FORBIDDEN AFFECTIONS: ADDICTED TO MY STEPMOM

“What? You are thinking of signing the contract?” As I was eating breakfast, my mother just made a comment that made me almost choke on the coffee I was drinking.

“Yes. Aki, that location is actually rather nice. In addition, it is close to where you work. Don’t you want that?” mom asked me.

I cleared my throat and put the cup of coffee back on the table. As I worked hard to keep my composure, I calmly and unemotionally responded to my mother’s question with “No.”

According to her, Ryan discovered a desirable location with vacant lots close to where I do my job. He noted that the land could also be developed for residential and commercial purposes, which would be beneficial for mom in the event that she ever had a plan to relocate for a new house and her flower shop business. In addition, there were a few academies in the neighborhood of the aforementioned lot, which were ideal for children like Amy. It turned out to be a sound recommendation. Except that it was Ryan who said it.

And it disturbs me to no end.

I hate it.

“Mom, listen,” I said, “I’m good with traveling to work every day; it’s not a huge problem. It takes just two hours. Don’t worry, I can do that without any trouble. And as for Amy, there are a number of good schools in the area as well. If you’d like, we may check them out one by one and decide which is the best. Just don’t sign that contract, mom.” I tried my best to contain my frustration as I told mom.

“But traveling each day – isn’t that too exhausting for you? Aki, I don’t want you to lose sleep or time to rest because of the extra time you’re spending on the road…” Mom remarked once again with a soft voice.

I couldn’t help but sigh as I gazed at her. She had it right. It was a pleasant location. However, I couldn’t help but be upset nonetheless. Not because I was opposed to the concept of relocating to a new location, but more due to the fact that my mother was discussing such matters with that individual, Ryan.

Even though I am aware that mum does not care for him at all, I couldn’t help but feel troubled. Whenever he was brought to the table, I felt uneasy. What could anyone have expected? He likes mom, but he has no idea how my mom and I really feel about each other.

He doesn’t even know that I am Amy’s father.

No one else does but us, mom and me.

I stood up and clenched and unclenched my hands several times before placing my dish in the sink. After washing my hands, I faced mom in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t want to do that, mom. Let’s just find another way to work on this. I have to go,” I murmured simply, kissing her cheek as I turned and walked away.

Mom called me again, but I didn’t glance back. I am aware of my mother’s worry for me, and I am grateful for each and every one of her efforts. I understood that whatever mom did was done for my own good, even though I didn’t always like it. On the other hand, I’m now an adult as well. I am able to make choices not only for myself but also for her and for our family as a whole.

She asked for my opinion, and I just told her what I thought was right.

And the correct thing to do, as far as I’m aware, is to cut off any communication with individuals like Ryan. Either that, or I could let him know the truth about Mom and me.

My phone was constantly buzzing with notifications when I was behind the wheel. I diverted my focus back to the road in front of me after I noticed a number that I couldn’t recognize flash across the screen. I ignored it.

As soon as I left the house that Crista and I shared, I made the decision to stop communicating with her. I only returned one time to get my belongings and check on Yohan to make sure he was at least doing okay. Fortunately, he was already in the care of Crista’s parents at the time.

I went there to say goodbye to him and see him one more time. My emotions were all over the place the whole time. Even though I didn’t experience a lot of sadness, every time I thought of how I carried him and how I treated him as if he were my own son, I couldn’t help but get a little twinge of pain in my chest. The realization that Troy was on his way to get him, on the other hand, made the unpleasant feeling less intense and eliminated the sour taste in my mouth.

Before I left for good with Yohan, I took the opportunity to speak with Crista’s parents as well. They apologized on behalf of their daughter and agreed to change Yohan’s paperwork to correct the identity of his biological father. Additionally, they agreed to fix the divorce papers that I had filed with Crista, which was a huge relief to me.

While I was talking to them, I felt the same fury and pain creeping and surging deep within me again. This feeling lasted throughout the entire conversation. However, I listened to what they had to say and trusted them to mend what had been broken just this once. If it hadn’t been for mom calling me at that moment, I never would have been able to cool down and I’m sure I would have said much more cruel things to them.

Crista has been calling and texting me nonstop for the last two weeks. It got to the point where I had to block her number, but she would contact me again using a different number every time. Eventually, I gave up and just ignored her entirely. I did not respond to any of them and instead hurriedly deleted everything that had been sent to me by her.

With the exception of those divorce papers, I made the decision to forget about her and stay away from everything related to her, especially when I’m at the condo so that mom won’t be troubled. Mom tried to help with the divorce I was trying to set up after learning about it, but I told her to leave it to me. This time around, I would play the role of the responsible adult and take care of everything by myself.

Once again, my phone began to ring, and just as I was going to silence it, I glanced at the screen and saw that the call wasn’t from Crista. I couldn’t help but be curious, so I opened the message and read it.

“Hi, Jack, do you have time? If you’re free, would you like to meet up and have a conversation? I have something important to say to you.” ー Ryan

After staring at the message for a few moments, I finally started to collect my thoughts.

Once I’d sent him a reply, I quickly returned my attention to the road and cranked up the engine to full speed. My thoughts started to wander as I began to think that it would be better to do what needed to be done to stop what needs to end once and for all. This train of thinking started to race through my head and I felt then, that it was a must.

I finished up my work for the day when evening arrived. I did not waste any time and went directly to the coffee shop where I was supposed to meet up with Ryan. I sent mom a message before I left the office and went there.

“Jack,” Ryan said, standing from his seat as soon as he noticed me. He smiled at me, the kind of grin that, with a little extra work on his part, could win anyone’s affection and make them fall in love with him. Just as he was doing to win my mom’s heart…

I approached him with a neutral expression on my face, not showing any emotion.

I don’t have to put on an act anymore since it’s this time. I told myself that I needed to take action in order to put an end to all of the unease that was surrounding us and to make Mom and Amy as happy as they so justly deserved to be.

For that to happen, I’d have to tell everyone who knew mom and me… the truth about us.

I will tell Ryan what my real relationship is with Mom and Amy.