The sound of waves followed them as they packed their bags, the beach slowly returning to its quiet state. Ping slung his backpack over his shoulder and took one last look at the sea.
"Vacation ended too fast," Tao sighed dramatically.
"You say this every time," Bank replied, rolling his eyes.
Ping turned around, only to realize Keng hadn't moved an inch. Instead, Keng was holding the hem of Ping's shirt like a child afraid of being left behind.
"P'Keng… we're leaving," Ping said, amused.
"I know," Keng replied, tightening his grip. "That's the problem."
Ping laughed softly. "You're acting like we're never seeing each other again."
"We won't," Keng said seriously. "You're going to your mom's place. That's far."
"It's not that far," Ping replied, trying to pull his shirt free. Keng refused.
"I'll miss you," Keng muttered. "A lot."
Ping's smile softened. He hesitated for a moment, then looked up at him.
"Then… why don't you come with me?"
Keng froze. "Come… with you?"
"To visit my mom," Ping said, a little shy but steady. "I was thinking—if you're free."
Keng stared at him, surprise flashing across his face. "Are you serious?"
Ping nodded. "I want you there."
For a second, Keng said nothing. Then he smiled—slow, warm, and full of emotion—and pulled Ping into a tight hug.
"Then I'm definitely not letting you go now," he said softly.
Ping laughed against his chest. "You're impossible."
"But you invited me," Keng replied smugly.
"Then I should get something for your mom," Keng said as they packed up, already looking serious about it.
"You don't need to," Ping replied quickly.
"I have to," Keng insisted. "How can I visit my mother-in-law empty-handed?"
"What?" Ping stopped walking, staring at him. "Mother-in-law?"
"Yes," Keng said proudly, lifting his chin. "I'll marry you when the time is right. That makes her my mother-in-law."
Ping was stunned for a second before heat rushed to his face. "You're impossible," he said, shaking his head—though a small smile betrayed him.
Keng laughed softly, slipping his fingers between Ping's. "Impossible… but serious."
From a distance, Tao clicked his tongue. "Look at them. We haven't even left and they're already like this."
Ping and Keng ignored him, hands still intertwined as they walked toward the car—this time, together.
Keng walked beside Ping, carrying a small bag. The neighborhood was quiet, but the sight of Ping's childhood home made both of them pause for a moment.
Keng's heart raced. "I hope she likes me," he said softly
Ping's hand brushed keng's briefly. "I've never seen you this nervous, it's cute though","phi don't worry she'll like you my mom is a sweet person"ping added.
Keng gave him a small smile.
When the door opened, Ping's mom's eyes widened in surprise. "Ping! My baby!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. "I missed you… but I wasn't expecting you!"
"I missed you too, Mom. I wanted to surprise you," Ping replied, hugging her back warmly.
Her gaze shifted to Keng, lingering a little longer than usual, a mixture of surprise and worry in her eyes. "A surprise indeed," she said softly.
"Mom, this is P'Keng. Do you remember him?" Ping asked.
"Yes… I remember him," she said, still looking at Keng with a flicker of unease.
"Good afternoon, Aunty," Keng greeted respectfully, his voice calm but warm.
"Hmm…" she replied, trying to compose herself, though the worry didn't completely fade.
"Let's go inside," she nudged them gently. "You must be hungry. I'll cook."
"Keng, is there anything you'd like to eat?" Ping's mom asked.
"I'll eat anything Ping loves," Keng replied, glancing at Ping with a soft, almost playful smile.
"Hm, hm… okay," Ping's mom said, clearly noticing the way Keng looked at her son.
Ping was still blushing when his mom's voice snapped him back to reality.
"Well, Mom, won't you ask me what I want to eat too?" Ping said, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
"Don't be jealous, baby. I already know what you like," his mom replied with a smile.
"Go and have your seat," she added, turning to Keng. "I'll borrow your friend for a while."
Keng nodded obediently, his eyes lingering on Ping until he disappeared into the kitchen.
Once inside, Ping's mom kept stealing glances at him, her eyes full of questions and unspoken thoughts.
"Mom," Ping said softly, noticing her gaze, "I know you have a lot of questions. You can ask them one by one… I'll answer them all."
She smiled, a little hesitant, and nodded. "Alright… let's start with the first one."
"Ping… if I remember correctly, this Keng was the one who broke your heart years back. How come you're bringing him home again?" Ping's mom asked, her voice filled with worry.
"Mom… I know," Ping said, a small smile on his face. "I was surprised too to see he attended the same university as I did."
"He didn't want to leave,Circumstances made him, Mom," Ping explained gently. "I know you're worried, but don't be. It's fine."
"You guys are… just friends, right?" his mom asked cautiously.knowing her son too well.
Ping hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "Well… we're dating." He quickly added, "We just started recently, though."
"What? Dating?" his mom exclaimed, her surprise evident.
"Mom, don't be so loud! He might hear you," Ping whispered, laughing a little.
"Ping… I don't want to see you cry again. You know how difficult things were," she said softly, her worry and care mixing together.
"I know, Mom but I love him," Ping replied, hugging her gently. "I think I'm mature enough to face whatever comes my way now. I'll be fine."
"Oh… Ping," his mom murmured, touched.
"It's okay, Mom," Ping reassured her, holding her tighter. "I'll be fine."
"So… does he take care of you?" Ping's mom asked casually, then immediately followed up,
"He loves you, right? He doesn't treat you badly, does he?"
Ping blinked. "Mom—calm down," he laughed softly.
