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IN WHICH alejandro and his girlfriend join a family vacation
alejandro and his girlfriend of 1 year got invited by his brother to join a family vacation. although serena hasn't met his parents she still agreed going with his boyfriend feeling confident enough to join.
When the couple arrived at the airport, Alejandro spotted his family instantly. His dad, with an easy-going grin, came forward and gave him a hearty hug, then turned to Serena, warmly shaking her hand and welcoming her. His younger brother, Edi, also smiled and greeted her with the familiarity of someone they had already "met" online. His girlfriend was also very loving and welcoming her with a hug. But Alejandro's mother was different. She gave her son a lingering hug, whispered something in his ear, and only glanced at Serena with a curt nod before quickly looking away.
Alejandro felt the tension but, wanting Serena to feel comfortable, brushed it off as jet lag or stress. He squeezed Serena's hand in silent reassurance, trying to make her feel as safe and welcomed as possible. Serena returned his gentle squeeze, managing a small smile, though inside, her anxiety grew. What should have been a casual family gathering felt increasingly charged with each passing moment.
Their first few days in Turks and Caicos were filled with activities. They went snorkeling, lounged by the beach, and had family dinners with Alejandro's family. Serena did her best to contribute to conversations, share smiles, and laugh along with everyone else. But Alejandro's mother remained distant, her smiles strained, her responses cold.
One evening, as they all sat around a firepit on the beach, Alejandro's mother commented to his father about how much she had liked his last girlfriend. "alina was so much nicer" his other said to her husband in a low tone although serena heard her exactly. She did so in a low voice, just loud enough for Serena to hear. Alejandro, who had been distracted in conversation with Edi, missed the remark, but Serena felt it like a sting. Her heart sank. She didn't want to appear sensitive or insecure, especially when she had barely known Alejandro's mother a few days. So, she swallowed her feelings, determined to let it pass.
Over the next few days, Alejandro's mother made more judging jabs at Serena's expense. She questioned Serena's career goals, casually dismissed her opinions on travel plans, and once even mentioned how Alejandro's ex "would've loved to see this place" Serena's cheeks would flush with embarrassment each time, and though Alejandro noticed her discomfort, he struggled to get to the bottom of it. "mom, that's enough" he said with a warning face towards his mother.
By the fourth day, Alejandro finally began to pick up on his mother's tension toward Serena. After a family dinner at a beachside restaurant, he noticed Serena's usual cheerful demeanor had faded, replaced with a quiet sadness that only surfaced when his mother was nearby.
That night, Alejandro and Serena retired to their room after an exhausting day. They lay together on the bed, and he pulled her close, tracing soft circles on her back, sensing her unease. Finally, Serena gathered the courage to tell him.
"Alejandro" she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur, "i feel like your mom, she doesn't like me"
Alejandro was quiet, letting her continue. She explained the judging remarks, the side glances, and how she always felt like she was being compared to his ex.
"I'm trying to be patient and polite" Serena said, her voice breaking slightly, "but it's hard when I feel like I'm constantly being judged. I love you so much, and I want to get along with your family. But I don't know how much more of this I can take."
Alejandro's face tightened with both sadness and frustration. He couldn't believe his mother would make Serena feel so unwelcome. He took Serena's hand, squeezing it firmly, his usual soft expression now tinged with protectiveness.
"I'm so sorry, Serena," he said, kissing her forehead. "You don't deserve this. I had no idea it was this bad. I'll talk to her." he said before he kissed her gently.
The next morning, Alejandro found a quiet moment to pull his mother aside. They walked along the shore, and Alejandro laid everything on the table, explaining how hurt Serena felt and how uncomfortable his mother's comments had made her.
His mother listened in silence, her face unreadable. When he finished, she sighed deeply, looking out at the ocean.
"I'm sorry if it seemed like I was hard on her," she said, her voice low. "But I'm just, I'm scared, Alejandro. You gave your heart away once, and it was broken. I don't want you to go through that again."
Alejandro softened, understanding his mother's concern, but he stood firm. "Mom, Serena is different. She's kind, loving, and she cares about me deeply. You need to give her a chance. She's not going to hurt me."
That evening, the family gathered for their final dinner of the trip. Alejandro's mother sat next to Serena, striking up small talk for the first time without any of the biting remarks or tension from before. At first, Serena was cautious, unsure if the change in tone was genuine, but as the conversation continued, she felt a glimmer of warmth she hadn't felt before.
After dinner, Alejandro's mother took Serena aside. Her face was softened with an apologetic smile, her voice quiet and genuine.
"I owe you an apology," she began. "I've been hard on you, and that wasn't fair. I'm just protective of Alejandro. I didn't mean to make you feel unwelcome."
Serena's eyes welled up with relief as she smiled back. "Thank you. I understand," she said, squeezing Alejandro's mother's hand. "I love him a lot, and I would never want to hurt him." she said honestly. "i appreciate that. thank you" his mom said hugging her
As they walked back to join the others, Alejandro saw them talking, his heart swelling with relief and happiness. After that trip, the couple visited his parents multiple times and serena and his mom were practically best friends now.
