Chapter 49: Money To Cash In

When Hyson had texted her, he was really feeling down but when he received her single voice message that only had one word, "Scram!" he instantly felt better. Their conversations usually ended with either of them telling the other to 'get lost'. It had become a sort of a tradition now.

That's what he loved about their friendship. Neither of them had to pretend to be nice to each other. They could just be themselves and the other person wouldn't mind it at all.

Tonight again he had opted to come back home. Having a meeting with the company's higher-ups on a Saturday was bound to end up in a disaster. It really ruined his day. So, he came to his mother to find his comfort.

When his mother came to place the side dishes on the table, she noticed the silly smile on his face as he continued to replay that short voice message from Raelle again and again. She tapped his shoulder to get his attention and asked with hand signs, 'Son, are you so stressed that you're losing your mind?'

Hyson smiled at his mother, "I'm fine, Mum." Mother Yue looked at him doubtfully, so he added, "I'm seriously fine."

Mother Yue still looked a little suspicious but didn't ask again. She went to bring the bowl of rice and placed it before him.

Seeing how she just sat there to watch him eat, as usual, he asked, "Mum, aren't you gonna join me?"

Hyson looked at her hands as she told him, 'I didn't know you're coming. So, I already ate.'

"Oh," responded Hyson before digging into the food.

After a moment, Mother Yue tapped the spoon on the table to get his attention. 'How is your best friend? Is she happy with her marriage?'

Hyson rolled his eyes at that question, "Mum, that girl has yet to learn the meaning of happiness. She is just as she had been."

'She's such a nice girl. I hope she finds her happiness with her husband.'

Hyson laughed out, "You must be the only person who thinks she is a nice girl." Seeing how his mother squinted her eyes at him, he went on, "I know I shouldn't be saying this about her as her only friend but I'm only telling you the truth. She is a nice girl. In fact, she is amazing but not everyone can see that about her." He took a sip of the water and added, "She majored in business but she still can't invest feelings. And that trait of hers overshadows all the positive traits she has."

Mother Yue listened to him attentively before she told him, 'It doesn't matter what others say about her. As long as you think she is amazing. She is your best friend, I believe only your thoughts matter to her rather than what people have to say about her.'

Hyson smiled at his mother, "Mum, how are you so good?" He shook his head and said, "You know when she didn't use to smile people used to tell her, 'You look mean.' Or 'You look mad.' And now when she put her extra effort into keeping up a smile on her face, people tell her, 'You look sly.'" He had heard people tell her all this way too many times. "But the funny this is her response. She looks at them as if saying 'B*tch, I'm minding my own business.' Ouch!"

He looked up at his mother who just hit the spoon on his head. 'No cursing.'

"That was just an example, I wasn't cursing," he replied. "But honestly, I'm actually envious of this trait of hers. She is so indifferent to what other's say about her that it makes me jealous."

He again fell silent and focused back on his food. Although he knew his friend was weird, he loved that about her. He had plenty of moments where her words would make him go speechless or want to laugh, both at the same time. Maybe that's why he usually said all sorts of things to Raelle.

For instance, once he told her, "Elle, have you ever wondered about what if our life is just a dream? What if we are running after something that isn't real? And one day we'd wake up to our actual life?"

And she had responded to him with, "I hope I wake up sooner then. I believe I have a lot of work pending by now. Lots of money to cash in."

Recalling something, he suddenly chuckled. His mother was surprised yet again. She really thought something was wrong with her son today. He was laughing all by himself.

"Mum, last year on Valentine's Day, Raelle asked me why people were kissing around her." He laughed again before continuing, "I just randomly said they are kissing to enjoy the moment and seal it in their memories. I asked her to do it as well. Do you know what she said to me?" Mother Yue raised her brows and he answered, "She said her lipstick is too expensive. She wouldn't be wasting it on just any random guy."

Mother Yue also couldn't help smiling when she heard it. Although she had only met Raelle rarely in person, she had heard about her a lot. After all, her son loved to talk about the only friend he had. She was actually very thankful to Raelle for being her son's friend. That girl always knew how to make him happy.

Mother Yue caressed her son's face before asking, 'Since you're trying so hard to smile today, something is definitely bothering you. Won't you share it with me?'

Hyson pressed his lips together and shook his head, "I always share everything with you. And although something's bothering me, it isn't a big deal." There was some truth to it but not all. Because he liked keeping all the bad news to himself.

Mother Yue nodded, 'If you don't want to tell me, it's okay. Just don't let it stress you too much. No worry is too big.'

As Hyson understood her hand signs' meaning, he smiled brightly, "After eating the food you made for me, I already forgot everything."

Mother Yue rubbed his head before kissing the top of his head.

"You can go to sleep. I'll clean up everything after eating."

His mother nodded and left him there. Hyson watched her receding back and sighed out, "Why is mum able to read my mind so easily? It's scary."