Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Derek and Michelle are back to being the way they used to be. Derek no longer acts cold and distant and Michelle was happy about that.

It was a Wednesday, Derek and Michelle decided to stay at home and have a lazy day. Their living room was filled with junk food they had ordered while watching a movie. They were barely paying attention to the movie because they kept making out here and there.

“Derek, please stop.” Michelle begged as she was laughing uncontrollably because Derek was tickling her.

“Tell me you love me.” He persuaded.

“Derek… I can barely breathe.” She replied.

“Just say you love me and I’ll let you go.” He insisted.

“Okay.. okay… I love you…Now, please stop.”

Derek stop to tickle Michelle so she can catch her breath. They were now both cuddled up on the couch, when suddenly Derek abruptly straddled her and began kissing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.

“Is this the reason why you weren’t at work today?”

They both jumped at the sudden voice. Michelle tried to smoothen her disheveled hair. They were startled to see Rebecca inside the house, they didn’t even hear her walk in.

“Mom, you didn’t tell me you were coming over.”

“Do I need to?” she asked with an irritated look on her face.

“No, no. You … Is everything okay? Is dad okay?” Derek asked, wondering why his mom came unannounced.

“Well… everything is fine and your dad is okay.”

“Um… I’ll leave you two alone.” Michelle said, standing up from the couch as she was already feeling unwelcomed in the conversation.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Rebecca asked, glaring at Michelle who stood still, looking confused.

“Uh.. um.. I thought you’d like to be alone with Derek.” She nervously replied.

“Where is Nathan?” Rebecca turned to Derek and asked, totally ignoring Michelle’s reply.

“He already moved out. Didn’t he tell you?”

“No, he didn’t.. I actually came here to see him.”

Rebecca was surprised that Nathan never mentioned anything about it to her.

“Give me a minute. I’ll go get his address.” Derek said as he stood up from the couch and walked out of the living room.

Michelle felt helpless and terribly nervous. Derek’s presence didn’t stop his mom from throwing insults at her, but at least it made her feel safe just knowing she was not alone. Rebecca now turned to Michelle

“What is all this trash littered all over the place?” Rebecca asked with a look of disgust as her eyes observed the state of the living room.

“Does any of this look healthy to you?” she asked now raising her voice. Michelle flinched at Rebecca’s sudden anger.

“So… you spend your time feeding my son with junk and spread your thighs for him in compensation for wasting his money. Is that what your parents thought you?... Well, I can’t blame you since low lives like you aren’t even fit to be in a relationship with someone from our class… You can’t even take care of a simple home.”

“Mom!” Derek who just walked back into the living room yelled. He heard his mom talking but he could barely make out what she was saying, not until he got to the living room.

Michelle had her head low in shame as she didn’t want to look at Rebecca whose presence was intimidating, not to even mention the hurtful things she just said to her.

Derek walked up to his mom and handed her the paper in which he had written down Nathan’s address. He wanted her to leave already but she didn’t, she was still glaring daggers at Michelle.

Finally, she started on her way out but stopped in her tracks and turned back to Michelle.

“Don’t you have any shame? I mean… it’s obvious you’re only wasting your time in this… Whatever you think you’re in.” she said before finally walking out of the house.

Michelle was already in tears. Derek came to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She flinched away from his touch and ran upstairs in tears, going into the bedroom and shutting the door behind her to cry her eyes out. Derek followed after her, he opened the door and saw Michelle coming out of the closet with a suitcase in her hand which she placed on the bed.

“Michelle, baby… please don’t let any of the things my mom said get to you.”

Michelle didn’t pay any attention to Derek. She opened the suitcase and walked back into the closet, coming out again, with some clothes in her hand this time.

“Michelle, please don’t do this.” Derek pleaded.

Michelle kept throwing her things into the suitcase. Derek walked towards her, placing his hands on hers to prevent her from putting anymore of her clothes in the suitcase.

“Leave me alone!” Michelle angrily yelled.

Derek was startled by Michelle’s outburst. He was surprised to see her this angry.

“I’m sorry about mom.”

“Really? Are you?” she questioned.

“I’ve heard enough of all this, Derek!... It’s not like I’m some whore you randomly picked from the streets.” She said as her tears began to pour out again.

“Baby, please don’t say that.”

“Tell me, Derek. Ever since your mom began her assault on me, what have you done to stop it.”

“Michelle, I-“

“Let me finish.” She said, cutting him off.

