Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 53

_Chapter 53~ Tumbling World_

I couldn't beat my parents to the door.

It happened before I could think. I was awkwardly shuffling around the entire house, looking myself over in the mirror times and times again—eyeing my burgundy cardigan, black top and floral skirt. My hair tied back in a ponytail and star earrings. I'd even rallied up my best boots that would give me a little more height. Even still, I was jittery with nerves since I'd awaken at 7 AM until now—noon—impatiently looking out the window for any signs of Ryu.

Though, it was my fault for not anticipating that my parents would catch on to my antsy behaviour and would immediately rush to the door before I could have the chance of realizing the bell had gone off. After clambering down the steps, all the colour had left my face when I saw both entities blocking Ryu off at the door, matching smiles painting their features.

Although expecting Ryu to seem nervous as I'd deemed anyone would be, instead a small—though forced—smile was painting the bottom half of his face.

"Good afternoon, Mr and Mrs Kikuchi," he greeted.

"Good afternoon," Mom responded with a knowing smirk. She played along regardless. "What a pleasant surprise to have you at our door. What brings you here?"

Ryu stiffened but quickly tried to play it off with a laugh, "O-oh, um—oh, Reina! Is that you?"

          I automatically became stricken. Both my parents and Ryu shifted their gazes in my direction. I gave my parents an immediate warning stare but that was a lost signal to them because it only caused them to smirk even wider. My cheeks warm, I briefly peeked up at Ryu whose smile had grown more genuine at the sight of me.

           "Hey, Reina," he said.

           Suddenly feeble, I couldn't halt the nervousness enveloping me as I scuffed my feet. "H-hi."

           I glanced at him, feeling my heart rate increase when my eyes met his. He was dressed rather casually—a flannel and dark-washed jeans—but it suited him nonetheless. I also caught that he'd had his one arm positioned behind his back as he stood at the doorstep.

"Iwasaki," Dad started, breaking apart our locked eyes. We turned to see that Dad's head was jerking between us in momentary hesitation.

Mom wasted no time to cut him off, "Reina, don't you think you should've told us you started dating Iwasaki here?"

Her bluntness was never something I expected. Immediately, we both recoiled. "I-is it that obvious?" I ended up stammering, ignoring the dark blush blossoming across my cheeks.

Instead of responding, Mom and Dad gasped. Simultaneously, their eyes gained an awed twinkle.

"I told you that was the case!" Mom cried, smacking Dad's arm. "She's always in a daze or humming to herself! That's a typical sign of a girl in love!"

My skin crawled with utter embarrassment. Ryu only chuckled under his breath and when I looked his way more awkwardness ensued.

"Th-that's not..." I began.

"I've met his guardian at the supermarket the other day and even she noted Iwasaki is constantly mentioning somebody special to her too!"

Now it was Ryu's turn to blush. When I nudged him, he averted his vision to his shoes. I couldn't help but smile a bit.

"How long has this been going on?" Dad demanded.

I bit my lip. "Uh, two weeks?"

"Two weeks?" Mom grinned. "So I'm guessing today is.... W-wait right here!"