Chapter Eighty-Four

"You don't want to finish the movie?"

"No. Why would I?" I scratched the back of my head and glanced at the large screen.

"You wanted to watch it."

He stared at me for a minute, "yeah but you don't like it so I'll just watch it later."

I didn't say anything to that because to be honest I didn't know how to answer. It made me happy that he was being considerate of me but at the same time I didn't want him to not do things he wanted just because he wanted me to enjoy myself.

"No, it's fine. We can just finish it."

"I said it's fine so just pick something else you want to do."

"I want to finish the movie."

Ba Wei sighed, "look I won't enjoy watching it if you're not into it. I can watch it some other time."

"But-"

"I don't mind doing something else, "he pushed my hair behind my ear, "if it makes you more comfortable."

His stare was intense as he said those words and I couldn't help but shift my eyes. I wanted to object and insist we watch the movie but I knew he wouldn't listen. It would be better to drop the subject and just move on.

"So what do you want to do?"

Honestly I didn't know. Even with the extra time he had given me to think about it I wasted it. I knew I didn't want to leave this building, but just standing around not doing anything would spoil the atmosphere.

"Can we put on a movie in the background and maybe..."

"Maybe what?"

I cleared my throat, "and maybe talk?"

When I looked up at Ba Weis face a very bright smile was plastered onto it. To be honest as he moved around and said things I didn't hear him. I was more concerned that I just basically had opened myself up to him asking questions.

What if he asks a question that I can't answer? Better yet, what if he asks something that is embarrassing. All of these thought rushed through my mind and I was only snapped back into reality by Ba Wei calling my name.

"Huh?"

"Ah there you are. I was getting scared I already broke you."

A chuckle left my mouth, "I'm fine. Just zoned out."

He didn't say anything and just looked down at the watch on his arm. It didn't look that expensive but it looked like it wasn't cheap either.

"How are you gonna change the movie," I asked looking back at the horror movie that was still playing?

"Oh I can change it from my phone." He pulled out his phone, "is there a particular one you want to watch?"

"No, as long as it's not like this one."

He chuckled and started doing something on his phone and the screen went black. I sat back down on the couch and Ba Wei followed not soon after. He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and turned his full attention to me.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"Anything's fine," I said as I picked at my fingers.

"Hmm. Okay well tell me about you then." When I heard that sentence my blood ran cold.

"Why," I asked nervously?

"I want to know more about you that's why."

I ran a hand through my hair, "what do you want to know?"

"Anything is fine. I just want to know about you."

My eyes snapped to his and as we stared at each other Ba Wei raised an eyebrow at me. I shifted my eyes and didn't say anything. Why did he have to ask about that right off the bat. Like it's not like I would mind telling him if I had a normal father that wasn't a dirty businessman.

"I'm an only child," I started, "my mom and dad split from each other a while ago."

"They're divorced?"

"Yeah."

I didn't know exactly what else to say but yes because they indeed were divorced in someway but then again they were never married to begin with. My family truly is fucked up.

"I used to live in Hong Kong before I moved here, but because of my fathers job I moved around a lot as a kid."

"That's interesting. What does your father do?"

I let out a shaky breath, "he's a businessman. He's the CEO of Ji Pyramid."

Ba Wei didn't say anything and even though I wasn't looking at him I could feel his eyes on me. I wanted to know what he was thinking. Did he hate me like most people did? Was he impressed or something. Anything would be better than the silence that he gave.

"Your father is Ji GuanTing?"

I nodded and kept my head down. I knew he would care just like everyone else did. My fathers name always brought something with it and it was never good. You would think if you had a family you would try to make an honest living. Not my father apparently.

"That explains a lot."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It explains why you have a rather cold attitude."

"How's that?"

"Well my father has been in business with your father before. Not a very warm welcoming man. He's always strictly business."

As I listened to him speak only one phrase caught my ears. Strictly business. It definitely was my father. Even when it came to me he always chose work, and still does.

"What about your mom?"

My eyes snapped to his, "what about her?"

"What's she like?"

I didn't know what to say. I hadn't seen my mother in such a long time that I myself didn't know what she was like. The only thing I knew about her was that she hated my fathers guts and because I look like him she hated me.

"Um..."

"Hey, if you don't want to talk about her you don't," he said softly.

"No its fine. I just...don't know much about her is all."

As I said this Ba Wei rested his hand on my thigh. I didn't mind it much and just ignored it and tried to piece together what I remember about my mom.

"From what I remember she was loving. She did what most mothers did. She made sure I was well fed and was presentable to people."

I glanced over at Ba Wei to see that he was looking down at the floor. I wanted to stop talking about it but I wanted him to know. I never talked about my mom to anyone, and for once in my life I get to.

"She was a very kind woman. She would let me help her cook when my dad wasn't around and making me study."

"Ah, you did say your mother is the one that taught you how to cook." As he said that the hand on my thigh slightly squeezed it.

A smile spread across my face, "yeah. I use to love to help her cook. She would always let me make the simple things, and even if I did a bad job she would just smile congratulate me because I tried my best."

My voice got lower and lower In pitch as I finished that sentence. My eyes were beginning to sting. I blinked a few times trying to keep the tears back. I had already cried in front of him too many times.

I cleared my throat, "before her and my father split she would help me with homework even though I understood it. She would pack me lunches for school even though she knew I wasn't going to eat them..."

I looked up and my eyes met Ba Weis. I knew he could see the glossiness of the tears that were trying so hard to fall. He stared at me without saying a word. I shifted my eyes and The hand that was on my thigh began to move back and forth.

"You don't have to-"

"After her and my dad split she won't talk to me," a tear slid down my cheek, "even if I call her she just tells me not to call anymore. She hates me."

"No she doesn't," Ba Wei said suddenly.

I looked up at him, "how does she not? She won't even speak to me. It's been almost three years and-"

"She just doesn't okay," he said as he pulled me into a hug. "No matter how long it's been, she doesn't hate you."

"She despises me. Its like I'm not even her son anymore," I said as tears rolled down my face.

He didn't say anything and just held me. He stroked my back with one hand while the other stroked my head. I didn't want to cry but the tears wouldn't stop. They just kept coming.

"She doesn't hate you," Ba Wei said softly.

That sentence only made the tears come more. She did hate me, and I think that Ba Wei knew she did too. He was simply saying she doesn't to try to cheer me up. I knew she hated me all the things she does let's me know she does.

"Even when I try my hardest to talk to her I get noth-"

"She doesn't hate you," he repeated as his arms tightened around me.

I didn't get the chance to utter anything else because every time I would he would just say that. Even when the tears stopped he would still whisper it in my ear. I had a feeling he was trying to help but even his presence didn't stop that feeling from returning. That numbing painful feeling that only hit my heart whenever I thought of my mom.