Feeling the unusual atmosphere, the young girl was puzzled. “Dad, Mom…” She stood two meters away from the dining table, looking anxiously at her father and then her mother. “What’s going on?” she asked cautiously.
“Agnes, are you getting married?” Mrs. Campbell was furious. “You weren’t planning to tell us? Were you just going to bring a baby home?”
“What are you talking about?” The girl was still confused. “What do you mean? Who said I was getting married? What baby? What nonsense?”
“Agnes,” Mr. Campbell reminded her gravely, “Ansel told us everything. He said you have a boyfriend who is going to propose to you, but you haven’t brought him home for us to meet.”
Agnes suddenly understood! A huge misunderstanding! But… she couldn’t explain it in just a few words! Her parents were already angry!
“Agnes, what kind of judgment do you have?” Mrs. Campbell had a very poor impression of Andrew. “I wanted you to be with Ansel, but you disagreed. Are you just being rebellious? What kind of person did you find?”
Had Ansel slandered Andrew? What had he said?
“Dad, Mom,” seeing how emotional they were, Agnes tried to control herself and chose to explain, “Do you believe me or Ansel?”
“I believe Ansel!” Mrs. Campbell declared without hesitation. “I’ve watched that boy grow up!”
“But my sister’s ex-boyfriend was also someone you watched grow up!” the girl retorted without thinking.
“Agnes!!!”
Agnes quickly covered her ears, feeling deafened.
Mr. Campbell, however, was rational. He looked at his wife and then at his daughter. “I believe you. Tell us what’s going on! If you can’t explain it clearly, no dinner for you! Reflect on your actions behind closed doors!”
Hearing her father’s words made Agnes even more confused, but she spoke truthfully. “Dad… Mom… I only said I was with Andrew to annoy Ansel. There’s nothing between Andrew and me; we’re not even good friends, just colleagues! Really! If you don’t believe me, investigate!”
Mrs. Campbell stared intently at her daughter as if trying to discern the truth in her words.
Mr. Campbell understood his daughter and believed her. “Agnes, do you not like Ansel?”
“I don’t have romantic feelings for him,” Agnes answered clearly. “I don’t know why he’s pestering me. Logically speaking, I feel neutral about him; he should feel the same about me. Two people who are too familiar with each other are like the left hand and the right hand-how could there be love?”
Agnes concluded decisively, “I think what he feels for me isn’t love; it’s just a habit. He’s not mature yet; he doesn’t understand love!”
“So you really don’t have a boyfriend?” Mrs. Campbell asked again, still somewhat skeptical.
“Really! I don’t!” Agnes affirmed. “If I had a boyfriend, I’d bring him home for your approval right away! Why would I be afraid? You both are so understanding.”
“Alright, remember what you said!” Mrs. Campbell noted firmly. “If you have a boyfriend, bring him home first thing! If we’re the last to know, you’ll be in trouble!”
“Fine,” Agnes sighed.
Mr. Campbell called his daughter over. “Come and eat then; don’t just stand there foolishly. Your mom and I are worried about you because your sister took a risky step before. Men can’t be judged by appearances alone; it takes more eyes to keep an eye on them.”