When Antonio heard that from his mother he just sat there staring at her as if she had just grown another head. His breaths seized... his blood stopped flowing and his heart simply stopped beating. He didn't know how to react... he didn't know what to say. It was as if he had forgotten how to do everything. He was like a statue.
Emilia stared at her son and wondered whether he had gotten any of the things she had said to him.
"Son!" She shook him. "Why are you quiet? You are happy right?'
To her surprise, Antonio just smiled and burst into laughter, a really loud laugh. He started laughing as he had never laughed before. It was funny. It was hilarious. He couldn't believe his mother had just said that to him. She was really funny.
Antonio stood up and laughed his lungs out until tears of mirth started coming out of his eyes. He was laughing so hard that it got Emilia worried. But she couldn't do anything rather than watch him laugh. She didn't know if he was happy or what?
"Hahaha..." He laughed, touching his chest. "Mom, you are so funny." He couldn't stop laughing. "Since when did you become a joker?"
"What?" Emilia stood up, staring at him with angry eyes. "What are you talking about and..."
"Of course, mom..." He laughed louder. "...someone should have told me that you have become a joker. If this was the surprise then you have surprised me, mom."
"What are you talking about?" Emilia shook her head, getting even more serious. "This isn't funny and I am not joking. I am serious."
"Oh!" He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. "You are still joking even when I know you are. You can't fool me, mom."
He continued laughing and Emilia just stood there, watching him with her arms crossed. "Are you done laughing at me?" She asked angrily. "Antonio, this is serious and I am not joking."
"No, you are..."
Antonio had never laughed the way he did at that particular time. He looked at his mother while he did and just continued laughing. But suddenly, his laugh faded when he stared at his mother long enough and saw that serious look on her face. He lost the smile and just stared at her, trying to convince himself that she was only joking but he knew his mother very well. But even though he did, he just didn't want to believe her.
"Mom!" His voice was low, filled with fear and something that he just couldn't understand.
Emilia just nodded. She couldn't bring herself to saying anything to him.
"Mom!"The surprise in his voice couldn't be masked. "Mo..." He gasped. "Please, tell me you are joking. Tell me this is all just a joke because you missed me."
Emilia got closer to her son, held his hands, and smiled softly at him. "No! I am serious, my son. I am telling you the truth. You are gonna be getting married soon and I promise you will love him. He will make you happy and he will love you. He is a very nice boy."
Antonio just froze. He couldn't move an inch. His mouth was quivering. It was as if he had suddenly gotten a terrible cold that made his whole body freeze. He had his eyes fixed on his mother, trying to get what she had just said to him.
‘You are going to get married soon.’ Her voice rang through his head. ‘He will make you happy.’
"Antonio!" She shook him. But he just stood there like a statue. "Aren't you gonna say something? Say something, my son."
But he was still standing still, just staring at her like a stranger. He didn't even express any form of emotion to her.
"I know it's a big surprise, right?" She chuckled, rubbing on his shoulders. "I know that you are really surprised and I am sure you are happy." She said in burgeoning excitement. "Now that you are back, you will be carrying a big responsibility, and getting married will be the best thing, my son. I know that you will be happy and the marriage will be..."
"Tell me you are still joking!" Antonio said hoarsely, clenching his fists.
"What?" Emilia got near him. "I thought I told you I am serious. You don't have to worry. You will meet with him very soon and you two will..."
"How could you?" Antonio snapped, pulling away from her. "How could you do this?"
To say Emilia was surprised would be an understatement. She was shocked, scared, and caught off guard. Never had she seen her son behave like that, not even when he was angry.
"Son, I..."
"Who asked you to do this, mother?" He snapped at her, breathing as if he was ready for war. "Why?"
"Antonio, I thought..."
"You thought what?"
Antonio's heart was pounding deep in his chest, threatening to rip out. His breaths were harsh, scaring Emilia. His jaws were shaking terribly and his eyes were fixed on her, staring at her as if he wanted to rip her head off.
"My son, let me explain this to you." She tried to get closer but he took a few steps back. "You see, your father and I..."
"I don't wanna hear it." He shouted at her. "If this is a joke then I am begging you..." He put his hands together pleading with her. "...it's not funny, please."
"Do I look like I am joking?" Emilia asked. "I am dead serious and..."
"What?" He furiously groaned, his voice sounding like flames of fire. "You are being serious right now? Look, mom," He warned, pointing angrily at her. "I don't know what you are talking about and I don't care either. I will pretend that I never heard this from you and please," he angrily put his hands together. "I don't want to hear this from you ever again because, mom..." He chirped, shaking his head angrily. "...it seems like you have lost it."
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