The night after dinner

Alex acted to punch Carlos upon calling him a duck. "Do you want to die?"

"Haha! You're a cute duck. Is that enough? Are you happy now?" He continued laughing.

Alex is becoming more and more confused each day. Confused about how Carlos treats her. Sometimes he is sweet and sometimes he is a jerk. She is also confused about what she feels towards him. She finds him irritating but at the same time, she is happy to be spending time with him. She pisses her off many times but she also finds this trait of him charming. She was certain about her identity in the past, but now, she is starting to have feelings of admiration to the opposite sex, she is starting to have feelings for Carlos.

The dinner went smoothly. Carlos is a gentleman in front of Mr. and Mrs. Lopez. It's very obvious that the old couple are so happy to see them the supposed young couple in front of them. Although Alex doesn't feel comfortable, she pretended to enjoy the evening. She has never seen her dad so happy.

The four of them went home directly after their dinner. Both Alex are Carlos were so quiet inside the car. There was a sense of awkwardness between the two of them or maybe it was only Alex who feels awkward towards Carlos. He was staring at his phone the whole time while Alex pretended to sleep. Upon arrival, Alex went straight to her room after saying good night to her parents.

"Sorry, Carlos. She is quite rude sometimes." Mr. Lopez told Carlos.

"Don't worry, Sir. We have to give her some time, it's difficult to be lady-like when you had spent most of your life believing that you belong to the opposite sex." Carlos explained.

"Thank you, son, and please don't forget to call me dad. How many times do I have to remind you that?" Mr. Lopez chuckled. "Please feel at home. You can stay in the same room where you stayed before. That is now your own room and you can come here anytime you want."

"Thank you, dad."

Mr. Lopez can't explain the happiness he has now. He finally found a son in Carlos and now his dream of seeing his only daughter as a real woman has finally come true.

...

That night, Alex couldn't sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about Carlos. She couldn't thinking about their kiss, the way he teases her and the way she feels every time they were together. She checked her bedside clock, and it's already 2 A.M. She already did many things to divert her thoughts to other things, played mobile games, read a book, watch videos online and others but nothing stopped her from thinking about Carlos. At 3 A.M., she decided to go to the kitchen and look for something to eat. She only had a few bites in the restaurant. She was uneasy the whole time. Who would feel comfortable when someone keeps staring at you and serving food on your plate.

Before reaching the kitchen, she could hear a man's voice talking to someone. She hid behind the kitchen entrance to check who the man is. It is Carlos. He is on leaning on the table with the phone in his hand. He was giggling and seems enjoying the conversation.

"I miss you a lot. (pause) I also want to see you soon. (pause) Have you seen the Eiffel Tower? (pause) I wish I can travel there with you but it's a bit busy here. Grandpa always talks about you. Sometimes I feel jealous, I think you adore him more than me."

Alex feels disgusted. How can this man talk sweet to someone inside the Lopez's home? He's really a playboy. He pretends to be a gentleman in front of her parents and also pretends to like her a lot and then he's talking to someone with a very sweet and passionate voice. And the worse thing is, his grandpa knows about this and he already met whoever this woman is.

"Should I pick you up in the airport? (pause) That's still a week from now. (pause) You don't need to buy me anything, I just hope you can come back safely."

Alex thought of why she has to hide. This is her house. If someone should feel ashamed, it should be Carlos. She walked to the kitchen and went straight to the fridge. She glared at Carlos when their eyes met. He didn't stop laughing and still sounds sweet on the phone. Alex took some food from the fridge and was about to leave when Carlos called her.

"Come here! I will introduce you to my girlfriend."

"Wow! You will really introduce me to her?!"

"Why not? Come here! She really likes to meet you. Wait!" He clicked something on the phone then spoke. "Please turn you video so you can see how pretty she is."

Alex approached him. She is very furious but she doesn't want to show this man that she is irritated and she wanted to kill her. She was very surprised to see the woman on the phone. She doesn't look young but not too old as well. She looks very pretty and elegant. She and Carlos have some resemblance.

