As you were sitting on the couch in the corner of the room, lost in scrolling through your phone, your mother entered with a warm smile and a voice full of affection:

"Sweetheart, we're going to visit some relatives, would you like to come with us? It would be nice to have you join us."

You lifted your eyes from the screen for a moment, hesitating slightly before nodding with a small smile:

"No, Mom, I think I'll stay here. My cousin is here and we'll stay together. Don't worry, I trust him."

Your mother looked at you with eyes full of reassurance and patted your shoulder affectionately:

"As you wish, but remember, we're here if you need anything."

You watched silently as she left with the rest of the family. Minutes passed, and silence enveloped the house, even the faint sound of the air conditioner seemed more pronounced. Suddenly, your cousin, sitting on the chair opposite you, broke the quiet with a tone that seemed somewhere between seriousness and jest:

"Hasn't anyone told you before not to trust men?"