That's my dad

Bruno's expression changes when he discovers the reason for Romeo's presence and Lina's condition the other day. He lets out a sigh of relief and a small smile forms on his face, "She drank alcohol and you took care of her yourself. Now I get it. You should've said so from the start", he says.

Lina rolls her eyes and shakes her head, "You're the one who kept imagining weird stuff Bruno!" she adds.

Romeo keeps observing their conversation silently until he decides to speak up. "Is he your big bro or something?" he asks, pointing at Bruno.

Lina chuckles, "That's my dad," she replies.

"Oh, that's right. I think I didn't introduce myself properly", Says Bruno, extending his arm to Romeo, "I'm Bruno, and as she told you, I'm her father. You're Romeo, the guy helping my daughter around all this time, right?"

"Bingo", Answers Romeo, shaking Bruno's hand.

"Elza told me about you, you know, and I've been wanting to meet you for so long", Adds Bruno, with a big smile on his face, "Glad this day came by!"

"It's my pleasure to finally meet you, sir", Replies Romeo, politely bowing his head a little down.

"So, since when did you two start dating?" he asks, looking at Lina as his smile turns mischievous. And that's when Lina's face turns bright red, and she stammers, "B... Bruno! Wh... Where did this come from?", She asks, trying to compose herself

"I mean, he's not your boyfriend?", Asks the father, a bit confused.

"No. He's not my boyfriend", She adds, her voice a bit sharp after finally composing herself while doing her best to hide her embarrassment, "We're just friends... That's all! Geez, why are you getting the wrong idea?"

As the conversation continues, Bruno leans back in his chair, a sly grin on his face, "Are friends supposed to take care of each other like this?", he teases, his eyes flickering over to Romeo. "Anyways, tell me, Romeo, how were the finals? I mean, your grades!"

Romeo, sitting up straighter in his seat, nods and says, "I got a 100."

"Well, that wasn't expected," Replies Bruno, his eyebrows raise in surprise, "Getting a perfect score is something that we don't see every day, you know! I believe that you worked hard for it, right?"

"Around 6 or 7 hours a week", Shrugs Romeo, "It was quite a drag if you ask me."

"Well, that time isn't even enough to get a 50", Chuckles Bruno, amazed by Romeo's answer. Then Lina rolls her eyes at her father's teasing, "Bruno, he's just a big brain!", She explains, "He doesn't need to work hard, and his laziness is quite weird!"

As for Romeo, he looks over at Lina and then asks a curious question. "Why are you calling him Bruno?" he asks, "I mean, he's your father. Shouldn't it be better to call him dad or father? Showing some respect?"

"Nah", Lina shakes her head, "I'll pass," she says stubbornly.

"What you said kinda hurts you know, "Bruno's expression darkens slightly at Lina's response, "I may be easy going but I'm still your father. I deserve to be shown some respect, don't I?", he says, his tone a bit serious.

As for Elza, she decides to finally join the conversation. Her eyes light up as she turns to Romeo, a wide smile on her face, "Romeo! You'll be staying for lunch today, right?", She asks eagerly, welcoming the boy to join their family reunion.

But Romeo hesitates, not wanting to impose, "I don't know... I mean, I'm afraid I'll be a space intruder, you were waiting to finally gather after all", he explains politely.

"Of course not!", Replies Elza, shaking her head, "We're glad that you're sharing your time with us. So tell me, what do you want for lunch? In other words, what's your favorite meal?"

"He likes Seafood Mac pretty much", Interrupts Lina, followed by Romeo's nod which confirms her words, "I'll make it myself so you better wait for it, okay?", She continues after turning to her friend, a smile on her face while she was speaking up.

As those two get in the kitchen, Romeo sighs at Lina's stubbornness. "A stubborn pipsqueak", he teases, a hand over his head.

"Good thing that seafood never leaves our house", Says Elza with a smile as she opens the refrigerator, "Should we make a seafood salad as well? What do you think?"

"I think that's a good idea!", Exclaims Lina, jumping in with excitement, "Mom, take care of the salad and I'll be making the Mac. Romeo likes spicy food so I'll make it extra spicy, okay?"

"But, Lina! None of us can handle spicy food, did you forget about that?" she reminds her daughter, looking uncertain as she thinks for a moment before shrugging, "Come to think of it, I think it's okay!" she says with a smile. "If we won't be able to eat it, we'll have the salad then!"

Lina grins, happy with the plan. "It's settled then, time to cook!", she declares, leading today's cooking.

