"Let's watch this!" Dashylle clicked on the movie he'd chosen.
Yvienna couldn't hide her irritation—he was being such a distraction during Kyle's romantic moment. Her eyes flicked toward Kyle, who was now focused on the television. She sighed. Maybe I should just enjoy this moment with the third wheel.
"Is that horror?" Her thoughts instantly shifted when she saw the movie's eerie intro.
"Nope, it's comedy," Dashylle replied. A second later—
"AHHHHH!" Both Kyle and Yvienna screamed as a terrifying woman's face suddenly appeared on the screen.
"Ouch! Stop! What the hell?!" Dashylle yelled when Kyle yanked him by the arm to hide behind him while Yvienna smacked his head with a throw pillow.
"What's going on here?!" Meg rushed into the living area. She shook her head when she saw what they were watching. "It's just a movie! Why all the screaming?" she scolded lightly before turning to Kyle.
"It's late. You should stay over, Kyle," Meg said. He nodded in agreement.
"Can we sleep here in the living area, Aunt?" Dashylle suggested.
"Alright. I'll get the comforters, pillows, and blankets."
As Meg went upstairs, Dashylle grinned at the two.
"Let's make a deal—the one who screams gets a punishment chosen by the winner. Deal?"
Yvienna and Kyle exchanged uneasy glances. Both had zero tolerance for horror.
"If you two don't agree, then Kyle will sleep alone in the guest room," Dashylle teased, turning to Yvienna. "And you—you'll sleep alone in your room, with that lady beside you." His tone grew sinister on the last words.
The two, with their overactive imaginations, instantly pictured themselves alone in the dark.
"D-deal!" they both blurted out.
"Alright! Let's conti—"
"But I need to sit beside her," Kyle interrupted, pointing at Yvienna.
Dashylle sighed, rolling his eyes. "What cheesy people," he muttered.
As the movie continued, Kyle opened his phone and switched on the camera with funny filters. Yvienna eyed him curiously.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Whenever a scary face appears, we'll look at my phone instead, okay?" he said. Yvienna nodded like a child.
Dashylle, confident as ever, waited eagerly for the next jump scare so he could tease them again. The ghostly face flashed on the screen—but instead of screams, soft giggles filled the room.
"What's so funny?" Dashylle turned to them. "Is the scary face making you two lau—what the hell?!"
His jaw dropped when he saw Kyle's phone screen—the terrifying ghost on the TV had turned into a silly clown thanks to the filter.
"You witty cowards!" he gritted his teeth, realizing he'd failed to scare them.
By the time the movie ended, the two lovebirds were still laughing at their own silliness.
"Happy? Happy?" Dashylle asked sarcastically, glaring at them in mock disgust.
The next morning, Yvienna woke up in the living area. She turned to her side—and burst out laughing. Dashylle and Kyle were hugging each other in their sleep. Unable to resist, she grabbed her phone and snapped a picture.
The two men were snoring, which only made her laugh even more. Still, beneath her laughter, she silently wished that the peace and happiness she felt at that moment would never end. She had no grand desires—just the simple hope of seeing Kyle and her loved ones close and content together.
Time passed, yet Kyle still refused to go home. It wasn't until his mother called. He turned the wheel toward their house. As soon as he parked, he hurried inside, running down the hallway.
"Mom?!" he shouted.
What he saw made his stomach twist. His father, drunk, was stumbling up the stairs while his mother followed with tears streaming down her face. His eyes darted to her neck—covered in red marks. Rage bolted through him like lightning. He was about to chase after his father when Beatrice caught him in an embrace.
"N-no! It's normal—I'm his wife—"
"Bullsh*t! He doesn't even respect you!" Kyle's voice cracked, anger and disbelief burning in his chest. Guilt crept into his expression when his mother broke down, sobbing harder.
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered, leaning weakly against the wall. Kyle immediately wrapped his arms around her, shielding her from the cruelty of the man who called himself his father.
"You don't have to say sorry, Mom." His voice trembled as tears gathered in his eyes. He couldn't understand why men like his father even existed.
Through her tears, Beatrice suddenly spoke. "C-can I meet Yvienna?"
Caught off guard, Kyle blinked, then slowly nodded, offering her a faint, reassuring smile.
In the sunny backyard, Yvienna was training under Dashylle's watchful eye.
"Is this right?" she asked.
"Yeah, yeah—stop asking! I'll tell you if it's not right!" Dashylle barked, answering for what felt like the fiftieth time.
