In the spotlight

62

Matteo Rodriguez

I leaned over the huge table as I held the ceramic bowl firmly before I carefully placed it in the middle. As I straightened up, I looked around the dining room with a satisfied smile on my face.

Everything was set, the cutlery and silverware all in place, and flowers in vases decorated the table, filling up the room with a fresh scent. But what really got my attention was the soups already looking back at me from the table, at least three different ones served.

Sofia for sure did everything she possibly could to impress my family, after doing nothing but cooking for 2 days straight before the scheduled arrival of my parents and sister's family. I've tried my best to help her out wherever I could, but after hearing what she planned to cook, I ended up sticking with the cleaning instead. That way, I couldn't interfere with her awesomeness.

I dashed through the stone arch straight into my living room to reassign the decorative pillows on the couch. The sun was setting already behind the white and red rooftops of Madrid, orange light flooding my living room through the tall glass walls. Everything just seemed to be perfect today.

After I checked for any imperfections for the thousandth time but couldn't find anything out of order, I made my way towards the bedroom. I slipped through the doors and walked up behind Sofia, who was struggling with the zipper of her dress.

I headed towards her quickly, taking the zipper of the white dress over as she swept her long blonde waves away from her back. I zipped it up quickly, hugging her waist with one of my hands as I watched her doing the last smoothings in the standing mirror.

She curled her hair and did her makeup perfectly, choosing a white medium-length dress with long see-through sleeves and a black belt going around her waist.

"You are absolutely gorgeous." I stated as I leaned closer to her, planting a small kiss on her head. The scent of her familiar perfume intoxicated me completely as our eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. Her mismatched ones glistering with excitement and some worry behind it.

"Today is going to be perfect. I can feel it in my bones." I flashed a smile at her as she turned towards me between my arms.

"I want to have the best impression on them." She sighed with a pale smile as she reached towards my neck, adjusting the black bowtie and smoothing over my white shirt.

"Once you introduce yourself to them, you've already made the best impression." Given my parents' eagerness to meet the girl who wrapped their son around her fingers and Sofia's angelic nature, I didn't have any doubt about whether or not they will get on.

In the very next moment the ringing of the doorbell echoed throughout the whole house. I planted a quick kiss on my girlfriend's lips before I took her hand into mine, and we headed to the entrance.

I was the one who opened the door for my family first until Sofia stood near to me, waiting for her turn of introductions.

"Mi querido hijo" (My dear son). My mother was the first who greeted me. A wide smile stretched on my face as I pulled her into a hug, feeling her arms tightening around my back. Her familiar short brunette waves and very same emerald eyes I and Isabella inherited warmed my heart. I missed her so much.

My father followed her closely. I didn't save my strength with him; the tall man's bear hug was much different than my shorter and more fragile mother's. Before I turned to anything else, however, I stepped back to Sofia, and with my hand around her waist, I introduced them to each other.

"Madre, padre, this is my girlfriend, Sofia Christensen." (Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend.) I informed my parents about the obvious, standing tall and proud next to her. I just loved calling her my girlfriend any chance I got.