New Life : A Second Chance

Beatrice sat in the car nervously, as they headed towards her home.

Today, the Dante Twins were going to her house to meet her parents for the first time.

The reason why she's so nervous is because she had only told them that she was dating and that they could meet tonight.

She had said, "You can meet who I am dating tonight."

Yup.

She never told them that there were two of them

And that they were not just here to eat dinner, but also to express their desire to marry her. 

Call her a coward but the words just stuck in her throat for some reason. Just mentioning to her parents that she was dating made her mother go all teary-eyed and hopeful. 

If that was a shock, what would the other news be?

She wasn't prepared to see her mother faint or something.

Or have the two million questions that were bound to pop up.

So, it's best to deal with everything in one shot.

They can see them and see for themselves how serious the Dante Twins were. Beatrice was convinced that the sincerity and love that they had for her would be clearly seen by her parents, thereby removing any doubt that they may have.

She still remembered how her mother had thought Sam would be the one for her and how disappointed she was when it wasn't. Simply because she was so excited. Beatrice secretly thought her mother was always trying to marry her off or something.

Well, she wasn't that far off but it was more to the fact that most parents' want their child to find 'the one', because they do not want their child to be alone. They envision that their child would be happier with someone by their side, and have children, so as to have company till their old age.

One may not feel it when one is still young, as the 'shackles' of marriage seem to stifle one's freedom. But what about when you're really advanced in age? What then? When you're no longer working or have 'girlfriends' to go out with … you're all alone at home?

Getting married when you're much older is even harder as you are already set in your ways. But you do get lonely …

That, at least, is the belief of most parents. A belief that most children do not agree with.

Thus, when Beatrice told them about her dating, her mother had been more than happy. She had started cooking quite early, anticipating eagerly on meeting a potential son-in-law (though in her mind, it was already a done deal).

So now that they had reached her house, Beatrice was nervous.

The twins turned around to look at Beatrice and asked, "Ready?"

She took a deep breath and nodded, "Ready."

While Beatrice was gathering her courage inside the car, her parents were gathering courage inside the house.

Well, perhaps it wasn't really 'courage' for the latter. It was a mixture of nervousness, anticipation - and for Beatrice's father, and additional burden. 

As a guy, naturally, he would need to test this boyfriend of his daughter.

Was he good enough?

Was he going to take care of his little princess well?

Will he be loyal?

Will he be true?

"Do you see them?" Melanie, Beatrice's mother asked anxiously as she peered through the window.

"Well, they have certainly arrived," harumped Kevin, Beatrice's father.

"Come on, let's open the door now," Melanie said, urging her husband as she walked to the door.

"No!" Kevin quickly shouted, "We need to assert our dominance! Let that little boy know who is in charge!"

Melanie smiled and came over to her husband who was bristling, "Come on, dear. Be nice. This is the first time Beatrice is bringing a boy to the house."

"No she's not," grumbled Kevin, "Sam was the first."

"You know he doesn't count," Melanie replied, "And he married Betty. He's part of the family now so don't bring him up now."

Kevin didn't look happy, "Sam was a good boy."

Melanie laughed, "He still is, dear. He still is. He's just not our daughter's. The one she is bringing home though, is."

"Hah. Only if I approve!" Kevin said, puffing his chest out.

"Now now, don't make it hard on Beatrice," Melanie said, "What's taking them so long to come out?"

The reason? 

At that moment, in the car, Beatrice told them, "I didn't tell them about you."

Seeing the puzzled faces of the Dante twins, she explained, "That there are two of you."

"Ah," Zack said, smiling while being amused, "Too much for them to handle after telling them you were dating?"

"Understandable," Yuri replied, "It's not common, even in Country Tz where it is allowed." 

"Don't worry, Beatrice," Zack said with a huge smile, "This is just our first battle. There are many more to come."

"Battle?!" Beatrice said while glaring at him.

"Of course," Zack said, "Although, most of it will be on the bed …"

Beatrice's face flushed red while Yuri gave a rather sly smile as he continued, ".. and bathroom, kitchen, living room …"

"So many places, so little time," Zack replied, nodding his head, "But we'll figure a way."

"You guys!" Beatrice, her face now red with annoyance.

The twins smiled widely, their eyes sparkling, "Are you okay now? Not nervous anymore?"

"Why should I be nervous? You're the ones who have to meet with my parents!" huffed Beatrice. 

Though she sounded annoyed, in reality, she wasn't. She realised the twins were teasing her to get her to be less nervous and she appreciated that. 

Of course, she didn't find out until much later that the twins weren't exactly joking …

Yuri and Zack got out of the car then, while Beatrice checked herself to make her clothes weren't too creased. She had been so nervous that she had been gripping her skirt, so she now patted it down.

Once Yuri opened the door, she stepped out. 

 "Oh! Look! They're finally coming out!" Melanie said excitedly as she watched from inside the house, " … Wait. Why are there two guys? Which one is her boyfriend?"

"Identical twins?" Kevin said with a frown, studying the two figures "How the heck is she going to tell who is who? Is that why she brought both then?"

Melanie hit her husband on the shoulder, "Stop talking nonsense. Oh look! He must be the one. He opened the door for Beatrice."

Melanie smiled while Kevin nodded approvingly.

"At least he is a gentleman," Kevin said, "Come, let's greet them now."

Just as Beatrice reached the door, it flung open. She expected it, too. 

Neither Yuri nor Zack was beside her. In fact, they were walking side by side behind her as the path leading to the house was narrow. Since both couldn't be beside her, then both would not stand beside her. 

"Beatrice, honey!" Melanie said, greeting her daughter.

"Mother," Beatrice replied, as Melanie came and hugged her.

"You don't come home often enough," Melanie complained, then looked at the two boys behind Beatrice.

"Come in, come in," she greeted them politely, "Make yourself at home."

"Thank you, Mrs. Chin," the twins replied together.

As they walked through the doorway, Kevin stood straight and observed them sternly. 

He looked at them from the top of their heads to their feet, his eyes stern.

"Mr. Chin," they greeted him warmly, unperturbed by his gaze. To them, it was like a soft breeze. 

After all, they dealt with the sour-faced Nitocris who's piercing glare was enough to make normal people cry - not to mention Ice that always looked like he would kill you if you even sneezed.

"Yuri Dante," Yuri said, offering his hand for a handshake, which Kevin took.

Firm grip. Kevin approved. So Beatrice's boyfriend's name was Yuri, huh? Kevin had been keeping an eye on Yuri from the moment he had opened the door for Beatrice, as he did not want to mix the two boys up. 

He had to test the right boyfriend after all.

"Zacharias Dante, but you can call me Zack," Zack said, shaking Kevin's hand as well.

"Kevin," Beatrice's father replied, "Welcome."

"Thank you," Zack replied, "It's good to be here."

Kevin led them to the living room and they all followed obediently. Melanie grabbed Beatrice's arm and herded her to the kitchen, saying, "You boys talk first while we get the drinks."

Beatrice looked at the twins, who didn't look nervous at all. She followed her mother to the kitchen, thinking that ... well, since they're the right and left hand of the King of the Underworld, dealing with her father would be easy, right?

In the living room, Kevin sat in his single-seater sofa, and gestured to the twins to sit on the couch across of him.

"So, Yuri," Kevin began, "What's your intention towards my daughter?"

"We're dating her with the intention of marriage," Yuri replied, getting straight to the point.

"We?!" Kevin croaked, his eyes wide, "Both of you?!"