Mia was already dusting the pieces of furniture when she heard the noise created by the opening of the gate in the yard. She immediately thought it was Erik and she was not wrong. But even so, she still couldn't stop wondering because he came back too quickly compared to what she expected.
"You talked to your parents already? It seems like it hasn't been an hour since you left?" she asked in surprise.
Erik just stared at her intently and then just shook his head. "Let me help you," the young man answered her instead.
It wasn't just because Erik did that that Mia got the idea that her boyfriend was not okay at that moment. The truth is that she feels the same about it.
But because she had a feeling that she was not ready to tell her the story, she decided not to ask him.
Because she started cleaning early, before lunch they are both finished with their chores.
"Let's go back to your house because I need to prepare lunch for your parents," she said to her boyfriend after handing him a glass of cold water.
Even though it was light, the deep sigh that her boyfriend took and released still reached her hearing. At that point, she couldn't stop herself from asking.
“I-Is there a problem?” she asked, taking the glass she had earlier handed to Erik. Then she placed it on the center table.
Erik stared at her intently again. Then he raised his hand and carefully caressed her left cheek.
"I guess I have to tell you the truth, Mia," he said, sighing again.
Because of Erik's words, Mia's heart quickly filled with worry. It seems that her hunch as to why the young man's parents came home without any notice was true.
"It looks like I can guess what happened earlier that's why you came back so quickly," she said followed by a kind and gentle laugh.
Erik's thick eyebrows rose and then he put his arms around her and then leaned closer to her.
"You were right about your suspicion, sweetheart," he said to her.
Mia kept quiet while observing the handsome face of her fiancé. Then, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop feeling sad. And she knew that was the emotion Erik saw in her eyes when he looked at her if what he said was what she would take as a basis.
"I will not leave you. And no matter what happens, believe that no one can stop our marriage," he told her with certainty.
"I know that," she replied telling the truth.
That's when Erik bent down and planted a simple kiss on her lips.
"They are going to sell our house," said Erik again in a sad voice.
“W-What? Why?" shocked or worried, Mia couldn't say which of the two was dominant in her heart at that moment.
Erik nodded then stared into nothingness again and then sighed. "Dolores seems to have said a lot of bad things. I was thinking of talking to her."
She could sense the anger in the tone of Erik’s voice.
"Don't do it," he said trying to console the young man so that somehow, he could ease his feelings.
"But, Mia, it's her fault why my mother got so angry. I'm sure she said a lot of bad things about you. And I can't allow her to do that to you," insisted Erik who was completely honest about his feelings.
"Those aren't important anymore, Erik."
"What's not important?"
Judging by the tone Erik used when he asked her. It was obvious that he didn't want to agree with what she said. And if his reaction is like that, it is obvious that the conversation between him and his parents was serious.
"I'm sure Dolores told your parents that I used to work as a waitress at Pegasus. I've had a live-in partner, gotten pregnant, had a miscarriage, but my ex-lover did not offer to marry me.”
"Sweetheart," Erik said as she saw deep compassion in his eyes.
"I told you before, didn't I? That we cannot be together. I also tried to hold back my feelings for you. Even when we were in high school, I did everything to keep the simple crush I have for you from deepening. But my heart didn't listen. So when you proposed and you admitted to me that you love me, I couldn't stop myself from accepting you as my boyfriend," Mia said in a long and passionate statement.
"Nothing will change between us. I told you before, didn't I? That I will fight for you, and I will accept everything about you," Erik answered her then he grabbed both of her shoulders.
“B-But I can't help but feel sad when you say your parents are going to sell your house. Is that also because they want you to return to Canada?"
In fact, what Erik told her was enough for her to think that was the real reason and answer to her question. Mia still felt good about asking. Because she hoped that she might hear a different response from him.
"Yeah," he told her.
Mia immediately bowed her head after what she heard. At the same time, the corner of her eyes warmed. She wanted to hide them from Erik's sight. But she knew that was impossible.
She couldn't hide whatever she felt for Erik. Because as she said before. Even if they don't talk, they understand each other.
"I-I'm sorry if you're going to lose your house because of me. I know how important that is to you and one more---,” she was unable to finish her sentence because Erik immediately cut her off.
“That's their decision, sweetheart. It's not your fault. Because if they really know me, they should know that they can't put me through those styles."
Mia couldn't speak but at that moment she felt a big gag that seemed to be stuck in her throat.
"I can live here in your house, can't I?" he asked her with a smile.
With that question, Mia immediately smiled widely as well. "Yes," was her nonchalant answer.
That's when Erik hugged her tightly. And she did the same to him.
"I will always love only you, Mia. No matter what happens and no matter who gets in the way, I will never get tired of fighting for you."
As Erik hugged her, she heard her say those words. That's why the corners of her eyes quickly warmed up again, but he still held back her emotions and she succeeded in that.
“So, what do you think? Shall I come home with you today?” Mia asked in a low tone.
That's when Erik's both hands cupped her face. Then he again pressed a sweet kiss on her lips.
"Now that I know everything, I think I have to think about your peace of mind. So, we should stay here," said Erik.
"W-With you?" asked Mia, who felt a mixture of joy and excitement in her heart.
"Why, you don’t want to?" Erik asked her with a smile, his eyes still sparkling.
She shook her head one after another. "It's not like that. But what will your parents say?"
Erik shrugged his shoulders. "Even though Mom didn't say it earlier, it's like she wants me to choose between you and them. Staying here in your house only means that I choose you. And earlier when she said they would sell our house without asking for my opinion. It's like she kicked me out."
Mia was speechless by all the explanations she heard from her boyfriend. That's why she can't stop feeling guilty.
"I feel so guilty," when she couldn't stop herself, that's what she said.
"Do not think about it. Maybe when then love is true it’s just like this. Too complicated. I'm just thinking that all these are just tests for our love. Because I believe that true love is not easy but worth it," Erik said before planting a kiss on her lips.
That warm kiss relieved the guilt that Mia felt.
Maybe Erik was right. But that's because she can't stop herself from feeling guilty. She had to learn to process that. How? She will surely get the answer to that too with Erik's help.