Betrayed By Destiny

~CHAPTER FOURTEEN~

My eyes gleamed in happiness as I spotted my dad, waiting for me. I ran to him and hugged him tight as soon as I got out of the vehicle. What I went through yesterday, I thought I won't see my family again.

"Hey, dad." I greeted as we parted from the hug. The relationship between him and I was special. He was the one I grew up with. At my birth, my mother's career was on the peak and dad agreed to step down and looked after me, taking the place of my mother. That was why I was closer to him than with my mother.

"How was your trip dear?'" He said as he took my bag. We proceeded to the car. I already signed the necessary papers and we were granted a three days holidays because of the ruined outing.

"Share your adventure," Dad requested as we fasten our seat belts.

"As you already know, due to the zoo's incident, we couldn't complete," I said and he nodded. I kept debating in my mind whether to tell him the truth or not but I already promised that I won't, so I kept my mouth closed.

My mind again wandered on Aithan. What was he doing now? Was he happy that I was gone? Just then, my phone vibrated, Shawn's name flashed on my mobile. I sighed as I opened his message.

Shawn: you have no idea how happy you made me. I'm the happiest man in the whole world. I feel like the richest person in this world because I have got the precious thing, that is you. You have no idea how precious you are. You are like a diamond that illuminate the one who owned it and longing of the rest that want to own it, I love you. I really do. I will have the honour to be with you rightfully, as your better half, after graduation.

I exhaled heavily as I read the last part of his message. Why was it so hard for me to accept him as my boyfriend? Why does he seem like a burden to me? A burden which I had to carry for the rest of my life? Love supposed to be weightless instead of a burden?

"What happened?You seem disturbed?" Dad asked as he gazed at me for a second before focussing on the road.

How amazing was that he could just take a single look at me and automatically knew my mood and he was always right.

"Actually, umm, someone.." I was hesitant to tell him but I had to because when I was younger, I promised him that he would be the first one to know if I have found someone or someone proposed me.

So, like a good daughter of his, I would fulfil my promise, it's just that I couldn't find the right word to start these type of conversation, moreover, with my dad.

I guess it would be better since I would get a male's point of view.

"Shawn proposed to me." I blabbered it all at once as I squeezed my eyes tightly. I was so ashamed.

"What? If I'm not mistaken, Shawn, the professor?" Dad asked in amazement.

"Yes dad, he proposed to me, just before leaving the woods and.."

"And?"

"And I said yes," I confessed.

"Humm, " he didn't say anything else and kept on driving quietly.

"Why are you quiet?" I asked as I waited for a reaction but his gaze remained fixed on the road. I just hoped I didn't make a mistake by confiding in my dad, drowned by emotions.

And a few seconds later, he stopped the car. At this point, I tried hard to swallow my saliva but in vain, I couldn't find the power to do so.

I was scared only because of the position that Shawn held. In our family, this kind of relationships was purely unethical and unprofessional and was strictly forbidden, especially by my mother. I wouldn't fear if Shawn was a normal guy instead of my professor.

"Dad, we already decided to wait until graduation but if you have any objections then I wouldn't proceed ahead." I forced those words out, my head and gaze still down.

"Milly, do you love him?" My dad asked softly as he lifted my head with his fingers. I was unsure of how to respond to his question because I didn't even know if I loved Shawn. I was jealous because he wasn't paying attention to me. I was angry when he wasn't talking to me but was it love or friendship?

Because of what I had learned about love, I haven't felt anything of that sort for him. The happiness that my parents held when they saw each other, the impatience Angelina showed when Eric would get a little late, the pain my father felt whenever my mother was hurt, why didn't I felt anything like this for Shawn?

"Be with someone, marry someone who loves you, not the one who you love or doesn't reciprocate the feelings, isn't this your advice, dad?" I asked as I faced him.

"That's mean you don't love him, right?" He asked as he maintained eye contact.

"I don't know, dad. I really don't know. I have feelings for him but I don't know what name should I give it, friendship or love?" I sighted.

"Listen to me Milly, I completely understand you. The phase that you are going through, at this age, where all this are common, you would have some confusion about these things but one thing that you should always bear in mind is that relationships aren't easy for everyone."' He said.

"For some, it can be a bed of pink roses whereas, for some, it can be a bed of nails, it depends on how you nurture it. Love is temporarily but what make it last is understanding and trust." He said as he took my hands in his.

"I don't know why you accepted when you are still unsure about your feelings but I would strongly advise you to go through your decision once again because where there is love, there is no doubt and please, don't be in a relationship for the sake of just having a person to 'showcase' in your life because you will end up hurting him and eventually yourself. It's better to remain single rather than to end up in a loveless relationship." He concluded and I nodded, agreeing with all this statement. He was right.

"But he loves me, dad, he really does, I want to be loved like you love mum. Like Eric loves Angel, all I need is love, who knows I might fall in love with him over time?" I murmured loud enough for him to hear.

" Oh my daughter, you are so grown up, come here." He said as he pulled me in a hug.

"Thank you, dad, I really needed it," I said as tears of happiness poured out.

"If he really loves you and you appreciate it then I have no objection and I really appreciate your decision to wait until your graduation, I hope you will stay firm to your decision but your mom..,? You know her, I don't think that she would approve it." My dad said with a sympathetic look.

I really didn't need her permission to date anyone but having the approval of parents on dating is always a plus, especially if you ended with heartbreak, they would support unless it was against their will.

"I think, for now, it's better we don't tell her anything, what do you think?" I winked as I proposed.

"You mean, keep a secret, from her? Do you realise what she gonna do when she learn about this? No, no, I'm out." Dad laughed.

"Please, please dad, please, I won't tell her anything about your involvement." I grinned as I pleaded.

"Are you sure?" Dad raised an eyebrow over my statement.

"Pinky promise." I winked.

"Okay, then, high-five?"

"High five." We laughed.