Taking out his second item, Mateo channeled all of his mana inside before putting it around his neck. The item was an artifact which took the form of a silver chain with faint blue inscriptions, probably the runes which allow it to perform its function.
He bought the chain due to its ability to create a barrier all around him to defend against attacks.
For now it could only defend against attacks with the power of a normal TIER 1 and that too at the cost of 100 mana points(MP), but he still bought it because it was the only barrier-type artifact he could buy and he had a feeling that he needed all the protection he could afford in case his bad luck kicked in.
Feeling a little nauseous from having his mana drained, Mateo went back on his bed, hoping his parents would take the hint and leave so that the conversation would be avoided altogether since it was one he didn't want to have, but it seemed he was wrong. The lack of mana was affecting his brain because it looked like he had forgotten who his parents were.
They who would make sure he attended class everyday, sick or not. Even once when he got sick in school to the point of being admitted to a hospital nearby, his parents came, took him from the hospital and sent him home to the family's team of specialized doctors. After taking the medicine given to him when they had finished running tests, he was made to join his classes via a VR helmet that spawned a holographic image of him in the class, earning him looks of sympathy even from his teacher who always stressed about attendance.
As always the reason they gave for being so over the top was, 'Mateo darling, it is not a good education we want for you, that can be gotten from a home tutor, what we want for you is to make friends, forge strong bonds and connections, and also learn to think outside the box by finding ways to skip classes and escape school, believe us, you'll understand in future'.
The annoying thing is, they were right because only a few months later he met Leone, soon became best buds and then their families also bonded when Leone's family moved in next door after buying the house from the Li's, essentially transforming two different families into one mega family.
With a 'light push' he was rolled over to face them and with that the main topic for the conversation was addressed.
"So, when do you plan to give us grandkids" started Maria, not even bothering to mince words.
"Never. What you saw was a lapse in judgement, something that won't happen again. I'm sure she feels the same after all it might be a stupid crush that would soon fade away" countered Mateo, unwilling to even address the issue or give his parents leverage.
"My oh my. Little Mateo seems to have forgotten who he's talking to. Need I remind you or are your memories returning" said Maria with a smile that wasn't a smile.
"But ma, remember the last time I let my feelings influence me. See how bad it turned. I don't *sob* i don't wanna experience it again" said Mateo, mixing in fake tears to play the sympathy card.
Seeing her child crying, Maria's mother instinct came into play and dropped the slipper she had stealthily picked up. She then caressed Mateo's face, wiping off his tears with such gentleness as if seeing him cry hurt her heart.
"But dear, their many joys of being married. Like having someone to always have your back, giving birth and of course procreation. These are just a few of the joys of marriage, and don't worry about Amy, we have vetted her and she passed unlike Cagney who you didn't even tell us about till it was too late."
With such points being stated it was only a matter of time before Mateo caved in and was soon left alone in the room. While his parents were busy hover-scootering away, Mateo was washing his face and rinsing his eyes to get rid of the onion ointment he had applied earlier to help him cry and avoid the divine slipper. Truly it played an important role in the conversation which no person or thing could pull of.
Back on his bed, Mateo reviewed his earlier encounter with Amy and as much as he hated to admit it, he didn't actually dislike her. In fact, he felt a subtle urge to corrupt her innocence, an urge he blamed on his libido and hormones rampaging around in his body. Being friends with Leone didn't help the situation either since he always made sure to paint very graphic details about his night 'encounters'.
With a made up mind he left his room in search of Leone and Amber. The former being an expert in matters of the heart and lower head and the latter being his target's sister would surely have some advice for him.
His search led him to the garden of the Windsors where Leone was teaching his two suitors more about Archery. Timing his approach to when a nocked on arrow had been released, Mateo walked towards them.
Suddenly the wind changed direction and Mateo soon found the arrow making a beeline for him. With his enhanced speed stats he was barely able to sidestep the flying weapon of death before it passed by him, claiming a piece of his t-shirt as a memento.
Sighing, he continued walking as of nothing had happened before he felt a light thud on his head.
The cry of an overhead bird proved his suspicion and with embarrassment he turned back, clearly not in the mood to talk anymore.
Walking back dejected, he was surprisingly when he heard the voice of his supposed romantic interest from the hedge maze and decided to take a peek. Entering the maze, he followed the sound of Amy's voice until it was just a corner away.
Bracing himself to make conversation, he turned the final corner only to be met in the chest by a flying stick first, and the heavy dog chasing it. Getting kicked by the family rottweiler, Dusty, for a while, Mateo was finally ready to confront Amy when he felt a certain wetness in his palm.
Confused, he looked at it only to soon look away, barely holding back the urge to vomit. Wiping his poop-covered palm on the ground, he took Dusty's stick, threw it to serve as a distraction for Amy and bolted out of the hedge maze eager to reach his room before any acts of bad luck happened again.