40. Jonathan
Jonathan
By the time I walked out of the hospital with the grisly cut on my eyebrow sewn up, practically my entire family was in the waiting room.
From Julie to my mom, to both Auntie Gao and Uncle Gary—relief eased over all their faces when they saw me smiling, alive, and well.
Lina’s friends, Mary and Eric, were there as well, also looking relieved.
Far in the back, behind everyone, I saw the man my mom was on a date with a week or two ago.
“Jonathan, what happened?” asked Uncle Gary as my family swarmed me.
Lina let go of my hand to approach Mary and Eric. Her best friend threw her arms around her in an instant, pulling her into a tight hug. Mary looked up at me with thankful but wet eyes, and I gave her a nod.
I looked at my loved ones and ushered them all out of the hospital, knowing we were all too naturally loud for a quiet waiting room.
I guided us to a little patio for some privacy, with Lina and her friends in tow.
When I came to a stop, she came to my side.
I took her shaking hand back in mine. I let her answer the question looming over everyone as she took a step closer to them.
Her palm grew clammy as her fingers gripped me tightly. I gave her an encouraging squeeze.
“T-there were some heated words exchanged between my family and I at the pharmacy,” she started with a shaky breath, tugging her hand out of mine.
“One thing led to another and . . . my brother got angry and threw a chair from our waiting area into the glass divider. Jonathan stepped in to protect me and got hurt in the process. I’m so sorry about all of this. ”
“What are you sorry about?” I asked. “If it wasn’t me, it would have been you, and I’d rather it be me who suffers than you, Lina.”
My girlfriend turned to look at me. Her eyes still lined red as she frowned at my words.
I shrugged, grabbed her hand again, and intertwined our fingers.
I brought up the hand tightly entangled in hers to point to my stitches purposefully.
I wanted to show off the woman for whom I would do anything to protect.
I scoffed. “Come on. I got only four stitches today. I got seven stitches on my ear once because Anthony tossed a rock at me and nipped my ear as a kid,” I laughed.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” muttered Anthony from the back, sounding regretful. Andy and Shoua stifled a laugh before quieting down.
Lina’s frown deepened as I turned to the people who raised me. My mom, aunt, and uncle’s attention shifted from me to Lina and our held hands.
“Are you Jonathan’s girlfriend?” My mom asked Lina curiously.
“Yes. I’m Lina,” she answered softly. “I’m sorry for all of this trouble, Auntie.”
My mom glanced at the blood that soaked both of our clothes. Then, she looked at me, my smile, and she grimaced. Lina’s body stiffened at my side as my mother turned to look back at her, a reassuring smile touching her face.
“Although that was quite a scare for all of us, I’d say Jonathan’s quite happy and proud of himself,” she said. “What matters most is that everyone is safe. That’s all that matters.”
Uncle Gary let out a thundering laugh, causing people walking by to stare at us. “You’re a sweet girl for apologizing so profusely. But it’s a little cut,” stated Uncle Gary, gesturing to my eyebrow.
Auntie Gao smiled. “It’s alright, Lina. The cut Anthony gave him was even worse than this. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
At the reminder, Anthony flashed me another apologetic look. I nodded at him and turned to Lina. “It’s true,” I said.
“Unless that cut turns into a scar, and you won’t like him anymore because his handsome face is ruined. Then, we’ll have something to say,” said my mom.
“No, of course not!” Lina retorted quickly.
Julie laughed first, followed by the rest of my family. My sister’s grin was so big I was certain those cheeks of hers were hurting as she glanced between Lina and me.
“Mom’s just kidding with you, Lina,” she said. She turned to the rest of our family. “Since we all rushed out of work and haven’t eaten anything yet, should we go and have dinner together?”
“You guys haven’t eaten yet?” I asked, mortified. It was already three, almost four, in the afternoon.
Anthony and Shoua shrugged in tandem. “Not if you haven’t,” he said.
I shook my head at them while they laughed. “I was only getting stitches. Not having a dire medical emergency,” I muttered.
“Just pick somewhere to eat, Jonathan,” said Andy, laughing. “None of us wants to eat hospital food.”
