Two Weeks Between Love and Hate

“Yeah, I’m gonna head back home for a couple of weeks. I’ve gotta to use up my PTO before it disappears next month... Haha, yeah man, we definitely gotta hit up Rico’s when I’m back… “There was a pause, followed by a long sigh.” Dude, seriously, I’ve told you before I’m not interested... Yeah, we’re still on… Thanks, I’ll catch you later, man.”

With that, he hung up the phone. Jason was in his mid-twenties, short dark black hair slicked to the side with a hint of gel. His face was ruggedly handsome, with piercing dark green eyes. A light gray suit concealed a well-toned and stocky body.

Jason sat at his computer, going through the reports his teams had submitted for last-minute quality checks. As one of the managers for the data security team, it was his job to ensure that clients’ information remained secure and everyone was doing their job correctly. Their company, Territory Data Security Solutions, or TDSS for short, was often contracted to safeguard sensitive data for various other companies. Trying to stay one step ahead of potential security breaches.

His job might not be all that glamorous, but it paid well and offered plenty of room for advancement. Starting with the company fresh out of college, he rapidly climbed the corporate ladder through a combination of sharp tactics and hard graft. He even befriended a junior executive, who just so happened to be the CEO’s son. And they say nepotism is dead.

Shutting down his computer, Jason packed his work laptop and a few physical documents to work on over his vacation. Taking a full two weeks off felt a bit too sensible for the workaholic. After all, what’s a vacation without a little misery? Just as he was finishing up, he heard a knock at his office door.

“Come in,” he grumbled, almost sensing the approaching pain in the ass.

The door swung open. It, of course, revealed the last person he wanted to see before he left.

“Jase! Heard you’re heading off for vacation, so I came to say goodbye,” said a rather curvy woman in a snug deep pink dress that left far too little to the imagination. Jason continued staring down at his desk never looking up from his packing.

“Great, you’ve said it. Now go,” his tone was cold and uninterested.

Tina was unphased by his lukewarm reception, her kitten heels tapping loudly on the hardwood floor of his office as she quickly approached him. Her oversized breasts swayed with each step forward.

“I was thinking we should totally grab a drink when you get back. We never get the chance to sit down and really get to know each other… on a more personal level,” her tongue running over her top lip coated in a rather tacky ruby red lipstick.

Jason groaned and rolled his eyes at her persistence, “Oh yeah, sure, of course, let me just drop everything for you when I get back. Not like I won’t be busy cleaning up everyone else’s mess,” the sarcasm dripping from his words. “No, Tina, not interested,” he said firmly, finishing up his packing and throwing his laptop bag’s strap over his shoulder.

“Oh, my dear, sweet, naive Jase. One of these days, you’ll come around to see what I can give you.” Leaning over his desk, she grabbed his tie, attempting to pull him closer. “And I am gonna blow. Your. Mind,” she cooed seductively. Giving him a mischievous smirk, the plunging neckline of her dress revealed hints of red lace framing her hefty bosom.

“Cut out the Jase stuff, alright? It’s Mr. Merris to you,” he growled, snatching his tie back, unaffected by her charms and attempt at seduction. “And I wouldn’t hold your breath. You aren’t my type.” He gestured toward the door, directing the woman to leave his office. “Haha, oh hon, I am everyone’s type,” Tina said, smirking as she turned to sashay out of the office, putting all her effort into swinging her hips. Stopping at the doorway to look back at him.

“See you soon, Jase.” She teased, winking at him with a sly grin before moving out of sight around the corner.

Jason let out an annoyed sigh. He hated it when she attempted to flirt with him. To most of the population, Tina was very attractive with her exaggerated hourglass figure and overly done makeup to hide each one of her imperfections. But not him, not Jason. He couldn’t stand the woman, or just about any woman at this point.

He turned and made sure his office door was locked behind him as he left. Heading for the elevator, he stopped for a moment to stare out the windows at the Tampa skyline before him. It had been his home for quite a while now. Cold, stoic eyes traced the city skyline. From the outside, it might’ve looked like he was living the high life. But appearances could be deceiving.

