Mom: Yes, we will.
I will make sure of that.
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Mom: There are some things you need to know, Juno.
I think this is the time to prepare you and Debbie for what is to come. I didn't want to before, but now I have made up my mind.
Me: ....
I looked at Mom with questioning eyes, unable to register what she was talking about.
Mom: Come. Sit here.
I am going to tell you a story. It's about your dad and me.
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18 Years Ago
Mom: Everything started back in university. Eugene was the captain of the football club. As you know already, your dad was a lover of football. He was the best at it too.
Everyone loved him, especially the ladies, because of his good looks. I suppose I was drawn in by his looks too.
Me: Dad sure was a looker.
Mom: The guys admired him for his humility, and the coach respected his diligence. I also found him rather intriguing.
He seemed to be always put together whenever I saw him. He had that look of someone who had everything under control, as if nothing could go wrong for him.
Yet, things did go wrong, so wrong that they changed our lives for good.
Before the unfortunate events began, I had a crush on him, but I couldn't dare approach him.
Me: Why?
Mom: I was the typical nerd girl in glasses.
Me: Now that is hard to believe, Mom. There definitely is nothing nerdy about you.
I said, with a smirk on my face.
Mom: I know.
Mom Got up from her seat and went to an old-looking bookshelf at one corner of the room. She took out a book and flipped through the pages. She took something out of the book and returned back to her seat.
Mom: Here, take it.
It was a passport picture of a young girl in glasses and braces.
Me: Who is this, Mom?
I asked as I looked at her.
Mom: .....
Me: Wait!! Don't tell me... This , this is you?
I looked at the picture, then back at her, and then back at the picture again.
Me: You've got to be kidding me, right?
Shocked was an understatement. I couldn't believe my eyes.
Mom: Yes, that was me, and that's enough looking.
She swiftly took the picture out of my hands. It caught me off guard.
Me: Wow, no wonder you changed.
Mom: That's enough, young lady.
I giggled at her embarrassment. It was rather amusing.
Mom: As I was saying, I was the typical nerd girl, always on time for lectures, lacking any sense of fashion, and constantly carrying books around with my nose stuck in one or two.
My life was as boring as it could be.
To top it off, I wasn't invited to parties, I had no friends, and nobody wanted to be associated with me.
Some people were just intimidated by my parents, while others simply didn't want me around.
Me: Oh...
That saddened me.
Mom: Not that I'm complaining. I was actually better off without them. I had plenty of free time. I didn't have to share anything with anyone, and I could focus on my books.
My life seemed good, or at least that's what I thought.
Now that I think about it, I never really enjoyed life or had real fun until your dad came into my life.
His presence made me realize how depressing my life was.
We were in the same class, but we had never spoken until that fateful day.
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Mr. Stanley: Alright, class, settle down. There is a lot to cover today, so we better get started. Unless you want to skip recess.
Mom: He had that usual taunting smirk on his face when he said that.
Entire Class: Nooo!!!
"Murmurs"
Tracy: Hey Rose, admirer alert.
Rose: Huh?