Chapter 10: Drenched

“What you did was offensive,” Kneeling in front of her child, eye to eye, she utters in a shrill, yet wavering voice. Her lips trembled restlessly as she’s engrossed with the worst scenarios inside her head.

The area was rowdy with everyone’s chatters echoing from every corner and the full volume of various TV screens featuring movie trailers repeatedly buzz around the area, yet despite the noise, the hallway was succumb in deep silence and the noises from the lobby turned muffled and eerie as it bounces to the long and deep corridor.

Just like the suppressed voices her sanity abolishes, "What were you thinking Kieran? Anywhere you look at it, it's improper to meddle when adults are talking,” her head was clouded with worry. Her child’s too young to have known that was the general's daughter they’re speaking to and that’s the point, he doesn’t know what type of person he has offended.

She admits she didn't like people who always think highly of themselves against others, but Ivee was no ordinary human. She’s a person who they shouldn’t even come across with in the first place. It’s wasn’t planned and yet their paths met. It was an accidental setup.

Hillary was decisive about letting Ivee's slandering slip out of her head when that woman is only one of the few who could track anyone’s identity down with just a snap of her fingers. If she were alone with that woman, she wouldn’t fear to resist or hold back her sharp tongue from an assault, but today’s case isn’t related to how strong her fighting spirit is.

She was cautious and protective to avoid the possibilities of the opponent seeing her shortcomings. She wasn’t alone in the battle field, she brought her only weakness with her and she knows she couldn’t win against that vixen woman because Ivee's influence against the military and media couldn't be underestimated as well as her schemes and ways of satisfying her curiosity. That was why no one had ever dared to offend her in any way there is.

This is absolutely why she can’t stop herself from genuinely pondering over the chances of Ivee’s curiosity from her diverted to her son or she may have now gain interest to the both of them.

"Is it not really easy for you to stay down and listen?" Her hands clutch his small shoulders tightly, more or less shaking him, "You promised and how many times do you pan to break that promise? I thought we talked about this inside the car? You even swear you wouldn't—"

She was only in the middle of her sentence when she halts from her speech and her fingers around his shoulders loosen.

What stopped her wasn't the full frown of his lips, but it was the confusion written on his face and the isolation inside his deep green eyes, causing her lips to thin and she let the heavy silence preside the empty hallway.

Seeing the desolated loneliness from him, she knew a big part of her also made a mistake. She failed to understand her child's perception, which she should’ve listened first.

A good communication for both parties requires the other person to listen while the other half expresses itself and it also works the other way around.

Hillary knew her child’s difficulty of suppressing his behavior and she was the only person he opens up himself freely no matter how bad his behavior gets, because her child knew she would be there to accept him and guide him. Instead of nagging she should be somewhat thankful Kieran didn't hide this rotten part of him from her.

He was rebelling yet she had seen him trying his best too.

Hillary leans closer, "Kieran," she calls out to him her hands slipping down to grab both of his tiny hands. His eyes met hers, but it felt like he was far to reach.

She was too preoccupied to notice the chandeliers above became too visible in his moist green globes and how the corner of his eyes reddened.

His next words ripped her heart apart.

"You're starting to hate me," he says in the quietest way as possible. His voice was stiff, yet shaking like he was restraining something deep within his throat to emerge, ". . . do you mother?" He asks nothing but confirmation.

Hillary’s lips parts, "What are you talking about?"

She rest her forehead against his and her hands went up to cup his small face, caressing his soft cheeks that she dearly loves, "Of course not, sweetheart.”

“Mommy’s just scolding you, not because I put others before you but because I'm concerned of your well-being," Hillary place a quick kiss on his forehead.

She didn’t know all this time he had been carrying this thought with him. What makes him think that there’s a probability of her hating him? Oh my little boy, "I'm only worried of the worst outcomes to arrive, but I have always loved you, sweetheart. Not a single day it will ever be forgotten."

A sharp pang pierced her chest and her frown deepens when after a second those words escaped her lips, her thumb felt the wetness of his cheeks.

Kieran’ s cheeks were drenched with his firm tears gliding down from his sad eyes as he lets out a silent sob.

The sight made her heart ache. She just realized all she did this day was nag at him. He must have thought she was taking sides which he grew not accustomed with. It’s clear in his age there's nothing but neglect inside his head about disregarding his opinion right there and on while defending others before him.

"Shh, it’s okay now. Mommy's sorry for scolding you," she comforted her sweet child by caressing his back and wiping his tears away, softly blowing unto his eyes to dry his tears, but instead calming him down his sobs became louder.

She took all the sweet time she has in this world to sooth this little cry baby of hers, wiping his tears away and even hearing his hiccups without complaining. Her frown turns into a warm smile, her little boy will always be her baby no matter how old he becomes.

Hillary spread her arms in front of him, which he immediately attach himself to her and lock his arms around her neck, resting the side of his head on her shoulder, "Are you okay now, sweetheart?" Hillary felt Kieran’s head move to give her a nod.

"Much better mom," there was nothing more comforting and assuring than hearing his mother responding back sweetly. Her response made his heart flutter.

Hillary peppers him with light kisses at his head as she embrace him back with equal happiness and relief, "You called me 'mom' for the first time in a while, little bun."

Kieran's arms tighten around her, causing her head to shake in disbelief. Now's not the good time to tease him. She knew the reason very well.

