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Chapter 72 - This side

Just as Chandler reached the table, Jack's mother was at the same time smiling and greeting Arya. 
The scene was smoother than Arya had anticipated. 
Chandler’s Mother and father also exchanged greetings with Jack's Mother.  The two sides did not inquire about their status on the spot and Chandler apologized to Arya in embarrassment for causing her trouble.  Jack's Mother took the opportunity to ask Arya if she had time and said she wanted someone to accompany her to go shopping again.
When Chandler’s parents saw their son was not too happy, quickly and politely they told Arya that they would not bother her any longer.  So the two sides said goodbye courteously and Arya was smoothly brought out of the restaurant by Jack's Mother.
Jack's Mother led Arya around shopping for a while.  When Arya saw her carrying so many bags, she was thinking about how to offer her help to carry some of the bags when Jack's Mother turned her footsteps and walked into a café.  
Omg……it seems like another round of elder conversation is about to start.
Arya sighed in her heart, gritted her teeth and followed behind Jack's Mother.  She knew that this time, she would not be able to sneak into the toilet to look for her Mr Poisonous Tongue for energy.
Jack's Mother sat down while smiling at her with familiarity.
The two people each ordered a drink and Arya sat upright stiffly waiting for Jack's mother to speak.
But Jack's mother was not in a hurry and she smiled as she studied the café’s drinks list.  She also looked at Arya with a smile and did not say anything for a long time. 
Just as Arya was getting more and more nervous, wondering whether she should speak first, Jack's Mother spoke up. 
“Arya darling, who were those two people just now?”
It’s coming, it’s coming……those questions that are difficult to answer are coming!
Arya hesitated for half a second and her messy brain was really not bright, so she told Jack's Mother straight.  “They are elders from my hometown and I’ve gone on a blind date with their son, Chandler, the man who came in. So it can be considered I am familiar with them.  This time, they came to the city and came to look for me to accompany them to walk around and have a meal with them.”
Before Jack's Mother could speak, Arya quickly added.  “Dr Jack also knows about this matter.  I’ve called to tell him.”
Jack's Mother smiled.  “I know.  I called him just know.”
“huh?”  Arya gaped and was very surprised.
“I was buying clothes for his father and felt one of them was also suitable for him.  So I called him and as a result, he told me that someone is buying his clothes now and told me not to worry.”
This made Arya bit her lip and felt a little embarrassed.  This Jack……when she bought something for him, he would be choosy and then turned around to advertise his clothes were bought by someone.
“He also told me that you were nearby and having a meal with other people.  I just randomly asked him a few words and he told me they were your blind date’s parents from your hometown.  He also told me that someone was going to snatch away my daughter-in-law and asked me whether I feel anxious or not.  So I came over to have a look.”
When Arya heard this, she felt her face turning green. 
Is there such a person who would set up his very own girlfriend? 
This Mr. Poisonous Tongue, does he need to be so direct with his mother? 
Fortunately, she did not lie to Jack's Mother just now otherwise she would feel so shameful in front of her.
Suddenly Arya gathered her thoughts and when she looked up, Jack's Mother was smiling at her.  All this while, she was smiling and she was very amiable.  But just now, she already knew the identity of Chandler’s parents but she still asked her specifically about them.  Is this Jack's Mother’s way of testing her?  Does she want to see whether she will lie to her?
Arya could not help but wipe the non-existing sweat on her forehead.
This is dangerous…….this is too dangerous!
Fortunately, her response is slow and she is not smart.  If her melon head had been brighter, and she could think of a bunch of good ideas, after saying a whole lot of nonsense, she is afraid she would not have a way to untangle herself.
“Arya darling, see I told you, you would look so pretty in contact lenses rather than glasses. Anyways, you have been in a relationship with Jack for such a long time and I’ve been waiting for you to come to see me but you never came.”
“That……”  She was wrong.  Slow response and not being smart is also not good.  At this moment, what must she say that is considered appropriate?
“I feel that the time is not right yet.”  She really could not say anything else so it was better for her to say directly.
“Then when is considered the right time?”  Jack's Mother sipped her coffee and smiled.
“Probably…….when there is enough confidence.”
“Oh, so that’s it…..”  Jack's mother put down the cup, looked at Arya and smiled again.  “I had seen all the girls that Jack had been together with and including you, there is a total of four.”
Arya twitched her mouth and nodded.  Is it time to do comparisons already?
“Among the four, probably you are the only one who feels unconfident.”
“Huh?”  Arya was unacceptable to her point.  “Auntie, the most unconfident should be Shelly.  She felt that her family and her conditions did not match up for both of them to be together until they grow old.  She is less confident than me.  I really think that I can be together with Dr Jack for a very, very long time.  It’s just that we need time to slowly adapt and smooth out some problems.  I am not without confidence.”
Jack's Mother laughed aloud and said.  “You are wrong.  Shelly is not unconfident, she was too confident.  She thought Jack would wait for her and could not do without her.  The only thing is……she was wrong.”
