Waiting For An Eclipse

Chapter 5

July 2, 2016

On Saturdays, I usually wake up around 9 or 10. By that time, Mom would be finished with her laundry. Dad would be finished removing weeds from the garden. Penelope would be out of the house to go somewhere. If not, she would be painting her nails with a different color. Ethan would be in his room playing an online video game.

But today, I was awakened by the unusual noise our house was in. I sat up and looked out the window to see if we had any visitor. There was indeed another car parked beside Penny's car. And for some reasons, I knew who owned it.

I immediately bolt up and walked down the stairs. My theory was right when I saw him playing chess with Dad.

I headed towards the living room where they were having an intense and serious game that they didn't even notice my presence.

"Nathan, what the hell are you doing here? And at 8 in the morning?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Shush, my dear. Nathan has been here since 6:30 in the morning." Dad said, not even looking at me. Nathan didn't seem to hear what I said or even noticed me here. He was too absorbed in the middle of the game. Dad looked like he checked Nathan's queen piece.

I grunted and walked towards the kitchen where Mom was doing the dishes.

"Why the hell is Nathan here?" I asked. Mom looked at me for a second and smiled before focusing on the dishes before her.

"Nathan went here to ask our permission."

"Permission for what? Is he your adopted son now?"

"Not in that sense." Then she looked at me. "He told us he likes you and asked if he could date you in the near future. When you two, as he said, will gain mutual feelings with each other." Then she turned her attention back to the dishes.

"What? You're just kidding right? Tell me that what you said is a joke. Mom!"

"Mom's right, Rory. Besides, Nathan's a good guy. We're even playing an online game today after he plays chess. After lunch, we'll watch a movie." Ethan interrupted, placing a plate with a pizza crust on it on the sink.

"What? He's staying that long? And how can you even say those things? You just met him today!" I complained.

"He gave us pizza." Ethan said before going out of the kitchen.

"So what?" I called out then turned to Mom, who looked like she was enjoying my brief exchange with my brother.

"Oh my god. Don't tell me you approved of him."

Mom's cheerfulness vanished as she threw the sponge on the sink with an angry splash.

"Look, Aurora, I don't know why you're acting such a brat right now. Nathan went out of his way to go here and ask for our approval like a gentleman he is. No guy does that nowadays, especially in this century." Mom said looking at me as if she was scolding me.

"I haven't even answered him yet. We're not dating, Mom, and now it seems like my whole family accepted him in already." I said, walking out of the kitchen.

As I went out and closed the door, I gasped in surprise as I saw Nathan leaning in. He stood up straight in front of me.

"You - you didn't hear what we talked about, did you?" I asked, suddenly feeling guilty. He just blinked and stared at me, opening and closing his mouth as if he decided not to answer my question.

I heaved a deep breath and covered my face with both my hands. "Damn it." I said, the humiliation piling up one by one. Nathan grabbed both of my wrist and pulled them away from my face. I closed my eyes as he did.