Her child’s persistence to be a man he barely hasn't become yet caused him to drop the idea of calling her ‘mom’ and ‘mommy’ at age two. Little did he know she has been praying to God to not let him grow up too soon. She noticed how fast time flew as her baby boy’s now turning four, "Are you tired? Do you want me to carry you?"

"No, mother. A true man wouldn't let a woman treat him like a child."

Hillary bites her lips, "But little bun, you are a child—"

"—what’s that over there?" As fast as one's mood can change, Kieran was back to his attentive and carefree self, pulling her and wanting to drag her towards the desk where people buy movie tickets.

Hillary laughs towards his adorable I-hear-nothing phase. Her smile widens as she stands on her feet, surveying the area before she held him close to her, "Excuse me, can I talk to your manager?" She asks a staff who had coincidently passed by the hallway they are in.

The staff immediately recognizes her and smiles, "Of course, Ma'am. I'll call our manager right away. While waiting, you may seat in the lounge as you please," the staff respectfully bowed before leaving.

"See? There's no need to overreact. People are polite because they're trying to give us good service," Hillary justifies with a compassionate voice for her child not to react vulgarly as she drags him towards the nearest couch in the lounge.

The young boy just nods his head seeing the recent staff didn't seem to ogle at his mother for more than ten seconds after talking. The staff didn't seem to have hidden intentions, "I'm only worried on what they are plotting against you mother."

A laugh emerge Hillary’s throat. What is there to worry about? "Silly, I can handle myself well," she pats the space beside her where her child followed and sat.

"More than you know, little bun," her little boy has been too occupied with his studies for him to know where she’s attending when she's not in the office. If it was her alone, a simple thrill would energize her, yet with her sweet child around she could only hope no danger is waiting ahead for them.

It's too soon for him to acknowledge the idea how tainted the world is, far more cunning than it looks and far more dangerous than it exactly is.

Out of blue Kieran stroke the strands of her hair before crawling to seat on her lap, hugging her as he rests his head on the space under her chin when her arms automatically encircle around him, preventing him from falling to any accidents.

A small smile escape from his lips as he nuzzles his face to her chest, admiring the cozy warmth she produces. His mother was his own personal scented heater, the only warmth sensation he's plagued with and the only motherly scent he loves.

"What’s wrong?" Hillary ruffles his hair when he's now finally acting in his age. She press her lips against the top of his head. So adorable, "I thought a true man wouldn't let a woman treat him like a child?" Hillary couldn’t restrain her laugh at the sight of his shaking head under her chin.

"Mother I'm an exception."

She can picture him pouting while spouting such none-sense. She truly enjoys teasing him, "How so? I thought you were a grown up man you're so proud of being?"

Kieran abruptly moves his head away, pressing his tiny hands on her shoulders, imitating what she did when she scold him not too long ago. He then lift his chin to look at her in the eyes, causing her to immediately conceal her smile and gaze down at him above suspicion. She made sure to look innocent as an unharmed kitten.

"I am a man mother! But I'm also . . ." he paused, frustration growing in the depths of his green eyes and his lips thinned, hesitant to speak further.

He’s so cute, Hahahah.

Hillary tap the tip of his nose with her index finger, "So you do admit you're still a child?" her eyes lit seeing the frown on his lips turned into an adorable pout as he puff his cheeks. She pinch his cheeks, "Don't worry, this will be our little secret. You will always be mommy's baby and first love."

Kieran’s cheeks reddened and she's not surprise he leans to embrace her, hiding his face from her, "I, alone?"

"Yes, sweetheart, always and forever. Now give mommy a kiss," she purse her lips towards him.

He shakes his head, the strands of his hair tickling her neck effortlessly, "People are looking mother," he reasoned.

Oh, darling. To them you are nothing but a child in their eyes, "Look who’s being shy now," she shakes her head when his arms squeezed her tigther.

Hillary caress his back, "Okay, okay, no more teasing as it is."

She also checked if he was severely sweating in such unfitted clothes for a sunny day and she was right, he was indeed sweating.

Using Kieran's face towel she has been carrying around, her hands slip inside his wool sweater wiping his back and tiny shoulders as they waited for her chauffeur and the manager to arrive.

Gladly it was easy for the chauffeur to spot the heiress and the young master with their blinding spotlight together in one place, too blinding and eye-catching from the rest of the crowd. Lee walks towards the perfect mother and son, carrying the heiress' bag in his hand. The sight was like a rare canvas meant for the audience feast their eyes on such heart-warming ambience.

"Young miss," The chauffeur greets.

Hillary nods her head back at him, "Hand me Kieran's extra shirt."

Her chauffeur obliges, unzipping her bag then hand her a simple black V-neck shirt in Kieran’s exact size. This should do. Her arms hold him firmly before moderately shaking him. It’s been minutes since he last spoken a word and she's assuming he was about to doze off to sleep feeling his breathing getting heavier.

Suddenly interrupted from his sweet daydream, he remained heavily attach to her, only moving his head sideways to glance what was happening. He can feel another person's presence, which started to irritate him.

"What is it mother?" Kieran asked.

Seeing his awful mood the chauffeur bowed to greet, "Young master."

Upon knowing the person who arrived was his mother's chauffeur he breathes in relief. He didn't know guarding his mother outside the mansion could be this tiring.

Hillary clutch his wool sweater, "Let's get rid of this, shall we?" she beams. Meanwhile the chauffeur adjusts the sensitivity of his earpiece, just in case it'll not startle his colleague from . . .

Kieran panicked when her arms loosen around him. He was wide awake as he yelled, "No!" his voice echoing in the whole lounge.