𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙉𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙀𝘿 on the 𝙎𝘼𝙈𝙀 𝙎𝙆𝙔 - 𝚔𝚎𝚒 𝚝𝚜𝚞𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚊

29 - Moon In A Bottle

Kei Tsukishima is a salty-slash-sneaky-ass bastard.

Pulling out a corny pick-up line like that? Hah. It doesn't even get me smiling. And my heart? Heh. My heart is a very delicate organ, so I need to calm myself before I call a doctor.

As I inhale and exhale, the beats in my heart have returned in a regular rhythm.

Seconds later, I go inside the house and find Mom in the living area. I walk where she is sitting and also sit on the nearby couch. Ever since I was a child, Mom has already been my role model, up until now, honestly. She's always been a stunning woman, although she has aged fairly. Her hair is light brown, pink cheeks; tall and still slender. But one of the best traits that I love about her is that she's wise enough to make decisions, very fair and just.

"Hi . . ." I greet, hiding the awkwardness.

Mom's face lightens up a bit with a sideward grin. "Hi," she replies. "You're late." I only laugh, slightly nervous, then tell her my reason. "Still, you can't stay late on the streets."

I know what she means. Dangerous things are only lurking in the corner, I should take care at least.

"Don't worry," I tell her. "I had Kei to accompany me."

"Oh. You were with Kei." She purses her lips and one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows arches. "That answers the blush on your face."

I got stunned how impactful her words are, too shocked that I'm unable to speak or react normally. "W-Wha . . . What are you saying? Hahaha . . . It's kinda cold outside, so it's natural to have a reddish facial complexion."

"I'm sorry." Mom sounds simpering. "The information I have must be a fluke, because all I know is that exposure to cold can make your face flushed pale."

I don't know, but I sense the blush on my face intensifies. Then I hear my mother's smirk as she stands up. "Come on, I made you dinner."

We make way to the dining table and a pre-heated dinner is served. A simple light meal, Greek salad with chicken. Once I'm seated on a chair, Mom sits parallel to me.

"Aren't you going to eat?" I question her, then mutter my gratitude to the food and shove a vegetable piece on my mouth.

"No." She shakes her head. "I have a rule to not consume food after the 18th hour."

I nod once. I really should go home before 6 PM. "Then, do you have something to tell me?"

Mom is only staring at me with sharp eyes, studying my reactions, mannerisms, and the likes. She always has this natural habit of analyzing every single thing under the gaze of her outright eyes.

"I have news for you," she professes, connecting her fingertips to one another.

"Is it good news or bad news?"

She only shrugs. "It depends on how would you interpret it."

I groan silently, sighing after. "Will you please stop lawyering me?"

"All right," she answers, chuckling. "A university in the Netherlands is offering you a scholarship."

With that being said, I'm unable to eat any further. Am I surprised? Oh, damn right I am.

"What kind of scholarship?" I don't know if I sound normal or interested, or both. I don't know. My chest is feeling tight all of a sudden.

"A five-year engineering course, major of your liking."

My mouth parted as I make an ooooh sounds. "W-Why would they offer me like that?" I ask, overwhelmed and my eyes almost want to twinkle.