As Lina and her mother are busy making food, Bruno and Romeo find themselves sitting on the couch in the living room, trying to make small talk. Bruno tries his best to be friendly, but his attempts felt somewhat forced, as he's still trying to figure out the best way to connect with Romeo, feeling the boy's closed-off personality and slowly getting to the reason behind it.

"I see, so you live with only your mother as well! Isn't that life a bit hard? For someone your age that is", Asks Bruno, attempting to find some common ground.

"I got used to it so I can't really tell", Answers Romeo while giving a small shrug.

"You didn't answer my question though?", Bruno prods further, his curiosity getting the better of him, "Since when did you two start dating?"

"I'm not her boyfriend, really", Confirms Romeo, "We're just friends. Lina wasn't hiding anything when she answered you earlier."

Bruno looks rather embarrassed, realizing he may have overstepped his bounds, "Okay...", he says, dragging out the word, "Your friendship seems to have a strong bond then!"

Romeo nods in agreement, sensing that Bruno is trying his best to be friendly. Despite the initial awkwardness, the two of them continue their conversation, trying to find common ground and make the most of their time together.

After some time, the aroma of the Seafood Mac fills the room, and the steam rising from the dish looks as if it's going to set off the fire alarm. As Lina calls for her father and Romeo to come to the table, they can see the excitement in her eyes. She did put her heart and soul into preparing this meal for her friend and father after all.

"Thank you for the food", As Romeo takes his first bite, the room feels silent. The only sound that could be heard is the sound of him chewing. The other three watch him in amazement as he eats without any signs of discomfort, even though the Mac is spicier than expected. They couldn't help but be impressed by his resilience. Lina can't resist the urge to ask, "You do like spicy food, don't you?"

Romeo, with a mouthful of Mac, gives her a nod of approval, "It's really delicious, thank you, Lina."

The girl beams with pride at the compliment, "I'm glad you like it," she says, blushing a little.

As they enjoy their lunch, Bruno and Elza watch in amusement. Bruno takes a small bite of the Mac and immediately starts fanning his mouth, trying to cool down the heat. His wife chuckles at his reaction and shakes her head, "You really can't handle spice, can you?" she teases.

Romeo takes another bite of the Mac, savoring the flavor. "This is quite amazing, Lina. You're a great cook," he compliments her.

Lina's face turns a bright shade of red, and she tries to hide her smile. "It's nothing, no lie. I just followed a recipe," she says bashfully as she decides to try the Mac. And when Romeo notices that she's trying to take a bite of the Mac, he quickly stops her. He takes her dish and replaces it with a serving of salad, "You're still recovering from yesterday", He reminds her, "Mixing alcohol with spicy food won't help."

Lina looks at Romeo gratefully, touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Romeo", She says softly as she takes a bite of her salad, shooting a warning glance at her father as he looks on with a grin, "Stop looking at us like that!" she exclaims. "It's freaking me out", But Elza and Bruno can't help but admire the sweet moment between Romeo and Lina.

"That was such a sweet scene," Says the mother with a smile, putting her head over her palms as she keeps gazing at the youngsters with warmth. As for Bruno, he exchanges a knowing smile with Elza, and he jokingly declares while looking at Romeo, "I think I'm in love."

Lina rolls her eyes at her father's comment. "Bruno, that's gross!" she exclaims, earning a laugh from everyone at the table. After sharing the meal, the four of them are gathered in the cozy living room, enjoying each other's company. Lina can't help but feel a sudden weakness in her body, and she unconsciously leans closer to Romeo, gripping his arm tightly. Elza and Bruno, watch from a distance as their daughter leans closer to the boy. They exchange a knowing look, understanding the unspoken feelings that Lina holds in her heart. The mother smiles softly at Bruno, who nods in agreement.

"Lina, are you feeling alright?", Asks Romeo.

"I don't know...", Answers Lina, her voice barely above a whisper, "My head feels heavy... and I've... I've lost all my... energy..."

"It's probably just some lingering symptoms from yesterday", Responds Romeo, raising his hand to check the girl's fever.

"Take me to... To my room... Already... Stupid Brainstorm...", Adds Lina, her grip on his hand weakening.

"As you wish, cruel princess", With gentle care, Romeo lifts her in his arms and carries her upstairs to her bedroom. He carefully tucks her in, making sure she's comfortable before turning to leave, "Now sleep well, tiny princess", he says, his voice bringing peace to Lina while echoing in her ears.

As she settles into bed, Lina can't help but think about the upcoming return to school. "Only two... Two days until we... We're back...", she mumbles, her eyes growing heavy.