"I'm serious," she said, crossing her arms. "I won't forgive him if he makes you cry."
Ping smiled. "Do you think I'm that easy to get?" he teased. "I made sure he suffered a lot before I finally gave in."
His mom raised an eyebrow.
"He really loves me," Ping continued, his voice softer now. "And he takes good care of me too. So don't worry."
She stared at him for a moment, then sighed.
"So… you love him more than you love me?" she asked, pretending to sound hurt.
"Mom, seriously," Ping laughed, leaning in to give her a quick peck on the cheek.
"I love you both so much."
She shook her head, smiling despite herself.
"My baby has really grown up."
"You can go now," she said gently.
"Oh—do you need help with anything?" Ping asked.
"No, not at all, baby," his mom replied with a smile.
Ping nodded and walked out. Just as he reached the living room, his mom appeared behind him.
"Keng," she called, "can you come help me in the kitchen?"
"Ah—yes, aunty," Keng replied immediately.
"What?" Ping turned back, pouting. "Mom, you said you didn't need my help just now."
"I need Keng, not you," she said, laughing. "Come on, Keng."
Before leaving, Keng lightly tapped Ping's nose, making him blink in surprise, then followed her into the kitchen.
"Can you dice these onions for me?" Ping's mom asked, handing him a knife.
"Yes," Keng said, hesitating. "Though… I'm not really good in the kitchen."
"Really?" she asked, watching him closely. "Then how will you take care of my baby?"
"I'll do anything when it comes to Ping, ma'am," Keng replied softly.
Her expression shifted. "Then why did you leave him back then?"
Keng froze for a moment, then spoke, his voice low.
"I didn't want to leave. Things happened in my family… we had to relocate to England and lay low for a while. I didn't even get the chance to explain to Ping before we left."
He swallowed and continued, eyes stinging—not just from the onions.
"But I'm back now. I'm back for good. I'll take care of Ping, and I won't let him feel that pain again."
He rubbed his eyes unconsciously, making them redder.
"Come here," Ping's mom said, guiding him to the sink. "You can't even take care of yourself properly, yet you want to take care of someone else's son."
"I can," Keng said quickly, despite the tears. "I promise."
She studied him for a long moment, then sighed.
"I trust you," she said finally. "Because my son trusts you. Take good care of him—he's the only one I've got."
"I promise," Keng said sincerely.
"Alright then, go back to your boyfriend,"
Ping's mom said, waving him off lightly. "He must be wondering what's happening in here. He's such a baby."
"W-What?" Keng asked, surprised. "You… you know about us?"
"Yes," she replied calmly. "Ping told me."
Keng hesitated, then asked softly, "Does that mean… you've given us your blessing?"
She paused for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll do anything for my baby."
"Thank you, aunty," Keng said, smiling genuinely.
"It's fine. Go meet him," she said.
Keng walked out, smiling from ear to ear, his eyes still swollen.
"What the hell happened to your eyes?" Ping asked the moment he saw him.
"I helped mom dice some onions," Keng replied simply.
"What?" Ping stared at him. "Mom, why did you make my boyfriend cut onions? He's not supposed to do that!"
"I'm getting back at him for what he did to my baby," his mom replied from the kitchen.
"I didn't ask you to do anything, Mom," Ping muttered.
Keng said nothing—he just laughed, clearly happy.
"And why are you laughing?" Ping asked, suspicious.
"I've never seen you this protective of me before," Keng said fondly.
"Whatever," Ping replied, rolling his eyes.
"Come here," Ping added, grabbing some ice. "You should place this on your eyes. It'll reduce the swelling."
As Ping carefully helped him, Keng leaned closer and whispered, "I love you."
"Shut up," Ping said, turning away—but his ears were already red.
Later, dinner was finally ready.
"Dinner's ready. Come and eat," Ping's mom called out.
They all sat at the table and ate quietly, the atmosphere calm and warm.
"Thank you for the food, Mom. It was delicious," Keng said, giving her a thumbs-up.
"You're welcome," Ping's mom replied with a smile. "Feel free to drop by anytime."
"Wait—he calls you Mom now?" Ping exclaimed dramatically.
"Yes," his mom said casually. "Can't my son's boyfriend call me Mom?"
"You didn't even ask me," Ping complained, clearly offended.
"Don't be such a baby, little Ping," Keng said, rubbing his hair teasingly.
Ping said nothing—he just pouted, crossing his arms.
The room soon filled with soft laughter, warm and genuine, wrapping them all in a quiet sense of happiness.
It was finally time for Keng to leave.
"Mom, this is for you," Keng said, handing her a carefully wrapped bag.
"Oh, you didn't have to," Ping's mom replied, smiling warmly.
"I'll give you two some space," she added, then excused herself and went inside.
"I'll walk you out," Ping said, leading Keng outside.
"I don't want to go," Keng muttered, turning clingy all over again.
"Phi, you know I have to stay with my mom. And besides, you don't live far from here—you can come anytime," Ping said softly.
"But I won't get to see you every minute," Keng replied dramatically.
"Then I'll make up for it," Ping said, leaning in to give him a quick peck on the lips.
"That's not enough," Keng said, pulling Ping closer and deepening the kiss.
"Phi… you really won't take it easy on me, huh?" Ping said breathlessly when Keng finally let him go.
"It's still not enough," Keng said proudly, "but I'll let you go for now."
Keng got into his car.
"Bye, baby. I'll miss you, I'll text you when I get home," he said, blowing Ping a kiss.
Ping blushed deeply and waved goodbye as the car drove off.