Chapter 114 - Daughter-In-Law (1/2)

”Yanee Lee, I love you…”

Ugh…

Yanee felt her heart doing jumping jacks in her ċhėst. She was flustered, overwhelmed, and many other things she couldn't describe. This was caused not only by his love confession but by his sincere words about her not having to change or worry about other things.

”I…” Well, what could she reply. She's attracted to him and agreed to date him but she still couldn't say that she's in love with him. She's conflicted at the same time worried that he would be offended. But she didn't want to lie to him.

”You don't have to answer me right now, okay?” he told her softly as he kissed the top of her head. ”I'm not rushing you. As long as you let me pamper you like this,” he said as he squeezed her in a hug.

Oh well…

Yanee felt relieved. She was also grateful that he was giving her space— well not literally at the moment since he had evolved into an octopus clinging onto her like that, but he was not forcing her to reciprocate his feelings when she still hadn't adjusted to the status quo.

”Tomorrow mom and Marian will take you to the kimono shops,” he said changing the topic.

”Will it be alright? Your mom looks busy,” she asked worriedly.

Today, the elders were not at home since the two were busy with different activities. It seemed Mrs. James had volunteered to be an instructor for tea ceremony and language teacher to foreigners at a nearby school. Mr. James on the other hand accompanied his wife.

”Mom,”Tohru suddenly said making her stop.

”What?”

”Don't say 'your' mom since she's your mom too,” he said stubbornly and Yanee didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

”We're not married,” she retorted but the potato was stubborn.

”You mean yet?” he countered almost immediately with his voice sounding as if he'd correct that status soon. ”She already told you to call her mom and you agreed last night,” he insisted.

”But I didn't know she was really your mom!” Yanee was perplexed.

If she had known she wouldn't dare call the elders mom or dad. She didn't want them to think she's presumptuous…

”You're doing it again,”Tohru suddenly spoke, breaking her thoughts.

She just realized he was massaging the mar between her brows with his finger.

Huh?

”You're regretting calling them mom and dad, right?” he asked and she couldn't answer since he was correct— and he looked unhappy. ”Yanee, they're the ones who asked you to call them that. It means they like you and want you to be their daughter. Don't think you're being bold and unworthy. You are worthy.”

”Don't forget, I got called an ugly little thing because I failed to bring you home this time as a daughter in law,” he reminded her, and this time, the memory made her smile.

Actually, she laughed— and this made her finally relaxed.

Satisfied that she was okay, Tohru placed a soft kiss on top of her head again before shifting on his feet and stood up.

”You should go and take a rest now, honey. You have a shopping spree with mom tomorrow,” he said as he pulled her up on her feet.

”Why? Is it difficult to find?” Yanee asked and Tohru grinned.

”No. But knowing mom, she'd drag you to several different shops to look at all the kimonos. She's friends with the owners and managers so she'd want you to look at the best ones.”

”Oh! I love shopping,” Yanee stated with an excited look and Tohru smiled at her indulgently.

”That's good then. When I tag along with mom and Big Sis I always get so exhausted. It's actually a good thing my sister's pregnant at the moment so it means they won't drag you everywhere for the whole day.”

Yanee laughed. It was typical for guys to dread tagging along on shopping sprees. But she loved it so she was glad that his mom and sister were like her.

”You're like Ami. She hates shopping so I always do it for her,” Yanee commented referring to her sister before raising her arms to stretch and letting out a yawn.

It's already half past midnight and they'd go out after breakfast tomorrow.

”Go take a rest,” Tohru said as he walked her back to her room. ”By the way, I'll be running some errands tomorrow from morning 'til late afternoon so we won't be seeing each other until evening. But you will be with mom and big sis so have fun, okay?”