Tetris in Red

41: Tetris in Seattle

41: Tetris in Seattle

Rhys

It started to drizzle when we pulled up in front of the large gates of my parents' three-story house. I grab my coat from the backseat while Asia lets out a low whistle, "You came from old money, Rhys?"

"My parents are both doctors from a long lineage of doctors. I hate to say it, but yes, sort of."

He nods slowly. "Ah. I think I'm getting the story now."

I hum in agreement and take a deep breath. This is it. I'm going to face them after seven years. I'm not even sure if they're going to open the gates for me. What if they don't? What if they forgot about me? What if they want me out of their lives for good—?

"Rhys." I snap out of the trance I'm in and look over at Asia's concerned face. "Stop it. Just go."

"Will you..." I hesitate, not sure if it's the right thing to do. But Asia has come this far with me, what's taking a little more of his time? "Will you stay the night at least?"

It's already six in the evening. With the slight rain, the roads might be too slick to navigate. Asia nods without missing a beat. "I'd love that. I'm too beat to drive back."

I click on the doorbell. The camera hanging overhead points to where I am. A low, familiar voice then comes out of the speaker. "Ms. Posziel?"

I smile at the camera. "Hello, Jess."

Jess was my bodyguard when I was only a little kid. Now, he's the head security of my parent's sprawling house.

The gates slowly open, giving us a clear view of my childhood home. Nothing has changed since I've left. There's a wide veranda in front of the house where a woman is nursing a glass of wine. She hasn't seen us yet as she's too engaged in a call. I take it as my time to observe her.

Cecilia Posziel hasn't aged since I last saw her. Her ginger hair, styled and curled, framed her delicate almond-shaped face. Green eyes as bright as mine and a button-up nose filled with as many freckles as I do gave her an edgy look. My chest starts to cave in as I imagine how she'll react when she sees me. Will she cry? Will she hug me? Are her eyes going to be filled with contempt?

So many possibilities I fear I will choke.

Asia gets out of the car and I follow suit. Jess, a six-foot-five man with a long beard, greets me with a bear hug. "How are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm doing good. What about you? How's it going here?"

We pull away just as quickly. Jess studies me with a contemplative look. Something in me tells me that he had already read the distasteful articles about me. If he does, he doesn't say anything. "Same old. Your parents are busy as ever."

I nod. "Is Dad here?"

"Yes. He's in the roof deck."

While my Mom likes to hang out on the veranda, Dad has always found comfort in the roof deck. I'd spend my days with him up there and he'd tell me about the gazillions of operations he'd accomplished. I can't say I understood everything he told me. But I love that I got to talk to him in those rare moments. They barely had time for me since they were always on call and are two of the best doctors in Seattle.

I introduce Asia and Jess to each other before we walk up the short path to the veranda. Mom looks up when we round up the stairs. I can't read her expression, but she hastily ends the call and places her glass on the table. The two of us stare at each other for a long while before her eyes are suddenly filled with tears and flowing freely down her face.

"Tetris..." She says my name in a whisper, enveloping me with warmth and the feeling of home. My own eyes water. I feel like I have cried so much to last a lifetime these past few days than I did for the last twenty-seven years of my life. She rushes to me and wraps me in a motherly hug that I yearned for so long. "I can't believe you're here. I've missed you so much, baby."

"Oh, Mom." My voice cracks. "You don't know how much I wanted to hear that."

She pulls away from me and peppers my face with little kisses. Her smell, the sight of her, the feel of her in my arms... it all feels surreal. I'd spent my nights in LA thinking if I would ever experience them again and if they would accept me still and treat me like the daughter they once had. And as much as I didn't want to admit it, I'd still sometimes ponder if leaving them was worth it to chase my dreams.

Those worries all faded in an instant the moment she uttered my name.

"How are you?" she asks in the same tone Jess had. "I've read articles about you. Oh, honey. Tell me they aren't true."

I shake my head vigorously, willing myself to calm down and explain as much as I can. "Nothing about them is true. I've been a Go-go dancer to support myself and that was seven years ago. I never stripped. I never prostituted myself."

The relief on her face knocks me to my knees. "And the rockstars?"

I smile faintly. "I only have a relationship with one. At least that much is true."

There's no point in denying it. As much as I hated Asia's berating, he's right. I should face everything head-on. I shouldn't avoid confrontations. I expect Mom to flip on where she stands, give me an hour-long lecture about how impractical dating a man with an unstable job is, or question my decision-making skills. But she only gives me a soothing smile. "Tell me about this man."

And I melt right there, on my mother's veranda, and tell her all about the man I've spent the most incredible days with in LA.

x.x.x

"You're telling me this man makes money with his guitar and a microphone?"

I roll my eyes at Dad's absurdity. Roman Posziel has always had this bad habit of pointing out the obvious and making it sound like a petty thing. He's direct and has a mouth that can shoot you like an M95. No... No... Okay, maybe I inherited a little bit of that.

I might have Mom's looks but everyone I meet who knows my parents always says that I'm every bit of Dad when I talk.

"Yes, Dad. Just like how I make money with a laptop and a graphic tab."

He nods slightly. "He treats you well?"

I pick on my food with my fork. He received me as warm as Mom but the moment Mom told him about Alec, he shut down in front of us before inviting us to eat. I can feel Asia's amusement on my side. Kicking his feet to which he lets out an ouch, I give my full attention to my father. "He does. He's been wonderful and always puts me first, Dad."

I smile at the truth of my words. Looking back, Alec and I started on the wrong foot but everything has been amazing after that. I have never clarified what we are, but he never failed to treat me like his woman even then. He's honest, caring, and sweet, sometimes he's slightly annoying when he doesn't get what he wants. But he's my Alec. He's nothing without his imperfections.

"You love him?"

I bite my lip and give Asia a side glance. He's waiting for my answer too. I've already known in the depths of my very soul that I do. But I tried my best to bury the feeling because I was scared of what came with him. I was scared that I might be falling too fast and too soon.

However, as I sit at my parents' dinner table, it slowly comes to me that Asia is right. I retreat when I need to advance. So that's what I'll do now.

I advance and look Dad dead in the eyes, mustering every emotion I have for Alec as I declare the words out loud.

"Yes, Dad. I believe I've fallen in love with him."

—

:O

I believe we have at least a few chapters left. :)