Chapter 1 - Pilot

'Whoosh...pfff...puff...whizzz'

I could feel the gust of wind whispering to my ears as it blew hard on my face. It was an airy evening around 5pm and I was strolling back home with both my hands dipped into the pocket of the jean trouser I was wearing; trying to console myself from feeling sad. I had just lost a job interview for a salesperson role in a pharmacy that was only few blocks away from where i lived; one of the vacancies I've been vying for about a week now, so that I could atleast support my mom offset some bills at home.

Living with my mom has always been trying -- a bitter sweet experience for the both of us, especially when she got divorced to my dad. I was only 13 years of age when that happened - a memory I could never truly erase as it broke me down each time I thought about it, filling me with unquenchable resentment towards my dad! I mean, I have always admired my parents love life throughout the early years of my childhood but when they got separated, I began to question the subject love and if it was ever real -- which is why I vowed never to venture into it because I wasn't ready to get my heart broken like my mom did, even though she seemed to have gotten over it as the years passed.

My entanglements with various girls was only a mere fling; they meant nothing to me -- absolutely nothing!

I halted my steps stealthily in front of our palour door as I reached, inhaling deeply to calm myself from being nervous - even my tummy churned when the thought of my failed interview flashed again in my head.

'Mtcheww... Now what do I tell my mom if she asks me about the job interview?' I thought rhetorically to myself and heaved a deep sigh as i twisted the door handle; pushing it open to enter inside.

Then I turned my gaze to the right and saw my mom standing in the centre of the palour with her phone placed on her right ear - speaking and laughing as she was on a call with someone.

"Oh! Speaking of Liam, he just got back home" my mom exclaimed heartily over the phone as she turned to face my direction with a sheepish smile that got me more curious than pleased.

'Good lord! Now who is she talking to about me?' I mumbled inaudibly to myself, closing the door gently before moving forward to stand behind a couch that was closer to my mom with a questioning look on my face.

So my mom lowered the phone and covered the mouthpiece with her left palm before saying to me in a soft whisper "Liam, am on the phone with your dad, come say hi to him... He really misses hearing your voice."

'He really misses hearing my voice?' this phrase re-echoed ironically in my mind as I scoffed; it sounded almost like a joke in my ears. How could he possibly say that he misses my voice when he barely paid us visits on Christmas days? Well, it was left for my mom to believe in his lie, but I wasn't ready to be fooled! Infact, any father-son feelings I had towards him was gradually dying.

"I don't care mom... Just tell him I said hi" I replied bluntly with a disappointing roll of my eyes before walking for my room.

"Hey Carl errrm listen... Liam is kind of in a rush to somewhere and couldn't wait to speak with you -- but he said hi though. Maybe some other time." My mom's nervous voice faded behind me at a distance as she spoke over the phone with my dad, trying to cover up for my not speaking to him. I didn't mean to act rudely, but my mom should have known better than to suggest or even insist on me speaking with him.

'Whaaam!' My room door made a loud bang as I slammed it shut. I could feel my chest heaving from the anger that was gradually growing inside; everything about today just seemed to be walking against me!

So I pulled off the t-shirt I was wearing and flung it carelessly on a portable sofa inside my room before moving towards the bed. Then just as I was about lowering myself to sit, I paused and turned to face my room door when I heard someone approaching; clearly, it had to be my mom, and I could guess that she was angry from the sound of her hasty footsteps resounding accross the corridor.

"Seriously Liam?!" My mom's stem voice broke out in anger as she barged into my room - placing her right hand on her waist with an angry frown on her face.

I brushed my hair backwards with my right palm as I stood near my bed to give my mom a remorseful stare; Maybe I went out of line with the way I responded to her earlier - infact I think I did, and I was beginning to feel sorry. So I exhaled sharply and said to my mom in a low voice "Mom, I didn't mean to..."

"When Liam?... When are you going to grow up? Whatever resentment you have towards your dad should end! ..It's been 8 years since he left us, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be part of your life because he should!" My mom yelled at me, talking slow steps towards my direction as she spoke. Her words were harsh and cold it got me so emotional, causing the expression on my face to fade into a sad but angry look.

"Well, he doesn't have to be part of my life and I don't want him to be!" I choked out in anger as I responded to my mom; clenching my right fist hard in a bid to keep my temper in check, but it wasn't working for me at all, and I was damn sure my mom could tell that I was angry.

So she heaved out a deep sigh while rubbing her forehead with her right hand before giving me a consoling stare and said "Look honey, what I only meant was that -- I mean, you're 23 now and..."

