Mom's eyes sparkled with interest in my romantic history.
Not that I had anything particularly noteworthy to share.
"...Yeah, once. Back in high school."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me?"
She looked genuinely shocked. Was it really that surprising?
"We only dated for a few days before breaking up. There wasn't anything worth mentioning."
That much was true. The relationship barely lasted.
Instead of brushing it off, Mom's expression turned serious.
"Love is about experience. If you go past twenty without properly dating, you might miss your chance later. Aren't there any nice girls at university?"
"No. And I'm not really interested in dating anyway..."
"That's not okay! You're not going to let me see my grandkids?"
Grandkids? Was she already itching to be a grandmother?
But love... I wasn't sure if I was even capable of it.
The abuse I suffered as a child left me with psychological scars.
I didn't feel it myself, but if the doctor said so, it must be true.
My family understood me, but I doubted a stranger ever would.
Even the one girlfriend I'd had back then...
At first, she got close to me because I seemed normal enough. But shortly after we started dating, she dumped me.
I couldn't pinpoint anything I'd done wrong.
But that's how mental illness works, isn't it? You never see it yourself.
Without realizing it, I must have been hurting people around me.
"Sorry, Mom. I don't understand what girls think or how I'm supposed to act around them. Honestly, it scares me. The idea of being with someone."
I laid it all out.
If I brushed it off now, Mom would keep bringing it up.
I hated disappointing her, but it was better to be honest than to let her hope for something impossible.
But her reaction wasn't what I expected.
"I get it, Woojin. You're scared because you've never really dated. When you're young, failure doesn't matter as much. But as an adult, you start fearing it, because you have more to lose. Still, you can't just give up on love altogether."
Mom gripped my hand tightly.
"Didn't I say I'd help you? You can't afford to fail with a girl you like, but with me, it's okay if you mess up, right? I'll be your practice partner."
Her warmth and the sincerity in her eyes made my face burn.
After what happened between us last time, I'd tried to keep my distance.
Guilt ate at me, I had used her affection to satisfy my own desires.
Yet here she was, reaching out to me again.
"Mom..."
"See? Holding hands is where love begins."
She lifted our intertwined fingers, deliberately lightening the mood with a bright smile.
Of course, I preferred this relaxed atmosphere too.
So I decided to play along.
"How would you feel if a stranger or someone you disliked suddenly grabbed your hand?"
"I wouldn't like that."
She spoke slowly, as if teaching a child how to run an errand.
"Right. Before holding hands, you need to get close first. But even then, you can't just grab them out of nowhere. You have to read the mood. When the moment feels right, you reach for their hand, gently, like I just did."
"Yeah, I think I get it."
"If they don't pull away, that's the first hurdle cleared. After that, your chances of a successful confession go way up."
I see. So if I confess now, would it work?
Nodding, I turned to Mom and said:
"Mom. I love you."
"...!? You...that's not what I meant!"
Flustered, she scolded me, her face flushing.
To me, it was the most natural thing to say. What was the problem?
"But if I don't practice confessing, I might fail, right?"
At that, she finally calmed down and nodded.
"R-Right. It was just practice. Haha...You just caught me off guard. Should we try again?"
This time, I had permission.
Taking a deep breath, I confessed once more.
"Mom. I love you. I've liked you since I was little. Will you go out with me?"
"...Okay. Pass. It was simple, but I could feel the sincerity. Good job."
Thank goodness. If she'd rejected me, I might've been crushed.
"So what's next?"
"Next... a kiss?"
Right. If the confession succeeded, a kiss was the natural step.
Since we'd kissed just days ago, I didn't hesitate.
Mwah.
I closed my eyes and pressed my lips lightly against hers.
Mom's lips were soft and tender, carrying a sweet fragrance.
Just this simple touch....
Yet it filled me with so much happiness, I never wanted to stop.
And judging by her expression, I wasn't the only one.
"Woojin..."
When I opened my eyes after the brief kiss, Mom was gazing at me with a blissful smile.
"Let me teach you how to really kiss."