good," she said as she pulled away.

"You're my friend's crush," said my sister, rolling her eyes.

The girl's phone rang and she grabbed her cell phone from the bag on her back, fiddling with it quickly.

"My mom came to pick me up," she said.

My mother got up quickly and went over to where we were standing.

"Send her in, dear. I want to meet your mother."

Isis nodded and typed something into the device, probably talking to her mother.

"She's going to park the car," she said. "I'll go outside and wait."

"I'm coming with you!" My sister said this enthusiastically. I smiled at her enthusiasm.

It was the first time my sister had a friend, so my mother wanted to meet the girl's mother. Form a friendship; who knows?

"Your sister is delighted with this friendship," my mother commented, taking a sip of her juice. "Maria," called the housekeeper, who soon appeared. "Prepare some snacks; we have a visitor."

Maria nodded quickly and left the room once more.

I sat back down on the sofa and closed my eyes for a moment. I managed to get some sleep before coming here, but it wasn't enough; I'm still sleepy.

I heard the girls' laughter and opened my eyes as soon as I felt their presence. My eyes fell on the blonde, who was now accompanying the two teenagers.

"You're kidding," I said to myself as I watched the blonde. 

She looked at me with the same surprise as me, her eyes wide. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, with a few strands falling beside her face. Her neck was exposed, and I immediately tried not to look at it too much, as my desire to smell her neck and kiss her was irresistible. I lowered my gaze and swallowed my saliva with difficulty when I saw the cleavage of her breasts. She was wearing a short lilac dress, which showed off her thick legs. Holy shit. 

“This is my mother.” I was woken from my trance by the voice of my sister's friend. 

Of course, as soon as I laid eyes on the girl, it seemed that I knew her from somewhere; she was no stranger to me. But the truth is that she looks a lot like her mother. She reminded me a lot of Isabela. 

"Nice to meet you," my mother smiles and gives Isabela a brief hug.

"It's my pleasure. Thank you for allowing my daughter to come here today. I hear her sweet voice.

"Not at all, dear. My daughter's friend is family".

"That rude man is my brother," said Mel, scolding me for not getting up yet. Come on, I'm still in shock. It's such a small world...

What were the chances of that happening? I would never have guessed.

I stood up without taking my eyes off the blonde in front of me, slapped my hands on my leg as if to wipe something off and walked over to where they were.

"Noah." I held out my hand to say hello. Isabela smiled and took my hand firmly, without taking her eyes off mine.

"Isabela," she replied to my greeting. I couldn't help but stroke his hand with my thumb. My eyes traveled all over her face, feeling my heart speed up. She looked at me with the same intensity.

"Shall we sit down? I asked Maria to prepare something for us to eat.”

I am awakened from my trance by my mother's voice. Then I realize that I've been holding Isabela's hand for too long. She realizes the same thing as me and quickly takes her hand away from mine.

"Why don't we go into the garden?" my sister suggests.

"Great idea!"

I put my glass on the table in the living room and follow the women to the outside area of the house, where we have a beautiful view of my mother's garden. In a corner, there were three sets of tables with chairs, where we sat down.

"It's very nice to know that my daughter has found a friend and that she's your daughter, a polite girl from a good family." My mother compliments.

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms, and I can't hide the fact that she's sitting in front of me. She talks to my mother, and I don't even pay attention; I just watch the perfect movements of her lips as she talks and smiles.