After opening the box, my mom happily closes it (1)

Good day, faithful fans, Aldo Greco here! Here is the news of today:

I am still in the fight! I am whole! I am alive!

A-L-I-V-E!

Throw the confetti, my dear fans!

So far, my life has been spared thanks to my parents.

Like the good 'son-in-law' and 'boyfriend' I am, I offered myself to drive the Riccis to my parents' home. I even rented a spacious SUV. Mrs. Ricci even threw her daughter to the copilot seat to give us some 'privacy'. Seriously, with Mr. Ricci's piercing gaze behind me, just the thought of glancing at Heidi felt like a sin.

So, I behaved all the way to my parents' house. There was sparse conversation between Heidi and her parents, but I remained mum, kind of enjoying the last moments of my beautiful life. The tension rose to a new high when I finally pull up at my childhood's house front yard.

My parents, bless them, receive us with many smiles, hugs and everything. An angelic choir is missing, but we cannot have everything in life. Once the initial greetings are over, I nervously sit on the couch while my mom constantly praises Heidi for becoming a fine woman, well-mannered, really pretty and really talented.

Because! It so happens that even my parents have gone to see her plays!

Why couldn't they tell me before?!

When I subtly asked my mom why she never told me she has seen Heidi before, she just gave me the simple excuse that she thought I already knew. Really, this is disappointing… Anyway, after that, the older women start chatting like the old friends they are. Meanwhile, my dad and Mr. Ricci disappear in the kitchen; my dad most likely showing his liquor collection to the other man.

Heidi and I stiffly sit on the couch, silent and uncomfortable. Well, at least, I feel uncomfortable seeing Heidi looking so lost in the house. I lean closer to her and whisper: "Do you wanna go out?" She nods and we stand up to take a short walk around the neighborhood.

We do not speak, we just visit all the places we used to hang out when we were kids; like the park, where the ice cream truck used to stop to sell, her old house…

It is nostalgic.

More than once, I want to grab her hand and stroll around looking like the lovers we are not, yet she keeps both her hands inside her jacket and any opportunity vanishes. When she looks less tense, she proactively walks back to my house.

Before entering, she turns towards me and freezes me with her intense gaze. "Are we really doing this?" She inquires.

For some reason, my hands start sweating and my throat dries up. I tightly swallow and nod. "If it really gets out of hand, we can just say we broke up or something." I rejoin with nonchalance I do not feel.

She stares for a long moment, then nods. "Alright." With that said, we enter the house to raucous laughter coming from my mom and sister. It seems she arrived when Heidi and I were out.

"Oh, the couple of the year's back!" My sister teases.

I really admire Heidi who only smiles and greets my rascal of a sister, looking so relaxed, as if the charade of dating your childhood friend and meeting the in-laws was not a serious matter. But well, I always thought she is more resilient that she seems. That does not apply to me, as I am sweating even the calories from my childhood.

"But seriously, Heidi, you could do better than this problematic dork." My vexing sister claims, throwing a scathing look my way. I roll my eyes at her. Yeah, sure, I'm the one with scandals, but my love life is more stable than hers.

"Ah, but you gotta love dorks, even if they're problematic." Heidi returns. I smugly look at my sister, who sticks her tongue out in my direction.

"Still, how did this happen?" My sister asks, waving at us. "Weren't you dating some other girl?" My heart almost jolts out of my ribcage from her words.

"Oh, you know how media is, Eline." My mom thankfully comes to save my hide.

"Yes, yes, they spread whatever they want just to get reads and views." Mrs. Ricci joins in. "Besides, Aldo and Heidi have been together for quite a while, those rumors are just that." She was also happy to spill everything out, recounting what I told her the day before. I think she is even adding more things to the story.

If my cheap mouth created this big issue, then hers is making it worse.

It could not be helped, though. All this began with mine, so I cannot blame hers. My mother looks extremely elated hearing Heidi and I are dating. She constantly looks at us, and flashes me with a triumphant smile.

Yes mother, your plan finally worked. Somewhat… You'll be disappointed when you know it's all fake. I just ignore when that'll be.

When Mrs. Ricci finishes the whole story I made up, plus a few things, my mom comes up with one fabulous question!

"So, when's the wedding?"

I mean, she has been waiting for us to get together, so I could understand if she has also dreamed of us tying the knot. But, seriously, Mom? Seriously?! Now the whole living room is in a state of silence thanks to your question. Even the father duo came out of the kitchen to listen to the answer.

I swear time has stopped in this house… wait, why is everybody looking at me?

No, no, no… I have to answer that?!

Ask me if I want to die! It is easier to answer that than to answer when my wedding with Heidi is going to be!

"There is no wedding yet, Mrs. Greco," Heidi says with a smile, earning everybody's attention. Heidi, you are an angel! Helping me in this dire moment. Even when I said I would help you, in the end, it is you fixing my problem. "Aldo hasn't asked me anything despite being together for so long. I wonder every day when he'll do it."

I take it back…

Devil!

You are a devil!

Just looking at your oh-so-innocent smile on your face confirms it!

"Aldo! Hurry and marry her! You'll never find a better woman than her." Mom, why are you getting angry at me?! I want to yell that everything is fake, but I cannot. I fabricated this lie for Heidi, and I cannot deny that despite all the messed-up situation, I feel that something good will come out from it.

"Yes, Aldo. Who can be a better wife than me?" Heidi puts her hand on mine and caresses it with her thumb. The chills! I knew something good would come from this! It shouldn't be so bad to keep this farce for some more time… right?

"Look at them! I still wonder why they aren't living together if they get along so well! They look so good together!" Mrs. Ricci suddenly exclaims. My mom and sister nod, totally agreeing. Mother-in-law, you're making me blush, of course we look good together!

"That can be fixed. Why don't you start living together from now on? Since you both are famous, each in your own career, then the media will find about it sooner or later. If they do, just confirm it. We are supporting you, and that's all that matters!" My mom exclaims.

Mom, what a wonderful idea!

A marvelous idea to put me six feet under!

The funeral is going to be soon, my friends! Don't leave your seats