Lina and me turned to each other. “I think it might be best if we return to the pharmacy first. We should go help clean up,” she stated. “We need to talk to John about how we’ll be operating the pharmacy tomorrow.”
Everyone nodded. My mom and sister looked a little apprehensive at the mention of the pharmacy but understood. I pulled a reassuring smile across my face to ease their worries.
“We’ll try to be quick, but I can’t make any promises,” I said.
“Why don’t we just cook?” suggested Auntie Gao.
She and my mom nodded, looking from me to Julie. “Honey, you’ve been craving some kapoon, right?” my mom asked my sister. “How about I make some of that, and sweet pork?”
My mouth instantly salivated. They wanted to make kapoon—a deliciously rich and spicy coconut Lao noodle soup that we all loved—and sweet pork? Forget counting macros today. I got hurt, received some stitches I was proud to wear like a badge, and I was going to stuff the fuck out of my face.
“We’ll just do that!” answered Julie excitedly. She grinned at Lina and me. “You two go take care of whatever you need to do. We’ll be cooking at Auntie Gao’s place.”
She glanced over at Mary and Eric as well, gesturing to them. Before she could speak up, Shoua said to them, “You two should come by our mother-in-law’s place for food, too!”
Lina’s friends were about to deny the invitation when the twins and Uncle Gary all spoke up and insisted they come. As the others all gravitated to Mary and Eric, I looked back at my mom and aunt.
“Sounds good.” I nodded at them. I glanced back at Andy and Anthony. “Andy, Anthony, which one of you wants to take us back?”
An unfamiliar deep voice with a thick accent spoke up. His cadence was slow, but intentional. “I was wondering if your mother and I could take you back to your pharmacy,” said the man I saw my mom on a date with.
He was average in height, had a lean build, and bronzed skin. His demeanor was calm and steady as he stepped up front from behind the twins. My mom walked over quickly and stood by his side. She turned to look at everyone as she gestured for Julie to come to my side.
“Would it be alright if Kham and I talk to Julie and Jonathan in private?” she asked.
I let go of the clasp I had around Lina’s hand. She gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder before leaving my side and joining the rest of my family and her friends, giving the four of us—Mom, Kham, Julie, and me—privacy.
“I’m sorry I’m introducing myself to you two under such circumstances,” Kham said, drawing my attention back to him. “I am Kham, and I am your mother’s friend.”
He was middle-aged with salt-and-pepper hair. Lines creased at the corners of his soft, warm eyes and mouth. He looked kind, the same way my father had looked kind.
“Your mother was so worried about you. Which also made me concerned about her own safety, so I offered to bring her here instead,” he continued.
He looked at my mom. She flashed him that same gentle, reassuring smile she showed Lina.
“She loves you two very much. There is never a day that goes by when she does not remind me how much you mean to her. I hope our friendship and companionship does not change or affect the relationship you have with her.”
I reached out and offered him a welcoming handshake. “I’m Jonathan,” I said. “Thank you for looking after my mom and taking care of her.”
Kham took my hand eagerly. He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling happily. “You’re welcome,” he said. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you, Jonathan. Your mother has told me a lot about you.”
As I pulled out of my handshake with Kham, I turned to my mom. “You talk about me?”
“About how much of a hassle you were as a kid,” she laughed. “And how much of a hassle you are now.”
“What am I doing now?” I defended myself.
My mom laughed, reaching out to hold my hand as Julie and Kham talked. “Refusing to talk to the girls I suggested you to date. But it looks like you’ve been waiting for a familiar face this whole time.”
I raised my eyebrows at her, only to end up wincing due to my stitches. A light chime of laughter escaped her. “Your sister said you and Lina were high school classmates,” she explained. I nodded slowly. “She seems kind. She’s also very pretty.”
The apples of my cheeks warmed. “She is,” I said.
“I’m happy for you, Jonathan,” she smiled.
Emotions swelled in my chest and ignited my face. My vision blurred. Tears formed in the inner corners of my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away.
I squeezed her hand tenderly, grinning. “I’m happy for you too, Mom.”