Picture Perfect (✔️)

Chapter 13

Emily

When I was seven, London asked Morgan and Me about, Love. We were in the after-school program.

"How would you describe Love?" Her hair was in a pig tail and she give us both a quizzical look.

I was drawing at that time and I paused to think about it.

"What kind of a question is that?" Morgan asked. "So stupid."

"It's not a stupid question." I said to Morgan. "No questions are stupid."

"That's right, Em." London grinned, she still looked beautiful with her braces. "I think Love is when someone buys you flowers and lots and lots of chocolates and toys! My Daddy buys my mommy and me lots of things."

"Love is when my Daddy and I make foods together." Morgan grinned, her hair was in a cute braid.

Morgan doesn't have a Mommy, she said she never met her mommy before, but she said her Daddy is both her mommy and daddy.

"My daddy doesn't cook much foods- he's always working." Morgan pouted. "but when he does cook, we do it together."

"What about you, Em?" Morgan asked as they both looked at me.

"I think Love is when I see Mommy and Daddy happy."

"What kind of love is this?" London questioned.

"London, Mommy is here to pick you up." Our After school program's teacher, Ms.Bonnie called out.

London quickly packed her things and ran to her mommy and her mommy laughed and hugged her and kissed her on her forehead.

And like every single day, I was the last one to go home in the after-school program. Mommy only picks me up on Tuesday. It's always Daddy who picks me up.

Daddy never smiles when he walks in to pick me up even when I run to him like how my friends do when their mommy or daddy picks them up. He doesn't hug me or kiss me. He just tells me to get my things from the hallway.

We pulled away, after the heated kiss.

"Wow." Everett said as he too was breathing harshly. "You're a good kisser." I don't know if he was teasing me or if he was being serious about it.

"You're good as well." I said as I tuck my hair behind my ear, shyly.

He stroke my hair gently and said, "You know I'm here to listen if you want to talk to someone?"

"And I'm here for you." I said to him.

And he give me a smile. "I know that."

But even after the reassurance, neither of us spoke about our problems.

He dropped me home after that and we stood at the porch of my place.

"Thank you for going out with me tonight." He said as he put his hand on his pockets and looked at his shoes.

"I'm sorry, it didn't went as you planned." I apologized.

"No.. it's fine. Things happen." He said looking at me with a small smile.

"I'll see you?" I asked.

"Yes." He said and I turned to open the door and he grabbed my hand gently and I turned around. "Can I give you a goodnight kiss?" He blushed. I have never seen Everett Levi, blushing. His ear was red and so was his face and it's adorable.

I stood on my toe and kissed his lip, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back.

"Have a good night, Em." He said.

"Good night Everett." I smiled.

Dad came back from his business trip before dinner. I think we have to stick with take outs tonight as Mom didn't make any foods and I don't know how to cook. I wondered if he would like some avocados toast.

"Hey Em." Dad said walking in. "How are you doing?"

I wonder if he knows Mom told me about what was bothering their relationship.

"I'm good, Dad. How are you doing?" I watched him carefully. Either he really didn't know or was good at hiding it.

"Tired." He said. "Let's go out for dinner tonight?"

I was shock to hear that. It's not like we never go out and eat, but we have never went out without Mom.

"Sure." I said taken aback.

"You seem like you are ready to go out. Were you planning to go out or you came back?"

"I went out for a movie." I said.

"A date?" He asked.

He never asked me this kind of questions.

"Yes." I said flushing a bit and he chuckled. This was the first time I heard him chuckled. I hardly heard him laugh let alone a chuckle.

"What would you like to eat?" He asked.

"Anything." I said. I was not hungry and I didn't really cared where we were going, what I cared was that Dad wanted us to go out and eat. Just him and I. I was happy and thrilled.

Dad drove us to a crowded burger joint. The music was awful, but the menu sounded delicious. We placed our orders and waited for our foods.

"I believe your mom already told you about your adoption." He said, nonchalantly.

I shouldn't have expected anything to begin with after this morning, but a little part of me had a hope that things would be better or explains better as to why Dad was being like this. Cold and distant.

He watched my reaction carefully. I think I know why they want to talk about this in public, so that I won't throw a fit or a tantrum. I was raised not to embarrass them especially in public spaces.

"Yes." I said.

"And you understand why I'm upset?" He asked.

"Upset with me or my biological Dad?" I asked.

There was a small pause. "Both of you."

I took a sharp breath.

"Whenever I look at you, I'm always reminded of the harsh time, my family and I went through because of your biological dad." His tone was cold.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly. I didn't know what else to say. I don't even know who my biological dad is, but I hope he had a good reason for running away with someone else's money, but there's never a good reason when you run away with someone else's money.

"No, don't be." He said. "It's not like you were the one who did anything wrong."

But why do I feel like I'm made to feel one?