The Affection Multiplier - Chapter 248 - Intermission 20: A quick girls meeting and a talk with Elena Hayes. (Patreon)

With a small jump and near-perfect form, Emma jumps into the cold, refreshing water of Katherine’s pool. She swims underwater, attempting to reach the opposite end, but it’s too much for her. She comes out, gasping for air with her head thrown back to get her hair out of her face.

She might only be able to be here for an hour, but she’s going to enjoy this pool. Her apartment complex doesn’t have a one, after all. She’s very thankful to Katherine for the invitation, but she still can’t brush off the feeling that she’s doing something wrong. Julia, Mia and her are here without Katherine’s parents knowing, which is why they only dropped by for a quick visit.

“Ugh, and you have this all to yourself,” Emily groans, looking around the place. “I’m so jealous.”

The pool is inside a building made specifically to house it, with floor-to-ceiling windows at the two ends, fine wooden walls and a tall ceiling. It’s not much different to a pool you’d find at some sort of resort. The pool itself is 10 meters long, 5 meters wide and about two meters deep. To top it all, there’s a heat pump to keep the water at a nice temperature during winter. Not useful now, but considering how much Katherine loves to swim, it’s certainly a blessing to her.

“I’ll be sure to invite you more often,” Katherine giggles from her seat. There are three small, round wooden tables with matching chairs at the side of the pool, where Anzu, Jessica and her are playing cards.

“It’s a really nice place,” Mia says with a smile, using the metal ladder to exit the water. “A shame we can only stay for a little while.”

“Sorry,” Katherine says. “I know we’re doing something wrong by doing this while my parents are out, but it felt wrong not to invite you.”

“J-Just hang in there for one more year!” Anzu tries to encourage.

Meanwhile, Julia and Megan just finished a heated race, which the teacher won by a good margin. The blonde woman gets out of the water with a proud smile at her victory and addresses Anzu.

“Year and a half, sadly. But if it goes as quickly as this one has, then I don’t mind.”

In the middle of that conversation, Sophia lets out a sudden and heavy sigh, walking up to the girls at the table.

“What is it?” Jessica asks her. “Your sound annoyed.”

“I texted David to see how he was doing. He sent back a picture of his progress, saying he’s about to finish his fifth text.”

“He’s in the fifth?” Lilian asks, hanging at the edge of the pool. “I asked my mom and she said she sent him like twelve.”

“T-Twelve!?” Katherine exclaims.

“She said he asked for as much work as they could give him,” Lilian explains, “and after his first translations were good enough and finished so quickly, mom decided to send him more.”

“He’s looking tired these days, too,” Olivia says, hanging onto the edge beside Lilian. “He’s been distracted.”

“Which is worrying considering he only has to sleep 4 hours to be good for the day,” Emma says.

Sophia frowns. “So he’s sleeping less than four hours?”

“Most likely.”

“And after he scolded ME for overworking,” Anzu moans. “I could easily help him with Japanese translations.”

“And I could help him with Spanish,” Jessica adds with a firm nod. “He’s being unreasonable.”

“He is, but he’s not going to accept help,” Mia sighs. “Not when it’s about work he’s getting paid to do.”

“He’s still being a hypocrite,” Anzu says, puffing her cheeks in annoyance.

“Not denying that, dear,” Mia chuckles, “just pointing it out.”

“I say if by next week he’s still doing that, we tie him to his bed and force him to sleep,” Emma nods to herself in agreement with her own idea.

“That’s a little drastic,” Mia says, “but I agree we should wait and see until next week.”

“Yeah,” Julia says, “there are times you just need to focus single-mindedly on one thing so you can have fun later.”

“But you two also work, right?” Megan asks Olivia and Lilian. “How come I never see you getting stressed about it?”

“I only work two days a week,” Lilian says. “And even then, all I do is inventory and be a cashier. I don’t have to take work home.”

“And I work as my dad’s secretary, but only from time to time. He has an actual secretary that helps him keep everything in order. I’d say mine is more of an internship,” Olivia says.

Emma exits the pool, goes to the table where her towel and cellphone are and, as she dries herself, checks the time.

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we need to leave,” she says to her colleagues, regretful.

“Dammit! Why do you have to leave so soon?” Megan whines.

“We’re already taking a big risk by coming here. Honestly, as fun as it is, it’s hard to relax,” Emma admits. “Besides, I need to meet my mom. She said she had something important to tell me.”

“Uh oh,” Emily says, “I have a bad feeling.”

“Me too,” Emma smiles wryly. “Let’s just hope we’re wrong.”

________________________________________________________________

After going back to her apartment for a quick shower and a change of clothes, Emma drives to her mother’s house. Very rarely does she ask to speak with her one on one about “something important”. Last time this happened she found out she had a half-brother.

Her mother answers the door and lets her in. The two of them take their seats in the living room, with the usual pastries on the table and a cup of nice smelling tea. Emma swears her mother could be about to give her the worst news possible and she’d still have sweets in the table. She’s very set in her ways like that.

“It’s been a while since we’ve talked like this,” her mother says, a small smile adorning her lips. “Do you mind if he take our time?”

