BLAMELESS SORROWS

48. I love you.

Heri's Point of view.

All of us sit in the living room, all sporting a bright smile as we do.

Mom: So Ri, where do you guys meet?

Heri: Well we have been working a lot together so yeah we meet at Tilbe's conference room.

Mom chuckled as I said that while Galen also look at me lovingly with a smile.

Dad: And how long have you been in a relationship?

Heri: Just about a month. I didn't want to let you guys know from somewhere else, so I decide to say it first.

Dad: You did a great thing, you guys have my blessing. Galen I believe Iam doing the right thing trusting you with my daughter's happiness right?

And he look at Galen sternly, his dad look on point.

Galen: I promise sir, I will do anything for her happiness and will protect her with all my ability.

Dad smile at him as he said that while mom do the same.

Mom: You are serious about this and take Heri as your beloved right?

Galen nod enthusiastically at that all ready to confirm.

Galen: More than anything in my life. And yes she is my beloved, maam.

Mom smile at him warmly when he said that, while dad do the same.

Mom: Well then call us mom and dad, we call you son didn't we?

Galen smile brightly as she said that, looking overwhelmed by the emotion. He clenched my hand tightly and with a deep breath said.

Galen: Mom, dad.

He whispered it out with all the loving and anxious emotion making mom and dad smile at him in encouragement.

Mom: Yes, my son.

Dad: Welcome to the family.

All of us smile at the moment and cover ourself in the warmness of the moment, that is until Tilbe open his mouth.

Tilbe: Oh he call mom first!

Dad look at her with a smile at first but then his expression suddenly become alert and shocked.

Dad: How is this fair, three of my children said dad first.

Galen smile sweetly as dad complain along, his words seems to be making him more than happy. I smile looking at him while holding his hand a bit tighter.

He look up at me and smile too. While at the side I see mom sitting there looking smugly making dad more irritated.

We look at them and chuckled at their childlikeness.

Dad: Oh so Tilbe is the only one now.

Tilbe largened her eye as he said that and quickly get up from where she was sitting, making Vann glare at our parents. She was sitting is his arm, you see.

While Tilbe pay no heed to him and quickly retreat towards the kitchen.

Tilbe: Dad, let's go the mushroom won't cook by themselves.

With that she went in while dad also get up with a sigh and went towards the kitchen, while mom look at dad with a smug smile still.

And there I realise, mom and dad have not yet realise that Tilbe just said dad, do they?

I look at mom keenly while Vann and Galen do so too.

Mom: Wait, she just say dad didn't she?

Dad: You just said dad didn't you. Love she call me first!!!

He shout and come out if the kitchen with a spatula on his hand, looking as excited as ever while looking at mom.

I wonder how disappointed he was when both me and Vann call mom first?

Mom: Well I have three.

And she kind of sulk while dad gone back inside still grinning from ear to ear giving no heed to mom's word.

Mom still sulk a bit making us all laugh out loud, we were dying to laugh at their bickering from before and now mom cute expression did it all. I went and hug her while she do too.

Heri: Well you have three of us first time mom!

Mom: But that's Tilbe.

I chuckled as she said that, while she also chuckled looking at our face.

Mom: But then Iam also glad that, your dad also experience how happy and how special you feel when your children call you for the first time as their first word.

And she smile sweetly thinking of dad Iam sure. They are so cute together, and I won't get tired of how lovingly they live even if I see it my whole life.

Vann chuckled at mom and also side hug her too from where he is sitting making it a little family hug.

Mom: Galen, son, what are you waiting for, come join the hug.

When mom said and she stay there nervously, I quickly pull him into our little hug making him smile in ecstasy.

Tilbe: Well the mush....., wait hugs without me?

And she rush towards us and jump in the hug making Vann smile and pull her a bit closer to him while mom smile at them.

Tilbe: Dad, quick come out. They are trying to do a family hug without you.

She shout at the top of her voice while mom shake her head in disbelieve at thee words. Galen looked at her amused while I do too.

Nonetheless, dad come out with a apron by his waist and a huge knife by his hand , all rushed making us all laugh looking at him.

He tch at us and carefully put the knife down and encircle us all is his arm making all of us smile happily.

Mom: Now this is our complete happy family.

We hug for a while like that, that is until dad Tilbe and Vann went on the kitchen to cook while we stay in the living room taking the peas out of its shell.

Mom: Son, we forget to ask. What do you like to eat? You dad is a pretty good chef, let's make him you a dish to your liking.

