"Am I that obvious? I am not good at keeping a poker face." Stella laughed.
But she stopped and hold Lena"s hand. "I know we are not fairly close enough for me to say this, but my FIANCE has pleaded me. I don"t want you to think that we are forcing you or Kris but... they boys really do worry as much as they are happy. They thought that I, being a woman, was a better choice to approach you with this."
"I understand." Lena replied. If Hazel found out who she was dating, she would also do the same thing but with more b*tchy girl fit.
"I personally would never be able to handle someone like Kris." Stella stated and Lena laughed. "But I am not you and you are not me." They both got serious again. "Kris... as you know... had it difficult than most. He is a person in recovery. And you have seen first hand that he can relapse or go out of his therapy like any other people who are going through rehab or recovery.
I know you both had just started but I can see that you both are really in love. You will have it as rough as Kris when things go bad. Be patient with him and don"t force him to tell you things that he is not ready to."
Lena nodded her head and Stella continued. "Sometimes he will be angry, the next day he will be happy. But those are all part of him. His life is like reversed. His childhood was him being an adult and his young adulthood is him being a kid. He is still in self-discovery and maybe you too.
The boys are screaming that they will hunt you down if you break up with Kris but I know that is all talk. You should not let others define how you date but you should also not turn a blind eye to advice. You can pick and choose what works for you.
I just want to tell you, from me, not the boys, that if you ever feel like it is too hard on you, you can come to talk to me about it. As your therapist or just someone to chat with."
"Thank you." Lena replied. "I know it was going to be tough already... but I was not going to let the bad what ifs overcome the good what ifs..."
"That"s good. But don"t also pretend that you are happy or in love when you are not."
"I know. I have seen how much pretending or being blind living in your own fantasy can be." Lena thought back to her young self and even how Andy was with Eva.
The best thing was being true to yourself. Lena promised that she will help him hug his mother. Now as someone important in his life, Lena knew that she also needed to be a support for him. She will be his emotional support the way he is her physical support. They are a pair, matched from heaven, to compliment and be stronger as two than one.
"Cheers!" Stella raised her gla.s.s to Lena.
"Cheers!"
They both only drink a small amount. James dropped off Stella. Lena made sure to text Collin that they went drinking in case he wanted to check up on his fiance. Stella was not a strong drinker.
James dropped off Lena at her apartment. Lena went inside and took a shower. She made herself dinner before texting Kris again.
Kris left work early today to go back to the Li mansion. His mother was out today to go shopping with some of her friends. Lena told him to be on good terms with his mother so he decided to rebake her a cake that he failed last time.
The cooks were carefully staring at Kris the entire time. They were scared that he was going to poison the Madam. But then it felt like Kris knew what he was doing but they were scared he was going to burn the kitchen.
Kris finally kicked everyone from the kitchen so he can finish. He got a text from Lena and his heart calmed down. She was the stress release he needed right now.
He sent her a picture of the cake and she replied with a thumbs up. He smiled. Kris let the cake cool down and frost it before heading upstairs. He told the cook to come back to the kitchen to cook dinner.
Madam Li came home later and they both had their dinner. It was mostly silent until when Kris finished eating.
"I will go see grandpa with you."
Madam Li looked up at Kris. "I feel like there is a but coming with that..."
She knew Kris would never do this so willingly unless there was something that he would benefit from it. Kris was a good son. He had always tried his best to protect and please her. One of the few things they would not see eye to eye about was his grandpa, getting married, and his habit of overkill.
"But! We would go see them at the end of the month, not this weekend."
Madam Li raised her brow. "That"s it? Nothing else?" She was suspicious. He only pushed the date further... was she thinking too much?
"That"s it." Kris replied and nodded at the chef. The chef went to the kitchen and brought out a slice of cake. "I made that. Since the last time I failed, I promised to make it again so.. yeah."
