Mystical Saga - The beginning

32. Healing severed bonds (F)

A/N

This story is unedited so apologies for grammatical and spelling errors if any.

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Fiora (POV)

We gathered in my dad's study for 'the conversation,' the tension in the room palpable. My parents' stern gazes weighed heavily on Zack and me, and I could feel the anxiety rising.

"So, how did this happen?" my mother asked, breaking the silence. Her tone was a mix of concern and frustration.

Earlier, I had gone to Zack's room to call him for dinner, and things had gotten a bit out of hand. My parents walked in on us at the worst possible moment. They knew our relationship wasn't strictly professional, but seeing us in such a compromising situation had clearly rattled them.

"Nothing, Mother. You're overreacting," I said, trying to downplay the situation.

"Really? Am I?" my mother retorted, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Zack.

Zack, visibly flustered and turning a deep shade of red, struggled to find his words. "Mrs. Mary, I'll take responsibility," he blurted out, clearly anxious.

"What responsibility? And Mother, it's nothing like that. Stop terrorizing him," I interjected, hoping to calm things down.

"Fine, if you say so," my father chimed in, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. He turned to Zack. "So, you both didn't have 'the talk'?"

I threw my hands up in frustration and looked at Zack, who smiled sheepishly and shook his head. His awkwardness only seemed to add to the tension.

"Seriously, Zack?" I exclaimed. "You're not helping here."

My father sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair. "Look, we just want to understand what's going on. You two are adults, but this... this isn't something we can just ignore."

Zack finally found his voice. "I understand, sir. I care deeply for her, and I want to do right by her. We didn't intend for things to happen this way."

My mother's stern expression softened slightly, her concern evident. "We just want to make sure you both know what you're getting into. Relationships aren't just about passion; they require commitment and understanding."

"I know, Mother. And we are committed to figuring this out together," I assured her, glancing at Zack for support.

He nodded earnestly. "Absolutely. I'm here for the long haul, and I'm ready to discuss everything openly and honestly."

My parents exchanged a look, a mixture of relief and residual concern passing between them. My father finally spoke. "Alright. Just promise us you'll communicate and take this seriously."

"We promise," Zack and I said in unison, a sense of relief washing over us.

As we left the study, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my parents' concern, even if their approach had been a bit intense. The tension had been palpable, but at least now we had their tentative blessing to navigate our relationship more openly. The underlying worry in their eyes reminded us to handle this situation with care and maturity.

We began our dinner in awkward silence. The clinking of utensils was the only sound, and the weight of unspoken words hung heavily in the air. My mother finally broke the silence while passing the spinach cottage cheese curry to Zack. "I always hoped to see you two together," she said softly. "I even tried to set up a blind date for you both, but you both refused so sternly. Even in the office, you barely glanced at each other..... After you saved Fiora from that accident, she showed a bit of interest, but it faded as soon as you left for home. Your father and I always thought you made a good pair.... but when we saw you were least interested in each other, we left you alone."