Written in Fate

The school day had finally come to an end, leaving me feeling like a worn-out marathon runner who had just crossed the finish line. Cherry and I had managed to survive the day on a bizarre cocktail of sleep deprivation and adrenaline. As we stepped out of the school gates, the late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over everything, and I couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh.

Cherry yawned beside me, her eyes reflecting the exhaustion we both shared. We exchanged tired smiles, a silent acknowledgment of the chaotic day we had endured. Our conversation had been reduced to sporadic mumbles and shared glances, yet there was an odd comfort in this mutual weariness.

As I stepped through the front door, the familiar scent of home embraced me, and I could feel the exhaustion seeping into my bones.

"Karma, is that you?" my dad's voice called out from the living room.

"Yeah, Dad," I replied, kicking off my shoes and heading in his direction.

He was seated on the couch, a book in his hand, his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. "Long day at school?"

I nodded, sinking onto the adjacent armchair. "Yeah, you can say that again."

He chuckled, setting his book aside. "Well, I've got some news that might make your day a bit more interesting."

My interest piqued, I leaned forward. "Oh? What's the news?"

Dad's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Evan Sinclair, Cherry's dad, has returned to town. He dropped by earlier, and we had a nice chat. In fact, we're planning to have a little get-together for both families in a few days."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Woah. That’s nice."

Dad nodded, a nostalgic smile touching his lips. "Evan and I have been best friends since childhood. We've got quite a history together."

I leaned back. "Yeah, you mentioned that earlier one time during dinner."

He chuckled, leaning back against the couch cushions. "Oh, there are stories, my boy. Stories that'll have you rolling on the floor with laughter."

I grinned, always eager to hear tales from my dad's past. "Tell me one."

Dad leaned back, a reminiscent smile playing on his lips. "Well, there was this one time when we decided to camp out in our backyard, and we ended up getting attacked by a horde of mischievous squirrels."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the mental image. My dad and Cherry's dad being chased by squirrels was definitely not something I had expected to hear.

"And then there was the time we tried to build a tree-house," Dad continued, his eyes lighting up with nostalgia. "Let's just say it didn't exactly turn out as planned. The tree-house collapsed within minutes."

I burst into laughter, unable to contain myself. The idea of two grown men attempting to build a tree-house only for it to crumble was too amusing to ignore.

As he finished the story, Dad's expression turned thoughtful. "You know, Karma, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

He looked at me earnestly. "I couldn't help but notice that you weren't exactly thrilled about having Cherry over for dinner the other night."

My cheeks grew warm, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "Well, I mean, it was a bit unexpected…"

Dad chuckled knowingly. "Ah, I see. You were caught off guard."

"Yeah, something like that," I mumbled.

He leaned forward, his eyes kind. "You know, Karma, I've always believed that it's important to be on good terms with the people in your life. Especially the ones your heart has a special place for."

I stared at him, my heart racing. I had no idea how to respond, how to explain the whirlwind of emotions that had been stirring inside me. I opened my mouth to say something, but my words stumbled and tripped over each other, leaving me tongue-tied.

Just then, my mom walked in, her presence a welcome distraction. "What's going on here, you two?"

Dad winked at me and turned to my mom. "Oh, just some father-son bonding time, dear."

My mom arched an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Oh, really? Well, it sounds like you've been having quite the heart-to-heart conversation."

I felt my face heat up, embarrassment flooding through me. "It's not like that, Mom."

Mom turned to me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "By the way, Karma, why are you blushing so much? Could it be that our little boy has something to hide?"

I felt my cheeks heat up, and I stumbled over my words. "N-No, it's nothing like that. I mean..."

Mom's laughter rang out, and Dad joined in, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, I think I know what's going on."

I glanced between them, my face now a bright shade of crimson. "You do?"

Mom winked. "Let's just say, dear, that we parents have our ways of noticing things."

Dad nodded in agreement. "Your mom's right. And you know what? I'm happy for you, Karma. If things are going well with Cherry, I couldn't be more pleased."

The mixture of embarrassment and warmth swirling within me was a whirlwind of emotions I hadn't anticipated. I had to gather my thoughts and find a way to tell them the truth about Cherry and me.

As I stammered to find the right words, Cherry's text message notification chimed on my phone. I hastily pulled it out and read her message, a smile forming on my lips as I typed a response. The conversation flowed easily, and the idea of telling my parents seemed less daunting with each passing second.

Finally, after a few more exchanges, I put my phone down and cleared my throat. "Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you both."

Mom raised an eyebrow, her smile encouraging. "Oh? What is it, Karma?"

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. "Cherry and I... We're actually dating now."

Dad's eyes widened, and he exchanged a knowing glance with Mom. "Well, well. I guess our little boy is growing up."

Mom chuckled. "Congratulations, Karma. We're happy for you."

Dad's grin was practically ear to ear. "You know, Karma, Evan and I always used to joke about our kids getting married someday. It was a running gag between us. We'd say that if you and Cherry ever crossed paths, it would be fate, and we'd have to arrange a grand wedding."

I raised an eyebrow, my heart suddenly feeling like it had been thrown into a whirlwind. "You mean, you wanted us to...?"

Dad's grin was practically ear to ear. "Well, well, well, it seems like my dream of getting you two married will finally come true."

My mind whirled with disbelief, and a mixture of emotions swelled within me. My dad's laughter and my mom's joy were infectious, and I found myself laughing along with them, my embarrassment fading into the background.

And as we continued our dinner with talk of the upcoming family get-together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The awkwardness of the past, the uncertainties, they were all part of this beautiful journey that had brought Cherry and me closer.