Once he arrived at the airport, he grabbed his ticket, navigated through security, and boarded the plane. The flight from Florida to Colorado was a lengthy one. It had been ages since he’d been back, so long, in fact, it didn’t feel like he was going but leaving home.

He pushed what thoughts he could out of his head and attempted to catch some shut-eye on the flight. Spending most of the time trying to block out the surrounding sounds, his plane touched down before he managed much rest. Fetching his bags and securing a rental car for the next couple of weeks, he hopped into the SUV he reserved and set off for home.

The journey from the city to his small hometown was quite a distance, and his suit was feeling like a straitjacket. Watching the scenery zip by, Jason’s mind soon wandered. Memories began to flood his thoughts. Flashes of evil grins and laughter caused his grip on the steering wheel to tighten. His teeth creaked as his jaw tightened, feeling himself growing more frustrated as he dwelled on his past. He still couldn’t get over the reasons he left home in the first place, even after all these years. Shaking his head in an attempt to clear his mind, he eventually snapped out of it. Taking a deep breath, he finally managed to calm himself.

The highway led Jason to the familiar town filled with old-style buildings he remembered from his childhood. With a population of around twenty thousand, the county sprawled out comfortably without many towering buildings disrupting the skyline. Instead, it boasted tight-knit communities where people looked out for one another – a far cry from the cutthroat vibe of the big city. Cracking open his window, he let the early autumn breeze sweep through the car, filling it with clean, cold air. Compared to the relentless Florida heat, this cooler climate was a welcome change. Sure, he’d adapted to the heat and humidity, he couldn’t deny the longing for the crisp mountain air of his hometown.

Turning off the highway, Jason drove through one of the small town's many suburban neighborhoods. After a few minutes, he arrived at a modest single-story home. Parking his car, he stepped out and stretched, letting out a satisfied groan. As he stretched, he heard the noise of a bike tire screeching behind him; turning around, he saw a young boy with short, bright red hair and freckles sitting on a bike in the middle of the street. They stared at each other for a moment before Jase spoke up, a bit confused by the unexpected encounter.

“Uh, hey there. Can I help you?” Wondering why this kid, who looked no older than six or seven, was staring at him.

After a few awkward moments of staring, the boy swiftly turned his bike around and pedaled away as fast as his short legs would allow.

“What the...?” Jase was thoroughly confused as he watched the boy disappear down the bend in the road. Scratching the back of his head, he let out a breath and shook his head in disbelief. Retrieving his suitcase and laptop bag from the trunk of the rental car, he made his way to the front door of the house and knocked. After a moment, the door swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman with dark auburn hair. Her hair cascaded down past her shoulders in soft waves. She looked up at Jason with a touch of disbelief.

“Hey mom, I’m back,” Jason said, flashing a small smile. The woman’s hazel eyes filled with tears as she quickly hugged him tight. She buried her face in his chest, trembling with what he hoped was excitement. After a moment of wiping her tears into his suit, she looked up at him.

“You’re really here! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it! Ahhhh, I missed you so much!” she exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down her face. She hugged him tightly again, still quivering slightly with happiness. He chuckled softly, wrapping his free arm around her.

“I missed you too, Mom,” he said softly while his hand rubbed soothingly along her back.

They must have stood there for nearly five minutes while his mom raved about him being home before Jason spoke up again.

“Okay, Mom, I think it’s time we head in. You can tell me how much you missed me inside as well.” He gently joked.

“Oh, yeah, sorry. Of course, hun. I’m just so excited my baby is home,” she said with a slight squeal. “Goodness, you look so good, hun! It’s like you are a new man with that fancy suit, Mr. big shot!”

Several years had passed since he had flown his mother out to Florida to visit. He frequently offered to fly her out since he couldn’t, well it was more that he wouldn’t take the time off to come back to his hometown. But she always insisted that she wanted him to live his own life and not worry about his mother. So, their visits were few and far between.

Her name was Katia, but Jason’s dad always shortened it to Kat. He did his best not to dwell on the implications of that pet name. Though he couldn’t shake off what he’d overheard going on behind closed doors growing up. His mom was graceful in aspect, yet a bit of a klutz, the epitome of sweetness and authenticity. After his father passed away, she started carrying a lingering sense of sadness. But she never let it dim her sunny disposition or her love for her son, especially. Jason was convinced that no man could ever measure up to his father, so no one would ever be good enough for her.

