Vasil was annoyed. He regretted being nice to Khalid, again. Vasil was being ignored by him for the whole weekend, probably because the lyrics were still incomplete.
He knew Khalid won't do anything unless he's pushed to, but he was busy overthinking and had no more energy to do that.
Now the song would be published late.
Vasil frowned, thinking about it. He grabbed his phone and texted him: " I'll see you in my studio at five"
Two minutes later a massage popped up on his phone: " I'm busy today."
He was lying. Vasil knew. Khalid hate to work on Mondays. He texted back:" That's sounds like your problem."
Nothing appeared on his screen, so he put his phone in his pocket.
Bell rang. He looked up to see the customer entering the café.
Only to saw the person he expected the least : " Stefan?"
Stefan gave him a fade smile. His eyes were tired:" Good morning."
Vasil said, still shocked: "Morning. What are you doing here?"
Stefan looked at him weirdly: " I'm here for a latte."
" oh..."
Vasil stared at him. He didn't think he would ever see Stefan again. Yet he was here:" Is it to go?"
" yeah."
" Anything else?"
" no."
" okay."
He started to prepare his latte. Stefan sat on a stool and yawned.
" you look tired. " Vasil said.
" I was working on a project for whole night." Stefan answered.
" Seems like a tiring weekend."
" Not a weekend, just last night."
Vasil stared at him. His answer reminded him of a specific someone. He sighed.
Stefan raised an eyebrow:" Is there a problem?"
" No, I was thinking about something annoying."
A *ding* was heard from Vasil's phone. He peaked it and stare at his new massage. A smile widely appeared on his face. He send a short reply and then put the phone back to his pocket.
Stefan stared at him in silence, then asked casually: " didn't you say you work here occasionally?"
Vasil said:" yeah, I mostly just open the café in the mornings. Since I arrive sooner than others, and sometimes I close it."
" and are you getting paid for that?"
" No, even better. I live upstairs for free. "
" Oh..."
" yeah...it definitely worth it."
" I guess it is... Are you working this evening as well?"
" No, my own schedule is full already."
After saying that, he took the paper cup with Stefan's name on it and gave it to him:" here's your latte. Have a nice day!"
***
Vasil put the key into the lock and opened the door. He shouted:" Mom?"
A voice came from the living room of Irina's house:" I'm here!"
He rushed into there to see her sitting on the couch. He went behind the couch and hugged her from behind: " Hi! How was your day? "
She nagged: " Boring. How about you?"
He leaned to the couch:" same as always."
" Please tell me you bought what I asked you."
" Of course I did!"
She stared at him patiently as he opened his backpack and took out a jar of pickle. Her eyes were shining at the sight of the jar.
Vasil loosened the jar door then gave it to her:" does my sister want anything else?"
Irina take it eagerly:" No, this is more than enough."
Vasil went to the kitchen, and came back with a fork. Irina took the fork and picked a pickle.
She looked at Vasil while eating pickles and said:" Thanks. "
Vasil smiled widely while sitting next to her:" Anything for my two favourites!"
" You're spoiling me too much."
" you should be spoiled, mom. You're pregnant."
" Lance said the same thing."
" Where is he now?"
She sighed: " At the restaurant. He said he'd make lunch when he came back."
Irina stopped eating and stared at vasil. After a few moments of glaring at him, she finally said: " How did you do your hair like that?
Vasil pointed at his bun: " This? It's just a pen."
" Your hair is getting quite long. Doesn't it bother you?"
" No."
" Are you sure? I know a good hair stylist if you want."
Vasil looked at her:" I like my hair."
Irina didn't seem to like it:" tell me if you changed your mind."
Vasil wanted to say something but a click from the door silenced him. After a second the door opened and Lance's voice filled the house:" I'm home!"
He showed up his face as soon as saying it and went to them.
Vasil raised his arm and waved faintly:" Hey lance."
Lance smiled at him while going to Irina and kissing her forehead:" Hi vasil! So happy you're here! I wanted to cook your favourite food!"
Vasil's eyes shone:" Lasagne? Want some help?"
" An extra hand would be nice!"
Vasil stood up and followed him to the kitchen. Lance waited for him and when he got close enough whispered:" I do really need your help. Rina is getting more and more nervous as we approach the due date."
Vasil looked behind at her and lowered his voice to Lance's level:" She looked just fine to me."
" Yeah but she is worried."
