5 Mrs. Andrea Thursday, 1 August 2019 (2/2)
The three reached upstairs and as Apollo had expected, his mom's face over seeing a girl's presence inside his room was embarrassing. ”Mom, this is Betha. She's our neighbor.”
”So, this is why it was hard to reach my son.” She said.
Oh no, mom. Don't smile like that. She isn't my girlfriend. Yet.
”I'm sorry. Mrs… Uhm. Apollo's mom.” Bethany said politely.
”Just call me Andrea. Or mom. If you must.” Her facial expression had a motive hidden on it. She gave Betha a hug.
Whatever happened to shaking hands when you meet someone for the first time? Apollo thought.
”It is Andrea Rodriguez. I'm glad to finally see you.”
Did she just say finally? Mom! His mom's reaction was making Apollo feel too uneasy but all he could do was talk inside his head.
”Okay, you both. That's really sweet but the dog needs to be saved.” Apollo interrupted the moment. When he tried to lift the dog, it was impossible to carry it, so he signaled for Gab's attention. As usual, he was acting all cute in front of his mom, smiling like a puppy. ”Uhm. Gab? A little help please.”
When Gab and Apollo started to lift the dog, they ended up short of breath. ”Wow, this dog is really too heavy.” Gab commented, embarrassed that he wasn't too strong as he wanted to be in front of Mrs. Rodriguez.
”It's an English mastiff. The heaviest dog in the world.” Betha's enlightenment was enough to leave the dog as it is.
”Okay, I don't think we can call the vet at this hour but I'm sure there's another way without carrying him.” Apollo said.
Betha moved closer and signaled for the two guys to give her space. After a few seconds of gently stroking the dog's head to the back of his neck, he slowly got up. The rest of them just watched with huge admiration when she led the dog to the garage. There was a sound of the door unlocking as Mrs. Rodriguez pointed her car's remote and the dog followed Betha's voice when she said, ”Hop in, sweet doggy.” Something about the way she said that made Apollo's heart stop.
They reached the vet in no time and Apollo took the chance to have a quick talk with his mom as Betha and Gab went with the dog for the check-up. Mrs. Rodriguez easily followed her son at the far end corner of the lobby area, and they sat next to each other. ”Mom, I know this is cheesy. And I know I haven't been such a good son lately…”
”What? You're a perfect son, dear.” She interrupted.
”How could you say that, mom? I'm a twenty-one-year-old dude with no job and you've never relied on me. I was always the one dependent on you and I should be the man of the house. I should get a job. You write all day, mom on top of the household chores and I'm just a spoiled bratt who couldn't even make you breakfast.”
She looked at her son with compassion. ”What are you saying? You designed all my book covers and the very first one made it to the top. Books are like people. You know how when you like someone you always start by looking at the physical aspects? It's the same with books. It's always the book cover that entices the prospective readers first. Your book designs are way too awesome, dear. It's what attracts the readers. You are my perfect son. You even bought me pain relievers and I didn't even ask you to do that.”
Apollo felt quite guilty because the pain relievers weren't his idea but at least her mom appreciated it. ”Mom, I want to do better. I like that you see my worth but for me, I want to be a better son by being more responsible.”
”Oh my. You've grown. Is it because of that beautiful girl?” She teased.
”Mom!”
Gab and Betha appeared from inside the clinic room just in time with a call that Mrs. Rodriguez received from the dog's owner. ”According to Mr. Damon, his name is Sweet Doggy.”
What other abilities does this beautiful woman have aside from being a Banshee? I was looking for adventure and now I think I've found something more interesting than that. She's going to be Mrs. Rodriguez someday, but first, she will be my girlfriend. Apollo's mind was suddenly surrounded with colors and his eyes twinkled like Romeo.