I hope I don't regret this later... (1)

As my mind wanders, Mrs. Ricci's coughing finally stops. "Sorry, that took me by surprise. I'm ok now, honey." She says, stopping her husband's pats on her back. "I hope that what you're saying is true, Aldo. It's been the dream of your mother and mine since you both were kids. I just never thought it would become true when you are now adults."

She smiles like a kid who just got the toy she wanted for Christmas. Mr. Ricci does not share her enthusiasm, but whose father of a daughter does? Meanwhile, I have to dig my grave deeper with this lie.

"I, yeah. It's crazy, right?" Smile, Aldo, smile even if you have no idea what you are saying; like you do with the media on bad days. I will just keep the act and wait this lie does not get me killed. Oh, who am I trying to deceive? Heidi will kill me. For sure. Definitely. Without a doubt. Or maybe not… I am going to be optimistic this time!

"You have no idea how happy that makes me. I had my suspicions when you said back in the event you've been in contact with her. Heidi never told us anything!" The more she talks about it, the happier she gets, even Mr. Ricci's expression seems to be softening – or so I think. But, the happier they get, the guiltier I feel.

Come to think of it, this is somehow getting out of control. One thing is to joke with someone that you are dating them. Even telling friends is normal as not many take those things as seriously as parents or family do. With Heidi's parents meeting with me like this, being told such lie and getting carried away… Agh, again, this cheap mouth of mine is making problems!

"How long have you been dating?" Mrs. Ricci's sparkling eyes are so blinding, I feel my own unnaturally look away, as if trying to think on the answer. Though, that might be the guilt.

"Um, some time now, I don't exactly remember. Years…" Of course, I can't remember the time of something that doesn't exist! Ah, I'm more than doomed now.

"Oh! It's really been a long time! You have hidden it well." She merrily laughs.

Mr. Ricci, though, frowns. "There was a scandal of you dating another singer two years ago." He narrows his eyes.

Uh-oh. My dandy days are coming back to bite my ass. "Ah, that was some PR move for the new song. Heidi wasn't happy but I made sure not to make more trouble for her!" Way to go, Aldo!

"That's how the entertainment business is, honey, don't worry about it. Heidi will have to swallow many grievances with a superstar as a boyfriend." Mrs. Ricci waves her husband's concerns away. The man purses his lips, obviously not agreeing with her, but keeping silent.

On this, I have to be on Mr. Ricci's side. If Heidi were really my girlfriend, I would definitely reject such moves from the company even if they get angry. Money, fame and whatnot cannot compare with a happy life beside Heidi. And if I ever made her swallow a grievance, I would surely quit the entertainment industry as compensation.

Again, nothing can compare to keeping my Heidi happy.

"Either way, we have to meet with her to give our blessing. Same with your family." Mrs. Ricci's words remind me of the mess I am in. Even my family will get involved in this farse, this is getting bigger and bigger. I fear that if I do or say something more, then nothing will never be able to fix this. So, I just go with the flow of things.

"If you want to, I can take you to her house. I know where she lives." I politely offer my services. That way I can warn Heidi of the new development of the situation.

"You sure you're not living together?" Mrs. Ricci teases with a meaningful smile. I can clearly hear the underlying question there. What is it with mothers and their desire to become grandmothers?!

"Honey, he's a national icon, how can he easily start living with a woman? That would make a lot of people talk, and some of his fans can get angry. That's how his world works." Mr. Ricci somehow returns her words. Sir, I was afraid of you, but now you seem like an angel who came to save me! Maybe we can unite to… "At least, that's not the case, right? You're not living with her, right?"

Maybe not… I shake my head, energetically denying. He satisfactorily nods at my answer. That colder-than-ice voice can make even hell freeze! There is no way I will ever go against my father-in-law! Even when he is not my father-in-law…

"What's wrong with them living together? This is not the past century where they have to get married before even holding hands." Mrs. Ricci frowns at her husband and starts arguing. I try to hide my presence to such an awkward moment.

"I'm not saying they can't. It's just better for them not to due to his fans." Mr. Ricci rejoins, not backing down.

"They're not dating him, with what right they can meddle with his life?" I wonder that too, but some fans cannot be reasoned with.

"We know they can't, but that's how things are." Mr. Ricci says with finality.

But the woman is a force to be reckoned with and continues peeling every layer of the matter of why Heidi and I cannot live together. I can think of one good reason why: because we are not dating. However, if I reveal that, then the two will probably get angry not only with Heidi, but with me, too.

"But you're planning to have children, right?" Mrs. Ricci looks at me with hopeful eyes. Huh? What did I miss? I glance at Mr. Ricci for help but the man seems to have back down from whatever is transpiring around him.

"I, um… we might… when it's favorable…?" Although she looks unconvinced, she nods.

After some other questions from Mrs. Ricci about the supposed life together I have with Heidi, to which I answer vaguely because in this mess I cannot come up with something decent to lie with, we leave the restaurant, and head to Heidi's house; or more like, the dormitory where she lives with the members of the theater group.

I once kind of followed her after one of her rehearsals and discovered where she lives. My friends called it stalking, but I was just making sure she returned home safely! Either way, I was shocked to see the place she lives at. It is not bad, per se, as it is quite close from the studio where they rehearse, but I am sure Heidi can live in a better place.

If I was shocked, her parents are horrified as soon as their eyes land on the old building.