It's already 4 o'clock in the afternoon when Xymon climbed into his car and started his engine. It was the day he pinned on the calendar. August 13. The day he would go down on his one knee and asked Janela about a simple question but every girl's dream. While on the road, he kept on sliding his hands inside his pockets, groping for that little box. He smiled again when he felt its slight rough texture.
She would love this surprise, he thought dreamily while hands were still on the steering.
They were in a 3 year-old relationship and still felt the spark for each other. He had already decided plans for them and this time, he'd make it sure that no one could ever oppose him-not even his own mother. He didn't want to bring Janela down, never in his wildest dreams he would let that happen.
After 45 minutes on the road, he's already here. The hibiscuses were dancing with the wind while springing itself back and forth beside their gateway. Xymon made his lips thin as a line before turning the engine off. With a deep breath, he opened the door and climbed himself out from the vehicle.
Today, he would just start his plan and after that, once she'd yes everything would be in bliss. He won't let this pass, not ever.
"You always thought like that, Mom."
That was the first phrase he heard from Janela when Xymon stood on the gateway, branching his attention from the two ladies who were talking on the yard to the hibiscuses resting on the cement.
"Why? He's rich!" her mom taunted.
"So what if he's rich?" Janela replied. "I am not going after his money, after all. What do you expect?"
"Janela, rich people always think about money, not your feelings nor love!"
The phrase made Xymon looked at them straight, flabbergasted with what he just heard.
Janela groaned loudly. "Mom, we had talked about this so many times already!" she complained with tired shoulders and brows lining upward in a frown.
"Yes and I don't like him. I don't trust rich people ever again. He even looked like he's a member of the two-faced peopl-" the mother, Sam, stopped her babbling abruptly when she saw Xymon standing behind her daughter.
Janela frowned her forehead before turning her attention to the direction where her mother was staring at-and there, she saw Xymon. "Oh! H-hi!"
That was the time Xymon felt like his facial expression were heavy so he immediately softened it with a smile. "Hi."
"Did you arrived just now or you were waiting. . ." Janela turned slightly pale because of the embarrassment she felt the moment she realized how the conversation had came through.
"I just arrived," he answered casually and looked at the mother in a swift glance. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Higgins. It has a good breeze, eh?"
"Yes," Sam answered and tapped Janela's shoulder before turning herself away from them. Xymon looked at Janela who recently sighed before turning her glance back at him.
"Let's go?" he invited her softly and all he received was a slow nod. She looked weak because of the argument. She really don't like those kind of stuffs in a conversation but her mother was so hardheaded for bringing that topic back on her.
When they're already inside the car minutes after and Xymon was driving silently, Janela cleared her throat as she sank herself on her seat.
"I am sorry. ."
Xymon felt like his ears moved when he heard her voice. He paid her a one-second glance before focusing on his drive again. "For?" he asked nonchalantly.
"I know you heard what my mom said earlier," Janela uttered. "I felt bad for it. She's always been like that."
"I. . ." Xymon smiled awkwardly before glancing back at her. "I understand."
"Maybe you do," she answered as she looked out from the window. "But my mother will never and I can't even change her mind."
"Probably it's her trauma that's why she don't like rich people," Xymon said. "But well, I'm not rich. It's not my money. It's my parent's company, not mine."
A short silence came upon them. Xymon noticed her fidgeting with her fingers. He sighed; and has the urged to calm her down but he couldn't since they're still on the road. He was trying too hard to make the drive safe, but the fidgeting made him panic. It could be her anxiety again. The moment he was about to say something, she spoke up.
"Did you. . ." she stammered. "Did you accept the responsibility? I mean, about the Glamuri Luxe?"
Xymon had thought about it for a moment. He told himself a while ago that he made good for his plans and won't let anyone oppose him. But the thought of the family's company-he didn't want to think about it this time.
"I'm sorry for asking, it's a family matter after all," she said all of a sudden. "Never mind my question."
"No," he answered in a steady voice. "I told you already about that. As long as you're here, I'll go with my personal plans. Even though I'm the only one who has the potential for handling the Glamuri Luxe."
"But-"
"And besides, my twin brother is there to accompany my mother. I wanted a peaceful life, the company is a mess for me. I will go for something that makes me happy and it's you."
"But your mom-"
"She has nothing to do with us."
Janela went silent after that, thinking that their mothers are the major hindrances of their relationship. It's been years and the mothers are still acting like that. How strong they might be for having a 3 year-old relationship while there are people who were against them.