The Author's POV

"Ren, are you listening to me?"

As I absentmindedly lifted and lowered the spoon in my hand, I heard a familiar voice tickle my ears.

"Ren!"

The voice grew louder with every passing second, and before I knew it, it was right next to my ear, startling me out of my daze.

"Ren Dover!"

"Huaa!"

I screamed as my hand reached out for the corner of the desk to stop myself from falling.

Unfortunately, my efforts proved futile as I inevitably still fell to the ground.

Bang—!

"Ugh."

With my butt feeling the cold hard ground, I slowly raised my head to see my mother's face looking down at me. She had a rather worried look on her face.

"Are you okay Ren? Did something happen?"

"No."

Pressing my hand against the ground and picking up the chair, I sat back down. Then, picking up the spoon, I took a mouthful of cereal and ate it.

"Ren?"

"Mh, I'm just..mhm, I've got a lot to think about..mh."

"Don't speak while you're chewing."

With a small rag in hand, my mother sat down next to me.

Supporting her chin with both hands, she leaned her body a bit.

"Be honest with me. I can tell that something happened. You can tell your mother, I'm all ears."

Lowering the spoon in my hand, I turned to face my mother.

My brows soon furrowed and I sighed.

'Fuck it.'

"...I'm going to leave again."

Immediately following those words, I closed my eyes expecting my mother to go bonkers.

But...

"Hm?"

To my surprise, I did not hear my mother lose it even after half a minute had passed.

Upon opening my eyes, I was surprised to see my mother smiling at me. The sight caused my brows to jump up.

"Mom?"

"See, it wasn't so hard to tell me was it?"

"...What?"

Opening and closing my mouth, my head tilted.

I was legitimately very confused at the moment.

"...Are you not angry at me for leaving again?"

"Angry?"

Cocking her head a little, her neat blonde hair gently fell over her shoulder. Plucking her lips a little, she asked.

"Why should I be angry?"

"...Ehm."

Raising my hand to scratch the back of my head, I didn't know how to respond.

'What's going on?'

This wasn't the reaction that I had expected from her. Was there something wrong with my mother?

Was she sick?

Worry instantly flashed across my face.

"Don't look at me like that."

face, my

the rug from the table, she walked toward the kitchen

for her to start speaking. In no time, she asked

know why I

didn't say anything

"Right."

met my mother's eyes.

leaving? You're already an adult. What you do with your life is up to you. I can no longer control you like when you were a kid as your safety was my responsibility. It still is, but

her face as she leaned

whatever you want to do. You are strong, and

mother let out a gentle

that I don't have to worry about where you

"...Okay."

away from my mother and staring at the bowl of cereal in front of me,

"I'll do that."

from the faucet in the kitchen, the sound of the water echoed throughout

"When are you leaving?"

paused. Bitterly smiling,

"Most likely today."

couldn't push the trip any further and therefore had to go

fact, I probably shouldn't be here right

that the trip was going to be successful. I had already contacted Smallsnake about

problem was

'Jin.'

But in order for that to work, there were

"Haa..."

escaped from my

going to

plate in her hand with a new one, she placed the old one

how long are you going to

"I'm not too sure."

"I s—"

Clank—!

familiar figure appeared. While rubbing her eyes with her little fists, Nola held a small teddy bear by its

kitchen table, and helped herself up. It was clear that she was still sleepy as she took no

my seat and sat down

"Sleepy?"

"Mhhh."

not react as she simply lowered her head so that I could stroke her

'How cute.'

In the blink of an eye, a large

"Hey, Nola."

"Mhh..."

"Look, look."

bear touched Nola, her mind cleared up a little and her

"Waah!"

out

as soon as I noticed her reaction as

it Nola? Do you

"Brother!"

with excitement. Extending both hands, she jumped toward the bear

that the bear was almost twice Nola's size, making it appear

"Mhh..mhhh..mhh..mhh.."

as Nola hugged the bear tightly. The sounds persisted for a

"Nola?"

as my

she

my seat, I circled around the bear

"Hey, Nola."

immediately became startled as I placed my hand on her back

"Nola."

started to set in from there as I shook

"Hey Nola, Nola, Nol—"

"Booo!"

"Whoa!"

on the ground. Raising my

"Hehehe."

down and realizing that I had been fooled, I glared

that you can

Mother! Haha, hehehe,

I ticked Nola's sides.

fact, she was especially ticklish. Just tickling her legs would send

"Hahaha, brother! Stop!...hhahaha..."

seconds. I wasn't cruel enough to punish her for

better have

brother. I will...never do

muttered on top of the bear on the

she had learned her lesson as she

at Nola. Lowering my head, our eyes met and Nola stuck her

"Stinky brother."

second thought, let's go for another

"Kyaa! Noooo...ahahhahah!"