The words were said with a smile but in an imposing manner.  Arya nodded.  This time, it is clear that sitting opposite her is a mother who truly protects her son.  Although she constantly has a smile on her face, she is extremely sharp and fierce.
Arya did not know what else to say and could only accompany her laughing in silence.
Jack's Mother paused and then added.  “Arya, do you know how many pieces of bones a man has?”
“huh?”  Arya was dumbstruck and thought.  “It seems……it seems there are 205……”
“It is 206.”
“Oh.”  Arya bowed her head and felt ashamed.  If this is Jack's Mother’s way of showing her strength then she is really one who is calm and collected.
Then Jack's Mother asked.  “Arya, do you know how many blood vessels are there in a man?”
Arya did not dare to answer fearing that she would be ashamed again.
Jack's Mother asked again.  “Arya darling, do you know how many nerves are there in a man?”
Arya felt that she could no longer keep quiet and replied.  “Auntie, I only know that my nerves are thicker  than elephant's leg.”
Jack's Mother was surprised and then she burst into laughter.
Arya did not know what was so funny about that.  She rubbed her knees and said.  “Auntie, I don’t know how to please people.  Only that……to be Dr. Jack’s girlfriend, do I have to pass a test on medical common knowledge test?”
“Of course, not!”  Jack's Mother smiled.  “Although I’m also a doctor, I’ve been a housewife for a very long time.  You are only Jack’s partner and not his colleague, so why should you be tested on medical knowledge?”
“Oh.”  Then just now, was Jack's Mother making fun of her?  Arya was a little depressed and felt that it was not humorous at all.
“You were not in a hurry to meet us and I think it is not a bad decision.”  Jack's mother took a sip of her coffee and said slowly.  “Although Jack had complained to me, I still think you are not wrong.  It’s not that I’m praising my own son.  Actually, Jack’s conditions are excellent and many girls pursued him.  It’s alright for them to pursue him but they also sent me gifts to show their polite manners.”
Arya’s face was full of black lines.  Thinking back, it seems under a weird circumstance, she had treated Jack's Mother to her braised food and had never thought of giving her a gift.  So, is she considered rude?
Jack's Mother continued.  “Among all of Jack’s girlfriends except for you, after their relationship with Jack was confirmed, all of them were eager to pay me a visit.  One of the important steps to determining a relationship is to meet the parents but in the end, all of them broke up with Jack.  So, the only people who can determine your relationship are not the parents but yourselves.”
Arya looked at Jack's Mother and felt very nervous.  Her palms started to sweat again and she was a bit confused now, wondering what Jack's Mother wanted to say to her.  Is she going to accept her or not?
“Arya darling, you said your nerves are thick but in fact, it is not true at all.  I think the one whose nerves are thicker is my smart and capable son.  He had told me about some of the things the both of you had done to get along with each other and some of your thoughts.  Aru you have thought a lot and I think it is because you truly want to be with Jack.  However, Shelly had also thought a lot before and she had over confident personality but you don’t.”
Arya was even more confused. 
Jack Mother, do settle this quickly!  She really has no confident personality, so her Elderly Parental Phobia attack is very distressing.
“Auntie, I don’t really understand this.”
Jack Mother smiled and said.  “Arya, having a overconfident personality is stylish but having just right amount of confident personality is also not something bad.  Having polite manners is not just showing a smile and sending gifts but showing sincere respect.  Once, Jack’s father had arranged a blind-date for Jack.  The girl had a great personality and she had voiced her criticism and refuted her mother lively and sharply on the spot.  Jack gave her an evaluation:  Spoiled my appetite.  I also felt the same.  To me, I feel that an enduring and restrained personality is better than a personality which is impulsive and rash.  Ignoring other people’s feelings is not something good but there are times you should not always endure.  To attack and to defend is the right way to do things.  Do you understand what I mean?”
Arya forced a response and lightly nodded her head.  Could this be a little praise for her?
In the end, Jack's Mother said.  “But our whole family had this fault of ignoring other people’s feelings.  I am better but that two father and son are not lovable at all regarding this point.”
Arya forced a laugh and this time, her head nodded a little harder.  But she still did not understand what Jack's Mother wanted to say.  Listening to an elderly parent’s lecture is really tiring to the brains.
Jack's Mother added.  “In fact, I’m different from his father.  Jack’s temper is like his father’s.  So, I think I should be able to understand the problems that you have getting along with him.”
The main topic is finally here?  Arya rubbed her sweaty palms on her pants and focused all her attention on Jack's Mother.
“Arya, do you know life is like a human body?  You think it is healthy without any problems but in fact, the danger is everywhere.  People’s feelings are the same.  They seem to be like the body like one can see through it.  It is nothing more than a head, trunk and four limbs but it is actually very complicated and difficult to understand.  Bones, blood vessels, nerves, muscles……when you are still in the state of unawareness, maybe the cancer cells had already spread.
