"Shhhh."
Beauty cautioned Bruno, then cleared her throat to answer the call.
"Hi, Mom," she greeted cheerfully, though her voice cracked slightly. Hoping they didn't see the trending news on social media.
Her parents were unlikely to be interested in fashion and celebrity lifestyles.
They'd rather have blogs talking about cooking since her father used to be a chef. Well, her mother—a nurse—is more interested in politics and health-related topics.
"Beauty! How are you, my darling? How's the Puerto Rico tour going? I was just thinking about you this morning."
Beauty blinked, momentarily thrown off.
The tour.
Of course, she had told her mother about the company's tour. Funny thing—she had forgotten about the tour since last night.
This is so much better than the tour, she smirked to herself.
"Oh! It's... going well," she stammered, sitting up straighter. "Lots to see and... um, experience."
She glanced at Bruno, who raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by her awkward performance.
Her mother chuckled.
"Is that so? It must be quite the experience if you've been too busy to call us properly. But never mind that! Guess who's back home?"
"Daddy?" Beauty asked, rolling her eyes at her mother's question.
"Good guess!" her mom exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. "And the first thing I told him was about your secret admirer who sent you flowers and the young lad who came to our house the other day...."
Beauty's heart skipped a beat, her stomach twisting in knots.
"M-Mom! What are you talking about?"
"Oh, don't pretend, Beauty," her mother teased lightly. "The flowers! The ones someone sent you. I was there, remember? You can't deny it. Such a romantic gesture! And that young man... Your father is dying to know all about him."
"What?" Beauty squeaked, her voice rising an octave.
Bruno, lying on the bed, folded his arms behind his head and watched her with amusement.
"Let me put your father on the phone," her mom continued, ignoring Beauty's protest.
"No, wait—Mom!" Beauty tried to stop her, but it was too late.
She slapped her forehead. She knew a lot of teasing would follow. Of course, she wanted her parents to meet Bruno, but... she wanted it to be a surprise.
"Beauty, my baby girl!"
Her father's deep voice came through the phone.
"Hi, Dad," she mumbled, feeling her face flush as Bruno smirked openly now.
Beauty made silly faces at him in mute response.
"Now, what's this I hear about a secret admirer?" her father asked, his tone teasing but curious. "Flowers, eh? Who's the lucky guy? Come on, spill the beans."
"There's no one, Dad!" Beauty lied quickly, glaring at Bruno, who was now mimicking her, holding an imaginary flower and pretending to swoon dramatically.
She rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh.
How can this guy be the same unapproachable introvert from months back?
"Oh, really? So, flowers just magically appeared out of thin air? Your mother told me there was a guy too... Can you deny that?"
Her father's voice interrupted her thoughts.
He wasn't convinced.
"Dad!" Beauty groaned, covering her face with one hand.
"I'm just saying, whoever he is, he's got good taste. Your mother says they were beautiful flowers, so I'd like to meet him."
"They were beautiful, but it's not what you think," Beauty tried to explain, her words tripping over themselves.
"Oh, honey, you're blushing, aren't you?" her mother's voice came from the background, tinged with laughter. "I can just picture it now. She's probably all red like a tomato!"
"Mom!" Beauty groaned, her voice muffled as she buried her face in her hands.
"Look, sweetheart," her father said, his tone softening slightly. "We're just happy to see someone making an effort to make you smile. If this young man is serious, we'd love to meet him. Don't you agree, darling?"
"Oh yes, honey, absolutely," her mother added eagerly.
"So when do we get to meet him, Beauty?"