Later at night...

As my mother sits on the table, with a bowl of soup in front of her, she watches me, struggling in haste, looking for something in my schoolbag.

" Aren't you gonna eat? " she asks me.

" Naah, I'm good. I just had some tea, so I'm okay. You keep eating tho. You really need to put yourself together. I don't want you to faint in work, again. "

" Ahh, it was nothing. " she says as she wags her hand. " I was just a little tired, that's all. "

" No, it matters. It matters, alright? You have not been sleeping enough lately. You get late from work, stay up until 3 or 4 in the mourning, and then you wake up at 6! How is that okay? You- it's not okay. That's not okay. " I say as I stop to look at my mother. She takes another spoon to her mouth as she stared back.

" I know, my son. I know " she says. " But I have to work, you know? I need more mo- "

" Money? You need more money. Mum, I've told you before. Stop. Working. So. Hard... We can split our duties! I've even been buying stuff for the house. " She stared down. "... Sorry... I think I'm a little fussy today. " I said as I realized I was talking too much.

My mother let's out a little laughter. " Oh Adam... you've grown so much... you're gonna be such a great man... you are already such a great boy..." she says, sighing. I stare at her, in silence, then put my hands back in my schoolbag a few seconds later.

" That office is no good place for anyone. Specially for you. " I say, as I take out a single paper sheet.

" What's this? " My mother asks. I told her it was another one of those 'request' that the school sends to parents, asking for permission to take us in an outside scholar activity. " A field trip?...For 5 days? " she asked, her eyes staring at me as if she had just witnessed a miracle.

" I wanna go. " I told her.

" You? On a scholar trip? " she said as she pointed her finger at me. " Who are you and what did you do to my son? " she says as she stars laughing. " My hard working son, actually going on a field trip, instead of doing something he would consider more 'productive' ? " she says, smiling.

" Yea, yea, that's me. " I say, smiling back at her, nodding slowly.

" Is there gonna be a girl you have a crush on? Are you taking this occasion to hang out with her? " she says, laughing.

" Noooo mom, that's not it... " I say as I roll my eyes.

" You can tell me who she is... I won't tell anybody. " she says, smiling. I stare at her, shaking my head, smiling back. " Alright, I'll drop it. So, you really wanna go? "

" Yea, we're going camping. I guess it could serve as some kind of inspiration... it's only next week, tho. " I say, rubbing the back of my head. "

" Alright, you may go. I'll sign it in a bit, okay? " she said as I nodded and stood up from the table, closing my bag and caring everything I took out, on my hands.

" Well, I'm going to sleep now. " I tell her as I kiss her cheeck and I head to the stairs.

" One more thing, Adam. " she calls me.

" Yea? "

" You have a big scratch on your cheek. " she says. I put my hand on my left cheek, wondering if it was just dirty, but it turned out I had an open wound on my face the whole day.

It hurted when I touched it. The blood had dried, but it was still painful. " Who did this to you? " my mother asked as she takes another spoon to her mouth.

" It... a girl hit me today. We had a little... misunderstanding... " I said, looking down to the notebooks I had on my hand.

" Hmm... " My mother stares at her soup. " Have you said sorry? " She asked.

" Ah... N-no... "

" Then, whatever happened, tell her you're sorry, okay? " she says.

" Y-yes mother. " I say as I think about what I had said back then, when I got upset.

" Sleep well Adam. " my mother said.

" Good night mom. Don't stay up too late, okay? " I say as she blows me a kiss.