The Hard But Easy
Chapter 12

Eliza rubbed both of her palms⸻seeking warmth after entering Jonathan's apartment. Yeah, the girl didn't go straight back to Amelia's flower shop. After the heartwarming incident, Eliza decides to accompany Jonathan, he said he wanted to have an honest talk with his mother and he asked for her company in case something bad happened and he needed a friend to make him feel more comfortable.

Eliza said Amelia did not force Eliza to work at the flower shop⸻, nor did Carlos. So Eliza felt that this would not make the two people need to bother about it. Moreover, Eliza has sent a message to Amelia if she wants to accompany Jonathan looking for a Christmas present for his mother.

Yeah, it's true, Eliza had gone to one of the Christmas trinkets stores to buy gifts for Jonathan's mother. He said Jonathan wanted to give his mother a gift for the first time⸻after running away for a few years.

"Sorry, yes, my apartment is a mess, it hasn't been done yet." Jonathan said, when they arrived at the living room section that was directly connected to the kitchen.

"It's okay." Eliza's sahut is short.

He chose to sit on the sofa by the small fireplace Jonathan had just lit. The current temperature of the air really made Eliza able to freeze to death.

"Would you like a warm drink?" jonathan asked.

"May, I want some warm tea."

Then Jonathan passed to his small kitchen and began to make warm tea for Eliza⸻ even until the sound of cups and stoves were lit.

Hearing Jonathan busy in the kitchen, Eliza gets up and walks to the window inside Jonathan's apartment. Snow has not yet fallen, but the air temperature is getting so cold. Eliza thought it might be snowing soon.

While hugging herself, Eliza's mind began to wander. Eliza started thinking, what will she do after this? Sooner or later everyone will know how much he holds this crazy secret.

Eliza could only count the time and enjoy the day now. I don't think Eliza wants this day to change and change. But, inevitably, Eliza must deal with it no matter what.

Eliza felt that soon her parents would call her and tell Eliza to return home.

"Has the first snow come down?" jonathan asked, which made Eliza gasp. The girl turned around and looked at Jonathan, who was putting two cups of warm chocolate on the table.

Eliza shakes. "I'm really looking forward to the first snow coming."

"It used to be the first snow before Christmas, but it likely came earlier, because the air temperature is now colder than before." Obviously Jonathan after sitting on sofa⸻ followed by Eliza.

"It's nice to celebrate Christmas in the snow." Eliza sipped her tea.

"By the way Eliza, do you mind if our Christmas skating plan goes ahead? Hm. I thought at Christmas I'd see my family, but if you didn't⸻"

"No! I'm not forcing. We can do it anytime, right? What matters is that you're with your family." Eliza cuts off Jonathan's talk.

"You don't mind?"

Eliza smiled wryly, "of course, no. I'm glad you're seeing your family again."

Jonathan smiled, his eyes shining. "thank you. I don't know what to talk about." Jonathan was so excited.

"I don't have the right to force you, we're just friends" Eliza said with a faint smile. I don't know why there's a tightness in Eliza's heart. Eliza's words may sound sarcastic, but they are facts.

Jonathan huffed for a moment. Jonathan confirmed what Eliza said, but he felt a little disappointed. So Jonathan's been considered a friend all along? But what else did Jonathan expect? They are friends.

Ah, Jonathan almost forgot, that he had to call his mother before it was too late. He had to tell his mother the truth before Christmas.

Jonathan got up from his place and looked at Eliza with an uneasy look.

"I'm gonna call my mom first." He said before he actually entered his room.

Eliza had a moment's glance with Jonathan and Eliza could see Jonathan's blackened eye bags⸻if viewed carefully. It seemed like the man was thinking hard lately, since he was unable to keep his secret alone. Eliza also suspects, Jonathan must have had a reason why he told her secret to Eliza, even though the man could tell Carlos⸻ his close friend.

Is it that easy for Jonathan Darrel to trust others? They just met some time ago.

But speaking of Jonathan, Eliza is more curious about something⸻

...-οΟο-...

Jonathan Darrel sighed. His right hand had already grasped a mobile phone with the name 'mother' on the screen, but he had not dared to contact. He still doubts. Afraid that the father heard and Jonathan was banished from the family⸻remember the Jonathan family had a basic business and worked at the family company.

Jonathan looked back at the screen of his phone. After gathering courage, he finally called his mother⸻sticking his phone to his ear. A few seconds later, the phone was connected and for the first time Jonathan choked, unable to speak when the mother greeted him.

"Jonathan? My kid? Are you that?" greeting the mother from across there, her voice sounded trembling. "Darling, I can't believe you finally called me, son."

Jonathan's eyes glazed over again after hearing his mother's voice. He still doesn't talk.

"Jonathan, how are you? Oh, I'm trying a new menu for Christmas, you wanna try?"

Jonathan still could not say a word, but his mother was waiting for an answer from Jonathan. Jonathan is afraid to express his feelings at this time, his mother has never spoken so far without needing Jonathan to interrupt and disconnect. Jonathan felt like an ungodly child all along.

"Jonathan? You okay?" ask the mother, finally. Right at that moment, Jonathan's tears were rushing over. The feelings he had been enduring, the shadow of his mother's disappointment, and the guilt that kept lingering in his mind.

Jonathan's come this far, he can't back down. His mother raised him as a tough man, not a cowardly man.

"Y-mother?" the man was a little stern. His voice sounded a little hoarse, from crying.

"Yes, honey. I'm here."

I don't know why the mother's voice made Jonathan's chest warm. The man immediately wiped the tears on his cheek, then smiled thin⸻although his mother across there did not see. Even so, it was quite convincing that now Jonathan was fine.

"Mother, sorry." Said Jonathan. "I'm sorry for all my mistakes. I let mom down."

"You never let mom down, you let dad down, and you let everything down." Said the mother, gently.

"Mom, I made a mistake."

"No, you're not wrong, son. There's nothing wrong, you have the right to rule your life."

Jonathan menanap's. Does your mother know about the problem?

"I-mom....."

"Mom knows everything, Jonathan." There was a sound of sobbing across there, which made Jonathan startled and widened his eyes. "Mom knows you quit college to pursue your singing hobby, and I also know you turned down some big agencies to keep the family feeling. I know, baby. I've been wanting to say this for a long time, but I've always had no chance to talk to you."

"Mother...."

"It's okay, honey. Your father understood too. We're waiting for you at home."

Without feeling it, Jonathan's tears just melted away. His feelings can no longer be contained. Just in front of his mother alone, Jonathan could be as weak and belligerent as this. Even until there was a loud noise, so unstoppable.

"Home home, on Christmas Eve?" once again, the mother's voice sounded so deep in the middle of her stuffing.

The cold afternoon was suddenly warm after the unexpected confession between the mother and the child. All this time they were shackled in misunderstandings that they did not express literally, especially for Jonathan. Jonathan has been too cowardly to admit his mistake. His father repeatedly taught him to be a responsible man. But what happened instead Jonathan⸻ felt too disappointing his parents.

But the name of the parents, they will certainly forgive the child, even though the child made a fatal mistake. Return to the child, whether he wants to admit his mistake and not repeat the mistake.

After feeling calm, by swallowing the whole sigh in his cry, Jonathan could only answer the mother's question.

"I'm going home, mom. Wait for me."

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