Xeria's P.O.V

To say that yesterday was eventful would be an understatement; it was a horrifying roller coaster ride, though I love roller coasters but not this one.

After entering the house in the morning, I found that my parents have already left for work and that they were sorry for not checking up on me.

Surprisingly, they didn't say anything about the proposal on the call.

So now I'm here sprawled on the bed like a bear in hibernation, with Potato curled beside me in a fluffy onesie in which I exactly look like Potato's sister.

I have been debating whether I should meet Jake or not.

I guess I will decide when Wilhelmina comes. After crying for the entire night and having wonderfully swollen eyes, I'm in no capacity to continue.

Everything reminds me of him, even this stupid onesie, which he said made me look like Potato's sister.

Wait a moment; I was thinking the exact same thing a minute ago.

Why?

Just why?

Sensing my sadness, Potato nudges me on the shoulder and licks my face, by being the supportive brother he is.

The door-bell rings, and by God's grace, all of the helpers have returned, so I don't have to go and open the door by myself.

Two minutes later, Wilhelmina bursts into my room, turns on all the lights, and hugs me.

"Let's play dress up," she declares.

"What?" and the next thing I know, I'm in my closet wearing a Cruella costume.

"Jake wants to meet me," I tell Wilhelmina, who is busy putting makeup on my face.

Hearing me, she stops for a second and then continues again.

"And do you want to?" she asks, holding my chin.

"I don't know; it all feels so surreal, Willie."

"I feel like it's all a dream." I tilt my head.

"Do you remember the first time I got my heart broken?" she says, putting the brush down.

Sure, I remember. It was the time when I wanted to do my master's but dropped the idea in order to help Jake with his project, not his reference again.

Some guy dumped Willie during her competitions. She is a fashion designer. She is still studying but always participates in some competitions every now and then.

On the day of the competition, he dumped her. She was really into him but didn't let anything affect her presentation.

After that, she was really out, but she handled everything with maturity.

"And I hear you made an impulsive decision," she adds, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I do regret it now." crossing my legs on the chair, I rested my head against it.

"What's done is done; don't push yourself too hard; take your time; then make your own decision, okay?" Giving one final touch, she clicked my picture.

I do look like Cruella.

Willie left in the evening; she has some work, and so do I, but I guess Moira is handling everything, but I can't just sit around.

Dinner was as usual; there was no discussion on the proposal thing, and I'm happy that they didn't.

Right, now I'm scrolling through the pictures I have collected in all these four years with Jake.

We were so happy together; why did this happen? My eyes are all puffy now, and if I don't sleep now, mom will surely doubt about what's going on with me.

But before I fall asleep, I should text Jake. I hold the phone in my hand, wondering what to do or why I'm just getting carried away.

But there's no point in running away from the problems; they'll keep chasing me until I face them, and if I don't, they'll keep hunting me.

So, I open his inbox, and I text him,

"Let's meet at the usual spot after 3 days."

That's it. I throw the phone down on the bed, open the curtains, and stare out at the dark and starless night.

The next morning was usual, but to hide my pathetic crying face, I put on a face sheet mask, which will 100% raise suspicions, but I did it anyway.

The reason why I'm still living with my parents is quite simple: all three of us are always busy with our work, and if we weren't living in the same house, we wouldn't be able to meet each other for months, and that's something my mother can't tolerate, so we went ahead with this arrangement.

I do have a house of my own, but I'm way too lazy to arrange for helpers to look after it, so I rarely go there, and Potato hates it there too, so we live together.

"Honey, remove the mask; you won't achieve perfect, glowing skin just in one day," mom says, examining my face.

"Mom, I was thinking of moving to my house; it's been barren since we bought it," I say, swallowing a lump in my throat.

"My dear, you will be getting married soon; why do you want to move out now?" dad asks, walking beside mom with a glass of juice in his hand.

"What do you mean?" I ask him, perplexed.

"Didn't we tell you?" Dad asks, looking at Mom and then at me, "Tell me what?" I counter, wiggling my eyebrows, and take a sip of juice from my glass.

"Oh, it must have slipped from our minds; you said yes, right, so we called him and said yes, and he is ready to meet you the coming Saturday, and that you're interested in him," my dad answers, and I shower the juice out of my mouth, coughing.

"Oh, what happened, dear? Are you ok?" mom asks, rubbing my back.

"You said what?" I ask him, not believing that he has already confessed that I'm interested in my potential partner, which I'm obviously not; I even don't know his name yet.

And this Saturday I'm meeting Jake; no way am I meeting these two on the same day.

"Well, if he wouldn't have piqued your interest, then you wouldn't have said yes." He replies, nodding his head.

Oh, this scheming couple is fixated on setting me up with him.

"And honey, please don't move out; I can't bear to see you living without us," my mom says, removing the mask, which has also drank some juice.

"So why do you want me to get married?" I ask her, drinking some water.

"You talk so much, dear; get changed; you have to go to Quentin's house today with Potato; go okay," mom answers cleverly, dodging my question.

"Wait, have you been crying?" Mom asks, taking the glass from my hand.

"Why would you say that?" "No, why would I cry?" shrugging off, I try to walk away.

"Xeria, what happened?" Dad interrupts, and it's over; I wouldn't be able to hold up the lies now.

I look at them, and a lonely tear falls from my eyes. This is the first time I have ever shown my tears to them, and hopefully it will be the last.

The three of us sit on the couch in the hall. I'm in the middle, and they're both on either side.

"I was seeing someone," I bevow, squeezing my eyes shut, and after a moment when no response came from either of them, I open my eyes to look at them and then narrate the whole tragic story.

Both of them hugged me after listening to my story, squeezing me between them. It feels so good.

"Why didn't you ever tell us anything, and here I thought that I was your friend?" dad says, frowning and eliciting a laugh from me.

"Dear, you don't have to face things alone; we're a family; don't hide your problems from us," mom says, rubbing my back.

"I'm sorry. I thought that I had everything under my control, but everything just slipped away." confessing, I leaned into their embrace.

"Ok, we should cancel the meeting," Mom says, taking out her phone.

"No, don't." I stop her.

They must have so many expectations from this, and there is no point in dwelling over what has happened.

Sure, I can't just unlove him in a day or two, but healing and moving on can go hand in hand.

"Are you sure?" Dad asks.

"Yes, I'm." smiling, I assure them

"But what is his name?" I ask, glancing at them side by side.

Now that the meeting has been arranged, I still don't know who this person is.

I'm surely putting a lot of faith in my parents' choice.

"His name is," Mom says, dragging the words along like she's going to announce an award winner.

"Khaos" dad responds in perfect unison, and they both look at each other like, "That's my partner for you."

Wait, Khaos?

Did they just say,

Khaos?