Teenage Romance - Or More Than That? (PAUSED)

10: Awkward Conversation

After Harumi left, Garmadon and Misako wanted to talk to Lloyd.
He was about to run up the stairs when his parents called him. "Lloyd? Can you come, please? We need to talk!"
Lloyd stopped. "We have to talk!? Oh shit! That doesn't sound good!", he thought to himself.
"Yes, I come!" He runs down the stairs again and stops in front of his parents.
"Sit down." He did it.

"So? What do we have to talk about?"
"You and Harumi." Garmadon starts.
"AND THIS." Misako puts the condom on the table.
Lloyds eyes widened.
"That's not mine."
Misako rolls her eyes. "Oh? Because I've found it in YOUR room?"
"You were in MY room?!"
"Yes because I've looked for dirty clothes to wash!"

Lloyd wanted to go but his father didn't like the idea of staying alone with his angry wife.
"SIT DOWN, YOUNG MAN! We're not done!"
Lloyd exhales annoyed and sits down again.

"What do you worry about? You can be happy, that I have that!"
"Oh, do you really think that with that..." She points at the condom again "nothing could go wrong?!"
"Hey? Guys? Can we calm down and talk matter-of-factly?" Garmadon interrupts.
He achieved nothing with it, except to be looked at angrily by both of them.

He sighs and stands up.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Misako looks at her husband.
"Toilet." Garmadon leaves the room as fast as he can.

Misako sighs and starts to begin a more quiet conversation.
"Lloyd. We have absolutely nothing against your relationship. We even hoped that you two would be a couple someday. You were always so cute together."
Lloyd blows a golden lock of hair out of his face and turns his head away.

"But we know that people your age who are in puberty sometimes can't control their hormones. So it's completely normal if you feel sexually attracted to each other."
"MOM!" Lloyd sounds embarrassed now.
"I know. This conversation is embarrassing for you. But we need to talk about that.
You are 18. We can't tell you everything anymore, we know that. But you can think, that we don't want to be grandparents with about 45!"

"And here is the proof that you won't!" Lloyd grabs the condom and holds it in front of his mother's nose. She takes it away again.
"We are not done talking."
"We are." With that, Lloyd leaves the room.
She hears steps behind her.
"You need to let go, Honey. He is 18. You said that already. He knows what he is doing."

"I hope so. I mean, I said that too, back in time. And now? Well, you see. We are here."
"And we regret nothing. Right?" He smiles and puts his hands on her shoulders from behind. "No. But we had no help. We had no jobs. We... we're just too young."

"But we got it. And he would have help. We would help with all we have. And I'm sure, that if something happens, Harumis Parents would help too."
Garmadon tries to calm down his wife.
"You say that now. But when it happens... this would be another situation..." Even though her husbands arguments helped a little to calm down, Misako is still unsure about this whole situation.
~

Back in his room, Lloyd calls Harumi.
A few moments later, she picks up.
"Hey, Greenie" Her voice sounds cute and happy.
Lloyd smiles at his phone. "Hey."
"Just 'Hey', huh? Somethings wrong. Tell it! What is wrong?"
"Just... I had THAT awkward conversation with my parents.
I guess my dad doesn't care. But my mom? Heh, she is stressful.
She thinks that I would accidentally become a father too quickly. Also, I'm not sure if she's really for our relationship like she says..."

"What?? First: how did she know? Second: your mom isn't against us. She is just worried that we make wrong decisions because we're blinded by love or so."
"First: yes... you're maybe right with that.
Second: she found a condom in my room."
"You have condoms in your room?" Harumis asks and says her sentence dirty. "You never know?" Lloyd answers with the same dirtiness.
Both laughed at that.

"Hey, Ru?"
"Yes?"
"Do your parents know about us? Because my parents know now. They saw us doing our pool cuddles."
He smiles, thinking of that memory.
"No, they don't. Can I tell them? Or do you want to be with me when I tell?"
"Pftt! You can do this alone. I'm sure you'll get this!" He laughs.
"Thank you, gentleman! But yeah. Maybe it's better like this. My dad would kill you if you were there."

"Your dad still doesn't like me, right? What have I done to him?"
"Nothing. You know, he's my father. He just wants to protect me. He would protect me from everyone. I'm sure, if you get to know each other more, not just greeting, then he will like you. He'll see, that you're perfect for me."
"Okay, thanks."
~

After some hours of talking, they said goodbye.
Lloyd goes to the bathroom and gets ready to sleep.
When he just wanted to leave the bathroom, he saw something shiny on the cabinet.
He walks towards it and grabs it.
It is Harumis armband. It is a silver one with a small silver turtle pendant.
It was the very bracelet Lloyd gave her when they were 12.

Since Harumi once had a turtle herself, after the hamster had an accident, Lloyd decided to buy her a matching bracelet.
She was very happy and hugged him tightly.
Lloyd smiled at this lovely memory.
"She's always been perfect"

Lloyd went back to his room and wrapped the bracelet in cloth to keep it from breaking. Then he puts it in his school backpack. He wants to give it back to her as quickly as possible. Lloyd knows how much it means to her.
~

"Tomorrow is Monday. I can't wait to see her in school.
Speaking of school. There are only 5 months left. I hope I can do it.
But with Rumi's help, I can definitely do it. She is and always will be the best.
There is nothing and no one who can take her away from me..."
With a smile on his face, Lloyd fell asleep. He dreams of Harumi. Her body, her laugh, her scent.
And he dreams of a wonderful future with her.
~