As Anon's mother walked into the room, a radiant smile spread across her face, and she struggled to balance the numerous white items in her arms. "Anon! Do you see my situation right now?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement and a hint of exasperation. Anon, engrossed in his own world, barely acknowledged her plight, his expression a picture of laziness. With a heavy sigh, he finally stirred, strolling over to relieve her of the burden. He placed the items on the table with a soft clatter.
"By the way, Mom, what's got you smiling like that?" Anon asked, curiosity piqued as he eyed her still-glowing face. His mother's smile broadened as she began to recount her adventure. "Oh, yeah... when I got inside the castle, I was fascinated by its design and choice of color. But then I realized I was lost and couldn't find my way out."
Anon raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with a mix of teasing and disbelief. "That's all?" His mother's expression shifted, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Ahh, I only left you for 30 thousand years, and yet you speak to me like that? Of course, I wasn't happy just because I entered a castle. When I was lost, I met Luna, and she helped me find the exit. We talked, and we became friends."
Anon's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of regret as he realized he'd hurt his mother's feelings. He sought to mend the moment, asking with genuine interest, "So, what did you talk about?" His mother's smile returned, softer this time. "Hmmm... I shared about my past and yours with her." Anon's eyes widened, and he almost repeated his earlier sarcastic remark but caught himself. "I'm sorry... So, did you tell her about the truth about Father?" he asked instead, his voice tinged with concern.
His mother's expression turned somber, a hint of guilt creeping into her voice. "No, I didn't. It's a very important thing, and I couldn't see myself talking about that matter. But it doesn't mean I don't trust her. It's just... I can't drag her into our family problem." Anon nodded in understanding, a sense of shared responsibility settling between them. "Yeah, I also trust her, but both of us only lied to her to pursue our own goals."
The tension dissipated, replaced by a warm understanding. Anon's mother then requested him to cook for her, and as he headed to the kitchen, the doorbell rang. "Just sit there, Mom. I'll get it," Anon said, wiping his hands.
When Anon opened the door, he was greeted by Qshon Shun, who stood awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. Qshon was dressed in a crisp white suit, something hidden behind his back. Anon's gaze narrowed slightly, curiosity piqued. "Hey, Shon, what brings you here?" Qshon's evasion was palpable, and Anon noticed the faint signs of nervousness.
Anon continued, his tone light, "You look pretty good today. Is there an important event? If you're here to invite me, I'll pass. I'm busy, but if I have time, I'll come next time." Qshon hesitated, his face reddening as he struggled to find his words. "No... I-I-I'm here because of..." Anon's eyebrow arched in anticipation. "Because of what?"
Qshon's face turned a deeper shade of crimson, his voice trembling as he forced out the words. "I'm here... I'm here to ask Lea to go out with me!" Anon's jaw dropped in surprise, and he stuttered, "But... then I already said to you that she is my mother? The age gap is so big." Qshon's declaration was both bold and desperate, his feelings pouring out in a rush. "That's true, but for me, there's no other woman in this world who could make me feel love. I love her pale face, her curly long hair, her waist, her voice, and her personality!"
Anon was taken aback, unsure how to respond. He called out to his mother, who ambled over, munching on something. "What is it, Anon?" Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she eyed Qshon, who stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. "This man over here, Mom, wanted to talk to you. And, by the way, what are you eating?" His mother's response was interrupted by Qshon's urgent interruption. "Stop ignoring me, you two! L-L-Lea, may I ask you to "Go out with me?" Qshon asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Lea's expression was unreadable, and she seemed to be savoring the moment. "Oh, what a fine man, Anon, did you hire him as my bodyguard?" She teased, her words dripping with amusement. Qshon's face fell, and he looked like he'd been punched in the gut.
Anon's face darkened, and he whispered to his mother, "Why are you doing this?" Lea just smiled and continued to eat the boiled egg Anon had cooked, her eyes never leaving Qshon's face. "Your egg is very good, Anon. I like its taste and sourness. It melts on my tongue the moment it gets inside my mouth." Her words were laced with a double meaning, and Qshon's face turned bright red as he misinterpreted her intentions.
Qshon's eyes locked onto Anon, his expression a mix of sadness and betrayal. "So, that's really it, huh? You two are... You traitor!" Anon's reaction froze as he realized Qshon had misread the situation entirely. Before Anon could explain, Qshon turned and ran, throwing the white flowers he had prepared for Lea onto the floor.
Anon watched, stunned, before turning to his mother. "Why?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration. Lea's expression softened, and she replied, "It's better than letting him enter a path that he couldn't survive." Anon knew better than to argue with his mother; she wouldn't listen.
Determined to clear up the misunderstanding, Anon set out to find Qshon. However, before he could take a step, someone pulled him into a corner. "What did you do to him?" Choenil Lina's voice was icy, her eyes blazing with anger. Anon explained the situation, and Choenil's expression changed from rage to amusement.
As Anon recounted the events, Choenil burst into laughter. "Hahahaha... How pathetic. Not a sword, a wound, a word, but love made him cry?" She couldn't stop laughing, and Anon found himself chuckling along with her.
Choenil's laughter subsided, and she shared a story about Qshon's past. "He's not like Luna, who's from a noble family. He was just a little kid who survived a war. My father found him under a corpse and brought him home. At first, I hated him and bullied him, but his talent made me acknowledge him as my step-brother."
As Choenil spoke, Anon saw a different side of Qshon. "He's always been plagued by self-doubt," Choenil continued. "He asks me questions like 'Do they like me?' or 'Am I just a burden?' He's always held back, afraid to stand out, but this time... This time, he didn't hold back his feelings."
Anon's understanding of Qshon deepened, and he felt a pang of sympathy for the young man. "He's a good person, I think," Anon said, and Choenil nodded in agreement. "You're right. That's why I'm happy he didn't hold back this time. He'll learn from this experience." Anon nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Choenil as they laughed about Qshon's reaction and preparations.