Mr. Green was standing at the gate of his mansion to greet his graduating daughter. When Rosa reached, he embraced her tightly. His eyes became moist when he saw the certificate. He is a proud father today.
Both entered the house where Rosa's mother Rachel was waiting for her. Seeing her mom here came to Rosa as a surprise.
"Hello Mom, Don't you have any important meeting to attend today?"
"Rosa, Am İ obliged to love you the way exactly you want me to?"
"İ don't even need your love. Weren't you the one who taught me that if I don't have money, I can't sustain love?"
"Rosa, my only precious thing, (hearing this James stared at her wife), İ left everyone and everything and left my house in just a denim jeans and a white top and a small handbag to marry this man. Would İ do it today? Of course I would, without any second thought. İ am in love with this person even now. The thing you don't understand is İ don't love this human more than i love you.
There were a few moments of silence in that house and everyone understood the meaning of the said as well as the unsaid words. The mother, father and daughter embraced each other and gave a very tight hug.
Rosa, "On the dining table Oldies. İ am hungry as hell." She moved hurriedly towards the kitchen saying this.
James, "İ have an issue with the 'only' word", said to Rachel. She gave him a flying kiss and a playful blink. The shyness on the face of James was a sight to watch.
Rosa came back running from the kitchen and gave her mom a back hug kissing on her cheeks. "How come my vegetarian mom cooked turkey for me?"
"My daughter graduated. İ have all the right to celebrate."
Standing there frozen, Eddie came out of shock when his phone rang. İt was from Fidel. Eddie declined the call and texted, "İ will tell you later."
Coming out of the university gate, he signalled a taxi. Soon he found himself telling the driver where to take him. House No. 12, Fifth Avenue, and got into the backseat.
Still in his own thoughts, he was mindlessly scrolling his contacts. A couple of thoughts came to his mind of texting or calling Rosa but he stopped himself.
His fingers stopped at the name of Pablo whom he texted, "Bro, send me the pics of the felicitation ceremony."
He could have called but he doesn't want to hear anyone's voice before hearing Rosa's again.
15 odd minutes into the car and he reached his home. So indulged into his own thoughts about Rosa, he never noticed when the keys of his house slipped from his pocket and fell into the backseat.
The driver honked making Eddie turn and handed him his keys over. He waved the driver off by a smile and a gentle bye.
Just as he opened his door, Marcel (his dog) leaped on him and hugged him. He is used to receiving this warm welcome everytime he reaches back home. But today he felt a different kind of ecstasy.
Throwing the keys on the dining table, he jumped on the couch signalling Marcel to sit beside him and the little boy followed him.
"You know Marcel, she asked me out on a date today." With slight tears in the eyes, he started to talk and that furry dog with his cute little eyes looking so keenly at Eddie like he is listening and understanding everything.
He told everything to his friend in great length. Smiling, he stood up and walked towards the kitchen where Marcel followed him.
Pouring coffee, milk and water in the cup, while waiting for the coffee being made, he again scrolled the contacts of his phone.
His heart going out of the way pounding heavily beats of which even Marcel could hear.
Taking the coffee cup in his hand, he strolled towards the couch. Sipping the coffee, he dialled Rosa's number. Rings were going but he got no response.
Keeping the phone aside and after finishing the coffee, he hugged Marcel, closed his eyes and stayed like that for a while.
After that heavy meal, sitting in the porch, Rosa pouring wine to her parents and herself. Picking a glass, she took her place on the swing.
Rachel, "Anything intersting happening in your life?"
Rosa, "What you mean Mom?"
Rachel blinked at Rosa, "Anything intersting happening in Eddie's life?"
Rosa looking at Mom, smiling, coughing, "İ told him today to have a date."
Rachel jumping from her chair, screaming in pleasure, "What my girl did? Are you going to date him?"
Rosa, "Why not? He suits my type. He is a cute badass."
Rachel, "İ will give you two pieces of advice my love. Love him. Expect love from him. But don't expect that love will bring happiness too. These are two different things."
"Second advice is Strawberries are better for long winter nights." The sentence ended with a blink and a nasty smile. Rosa smiled back understanding what her dear mother meant.
Retiring to her room, Rosa picked her phone. She saw a missed call and a message which read, "Your words are still ringing in my ears."
Rosa smiled reading this and wrote him back, "Take me to the planetarium on Tuesday evening, Eddie."
A thought of calling Eddie crossed her mind but she denied shooking her head.
The ting ting sound of the mobile woke Eddie up. Lazily he took the mobile. Seeing the message is from Rosa, he hurriedly opened it and started jumping on the bed in excitement and laughing with tears. Marcel joined him too in his dance.