I felt the warmth of the sunlight touch my skin, and heard the birds sing their morning songs like they always do every morning. That was my wakeup call and I slowly opened my eyes and was met by strong blue ones that intensely looked at me.

There he was lying next to me with one arm around me and the other used as support to lift his head.

"Good morning," Heiji greeted me, "You finally woke up."

I rubbed my eyes and sat up, "Did you open the curtains on purpose?" I asked as I glanced at the window.

"You took a while to wake up, so I thought that it would help, and I wasn't wrong." He said with a smirk.

I playfully smacked his arms

"How long have you been awake watching me?" I asked.

"A while." Was his simple reply.

I smiled at him and said, "Creep." Then got up from bed to freshen up.

"Make sure to be ready in thirty minutes, I'm taking you out for breakfast! Actually, it's brunch since you woke up so late." Heiji yelled at me from my bed when I was on my way to the bathroom.

A blushed grazed my cheeks. Are we finally going out on a first date?

I washed up and excitedly went to my room to get ready, and thankfully Heiji wasn't there (he was probably in his room to get ready).

I wanted to look cute since it's our first date, so I made an effort of picking out a simple outfit that's appropriate for brunch, but still would blow his mind.

But then a dark cloud settled over my mind and reminded of yesterday's events.

He didn't tell you he loved you back!

He just kissed you!

What if he did it just because he felt bad for you?

He didn't ask you to be his girlfriend!

Why would he?

Why are you getting ready for this as if it's a first date?

Did he even mention that?

The voices in my head just wouldn't stop, and it frustrated me. My mood was ruined and all I wanted to do was lock myself away from this world. I always do this to myself and destroy my mood. Overthinking is a curse that I was unfortunately born with, and desperately wanted to get rid of.

"Kazuha are you ready?" Heiji asked from outside my room.

"Just a minute!"

I put my hair in a ponytail and opened the door with a smile, "I'm done!"

"Oh wow! You look so… so… You look nice." Heiji said with a blush.

"Thank you," I said, then I touched the collar of his shirt teasingly and said, "You look nice too." Then I walked to the front door and looked back at Heiji who was as solid as a statue (his brain stopped functioning).

"Are you coming or not?"

Heiji shook his head and it seemed like his brain went back to working, "Coming!"

-.-

I was surprised by Heiji's choice of place, I never thought that he would take me to such a nice place for brunch. Thankfully I wore an outfit that fit the atmosphere.

He went to a restaurant that was on the beach and was facing wide blue sea that was gently drenching the beach sand.

Heiji and I decided to sit outside on the restaurant's patio since the weather was so nice. Although October is known to be a chilly season, in California it was still very sunny, but with a nice breezy wind.

We ordered our food and as we waited, we talked a little bit, and then sat in silence as we listened to the relaxing sound of the waves crashing the shore.

After a few minutes our food arrived, and although it looked delicious and smelled amazing as well, I couldn't really eat my food, unlike Heiji who was devouring it. He must've been really hungry while he waited for me to wake up.

Heiji noticed me playing with my food rather than eating it and asked, "Why are you not eating your food?"

I put my fork down and looked at him with determination. I'm not usually the type to keep things inside and I'm very blunt and always say what's on my mind, but when it comes to matters like love, I tend to keep it inside for some reason. Not anymore.

"Do you love me?" I asked bluntly.

Heiji choked on his food, probably not expecting that question from me.

"Aho, didn't I make it clear yesterday?" Heiji said when he regained his breath. His cheeks were tinted red, and if I hadn't focused, I wouldn't have seen them because of his dark skin.

"You didn't tell me whether you loved me back or not! You just kissed me!"

"Why would I kiss you if I didn't love you back you idiot?!"

"Maybe because you felt bad for me and didn't want to reject me!"

"Aho! Then I would have just rejected you!"

He did have a point. Heiji was a blunt person as well, and if he didn't love me back, he would have just told me.

"Kazuha," he called my name but in a much calmer voice, "Listen to me clearly because I will not repeat it again."

I listened to him anticipatingly.

"I-i l-love you…"

My lips stretched from one ear to another from the indescribable happiness that I felt. I realized that Heiji had a hard time expressing his feelings through words and that's probably why he had a hard time saying I love you. He would rather show how much he likes me through his actions, which was kissing me last night.

I instinctively touched my lips while remembering last night and Heiji noticed. He immediately knew what I was thinking about and got embarrassed, and suddenly his food became so interesting to him and he just kept staring at it.

"Heiji," I said, "What are we? Like what's our relationship?"

He looked up from his plate and said, "Obviously boyfriend and girlfriend."

I got excited and face lit up, "Really?!"

"Yeah aho, what did you think?"

"Well, we didn't talk about it, so I didn't know."

"Well, now you know." He said and smiled at me.

"And is this our first date?"

