Chapter 44 - Try again

After a month of thinking and deliberation (Delaying my date with destiny [Nikita] Man... I want to be friends with her right now! I've waited for so long and I'm so excited for that day to come!), I talked to my Dad, quite late in the night, and tried to answer his questions for the second time.

"Here we go again. Teslan, are you ready?"

"As ready as I can be!"

"Hmmm... Okay... What's her full name?"

I wonder why he asked me her name again. Maybe he just forgot it.

"Nikita Wardensio, Dad."

"Hmmm... Do you love her?"

"Yes Dad! As sure as the blazing sun in the sky, my fiery love keeps burning for her!"

(Dad's thoughts: What's with the use of poetic words?!)

"O-kay... Why?"

That question again, huh?

Well this time, IT'S GOING DOWN!

"So that someone will love me, appreciate me, serve me, cook for me, wash the dishes, wash the clothes, clean the house, pay the bills, and take good care of me!"

Dad slowly raised both his hands and I couldn't comprehend what I saw.

His holding two humongous, black, sawed-off, pump-action shotgun upside down and pointed it at my head.

"DEATH CANNON!!!"

Two ping pong balls hit my forehead in point blank range.

"ARGH!!! THAT HURTS DAD! WHY ARE YOU HITTING ME?! I'LL REPORT YOU TO THE POLICE FOR CHILD ABUSE!"

"Ho? Are you telling me that my twenty-nine year old son is still a child? That's cute. Want me to read your bedtime stories so you can sleep? Want me to hire a babysitter for you tomorrow, huh? And by the way, I'm a retired police detective so you can't MC Hammer touch this, Mister!"

"This is ridiculous! I'm going to my room!"

I quickly stood up and walked away.

"Teslan, your answer is wrong, that's why I hit your head. Maybe I can knock some sense out of it."

"Sometimes, I don't get you, Dad. What do you mean?"

"First of all, you haven't done your research, that's what. And second, most importantly, your answer is wrong. Even if Nikita is a cashier and waitress, it doesn't mean that she's a servant. She is not, and will not be your maidservant that will baby-sit you, Teslan."

"..."

"Love is not selfish. Love is not a one-way, one-sided street. Don't forget that. Do a background check on her. Try again next time. Good night."

Dad stood up and went to their room riding on a skateboard...

Dad...

Is having a full blown midlife crisis...

He's just getting weirder by the second...

======================================================

After another month of thinking and study of self-help books on love, relationship, and romance (It would be really nice if I found the answer on Valentines Day. The timing would be perfect then. Tragically, I didn't. I missed the month of hearts, darn it! But that's okay. Summer is also a great time for a budding love!), I talked to my Dad again.

But this time, we talked early in the morning, both of us drinking hot milk coffee.

I smiled.

This will give me an advantage to his hard question. I'm not tired and sleepy anymore. I had my full rest, I did my research, and my mind is sharp and clear.

LET'S GET IT ON!!!

"Aren't you getting tired of this, Teslan? Just give it up, get out of that job, and look for someone else."

"Never!"

"You have job experience now, Teslan. You can find a better job. And that's not all. You'll have more choices out there. Why not try it?"

"No. I'm sticking to this one, Dad. She's my first love!"

(Dad's thoughts: My son is way too sentimentaly romantic.)

"Okay... Okay... Let's get this over with... What's her full name, Melo?"

I really don't get the reason why he repeats the same question over and over again! Maybe it's just one of his whims!

"Her beautiful name is Nikita Wardensio, Dad."

"Do you really love her, Melo?"

"Yes Dad! I swear in the honor of my name that I love her! My love for her is like an exploding volcano! Very powerful!"

"Boy... Do you not cringe with the words you're saying? Aren't you embarrassed at all that you're telling your Dad about the secret love you have on this girl named Nikita? You're supposed to discuss this kind of stuff to your close friends and not me, right?"

"No. And I have no friends. Please, let's go to question number 3, Dad."

(Dad's thoughts: Poor kid... Darn that blind love! Darn that social anxiety!)

"Okay. Why do you love her, Melo?"

"First of all, promise me you won't hit me with that black and red scythe thing you're holding in your right hand. It looks very pointy."

"I can't promise you anything, son."

"Sigh..."

"So... Why do you love Nikita?"

Absolute morning silence...

"I love her because I love her, Dad!"

"Hmmm...?"

(Dad's thoughts: Darn... That answer caught me off guard... What the heck is that supposed to mean?! Is my son playing me? Are you playing me, huh?! Keep your cool, Eldes. Keep your cool. Poker face. Poker face! POKER FACE!)

"What do you mean by that, Teslan?"

"I realized that, it's the other way around, Dad."

"O-kay... Go on... Please elaborate."

"I realized that, I'm the one who must give her love and appreciation. I'm the one who must please her and take good care of her, not the other way around. I'm the one who needs to sacrifice, not her. And maybe... No. With this, I hope, she'll also do the same to me!"

Silence...

"Hmmm... You've matured quite a little bit, Teslan. Nice answer."

Dad placed his hand to my shoulder.

"You have my full blessing and permission, son. You can now court Nikita. I'm looking forward to the day you'll introduce her to us."'

"Uhmm... How about Mom...?"

"You also have her blessing. I'm speaking on her behalf. This novel will be way too long, too tiresome to read, and a pain to write if we include my beloved's input to this story. I do hope our readers are not bored."

"Huh...?"

Radiant rays of breaking dawn passed through the glass windows of our small apartment, illuminating the whole place. Everything in our home seemed to have bright new colors.

This is unbelievable...

It's official...

I CAN FINALLY COURT MY CRUSH! MY FIRST LOVE! YESSSSS!!!