Meeting Kyo's Dad

When Kyo told me last night that I would be meeting his Dad, I was mortified. I wasn’t ready for that! I was barely ready to meet his Mum, but then again, she turned out to be the sweetest lady in the whole world, Kyo's Dad on the other hand, I was scared to think what might happen.

I’m so scared, I barely slept last night, I was tossing and turning, and negative thought patterns were entering my mind and setting camp up there. I hated this feeling, but I can’t help it, it’s scary meeting your boyfriend’s parents, but even more scary knowing that they might hate you!

Sometimes I wish our parents never met. Sometimes I wish they were never friends, then things would be so much easier, scary, but easier. I have to do this, no matter what I need to make a good impression.

I got out of bed early and decided to take a walk through the park to clear my head. It was a sunny but crisp morning. Autumn is finally here! It’s my favourite season and always puts me in a good mood. I plug my earphones into my phone and listen to the ‘Autumn playlist’ I created.

I work according to the seasons; my outfit, makeup, books I read, music I listen to, everything is decided according to the season. For example, in Autumn and Winter, I prefer to read Horror or Crime novels, but in the Spring and Summer, I read Romance or Fantasy.

I loved walking through the park, it was 7 in the morning and it was empty, the leaves were a range of orange, yellow and reds, and the ground was covered in a blanket of them. It was this time that I was craving a warm Caramel Latte with a slice of Pumpkin Spice Cake.

Call me a child but I had particular fun jumping in the piles of leaves and hearing them crunch under my feet. The ground was dry as it was still yet to rain, but with how earthy and sweet, we could be expecting a storm, I’m going to take this as a good sign and just keep an open mind and heart.

I stayed out for about an hour, listening to music and playing on the swings. I felt like a little kid again, back when things were perfect when I didn’t need to meet anyone’s expectations, back when I could just be… me.

I may sound horrible now, but life was so good before my sister was born. I had the attention of my parents and I didn’t have to go to extra lengths to make my presence known, every time I walked in a room, I was given the attention, 6 years later my sister was born and things started to change.

I get that some people have to worse and my ‘problem’ isn’t even that big compared to some people, but I am just human, I have feelings and sometimes those feelings get hurt over the littlest things, including this one.

An hour later, I decide to go home and take a shower, I strip down and step into the shower room. I lather myself in soap and watch it run down the drain in bubbles, the steam helped to clear my sinus as well as create an aroma of cinnamon sugar that floated throughout the room.

After drying myself, I slipped into a bathrobe and walked into my room. Browsing through my wardrobe I decided on an outfit consisting of a black turtle neck winter dress, tights, leg warmers that were bunched up around my ankles and black shoes, once I was happy with my outfit, I went ahead and did my hair and make-up before making my way downstairs.

“Ooh yummy,” my mouth watered as I eyed the delicious pancakes being prepared in the kitchen.

I didn’t realise my Mum and sister were near until I heard them.

“You going to eat all that?” Mum scoffed.

I looked down at my plate of two pancakes, syrup and strawberries.

“Yes, why?” I raised an eyebrow.

She didn’t say anything but rolled her eyes, she walked past me and made herself a cup of tea. Thinking nothing of it, I sat down on the kitchen island, a big smile made its way on my face as I grabbed a fork ready to take a bite of the pancakes.

Mum sat next to me and mumbled something about being fat before I was able to put the pancake in my mouth. My sister must’ve heard because she started laughing, Mum smiled at her.

I felt my heart sink and tears make their way as I pushed the plate away, suddenly I wasn’t feeling hungry anymore, so I went and made myself a cup of tea instead.

“Oh, come on, can’t you take a joke?” Mum’s tone changed from playful to irritated in the span of a few seconds.

“I’m not hungry anymore,” I smiled.

“I swear she takes everything so seriously,” I hear my sister say.

Once I was in my room, I shut my door with a click and placed my cup down on the chest of drawers next to my bed. I walked over to my mirror and looked at my reflection through the mirror.

