The next morning Juho drove Kamou back to her place. Juho parked the car outside her apartment.
"You won't come up?" Kamou asked, taking her seatbelt off.
"I have some work to do. I'll go to my studio directly."
"I see. I guess Dara will be back by now."
"Kamou." Juho said with a serious face.
"Yes..."
"Don't plan anything for tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow? Why?" Kamou asked confused.
"My family is having a small dinner. I want you to come with me." Juho said smiling.
"Me? You want me to come to your family dinner?" Kamou was stunned. "Why?"
"Don't you think it's time for you to meet my family. I mean I have met Dara and Gina; they are the only ones you consider family. Isn't it natural for you to meet my family." He explained.
"You mean meet them as your girlfriend, right?" Kamou was hoping he would say 'no'.
"Yes, I want to introduce you to my family. As my girlfriend." He specified the last part.
"Honey, don't you think it's a little rushed." Kamou's reluctance was evident in her voice.
"It's going to be fine. Just be ready tomorrow, I will take care of the rest." He said grabbing her hand lightly.
"Okay." Kamou didn't want to drag it anymore, it would only show unwillingness to go.
"See you tomorrow then." she got out of the car and walked in her apartment complex.
*********************************
Kamou got in her apartment, locking the door behind. It was still morning but she felt drained out. She dragged her feet towards the living room, where Dara was already sitting.
"Looks like someone had a rough morning." Dara commented.
"Rough? It was a disaster." Kamou said as her body dropped on the couch. "My whole day is ruined."
"That's a bit of exaggeration, don't you think?" Dara laughed.
"Juho asked me to meet his family." Kamou dropped her head low, sulking.
"Ahh. I thought you something bad happened."
"This is bad Dara. This is bad. How can you react so normally?" Kamou was throwing a fit.
"Isn't it normal for you to meet his family? I mean you said you want to marry him one day."
"Normal? You both share the same vocabulary." Kamou said irritated. "I said I want to marry him, I guess I didn't realize I had to meet his family for that."
"Are you nervous?"
"Me, nervous? No why would I be nervous? I am confident as ever." Kamou said.
"Then why are you rolling around sulking on the couch?" Dara pointed out with a straight face.
"You don't understand anything, you are still a kid." Irritated Kamou went to her room.
*******************************
In the evening Kamou had her counselling session with Dr. Choi. She spent the whole day filled with anxiety and nervousness. Whenever she thought about meeting Juho's family, her heart felt like sinking. She entered Dr. Choi's office, portraying a face smile. She greeted him and made herself comfortable on the couch.
Dr. Choi was a man in his mid-forties, he looked like his age. His talked politely and had a very welcoming personality. It was his third meeting with Kamou. Kamou never thought she would be so comfortable in sharing her problems with a man. But as their sessions proceeded, she seemed to be getting used to it.
"How are you, Miss?"
"I guess I'm fine." Dr. Choi smiled at her remark.
"How were your Christmas celebrations?"
"Christmas was good, my sister came over. I also went out in the evening; a friend held a get together. Juho was there with me for the most part."
"That's a good thing right. You had your lover by your side."
"I didn't say it was bad."
"You sound irritated."
"I am not."
"Perhaps you guys had a fight."
"No, everything was going great. Until he ruined it."
"Ruined it, how?"
"Well, Juho spoiled my day, he is just so irritating at times."
"Ahh... What did he say?"
"He wants me to accompany him to his family dinner tomorrow. This is my first time meeting them. On top of that, he wants to introduce me as his girlfriend. Not friend but his girlfriend. I don't want to go."
"Why didn't you refuse his offer then?"
"Because he will be disappointed in me." Kamou's tone was changing with this sentence. She got more serious.
"Why do you think it will disappoint him?"
"You know Juho, he is perfect, he takes care of everything. If I decline his offer, he would think he is the only one making efforts in this relationship."
"I see." the doctor said. "Is there a reason you don't want to meet his family?"
"It's too soon."
"Are you nervous about meeting his parents?"
"No, I am not nervous."
"It's just a casual dinner. Why are you against it?" The doctor asked calmly.
"Because... because I am scared." Kamou said looking down at her hands.
"Scared of?"
"Rejection." Kamou said looking at the doctor, her eyes filled with tears. "Everybody knows Juho deserves better, including his parents. I am scared his parents might not accept a woman like me."
"Why do you think so negatively about yourself?"
"Because I am a defective piece, I'm broken and I am not worthy of being happy." Tears burst out of Kamou's eyes.
"But you are happy now. Aren't you?" Dr. Choi's voice grew gentler.
"Yes, I am. That's scary, happiness is scary. I don't remember being this happy in my life. That's why I can't go. This happiness won't last if Juho's family rejects me."
"You haven't met them yet. What if they accept you happily with open arms, just like Juho did?"
"Do you think they would?" Kamou looked at the doctor with hopeful eyes.
"Why wouldn't they? You are a good person; you don't hurt people. Above all you deserve to be happy."
"Hmm... I deserve to be happy." Kamou repeated these words as her tears flooded down her cheeks.
After letting it out a little, she collected herself. Wiping her tears away, she gently straightened her clothes.
"I guess this would be it for today." She said to the doctor with the sweetest smile.
"So, Miss, have you decided what to do?" The doctor smiled back.
"Yes, I will meet his parents. I can't let him down, can I?" Kamou walked out of the door with a smile on her face, feeling better.