"Yes, why do you think I took us here?" Heiji said, and he's right. This place looked very special compared to other restaurants and the food here was expensive.

"Don't act like you don't know. You even dressed up for it." He said while eyeing me up and down.

"Well, that's what I thought at first, but then I started overthinking!" I said defensively.

"Hmm." Was his only response.

After I cleared the air with Heiji, my mood significantly changed, and I started enjoying my food.

-.-

We decided to go for a walk on the beach after finishing brunch and enjoyed the autumn breeze with the warmth of the Californian sun.

We walked closely side my side, hand in hand. At first it was awkward and shy, but then it felt nice and relaxing. I intertwined my fingers with his, and he looked at me. I smiled at him shyly and he smiled back, but it was more of a confident smile, and squeezed my hands.

We held our shoes with our other hand so that our feet can touch the chilly sand. Heiji told me, that sand provides resistance that strengthens our arches, ankles and leg muscles, and that you get softer, more supple skin on the heels and balls of your feet because the sand serves as a natural exfoliant, gently rubbing off dead, unwanted skin.

"That way you don't have to get a pedicure every time you want to exfoliate your feet." Heiji said.

"Wow, you sure know a lot of stuff," I said, "But you do know that pedicures are not just for exfoliating the feet, right?"

"Huh?"

"They do so much more than that, aho." I laughed at his cluelessness and then spent the next ten minutes explaining to him what they do in pedicures. Definitely not a conversation I was expecting to have with Heiji.

-.-

We finally reached the apartment building after a nice, pleasant first date, and the best part is that since we live together, we can still spend more time together. It seems like we're in our honeymoon phase because we just can't get enough of each other. We couldn't even wait to reach the apartment and started making out in the elevator, ignoring the fact that there is a security camera there.

It honestly felt like I'm living in a fairy tale, in a fantasy world. Nothing can ever ruin our moment together.

"Kazuha?!"

I heard a very familiar voice call my name.

Heiji and I separated, and I realized that the elevator door has opened.

"Mom! Dad!" I exclaimed.

My parents were standing in front of the elevator, looking at us in shock.

How could I forget that my parents were coming here?! I literally talked to them on the phone yesterday! I looked over at my dad who was visibly frowning at Heiji, who he just witnessed snogging me. This was obviously not how I intended from them to meet. God, this is so embarrassing. My mom on the other hand, looked quite amused if anything.

"Mom! Dad! You finally came!" I said and hugged them tightly. Although the first seconds of our meeting were very awkward, I couldn't help but run up to them and hug them just like I did when I was a little girl. I know I've only been away from them for barely two months, but I missed them. I missed them a lot.

As I was hugging my parents and greeting them, Heiji was just standing there awkwardly waiting for us to finish. He obviously didn't know what to do in this situation. It was kind of funny if I was being honest.

After I was done, Heiji greeted my parents too, and I'm not going to lie, I was worried when I saw how firm the handshake was between my dad and Heiji. Heiji winced a little because my dad's grip was so hard and painful but then he faked a smile to show he was okay.

We walked into Heiji and I's apartment and they sat in the living room with Heiji while I prepared tea. Just a few seconds later, Heiji came to the kitchen to 'help'.

"Is he that scary?" I asked Heiji who was sitting on the kitchen table 'helping' me.

"If looks could kill, I would be dead."

I chuckled, and based on Heiji's facial expression, he didn't like that one bit.

"Well, don't take it personally. He's just overprotective, like any normal dad is. I mean, the first time he saw you; you were making out with me." I said while putting the tea bags in the teapot.

"True…" Heiji pouted, "That's not how I wanted to meet your dad."

"Trust me, I feel the same way," I said, "Although, I think he likes you. His reaction could've been a lot worse."

"Hmm, I hope that's the case."

When I was finally done with the tea, Heiji decided to carry the tray because apparently that's the 'helping' that he mentioned he was going to do when he came.

"It's heavy Kazuha. I wasn't going to let you tire yourself."

It wasn't heavy at all, but I let it slide. I knew he was extremely nervous from my parents.

-.-

"So, Kazuha," My mom said as I was pouring her cup of tea, "How are you feeling honey? It must've been quite difficult getting arrested by the FBI and spending a night in jail. My heart ached for you, Kazu-chan. I was so worried."

"Worried? You had a mental breakdown." My dad said and sipped some tea.

"Well, I can't just stay calm when my daughter is in prison for a crime she didn't commit. If only you listened to her voice when she called me. It was like she was dying from the pain and fear she was feeling!"

Heiji's eyes widened at what my mother said, then he looked down in guilt.

I gave my mom her cup and sat next to her, "I'm fine now. I really don't want to talk about it."

My mom gave me a short hug from the side and said, "Okay darling, we won't talk about it. I just want you to be happy."

I smiled at her. I feel so much better and safer now that my family is by my side. My heart feels so much lighter and I can physically feel my body relax.

