Chapter 104

Jason's pov :
"I'm thankful for the girl whom I had a crush on from the fifth grade and she is my girlfriend now, and for my friends who never left my side" Theo disclosed and Lia teased Barbie.
It was a pretty beautiful scenario to have lunch in our garden area where we ate lunch and dinner just twice in a year with family on Thanksgiving and Christmas but like last year, my dad couldn't make it so we didn't follow this tradition last year.
As my mother was the busiest woman, she would enter the kitchen twice a year only. Sometimes I wanted to have an ordinary family where mom would cook the food daily and the rest of the members would happily eat while chatting.
I would be lying if I said that I didn't love my mother's food but she never cared about my feelings so I stopped showing and expecting anything from her for as long as I could remember.
Barbie was thankful for her friends, family, and of course, Theo! My parents mentioned us as they claimed to love us but I knew that my mother was lying.
"I'm thankful for my friends and family and a beautiful girl for whom I'm trying to be a better man every day," I uttered proudly and kissed her cheek as she was sitting beside me.
After waiting for a few seconds when Lia didn't say anything, I took her hand in mine and was about to ask her but got interrupted by Mrs. Casano.
"For what are you thankful, Lia?" She questioned and Lia shyly glanced at me.
"I'm sorry, I was a little shy to say that but I'm grateful for my grades, friends, family, this crazy boyfriend, and this food. Thanks for inviting me!" She didn't meet my gaze while speaking.
Squinting my eyes at her, I gazed at her intensely. "Don't you think I should be respected in front of my family and friends?" I pouted and crossed my arms.
"Dig in! The food will be cold," my mother ordered and she chuckled before filling her plate with the ramen noodles that I made for her.
"You're really a good influence on him, he improved a lot and for the very first time, he was cooking something," my dad joked and everyone giggled.
I rolled my eyes and just ignored his teasing. "I deserve the reward for the thing you're eating." I winked at her and she choked on her food.
Stifling my laugh, I gave her the glass of water. We finished our lunch while mocking each other and having fun. All the ladies went into the house for a secret mission, we were still sitting in the garden area.
I looked at my dad suspiciously, but he shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know anything about this. How about following them and finding it out?" My dad smirked and I shouted, "I'm in."
We gazed at Theo who was sitting folding his hands and being a gentleman. "I don't have an option either." He grimaced in annoyance and shrugged.
My dad was ahead of us as he was the leader and we were following him. "Spying on women is not a piece of cake," he complained and slowly opened the door of his room.
All the ladies were gathered in my parents' room, I wondered why?!
"Well, Mr. Casano, I'm still startled about how you could be so-cool-dad! My dad is never going to support me in my dancing career, and here, you are accepting me and behaving all frankly like it's not our first meeting, aren't you worried about her future?" Theo spat the things which were running in his mind.
My dad turned to face him with a death glare. "We came here to spy on the ladies and this stupid behavior of yours can put our lives in danger. Don't forget that your girlfriend is the most dangerous one among these ladies!"
I chuckled at my dad's words and soon, the curtain behind which we were hidden was taken off by my dear sister.
"I heard that, dad! You hurt me," she sulked and I looked at Theo who was confused about whether he should run or confront my sister!
"Your boyfriend was asking me the dumb question, I shouldn't have said yes to this relationship perhaps. He is useless in spying." My dad pointed at Theo whose eyes widened as he took my dad's words seriously.
Theo came forward and pointed at my dad, "he was calling you dangerous, I wasn't, I swear."
My mother and Lia burst out laughing and everyone else joined them except Theo who was still struggling where he had come, to visit his girlfriend's family or to the psychopaths?!
"Buddy, your friend is really too innocent for Barbie." My dad declared and Barbie hugged Theo making an aww face.
I sneaked out of the place where everyone was standing and moved towards the table where Lia was sitting with an album on her lap.
"Dude, once upon a time, I was in your place so I don't want to be as cruel as my father-in-law who didn't even offer me food," he uttered and my mother laughed and shook her head.
"I want to support my children and let them be happy unless their partner is a Mafia or a vampire, I'm fine with it." My dad mocked and Theo took a breath of relief.
He further added, "you have already been a winner in a competition so it shows that you are passionate about dance. Plus, you are my son's best friend and you don't know how much we were worried about Barbie?! I thought that she would never date anyone but it turns out that she loves you. I trust my daughter, she is capable of choosing the right partner for her and being financially independent."
As soon as my dad finished his speech, Barbie ran to him and hugged him like a baby. "You are the best dad, I love you!"
"I love you, too, doll! You're the best daughter," he retorted and kissed her forehead.
When it was about my father, I was the luckiest son in the world as he was cool and frank but I couldn't say the same about my mother.
"I gave you a chance to not feel embarrassed but now you'll sit here," my mother ordered and we sat beside our girls.
"You're going to regret it soon," Lia smirked and opened the album in which my childhood pictures were collected.