Madam Li smiled and took a bite of the cake. "It"s sweet. I am still waiting for my hug though." She took another bite.
Kris cleared his throat. "Would it count if my kid hugged you instead?"
Madam Li suddenly choked on the piece of cake she was eating. Kris instinctively got up and grabbed her gla.s.s of water. Without knowing, he patted her back as he raised the gla.s.s of water to her mouth so she can drink it.
She took a big drink of water but then suddenly looked at her son, who was still patting her back, full of concern. "Kris.."
Kris finally snapped out and realized what he was doing. He quickly stopped patting her and took a step back away from her.
Madam Li suddenly stood up. "What are you all standing there for! Go call the doctor!"
"Ah yes, Madam!" Several workers rushed out to go call Doctor Tye.
There have been a few times where Kris slipped and the workers would immediately have Doctor Tye on speed dial. But somehow today, the dinner scene was very touching that they had forgotten about the condition of their young master.
Madam Li looked at Kris, semi panicking. "Are you okay? Do you need a chair? You! Bring him a chair, can"t you see he is sick!"
"Ma.." Kris spoke but Madam Li was breathing really hard.
She did not like it when she saw Kris in pain. "Why did you do that? I am old but not too old to choke!"
"MA!" Kris shouted when one of the workers dragged a chair to Kris. Madam Li finally looked at him. "I. Am. Fine."
"How can you be fine! You"re having trouble breathing!"
"You"re having trouble breathing...not me."
"No, I am not. You--" She finally paused and gave Kris a good look.
He was right, he was perfectly fine. He was standing there, he was breathing normally and there was no tremors or sudden rage from him. She stopped her heavy breathing. She turned her head sideways several times to give Kris a rundown look.
"Impossible..." Madam Li was still very much in shock.
Kris was surprised too. He raised his hand up to his mother"s face but didn"t touch her. Madam Li looked at him... her eyes got teary. She slowly held up her hand too and gently grabbed his. It was the longest 10 seconds of their lives. Madam Li was waiting to see if Kris would have a reaction but he did not.
Madam Li grabbed his hand with both of hers and brought it to her cheeks. She burst into happy tears.
Kris was still controlling his breathing... big breath in and a big breath out. He slowly walked closer to his mom and gave her a hug. She cried louder when she felt Kris big arms around her and she hugged her son back. The workers were silently crying too!
It has been years since they have worked in the Li mansion and the pair of mother and son could finally hug each other.
The hug did not last long. Kris released his mom and stepped back. Madam Li wiped her tears. Kris shook his hands out and smiled. He could feel a small tingle of uncomfortableness and panic tremors building up from his body. But his heart was too thrilled!
"Are you okay?" Madam Li smiled.
"Hahaha!" Kris was happy.
Madam Li laughed too and she put up her hand to pat his cheeks but Kris stepped back.
"Sorry, I"ll let you cool down." Madam Li could tell that even though they finally hugged, Kris could still experience some symptoms that were just more delayed.
"No worry, mom." Kris turned around. "I am going out!" He ran out of the dining room.
Madam Li yelled back at him. "Where are you going out this late?! Are you not going to wait for the doctor! We should celebrate!" She chased him outside to see him quickly got into his car.
"Yes!" Kris yelled back. He closed his door and drove out the driveway.
"Yes?" Madam Li scoffed! "He is supposed to celebrate with me? Who the h.e.l.l is more worthy for him to celebrate with than ME!"
One of the workers that went to call Doctor Tye walked up to Madam Li. "Do you still want the doctor to come?"
Madam Li ignored the worker and was still angry that his son left her alone during this monumental moment.
"Madam, maybe Young Master Li is going to celebrate with his kid"s mother."
Madam Li turned around and scolded the worker. "What kid! What mother! I am his mother, he is my kid!"
Her chest was puffing with rage again. Then she remembered the statement that Kris said which started all of this...
--> "Would it count if my kid hugged you instead?"