[🌸] Admit It | Riren/Ereri AU

15 | where we begin

Unedited
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"Mom, why do you always wait last minute to go shopping?"

My mother tosses another roll of wrapping paper into the cart as we continue to stroll down the aisle. She shrugs at my question, humming quietly as she examines the ribbons.

"I don't know, Levi. I procrastinate a lot, I suppose. We have to hurry up so we can help Grisha set up the Christmas tree," she tells me before tossing a few ribbons into the shopping cart.

I roll my eyes, pushing the cart behind her. We've been at the market for only a few minutes and I've already been recognized by several people. Apparently, mother has been boasting about how successful her son was and how proud she is that I, Levi Ackerman, was going to be a surgeon. People have stopped me to congratulate me, though I really don't know why.

We live in a small town so news spreads quickly, and people are always in other people's business, so it's rare to keep secrets. My mom is the main source, she's always involved with other people's lives, and even though I hate it I don't blame her. She's a lonely woman.

It's actually hard to keep anything away from my mom, she's very speculate and observant of small details, mainly because she has nothing better to do. She doesn't work anymore, and instead of living off of just her monthly government checks she asks her brother Kenny for money.

Speaking of Kenny.

"Hey mom," I call out as we stroll down the decorations aisle. She hums a response before I continue. "Is Kenny coming with Mika?"

"Most likely, they've been rather distant from us on the holidays, haven't they?" she pauses, setting down a set of ornaments, and raises a brow. "Silver or gold?"

"Gold."

She nods, setting a pack of gold ornaments into the basket. My mother continues asking me questions about the holidays as we stroll around the market. She begins tossing things into the cart that we don't really need saying the "we can give it to someone as a gift" excuse.

After passing the ornaments isle we stroll into the clothing section, using hats and scarves to entertain us. We joke around with what we find, making impersonations of famous actors and t.v. shows. It was all fun and games until mom grew serious, asking me about Eren.

"I see you two to be friendlier towards each other. Did something happen?" She asks.

"Well–" I set a hat back on the shelf "–we have been growing closer... I mean– he's still annoying and all, and very secretive about things, but I've grown used to it."

"Used to it?" she questions. "So you like him?"

"I– I never said that!"

"Hm, it sounds like you do." My mom pinches my cheek. "Ah, Levi. When will you learn that a mother knows everything?"

I scowl, brushing her hand off. "Yeah yeah, whatever. I like him, but only a little, okay? It's no big deal, it's not like I love him or anything."

"That's what I said with your father, and we ended up having you."

Did she just...

"Mom, stop, please."

She scrunches her nose, squeezing my cheek again. "It's okay, honey. Your secret is safe with me."

I roll my eyes before sighing, letting my mother slide.

"Ah, speaking of secrets, have you seen Eren's bruises lately?" She asks out of the blue.

"Bruises? The last time he had bruises was Thanksgiving when his mom– I mean, he fell down the stairs."

My mom snorts. "Do you really believe that he fell?" she questions.