C105 Unspoken Fear

Early the next morning, my parents were already preparing to attend the Wood family wedding. I woke up later than usual, and they looked surprised when they saw me dressed casually instead of in formal wear. My father, Quinton, raised an eyebrow. “Son, aren’t you attending the wedding?” My mother, Mary, added softly, “If you don’t go, I’m sure Mr. Wood and Mrs. Wood will understand.” I shook my head lightly. “I’m not going. Alicia managed something for us today. Driving license exams. All three of us.”

Their expressions immediately brightened.

Mary smiled warmly. “Alicia planned this, didn’t she?” I nodded. She laughed gently. “As expected of her. I really like that young girl. Please thank her on my behalf.” Quinton chuckled. “Son, whenever you mention Alicia, your mother talks about her the whole day. I wouldn’t be surprised if she sits with her at the wedding.” I laughed softly, grabbed my bag, and headed out.

Outside, the morning air was cool. As I walked away from home, my phone rang. It was Laura. “Hello, honey,” I answered casually. There was a short pause before she replied softly, “Hello… daddy.” I froze mid-step. My heartbeat suddenly quickened. “W-what did you just call me?” She giggled softly. “Daddy.” I exhaled sharply, half shocked, half amused. “You really said that out loud?” She sounded shy now. “I just felt like it.”

I laughed under my breath. “Alright… honey. So what’s up?” “Are you going to the wedding today?” she asked. I hesitated. “I’m not sure. Were you planning something?” “Yes,” she replied. “I wanted us to go somewhere quiet… just relax for the day. What do you think?” Her voice was soft, almost hopeful. My chest tightened slightly. “I don’t mind,” I said gently. “Honestly, it might be awkward for me to attend anyway.” I paused. “But I have something to do first. In about two hours I’ll be done. Then we can meet.” “Where?” she asked quickly. I smiled. “That’s up to you, darling. Plan it, and I’ll follow your lead.” She laughed. “You’re impossible.” “And you like it,” I replied. She didn’t deny it. After a short goodbye, the call ended.

I took a taxi to the driving test center Alicia had sent me. As expected, I was late. When I arrived, Alicia and Chris were already waiting. Chris waved. “Finally, Mr. Late.” Alicia smiled faintly but didn’t tease me this time. We went inside together and completed the exams. Surprisingly, all three of us passed. Chris stretched his arms dramatically. “We are officially legal drivers now!” Alicia smiled softly. “About time.”

When it was time to leave for the wedding, the mood shifted slightly. I looked at both of them. They looked at me. For a moment, no one spoke. Then I sighed. “I think me attending the wedding would be awkward. I’ll just spend the day alone.” Alicia immediately frowned. “Do you want us to stay with you?” She glanced at Chris and added quickly, “No, do you want me to stay with you? This one is already excited to see his girlfriend.” Chris scoffed. “Even on a good day, you still provoke me.”

We all laughed lightly, breaking the tension. I shook my head. “No, go enjoy yourselves. I’ll be fine.” They finally agreed. Chris refused to ride with Alicia in the same car, so he took a taxi separately while Alicia left with her family car. As I headed home, I texted Laura. "I’m done. Heading home now." Almost instantly, she replied. "I’m coming. Send me your address." I stared at the message for a few seconds. Why would she come to my house? Still, I replied.

When she arrived, she looked unusually elegant, soft, composed, almost innocent. But the moment she realized my parents weren’t home, her expression relaxed back into her usual confident self. “Mike,” she said seriously, “we need to talk.” I blinked. “That serious? Can’t it wait? I haven’t even made juice yet.” She shook her head. “No. Private.”

We went upstairs to my room. I sat down slowly. “Alright… what is it?” She hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke. “Hubby… my father keeps insisting that we break up.” I frowned immediately. “He used to talk about you differently,” she continued. “He praised you before. But now he keeps bringing up online gossip… and that physical abuse case involving that girl. He says you’re becoming disobedient at work and that your vice director is even considering firing you.” She said everything in one breath.

I leaned back slightly, exhaling. “So that’s it…” Alicia looked at me carefully. “You’re not surprised?” I gave a faint smile. “When someone wants to push you out of something, they don’t stop at one reason. They build many.” She frowned. “What do you mean?” So I told her. About Samantha. About how I once loved her. About how Ben interfered. About how everything collapsed. And how that pain still echoed in me. Her eyes widened slightly. “So… Samantha was your first love?” I nodded slowly. “And now her wedding is happening today.”

Laura went quiet. Then she spoke softly. “So your vice director is targeting you even after everything?” I nodded again. She frowned deeper. “My father has been speaking to the vice director a lot lately…” That made me pause. “Wait… what?” She nodded uncertainly. “I don’t know what they’re planning.” Silence fell between us.

Then I said slowly, “So you’re telling me… your father might be working with him?” She didn’t answer immediately. Then she whispered, “…maybe.” The room felt colder. Laura quickly changed the topic. “Did you find out who took the photo of us?” I nodded. “Bright admitted it.” She sighed. “At least that part is solved.” But then her voice softened again. “There’s something else…”

I looked at her. Her cheeks turned slightly red. “Our future… is still uncertain.” I frowned. “What do you mean?” She looked away. “You were my first kiss… because I love you. So why not… be my first time too?” My eyes widened immediately. “Laura…” She didn’t look away now. Instead, she stepped closer. The air between us changed completely.

What followed was quiet… emotional… scenes. She leaned closely as i kissed her, she unbuttoned her dress as the kiss went deeper. A moment neither of us could take back happened. When we were finally done, she looked away and fixed herself, she avoided my eyes shyly. Then she said something that changed the entire mood again. “I think my father is planning an arranged marriage for me.”

My heart sank instantly. She looked down. “Please don’t be disappointed… I love you.” She paused. “I gave you my first kiss… my first time… I will try to reject it.” I couldn’t speak immediately. All I could hear was her breathing… and the weight of everything we were facing closing in again. And for the first time… I realized love alone might not be enough to protect us.