“I tidied up your old room and tossed some fresh sheets on your bed, hun.” She wrapped her arms around him again, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “I’m just so glad you’re home, Jason. I missed you soooo much!”

Jason set his luggage down and returned the hug, lifting her effortlessly into the air, eliciting a giggle from Katia as he set her down.

“Alright Hercules, go get settled, and I’ll whip up a snack for you. You must be starving after the long trip.” She grinned, patting his arm playfully, but Jason shook his head in response as he set her down.

“I think I’m just gonna hit the shower and crash, Mom. Didn’t get a lot of sleep on the flight.” He yawned as if on cue. She smiled and nodded, reaching for his face with both hands. Jason leaned down, and his mom planted a big kiss on his forehead.

“Alright, hun. I’ll wake you up for dinner. Sound good?” Katia said, patting his cheek affectionately.

“Sounds great, Mom. I wouldn’t wanna miss one of your meals.” Jason grinned, giving his mom a quick peck on the forehead back, before grabbing his things and heading to his room. He was hit with a wave of nostalgia as he swung open the door. It was like stepping back in time. It was like nothing had been touched since he left for college.

He dropped his bags by the foot of the bed and looked around. His trusty old computer, a relic with its outdated CRT monitor and off-white tower, still stood proudly. Despite its vintage exterior, Jason had decked it out with top-of-the-line parts back in the day. He wondered if there was a way to pack it up and take it with him when it was time to leave.

Jason yawned again, snapping out of his fit of nostalgia.

“Time for a shower, then a nap,” he muttered to himself.

“I left a clean towel in the bathroom for you, sweetie,” his mother’s voice called from outside the door.

“Thanks, Mom,” he replied, a smile tugging at his lips. It was still surreal to have someone be there for him again. He was so used to fending for himself while living alone. Chuckling to himself, he kicked off his shoes and peeled off his suit, leaving himself in just his boxer briefs. The relief of shedding that stuffy outfit after hours of wearing it was more than liberating.

Opening the door to his room that had a Warcraft 3 poster on it, he glanced down the hallway to ensure his mother wasn’t nearby. Once the coast was clear, he hurried into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. As the shower began warming up, he turned to look at himself in the mirror. Running a hand over the thick stubble on his face that darkened his chin and jawline. Though not incredibly chiseled, his muscles were defined, and he maintained a lean, fit physique. His abs lightly rippled down his stomach, forming a slight V-shape towards his pelvis. Despite feeling relatively in shape, he couldn’t help but frown at his reflection, still seeing remnants of the three-hundred-pound teen he used to be.

Jason let a breath out of his nose as he stripped off his last article of clothing and hopped into the shower. He used whatever soap his mom had left in there. It ended up making him smell a bit flowery – not exactly his go-to scent, but it was better than nothing. He ended up having to cut his shower short. The warm water was threatening to make him pass out if he stood there for much longer. Toweling off and wrapping the towel around his waist, he trudged back to his room, stifling another yawn.

Once back in his room, he threw on some gray sweatpants. He then made the mistake of free falling face first down on his childhood bed, nearly shattering his old frame. Landing rough on the old box spring mattress almost knocked the wind out of him. Rasping out a weak curse, “Ow...fuck”

Once he was able to breathe again, he grabbed a pillow to rest his head. Finally able to lay down, the jet lag sapped the rest of the energy he had. Within seconds, he was out cold.

Several hours passed before there came a knock at Jason’s door.

“Jason, sweetie, are you still sleeping?” Katia called out from the hallway.

“Mmm... I’m awake,” he mumbled back, startled awake as he lifted his head from the pillow.

“Oh, good! I invited a few friends over to meet you! They also have a lovely daughter that’s your age as well, so get dressed in something nice,” the older woman said with a slight giggle. Her voice quickly faded down the hall.

“Mmgh... No thanks,” Jason replied, not actually awake, his head hitting the pillow once again and his snores filled the room immediately.