Trauma

Part 25 "Life Saver"

"I think my dad really likes you," I whispered to Jack while we leisurely strolled the park. The rest of the family weren't really used to Korean food while our dad loved it. There weren't that many Korean restaurants near our house and according to my dad, the ones near here sucked. He'd missed having a good Korean meal so much. 

"Thank the lord for my mom teaching me how to cook Korean food. I was so nervous today you know?" Jack said, smiling at me.

"Yeah. Rick kept on joking about how you looked like Casper the friendly ghost." I laughed while Jack pouted a bit.

"Hey! On my defense, I am not just used to all this parent meeting thing." Jack said, nudging my side.

"Hmm? Why? Surely you must have visited your previous girlfriends' houses?" I said, cocking my head to the side.

Jack said nothing while he just blushed silently. "Oh my god! Don't tell me I'm your first girlfriend?" I said, laughing.

"Hey! Give me some slack here. We're just 26. It's perfectly normal that I was single till now." Jack fake sniffed while I giggled.

"Sure sure. Aww. This just makes you more adorable. Those girls in the past don't know what they've missed." I said, pecking Jack's lips. I felt Jack smiling, which made me smile wider.

"Okay. Mushy time over. Break it up people, break it up." Rick barged in between us while my mom complained.

"Oh, Rick. Why did you have to do that? They were so cute together!" Mom said, slapping Rick's back. Pretty hard from the sound of it.

"Well done, son. PDA  should be banned. I'm not watching my daughter get all lovey-dovey with a guy right in front of me." Dad grunted while I blushed furiously. Seriously dad?

"It's time to feed the ducks! And you guys aren't going to show any PDA in front of them cause they are damn adorable with their quacking and you should watch them, instead of watching each other. Now come on!" Rick said, putting his arm around me and Jack's shoulder.

Jack and I shared a glance before we shrugged. We would get some alone time later anyway.

/

"Okay, Our guest bed is currently occupied by your dad's creative stuff so I guess Jack should share Rick's room. It'll be wide enough for both of you." Mom said as she pointed at Rick's room.

"Alright! I have to warn you, I'm a really light sleeper so behave yourself." Rick chuckled as he dragged Jack to his room while my mom chuckled.

"Liz. It's okay if I find you two together in your room. Just..save us from the noise okay?" Mom whispered as I stared at my mom in horror.

"Yikes. I'm not having that talk with you!!" I said, trying to escape to my room.

"Why? It's not something to be embarrassed about!" My mom yelled after me, laughing like crazy.

"Ewwww!" I said, slamming my bedroom door. 

"Aww. Someone is embarrassed."

Of course. I had forgotten that Rick and my room were connected, sharing a door in the middle. 

"Shut up or I'll tell mom about the you know what under your bed." I hissed, throwing a cushion at Rick.

"Oh my. I'm shaking. I'm in my 20's now, Liz. Mom isn't going to freak out on me when she sees I have some playboy magazines on me." Rick said, shrugging.

"You have what?!"

Rick's eyes widened as he turned around quickly. Mom was standing right behind him, looking dangerous. Welp.

While my mom was going all Detective Conan on him, I ushered Jack into my room and closed the door. 

"Yeesh. Sorry, you had to see that." I said, shaking my head while Jack looked around.

"Nah. Your family is interesting. I like them already." Jack smiled as he sat on my bed. I made my way over and sat on his lap while he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Well, I'm glad you do. Sorry that you have to sleep with the pig though. Rick snores a lot." I said, rolling my eyes.

"I'll sneak in here if it gets too much." Jack laughed as he ruffled my hair.

"Heyy!" I pouted as Jack leaned in to peck my lips. Things started to get heated while Rick slammed the door open. We broke apart quickly while Rick covered his eyes with a welp.

"Come over here, sister's lover! Stop the yuck fest! I need some sleep for tomorrow, and I won't be getting that knowing that you two are getting it right next to me." Rick grunted, ushering Jack in his room while we both blushed.

After all the chaos, I stared at my bedroom ceiling with all the lights off. I still haven't told Jack about my past, and I got a feeling that If I waited too long, I would regret the aftercome of it.

But the thing was, I was too afraid. 

Things were looking good now. Was it too selfish of me to hang on to it? To the happiness I finally found after years of darkness?

Jack was like a life jacket, given to me while I was splashing around, scared that I will drown to the endless darkness surrounding me.

I just needed some time to actually wear the jacket and be calm till I tried to think about getting on board again.