FL - Temptation

II. I should have listened

LENA'S POV:

"Guess what, mom!", I excitedly say when she gets home.

"What, Lena?" It hasn't been a minute since she stepped through that door, but the question-bombarding has begun, I think to myself, giggling.

"Isaac wants me to meet his parents!"

To my surprise, mom doesn't seem happy, but rather...disappointed...

"Oh, not that guy again.", she finally says.

"Why, what's wrong with him?"

"Lena, I told you, I don't think he's right for you." Oh I have a problem...the serious voice.

"But I love hi-"

"Besides, when does he want you guys to meet? I mean, with his parents. And where?", mom cuts me off.

"Where, where, at their house of course. And like in 2-3 weeks.", I answer in a mocking-annoyed voice.

She sighs, clearly annoyed. "Lena, please if you're going to listen to me once, let it be this time. He's. Not. Right for you. I know the type of guy he is and I don't want you to have...lifelong...bad memories."

"Oh, come on!", I swing my arms out. "What are you so scared of?"

"That you'll do something you'll forever regret."

"I won't." She nods, still a bit of unease on her face.

Two weeks later I call my mom that I'm on my way to Isaac's and she should expect me to come home late. She said her usual speech of 'be careful, call me if something's wrong, blah, blah, blah'. Ugh, that parents are always sooo careful and whatsoever...come on now. I'm 17, one year and I'm an adult. I might still be her kid, but I think I can pay attention to myself.

Isaac doesn't live far away from my house and I've already cringed to myself at the scenario if mom gets anxious and turns up at their house. They will think, 'oh, look at Lena, mommy's little girl' oh hell no. She should not embarrass me like that. I didn't dare to tell her, because she will get an idea in her head.

Isaac drove me to their house, picking me up somewhere. Mom is so crazy on hating this guy, she begged me not to allow him to pick me up at our house, until I agreed, sighing.

"I'm sure my parents will like you.", Isaac says after seeing my face, that was sad a minute ago.

"Yeah, yeah."

"What's wrong, gorgeous?"

"I just...ugh, my mom is suuuper anxious about me being with you and blah blah blah. I also don't understand her problem with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I was just thinking, what if she turns up at our house, since we-", I point to him and me. "-live close to each other. But I didn't dare to tell her or else she'll do it.", I laugh at the absurdity.

We arrive at their house. It's a 2-storey house - ground and 1st floor - painted light blue. We walk in the street-facing front door into the hall to put down our coats.

"We're here!", Isaac shouts and moments later, two people come from what I guess is the living room.

"Good evening Mr. And Mrs. Stevens.", I greet them and give my hand to shake.

"She's Lena, my girlfriend I've been telling you about.", Isaac points at me, putting a hand around my waist.

After some more small talk, we start dinner. We chat a little and he drives me over to his apartment, stating his room is already childish. He's 19, after all.

In his apartment, my gaze immediately falls onto his bed in the middle-

Then some words I can't understand, begging, pictures at what I close my eyes at, even though it's in my head.

These are the pictures I've been getting the whole day, ever since Eva put us in front of that choice. When my gaze falls onto the bed, it always cuts out. And I know why. My brain just doesn't allow me to remember the night I realized my mom was right. I chose love over something else. And it was the worst descision of my life, as far as I can remember.

I would've been saved from lifelong trauma, if I just listened to her. But no, young Lena, young me had to be so naive to believe I was right. My biggest regret depended on a choice...and I made the wrong choice. True love doesn't conquer in the end, as I remember. That's in the fairytales my mom used to read to me when I was like, what, four?

I keep hearing Eva's voice making us choose between love and our job, then as if she's here with me, my mom's voice saying 'he's not right for you' as clear as day.

I can't choose love this time. I won't fail you this time, mom.

***

It's finally 13:00 and my classes are finished! Thank. God. I swing the door to the teachers' lounge out, dump my books on the desk. Keeping my hands on them, I lean on my hand, sighing deeply.

"I'm done. I'm done.", I say, more to my self.

"What, why?", a few colleagues turn around as I look up.

"I just...have been stressing all day, I can't keep my thoughts ruined...I mean straight - you see what I mean? - and...my day has been ruined. From the start and...ugh, it's too much to say.", I sigh again, as I started venting.

"Hey hey hey, calm down, it's okay. Sit down.", Celine comes up to me.

"I will...into my car. And I will gladly do that."

That moment the door swings open and as I turn my head, it's...Oliver...oh no no no no no. I look at my watch, and even though it's only 13:05...

"Ah, see, it's already 13:05.", I point to the clock. "And I gotta dash off, I have an appointment I can't miss.", I lie with ease, frantically starting to pack up.

"I'm sure your appointment can wait a few minutes.", a voice says from in front of me. "And you have to wait like 20 minutes anyways."

"Nuh-uh, this one can't. I've already moved this twice.", I say, still packing up.

"You won't miss it, I promise. But I want to talk to you.", Oliver says. A moment later I'm pulled by the wrist. He drags me out of the room, leading me to a corner.

"Oliver, please-"

"You don't have an appointment, do you?"

Damn, he caught me. "No, but-"

"Then we can talk about our decision."

"Please, I'm stressed, I have a lot...äh, my mind's a mess, I need to go home and, I-I...I haven't made up my mind yet.", I go onto a rant.

"Shhh, calm down...", he holds my shoulders. "I understand. It's hard, I have to make the same decision as well. Tomorrow? When you're mind's clearer?"

"Fine. But I have to...ugh, go.", I free myself from his grasp, ducking under his arm.

I run down the hallway, swinging the door open, and continuing to pack up. I look at my watch again.

"Ah, come on, we've wasted 5 minutes, I'm gonna be late from my...what appointment was that again?", I can't make up lies so fast, but at least I'm good at acting and pretending.

With a quick 'bye!', I dash out the door. I put my stuff and sit into the car, sighing deeply. What a day.