Yvienna rolled her eyes and adjusted her stance.
"Fine. Imagine your enemy wants to kiss Kyle!" he teased.
Her gaze instantly turned cold as ice, sharp as a blade. Her aura shifted, intimidating and fierce. She moved swiftly, her kicks cutting through the air with force. Sweat trailed down her temple as her pace quickened—faster, and faster—until she was right in front of Dashylle, her fist flying.
"Ouch!" he yelped. He hadn't expected her to actually land the punch.
"Oh my Gosh, I'm sorry!" Yvienna rushed toward him. Dashylle touched his nose and froze when he felt something wet.
"B-blood?!"
Yvienna grabbed a tissue and stuffed it against his nose.
"Ouch! Are you doing this on purpose?!" he groaned, glaring.
Their bickering stopped when Yvienna's phone rang. Her mood instantly changed when she saw the name on the screen.
[Yes, Kyle?] she answered.
[Could you spare some time to come to my condo? My mom wants to meet you, if you're free.]
A shiver ran down Yvienna's spine. Dashylle, ever the nosy cousin, overheard everything. Feeling dizzy, he decided to postpone the training.
"Go with her, Dashylle," Aunt Meg said.
"What?!" he exclaimed, but one sharp look from his aunt was enough to silence him.
"The four guards will come with you, too. They'll follow in a separate car," Meg added before sending them off.
Inside the car, Yvienna covered her ears as Dashylle complained nonstop.
"A trainer, a third wheel, a guard, a driver—what else am I supposed to be?!"
"Just shut up! I didn't even want you to come!" she snapped back.
Meanwhile, Beatrice was filled with excitement. The thought of meeting Yvienna made her heart flutter as she hummed while cooking her signature dish.
"Are you sure you're okay, Mom?" Kyle asked, watching her carefully.
"I'm fine. Just chop that properly," she replied.
"Her cousin's coming too—"
"I know, I know. Every mother's protective," she interrupted, making Kyle blink in surprise. She sounded different—calm, almost glowing.
A knock at the door made them both freeze.
"Oh my! Is my face okay?!" Beatrice asked.
"Yes, Mom, you're perfect," Kyle sighed with a laugh.
He opened the door—and his heart skipped.
"H-hi, you're… stunning," he stammered, seeing Yvienna in a simple white dress, her hair tied up in a messy bun.
Before he could say more, an arm suddenly draped over Yvienna's shoulder.
"How about me, bro? Am I stunning too?" Dashylle teased with a wink.
"Scary," Kyle muttered, making Yvienna chuckle as they stepped inside.
"Hey!" Dashylle huffed, feeling offended, but his pout only made them laugh harder.
Beatrice hurriedly washed her hands, excitement bubbling in her chest. But when she turned around and saw Dashylle, her smile faltered. Her heart began to race. That face—it carried the shadow she once knew. Someone who had given her peace. Someone who had once made her believe in happiness.
Kyle noticed her reaction. "M-Mom?"
Beatrice quickly shook her head and looked toward Yvienna. The girl had fair, soft skin, daring eyes, and a pointed nose. Her brunette hair framed her face perfectly. There was something familiar about her—her features, her quiet strength.
How small the world truly was. She hadn't expected that Yvienna, the girl her son loved, would be her. The daughter of two people she once knew so well.
But Beatrice's heart warmed. She didn't want to meet Yvienna because of her past—she wanted to meet her because she loved her son. This was how she could show him that she supported what made him happy.
"Hi, Yvienna!" she greeted, pulling her into a hug.
"H-hello, Kyle's mother," Yvienna replied shyly, making Dashylle stifle his laughter.
Beatrice chuckled, kissing her cheek. "Call me Mother."
"M-Mother…" Yvienna repeated nervously.
Dashylle's shoulders shook as he tried to hide his laughter, catching Beatrice's attention.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Dashylle, Madam," he replied, bowing slightly.
Beatrice laughed softly and ruffled his hair. She liked him instantly—his humor, his presence… and that face that carried a trace of the past she once cherished.
"Come, let's eat," she said, leading them to the table.
Kyle pulled out a chair for Yvienna, only for Dashylle to glare at him.
"How about me, bro? Huh?"
Kyle just laughed and moved a chair for himself—one noticeably farther from the table.
"What?!" Dashylle exclaimed, making everyone burst into laughter. The dining room filled with warmth and lighthearted chaos—a moment that felt, for once, like family.