CHAPTER 3
1146 Words
BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
The first crack in Amanda and Collins's happiness came quietly.
It wasn't an argument.
It wasn't betrayal.
It was a dinner invitation.
Collins had asked Amanda to meet his parents.
"Your parents?" Amanda immediately became nervous.
"Yes."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Amanda said nervously
"Why?" He asked
"Because they're your parents."
"That's exactly why." He laughed.
"Do I look okay?" Amanda looked down at her dress.
"You look beautiful."
"Really?"
"Really."
She took a breath.
"What if they don't like me?"
"Then that's their problem."
Collins held her hand
"But I want them to like me." Amanda shook her head.
"They will."
But Collins wasn't completely certain.
He knew his parents.
And he knew they had already made their opinions clear.
---
The mansion was larger than Amanda expected.
She stared through the car window.
"Collins..."
"Hmm?"
"This is your house?"
"One of them."
"One of them?" Amanda looked at him.
He laughed.
"Don't worry about it."
She became even more nervous.
Inside, Collins's mother greeted them.
Her smile was polite.
"Amanda."
Amanda bowed slightly.
"Good evening, ma'am."
His mother looked her over.
"Come in."
Dinner began quietly.
Amanda tried her best to be respectful.
She answered every question politely.
Where did she live?
What did her grandmother do?
What school had she attended?
What were her plans?
What did her parents do?
The questions became increasingly uncomfortable.
Finally, Collins interrupted.
"Mom, that's enough."
His mother looked at him.
"I'm only getting to know her."
"You're interrogating her."
"It's okay." Amanda touched his arm.
His mother smiled.
"She's polite."
Collins relaxed slightly.
Then his father asked:
"Do you intend to marry my son?"
"Sir?" Amanda nearly dropped her glass hearing
"That's not appropriate." Collins looked at his father.
His father ignored him.
"I asked a question."
Amanda swallowed.
"I don't know what the future holds."
"At least you're honest." His father nodded.
"We're leaving." Collins became irritated.
He stood up and held Amanda’s hand
His mother sighed.
"Collins." His mother called him but he did not answer and hold Amanda's hand walking towards the door
"Thank you for dinner." Amanda said following him
---
"That was terrible." Amanda breathed deeply
"I'm sorry." Collins laughed
"They don't like me."
"They don't know you." He said holding her hand
"They asked about marriage."
"I know." Amanda looked at him.
"Do you think they'd ever accept me?"
"I'll make them." He said unsure knowing his parents might not accept her
She smiled weakly.
"You can't make people love someone."
"I don't need them to love you."
"I love you." He said pulling her towards himself and hug her
Amanda's eyes softened.
---
But it wasn't enough for Collins's parents.
That night, his father confronted him.
"You're serious about her."
"Yes."
"How serious?" His father stared at him.
"Very."
"Then we're going to have a problem."
"What problem?" Collins folded his arms.
"You're forgetting your responsibilities."
"I haven't forgotten anything." Collins frowned.
"You are the only son."
"I know."
"You have a family name to carry."
"I know."
"You cannot throw everything away for a girl."
"She's not just a girl." Collins became angry.
His father raised his voice.
"Then what is she?"
"She is the woman I love." Collins answered without hesitation.
Silence.
His father looked at him for several seconds.
Then he said:
"You will regret this." His father said and Collins walked away
---
Meanwhile, Amanda was becoming more deeply attached to Collins.
She didn't know his parents were discussing about her.
She didn't know people were investigating her family.
She only knew that she loved him and Collins loved her.
One evening, he took her to a quiet place outside the city.
They sat beneath the stars.
"Do you ever think about marriage?" he asked.
"Why are you asking?" Amanda laughed nervously
"Because I do."
"You mean with me?" She looked at him.
"Who else?" Collins said staring at her
"I don't know." Amanda smiled.
"I do."
"I want a home." He held her hand and she listened to him
"A small one at first." He smiled then continued "Maybe not small. I know you like beautiful things."
"I do." She laughed.
"And I want children." He continue talking
"How many?" Amanda asked
"Maybe two.
"Thats good" She smiled
"You don't want children?" He asked her
"I like children” she looked down “But now now maybe one day”
"With me?" Collins asked looking at her
"Maybe." She looked at them looked away.
He laughed.
She pushed his shoulder.
"Stop asking me embarrassing questions."
He caught her hand.
"I love seeing you blush."
Amanda smiled.
The moment became quiet.
They looked at each other.
Their relationship had moved beyond simple attraction. There is trust, there is tenderness, there is a future neither of them fully understood yet. That night, they made promises about tomorrow and the future
---
Several days later, Collins received an unexpected message from his university.
His admission had been approved.
His father had apparently completed additional arrangements for an international program.
Collins was surprised.
"You didn't tell me about this." He went to meet his father
"It was necessary." His father said
"When do I leave?"
"In a few months."
"Okay, no problem” Collins smiled thinking he still has more time to spend with Amanda
"You'll be studying abroad." His father watched him carefully.
"That's fine." Collins nodded.
"You'll need to focus." His father looking at him strangely
"I will." He replied smiling thinking of how to spend time with Amanda and how to tell her he is traveling, hoping she won't get angry because of the distance that will be between them.
"And you'll have less time for distractions."
"Amanda isn't a distraction." Collin replied angrily and his smile disappeared, knowing what his father meant.
He walked out of his father's office and went straight to his room
He immediately called Amanda on getting insdie his room
"I want to tell you something and I hope you won't get angry" he said immediately Amanda pick up the call
"What is it” Amanda replied
“Promise me”
“I promised,” she said.
"I got my admission."
"That's wonderful." Amanda smiled
"But I'm studying abroad." Immediately he said that there is silence.
"How long?” She asked
"Maybe a few years." He looked at his phone since she is not replying
"Oh." Amanda's smile faded.
"Amanda." Collins called
"I'm happy for you." She said but not feeling happy
"You don't sound happy." He said but did not hear any reply “where are you now”
“I'm at home” She said
“Get dressed, I will come and pick you now” He said and hang up the call
But neither of them realized that Collins's parents had already begun discussing something far more permanent than a university program.
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