~ 016
~ OLIVIA
Mum's voice was low and conspiratorial. "I think there's more to this 'just a friend' story than you're letting on." She smiled knowingly, and I felt my face heat up, caught in the web of her intuition.
She leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me the truth, sweetie. What's going on between you two?"
I hesitated, unsure how to explain the flutter in my chest whenever Brian was near. "Mum, really, he's just a friend," I insisted, trying to sound convincing. But Mum's knowing look made me wonder if she saw right through me.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "We'll see about that, young lady," she teased, her voice laced with a knowing tone. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly, feeling a mix of embarrassment and affection for Mum's meddling.
But deep down, I couldn't shake off the feeling that maybe, just maybe, Mum was onto something.
I was starving, and my exhaustion was making me cranky. "Mum, what's for lunch? I asked, desperate for a distraction from the earlier conversation. Mum's expression softened. 'Sweetie, I'm so sorry – I completely forgot to cook. Let's order something, okay?' I perked up. 'Can I get samosas, chocolate, and smoothies, please?' Mum's face turned stern. 'Olivia, we've been over this. Those things aren't good for you.' I gave her my best puppy dog eyes. 'But Mum, pleeease? Just this once?'
"Mum sighed, shaking her head in resignation. 'Fine, I'll add the samosas and smoothies to the order. But don't expect me to get you those chocolates, you're already spoiled enough.' I grinned triumphantly, knowing I'd won this small battle. 'Thanks, Mum!' I exclaimed, giving her a quick hug. 'You're welcome, Olivia,' Mum said, her eyes twinkling with amusement, 'but don't think this means you're getting off scot-free. I'll be keeping an eye on your sugar intake.'
"I beamed with victory, and Mum reluctantly gave in, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.
**********
As Olivia's phone rang in the kitchen, her mum picked it up, unaware of the caller. "Hey, babe," a deep voice said on the other end, sounding casual and familiar.
Mum's tone was polite but inquiring, her curiosity piqued. "Hello, who's this?" There was a pause before the voice replied, "Uh, hi ma'am... it's Brian. I was trying to reach Olivia."
Mum's expression changed to one of interest, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processed the name. "Brian, you mean the one who brought Olivia home the other day?"
Brian's nervousness was evident in his hesitant response. "Y-yes, ma'am." He wondered how much Olivia had told her mum, and what she was thinking.
Mum's voice took on a friendly yet probing tone. "It's nice to finally talk to you, Brian. What brings you to call Olivia today? I mean you both saw each other a few hours ago."
Brian hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just checking in, ma'am. We were supposed to catch up today, but I think she might have forgotten."
Brian lied.
Mum's laughter was warm and knowing. "I think Olivia's been a bit busy, Brian. But I'm sure she'll get back to you soon."
The conversation hung in the air, leaving Brian wondering what Mum really thought about their relationship.
Mum's tone turned slightly serious. "Brian, can I ask you something?" Brian's heart skipped a beat as he replied, "Of.. of course, ma'am. What's on your mind?"
Mum's voice was measured. "What are your intentions with my daughter? You're clearly important to her, but I want to know where you stand."
Brian took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "Ma'am, I care about Olivia a lot. I want to support her and be there for her. I know I'm not perfect, but I'm trying to be a good influence in her life."
Mum's response was thoughtful. "I appreciate your honesty, Brian. We'll talk more about this later. Olivia is here."
As Mum handed Olivia the phone, Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. "Hey, Brian," she said, a bit sheepishly, realizing her mum must have been talking to him.
Brian's voice was warm on the other end. "Hey, Via. Sorry about your mum answering the phone. I guess I got grilled, huh?"
Olivia laughed. "Yeah, something like that. Don't worry, she's just looking out for me."
Brian chuckled. "I figured as much. So, what were you up to? You forgot about our plans, didn't you?" Olivia's tone turned playful. "Maybe. But Mum's already ordered lunch, so you're stuck talking to me while I eat."
As Olivia sat down to eat, Brian's voice continued in her ear, warm and gentle. "So, what did your mum order for you? Still craving those samosas, I bet."
Olivia laughed, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Actually, Mum's being stubborn about the samosas. She's ordered baked rice and meat sauce instead."
Brian teased, "Ah, rebellion against the healthy food regime, huh? I'll bring some samosas next time we hang out."
Olivia's heart skipped a beat at the casual mention of "next time." She liked the sound of that.
As they chatted, Olivia felt a sense of comfort with Brian she hadn't experienced before. It was like they had known each other for years, not just a few days.
She twirled her fork in the baked rice, listening to Brian's stories about his day. His laughter was infectious, and she found herself giggling along with him.
When they finally said their goodbyes, Olivia felt a pang of disappointment. She didn't want the conversation to end.
As she hung up the phone, Mum walked into the room, a knowing look on her face. "So, Brian seems like a nice young man," she said, raising an eyebrow.
Olivia's cheeks flushed. "He is, Mum. He's really nice." Mum smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, sweetie. But let's talk more about him later, okay? Finish your lunch first."
Olivia nodded, taking another bite of her lunch. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement about Brian. As she ate, she couldn't stop thinking about their conversation and the way he made her laugh.
Mum sat down across from her, a cup of tea in hand, and watched her with a warm smile. "You know, Olivia, I think it's time we had a talk about boys and relationships," she said gently.
Mum's words brought Olivia's thoughts back to reality. She looked up, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"What about it, Mum?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Mum took a sip of her tea, her eyes locked on Olivia's. "Well, you've been spending a lot of time with Brian lately, and I want to make sure you know how to navigate these situations."
Olivia felt her cheeks warm up, but she tried to play it cool. "There's nothing to navigate, Mum. We're just friends."
Mum raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, it seems like there's more to it than that."