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."

frown on her face, my mother slowly stood

rug from the table, she walked toward

the entire time, neither one of us spoke as I waited for

know why I was

didn't say

"Right."

I met my mother's eyes. They looked an awful lot like

angry over you 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 considering our circumstances, I can no longer

her face as she leaned

stop you from doing whatever you

for a moment, my mother let

you're going on such dangerous trips. Just so that I

"...Okay."

at the bowl of cereal in front of me,

"I'll do that."

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

"When are you leaving?"

paused.

"Most likely today."

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

matter of fact, I probably shouldn't

things that I needed to do in order to ensure that the trip was going to

real problem was

'Jin.'

on full steam. But in order for that to work, there were some things

"Haa..."

escaped from my

to be a busy

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

you going

"I'm not too sure."

"I s—"

Clank—!

moment, the kitchen door opened and a familiar figure appeared. While rubbing her eyes with her little fists, Nola held a small teddy bear by its

her and slowly walked toward the kitchen table, and helped herself up. It was clear that she was still sleepy as she took no notice of me who was sitting in front

my seat and sat down next to

"Sleepy?"

"Mhhh."

my hand, I gently stroked Nola's head. In spite of this, she did not react as she simply lowered her head so

'How cute.'

I tapped my bracelet once. In the blink of an eye, a large teddy bear

"Hey, Nola."

"Mhh..."

"Look, look."

touched Nola, her mind cleared

"Waah!"

out

broad smile appeared on my face as soon as I noticed her reaction as I leaned my head to the

about it Nola? Do

"Brother!"

an instant, Nola's eyes glowed with excitement. Extending both hands,

was almost twice Nola's

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

The

"Nola?"

out as my

did she stop

around the bear to discover Nola's figure

"Hey, Nola."

startled as I placed my hand on her back and shook

"Nola."

was met with no response. Panic started to set

"Hey Nola, Nola, Nol—"

"Booo!"

"Whoa!"

almost tripped on the ground. Raising my head, I was met with the sight of Nola extending her

"Hehehe."

had

seriously think that you can get

Mother! Haha, hehehe,

I ticked Nola's sides.

like most children in the world, Nola was ticklish. In fact, she was especially ticklish. Just tickling her legs would

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

seconds. I wasn't cruel enough to punish her

better have learned

will...never do

of the

was needless to say that she had learned her lesson as she was having a hard

stared at Nola. Lowering my head, our eyes

"Stinky brother."

let's

"Kyaa! Noooo...ahahhahah!"