I noticed how plain I was compared to some other girls; I caught the reflection of my books through my mirror and saw how different I was compared to those other girls, I had a flat chest and backside, and my hips weren’t as small as I would’ve liked them either.

My phone’s ringtone went off and when I picked it up, I saw Kyo’s incoming video call. I quickly answered and plastered a smile on my face.

“Hi, beautiful,” he smiled.

“Hi,” I smiled back.

“What’s the matter?” Kyo asked, taking a sip from the energy drink he was having.

“Nothing,” I shook my head, “Are you going to the gym?” I asked.

He nodded, “Yup.”

“Hm,” I nodded, here my boyfriend was going on a diet and the gym and here I was stuffing my face with pancakes.

“Ichigo,” he raised his eyebrow, his voice patronising.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Are you going to tell me what happened or do I need to come there and tickle it out of you?” he kept his tone serious but I could tell he was trying to cheer me up.

I explained what happened and just waited for him to say something.

“Ichigo, honestly you should’ve just eaten those pancakes anyways, and let the sticky syrup just drip down your chin as you watched them gawk at you for not eating ‘lady-like’” he winked making me laugh.

“You know I don’t call you beautiful for no reason, and I don’t care what your… bodily proportions are, I’m happy to call you mine regardless of what you or anyone say, so stop overthinking and eat whatever and however much you want, I don’t care and neither should you, your body needs fuel to function properly, so please, eat!” he explained.

I sniffed and nodded, I guess he was right… but how do I tell him about my eating disorder?

“May the Princess please kindly let me know what she’s thinking?” Kyo asked.

“Nothing, just admiring my handsome boyfriend,” I smiled.

Kyo blushed making me giggle.

“Also,” I added making him look at me, “I was thinking if it would be okay to meet your Dad today.”

Kyo stared at me, his cheeks filled with the liquid he was drinking before he swallowed and proceeded to say something.

“Okay, but why all of a sudden?” he asked.

“Because if I wait any longer my heart will burst out of my chest and it’s going to be one big bloody, gruesome mess, I just got new sheets and I’d rather not ruin them,” I grinned.

Kyo stared at me for a few seconds before he burst out laughing, “Oh, you never cease to amaze me.”

I shrugged, “Well?”

“Okay,” he sighed, smiling, “I guess we can make it work, I’ll ask Mum and get back to you, okay?”

I nodded, “Okay.”

“Good, now I have to go get ready before I leave so I’ll talk to you later,” he smiled.

“Okay, and I BELIEVE IN YOU!! YOU’RE THE BEST!!! GOOOO KYOOOO! YOU’RE AMAZING!” I cheered like a cheerleader making him laugh.

“Uff, that motivational boost might work better than the energy drink I just chugged,” he winked.

“Okay, bye,” I blushed.

“Oh and, Ichigo,” he called out before I had the chance to cut the call.

“Yes?”

“Go and eat something,” he told me.

I smiled, “Okay.”

“Promise?”

“Pinkie promise.”

“Good girl, bye see you soon,” he sent a flying kiss before cutting the call.

I went downstairs and saw that it was empty and the pancakes that I had left were still untouched.

“Would you like me to heat them again, dear?” our housekeeper, Yurie asked.

I smiled, “No, Yurie, it’s okay thank you though.”

She nodded, reciprocating the smile before going back to drying the dishes as I ate the pancakes silently.

“You know that young man is quite handsome, you chose a good one,” she winked.

I choked on my pancake, “Huh? Oh, I er…”

Yurie chuckled, “You can’t hide things from me, dear.”

I blushed while finishing my breakfast.

“And you mustn’t let them get to you, you’re beautiful the way you are and a growing girl, you need your food,” Yurie chided.

“Yes, Yurie,” I smiled while washing my plate and putting it away.

“Thank you for the pancakes, they were delicious as always,” I smiled before walking back to my room.

