Only You

Ch 3

Looking at myself in the mirror, I sighed. "Cheer up Sofea! Just another dinner with mom and dad. Another night to lie," but I know it won't be as simple. Not when I know what they would ask. Or in my case, always asked.

"Let's just go in, and eat. What come will come. I won't be able to fulfill what they want yet. Not when Ryan outright left me hanging. Wait, no, he left and never looked back."

That night still hurts but what can I do? What can I simply do when I had given my parents fake hope yet didn't have the results.

Just as I applied some lip balm, my phone rang, taking me out of my thoughts. "Mom? Is everything alright?" Frowning at her cheerful tone from the other line, there was a bugging feeling to it. Why is she so happy?

"What do you mean... Wait... What? Boy... Boyfriend? Oh... He's... already there?" I paused, who... What... "Really? Oh... Okay... Yeah... I'll get there soon,"

With my heart drumming loudly, I was scared. Who showed up in front of my parents and claimed to be my boyfriend? Why would he do that? Could it be... Ryan...?

No... it's impossible. He made it clear to me, I was nothing but his booty call. He only found me amusing because I was easy.

But then who would know where my parents lived and this is our family night? My ex didn't and my colleagues only know of my shared house address.

The only possible person I could think of was Ryan because I had shown him once and made him drop me there. But the thoughts of him suddenly being there, seems like a dream. Maybe a nightmare.

***

"Fea! Is that you!?" My mom chimed the moment I enter the house. She wasn't there but I could hear chatter and laughter from the kitchen. A voice I don't recognize boomed with my dad's.

The house looks the same, smells the same. Nothing changed in a week since my visit. The three-set leather couch is neat and tidy in the lounge area. The coffee table was clear of anything, except for my dad's aloe vera plant.

The flat-screen tv dark but I know tonight won't be since my dad will want to watch some movies. It's our tradition as a family.

My dad's indoor plants still look greener than ever. My mom's collection of cat figurines stood proud all over the furniture.

Chuckling, I decided to call back when my dad too hollered. "Yes of course it's me! Who else would it be? Jason oppa?" My parents laughed and said I should come quickly. "Your boyfriend had been waiting," The underlying tease was clear in their tone and I didn't like it.

The more I step closer to the kitchen, the anxious I get. Who is that man?

Once I got there, three pairs of eyes stare intently at me, but mine froze at the deep blue ones. My mouth dried when I realized, he looked a lot like someone.

"Sofea," my parents engulfed me in a group hug but still, I could not tear my eyes away from the stranger.

Why does he look like him? Why is he here? Who is he? Did he send him?

"When you said you had a lover behind our backs, you didn't tell us he was a cop and away," snapping my eyes to them, I blinked confusedly. "What?"

"And you didn't mention he was a looker,"

"What....?"

"Oh would you look at that Seoyeon, she's all shy now that Rowan told us everything. It's okay dear, he cleared everything to us and told us why he couldn't come before,"

Rowan? That's his name? But who is he?

Still bewildered, I glance at the male, who was already staring back at me. I don't like the way his eyes stare at me, like he was judging me. My parents look happy and giddy though. What in hell did he tell them?

***

"Slow down Sofea. Your parents might think we are up to something if you are too hasty like this," he was walking too slowly and I choose to ignore his words.

I only wanted a word with him. Good thing there is a nearby café for us to talk. My parents 'understood' us when I said we needed to catch up. I don't want to know what kind of thoughts they have when I kept asking this man, Rowan, to have a private talk. I don't want to imagine it.

I push his hand away when he tried to get a hold of my arm. I barely know him and he is already trying to touch me? The nerve of this man.

"Slow down. Let's get seated first and then I'm sure you have questions,"

He was sure my butt! Ugh! I'm so confused and annoyed right now. I can't grasp what's going on because of his presence.

“You… why… why do you look like Ryan? Who are you? What do you want?” I had to ask that first of everything.

He showed out of nowhere and claimed to my parents to be my boyfriend. Heck, the last time I had a boyfriend was in college. And that was the only official relationship I ever had. The rest were flings.

And the awkwardness I felt throughout the dinner we shared was suffocating for me. How could he be so natural and casual with my parents like he had known them?

“Because I’m his older brother,” he answered, his tone deep, gruff, and baritone. Something I just noticed. A contrast to Ryan's low, cool and seductive tone. Why did it give me chills? Weird. “But why would you claim to be my boyfriend? Is this some sick joke? Did Ryan told you to prank me?”

I am still trying to process the words mom said earlier. According to her, he explained, I wasn't able to officially introduce him because he had been abruptly relocated to another precinct last year. How and why did my parents buy his words easily, is a mystery to me still.

“No… my brother thinks you are in trouble. He wants me to keep you… safe,” his eyes look around the café, observing the closed area. I took it as a chance to look at him.

His dark brown hair was sleek, and the sideburns neat. And his eyes, what I noted were in the deepest shade of blue. Now that’s where I noticed another difference with Ryan, their eye color.

“Safe? From what? Look… I don’t want anything to do with him or you. It’s bad enough he left me hanging and now you showed up? No thank you!” I huffed, Ryan’s rejection playing in my mind still. It hurt like a b***h.

“I assure you. You will need me to keep you safe. And I promised Ryan that I would,” rolling my eyes, I can't help but pinched the bridge of my nose. Keep me safe my butt.

"Why? Because you're a cop? Did he signed me up for trouble class or something?"

"I don't know. He won't tell me the details but I did give him my word that I will keep you safe. No matter what, both of you have my word,"

I'm not sure if this cop doesn't understand when a person is being rude or sarcastic, but he ignored my words completely.

"And what? Being my boyfriend will keep me safe?"

"No... He asked me to be with you whatever it takes, whatever works. I asked your parents for your hand in marriage, they seemed to like the idea," I'm sure my jaw fell, how dare him! My hand itched to slap him, these Green brothers have some nerve!

"No! I won't marry a stranger!"

"Sofea, wait and listen-"

"No! I need to stay away from you and him! Basically from you Greens. Oh wait, he's already doing it on his own," he sighed, looking almost frustrated with me and I rolled my eyes at him. I don't see any more differences between them, they are the same.

I got up to leave but was jerked back when his hand grips mine. "Stay, please, I'm not done. Ryan said-" Yanking my hand free, I tsked him. Why was his hand so warm? What the heck is wrong with me?

"I don't want to hear why he wants you involved in my life, nor do I want to know why. Let's just go back. You will tell my parents that you have a job to do or whatever and then leave."

"Sofea!" I tried not to shiver at the way my name rolled off his tongue, I should not react like this. "Please Rowan," sighing, I look at him pleadingly. "I am tired of your brother's games. I don't want to get involved with you too. Just... Just leave,"

Rowan didn't argue when he looked at me, he just stared like he was trying to figure me out. A look I cannot read went through his eyes when they did a once over my worn-out form, he didn't even hide it. Not saying much, he went to the counter, bought some dessert, and left. Me tagging a few feet away.

He gave the excuse of being needed at the precinct and thus, my family night was left with me and my parents, as it was supposed to. Though, it never stopped my mom to ask me billions of questions about him.

My dad had few words to say about him and I wasn't sure if that is a good thing or a bad one. And to make things worse, my parents decided to video call my older brother instead of putting on a movie. Telling him I finally brought home the mysterious boyfriend I once claimed.

Let me tell you one thing, it did not end well. My brother was pissed and even though he hid the fact well from my parents, it was obvious to me. His dark brown eyes conveyed the message clearly, he wants an explanation once he returns to LA.