Arya started to feel faint.  She is really worthy of being part of a doctor’s family.  Does she have to use tumors as examples?
“Actually, people are very clear about their own bodies.  When do they feel tired?  Where is the pain?  Is it constipation?  Is the menstruation irregular?  Actually, most of the time, we chose to ignore and neglect ourselves.  The same is true for feelings.  In fact, everyone knows about the fine tiny problems, but we ignored it and neglected it until we are forced to face it.  By that time, it had developed so much that it needs surgery.  Enduring the pain, the surgery is then done and you find some problems can be solved but the foremost problem is the tumor which is benign.  If it is malignant, then a check should be done to see whether it had spread …….whether it can be removed completely.”
“Sometimes, the tumor sprouted in the wrong place.  Although you know it is there but you just can’t remove it.  The relationship between a couple is the same as this.  Daily maintenance is very important, exercise is needed regularly and care is needed to upkeep health.  You can’t be lazy, you can’t be afraid of being tired, you have to persevere and there are no shortcuts.  Maybe you think that I am over-exaggerating to say this and being so tired, how can you continue with living?  In fact, if you say you’re tired, you’ll feel tired and you say you’re not tired, you don’t actually feel tired.  When you let training exercises be a part of your life, you will enjoy it and if you don’t exercise, you will feel uncomfortable. The one who really feels tired is the one who does not care about health.”
Arya nodded and it seems she now understood.  She thinks that she is like this.  She had seriously tried to maintain her relationship with Jack.  She doesn’t feel tired, she feels very happy and she looks forward to being with him every day.
“Arya darling, I like you very much.  You can wait patiently for him to get off work, do not feel vexed or hot-tempered.  You have a compassionate heart and can endure the hardship I told you about.  The most important aspect is Jack.  I can see with my own eyes the changes in this child.  It has been many years since he had not been as relaxed and as happy as he is now.  But I know of his stinky flaw and you can’t always tolerate him.  Men are like children, you have to teach them.  It is not enough to only make him love you……you also have to give him a sense of belonging.”
This time, Arya was sure Jack's Mother had praised her and she could not help but feel happy and nodded her head forcefully.
Jack's Mother also wanted to make a point and said with a smile.  “I look forward to the day you can also find that certain feeling of confidence as soon as possible.  Come and see me and his father earlier.”
Arya showed a wide smile and was about to say ‘Thank you Auntie.’ when Jack's Mother said.  “Right, just to give you an advance reminder.  His father doesn’t like you very much and I look forward to your formal meeting with him.”
Arya’s smile was a bit stiff and her face was covered with black lines.  This Jack's Mother is really amazing.  She had said she likes her and now she had brought out Jack's Father to scare her, what does she mean?  If Jack's Mother really likes her and wants her to be her daughter-in-law, shouldn’t she help her to convince Jack's Father to accept her?  Now Jack's Mother is letting her face him alone and letting her solve this, what does she mean?
She had also said that Jack is like his father and that is to say, Jack's Father is as difficult to handle as Jack.  No, he is a parent and her Parental Phobia tells her that Jack's Father will be more difficult to deal with than Jack.
Arya felt equally pleased and worried.  A woman’s love life, ah……is really a path of hurdles after hurdles! 
After their conversation, Arya and Jack's Mother went to the hospital together.  Jack's Mother went to look for Old Dr. Daniel and Arya went to look for Young Dr. Daniel.  When Young Dr. daniel saw her, he had a bad expression which made Arya feel a little angry. 
No one else was in his office, so Jack hooked his finger at Arya and pointed to his face.  She ignored him. 
“Arya, is your skin itchy?  After seeing that man, are you still not giving me a kiss and not going to act coquettishly to pacify me?
“What?  If I don’t kiss you, are you planning to beat me?”  She continued to ignore him.  She still had not settle scores with him over him telling his mother to catch her going out for a meal with another man which nearly caused her embarrassment.
Just as her breathing was suffocating, he pulled her forcefully to him and gave her a bite.  She was shocked and felt so angry that she hit him.  He bit her again and then kissed her on the lips.
She felt very frightened.  This is the hospital!  Hospital!
She used her strength to struggle and pushed him away.  Then she took a few steps back.
“Hey!”  Jack raised his eyebrows and expressed his dissatisfaction.
Arya also imitated his expression with both arms folded across her chest.  She looked down at him sitting in his chair and wanted to say a few imposing words.  For the moment, she could not think of anything to say as she had just been kissed, her heart still felt awkward and her IQ was also affected.
“Wait, I’m drafting a line”
Jack laughed aloud and did not intend to wait for her to brew her line.  Instead, he said.  “Arya, it can be considered you have seen my parents now, so take me back to your home soon.”

Book Comment (70)

  • avatar
    Christina May Gonzales

    thanks for writing this

    06/09/2023

      0
  • avatar
    RasayAlthea Joy

    very nice

    27d

      0
  • avatar
    MañacapClarence

    very nice

    02/05

      0
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