An hour later I got a text on my phone from Kyo, telling me to get ready as he’s coming to pick me up to take me to his house. Okay, this was it; I’ve been mentally preparing myself for a few hours now I’m leaving everything up to the fates.

Gods, I’m nervous!

The time between Kyo picking me up and us arriving at his house is a blur! I think I was moving like a zombie or something because I have zero recollection of that time and I think I should be worried.

“Hey,” Kyo whispered making me flinch, I looked at him startled, “Relax, breathe, everything will be fine, I promise,” he held my hand.

I gulped, nodding, “Everything’s gonna be fine,” I repeated.

Kyo walked inside still holding my hand, I walked behind him so he shielded me from the view in front of me. From the looks of it, we were in the living room. Kyo gently tugged my hand so I was standing next to him.

“Dad, this is my girlfriend,” he introduced me.

“Hello,” I managed to croak out, keeping my gaze on the ground.

“Hello,” I heard a loud, deep reply, looking up I was surprised to see Kyo’s Dad smiling gently as he sat in an armchair, a newspaper now folded on the armrest next to him.

I smiled back, relaxing a little as Kyo’s Mum came to my side giving me a small hug, “Hello, dear,” she lovingly smoothed out my hair.

“Kyo, does your girlfriend have a name or…” Kyo’s Dad asked.

“Akabane Ichigo,” I replied, my voice echoing in the large room, the silence was so loud it concealed the sound of my heartbeat, for a moment we all stilled, except for Kyo’s Dad who shifted uncomfortably.

“As in, Akabane Chiharu…”

“Yes, he’s my father,” I clarified.

My voice held more confidence than I felt, my legs were turning to jelly and if Kyo’s Mum weren’t holding me I know I would’ve dropped to the ground, not to mention how sweaty my palms were getting, I was glad Kyo was no longer holding my hand.

“Hmm,” was the only thing we heard.

A few agonising seconds went by before I heard, “How… how are they?”

“I’m sorry?” I asked.

“Your parents… how are they?” he repeated.

“U-uh erm they’re okay…” I stuttered, I have to say I was very confused, I was more prepared to be launched out the front door by a huge guy in a black suit.

“Good, good,” he nodded.

“Dad, are you okay?” Kyo asked, equally confused.

His Dad nodded, “Yeah, fine.”

“I’m sure you’re aware of what happened, but I just want you to know I am sorry about what I did,” his Dad tells me.

I looked at Kyo’s Dad and saw genuine hurt in his eyes, he looked remorseful.

“I know, and you don’t need to be sorry, it happened a long time ago and I believe that the past should stay in the past otherwise it affects our present and potentially our future, so please don’t think about that now,” I tell him.

Kyo’s Dad looks at me surprised before he turns to Kyo.

“You chose a good one,” he patted him on the shoulder.

"So you approve of our relationship?" Kyo asked.

"Of course I do!" Kyo's Dad smiled.

"And who knows maybe this relationship might be the key to sort out the rivalry between me and your Dad," he looks at me with hope.

He patted me on the head and smiled at me before turning on his son, “Oh and Kyo, if you break her heart, you’re gonna regret it.”

“I second that,” Kyo’s Mum chimed in.

“Me too,” we heard from somewhere around the house, I recognised the voice as Kyo’s brother.

“Oh great. My whole family has turned against me now,” Kyo rolled his eyes with a smile.

“Ichigo, welcome to the family,” Kyo’s Dad announced before walking up the stairs followed by his wife.

I started jumping up and down and made a high-pitched squealing noise I didn’t think I was capable of making.

“Oh My God,” Kyo breathed out in relief.

“That was easier than I thought,” I silently thanked the Gods.

“That was a lot easier than I thought it was gonna be,” Kyo looked at me surprised.

“I know,”

“But whatever, I’m glad my family loves you,” he smiled.

“Me too, but now the real test is about to start,” I say.

“What?” Kyo asks, confused.

“MY family,” I tell him.

God help us.