The Secret Island
CHAPTER 59: Meeting Celine’s Parents

So, are we really back together?

Celine was difficult to understand, and Martin didn't want to conclude what she said was just a joke. He assumed she was serious. That was possible. He thought of this confusion the whole evening.

In terms of risk management, he was used to assuming the worst case. Thinking the worse allowed him to mentally prepare for mistakes and let downs. He couldn't be all optimistic and handle the disappointment.

He thought it was reasonable to assume the worst case like this. He didn't want surprises. Hence, Martin concluded that we were not back together. But one thing that he didn't understand was that kiss. What was that about? Only thinking of that one moment, he felt the heat on his face...

Martin thought of that evening with Celine...

"Celine, are you still mad at me? Are we back together?" While she was still in his arms, he asked nervously.

"And what do you think?" She asked him while caressing his face. Her eyes showed a playful spark, but Martin didn't catch that, he was busy assessing the information he just heard.

"I think that you might still be angry."

"Really? Why do you think I kissed you?" She asked him as if she was a teacher asking a student that couldn't catch up with a lecture. Martin was still confused and curious about the answer to that question.

"...I don't want to be too optimistic." As she heard that, Celine laughed softly and shook her head. From what he observed, he assumed that she was in a better mood. But again, Martin didn't want to be too optimistic.

"How about this...if you really want to know how I feel, then how about you do as you promise? You once said you want us to be back together again? Whatever you promise, don't forget to do it." She said it in her own style once again-with a bit of command. And for some reason, I found it adorable.

Yes, he once said he would do everything he could, so she loved him again. He must make a funny face because Celine laughed again.

"What's that face? Haha. I'm not in a rush. You can take time to think about how we could approach this. This evening, I will have dinner with my friends. I need to work for a bit, then I will have to go." Then she kissed his cheek quickly and left his grasps.

Martin looked at Celine as she walked away and leaving him to think. He didn't understand her. He even thought that the fact that he quitted working full-time and only trading made him not as sharp as before. Maybe his decision-making was impaired.

He couldn't think straight, the matter of love wasn't something he understand at all.

He had to do more research.

****

"Celine, honey. Who is that? He said he knew you. Papa and mama are a bit confused. He also said he wanted to talk to us." "Hmm..."

She didn't know how she could explain all this to her parents. She turned to Martin that she saw sitting on the sofa and she was speechless. She didn't know what happened. She didn't know what Martin had on his mind.

She was a bit suspicious of the reason Martin asked where her house was. He said he would visit. She thought he meant to drive her to work or maybe sending her some gifts. Something cute that other people did. But suddenly he showed up and asked to meet her parents. The request of a conversation confused papa and mama. And I didn't doubt that. They were utterly confused. And I wouldn't blame them. All her exes that they met in the past were nothing like Martin. They were rich prep boys. She never dated someone like Martin; someone serious and matured.

"He is...the man I told you about..." She told her parents the truth.

"Oh, then he is your boyfriend? Why didn't you tell me earlier that he is back?" Her papa turned to look at Martin that appeared quite shifty looking around. "No, not yet, I haven't agreed to get back together with him."

"Well!!! Celine, honey. You said you were in love, didn't you? I thought you told us that he was the one? A few years back, you told us that you want to marry h-" "Papa! The situation changes, do you understand? I want him to prove himself. You, too. You have to act tough."

She was once someone who made the first move in our relationship, but once it was Martin who did it, I didn't know what to do. But she kind of regret it. She shouldn't have told her parents about Martin. Oh, and she shouldn't tell Martin her address.

I asked her papa to go talk to Martin. She was pretty much hiding in one corner of the house and luckily her house was big enough that she could find somewhere to hide.

But where she was at was too far to hear anything. Celine observed from afar that Martin's face was more serious than usual. With curiosity, Celine walked closer but still hid behind one wall and things she heard made her put up her hands to cover her face.

"...I have been trying to figure things out how to do this right. I remember from talking to Celine that your family is quite conservative, and I believe I need to prove myself to you two, her beloved parents, I don't know if this is right but I hope it is."

Wait wait wait...what? What is this deal with being upfront with my parents? What is on his mind? What is he thinking?

In this initial stage of dating, who else would go meet your date's parents? That's crazy! Martin, oh my gosh! Are you kidding me? What! I want to cry...

He was torturing her with an honest conversation with her parents. The never-ending torture.

"Celine told me that if she should consider a serious relationship with me again, we need to go through this courtship process. But I think to thoroughly respect my commitment to her, I want to meet you first. I think parents' approval has a big impact to a success of a relationship. I could see the similarity of this to gaining buy-in in stakeholder management..."

Celine could see her parents blinked in confusion and turned to her, locking eyes with her, and went to look at Martin.

Celine couldn't tell if this feeling she embarrassment or stress or some unnamed feelings she couldn't put her finger on.

"So...let me be straightforward about my intention in coming here."

Martin had a small pause and look at her father. He was so determined that her heart was racing.

"I...I love your daughter and I would like your permission in dating your daughter. Please consider approving my request."

And he bowed. The calmness in his voice was a stark contrast to the hurricane in her head and her heart that shook like an earthquake.

Celine couldn't move anywhere. She was numb. Her face turned bright red. But within this confusion, she was curious on what her father has to say.

""

"I have only one daughter and love her very much. I provide her everything she ever wants. And I think that her life is her own. As a parent, I don't think I have much said in her love life choices. This time is the same."

And her father suddenly spoke loudly. Celine jumped.

"Celine! Darling, this young man, Martin wants a serious relationship with you, what do you say?"

Papaaaa!