mother and daughter's conversation
958 Words
CHAPTER 16
The academy felt quieter than usual that evening.
Classes had ended hours ago, the literature club already closed for the day, and golden sunset light stretched softly across the campus pathways.
Meanwhile—
Leanne sat across from her mother inside a small café near the academy gates.
Warm tea rested between them while soft piano music played quietly in the background.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Which honestly wasn’t unusual.
Leanne loved her mother.
She really did.
But conversations between them had always been… complicated.
Not cold.
Just difficult sometimes.
Her mother was strict.
Careful.
Always focused on Leanne’s future.
And Leanne understood why.
It had always been the two of them against the world.
Still—
Sometimes Leanne wished things felt easier between them.
Her mother finally sighed softly while stirring her tea.
“You’ve been quieter lately.”
Leanne blinked slightly.
“…Have I?”
“Mhm.”
Her mother looked at her carefully.
“Are your classes too difficult?”
“No.”
“Are students bothering you?”
Leanne immediately remembered Sabrina.
“…Not really.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes slightly.
“That sounded unconvincing.”
Leanne smiled weakly.
“I’m surviving.”
“That school can be cruel to scholarship students.”
The words came out quieter than expected.
More personal.
Leanne looked at her mother carefully.
For a second—
She looked worried.
Actually worried.
Then her mother quickly fixed her expression again and took another sip of tea calmly.
“You can tell me if something happens,” she said softly. “You don’t always need to handle everything alone.”
Leanne froze slightly.
Because honestly?
Hearing that felt strange.
Not bad.
Just… unfamiliar.
Her mother usually focused on grades, schedules, responsibilities.
Not feelings.
Then quietly—
“I made friends,” Leanne admitted.
Her mother blinked.
“…Friends?”
“You sound shocked.”
“You usually avoid people.”
“That’s not true.”
“You hid in the library during your old school festivals.”
“…That was strategic.”
Her mother laughed softly.
A real laugh.
Small.
But warm.
Leanne blinked slightly.
Mom looks younger when she laughs.
Then her mother tilted her head curiously.
“What are these friends like?”
Leanne immediately thought of chaos.
Pure chaos.
“Loud,” she answered honestly.
Her mother looked deeply unsurprised.
“One of them keeps dragging me everywhere.”
“That sounds concerning.”
“He also steals food.”
“More concerning.”
Leanne smiled despite herself.
Then she thought about Carl.
About Kai.
About Ren.
And especially—
Chris.
The warmth in the literature club.
The teasing.
The comfort.
The feeling of belonging somewhere.
“…They’re nice,” Leanne admitted quietly.
And somehow—
Those two simple words made her chest feel warm.
Her mother carefully watched her expression afterward.
Then slowly—
“…You like them a lot.”
Leanne blinked.
“…Yeah.”
“You smile differently when you talk about them.”
Leanne immediately covered her face.
“Oh my gosh.”
Her mother laughed softly again.
“Is there a boy involved?”
Leanne nearly choked on her tea.
“WHAT.”
“That’s not a denial.”
“There are multiple boys.”
Silence.
Her mother slowly lowered her teacup.
“…Multiple?”
Leanne realized her mistake instantly.
“…That sounded terrible.”
“Leanne Cruz.”
“It’s not like that!”
“Then why are there multiple boys?!”
Leanne wanted to disappear emotionally.
“They’re in the same club!”
Her mother stared at her suspiciously.
“…Only friends?”
Leanne opened her mouth.
Then paused.
Because honestly?
She didn’t know anymore.
Chris made her heart race constantly.
Carl made her nervous in a completely different way.
Ren was quietly sweet.
Kai felt warm and comforting.
Everything was becoming confusing.
Dangerously confusing.
And apparently—
Her silence answered enough already.
Her mother sighed dramatically.
“Oh no.”
“What?”
“You inherited terrible taste in romance.”
“MOM.”
“I worked hard for your education and now rich boys are involved.”
Leanne covered her burning face again.
“You’re making this worse.”
“I’m your mother. That’s my job.”
Leanne couldn’t stop laughing afterward.
And strangely—
It felt nice.
Talking like this.
Normally their conversations became stressful quickly.
But tonight felt lighter somehow.
Then quietly—
Her mother’s smile softened slightly.
“I’m glad you’re happy there.”
Leanne froze.
The words sounded genuine.
Careful.
Almost relieved.
Her mother looked down at her teacup for a moment before speaking again.
“You looked lonely before attending the academy.”
Leanne blinked slightly.
Lonely?
Was she?
Maybe.
A little.
Then her mother smiled faintly.
“But now… you look brighter.”
Something tightened softly inside Leanne’s chest.
Because somehow—
That was exactly how the literature club felt too.
Bright.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Like home.
Then suddenly—
Leanne remembered something.
“…Mom.”
“Hm?”
“How do you know Adrian Cortez?”
Silence.
Her mother froze almost instantly.
Just for a second.
But Leanne noticed.
“…Scholarship paperwork,” her mother answered calmly.
“You seemed close.”
“We’re not.”
Too fast.
Her mother took another sip of tea afterward while avoiding eye contact slightly.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Leanne narrowed her eyes.
“…Mom.”
“What?”
“You’re acting weird.”
“I’m always weird.”
“That’s unfortunately true.”
Her mother sighed dramatically.
But somehow—
Leanne noticed something strange again.
Worry.
Real worry.
Hidden beneath her mother’s calm expression.
And suddenly—
That strange feeling returned.
Like there was something important she still didn’t know.
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