[In the Shadows of Love] ~ Pedri.Gonzalez

Chapter 18

As they arrived at Fernando's house, Pedri started getting out of the car but noticed Emily still seated. He turned to her and said, "Don't try to stay here. I will not let you sit here waiting. Come on."

Emily hesitated. "Pedri, it's okay. It must be a personal thing. I'll wait here."

Pedri opened her door and extended his hand. "It's nothing deep. He told me it's okay, and you're not a stranger to me. So, let's go."

Emily looked at him for a moment, then smiled and took his hand, stepping out of the car. "Alright, if you say so."

As Pedri unlocked the door and stepped inside, he noticed the house was eerily quiet with no one in sight. "That's weird," he muttered, looking around.

Emily glanced around as well, feeling a bit uneasy. "Umm, maybe he's in the living room?" she suggested softly.

Pedri nodded, leading the way down the hall. "Yeah, let's check."

They moved towards the living room, their footsteps echoing in the stillness of the house. Pedri couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was going on, but he kept going, hoping to find his brother and figure out what was happening.

As they entered the living room, it seemed empty at first. Suddenly, Fernando, along with Pedri's mom and dad, jumped out from behind furniture and yelled, "Surprise!"

Pedri and Emily both jumped in shock. Pedri's face quickly broke into a wide grin. "What the—" he started, but his laughter cut him off.

As Pedri hugged his mom, he said, "I didn't expect that at all."

His dad stepped forward, smiling warmly. "It's been a long time since we've seen you, so we wanted to surprise you," he explained.

As Emily stood in the back, watching Pedri with his family, a wave of happiness washed over her. She knew how much he loved them and how much this surprise meant to him. Seeing him surrounded by their warmth and joy brought a smile to her face.

Yet, amid the happiness, she couldn't shake off a twinge of anxiety. She was meeting his family even before their first official date, and the thought made her a bit nervous. She felt a mix of emotions—happy to be included in such a special moment, but also stressed about making a good impression.