•Kylie 
"Finally, we have arrived. Phew!" Bob let out a long, dramatic sigh of relief as the large iron security gate slid open. He drove the car through, following the winding driveway.
I pouted, tearing the crinkling wrapper off my next chocolate bar. So far, I had eaten six. Only six remained. Bob had bought them for me as a bribe to keep me from talking. "The way you said that made me feel like you do not like my presence."
"Yes," he nodded his head, affirming my words as he put the car in park. "I do not like your presence. Anytime you are with me, I will always spend more than what I planned. I do not know how, but all I know is that it is your fault."
"Well, I did not force you to spend money on me, did I?" I felt a flash of offense. "It was your choice to buy it. I did not ask you to buy it."
He was indirectly calling me a gold digger, just like the way Kelly had insulted me. Well, it is not my fault I am blessed with rich dudes. I need to enjoy their wealth before I get married. Even if I do get married, they are still going to spend their money on me.
They should call me anything they like. I do not care. I need to enjoy the perks of being their friend.
Yes, yes. I have no pride. I am very comfortable spending my friends' money.
"You are still a child," Bob continued, cutting into my thoughts. "A child who loves food... sorry, junks. And if nothing is given to you to keep you busy, the person beside you suffers."
I snorted at his nonsense description of me. That is not me at all. He does not know me. I am just stuffing my stomach for the future. When I go back to New York, it is diet time. For now, I need to taste all the goodies. Yummy goodies.
"I do not know what you are saying. People love my company, unlike you, who refuse to accept that you do." I stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind me loudly just to punctuate my point.
"Oh, pleeease." He came down from the driver's side, locking his car with a chirp. He walked to meet me at the front steps. "Those people telling you that are just deceiving you. Anyway, the agency sent a message. We should start working on a new song. And also, those boys from the band you sang with... you should sing with them again. Since they are in your school, it will be easier to do. They want to sign the boys."
That made me halt my steps on the porch. I whipped my head around to face him.
"Sign the boys? I am happy for them... but sing with the boys? Wait." A horrible thought occurred to me. "Before I nag... did you tell them that I am wearing a disguise while schooling? Did you?" I raised my eyebrows at him. I wondered how he thought that would be easy.
"Oh." He raised his hand to the back of his neck, averting his eyes from mine. I slightly shook my head as I facepalmed. Sometimes Bob can be really annoying. He is too forgetful nowadays. He had better visit a doctor to check if his brain does not have any problems.
"I kind of forgot," he admitted. "But we will find a way, just like every concert. Like the Valentine's concert, we found a way to satisfy both parties."
"Well, that is because my mother gave us the idea," I reminded him, folding my hands. I cannot wait for my contract with them to be over. I cannot wait to be free from all their troubles, all their pressure on me. I hate it. And I love it. I love it because it makes me want to find inspiration by all means before the deadline. But at the same time, I want it to be on my own time and my own way.
"We should go and meet your mom," he suggested.
That was a good idea. Mom is always full of ideas.
"Yes, we should," I agreed.
---
"Mom! Mom!" I called out as I burst through the front door.
I found her pacing back and forth in the living room, her hands twisting together. Her face was pale and she looked sick with worry. My little brother, Ken, was sleeping soundly on the couch near her, completely unaware of the tension in the room.
I wondered what was wrong.
"Oops. I forgot to call her back to inform her that I found you," I heard Bob say quietly behind me. I definitely need to book an appointment with a specialist for Bob.
"Mom..." I called her name softly, a sudden, heavy wave of guilt washing over me for making her worry for no reason.
She turned to me. Her eyes were bloodshot and raw. You could tell she had been crying, and crying hard. She ran to me and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me so tightly that it hurt. She buried her face in my shoulder, sobbing, her whole body shaking.
I hugged her back, patting her back clumsily. Now I felt truly, deeply guilty. "Mom, I am okay. Nothing bad happened. I am fine."
"I was scared," she choked out, her voice muffled by my jacket. "I thought I lost you again, just like twelve years ago. I was so scared. I thought I would not see you again. I thought... I thought that woman had come to take you again. Please, do not ever leave me again."
She broke into heavy sobs, making poor me completely confused.
What happened twelve years ago? Why do I not remember? Now that I am thinking about it, I do not even have a clear memory of my childhood. Who is the woman she is talking about? I need answers.
"Mom, I am fine," I rubbed her back, assuring her.
She raised her head, staring at me, though her hands were still wrapped around my waist like a vice. She sniffed. "Where did you go?"
"I met her kissing a boy," Bob chirped in from the doorway.
Not now, Bob. Not now.
My mom's hands loosened around my waist. She pulled back just enough to get leverage, and then she slapped me.
The sound was sharp and loud in the quiet room. My cheek stung, and I stared at her in shock.
"Mom!"
"Do not 'mom' me!" she snapped. "You had me worried sick just because you went on a date? You should have called me."
"I am sorry, Mom, but it was not a date. I just wanted to escape from Ashton," I explained, rubbing my stinging cheek.
"So the boy was not Ashton?" Her eyes widened in a different kind of horror. "You cheated on my son-in-law!" She smacked my arm, and that one hurt.
"Mom! When did Ashton even become your son-in-law? You only met him once, and that was the day he took me to jail along with him," I reminded her.
"Yes, I do remember," she said, her expression softening. "That was the day I saw the future of you two getting married."
That made me swoon a little bit but cringe more. I shook my head in disbelief. My mom is unbelievable.
"Anyway, Ma, we need your help," Bob said, wisely changing the subject. I appreciated him for it. "The agency requested Kylie to sing with the boy band that attends your school. We do not have an idea on how it should be. Since you are a woman of many ideas, please help us."
My mom giggled, wiping her eyes. "Awwn, thank you. I am a woman of many ideas." She wiggled her eyebrows at me, earning an eye roll. "Anyway, I cannot think straight right now. Why do not we discuss it later, okay?"
Bob took in a sharp breath. "Okay, I will get going. Goodnight."
"Goodnight. Thank you for bringing my baby home," Mom smiled sweetly at him.
Bob chuckled. "Oh, it is no problem. Goodnight, Kylie."
"Bad night for you, Bob. I hope the bed bugs bite you," I said to him, earning another warning smack on the arm from my mom, which made me pout.
Bob just shook his head, chuckling. "Such a child," he said, and stepped out of the house.
"Go to bed," Mom ordered, her face serious again. "Tomorrow we will talk about what happened today. You are not going to school tomorrow."
"Huh? Why? Nothing hap..."
"You are not going to school tomorrow," she interrupted, her voice leaving no room for argument.
I sighed, knowing there was no way to convince her. I gave her a nod, showing that I agreed. Well, it saved me from meeting Kelly and Ashton tomorrow. That would be so awkward.
"Okay, Mom."
"Good. Have a good night sleep." She pecked my forehead. She then went to carry the sleeping Ken, heading up the stairs to the room, leaving me standing alone in the quiet living room with my thoughts.
What happened twelve years ago?
I really need to know. I am sure that is what made Mom so shaken up with fear when she did not see me.
Who is the woman she was referring to?
I definitely need answers.
But how am I going to get them?
That, I do not know.