Words I Was Afraid To Hear

Dan joined Midori in the car and instructed the driver to take them home .

"Hey, will you be free the day after the cheerdance compet.i.tion?" Dan asked .

"I have no plans yet . Probably will be sleeping all day . " Midori let out a giggle .

"Won"t you come with me then?"

"Where are we going?" This time, she wants to make sure she can provide her mom details when she asks for permission .

"It"s a surprise . " Dan curved his lips .

Midori sighed . It would be difficult to ask for permission again . Then she remembered, it was the first day of their 2-week break before final exams and cram cla.s.ses for university entrance exams .

"Did you set it so it will coincide with our vacation?"

"Nope . It just happened to coincide perfectly . I don"t even have control over the date . "

Midori looked puzzled . "What do you mean?"

"Well, for one, I cannot help it if I was born on the day . "

Midori"s eyes widened in surprise . "It"s your birthday?!"

Dan chuckled . "And I would be very happy if I could spend it with you . " He kissed her forehead .

The car stopped at the Xiu mansion .

They came at the doorstep .

"Dan, I still need to ask for permission . . . " Midori looked down .

Suddenly, the front door opened .

"Where will you be taking her this time?" Madam Xiu appeared in front of them .

Midori gasped . "Mom!"

Madam Xiu turned to Dan . "Would you mind coming in for dinner?"

Dan was dumbfounded for a few seconds then regained himself . "Uhm . . . certainly . I mean, no, I won"t mind, Mrs . Xiu . I just need to call home first . " He then tapped on his phone .

Madam Xiu motioned to her daughter . They walked in, leaving Dan to finish his call .

"Go wash up and change . Lead him to the guest room and grab some of your brother"s clothes for him to change into . I will be in the kitchen fixing dinner . "

"Hai, Okasan . " Midori nodded then headed upstairs .

At the dinner table, Dan was awkwardly wearing Masaichi"s sweatshirt and lounge pants . He was not a short teenager . It was just that Midori"s brother towers at 183cm so the length of the clothes are off .

Midori broke the silence . "Mom, where are Dad and Nii-san?"

Madam Xiu swallowed her food . "Where else? Business trip . So tiring to be OIC . . . " her complaing face showed exaggeratedly .

Dan cleared his throat . "Uhm . . . Mrs . Xiu . . . "

"O-kay . . . we seriously need to fix that . Such honorifics! Dan, I appreciate your manners . However, you have been going out with my daughter for quite some time now, yet you still treat me like a stranger!"

Dan did not know what to say .

Madam Xiu was then irritated by how clueless he was .

"It"s Aunty Aoi! AUNTY! You get that?!" She slammed her hand on the table, making utensils jump on the plates with clanking sounds .

Dan swallowed hard . "Aunty Aoi . . . "

"Good! Now, what did you want to say?" Aoi Xiu shifted to her gentle self with a smile .

The scene made Midori rub her temples . "Mom . . . "

"Hush!" Aoi Xiu pressed a finger on her lips . "Dan is about to say something . "

Taking his cue, Dan looked at Madam Xiu with honest eyes . "Aunty Aoi, on the 30th of the month is my birthday . I hereby ask your permission for us to spend sometime together on the day . " He stood up, then bowed sincerely .

"And you can"t tell the details of your trip?"

"Not with her distance right now . I"m sorry . Rest a.s.sured that her security and well-being will be my utmost priority . " Dan kept bowing .

Aoi Xiu let out a laugh . "Go back to your seat . "

Dan complied . He stared back on the lady of the household, searching her face for the verdict .

Madam Xiu stood up and started walking away . "It"s getting late . Don"t let people at home worry for you . I will show you out . " Then she looked at Midori . "Upstairs you go . " gesturing with her chin .

At the front door, Dan was about to leave .

"Three days . " Madam Xiu blurted out .

Dan turned around bewildered . He was already feeling down a while ago for not securing permission for Midori . He tried opening his mouth to clarify but was interrupted .

"I will give you three days to go wherever you want, but you have to return her in one piece . "

Dan"s face lit up, smiling ear to ear . "Thank you, Aunty!" He deeply bowed to her . "I must go now . Thank you for the meal . " he said smiling, then he turned to walk towards the car .

He was striding happily when he heard a few more words from her .

"Don"t forget to use protection!" Aoi Xiu barely shouted, then she went inside her house with a mischievous grin .