An awkward silence covered the four corners of the house. Eliza and Jalil were now sitting across Eliza's mother and older brother in the living room.
Jalil uncomfortably stared at the examining gaze of Eliza's family.
"Are they angry?" Jalil whispered to Eliza, to which she replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
"You're getting married tomorrow?" Eliza's mother—Agnes—asked. "Don't you think you're going too fast?"
Agnes looked at her daughter with an expression of befuddlement. "You never mentioned you already have a boyfriend. What is this?"
"Mom, are you for real? Would you believe if she told you her boyfriend is an Aversin?" Eliza's brother, Luis, joined in while taking pictures of Jalil.
Agnes bonked his head with her fist. "Why are you taking pictures? Go to the kitchen and cook for our lunch. Go!"
"I'm done cooking!"
"Then do the laundry!"
"I'm also done with it!"
"Wash the dishes!"
"Done!"
"I'm telling you to leave! Go to sleep or take a bath or anything! Why are you here? Call your father; he should be the one sitting here. That drunkard!" Agnes exclaimed while massaging her forehead.
Her husband, Mateo, had been sleeping for almost 12 hours due to drunkenness. He was a drunkard, but he wasn't irresponsible—he was always helping Agnes with their basic needs, including electrical and water bills, even though half of his income would go to liquor.
Luis pouted and immediately left the living room. Eliza, on the other hand, covered her face in embarrassment.
"Sorry," she whispered to Jalil.
"Where were we? I apologize. Our family is quite loud." Agnes showed a sweet smile to Jalil.
"It's okay, ma'am. I'm going to marry your daughter, so I should get used to it," Jalil politely said and smiled.
Eliza almost dropped her cup at what Jalil said and thought, 'Best actor awards go to... Jalil Aversin.'
"So, when did you become a couple?" Agnes excitedly asked as she drank her cup of juice.
"Last year"
"a month ago."
Agnes paused as she received different responses from Eliza and Jalil at the same time. "What?"
Eliza and Jalil looked at each other and fought through their gazes. Then, Eliza smiled at her mother and said, "We became official last year, and our anniversary was a month ago."
"Ahh." Agnes wasn't convinced and felt there was something off about these two. She stood up and smiled at Jalil. "Can I talk to my daughter alone?"
Agnes took her daughter's hand and brought her to the kitchen. "Tell me the truth: is he blackmailing you?"
Eliza's mouth hung in disbelief. "No, mom. Why are you thinking that?"
"Because you never dated and suddenly you're getting married? Don't expect me to believe that. Also, he's an Aversin. You know how rich he was! Why would he be interested in someone like you?" Agnes said, which made Eliza's expression change.
"Mom. Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Of course."
"Do you think I'm sexy?"
"Absolutely."
"Then why are you questioning his interest in me?! I'm quite offended, you know," Eliza said, but Agnes just flicked her forehead.
"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the difference between your status in life! We have nothing compared to him. What would people think? His grandparents? I don't want you to clean up their mess in the future!" Agnes replied.
"I'm your mother; of course, I'll worry. He's not just an ordinary man, Eliza," Agnes added, which lowered Eliza's gaze.
"Mom, just trust me, okay? I promise... I'll be fine," Eliza smiled.
"He didn't even bring his grandparents to formally propose the marriage," Agnes said, still doubting Jalil's intention.
Eliza held both of her mother's hands and formed an assuring smile on her lips. "Mom, Jalil dearly loved his grandparents, and this marriage is their only request to him; that's why he wanted to surprise them. Please, mom, understand why they're not here."
Agnes could do nothing but sigh in defeat. "Do you love him?"
Eliza was unprepared for that question. She panicked a bit, as she didn't know what the right answer was. "Of course, mom. I love him."
"I don't see it in your eyes, honey." Agnes caressed her daughter's face with that unwavering worry in her gaze.
Eliza was stunned. What should be the answer to that? What should her eyes look like when in love? She didn't know anything about the feeling of being in love—she never dated. How would she know?
Eliza glanced at Jalil, who was now talking with his older brother. She was trying to think of anything that could give off a genuine love for him. "He's gentle."
Agnes's forehead knitted in confusion at what her daughter said. "What?"
Eliza looked at her mother with that unusual smile of hers. "He's so gentle with my heart, mom. I don't know exactly what to say to explain the relationship we have since this is my first time. But, I know I love him, mom. It wasn't seen in my eyes; it was felt in my heart."
Agnes felt relieved. "There. I saw it now."
Eliza was confused. "Ha? You saw what, mom?"
Agnes shook her head and held her daughter's hand. "Your future husband is waiting. We should go back."
Eliza couldn't control her smile as she passed her mother's love appraisal. Actually, she was just thinking about her mother and father's relationship, despite the disagreements and situations they were in, their genuine love for each other got them through the ups and downs. Not to mention his father's gentleness with her mother.
Although he was a drunkard, he never invalidated her mother's feelings. He always prioritizes his wife and children. In short, she wasn't thinking about Jalil, which made her eyes sparkle with love, but about the love she witnessed between her parents.
Jalil looked at Eliza as she sat beside him. Eliza secretly raised her thumb, telling him everything went as planned.
Jalil faintly sighed in relief. Now it was Jalil's time to get Eliza's parents' approval. It may seem like Jalil's intention was ungenuine, but he actually liked Eliza's family. They were warm and welcoming.
Besides, it was Eliza's decision not to tell her parents about their contract. She knew her parents would be against it.