The Other Half

Chapter 30

"Honey..." mom mumbled.

Suddenly, a warm hand enclosed mine. I look at the owner of the hand, he was Hunter. He squeezed it light, as if he's trying to say that everything was fine. Then I bring back my stare at my parents.

"Can... can we have a moment with our daughter, please?" mom asked mum Elena.

"Yeah! Sure, please take your time," mum Elena replied nicely. She dragged father Rupert and Hunter out of the living room. Before going out, Hunter gave me a reassuring smile. Then they're gone.

I look away as I say, "What are you doing here?"

"He was Hunter was he?" mom asked as she stepped forward. "We are about to leave this morning to Seattle, but that young man knocked on our door..."

"What?" I questioned. Why would Hunter do that? Is he gonna send me away this time? For real?

Then it was dad's turn to stand up. "You're getting married?" shock of wave run in my whole body as soon as I heard those words coming from him.

"The young man visited us to ask permission, to ask for your hands..." my hatred for Hunter fade away instantly. He... he went home? To ask permission? For my hands? He could just marry me without them but... here they are. "Honey, is this the reason why? Why you don't wanna leave?"

"Aren't you being irrational, Aubrey? You don't know him that well. You only knew him for what? Months? You are way too young to get married," dad tried to clear my mind but he don't know what's going on with my life. He don't understand why.

"Dad, knowing one person does not depend on how long had we been together. I love him, dad, he's the one. Besides, I'm turning 20 next month. Mom married you at the same age, please... let me do this one, please."

"Oh, honey..." mom cried, she's covering her mouth with her both palms to seal her sobs. "You were just my baby yesterday... but look at you now..."

"Mom," tears started escaping my eyes.

"Do you love him?" dad asked, maintaining his posture.

"I do, dad. I really do. I wouldn't run from home if not." I sob

"And do that man love you?"

"I do, Sir." suddenly, Hunter appeared from my back.

"Alright, I'm giving you my blessing. But remember this thing young man, once my daughter came to me crying, I'm gonna hunt you down myself and kill you dead, you understand?"

"Yes, Sir." Hunter said with all his heart.

"Oh Goodness..." mom mumbled and then she opened her arms. I immediately run to her and make myself comfortable inside of her arms. After her, I hugged dad tight, and for I think gazillion times, I muttered "Thank you, thank you so much,"

Mom, dad and Gab stayed for lunch. Gab was playing with the other kids the whole time. Mum Elena throws a feast during lunch, dad asked Hunter few questions, that includes where's his parents. How old was he. What's his educational background. What he do to make a living. Almost all of his answers were lie except that he graduated with a master's degree in Entrepreneurship and bachelor's degree in Sociology. After so long of living? No wonder he could accomplish such things in such young age-looking. After lunch, we drove them back home. Mom, again, cried as we said good bye to each other. She doesn't even want to get off, but dad made her stopped. Then Hunter drove me back to school. While on the ride back to school, I spoke up. "Hey,"

Hunter glance at me for a while, then back to the road. "Hey, I thought you're mad at me,"

I bite my lower lip, guilty of all the bitchy manners I've shown him. "I'm so sorry... I was just... jealous, like... yeah," I shrugged. I'm so shy, I don't even know how to finish my sentence.

"Aubrey–"

"I'm so sorry, really sorry, Hunter. I hope you're not mad at me," Hunter suddenly parked the car on the side street. The sudden stop makes me almost hit my head to the board. Oh, he's mad. I lowered my head and then muttered, "I'm sorry,"

"Aubrey," he called my name with annoyance. "Will you ever stop apologizing? You ask for forgiveness for so many times, though there's no big deal at all. You are being too kind, please don't apologize to people just because you think you did something wrong you didn't. If you continued being like this, people will start abusing your kidness, do you get me?"

"I do... yeah. I'm s– yeah," I nodded and then look in his way. "Are you not mad at me? I'd... just treat you bad earlier,"

"I will never be," he smiled. "I actually enjoyed it. I kinda like seeing you jealous, and territorial when it comes to me, it's thrilling." he remarked and then a soft chuckle slipped out of his heavenly lips.

I've learn to put my lips in curve, enjoying the sound of his chuckles. "Thrilling?" I arc my brow on him.
He just smirk on me, we stare at each other's eyes for seconds and then we laugh in chorus.
God know how great it feels like to have such conversation with someone you think of all the time. I stopped laughing, and then I look on his right hands in the stirring wheel. I brush my palm on the back of his rough hands. "Hunter, thank you," I smiled sweetly on him and his laughter faded, he turns out to be such a loving guy with his dark eyes full of emotions. "Thank you for what you did, for fixing my relationship with my parents. I can't thank you enough, I don't know how to repay you," I can feel my eyes turns watery.

"Aubrey, just marry me and stay with me for life. Then that's enough payment."

I took my seatbelt off and then hugged Hunter too tight. "Sure, I will." I said with assurance.