Mia's lips trembled, she felt her knees about to cave in when Mrs. Davies opened her mouth. She knew that whatever that was about to leave Mrs. Davies mouth would damage her soul but she was ready to bear it if it meant her brother could get a better treatment.
Just then, the door swung open and their eyes flew to the door to see Rey stand tall, his intense gaze on her before squinting at his mother.
Releasing a heavy sigh, Mia almost found herself butt first on the floor but she held on and watched Rey take deliberate slow steps towards her. On getting to her side, he wrapped his hand around her waist, drawing her to himself.
Mia hiccuped, her eyes wide and her cheeks red as she stared at Mrs. Davies whose eyes stared hatefully at Rey's hand around her waist.
"Rey…" Mrs. Davies started.
"It's time for dinner Mum. Won't you eat with us?" Rey asked instead with a wide smile plastered on his face.
Mia struggled to appear natural wondering how easy it was for Rey to switch up whenever he wanted without a hassle.
Not waiting for his mother's response, Rey spun Mia around to face him. "Aren't you hungry Babe?"He winked and the butterflies in Mia's tummy grew extra wings each.
"Mmhm." Mia couldn't say a word.
"Cool. The dinning then." He smiled again and this time, Mia felt it was genuine.
"See mum?" Rey gestured towards her, an evidence of his question earlier.
"See you at the dining Mum. Come Babe." He took her hand and walked out of his room without looking back and Mia made sure to say nothing till their arrival at the dining table.
***
Mia gripped her spoon right as her hand shook. She had her eyes on the plate like she could dig out her answer from it.
"You suddenly lost your ability to talk, I see." Mrs. Davies chimed in, dabbing her wet lips with a napkin.
"Mother." Rey called in a gentle warning.
"No Sir, I didn't attend college." Mia blurted in a stiff voice, having the eyes of everyone on her.
As if in cue, Mia's fork dropped with a clatter as she released it and Mrs. Davies' glass of wine dropped from her hand to the table, spilling its content.
Mia shifted on her chair like she was constipated and bit her lips till she was sure she could feel the blood from it.
"You didn't attend college?" Mrs. Davies asked. Her voice sounded tight and Mia shut her eyes tightly to avoid looking up at the angry woman.
"That doesn't mean she can't further her education if she wants to…" Rey was quick to come to her defense.
"Look up…Mia." It was Mr. Davies and Mia was quick to obey.
On seeing Mr. Davies' smiley face, Mia struggled to hold her tears back.
Mrs. Davies' loud hiss broke the uplighting moment between the two. "I won't approve!" She butted.
"Do you really love her?" Mr. Davies had his whole attention on Rey and after the question, everyone at the table including Mia turned towards Rey's direction.
Reaching out for Mia, he took her hand in his before rubbing it and nodding at his finger. Mia sat stunned and unable to swallow the spittle that now hung in her throat.
"I so much love her Dad." He started and Mrs. Davies asked.
"I love Mia so much that I can't imagine a life without her." This time he had his eyes on Mia's, broadening his smile when her cheeks stained with red.
"Don't do this to yourself, Rey. I just can't stand this." Mrs. Davies mumbled before standing abruptly and walking out of the dinning.
"I see." Mr. Davies gave a small smile before looking at the flushed face of Mia.
"You don't need to worry about my wife, she will come around later."
Mia nodded stiffly and tried to retract her hand but Rey held it a bit tighter till she looked up at him.
He titled his head towards the stairs and at once, she understood what he meant.
"We will retire to bed now Dad." Rey informed standing up with Mia's hand still in his.
Mr. Davies frowned, then looked towards Mia who gave a slow nod in affirmation.
***
On closing the door behind them, Rey lets go of Mia's hand like he hadn't been holding it for more than a few minutes.
"Go have a bath." He nodded towards the bathroom and Mia paused for a bit before a slow and painful smile made itself to her lips.
"I will." She looked away.
"Now." He insisted.
Frowning, she searched his eyes. "Now?"
"Yes, now. Don't tell me you want to sleep in here without a night bath."
"I don't but…" She faltered, swallowing hard.
"But?" His eyes narrowed.
"I think I would need some privacy." Her voice was smaller than usual and she felt like her face was a tomato when he bursted out into an uncontrollable laughter.
"Privacy?" He asked when he became calm and she nodded slowly.
"Impossible." He had a mischievous smile on his face before taking hold of her hand and dragging her into the bathroom with him not giving her the chance to protest.