"It's gone by so fast", Romeo agrees, brushing the back of his head.

"This winter break was more fun than the others," she says her voice filled with a sense of wonder, "and I think it's because...because I met you. All of you. Thank you, Romeo, for being the first friend I made. I'm so happy that I did."

"Now now, enough talking", Says Romeo, "You need some rest. Sleep tight."

As she closes her eyes, it was the signal for Romeo to get out. Before leaving the room, he turns back to Lina, his expression serious as always, "I'm not certain, but this year is different than the others for me as well", He says, wondering whether she's hearing him or not as he slowly raises his hand to his forehead, "When you're around, I keep experiencing new stuff, things are starting to turn rather unexpected for me as well..."

And then, with a voice low and earnest, he finishes, "It's starting to look better for me as well. Because you're here", Then he closes the door. Lina stirs slightly at the words, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She feels a sense of contentment wash over her, knowing that she had someone like Romeo in her life. With that comforting thought, she drifts off into a peaceful slumber.

As for her parents, Bruno leans back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, as he thinks about Lina and Romeo, "Lina does look pretty comfortable when Romeo's around", he remarks, a small smile playing on his lips, "I mean, she didn't hesitate to let him hold her while we're watching them, after all!"

Elza, sitting next to Bruno, nods thoughtfully, "I can't blame her," she says softly, "This boy has such a pure soul. Our daughter developed some feelings for him."

Bruno's smile widens, "I did notice that", he admits before slowly looking down, "Romeo's life isn't that good. You can say that Lina's life is like heaven for him."

Elza frowns slightly, her expression turning serious, "You're right," she confirms, "She told me about his part-time job and some other things as well. But I still feel like they didn't share the whole pie."

Bruno's brow furrows, concern etched on his face, "Do you think they're keeping something from us?" he asks.

"I'm not sure," she says shaking her head slowly, "But I do know that Lina cares for Romeo deeply. And I don't want to see her get hurt."

Bruno reaches out and takes Elza's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, "We'll keep an eye on them," he says, "And we'll be there for them if they need us. That's what parents are for, right?"

Elza smiles weakly, feeling grateful for her husband's support. "Right," she says, "We'll be there for them. I don't know why, but the way my heart feels for Romeo, it's just the same as Lina's. It's as if he's my own son, I can't stop feeling the surge of emotions, that keeps pushing me to take care of him."

Romeo makes his way down the stairs and is met with warm smiles from Lina's parents as Bruno exclaims, "Our prince is coming downstairs now!" causing Elza to chuckle softly. As Romeo approaches, he bows down, showing respect, "For holding your daughter like that without taking permission, I'm sorry. It must've bugged you," he apologizes, still hesitant to lift his body.

Bruno quickly dismisses his concerns and raises his hands, asking the boy to lift his head, "No no no! Not at all!", He says, "It's completely the opposite if you ask me!" His face is beaming with joy as he reassures Romeo that he is welcome in their home.

"Really?" Asks Romeo, slowly raising his head.

Elza chimes in, "Well, we do owe you much, Romeo!" She adds, "You've been helping our daughter so far. Letting you take it easy in our home here is the least we can do for you."

Bruno nods in agreement, "Yeah, she's right! Even though we don't have that much to offer, try to enjoy your time when you're around us, okay?"

Romeo thanks them for their kindness, "Miss Elza, Mr. Bruno, thank you for your generosity", He adds, lightly bowing again.

Bruno, however, isn't content with Romeo's formal response, "Jeez, why are you so formal? Lean in a little, will ya?" he says, grinning as he stands up and puts his arm around Romeo's shoulders. "Come here, kiddo. You better start calling me 'pops' from now on, got it?"

Romeo hesitates, "But... But I'm afraid it'll upset Lina...", he says softly, just before getting pulled even closer by Bruno and getting his line cut. The older man's voice is filled with confidence, "It won't upset her, I'm 100% sure!" He adds, "I know my daughter that much. So consider this a family of yours as well, okay? Son?"

The boy opens his mouth slightly, almost unnoticeable. And, unexpectedly, his eyes widen a fraction as he turns his head to look at Bruno's face, and finds the father gazing away, hiding his facial features. He is not sure what to make of the situation or how to react, he's emotionless, that's a fact. But still, he starts reacting unexpectedly sometimes. As he raises his head, he finally decides to look at Elza, who wears her usual warm smile, "Welcome home, honey", she says as if she's welcoming one of her own, her head slightly tilted to the right.

