Page 109 of Trust Me
We wait in the living room for my parents, playing with the cats as we do. About an hour later, we hear a knock. Elio gets the door, greeting my parents as they walk in.
My breath stills at seeing my father for the first time since he walked away from me, unsure of what exactly is going to happen.
Elio returns to my side on the couch, his nearness bringing me the comfort I need right now.
“Oh, Jasmine, dear.” My mother’s voice cracks, her hand over her chest as she walks closer to me.
“I’m okay,” I tell her as my father comes to stand behind her and lays a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“There is never anything okay about seeing your child hurt like that,” my father speaks up, looking distraught.
My eyes snap to his, shocked by his admission.
“But it’s okay to walk away from them during a difficult conversation, right?” I surprise myself as the words tumble out, unable to stay quiet.
My father sits on the couch across from me, his hands clasped together. “Jasmine, I am so sorry for that. I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to earn your forgiveness. I was distraught, shocked, and scared. You’re my girl, and I felt like I was losing you. I was trying too hard to hold on when you needed to be let go.”
Tears stain my cheeks at his apology.
“As long as you’re happy, that’s all I care about. You have my acceptance, although I don’t want to see any PDA. At least, not right now. I can’t handle it.”
“Understandable.” I chuckle as I swipe at my eyes. “Thank you for apologizing. I couldn’t imagine a life without us talking.”
“I know, Jasmine, me neither.”
“Don’t scare us like that again. I nearly had a heart attack.” My mother sighs.
“Great, that’s just what I need. Both of you hurt,” my father says.
My mother whispers something in his ear, causing him to turn and smile at her. The sight makes my chest ache because my parents truly love one another and it’s something I should be more grateful for. Not everyone grows up witnessing that.
Elio squeezes my hand then, a silent reminder that he’s here to support me and the encouragement I need to speak up.
“Mom, Appa, I need to tell you something,” I announce, my tone stronger than I thought it would be.
Both of their heads whip toward me, but it’s my father who looks like he might boil over. “If you say you’re pregnant, I might lose it. That’s too much in the span of forty-eight hours for me.”
I grimace. “I’m not. Don’t worry.”
“What is it then?” my mother prods.
I inhale a breath, exhaling deeply to try and soothe my nerves. I give Elio’s hand a squeeze, and then I finally do it.
“I love to bake, to be creative, and see the joy on people’s faces when they recreate my dishes or try one of them. I have an online channel called Minniebakes where I record myself as I make desserts. It’s pretty popular now, and I love doing it,” I explain, a jolt of happiness hitting me as I talk about my passion.
“But the big dream is owning a bakery, and I think I found the perfect lot for it. I know you both have this idea in your heads of who I am and what you want me to accomplish, but it’s not me, and I can’t live my life happily like that. Halmoni inspired this in me, and that passion never went away when she passed. I know this is disappointing to hear, but after today’s events, I now know more than ever that I need to live my life for me.”
There, I fucking did it. And it feels damn good like a weighted blanket being lifted off of me.
The silence in the room is almost palpable as my parents stare at me with blank expressions.
My mother is the first to crack. Her eyebrow rises ever so slightly, her face slowly morphing into shock. “You want to own a business and bake?”
Her voice is stoic, so I can’t tell where she’s at mentally other than that she seems surprised.
“That’s what I said, so yes. That’s what I want.”
“It’s risky…” My mother trails off, but my father cuts in.