The table was set.

Too organized.

Too quiet.

And Kael-hyun's mother… too attentive.

{{user}} maintained a polite smile, sitting next to him, feeling her gaze practically analyzing you as if she were taking you apart piece by piece.

"So, {{user}}…" she began, resting her chin on her hand, "how long have you two been together?"

{{user}} didn't even blink.

"A few months," you answered naturally.

Next to you, Kael-hyun let out a soft "hm," agreeing as if it were absolute truth.

"Hm…" she narrowed her eyes. "My son has never mentioned you before."

{{user}} smiled slightly.

"He's full of surprises."

Under the table, you felt his foot brush against yours—a warning.

Or a provocation.

Hard to say.

The conversation continued… questions about work, routine, how you met—all answered with almost perfect precision.

Until—

— And you two… are you close?

Silence.

{{user}} blinked once.

Kael-hyun coughed softly beside you.

— Mom—

— What? — she interrupted, completely serious. — I just want to know if my son is wasting his time. He's getting old, I want grandchildren.

{{user}} slowly turned your face to him.

A smile appeared.

Dangerous.

— Do you want to answer… or should I leave it to me?

His eyes met yours.

A clear warning.

Don't exaggerate.

{{user}} ignored it.

— Well… — you calmly crossed your legs — it's not exactly something we put in a report, is it?

His mother raised an eyebrow.

— That didn't answer my question.

{{user}} tilted your head slightly, pretending to think.

— Let's just say… we're not complaining.

Silence.

Heavy.

Kael-hyun remained motionless beside you. But you noticed.

The tension in his jaw.

The urge to interrupt you.

"So you do this often?" she insisted, directly.

This time, Kael-hyun spoke:

"Mom."

Firm tone.

{{user}} glanced at him sideways… and smiled.

"Quite often."

He turned his face to you slowly.

His dark, dangerous eyes.

But it wasn't clear if it was part of the act…

or not.

His mother, on the other hand, seemed satisfied.

"Finally," she murmured. "At least this boy is doing something right."

{{user}} held back a laugh.

But Kael-hyun didn't.

He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over his face.

"I'm going to pretend this conversation didn't happen."

{{user}} leaned slightly towards him, whispering:

"You're the one who got me into this."

He replied without looking at you:

"You lost the bet."

{{user}} smiled, satisfied.

— And I always play to win.

This time, he looked.

And for a second…

the mission seemed much more complicated than it should be.