"Jordy, are you still on the phone?" his mom's voice came from the kitchen.
Jordy blinked, suddenly aware of how long he had been lying there, phone pressed to his ear, completely lost in the conversation. The room was dim, the outside already dark, but he hadn't noticed when evening had turned into night. He had been too busy laughing, too caught up in Matt's voice.
"Yeah, I'm here," he called back, raising his voice just enough so she could hear him.
On the other end, Matt let out a soft laugh. "You've been caught."
"I haven't," Jordy said under his breath, a small smile still playing on his lips. "She just likes to disturb me."
"I heard that," his mom called again, her tone carrying a hint of warning.
Matt laughed louder this time. "Yeah, you're finished."
Jordy rolled his eyes, shifting onto his side. "Okay, I actually have to go before she comes in here herself."
"Wait," Matt said quickly. "Hold on."
Jordy paused. "What?"
"I forgot to tell you something," Matt continued. "I'm going to be out of town for like two days."
Jordy frowned slightly. "Out of town?"
"Yeah," Matt said, his voice dropping into a slight groan. "My dad is forcing me and my sister to go see our grandparents."
Jordy couldn't help but laugh. "Forcing you?"
"I'm serious," Matt said. "He said it's for family bonding."
"That sounds normal," Jordy replied, amused.
"It's not normal," Matt argued. "It's boring. There's literally nothing to do there."
Jordy shook his head, smiling. "Then maybe you should actually try bonding with your family."
Matt let out a dramatic sigh. "You sound like him now."
"I'm just saying he's right," Jordy said. "Go and enjoy it. It's just two days."
Matt went quiet for a moment, then said softly, "I'll still miss you."
Jordy's expression softened without him realizing it. "It's just two days."
"Still," Matt said. "And the network there is bad, so if you try calling, I might not even see it."
Jordy raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Already giving excuses."
"I'm serious," Matt said, laughing. "Don't be dramatic."
"You're the one being dramatic," Jordy replied.
"Me?" Matt said. "You're the one that's going to miss me."
Jordy smiled, shaking his head slightly. "You wish."
"I know," Matt said confidently.
"Jordy!" his mom called again, louder now.
"Okay, I really have to go," Jordy said quickly.
"Alright," Matt replied. "Text me before you sleep."
"We'll see," Jordy teased.
"Jordy."
"Goodnight, Matt."
"Goodnight."
Jordy ended the call and stared at his phone for a brief second, his smile lingering before he finally pushed himself off the bed.
When he stepped into the kitchen, his mom was already placing plates on the table.
"What took you so long?" she asked without looking at him.
"I was just talking," Jordy said casually as he walked closer.
She glanced at him briefly, a small smile forming. "I thought you were already full. You've been on that phone for a while."
Jordy let out a short laugh. "I'm not."
"Go and get a plate," she said.
He grabbed one and sat down across from her. The food was already served, and for a few moments, they ate quietly. The only sound in the room was the clink of cutlery and the low hum of the house settling into the night.
Then she spoke.
"So," she began, her tone light, "who were you talking to?"
Jordy didn't look up immediately. "A friend."
There was a pause.
"A friend?" she repeated, clearly amused.
Jordy glanced at her. "Yes."
She studied his face for a moment, like she was trying to read something beyond his answer. "You have a friend."
Jordy frowned slightly. "What does that mean?"
"It means," she said slowly, smiling to herself, "you don't usually spend that long on the phone with people."
Jordy shrugged. "People change."
She hummed softly, not entirely convinced, but she didn't push further. Instead, she shifted the conversation.
"How is the job search going?" she asked.
Jordy let out a small breath. "I'm still searching."
She nodded. "You've been saying that for a while now."
"I know," he replied. "I just haven't found anything that really fits yet."
"That's fine," she said calmly. "But if you see anything that interests you, let me know. I might be able to help or ask around."
Jordy nodded. "Okay."
She took another bite before speaking again. "What about school?"
Jordy looked up. "School?"
"Yes," she said. "College. Have you thought about what you want to study? Or where you want to go?"
Jordy hesitated slightly. "Not fully."
She raised an eyebrow. "Not fully?"
"I have ideas," he said. "I just haven't decided yet."
"Like what?" she asked.
Jordy shrugged. "I don't know… something I'll actually enjoy."
She smiled faintly. "That's important."
"I'll check properly," he added. "And I'll let you know when I'm sure."
"Alright," she said. "Just don't take too long."
The conversation eased after that, drifting into smaller topics. The tension from earlier disappeared, replaced by something more normal, more familiar.
But then she spoke again.
"I would like to meet this friend of yours," she said casually.
Jordy paused mid-bite. "What?"
She looked at him directly this time. "The one you were talking to."
"It's not that serious," Jordy said quickly.
She smiled slightly. "The only friend I know you have is Leo."
Jordy said nothing.
"And you definitely weren't talking to Leo like that," she added.
Jordy tried not to react, but he could feel the heat rising slightly to his face. "It's just a friend."
"Then it shouldn't be a problem for me to meet him," she replied.
Jordy looked down at his plate. "Maybe later."
She didn't push, but the look on her face said she wasn't letting it go completely.
They finished their meal not long after.
Jordy stood up to take his plate to the sink, but before he could leave the kitchen, his mom spoke again.
"Oh, and one more thing," she said.
Jordy turned back. "What?"
"I want you to meet him next weekend," she said.
Jordy blinked. "Meet who?"
"The man I told you about," she replied. "And his family."
Jordy stared at her for a moment. "Next weekend?"
She nodded. "Yes. I think it's time."
Jordy shifted his weight slightly. "That soon?"
"I've been planning it," she said. "I just needed the right time to tell you."
Jordy ran a hand through his hair, processing it. "Okay…"
She smiled reassuringly. "You'll like him."
Jordy forced a small nod. "I hope so."
"And his family," she added. "They're important too."
Jordy exhaled quietly. "Alright."