His mother shifts as she sits at the table, and there’s a long silence.

“Do you have a girlfriend, Kai?” she asks softly. “If you do—why are you keeping it from me? I’d be really happy for you if you did, and I’d completely understand your recent lateness!”

“Mom….” Kai whines out, frustrated by the question she always asks. “No, I don’t have a girlfriend and I’m not being bullied, and No, I don’t think you’re the worst mother in the world.”

He looks down and smiles wide. “I love you, Mom.”

She smiles back, “I love you, too, baby.” She then lightly grasps his hand before he turns away to continue the housework in the kitchen.

However, with her head resting in her chin, she has more questions. She runs her finger across her glass in thought.

“Kai….,” she says with the utmost curiosity. “If you don’t have a girlfriend,” she waits for him to look back at her, and then she grins, knowing she has evidence. “Whose skirt is that upstairs in your room?”

“W-What!?” Kai’s voice shudders, and his entire body goes stiff. “W-What skirt!?”

“That skirt…” she says flippantly as she blows strands of hair from her eyes. “It’s like a pleated black on with white piping.” She chuckles to herself. “It’s deffo not mine! My fat ass wouldn’t fit into it!”

Kai’s mom leans forward in her seat with a silly expression. “Kai,” she says sweetly. “Were you lying to me?” She begins to tease. “You do… have a girlfriend. Don’t you!?”

“Y-You found that!?”

“Yeah, baby. So, what’s she like? Is she pretty?”

Cheeks burning bright, Kai stares at the dirty plates in the sink in front of him. “I…I….” his voice cracks. “I-I don’t have a girlfriend, Mom. Honestly.”

Her face scrunches into confusion. “S-So whose—”

“I’m looking after it for a friend!” Kai cuts her off. He starts washing the dishes at record speed. “Okay, Mom!?” he barks out. “I’m just looking after it for a friend.”