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

the rug from the table, she walked toward the kitchen and placed

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

do you know why I

I didn't say anything

"Right."

a turn of her body, I met my mother's eyes. They looked an awful

do you think I'll get 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 protect you

flashed across her face as she leaned her body

never going to stop you from doing whatever

for a moment, my mother let out

that I don't have to worry about where you

"...Okay."

mother and staring at the bowl of cereal in front of me, I slowly nodded

"I'll do that."

water echoed throughout the room. While putting one of the plates

"When are you leaving?"

suddenly paused. Bitterly smiling, I

"Most likely today."

push the trip any further and therefore had to

matter of fact, I probably shouldn't

do in order to ensure that the trip was going to be successful. I had already contacted Smallsnake about the little stuff, and so

problem was

'Jin.'

steam. But in order

"Haa..."

escaped from

was going to be a busy

the plate in her hand with a new one, she

you going

"I'm not too sure."

"I s—"

Clank—!

appeared. While rubbing her eyes with her little fists, Nola held

dragged the bear behind her and slowly walked toward the kitchen table, and helped herself up. It was clear that she was

myself, I got off my

"Sleepy?"

"Mhhh."

spite of this, she did not react as she simply lowered

'How cute.'

something, I tapped my bracelet once. In the blink of an

"Hey, Nola."

"Mhh..."

"Look, look."

When the bear touched Nola, her mind cleared

"Waah!"

let out a

appeared on my face as soon as I noticed her reaction as I leaned my

Nola? Do you like

"Brother!"

eyes glowed with excitement. Extending both hands, she

was almost twice Nola's size, making it appear

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

bear tightly. The sounds persisted for a couple of

"Nola?"

called out as my brows

she stop

seat, I circled around the bear to

"Hey, Nola."

placed my

"Nola."

Panic started to set in from there as

"Hey Nola, Nola, Nol—"

"Booo!"

"Whoa!"

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

"Hehehe."

down and realizing that I had been fooled, I glared in

think that you can get away with what you've

No! Mother! Haha, hehehe,

I ticked Nola's sides.

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

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

I stopped after ten seconds. I

have learned your

brother. I will...never

on top of the bear

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

Nola.

"Stinky brother."

let's go

"Kyaa! Noooo...ahahhahah!"