“I’m always up for a chat with you, so long as you don’t antagonize me for every opinion I have,” Emma says casually, dropping a couple of sugar cubes into her cup and stirring the tea.

“How are things going with your mystery boyfriend?”

Emma is proud of herself for not choking on her tea. She sets her cup on the table with a nervous laugh and a lightly shaking hand. The topic came up once during a conversation, but her mother had never asked more until now.

“Perfectly well, actually.”

“Then why are you getting nervous?”

“I didn’t expect you to ask,” Emma shrugs.

“Don’t shrug. It’s bad manners,” Elena says, narrowing her eyes.

Emma swallows a groan and opts for just keeping the conversation going. “But anyway, to answer your question. Things have been going really well with my boyfriend. At most, we’re having a light difference of opinions right now.”

As in, she just wants to spend time with him and he wants to prioritize work. She’d complain more if it wasn’t for the trip that’s coming up.

“Oh? A lover’s quarrel?”

“Take my words at face value, mom. It really is a light difference of opinions. He’s busy with work and pushing himself a little too hard when it’s not necessary.”

“At the very least he seems to be a hard worker.”

Emma can’t stop the smile forming in her face. “He really is.”

“When do I get to meet him?” Elena asks.

“Only when I’m sure you won’t reproach him for every single thing. Also when I’m 100% sure he’s the man I’ll marry,” she lies, but only on the second part. She’s already sure of that part.

“I’d rather meeting him before that, but I suppose it can’t be helped,” her mother shakes her head. “In that aspect, you got my stubbornness. Your father hasn’t met him either, has he?”

“Nope. If I’m keeping him hidden from you, I’ll keep him hidden from dad as well. It’s only fair.”

“What does he have that makes you so embarrassed to introduce him?”

“I’m not embarrassed of him! I just think introducing you would be more trouble than it would be worth. There’s a chance things might not work out and it’ll all be for nothing.”

Even having to say those words just to mislead her mother leaves a bad taste in her mouth. So before the topic of her mystery boyfriend can continue, Emma changes it.

“Have you kept in contact with Jonathan?” she asks.

“Not as much as I’d like, but far more than I expected. We exchange emails about twice a month. How about you?”

“About the same, actually. We had a nice chat over drinks some time before he went back to Japan. David was there as well. Jonathan insisted.”

“He doesn’t expect you to start treating him as a little brother, does he?” Her mother cocks an eyebrow.

“I don’t think so,” Emma chuckles. “but he’s just as involved in this mess as we are.”

“I suppose he is,” Elena sighs. “I hear from Ms. Monica Roberts that he’s doing an outstanding job in helping the student council.”

“I’ve heard the same.”

“Perfect grades, good extracurricular performance and seemingly good social life despite the rough start. I should’ve expected as much from Oscar’s son.”

“You’re starting to accept that letting him in was a good idea?”

“Perhaps.”

Huh? Okay, Emma definitely didn’t expect that. Something’s going on here. She sees her mother stand up from her seat, go to her office and come back with a blue folder in her hands.

“Take a look at this.”

“What is this?”

“You know we usually have so much demand for enrollments we have early screening processes, right?”

“Yes,” Emma nods and opens the folder. A quick glance makes her understand what her mother wants to say.

“The number of people trying to enroll their daughters in our academy has decreased significantly over the years. Last year we barely reached the student limit. This year we have even less. I’m sure we’ll still fill all spots when the proper enrollment period starts, but I feel this is a clear sign of the change of times.”

“What do you mean?” Emma asks.

She watches her mother pause for a moment. Elena takes her cup and takes a long sip out of her tea. Her shoulders relax and she lets out a soft breath. With unhurried movements, she sets her cup down and wipes her mouth with a napkin before giving Emma a firm, determined look.

“Come the start of the next academic year, I’ll step down as headmistress of Hayes Academy.”

Emma’s eyes widen and her jaw drops. She leans forward and screams “What!?”

“Don’t be so loud! I’m not old enough that I need you to yell.”

“And neither are you old enough to retire!”

“I’m tired, Emma. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. For 30 years I’ve been trying to fight the changing times to keep a semblance of traditionalism. But I’ve still needed to make compromises where I had to. Technology already took over the world, just as chalkboards were replaced by whiteboards, and these were replaced by digital presentations. Now people are asking for the end of segregation. Different races, ideologies and genders all mixed into the same pot, creating God knows what, and threatening to explode with every stir. And I’m too old and stubborn to accept it.”

“If you already know the issues, then we can work to fix them little by little. Change doesn’t have to happen in a single day,” Emma says. “I didn’t take you for one to run away.”

“Well, this is a surprise. I didn’t think you’d oppose me stepping down, with all you and I have clashed regarding education.”

“At least I know you. I know what to expect. Who knows what kind of troubles the next headmistress will bring?”

“Oh, you know perfectly the troubles she’ll bring, and you’ll love them.”

“What? You’ve already decided? Is it someone I know then?”

“Yes you do,” her mother nods, looking at her firmly in the eyes. “Starting the next academic year, you’ll be the headmistress of Hayes Academy, Emma.”

…

…

“Eh?”