Romeo stands motionless, trying to figure out how to act in such an emotional scene. "I bet a normal person would be shedding tears of joy or smiling with gratitude on their face," he thinks to himself while looking a bit out of place, "I'm forever grateful for you, making me feel included. I wish I could show you how much it means to me, for real...", However, he finally decides to relax and say a simple line, one that implants relief and happiness in Elza and Bruno, "Yeah, I'm home," he says, letting out a light sigh, "Thank you for having me..."

Elza's smile widens even more, and she reaches out to gently pat Romeo's arm as she repeats, "Welcome home, dear! So, I was wondering if you're interested in taking some of the seafood Mac on your way home. I'd gladly pack some for you!"

As for Bruno, his grin grows even wider, and he claps Romeo on the back, "Just get him some ready before he leaves!", he says, his voice filled with affection, "Now, let's all sit down and watch a movie together, yeah?"

It was a typical evening in the cozy family home, with the sun slowly setting in the background. As Elza finishes packing the Mac, Lina is still fast asleep in her room. So her mother quickly goes upstairs to wake up the sleeping beauty, "Sweetie! Wake up!", Elza calls out to Lina as she slowly gets inside the room

"Mmmmmhhhhm!" Murmurs Lina sleepily, "Mom, just a little more, okay?"

"Romeo's about to leave, just say goodbye and get back to sleep, okay?" Elza urges her daughter, lightly shaking Lina's shoulder.

"R... Romeo's leaving? What time is it?", Lina suddenly jolts awake, realizing she had overslept as she takes a look at her phone, "It's 7 pm now! Oh my god, I slept like a rock!!!", She exclaims, a hint of disappointment in her voice as she wanted to share more time with Romeo, "I'll walk him home then, let's get down!" Lina exclaims excitedly, determined to spend some more quality time with her beloved Romeo. As she makes her way downstairs, she finds the boy shaking Bruno's hand, "Thank you for having me", Says Romeo, "It was comfy..."

"Now now, Romeo", Interrupts Elza while lending him the Mac as she gently runs her fingers through his hair, "When you leave your home, you should say see you later, right?", And hearing that did make Lina grin in disbelief and joy.

"Yeah...", Replies Romeo, looking a bit hesitant, "See you later...", Then there's Lina, jumping right next to him, her face beaming with happiness and yet a little etched with disappointment, "just the front door, okay?", Requests Romeo, patting her head as Lina nods with a yes, "It's a bit chilly outside."

"Man, I can't believe that the break is actually coming to an end!", Says Lina, trying to hide her disappointment as she closes the door, "We did have fun though!"

"I guess you can say that", Nods Romeo.

"And I wanted to pass more time with you today, but I ended up slacking off!" She continues, acting rather casual, "Maybe next time!"

"And today, I got to know your father", Says Romeo, raising his head to enjoy the scenery of the sky as they are walking through that heavenly garden, "I think he liked me. He even invited me to a movie."

"Well, Bruno is quite childish, you know", Lina laughs nervously. Until her laughter gets interrupted by Romeo's sudden question, "What's your favorite movie genre then?" He asks.

"Wha? All of a sudden?!", Stutters the girl, feeling her cheeks turning red, "My favorite genre is... It's Rom... Rom-Romance m... Movies!"

"I'm interested in the war and military genre if you want to know," Romeo says, oblivious to Lina's sudden blush.

"H... Hey! Maybe you want to watch a movie with me next time?" Lina suggests, trying to be brave, "A... And I'll... Show you my favorite film! It's, a romantic one!" She continues, struggling to keep her composure.

As she starts pacing back and forth, muttering under her breath, "What was I thinking?" she scolds herself, "I can't believe I said that. What if he thinks I'm crazy? Or desperate? Oh god, what if he tells everyone?" Her cheeks burn with embarrassment as she replays the line in her mind, "Am I starting to heat up right now? What kind of stupid thing is that to say?", She starts cringing at that moment while covering her tomato face with her hands, wishing she could take it back, "Why did I even suggest watching a movie with him?" It's not like I can just pretend nothing happened. What if he says no? Does that mean he's rejecting me? Or maybe he'll say yes and then I'll have to sit through two hours of awkwardness."

Lina's heart races as she imagines the worst-case scenarios, "I can't even say a word right now, " mutters to herself, "I can't believe I even considered it."

"With pleasure", Says Romeo, interrupting her thoughts.

"Huh?... Wha...", Stammers Lina as she slowly moves her hands off her face, surprised that he accepted

"Come again?"