" Well she has a right to be. It's her first pregnancy. Everything is new to her."
Lance paused midway of going to the refrigerator. He turned back to Vasil surprised:" What did you just say?"
Vasil, shocked by his reaction said:" what?"
At the same time, Irina came to the kitchen:" you two are loud. What is it?"
Lance eyes moved between two of them. He said:" Vasil said it's your first pregnancy."
Vasil's face got pale, thinking he said something wrong.
But Irina said casually:" That's right."
Lance looked confused: " How?"
He looked at Vasil, but didn't say his thoughts out loud.
Irina put her hand on Vasil's shoulder:" He is my son, but I didn't give birth to him."
Lance still looked confused. Irina sighed. Vasil felt guilty for putting her in a tough position. He said:" Irina is my biological mother's younger sister."
Lance just said:" ..oh."
Irina said:" I told you about Sasha, remember?"
Lance was still trying to process, said quietly:" yeah I remember, but I didn't know. I always thought Vasil is your child."
Irina frowned:" He is my child!"
Lance corrected himself quickly:" Of course he is! I thought.."
Vasil interrupted them, to calm the situation: " Maybe we weren't clear enough, mom. Lance is just confused."
Irina looked at Lance:" He never asked either!"
Lance explained:" You didn't seem to want to talk about it. I wanted to respect your privacy, and it didn't make any difference for me either! I like both of you no matter what!"
Vasil said to Irina:" He is more worried now that he knows it's your first pregnancy."
Lance admitted:" yes! That's it! It makes a difference!"
Irina said:" Well I'm worried too!"
Vasil grabbed her shoulders gently and moved her to the kitchen table:" Why don't you sit here? We all can talk while I'm preparing the meat."
Lance nodded:" I'll make the sauce in five minutes."
He sit beside Irina:" Rina, honey. I'm sorry. I should've asked before."
Irina stared at him and sighed:" I think I'm at fault here as well. I'm a little in edge because I spent the whole week at home."
Lance smiled and grabbed her hand gently.
Vasil asked while cooking by the stove: " Why were you at home all week mom? What about your singing classes?"
Irina paused:" Oh, I..."
Lance interrupted her:" She didn't go!"
Vasil turned to her with a trace of betrayal on his eyes. Irina glared at Lance. Vasil asked:" Why? I thought you liked singing."
Irina sighed:" I love singing! I just think I'm too old to start."
Vasil rolled his eyes:" Mom! You're only 37!"
" Exactly! All singers got famous young."
" Not all of them."
" Well most of them!"
" It doesn't mean you can't become one. You can do anything you like."
Lance murmured:" That's what I've been saying for a week."
Irina shook her head:" I don't know if I can."
Vasil turned off the stove and sit beside her:" Mom, I won my first expedition when my rival was born with a violin in his hand. I had only two years of experience. If I did it, then you can too."
Lance stood up and went to the stove to prepare the lunch.
Vasil leaned to his chair: " Actually, you can stop your classes if you want."
Irina looked at her with surprised. He continued: " you already learned everything you needed and participate in singing classes for more than a year. Why don't we change the method?"
Irina looked confused:" What do you mean?"
" I'm saying..." he paused " Why don't you actually start singing your own songs?"
Irina laughed:" Are you serious?"
Vasil didn't laugh. Irina got quiet:" Oh, you are serious."
She looked at Lance, who was busy cooking, and turned her eyes back to Vasil: " But I don't have any song. No one would make a contract with me."
Vasil said casually:" I do."
Irina stared at him with surprise:" You do?"
" Of course! I'm not a famous composer but I have a few followers and know a few things about it, and most importantly, I can write songs. I do this for others so why can't I do that for you?"
Irina stood silent. Vasil continued:" I can help you make an account, I can also compose the music, we can work on the lyrics together if you want to."
Irina stared at him:" Why are you going this far?"
" Because..."
He looked at Lance, still showing himself busy cooking:" It was your dream, and you give up on it to raise me. I just want to make it up to you."
Her eyes softened:" My dear..."
She leaned forward and hugged him :" I don't regret choosing you, and you don't owe me anything. I'm more than happy to see you achieving your own dreams."
She took a deep breath, then looked at Lance who was now looking at them:" What do you think?"
Lance thought for a second, then said:" I'll be my wife's first fan, that's for sure!"
He smiled and made Irina smile as well. She looked back to Vasil and said:" What should I do?"