The week following our amusement park date passed uneventfully in our regular high school lives.
We discussed going on another date over the weekend but struggled with choosing a destination. Jessica raised a practical concern about the cost of visiting popular date spots every week. Though I had a steady income from a side gig through Isla, I kept it a secret, and she approached the situation with the typical financial mindset of a high school student.
Ultimately, we decided to have a date at my house. Jessica had expressed interest in seeing my room and meeting my family. Our family consists of four members—my parents, my older brother, and me. My brother had moved out for college. While my mom had met Jessica during the sports festival, it would be her first time meeting my dad, although both of my parents might be out due to their jobs.
Today, the Saturday when I invited her over, I spent all morning and the previous night cleaning my room.
As expected, my dad was busy with work and wouldn't be home. So, Jessica would only be meeting my mom today.
I went to the nearest station to pick her up after receiving her message. She caught the attention of many passersby as she approached, her presence lighting up the surroundings.
"Ethan, good morning♪"
"Good morning, Jess."
"Did I keep you waiting?"
"No, I just got here."
"I'm glad... Shall we go?"
"Sure."
Taking her bag, we began the short walk to my house. The closer we got, the fewer people we encountered, and the conversation gradually waned. She seemed to be getting nervous about meeting my mom and entering my home for the first time.
"Are you okay?"
"I-I'm getting a bit nervous..."
"Well, it's normal to be nervous, but it's just a regular house."
"Y-yeah... But when you met my family, you were nervous too, right?"
"Of course... But I'm sure my mom will like you."
"I hope so..."
As we chatted, we arrived at my house. Preparing ourselves in front of the door, I finally opened it.
"Shall we go in?"
"Y-yes! Let's go."
"I'm home!"
Hearing my voice, my mom came to the door to greet us.
"Welcome, Jessica. Please, come in."
"Excuse me..."
"Mom, this is Jessica, my girlfriend. You met her at the sports festival, right?"
"It's nice to meet you again. I'm Jessica White, and I'm dating Ethan. Please take care of me."
My mom, though initially taken aback by Jessica's beauty, managed to recover and greet her properly. After Jessica handed over a small gift she had brought, we headed up to my room on the second floor.
"Did I act strange?"
"No, my mom seemed nervous too."
"Really? I hope she doesn't dislike me."
"It's practically your first meeting, so I doubt that. She was probably surprised that her son's girlfriend was so pretty."
"Pretty..."
As we entered my room, I reassured her, sensing her concern. Hearing me call her pretty made her fidget slightly, blushing as she sat on a cushion I'd prepared.
"Let me get us something to drink. How about coffee?"
"Y-yes, please."
"Wait here for a moment."
I went downstairs to prepare drinks, dealing with some teasing from my mom while using the coffee machine. With the drinks and some snacks ready, I returned to my room.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No problem..."
She had removed her coat and sat comfortably. I placed the drinks and snacks on the table before sitting across from her.
"Welcome to my house and my room."
"Hehe~! So, this is Ethan's room."
"Just a typical high school boy's room."
"It's my first time in a boy's room, so it's quite exciting..."
"I doubt it's much different from your brother's room."
"He's stopped letting me in since he became a teenager, just like I avoid his room."
It's natural for boys to want privacy, especially as they grow older. They have many things they don't want others to see.
"You're the first girl I've ever brought here."
"I-I see..."
Though Isla had visited countless times during her tutoring sessions, she wasn't my girlfriend, so I wasn't lying. I watched Jessica, who seemed delighted and chose not to mention any unnecessary details, enjoying her happiness at the moment.
***
As we continued to enjoy a leisurely afternoon, chatting and sipping tea, I made a quick trip downstairs to refill our drinks and bring up more snacks. Among the treats I brought back was a familiar chocolate snack that caught Jessia's eye.
"Oh, this..." she said, picking up a small bag of a popular chocolate treat. She seemed to contemplate something before opening it and turning to me with a mischievous smile.
"Hey, Ethan..."
"What's up?"
She took a piece of chocolate from the bag and held one end between her lips, looking at me expectantly. Her playful gesture was an unmistakable invitation.
"Really?"
I asked, amused.
With a resigned smile, I gave in to her teasing. I took the other end of the chocolate between my lips, and we slowly ate toward the middle. As we did, our faces drew closer until our lips met in a gentle kiss.
After a few moments, we pulled away, both of us blushing. Jessica smiled shyly and pulled out another piece of chocolate from the bag.
"Let's do it again... okay?" she suggested with a sweet, hopeful look.
"Sure," I replied, matching her smile.
We repeated the playful exchange, each time ending with a soft kiss. The chocolate snacks became a fun excuse for our secret little game, which continued until the bag was empty.
Even after our chocolate-fueled kisses, the atmosphere remained light and affectionate. When Jessica asked to use the restroom, I showed her the way, giving us both a moment to settle from our playful mood.
When she returned, I asked about her plans for the following weekend.
"Do you have any plans for next weekend?" I inquired.
"...You mean for Christmas?" she replied.
Indeed, the next Saturday was Christmas Eve, and Sunday was Christmas Day. With the school term ending on the 23rd, we'd be on winter break. I hoped to secure at least one of those days for a special date.
"I'm thinking sometime between late morning and early evening," I suggested.
"In that case, I'm free on the 25th," she said with a smile.
"Great! Then, let's plan for that time."
"Okay... I'm looking forward to it," she agreed, her eyes shining.
With that, our Christmas date was set. I was determined to make the day special and memorable. As we wrapped up our home date, I couldn't help but hope that Christmas would bring us even closer, maybe even to a deeper level of intimacy in our relationship.
"I'll let you know the details on Monday."
"Alright. I can't wait!" she said, beaming.
"I'll make sure it's a day you'll enjoy," I promised.
With warm feelings lingering, our first home date ended, leaving us both excited for the upcoming Christmas together.