I wasn't ugly in my childhood, I was a super cute and handsome child so I wasn't going to regret it. Grinning, I flipped the page and saw a picture of me in the hospital bed. At that time I was just seven years old.
That incident made me decide to hate my mom. As the memories flashed through my mind, I closed my eyes and controlled the urge to tear off that picture.
"Why were you in the hospital with that fractured leg?" Lia raised a question and waited for my answer.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and the first thing I found was my mother stroking that picture with her hand. "Jay was seven years old and he wanted me to participate in the parent-child activity. But that day, I was dealing with something that completely changed my life so I couldn't make it on time and as stubborn as he is, he refused to sit in the car with the driver and started walking back home. Then he was hit by a car and-"
"That time, I didn't just want my mom to participate and win, I literally begged my mom to come there but she didn't come." I interrupted her and looked into her eyes. "I was just a child so I didn't know how to limit my expectations from my mom but now I expect nothing from you, Mrs. Casano. Not even an explanation to my girlfriend."
To be honest, I was controlling very hard not to ruin the perfect family time with my harsh words but that picture reminded me of that bloody day when my heart was shattered into tiny pieces and it never got fixed again.
"Who is this naked kid, Selena?" Lia changed the subject and my mother started giggling.
I had to see that picture which made my mother laugh even when she was hurt by my rude behaviour.
"Fuck! You still kept this picture, as long as I remember I had hidden it and…" I scratched the back of my neck.
"And I found it under your bed." She completed my sentence and I rolled my eyes. "You won't believe that Jay loved roaming around being naked till he turned five."
I could see that my mother and Lia were getting along with each other, they were pretty enjoying each other's company but my poor girlfriend didn't know that it was just about one day. Maybe during the whole year, she wouldn't even get a chance to see her dear Selena who had asked her to drop the formalities and call her Selena.
"Selena, will you mind if I capture this picture on my phone?" My girlfriend was taking permission from the wrong person.
"Excuse me! That picture is mine and you should ask for my permission, my dear girlfriend." I shook my head in disbelief and my dad patted my shoulder.
Theo shouted, "I'm not going to give you this back." He started running and Barbie followed him while yelling at him.
"These are the days you'll remember the most when you get old so cherish these moments and keep having cute fights but don't let it be the reason for your separation!" My mother uttered while staring at Barbie and Theo who were laughing and running behind each other.
My dad gazed at mom with pursed lips and cleared his throat, "Ahem! Let's go to the games room! I'll show you your boyfriend's favorite game and the female avatar whom he had a crush on. Jay insisted on marrying her so let's see if you stand a chance against her!"
"Oh, I see! Let's go, Asher! I want to see my competitor," Lia narrowed her eyes on me and took my dad's hand who was silently teasing me for taking my girl's hand.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I knew that Lia would effortlessly be the favorite of my family unlike me, who had to act so formally with her family. She was getting along with my family and they were making her feel comfy and loved.
At a serious point, I didn't care about my mother's opinion of Lia but they were really so cool with each other and I liked that.
Hanging out in my home was going to become her favourite thing for sure. The problem was that she wouldn't be able to find the same atmosphere every time because my parents won't always be there to welcome her.
Letting out a deep disappointed sigh, I ignored those thoughts and tried to enjoy the present which was so perfect and beautiful.
My parents didn't miss introducing every corner of my home and telling all the embarrassing stories of my childhood to her. So Lia knew almost everything about me where I knew nothing about her childhood memories except that hurtful incident. I didn't want to know more because I was scared of hurting her, she would get hurt while remembering those bad memories so it was better if I didn't ask anything.
"Why don't you stay for dinner, too? We'll have a good time and a good barbecue dinner. Asher loves doing barbecue," My mother proposed and insisted on her staying while sipping her espresso.
My dad also endorsed, "Good idea, Selena! How about we invite boys, too, for a game evening? It's been a long time since we played the games together."
"Sure! I seriously don't like video games but Ash will never miss a chance to play with all the boys," my mother complained with a frown.
Barbie and Theo were in the garden area, they were making a painting together. I was sure that Barbie would be dancing happily when she got to know that Theo is going to stay for longer.
"Let me show you my room, too!" I grasped her arm and winked at her.
"As if you wouldn't have shown her before," my dad raised his eyebrows and smirked.
"Ash…!" My mother slapped his arm and scolded him. "Why don't you go grocery shopping, honey?" She passed a honeyed smile and my dad's jaw hung open.
Lia and I chuckled at his puppy face. I wished the scenario of my home could be like this forever and my parents could spend some more time with us.
"I guess my family is already loving you more than me so I'm hoping to see you again on Christmas and New Year, too." Holding her hand, we started walking to my room.
"To be honest, they are all so lovely and friendly. I'm looking forward to celebrating all the festivals with them, I like your family more than you." Lia declared and I grabbed her hand and pushed her against the wall of stairs.
She was my girlfriend and she didn't have the right to like somebody else more than me. I claimed her lips in a possessive kiss and lifted her up in my arms to take her to my room.