"Hmm, she must be the woman you're talking about Lisandro. Am I right?" Mrs. Realm asked him mischievously. She then looked at me from head to toe with a fake smile on her lips.
"Uh yes, mother! She's Andy—Andy Carter," he replied enthusiastically, trying to convince his mother. But the look on her face, I could tell that she wasn't induced.
Lisandro tightened the grip on my waist that gave me the chance to introduce myself to them. I felt nervous and intimated by his mother's strong charisma. But I must be brave like I was only talking to one of my colleagues.
Before I spoke, I bowed my head as a sign of respect and greetings.
"Good day Mr. and Mrs. Realm! I'm grateful to finally meet my boyfriend's parents!" I smiled over my shoulder and continued what I'd practiced last night. "By the way, I'm Andy Carter, your son's girlfriend."
It was filled with confidence that surprised me as well. I was an introverted little girl who only stayed inside of the house, listening to my grandmother's interesting stories.
Yet, there was nothing on their faces, but a plain blank. His mother turned to Mr. Realm who just shrugged off his shoulders then suddenly clapped his hands.
He laughed and he said, "You just nailed it, young lady! You had just passed the initial round. Right, honey?" With no doubt, he tapped Mrs. Realm's arm as he whispered something in her ears.
I was confused by their weird actions. Unlike common parents, they would have just smiled at me sweetly and escorted me to the living area.
"He's right! Oh, do you want some jewelry? Or, a bar of gold?"
"I'm sorry to say this, but she's not that kind of woman! Andy is simple and she'd never asked me those things." Lisandro told his mother with confidence and respect.
He just surely bragged me in front of his beloved parents. Whether he asked me or not, it was the greatest thing that happened in my whole life.
"Don't be blinded with love, Lisandro. She'll change and become greedy when you get married and live under the same roof," she said without hesitation.
Mr. Realm probably noticed how I took a deep breath as his wife insulted me inside of his territory. The warm smile on his lips has vanished the moment he caught my gaze.
He said, "Don't mind her, young lady. She's getting older and young people like us should consider her behavior."
Even Lisandro's mother didn't fall into our trap, I was still happy because of his father's candid treatment. Once again, I'd felt a father's love. A great father who would always support his children instead of underestimating them.
My heart filled with joy despite Mrs. Realm's rudeness. Somehow, the sadness in my chest lessened when he suddenly took my hands surprised us all.
"Let me borrow your girlfriend for a moment," he told Lisandro and chuckled. "I won't hurt her, I promise." Mr. Realm assured him that I would be safe in his father's hands.
It completely surprised me while Mrs. Realm rolled her eyes at me. It was hard to remember how many times she did it since we arrived. She looked like a strict professor, but I knew she was a good mother with a loving heart.
Before I held those glowing, fair white skin, I turned to Lisandro and asked for permission. My eyes said everything. He knew it as if he could read what was inside of my head.
I'd waited for an answer until a genuine smile flaunted on his kissable lips and spoke. "You'll be fine, Andy. Just say my name when something happens and I'll be right there. Do you understand?"
"I promise, I won't do silly things while she's here." Mr. Realm told him with a hint of fear in his eyes. He controlled his temper because of me.
I'd never been this safe and comfortable before. Mr. Realm's hands were cold, yet I didn't understand why it felt good. He held my hand gently as he was scared of hurting me or Lisandro would be mad at him.
I couldn't explain how blessed I was despite the challenges that I'd been through.
And while we walked into the breathtaking backyard, I heard how Lisandro burst into laughter with his mother.
It was the first moment he laughed that way. It sounded like a nostalgic harmony that calmed my mind and finally welcomed me warmly.
"Let's enjoy this moment while Laura is pretending that she doesn't like you," he said mischievously.
Pretending? Does it mean she liked me as her son's girlfriend? If that was the case, then I must do something that would effortlessly impress her in front of Lisandro.
I then smiled shortly, bowed my head, and replied shyly, "I don't understand. Why would she need to pretend?"
Curiosity led me to be naive. I shouldn't have asked him such a question and I felt guilty because of my carelessness.
But I was amazed when he stopped walking in the middle of the wide backyard surrounded by small trees.
On the right side was filled with elongated flowers, while on the opposite side was occupied with blue and white roses.
It seemingly fantasy-like backyard. It was perfectly made and how I wished there were flowers in the backyard too.
"I don't want to spoil nor put some pressure on you, but—" he paused for a moment as he slid his hands inside his pocket. He then looked somewhere else, "You're the first woman that our son has brought here."
"I'm sorry, but I think I wasn't the only one!"
Mr. Realm shook his head in disagreement. He was certain of what he just said and if ever it was all true, I would forever cherish it no matter what.
"It's the first time that our son brings a woman into this house—our sacred, yet dull house for thousands of years," he murmured then turned to me with those honest golden-brown eyes.
Sometimes I wished that I was only dreaming of things like this. It seemed surreal and nothing could replace it because it was genuinely priceless.