“You have a lot of detective novels,” she noticed, walking her eyes around as she rested her head and long hair on his chest. “Oh… And adventure ones. I like those,” she popped her head up for a second.
“I read them for my reenactment shows and got engrossed,” he smiled. “Like I fell in love with you.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“They’re too beautiful to resist.”
“I have to announce my breakthrough,” she sighed, leaving the bed, her hand lingering on Peter’s thigh for a few seconds. Seeing her naked and walking to the bathroom filled Peter with… feelings. He was short of words because it was a thing he had never experienced before. Regina was unique. Young and charming, and somehow belonging in his heart. He stood in bed, eyes closed, arms under his head, blissfully listening to the running water. Nevertheless, such moments don’t last long. After a short shower, she changed into fresh clothes and went to speak to Alchemy.
Peter took a long bath and Relaxed in the tub. In the end, he shouted, "System, are you around?" but there was no answer. "What the fuck is he doing?" he frowned, starting to dress. He was slightly annoyed, as he had questions to ask.
Automatic message: The System is momentarily unable to chat. We have been notified of your intention to speak, and we will contact you as soon as possible.
"Now that you have more people to fool around, you play hard to get, huh?"
Tidying up his room, a boring chore, was now a joy. Peter was preparing a love nest for Regina to feel loved and welcomed. He dusted, swept the floor, moved the three pairs of old socks lost under the bed in the laundry basket, and made sure to display a few art movie posters he had in store but never nailed on the walls. He was a book guy, but what doesn't a boy do to impress the girl he loves?
Yet, lunch arrived, and there was no sign from Regina or the System. His worries were dismissed when a text arrived: See you in the afternoon. I must be tested further. It appears I got directly to the third stage. I heart you. He replied with kisses and many, many hearts.
The beauty of love and the summer inspired him to lie in the armchair next to the window and spend time leafing through a romance novel to get inspiration for beautiful things to say to her. He ate but a sandwich for lunch.
At three in the afternoon, there were knocks on the door. Peter jumped to open it. "Baby, you’re b— Ari? What are you doing here?" he creased his nose.
Pushing him out of the way, Ariana entered, pulling Shredder by a leash.
"Woof!"
“Hi, little buddy, nice to see you too,” Peter squatted, fondling the pup’s head and back.
"Shreddi's the smartest pup ever," Ariana said, untying the collar. “We hunted together all night.” Wagging his tail, the warg curled on his dog bed and instantly fell asleep. "Never mind him for now. We have problems. Problem number two: Regi has a System. Problem number two, your parents are on their way here. Tuesday is your birthday, remember? Problem three: we leave for Floor three tomorrow. It's a surprise test, whatever it means, and we'll be out all week. It's in the email. It came in the morning, but you didn't check it."
Everything she said hit his head like a hammer. Peter managed to blurt: "Must be in the spam—"
"No, you never check your mail. We have to talk,” Ariana pushed Peter out of the way, sitting in his preferred armchair. “Make me a coffee and a sandwich… I liked your sandwiches, by the way.”
“Did you tell Regina about the System?” Peter asked, opening the cupboard to take out some rye bread.
“No. I’ll get there in a moment. Err… I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’ll be direct. Your folks called me to ask if you’re OK. You didn’t tell them we broke up, apparently.”
“Yeah, because if they knew I’m on the market, they’d want to put me together with my mother’s best friend's daughter…”
“Yeah, parents can be annoying…” Ariana nodded. “Is she pretty?”
“Let’s say if she hugs you, you’d be Isekaied. She’s built like Truck Kun. Weightlifting champion.”
“Why do they—”
“She works at my parents' summer camp,” Peter explained. “Does everything, from repairs to driving, and I suspect my folks would love to have her as a free employee… as they did with me. Let her be. What were you saying about my parents?”
“Yeah, they called, and I told them you quit me, pretended to cry, and said you’re dating the most beautiful girl in the school. Your mother was gloating. Then, I asked the System to access your email and wrote to your parents, telling them you want to take them out for dinner to meet your girlfriend. You told them you’re absolutely sure she’s the one!”
"So that's why you’re avoiding me, System! Just you wait!" Peter pumped his fist, looking in the air. “Why did you do that, Ari? Do you hate me so much?”
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"Nope. It was to make amends I was mean to you and to speed up the inevitable. Regina IS the one, Peter. Why tarry the inevitable? Get that out of the way to concentrate on the main problem. Regina’s system."
"Goodness, you’re right! She has the System…" Peter swallowed a lump, remembering her previous words. “How did she take it? And why didn’t you tell me, you bastard?” he pumped his fist in the air anew.
"Can I have some water? My throat is dry from so much talking."
I need to buy some orange juice and good wine. Girls like that stuff, Peter thought while pouring a glass of sparkling water and offering it to Ariana.
The girl emptied the glass in one go, then exhaled deeply. "She doesn't have our System. She has another one."
"What?" Peter gasped.
Ariana snapped her fingers in the air.
"You wrote to my parents without my permission, you motherfucker!" Peter yelled.