Galen: Iam fine with everything, it's a homemade food and that is a guarantee that I will like it.

Mom smile at him at his sweet answer.

While at that time Vann come out.

Vann: It's all set up, let go.

Huh? I look at the dining table and nothing is set up there, so what are they talking about?

Looking at my confused face, Vann explain.

Vann: Oh, Tilbe and dad plan to have a barbecue and have their favourite that is.

Mom/ Heri: Roasted mushroom.

Vann chuckled at that.

Vann: Exactly.

Heri: Well then let's go.

With that all of us went out to the back lawn and see there dad grilling the meat while Tilbe stand besides him drooling looking at the mushroom grilling there.

Galen: Wow, she must really like barbecue.

I nod as he said that, while mom and Vann went towards them.

Heri: Its the mushroom she likes and more than that, she is in love with dad's cooking so the reaction.

He chuckled looking at Tilbe who is standing there all excited with her eyes sparkling brightly.

Galen: Well what do you like then? I never got to ask. What is your favourite dish?

I think about it for a few second but come up with none.

Heri: Well I have nothing in particular, but what I don't like is sweet and sour things mixed.

He look at me while nodding.

Heri: What about yours?

He smile as I said that.

Galen: I was not kidding when I said it is guaranteed that I will like it, when it is homemade or made with feelings.

I chuckled at his explanation, isn't he just sweet.

Heri: Okay I'll take a note of that, now lets go and eat meat not mushroom cause they won't leave you any.

He chuckled at that while I look at him with a serious face. Tilbe's and dad obsession with mushroom is different.

Anyway with that we went and take a seat. Vann is grilling for us while dad is doing it for Tilbe and himself of course.

Vann bring a bowl of the grilled meat with some vegetables on the side.

Galen: Anything I can help with?

Vann: Nop, just enjoy.

Vann give him a small smile and went away.

While mom open up the vegetable soup kept in the table. It is a weird tradition if ours to eat barbecue with a soup of any kind.

While dad brought us some bread, for burgers if we prefer to eat it that way.

But all of us opt for the lettuce wrap.

I make myself a perfect wrap and eat it while maoning in pure joy while making myself another wrap, making my mom chuckle.

Mom: Slow down Ri, you will choke at this rate.

She jokingly look at me sternly while making a wrap for herself.

I heed her no mint and eat another one, my hand itching to get busy again.

But before I can, Galen put a warp on my hand making me smile at him sweetly.

Heri: Guys who offer food are really the best and even the most handsome.

Galen laugh softly at that, while mom look at me in disbelieve.

Mom: Son you have to keep her, we can't afford to lose you.

I look at her in fake hurt manner.

Heri: Hey what's that suppose to mean?

Galen: I think my house will go through a famine.

He jokingly said making mom laugh at his comment while I glare at him.

He chuckled at me and give me another wrap which I happily took but still with a glaring eye.

Mom: You probably need to stock up your pantry by now.

Galen look at me with a sweet smile while saying.

Galen: Iam on it, I'll make sure to keep a pantry bigger than the house itself.

I know they are making fun of me, but maybe it's the way he smile or its the warm eye that is looking at me with full of adoration. But at that moment, I thought that his words were the sweetest and it sound like a promise to me.

A promise that someday, we too will live together and that we will share a house that we will call home.

Just as we were smiling at each other, we heard mom saying.

Mom: Oh we forget the drinks, let me just go take it.

And with that, she went to the kitchen while at the same time we heard Tilbe squealing.

Tilbe: Finally let's eat, let eat.

And when we look at their side.

Tilbe was about to eat a mushroom but Vann take it out from her hand and blow on it to make it cooler while dad do the same on the other side.

Tilbe pout a little as her food was taken away but in few second, Vann feed her her beloved mushroom with his own hand making Tilbe all happy again. While dad gave the one to her which he was cooling making Tilbe munch on it, her cheeks full like a cute chipmunk chomping away.

Tilbe quickly make two meat wrapped and feed it to both of them, which they eat happily.

Galen: Thank you Heri, for introducing to me and making me a part of such a happy and warm family.

I looked ta him and smile as he said that.

Galen: It is my greatest blessing, to have the pleasure to know you and love you. I love you Heri.

I looked at him shocked while he looked at me with a sweet smile. His handsome face sparkling with the sunlight lighted on him, while his deep red eye full of love and sincerity. And my heart beating at an unrealistically quick face but also calm with happiness.

And I knew clearly what I feel and why Iam so happy.

Heri: I love you too.