Chapter 46
chapter forty-six
luna
Ate
Good luck, Luna. You can do it!
Luna
I’m so nervous
Ate
I already told Lonzo to behave, and Jason’s on standby just in case
Luna
Thanks!!
Lonzo
I’m still not pro Gabe but you’re my sister. I’ll back you up
Luna
Thanks Lonzo
Lonzo
Good luck
I opened my laptop and glanced at Gabe sitting next to me at my dining table. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes,” he said patiently. “You asked me twenty minutes ago.”
“Right.” I flattened my palms on the keyboard.
“Last night too.”
I put my face in my palms and groaned. “I did, didn’t I?” I was more nervous about this phone call with my parents than I had been for my interview.
“Are you sure about this?”
Lowering my hands, I sighed. “Yeah, I just . . . I shouldn’t have planned to tell them both things in one go. It’s like double the reason for them to get upset.”
“You don’t have to tell them about us if you’re not ready.” He stroked small circles on my back.
I shook my head. “The longer I put it off, the harder it’ll be. Besides, I don’t want to hide our relationship—especially from my parents.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Maybe don’t join the call first?” I suggested. “So they don’t feel like I’m hitting them with everything all at once.”
Gabe nodded. “If that’s what you want. I’ll just listen in and give you moral support.”
“They might say something bad about you.”
“I doubt it’ll be anything I’ve never heard before.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Luna. I know myself and what I feel about you. Nothing they say can change that.”
“You charmer.” Leaning close to him, I pressed my lips to his. My entire body felt electric as he delved his fingers into my hair and deepened the kiss. Soon, I was breathless, my heart racing for reasons other than nerves.
He broke away from me. “You’re using me as a distraction.”
I took the huskiness of his voice as a compliment. Gripping the front of his shirt, I pulled him to me again, and his mouth curved against mine.
“Stop procrastinating.”
I groaned. “Okay, okay.” I drew away, but he followed me with a quick kiss before sitting back.
Still, his hand lowered to mine and squeezed it. “I’ll be right here. You’ve got this, Luna.”
My breath rattled into my lungs. “Thanks. Here goes nothing.”
Opening the video call app on my laptop, I started a call with my family. My parents’ faces popped up on the screen, Mama slipping on her glasses.
“Luna, hi!” She grinned at me. “I’m so glad you were able to call.”
“We were starting to think you wouldn’t,” Papa added.
My stomach swirled at his subtle rebuke. “Sorry, I had to finish something first. How are you two?”
“Good. We just got back from the mall. Tala and Jason treated us to brunch,” Mama said. “The chicken and waffles were amazing.”
Papa nodded. “So were the sausages. But they should be, given the price.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed brunch.” Ate told me they’d chosen a special restaurant to put my parents in a good mood, and I couldn’t thank her enough. “Hopefully, I can try it with you guys next time.”
“We’ll definitely plan for that,” Mama said. “How are you doing there?”
Here it was, my perfect opening. “Great. Everything’s going well so far.” I took a breath. “Actually?—”
“Have you heard that Alonzo made the dean’s list again?” Papa interrupted. “He’s on track to graduate summa cum laude next year.”
My stomach clenched. Gabe put his hand on my thigh, silently backing me up. “That’s amazing! Where is he?”
“In the bathroom,” Mama said. “What were you going to say?”
“Oh, yeah. I was going to say that I’m really enjoying my internship.”
“At that fashion store, right? I’m glad you were able to find an opportunity with them.”
Her words gave me the boost I needed. “Yeah, me too. It works out perfectly cause I added a few other classes so I can earn a minor in fashion merchandising.”
For a moment that seemed to stretch out forever, there was silence.
Gabe squeezed my thigh, and it urged me to continue the speech we’d practiced.
“This way I can apply my degree in an industry I’m really interested in. I already took some classes in advance so I won’t be overloaded this year,” I explained in hopes of placating my parents. “My advisor fixed my study plan to make sure my schedule works out.”
“If you wanted to study more, why didn’t you choose something practical?” Papa asked.
“I already chose management for practicality,” I told him. “The fashion part is for me.”
Mama gave Papa a look then said to me, “I know you love fashion, but I’m worried you’ll burn yourself out. You already have a lot to manage with your regular classes and your job, and you also need time to enjoy your college experience.”
“Honestly, I’m enjoying it more now that I have classes I actually like. And I’m having a good time with Kriz and Chloe. Also—” I knew it was risky, but I needed to get the secret off my chest. “—I’m seeing someone.”
Gabe’s hand moved to rest on mine, and I clasped it tightly.
Mama’s eyes widened. “Oh!”
“You don’t need any more distractions.” Papa frowned. “It’s better that you focus on your degree, especially this last year. Studying doesn’t come easily to you like it does to your brother.”
I had no idea how I’d kept my face from falling at how he’d casually torn me down. Beside me, Gabe bristled, and I had to press his fingers to silently remind him that I was okay.
“Gabe’s actually been helping me with some of my classes,” I said.
