𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞.

𝐊𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐋 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

Maxine's POV

The restaurant was packed, the low hum of chatter and clinking glasses filling the air. Damian and I had found a quiet corner booth, away from the bustling crowd.

She tried to distract me with food, but my mind was still preoccupied. Damian ordered for both of us, her usual assertive self, while I stared at the menu without really seeing it.

"You're still dwelling on your mom, are you?" Damian interrupted with a sudden snap from me, breaking my deep in thought.

I shook my head, leaning against the booth. "Can you help it? She does not let go. And it is more than Airis or the girl-with-boyfriend drama, so to speak. Everything-the career, the life decisions, even the lifestyle on my personal life she would question."

Damian looked at me for a moment, furrowing her brow. "But why now? What's triggered this sudden visit to your condo? She hasn't done this in a while, right?"

I hesitated. The truth was, I wasn't really sure. It wasn't uncommon for Mom to meddle, but this time felt different-more intense, almost desperate. "I don't know. Maybe she's bored? Or maybe she just doesn't trust me anymore."

"She's your mom. It's not about trust; it's about control," Damian said matter-of-factly, taking a sip of her iced tea. "And let's be real-Airis being in the picture probably makes it worse. Your mom probably sees her as some kind of threat."

"Threat?" I echoed, frowning. "What kind of threat? Airis is just..." I trailed off, unsure of how to finish that sentence.

Damian's eyebrow shot up in disdain. "Just what? A high-powered CEO who happens to spend a lot of time with you? A woman who's successful, confident, and probably doesn't take crap from anyone-including your mom? Yeah, I can see why she'd be intimidated."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Damian's words cut too close to the bone. She wasn't lying. Mom had always been extremely aware of the people I surrounded myself with, especially the women. And Airis... well, she was exactly the kind of person Mom would feel threatened by.

Before I could say anything, our food came, and I took my time to gather my thoughts. Damian was digging into her plate with gusto, but I just pushed mine around, appetite nowhere in sight.

"You know," Damian said between bites, "you could always talk to Airis about this. Let her know what's going on. She might have some insight."

I shook my head. "No. That's not her problem to work out and besides she's just a patient damian. There's no way she would involve with this. This is me and my mom."

"Fair enough", Damian said with a shrug. "But don't think you're going to be able to handle this alone. You've got people who care about you-mine, for instance."

She flung a dramatic arm outward toward herself, and for a moment, I had to laugh.

"Thanks, Damian", I said my voice softer now. I mean it. I don't know what I'd do without you.

"You'd probably implode," she said with a smile. "But seriously, I've got your back. Whatever happens with your mom or Airis or anyone else, I'm here."

Her words settled something within me, a reassurance I hadn't realized I needed. Damian had always been my rock, the person who could pull me out of darkest moments. And right now, more than ever, I required that stability.

As we were leaving the restaurant, I was feeling a renewed sense of determination. Damian was right: it was time to set boundaries, to make my mom understand that I was no longer a child anymore. And if that meant being head-on with her, then so be it.

But as we walked back to my condo, a nagging thought persisted in the back of my head. What if this wasn't all about Mom? What if Damian was right, and Airis was more in the picture than I was letting myself acknowledge?

I forced it from my mind for now and settled instead on the conversation that had to happen with my mom. One fight at a time.

// Ang gulo.