"Meet my fiancé, grandma. She's the one I was telling you about. She's a bit boyish but I'm sure you would love her." Carlos said.

"Hi there, Alex. I finally met you sweetie. You are indeed so beautiful, like me. Haha!"

"Hello, Ma'am. Carlos never told me about you. He never mentioned that he has a beautiful grandmother like you."

"Haha. Now I know why Carlos said the two of you are a perfect match. You are both too honest. I will be back from my vacation after a week. Will you please visit our home when I arrive? I would love to meet you face to face." She said sounding with so much sincerity.

"Sure, Ma'am. That would be lovely."

"And call me Martha. I prefer my loved ones calling me by my name. I don't want to feel old."

"Sure, Martha."

"Anyway, it's getting late in here. I am so tired from walking. I just called to hear Carlos' story about your dinner. Thank you for welcoming him in your family. See you soon, dear."

"Good bye, Martha. See you after a week."

The call ended and Alex can't hide the happiness in her face. She is happy that Carlos talks about her to his family. And he said they are a perfect match.

"Why are you smiling? Are you crazy?" Carlos asked. He started teasing her again.

"Your grandma is very and I was just happy to meet her."

"Admit it. You're happy because you realized that my family's genes produces beautiful creatures. You're lucky if you would carry my baby someday."

"Don't be too arrogant!"

"Am I? Is telling facts being arrogant?"

Alex stood up from her chair then started walking away. She has to leave before she could make a mistake and show what she really feels for him.

"Are you already leaving? I couldn't sleep in my room. Should I sleep in your room instead?" Carlos asked.

"Are you crazy? Do you want my dad to kill us?"

"We don't need to tell him. Or I can stay in your room until I feel sleepy. We can watch a movie together or play some board games. I will behave. we already slept together and I didn't touch you. You're the one who forced to kiss me. I was the one who felt harassed but if you would do it again, I won't complain."

"Why are you so talkative?" Alex snapped. She has to admit that Carlos looks really cute persuading her to let her slip in her room. She also likes the idea.

Carlos stood up, approached Alex and put her arm around her should. Let's go. We have 2 hours before the sun rises. We can still do many things in two hours." Carlos said with an evil smile.

Alex removed his arm and without saying anything. She went back to her room. Carlos followed her. She never stopped him from entering her bedroom. Alex sat in the sofa after closing her bedroom door. She got the tv remote and turned it on. She chose one movie from her list and played it. It's the movie "The notebook."

Carlos sat beside her and put his arm on her waist. She didn't complain nor resist. She couldn't understand but she likes the feeling of his skin touching hers. She could feel something she has never felt before with her girlfriends.

"Why do you like this movie? It's too old. Don't you have a newer one?"

"This movie is my favorite."

Carlos leaned his hear towards hers. She could feel his breath in her neck. There is a little electricity between the two of them, something that pulls them together and it gets stronger and stronger.

"You are making me crazy. Why are you not resisting?" Carlos asked.

Alex didn't say a word. She also couldn't understand herself.

"Do you like me?" He asked her.

"I don't know."

He smiled. He put his other arm around her waist. He is now hugging her.

"Do you know what might happen with us in this position?"

"I guess so."

"Will you stop me if I start the move?"

"I don't know."

His smile widened. "Don't worry. I won't do what you're thinking until the night of our wedding. I can wait. But there is something you cannot stop me from doing?" He is now almost whispering.

"What is it?"

"This." He held his chin and pulled it closer to him. he kissed him gently. The kiss became deeper and deeper. Alex didn't react at first but his body moved automatically with his kiss. She kissed him back. She put her arms around his neck while his hands caress her back.

Carlos was the one who let go first.

"Don't do that to anyone, okay? You're not allowed to share these lips to any guy. You can meet any woman you like, that's fine with me. But you can't meet any man. You are mine, only mine. Do you understand?"

Alex feels like she is hypnotized. She nodded as a reply. Then they kissed again.