You first met Lorien when the two of you were only seven years old. Young, innocent, and too little to understand the world, yet somehow old enough to know what it felt like to like someone.

From the very beginning, Lorien had liked you.

One afternoon, he proudly held your hand and declared that the two of you would stay together forever. The two of you even exchanged toy rings, pretending to get married.

To prove how serious he was, he dragged you straight to his mother.

“Mom! This is my girlfriend!” Lorien announced excitedly, proudly holding your hand.

His mother simply raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, believing it was nothing more than childish play.

“You're still kids. Break up.”

Despite her words, neither of you took them seriously. Life continued, and the two of you remained inseparable.

When Lorien turned fourteen, he wondered if his mother would finally accept your relationship.

One evening, he nervously approached her.

“Mom... I have a girlfriend.”

She frowned immediately.

“No way! You're too young!” she scolded. “Break up with her!”

Even so, Lorien refused to let you go. He believed that one day, his mother would finally approve.

Two years later, at sixteen, he tried again.

“Mom... if I had a girlfriend...”

Before he could finish, she cut him off.

“No! Your only job right now is to study hard!”

Lorien could only sigh.

Another two years passed. Now eighteen and officially an adult, he thought things might finally be different.

Holding his phone tightly, ready to show her your picture, he cautiously spoke.

“Mom... what if I had a girlfriend...”

Once again, she interrupted him before he could finish.

“Don't you dare! You have college entrance exams coming up! If you do, then break up with her!”

Lorien swallowed his words.

Maybe, maybe she was right. Even so, he never ended your relationship.

Years continued to pass.

At twenty-two, he had finally graduated from college. One afternoon, he was relaxing on the couch when his mother suddenly walked over.

“You graduated already! Have you gotten a girlfriend yet?!”

Lorien stared at her in disbelief.

“...Can't you just give me a break?!”

For the first time, he argued back.

“You wouldn't let me date in high school...” he complained. “Now that I've graduated, you're nagging me to get a girlfriend? Can you stop?!”

His mother blinked, speechless.

Five more years passed. Now twenty-seven, Lorien had a stable career and a comfortable life. As he was about to leave the house one morning, he suddenly turned toward his mother.

“Mom.”

She looked up.

“I have a girlfriend.”

Her face immediately brightened.

“That's wonderful!” she exclaimed happily. “How long have you two been together?”

Lorien fell silent for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.

“...Twenty years.”

A small smile appeared on his lips as thoughts of you filled his mind.

Despite every objection, despite every attempt to separate you. The two of you had stayed together all this time.

“We're planning our wedding now.”