C83 Hidden Worries

By the time I returned home, it was already well past dinner. I expected the house to be quiet, with my parents already asleep, but as soon as I stepped inside, I heard laughter coming from the living room.

Mom and Dad were still awake. "Mom, Dad... I'm home." Mary looked up first and smiled warmly. "You've been quite busy these days." She folded her arms playfully. "Now you're even skipping dinner with us." Dad chuckled beside her. "So..." He looked at me with a mischievous grin. "Was it work... or one of your girlfriends?"

I couldn't help laughing. "No, it wasn't work." I looked at him before correcting him. "And Dad... I don't have girlfriends." "I have one." "Laura Tryon." The moment I said her name, both of them noticed the smile I couldn't hide.

Dad raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Mom smiled knowingly. "Something happened today." I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Neither of them said another word, but their expressions clearly told me they were waiting for an explanation.

I smiled helplessly. "Laura and I..." "We had our first kiss." For a brief moment, the room became silent. Then Mary's face lit up with happiness. "Our son is finally growing up." Dad laughed loudly. "I was beginning to think you'd die before holding a girl's hand." "Dad..." I shook my head while laughing. "You make it sound like I'm hopeless." "Aren't you?" he teased. The three of us laughed together.

Feeling too embarrassed to continue the conversation, I quickly excused myself. "I'm going to my room." "Good night." As soon as I closed my bedroom door, I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling. A smile slowly appeared on my face. My fingers unconsciously touched my lips. "So this... is what a first kiss feels like." I could still remember everything. Laura standing on her tiptoes. The way her cheeks had turned bright red. How soft her lips had been. How nervous we had both looked afterward.

Every time I replayed the memory, my smile became even wider. "She's really my girlfriend now." For the first time in years... I slept with nothing but happiness in my heart.

The following morning, I woke up earlier than usual. Before even getting out of bed, I picked up my phone. Almost immediately, I found Laura's good morning message waiting for me. A smile appeared on my face.

We chatted for nearly twenty minutes. Most of it was meaningless teasing. Yet somehow... Those conversations had become the best part of my mornings.

Before closing my weibo, I suddenly remembered something. "Laura." "Are you free this Saturday?" "I should be." "Why?" "I thought we could go shopping together." She giggled softly. "Is this another date?" "It can be." "I'd love to." We continued chatting for a few more minutes before finally saying goodbye.

When I walked downstairs, breakfast was already prepared. Mom and Dad were waiting for me. Mary looked at me for a few seconds. She was obviously still curious about last night's confession, but she decided not to tease me any further.

Instead, she suddenly remembered something else. "Mike." "Did you ask Alicia what I told you yesterday?" I blinked before remembering. "Oh!" "I almost forgot." "I asked her." "What did she say?" Mary asked eagerly. "She said she'll come tomorrow." Mary clapped her hands happily. "Wonderful!" "I need to start planning everything."

She immediately began thinking aloud about what dishes she wanted to prepare. Watching her excitement made me smile. Then I remembered another problem. "Mom..." "Dad..." "There is something I should tell you." Both of them looked at me. "Tomorrow, I won't actually be home." "I'm going shopping with Laura."

Dad immediately burst into laughter. "So early..." "And your polygamy is already making you choose sides." Mom couldn't stop laughing either. I looked at both of them helplessly. "Dad..." "I only have one girlfriend." "Exactly." He nodded seriously. "And you've already abandoned your mother."

Mom dramatically sighed. "My son doesn't love me anymore." I almost choked on my juice. "You two are unbelievable." The dining table erupted with laughter. After finishing breakfast, I grabbed my bag and headed for work.

When I arrived at the company, Chris was already waiting outside. "Morning." "Morning." A few moments later, Alicia walked toward us. But something immediately felt different. She smiled at me. "Good morning, Mike." Then... She completely ignored Chris.

Chris blinked twice. He looked around before pointing at himself. "Wait..." "You're not greeting me today?" Alicia acted as if she hadn't heard him. Instead, she looked at me with curiosity. "So..." "How was your date yesterday?" "You didn't tell us anything in the group chat."

Chris instantly forgot about being ignored. "Exactly!" He looked at me excitedly. "Brother, tell us." I smiled awkwardly. "There really isn't much to tell." "We had dinner." "I walked her home." Chris stared at me in disbelief. "Only that?" He looked genuinely disappointed. "Brother..." "Why are you so slow?" "If you keep moving at that speed, women will leave you."

The moment those words left his mouth... Alicia suddenly coughed violently. "Cough!" "Cough!" Both of us looked at her in surprise. When she finally recovered, she glared at Chris. "You..." "You're becoming naughtier every single day." Chris looked completely confused. "Me?" "What did I do?" "I only stated a fact."

Alicia folded her arms. "Last night because of you..." "I embarrassed myself in front of my entire family." "They even thought I was the naughty one when I ask them what is pillow talk." I immediately understood. Unable to hold it in any longer, I burst into laughter. "So..." "That's why you refused to greet him?" She nodded firmly. "He deserves it."

Chris laughed so hard that he almost bent over. "You actually asked your father what pillow talk meant?" He wiped away imaginary tears. "Alicia..." "I'm honestly surprised you're still alive." "I thought your father would've grounded you until retirement." Even I couldn't stop laughing. Alicia puffed out her cheeks. "You two are terrible."

Once I finally calmed down, I turned toward Chris with a grin. "Brother..." "You said women would leave me if I'm too slow." Chris nodded proudly. "Exactly." I smiled. "Can you remind me again..." "Whose girlfriend went overseas?" "And what was the reason?"

Chris's smile instantly disappeared. "Mike..." "She isn't my girlfriend." "I never confessed." "We only..." He paused awkwardly. "...had that thing." Before he could finish explaining, Alicia quickly interrupted. "Oh?" "So..." "That thing is what made you this naughty?" For the second time that morning... Chris was left speechless. I laughed so hard that I had to hold my stomach. Even Alicia couldn't help laughing at her own joke.

After the laughter died down, Chris's expression slowly became serious. He took out his phone and looked at Sarah's recent messages. "I think..." "I think she's distancing herself from me." Both Alicia and I stopped smiling. "What do you mean?" Alicia asked. Chris sighed. "She's replying." "But her messages are much shorter now." "It's like..." "She's answering me because she's being polite." "But she doesn't want the conversation to continue." He lowered his phone. "I can feel it."

For the first time that morning... None of us joked. Alicia looked at him sympathetically. "Did you say something with that lousy mouth of yours again?" Chris immediately shook his head. "No." "I've been extra careful." "I don't even dare tease her anymore."

The atmosphere became slightly heavy. Trying to cheer everyone up again, Chris suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Alicia." "My parents think your cooking ruined my appetite." She blinked. "What?" "They think after eating your food..." "I don't enjoy theirs anymore."

I laughed. "My parents said exactly the same thing this morning." Alicia covered her mouth before bursting into laughter. "So both your families are jealous?" "They actually are," I admitted. Chris nodded dramatically. "I think we're in serious trouble." "If you keep cooking..." "Our mothers might declare war on you." The three of us laughed once more.

As we walked into the company together, none of us noticed several employees watching from a distance. "They're together again." "They really do look like siblings." "No..." Another employee whispered. "They look more like best friends." Only the three of us knew the truth. Our friendship had become one of the brightest sides. We also had our different problems.