“Gabe?” Mama repeated. “That name sounds familiar.”
“He’s a friend of Ate’s.” I hoped they would miss the implication of my words, but Papa’s glower proved otherwise.
“So he’s Tala’s age?” Mama asked.
I swallowed, bracing myself for what would come next. “A bit older. He’s thirty.”
Papa’s face grew red. “You mean he’s older than your sister and your sister’s boyfriend.”
“Juan.” Mama and Papa did their silent conversation thing while I tried to blink away the stinging behind my eyes. Then Mama turned back to me. “Luna, you know we love you and we want you to be happy. But are you sure this . . . Gabe is right for you?”
“Tala!” Papa suddenly called out.
A few tense seconds later, Ate’s voice came through the speakers, though she was out of view. “What’s with the shouting?”
“Did you know your sister is involved with your friend?” Papa demanded.
“Gabe’s a great guy, Papa. I know he’ll take care of Luna.”
“He’s too old for her.”
“Better than her dating one of her classmates who just wants a good time,” Ate said. “I trust Gabe.”
“Alonzo!” Papa yelled again. “Did you meet this Gabe when you visited your sister?”
“Yeah,” Lonzo answered from beyond the frame.
“What did you think of him?”
I gripped Gabe’s hand because I had no idea whether Lonzo would help diffuse the situation or add fuel to the flame.
“He’s serious,” Lonzo replied. “Not very talkative but from what I could tell, he’s a hard worker and he built a successful consultancy on his own.”
I barely managed to stop from gaping at the screen. That was a lot better than I’d expected from him.
Papa grunted. “Luna’s in college and this guy already has his own business. It’s unacceptable.” Turning to me, he said, “It’s your senior year. Don’t waste the last three years by being irresponsible.”
Something inside me snapped at his words. “Why can’t you give me some credit? I know my grades are never going to be as good as Lonzo’s and you’re never going to trust me like you trust Ate. But doesn’t it count for anything that I’ve survived here on my own these past two years? That I managed to make good grades and keep my scholarship—even though studying doesn’t come easily to me and I don’t like most of my classes—and I do that while working and fending for myself? When will anything I do be enough for you?”
When will I be enough for you? I wanted to scream, but I held back. I felt Gabe raring to speak, and I spared him a glance, wordlessly telling him that this was a fight I needed to take on for myself. He clenched his jaw but nodded, and I took comfort in how he respected my wishes.
“Luna . . .” Mama murmured as Papa stared at me.
“Please don’t say you’re worried about me, Mama. You’ve told me that a million times,” I said. “Papa, just once, I wish you would tell me that you’re proud of me for getting this far. Or that you’re happy for me because I’m finally choosing my own path and doing something that I love.”
“Of course Papa and I are proud of you, Luna.” Mama’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “I’m sorry we made you feel like we aren’t.”
I tried to clear the lump in my throat. “I know you two are concerned about me. I love you and I don’t want to disappoint either of you, but I love Gabe, too and I’m enjoying the degree I’m pursuing now. You can disagree with my choices but that won’t change my mind.”
Heaving a breath, Papa looked away from the camera.
I heard soft voices in the background, reminding me that my siblings were somewhere beyond the screen witnessing my meltdown too.
“I think it’s great that you found a way to study what you love,” Mama murmured. “I want you to be happy.”
“I am.” Just not right now. “I’m sorry to upset you two. I just wanted you to know the truth.”
Papa harrumphed. “I need a drink.” Shaking his head, he stood and walked to the kitchen.
Mama watched him go, the lines on her face deepening as she looked back at me. “He just needs time to process it, Luna. This was . . . unexpected. But I’m glad you told us. I know you’re an adult now but, as a parent, it’s hard to not worry. No matter how old you are, a part of me will always see you as my little girl, even if I try not to.”
I chewed on my lip.
“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to your papa. Maybe next time, you can introduce Gabe to us?” She gave me a smile—smaller than her usual, but genuine all the same.
It tugged at my heart and gave me hope that things would work out. “I’d like that.”
“I love you, Luna.”
“I love you, too, Mama.”
Ate popped up on the screen next to Mama, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “And I love you both, in case you were wondering.”
We laughed and chatted for a minutes more before saying our goodbyes. I shot my siblings a text thanking them for the backup, then I closed my eyes and let myself sink back into my chair.
Gabe’s palm swept up and down my thigh in comforting strokes. “How are you feeling?” he murmured.
“Spent. But at least I said everything I needed to say.”
“Alonzo pulled through for you. And your mom was very understanding.”
My eyes blinked open. “I know.”
“For what it’s worth, it’s clear that they care about you.”
I nodded.
“Whatever happens, we’ll handle it together.” Gabe took my hand in his and intertwined our fingers. “Okay?”
My eyes moved to his face and roamed those planes and shadows that I could never tire of tracing. Despite the pain lingering from my call, that familiar sense of wonder unfurled within me that I had him by my side.
“Okay.”