EVERMORE , Max Verstappen

Seven

As Max drove Ahri back to where she was staying, he couldn't help but sense her nervous energy. Her fingers fidgeted with the fabric of her dress, and she seemed slightly on edge.

"You alright?" Max asked, concern lacing his voice as he occasionally stole glances at her.

Ahri managed a small, somewhat forced smile. "Oh, I'm fine, just a little scared, nervous, you know," she replied with a touch of unease in her voice.

 "I thought your mom's here," Max inquired, driving steadily through the quiet streets of the city.

Ahri let out a sigh, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. "My mom is a bit different," she began, her voice softening with a hint of sadness. "She doesn't exactly like the idea of fun, Max. She thinks I should solely focus on my career until I'm close to retirement."

Max listened intently, absorbing her words. He couldn't help but relate on some level, his own complicated relationship with his father flashing through his mind. "I see," he said sympathetically, his grip on the steering wheel steady. "Family expectations can be tough."

Ahri nodded, appreciating Max's understanding. "Yeah, I didn't know she would be here," she confessed. "My team's trying to keep her at bay, but I have a feeling I'm going to hear some good shouting today."

Max gently held Ahri's hand as they sat in the car, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. "It's going to be alright," he reassured her in a soft, comforting tone. "Maybe your mom will just wish you congratulations for winning the first open of the Grand Slam?"

Ahri gave a small, wistful smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Yeah," she replied, though both of them knew that her mother's reaction would likely be far from congratulatory.

They arrived at Ahri's destination, and as Max pulled up to the curb, he parked the car. Ahri turned to face him, and their eyes met. A soft, appreciative smile graced her lips as she spoke. "Thanks for everything tonight."

Max returned her smile warmly, his eyes filled with genuine affection. "Anytime, Ahri."

With a final lingering glance, Ahri opened the car door and exited. Max watched her go, a sense of longing tinged with hope settling within him.

Once inside the hotel, Ahri took a deep breath, her chest heavy with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. She knew she was about to face an ordeal, and her mother's presence only heightened her unease. Gathering her resolve, she walked to Belle and Ian's room where her team had gathered. She hesitated for a moment before knocking softly, and it was Sarang who opened the door, giving her a kind look as he let her in.

"Omma, I didn't know you were going to be here," Ahri greeted her mother, trying to sound cheerful despite the brewing storm.

"Of course, if you had known, you would have acted like you're a good girl and stayed in your room instead of going partying," her mother chided.

"Ma, I didn't party. I just had sushi and drinks with Carolina," Ahri explained, her tone pleading for understanding.

"Sushi? Didn't I tell you to control your diet?" her mother scolded.

"Ma, it's okay. Jiah has it under control," Ahri responded, hoping to appease her mother.

"Well, no, she does not. She's trying to bulk you up like those bodybuilders," her mother stated, her disapproval evident.

"Ma, don't talk about my team like that. They know what they're doing," Ahri defended her team's decisions.

"Then I'll talk about you. Look at you; you're gaining weight from all corners. Lose that," her mother demanded, her voice stern.

"Ma, I'm an athlete. I'll need some BMI to perform on the field," Ahri retorted.

"Eating healthy won't make you faint on the field. Snacking will. When you stayed with me, you were so pretty and petite. Now look at you; all the society ladies are talking about how you're turning fat. Come back, stay with me. We can arrange it," her mother insisted.

"Ma, I don't care what your society women think. I cannot survive on almonds anymore, and about moving back, I stay in Monaco for my career, and you cannot make decisions about it," Ahri stood her ground.

Her mother's reaction was swift and brutal. In a moment of anger, she slapped Ahri across the face.

"Utter disgrace you've become, taking in all that European mannerism. Is this how you talk to your mother?" her mother scolded once more, her disappointment evident.

"Sorry. Appa couldn't come?" Ahri asked, her voice quivering.

"He's busy. He has business to handle. I was here in Australia for an event. I have an early morning flight tomorrow. So, I'll leave soon. Stop with this rebelliousness and learn to behave. Start being serious," her mother admonished before turning and leaving the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her mother, it took Ahri only two minutes before she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Belle wrapped her arms around Ahri, providing the comfort she needed in this emotionally tumultuous moment.

Ahri's emotions continued to pour out as she shared her feelings with her team. Her head rested on Belle's lap as she spoke, her vulnerability on full display.

"I won one of the biggest opens in the world, and all she cared about was my bloody weight? She didn't even congratulate me," Ahri lamented, her voice trembling with frustration and sadness.

"We are proud of you, Riri, really proud," Ian said sincerely, trying to uplift her spirits.

"I was on the verge of getting an eating disorder," Ahri confessed, her voice breaking. The weight of societal pressures and her mother's disapproval had taken a toll on her mental health.

"We know, honey, and you are not fat, really, I promise," Belle reassured her, running her fingers gently through Ahri's hair.

"The society women want me to show bones; only then will they be satisfied," Ahri added, frustration evident in her tone. The unreasonable beauty standards imposed by others weighed heavily on her. In truth, Ahri had a stunning figure, lean and statuesque, and only a blind person would call her fat.

"You are beautiful, Ahri, and having fun is not a crime, like your mom thinks," Sarang reassured her, standing by her side.

"Yeah, I know what your body wants. People die to have a metabolism like yours. Eat whatever you want, Riri. I'll take care," Jiah chimed in.

After spending some time with her team, Ahri eventually retreated to her room. As she lay in bed, she tried to focus on the positive aspects of her day—the victory at the open, the dinner with Max and the support of her team. However, her mother's words continued to weigh heavily on her mind, as they had done so many times before. The pressure from her family's expectations and societal standards was a constant burden, and despite her accomplishments, she couldn't help but feel the sting of her mother's criticism. In the quiet of her room, Ahri cried herself to sleep, the tears of frustration staining her pillow.