"Which is a more reason you should accept my decisions because am no longer a kid anymore" I said bluntly as I interrupted my mom who was no longer angry but was now smiling softly at me in a consoling manner which almost made me cry - filling me with guilt because I wanted her to stay angry so it could justify my own anger. "And how could you mom? -- talking so freely with him like he never broke your heart? All those nights i'd walk into your room to see you crying, yet now you act like you never remembered those days... why mom, just tell me why?" I asked my mom in a sober voice with my eyes becoming a bit moist as I stood, giving her a questioning stare while she stood facing me without saying a word. Then I shook my head in bitter disappointment and collapsed to sit on my bed before lowering my gaze at my feet as annoying thoughts about my dad trickled into my head.

"Look son... I know I was mad when your dad left me for another... But, I -- I have been able to let go off that hurt and forgive him" my mom said softly in a low voice, moving slowly towards my bed as she spoke. Then I lifted my head and turned to look at her when she lowered herself to sit beside me on the bed.

"Mom, weren't you two in love or was he just lying to you?" I asked giving her a searching gaze. This particular question oftentimes troubled me whenever I thought about them -- a question I could never truly give an answer to!

"No no... Your dad wasn't lying when he told me years back that he loved me, and I wasn't lying either." My mom chuckled in response. "Pfff... It's just that along the line, we lost the chemistry we used to have and he met someone else... But listen hun, your dad is a good man and I don't bear any grudge with him leaving us and neither should you" she concluded calmly with a warm smile on her face.

I scoffed and lowered my head back without saying a word to her; my mind was made and nothing could change that -- not even the nice and sweet things my mom was filling my ears with about my dad.

"When you truly love someone, all you want is their happiness -- even if it means you letting them go" My mom said in a whisper, cupping my left cheek affectionately with her right palm before slowly turning my head so our eyes could meet. "And when the time is right, I know you'll fall in love with someone that will make you feel complete and alive" She added teasingly with a motherly smile on her face.

"Pfff... That's if I ever consider falling for anyone because love for me is a no go." I heaved out in a sarcastic tone which my mom found to be a little amusing.

"Seriously Liam?... So what about that girl Shelly that you usually hang around with -- I thought you guys had a thing?" My mom said with a brief laugh, giving me an inquisitive look as she waited patiently for my response.

"A thing for Shelly?!" I retorted sarcastically with my eyes wide in amusing shock; a mere thought of me being in a relationship with Shelly made me laugh, she was only some chick -- a girl I could pleasure with. Afterall, she was the one throwing herself at me and not the other way around.

"I don't have a thing for Shelly mom... We're just friends and nothing more, so I'll advice you stop filling your head with fantasies" I chuckled jokingly, looking at my mom who sat upright as she retreated her hand from my cheek.

"Oh okay!... I stand corrected" my mom exclaimed, raising both hands up her chest level in a playful manner before lowering them on her laps as her giggling subsided. I must confess, i felt a feeling of warmth engulf my body, making me a bit remorseful than angry as I kept my gaze fixed on my mom with a relieved smile on my face; even with our differences, she always had her way of consoling me -- one of the things I love so about my mom.

"Listen mom urrrh..." I said cluelessly and paused, moving my right hand slowly to hold her left hand which rested ontop her thighs. "Am sorry for the way I acted earlier mom... I didn't mean to sound disrespectful" I apologized, giving my mom a gloomy look as she leveled her gleeful gaze at me.

"It's okay... Am not offended" My mom replied, squeezing my right hand tight before wrapping it with her right hand. "I just don't want you to be hard on yourself" She added with a broadened smile on her face before pulling me closely for a hug.

"Thanks mom" I whispered softly with my lips behind her left ear while her hands rubbed and patted my bareback in a consoling manner.

Then suddenly, my heart skipped when I lifted my gaze and saw someone standing in front of my room entrance as my door remained wide open.

"Shelly!" I blurted out in a surprised tone as I pulled away from my mom who slowly turned to look at her.

"Good afternoon Mrs Rose" Shelly greeted heartily with a wide grin, holding a fancy handbag while her left leg wiggled impatiently; only I could understand her impatience, she was horny, and so was I - maybe not before but now actually! Just seeing her standing, seductively dressed in a lovely pleated gown made my mind race wildly in lustful desire. What heightened my arousal the most was that her gown leveled couple inches above her knees, revealing her healthy thighs. Shelly was in no doubt a beauty, average height, dark chocolate skinned in complexion with a lovely voice and above all, she had class! She's a girl every guy my age will kill to have, but certainly not me as she was far from being my taste -- the only reason I was still hanging with her was because she was so damn good in bed. Plus, she also knew how to turn me on.

"Hi Shelley... Welcome" I said, clearing my dry throat awkwardly before...[To Be Continued]