30 Days To Paradise // COMPLETED

Day 10

The dreaded day has come.

After the Sunday service, my mother busied herself into planning for dinner while I, on the other hand, is calming my heart to not have a heart attack or a stroke since I'm pretty sure I'll be having one later. I was praying for some intervention just to postpone the disaster but the doorbell later that day says otherwise.

My lovely boyfriend is dressed like a Sunday school boy which would probably made me laugh and kiss him hard if it weren't for the fact that I might be probably facing my doom. My wild child best friend is surprisingly tame and wore a red polka dotted dress that is extending past her knees. Greg, Cameron and Blake are also dressed formally that if you're an outsider, you might think there's a birthday from 1960s or a dinner for a really happy family. But we're not. Not from 1960s nor a happy family and I feel like I'm about to faint.

"You look so beautiful, my love." It was Josh who whispered discreetly, making sure I blush in the process. I was wearing an emerald dress with black laces at the bottom. Before going into the dining hall, I exhaled as if letting go of all the bad things that could happen and hoping, for once, that things might end better.

"So Blake, do I know your parents?" This is it. The background investigation of my parents starts.

"Oh I'm not sure Mr. Monte. My dad is just a regular businessman and my mother is a house wife." Modesty is Blake's greatest attribute. Regular businessman my ass! His father is a rich, very rich businessman. "What was your last name again?" It was my mother asking.

"Hamilton, maam."

"Oh a Hamilton!" My mother exclaimed as if understanding my knowledge of Blake's family.

"So you do own acres of land in Thailand?"

"I don't sir, my parents do." My father smiled but not hiding a look. He then proceeded to Greg, skipping the Lee's since he already knows them. "How about you, young boy?"

"Belhow sir." My mother's eyes widen but immediately regained normalcy.

"My sympathies with your mother." Fake sympathy, I tell you. Greg's dad was an actor who was known to abandon his family. "Fame got into his head and left a wonderful boy." I can sense that Greg is getting uncomfortable. "I wonder what your mother felt because I'm sure I'll not be feeling that way, right Rey?" Before anyone could answer, I stood up. Stood up for Greg. Stood up for my friends. Stood up to ask, "Dessert, anyone?" and darted to the kitchen.

When I returned, it was Josh who is being scrutinized. Save the best for last, indeed.

"You're the mayor's son!" It was more like an accuse than a statement. "Yes I am sir."

"Now I know where all those city taxes go! Look at him Candice! He's dressed awfully well for a Mayor's son whose salary is meager, meager to buy expensive things!" I can feel Josh's hand curling into a fist. My friends now looked at him and me then down, as if understanding what I meant when I say this is a bad idea.

"Dad, I think it's not polite to assume that way. Besides, his mother is an heiress. And a wonderful woman. If the mayor's pay can't cut the ties, maybe his wife's money does." I tried to smile at my parents judging look and reach for my boyfriends hand before he explodes.

"So you've met his mother?" "Yes, I did. I had the chance to meet the Mayor too." This time I smiled truthfully remembering the night I met them. It felt home rather than meeting a mayor and an heiress. The couple was more than welcoming that all I want is to stay at Sophie's embrace all night.

"Tell me how that happened." More calm, my father inquired. Oh shit, didn't thought about this path for sure.

"I introduced her to my parents, sir." It was Josh. The confusion of my parents were evident on their faces. "Introduced as what?" That's when my friends held their breath. I, for one, found myself doing the same.

"As my girlfriend." I held Josh's hand as tight as I could. Then...

Silence.

No one was speaking, my friends are looking at us and back at my parents. Then after minutes have passed, my mother stood up. "Kids, nice seeing you and thank you for having dinner with us. I'm glad to know all of you but it's getting late and you still have school tomorrow." She smiled too sweetly at them then gazed at me as if her eyes are on fire. "As for you, go to your room!"