“Every single time, your mom thinks of a way to make me feel less of myself. I have a reputation too, you know?... My dad left a legacy, which I should be proud of and not ashamed of!” she said, yelling the last part.

“You tell me to ignore her, which I’ve done all these years but she never seems to get tired… I’m human too, Derek. I can no longer pretend to be strong because I’m not.” she confessed, as she ran her hand through her hair in frustration.

“And do you know the worse part of all this?” she asked as she tried to take deep breaths because she was already choking on her tears.

“Sometimes, I doubt if you love me at all.. because not once have you defended me against her constant insults… It’s not like I’m asking you to disrespect her, but at least make me know that you don’t agree with her conclusions about me.” She said, wiping the tears from her face, in an attempt to look strong.

“Sometimes, I feel like you’re in agreement with everything your mom has said about me.”

“Baby, you know I don’t agree with her.. it’s just..”

“It’s just what, Derek?!” she asked, as she was beginning to feel her anger rise again.

“We’ve been together for almost five years now and nothing has changed… I’m still your girlfriend… not even an engagement ring has been placed on my finger to show that you take me seriously and you expect me not to believe that your mom is right about everything.”

Derek was loss for words. He had already made arrangements to go on a trip to Los Angeles this weekend with Michelle and his dad, so they would get married in secret and when everything returns to normal, which has to do with his mom and her behavior, they would have a big ceremony to make it official but he doesn’t know how to tell Michelle about his plans now because she wouldn’t believe him. She would think he’s doing it only because she has accused him of wasting her time and she was right. Never has he thought of engaging her because he didn’t want that. He felt getting her engaged was only going to be a waste of time, so all he wanted was to just go ahead and get married.

Michelle nodded her head like she had just realized something.

“I should’ve known better.” She said before resuming to throw her things in the suitcase.

“You know what?..” she stopped and said.

“I’ll just get this tomorrow.” She continued, leaving the suitcase on the bed.

She was walking out of the bedroom when Derek held her back.

“I love you so much, Michelle. I don’t know what I’ll do without you.. please, don’t go.” He pleaded, his eyes filled with tears. Seeing him that way brought tears to Michelle’s eyes.

“I love you too Derek, but… I can’t continue living like this, I'm sorry… I hope you find someone who can feed you better than I do, someone who is from your class, who wouldn’t have any need to dig whatever gold you have, and… I hope your mom treats her better” she said, releasing her hand from his grasp and running out of the room, because if she stayed any longer, she was sure to change her mind.

Derek couldn’t stop the tears from falling from his eyes. Michelle has left him. He had never imagined that this day would come. His sorrow was suddenly replaced with rage, as he took his car keys before storming out of the house. He speedily drove to Nathan’s house, not caring about the traffic or the cops.

When he got there, he barged into the house, not bothering to knock. He found his mom and Nathan in the living room.

“Derek, baby. Is everything alright?” Rebecca asked with concern, as she was now on her feet.

“Don’t you ever call me that!” Derek yelled to her surprise.

She has never seen her son this angry.

“I want you to know that from this day, you cease to be my mother”

“Derek”

“Don’t you call my name. I don’t want you in my life… I hate you. I hate you so much”

If she wasn’t his mother, he swore he would’ve done something horrible to her.

“Derek, that’s enough! What has come over you?” Nathan asked, surprised at Derek’s sudden temper.

“Just shut the hell up!” He barked at Nathan as he was red with anger

“The only woman I've ever loved has left me because of you. I guess you will be happy now”

Nathan was shocked at Derek’s accusation. He turned to look at his mom who was now in tears because of the things Derek said.

Rebecca couldn’t believe Derek would say all the things he just said to her because of a woman.

“Mom, is that true?” Nathan asked

“I was only trying to protect you” she said, making Derek laugh in sarcasm

“Protect me from what?!” he yelled

“Derek, honey, I didn’t.. I didn’t want you ge..”

“If you call my name one more time, you'll regret you did. I swear” Derek threatened

Rebecca was now really scared, she couldn’t recognize her son anymore. She took slow steps towards him and tried to touch him.

“Don’t you even dare” he said through gritted teeth, making her retreat.

“Thanks for ruining my happiness” was the last thing Derek said before walking out of the house.

Rebecca couldn’t hold it in any longer as she sobbed. Nathan held her to his chest while she cried. She didn’t want to believe that she has just lost her son’s love.