"We were lucky she told me about the texts before she went to Melinda,” Ariana said. “You owe me so big…”
"Is she in danger?" Peter asked in a hurry.
"We had to put Regi up to speed about everything, Peter. She's in the know now," Ariana said. "She's even more smitten by knowing you're a superhero. Her superhero," she sneered. “And knows you would have told her the truth if… you were not so busy with other things.”
"You think Alchemy won't notice?"
"What class did she get?" Peter asked.
the System said in a voice that was so neutral it sounded suspicious.
"Your parents will be here any minute now," Ariana checked the hour. "At least the room is tidy… Last bit of news. Melinda wants Shreddi for the evening. I'll take care of the delivery and leave him at the shelter when she's done playing with him."
Peter's parents arrived at four. Peter took them on a tour of the Campus for an hour, then left them alone to have a coffee in town, pretending he had to shower and dress in his best clothes. Picking them two hours later, they headed to Garcia. Regina arrived directly there five minutes after they chose their table.
"Hi… sw… dar… baby," Peter struggled to find a proper word. "She's Regina, my girlfriend. Regina, meet my parents."
"Err… h…hello, Regina mumbled, widening her eyes. Peter's mother hugged her, and his father offered a handshake, which she accepted with a limp hand, staring and slackjawing. Peter's father had salt and pepper hair that descended to his shoulders, an impressive handlebar mustache, and a Van Dyke beard, all complimented with an embroidered silk jacket and a pocket watch with a gold chain.
"Sit, baby, sit. You must be tired… all those tests… They took a lot of blood, right?" Peter asked to cover for her.
“Y-yeah…” she continued to stare.
Little by little, the vibe warmed up. In her mid-forties, Peter's mom behaved like Shredder on his first day as a pet, almost exploding with joy. That was until Regina ordered a glass of wine.
"You're of age, darling?" Peter's mother asked with a frown.
"I’m nineteen," she nodded.
Nice, she's not a teen anymore, Peter thought.
"In New Hampshire, the age for drinking is twenty-one, dear," Peter's mother insisted. "May I ask you to reconsider your order?"
At that point, the wine arrived, and Regina took a sip. "It's OK. For cultivators, the age is eighteen. We process the alcohol faster and don't get affected much… But I don't drink often, this is an exception to celebrate your visit. Cheers!"
What a smart girl! Peter exulted. She held her ground but politely.
The mood improved considerably, getting lively. Peter's parents excused themselves at some point and went to the cloakroom simultaneously, probably to cheer together that their son got a new and cuter girlfriend, Peter figured.
"Sorry, I stared!" Regina exclaimed. "I try my best, but it's so hard! Your pa is—"
"Embarrassing, I know," he sulked.
"They're sweet, both of them. But he looks like Inigo Montoya and the Three Musketeers made a baby together."
"Oh, goodness!” Peter facepalmed. “Thank you for adding a new layer to my childhood traumas!”
“Wait until you know my family better,” Regina patted his back softly. “We’ll need therapy. I’m not joking.”
“Err… about your parents… Will they be mad at you for being with me?”
“Don’t mind my parents; I’ll deal with them,” Regina waved her hand dismissively. “So… what business are your folks into?”
“Re-enactment shows, and a Summer Camp. He's a HEMA instructor, one of the best… but a bit bossy. Peter, I need a legionnaire for the show. Peter, I need a mamelouk. Peter, I need a villain. Hahaha… Prepare to die,” he mimicked a villain’s laughter.
"Impressive acting! And your ma?"
"My mother’s a sports teacher. She’s Greek and was an Olympic javelin thrower in her youth. She trained me in the basics.”
“So that’s why you are so good at it!” Regina clapped.
“I mixed the two. The Olympics is about throwing far, and HEMA is about hitting a target. During summers, I hunted a lot in the woods, alone, just to be far from them.”
“They’re intense persons,” Regina smiled.
“Yeah… I swore to be the opposite and keep a low profile.”
“You’re very intense too, only more on the inside,” she fondled his hand. “Like a smoldering ember... I love you."
“I love you t— Here they come. If Dad tells you about our pirate ancestors or how his beard is inherited from a grandmother who was the bearded lady in a circus, don’t believe him,” Peter blurted before his parents returned.
Afterward, Regina recounted with exaggerated and heroic details how he saved his life due to the skills his parents taught him. The mother and the young woman cried in each other arms for a bit while Peter's dad patted his back in an 'atta boy' gesture.
Instead of the dessert they ordered came a birthday cake, which explained why Peter’s parents had been absent from the table for so long. Happy Birthday was sung, and Peter received a gift box containing a luxury watch, a bottle of the finest Cognac, and a box of cigars. It was Peter’s turn to sob.
Finally, they moved into Peter's studio and talked until almost midnight. Peter and his father offered a fencing demonstration with training rapiers his father had in his car. Eventually, the parents left, and the two youngsters cuddled in bed.
"I'm happy," she said before falling asleep in his arms. He was also, but he expressed his feelings silently by kissing her hair.