W1.A1-27: You Are My Home

My mother had her eyes wide open as she looked at me in disbelief. I was sure that she probably thought she was having an illusion.

But not wanting to leave her with that thought for long, I took off my mask.

I had also gestured for Lena to remove the mana shackles, which she did hurriedly. For some reason, though, she seemed a bit panicked to be near my mother.

"You… Danny… How…" Words finally came out of her mouth, but my mother seemed too stunned to be in a state to command her verbal ability.

Not giving her any time to recover, I placed my hands on her shoulder.

Gazing into her eyes with mine, I asked again, "Why, Mom?"

"Why did you hide everything from me?" There was a faint anger as well as frustration in my tone, and I said, "Do you know how incompetent and pathetic it made me feel when I saw you struggling?"

My mother finally seemed to have confirmed that it was really me, her son, in front of her and not an illusion.

I saw her raising her hands like she wanted to hold me, but…

Smack!

"You rascal!" she cried in anger and shame.

Just as I was rubbing my cheek and was about to say something, I saw her rushing closer before she collided into me and embraced me tightly.

"It really is you, Danny!" She suddenly began to sob as she hugged me.

I was speechless. Was that her way of testing if I was real or not?

"It's me, Mom." I hugged her back and said, "I'm sorry for scaring you like that, but I do not regret it."

My mother suddenly fell silent as she was finally willing to accept the reality of the situation.

She asked, "Why?"

"Don't you know?" I asked. "Seeing you try your best to keep me and our family safe at the cost of your own happiness, don't you know how that made me feel?"

"I'm still getting scared after thinking what would have happened if it wasn't me here!" My words were getting the emotions out that I have been trying to suppress.

"If you were having so much trouble managing everything, you could have just given it up!" Fury rising within me, I asked, "Why did you act according to that bastard Vilet's whims and suffer such hardship?"

Mother didn't reply, as she kept her face stuck to my chest. I didn't force her, as it was just me getting out my troubled thoughts.

I already knew why she did that.

"I wanted to keep our home safe for you," she said after a while. "I wanted you to come home to the same place that you have always remembered in your memories."

Her voice becoming softer, she continued, "I wanted you to remember the same feelings we had shared when you were with me; I was afraid of you treating me like a stranger after five years. I… I couldn't even dare to imagine that."

A blade seemed to have pierced through my heart as I felt the agony she must have been going through, shouldering every responsibility by herself.

For a moment, I began to doubt if my decision to go to the capital had been right.

But such misleading thoughts were swept away immediately. I knew that even if I had never left, the things that had happened might not have changed much.

At least I would not have the power I have now. The power to protect everything that is dear to me; the power to protect her.

I loosened the embrace before placing my hands on my mother's face.

Gazing deep into her eyes, I said in all solemnity, "I will never leave you again, Mom."

Hearing my words, my mother didn't react for a while, as she just kept staring at my face.

All of a sudden, she began to chuckle, making me bewildered.

"Uh… Why are you laughing?" I couldn't help but ask. "I am being serious, you know?"

Seeing my irked expression, my mother giggled even more before she finally stopped herself.

Raising her hand, she placed it on my shoulder while saying, "I know how you feel."

Then, with a reassuring smile on her face, she added, "But you don't have to worry about me; just keep doing the best for yourself, and that'll be enough for me."

Hearing her words, I realized that she was still not treating what I had seriously, and that somehow annoyed me.

So, to show her that I was not the little kid that needed her protection but instead had become someone she could rely on, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

As my mother let out a surprised yelp, I moved my face close to hers before speaking.

"You are the most important to me, Mom; you are the one I love the most," I said. "You are my home."

My mother's smile faded as her eyes turned misty. "What nonsense are you spouting?" She lowered her head to hide her tears, but it hurt me even more to see her like this.

"Mom…" I lowered my head to move closer, wanting to place my chin on her shoulder.

But, at that moment, my mother suddenly raised her head.

"Mm?" Our faces, which were advancing towards each other, froze because our lips had accidentally smacked against each other.

We gazed into each other's eyes, not knowing how to react.

Gathering my senses, I was the first one to move, but maybe I had gathered the wrong sense, as instead of backing off, I advanced.

Maybe it was the subconscious reaction my body had developed due to being with Lena for so long, but I just couldn't stop myself from doing that.

When my lips wrapped around hers, my mother finally seemed to have come to her senses, but she still couldn't decide what to do as the situation was really "unique."

So, we stayed like this for a moment longer before…

"Dan?"

A voice suddenly startled my mother, and I also realized that I had forgotten about the presence of another person in the room.

My mother suddenly pushed me back as she turned to look at the woman who had restrained her earlier.

Lena had already taken off her mask, allowing my mother to see her beautiful and young face.

Realizing that it was someone younger than herself, my mother's first reaction of hiding behind my back in embarrassment dissipated.

"Ahem." She cleared her throat to grab our attention before turning towards me and asking, "Danny, your friend here, uh, who is she?" Looking at Lena, she couldn't help but add, "She's really strong."

I chuckled as I also took advantage of the chance to divert everyone's attention from what had happened earlier.

"Oh, she's the one you have been bugging me for, Mom," I said. "She's my girlfriend," I declared proudly, getting back at her for teasing me about not being able to get girls.

A strange glow appeared in my mother's eyes as she blurted, "Really?"

I was speechless at her disbelieving tone.

Turning towards Lena, I gestured for her to come forward while saying, "Come, Lena, meet my mother."