You took a deep breath and closed the passenger door.

"You know you don't have to do this." You muttered while buckling your seatbelt.

"No, it's okay. I can't let your parents down. I made a promise." Carlos said, still with his unexpressive tone. "Got your ring ready?"

You nodded without looking at him.

You both called off the engangement two weeks ago. The unsolved little lover's quarrels turned into silent treatments which led to you two to separate. Nobody ever really had the initiatives to mend anything.

One thing that your parents always adore and waiting for is for you guys to spend the Christmas holiday back in your hometown. They loved Carlos so much, just like their own son. And you couldn't bring yourself to tell them that you two broke up. You practically had to beg him to do the trip for the sake of your parents which he loved too. But eventually he agreed to spend the holiday there.

As the airline's already full-booked for the season, you ended up doing the road trip. Which meant that you'd be stuck with him for a 5 hours long drive across the country. You sighed. Oh boy, this is gonna be a long ride.

You spent most of the time looking outside the window. You put on your headphone. Clearly didn't want to talk to him more, just like how you always did when you two fight. But he didn't mind the silence either.

After a long hours of road trip, he pulled up at your parents' house. You took a deep breath before unbuckled your seatbelt. Your hand reached the car door's handle before you gave him one last glance.

"Remember Carlos, put on a smile. Nothing happened between us. Okay, babe?"

You opened the car door. And suddenly the song you heard on the car ride sang back in your head.

We could call it even You could call me babe for the weekend 'Tis the damn season, write this down I'm stayin' at my parents' house And the road not taken looks real good now