"So…" My mother said in a teasing tone, with one eyebrow raising up. 'Oh no' I knew exactly what was coming.

"Obviously you two are more than friends," she said pointing at Heiji and I, "Or else why were you making out with each other? And you were in your way to your apartment, huh Kazuha."

"Ahm!" My dad warned my mom, and I could see him tense up. Heiji on the other hand, was sweating like a pig.

"Oh my god, mom!"

"You're growing up. Starting to bring guys over to your place. But is it okay with Haru?"

"Haru?" I said before slapping my hand over my mouth. Oh my world! I forgot about the fake roommate!

"Oh! Yes, she doesn't mind. She out right now, with her friends." I lied through my teeth, but my mom seemed to be satisfied with my answer even though she was quite suspicious at first when I slapped my hand over my mouth. Although, I don't think my father was satisfied with my answer, because he still looked at me with narrowed eyes, but he didn't say anything about it.

"That's very nice of her," Mom said, "My roommate and I had strict rules, and we were never allowed to bring people over unless we had the other person's permission."

"I see."

"So, you both are a couple, right?" My mom asked as she eyed Heiji teasingly.

"Umm, yes. I mean we wouldn't be making out without it being official, haha." I said, Heiji looked at me with one brow raised, it's almost like he's telling, 'Did you forget when we made out yesterday?'

It was weird that so far, my parents didn't say anything negative about me dating Heiji. My dad didn't even object!

"Well!" My mom put her full cup of tea on the table and clapped her hands together, "Give us a house tour!"

"What?" I exclaimed in surprise, "The house isn't ready!"

I was so afraid that my mom would go snooping around and see Heiji's room. If they found out I live with Heiji they will never allow me to live here and I don't want to leave! It's so hard finding a good and affordable apartment in California, and most importantly, I don't want to leave Heiji's side.

My answer didn't satisfy my mother and she stood up, and my father followed suit.

I stood up and tried to stop her, "Mom, please the apartment isn't ready. Plus, Haru wouldn't like you seeing the apartment like that either."

"From what I see right now, the apartment looks pretty clean to me." My mom said as she was eyeing the apartment, "Come one Ginshiro, let's look around the apartment."

My mother held my father's hand and dragged him with her. I followed them around like a nervous puppy, and Heiji was behind me and just as nervous.

"Wow, what a nice kitchen." My mother said. She looked around a little bit, then she moved on to the bathroom, which she also liked, "It's just like a hotel's bathroom. With a bath and a shower box! God this place is so fancy! But you don't even have to pay much, wow!"

Then she reached my room, and saying she loved it would be an understatement. "Haru did all this for you?! She didn't even meet you before!"

"Hhh, yeah I know. She's a very nice and generous gal." I said while looking at Heiji who was smiling like an idiot. He must be enjoying all the praise he's getting as 'Haru'.

After checking every inch of my room, my mom finally walked out, and she was satisfied that I kept everything organized.

Then my worst nightmare happened.

"Is this Haru's room?" My mom said as she pointed at Heiji's bedroom door.

"Uh, yes." I said, "She doesn't like people invading her privacy, so you can't check her room."

"Oh, but I'm just going to look at it from the outside, I'm not going to search her room," My mom said, "It's fine, she doesn't have to know about it."

She walked to Heiji's door, and I ran up to her and pulled her back, "Mom! You have to respect her privacy! Imagine if I disrespected your rules and justified it by saying that you'll never find out!"

My mom didn't look satisfied with my answer, but she agreed nevertheless, "Fine. Geez, you don't have to be so serious."

And just as we were walking back to the living room, I heard Heiji's bedroom door slammed open.

"I knew it!"

I looked back, and I felt my blood run cold. My dad opened Heiji's bedroom door!

"I knew you were living together!" My dad yelled.

'Oh no no no no no!' That's what you get when you have a detective for a dad.

"What?!" My mom exclaimed, "You and Heiji are living together?!"

She ran next to my dad and gasped when she saw that 'Haru's' room is actually a guy's room. Heiji's room.

"Oh my god!" My mom exclaimed, "I did not expect that."

I cringed and honestly didn't know what to say. I could feel the sweat dripping down my back and my heartbeat increasing. Suddenly my hands felt cold and my head felt light. This was exactly what I feared would happen.

My dad walked closer to me and sighed, "I'm okay with it."

I looked up in shock, "Wait what?"

My eyes widened, and I couldn't believe it. Is this man my dad?

"Heiji is the son of Heizo, so I trust him with you. And you would be safer with him." My dad explained, "However, I will not accept any inappropriate behavior! Do you understand?!" My dad said in a grave voice while looking at Heiji, who was nervous but at the same time happy because my dad trusted him with me.

"Yes, sir!"

"You better take care of her."

"I'd rather die than let anything happen to her."