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 mother slowly stood

the table, she walked toward the kitchen and placed it on the

of us spoke as I waited for her to start speaking. In no time, she asked me a

know why I was angry last

because I didn't say

"Right."

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

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 like when you were

her face as she leaned her

doing whatever you want to do. You are strong, and I've

my mother

dangerous trips. Just so that

"...Okay."

the bowl of cereal in front

"I'll do that."

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

"When are you leaving?"

paused. Bitterly smiling,

"Most likely today."

the trip any further and therefore had to go

a matter of fact, I probably shouldn't be

to ensure that the trip was going to be successful. I had already contacted Smallsnake about the little stuff,

real problem was

'Jin.'

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

"Haa..."

sigh escaped from my

going to

plate in her hand with a new one, she

are you going to

"I'm not too sure."

"I s—"

Clank—!

that moment, the kitchen door opened and a familiar figure appeared. While rubbing her eyes with her little fists, Nola

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

to myself, I got off my seat and sat

"Sleepy?"

"Mhhh."

of this, she did not react as she

'How cute.'

blink of an eye,

"Hey, Nola."

"Mhh..."

"Look, look."

pushed it toward Nola. When the bear touched Nola, her mind cleared up a little

"Waah!"

out a

my face as soon as I noticed her reaction as I leaned my head to

it Nola? Do you

"Brother!"

Extending both hands, she jumped toward the bear and

particularly amusing aspect of the situation was that the bear was almost twice Nola's size, making it appear as if she had

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

hugged the bear tightly. The sounds persisted for a couple of seconds

"Nola?"

called out as my

she

up from my seat, I circled around the bear to discover Nola's

"Hey, Nola."

as I placed my hand on

"Nola."

met with no response. Panic started to set in from there as I shook

"Hey Nola, Nola, Nol—"

"Booo!"

"Whoa!"

on the ground. Raising my head, I was met

"Hehehe."

and realizing that I had been

think that you can

No! Mother! Haha,

I ticked Nola's sides.

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

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

I stopped after ten seconds. I wasn't

have learned your

brother. I will...never do it

muttered on top of the bear on

needless to say that she had learned her lesson

Nola. Lowering

"Stinky brother."

let's go

"Kyaa! Noooo...ahahhahah!"