I glanced over at Auntie Yue. She was still tense. But it also looked like she wanted to talk about something.
So I decided to break the silence and said, "Is something wrong, Big Sis?"
I deliberately kept it light by calling her Big Sis instead of Auntie.
Auntie Yue let out a slow exhale and said, "Nothing... wrong. Just... a lot. Your friend's mom is... strong. Very strong. Auntie just had to make sure she was rewarded for being strong. And had a proper job."
Okaaay. That confirmed the worst ideas I had.
But Auntie Yue didn't know I'd know about that. And as a kid, I definitely wouldn't.
So instead, I changed the subject and said, "Of course Miss Serena is strong! April's amazing, you know? She'd have to be strong to be April's mom!"
Auntie Yue relaxed at my carefree words and let out a light chuckle. "Right. She would have to be amazing to be the mom of your fated partner."
I immediately felt my face heat up and said, "Mom! Stop that!"
Auntie Yue blinked.
I froze. Then I covered my face. "...Ignore that."
It was completely unintentional. Did not mean to say that at all.
...But the fact that I said it definitely meant I felt it somewhere deep down.
And... well. Come to think of it...
Auntie Yue really did feel like a mom to me at this point.
Not that there was anything wrong with my real mom. I mean, she raised me one whole lifetime already and did her best. And in this one, she was still doing her best.
It was just...
I guess I never really connected with my mom? She had always kind of suppressed herself into my dad's shadow as the home caretaker until I had long left the house. And by that time, I didn't really have a strong impression of her?
It was kind of like how Hinata was in Boruto, I guess? And why so many fanfictions painted her out to be neglected?
Not like my mom was neglected, but... well, the vibes were there.
In hindsight, I never really thought of my parents as MY parents. Just parents of my brothers and the ones who provided me with shelter, food, and stuff.
Dad was always more someone to fear and obey than someone to respect and follow. And Mom was always someone who worked so much that I didn't bring any of my problems to her.
...Man. My childhood was more fucked up than I remembered it was, huh?
Anyway... That probably explained why I called Auntie Yue mom just now.
Someone fun who listened to me. Someone who actively took care of me and my problems. Someone who loved me unconditionally, but didn't burn herself to the wick to do so. And someone who had her own dreams and aspirations too.
She was the mom I wished I could have had growing up... and the mom I DID have now. Practically speaking, at least.
Huh.
I didn't think about that at all.
And from how Auntie Yue's breath had caught and her eyes were watering, she hadn't thought about it either.
A strange silence fell in the car for a bit as Auntie Yue wiped her tears and drove us back to her condo.
When we arrived, she took a long shuddering breath. Then she reached over and pulled me in a tight hug. "...You're terrible, Alex. Now you make me want to be a mom for real. Dummy."
I hugged her back and murmured, "Well. You're an awesome mom, Auntie Yue."
Auntie Yue laughed and pinched my cheek. "Cheeky brat..." Despite her words, she had on a warm smile. "Come on. Let's go home."
I smiled and then picked up my bag, heading back inside the condo building with her.
Like always, we hopped into the elevator and started heading up to her penthouse suite. Along the way, the atmosphere was a bit different from usual.
Normally, it was a bit fun. Auntie Yue would tease me, I'd banter a bit.
But today, it was... well, warm? I guess?
Mm.
I'd never been in love or really felt love from family members before, so I wouldn't know if this was it. But it was nice.
I guess... Safe? Was the best way to put it? Not that I'd ever felt unsafe before. But it was more the vibes that I could do whatever I wanted and it'd be fine.
Huh.
Maybe this was how it was supposed to feel like being a kid.
Note to self: make sure to do this for future kids of my own.
Along the way up in the elevator, Auntie Yue was uncharacteristically soft and mentioned, "You really see me as your mom, huh, Alex?"
I felt my ears heat up and said, "That's... well... kind of...?" I winced.
Auntie Yue laughed. A carefree sound that was completely unlike her. But then she shook her head and said, "It's unbelievable." She poked my cheek and said, "You used to cry around me so much when you were smaller. I always thought you hated me, you know? It made me sad too. You really were cute when you were small."
Ah. Right. The 'me' before I came back was an ordinary kid. And definitely one who was too clingy to my parents.
I puffed my cheeks and said, "Well, little me was dumb. You're amazing, Auntie Yue."
Auntie Yue let out a warm smile and pulled me close to her side. "Yeah, yeah... Keep saying that. I'll believe it eventually."
Her voice was soft.
And hearing that, I remembered that Auntie Yue was still practically a kid herself.
She was competent, independent, and could take care of herself. And she was 'technically' an adult.
But she barely knew what she was doing in life. And she definitely had her own insecurities.
Raising me must have been one of them.
But it looked like I helped her get over it. Or at the least, I was helping her get over it.
I leaned into Auntie Yue's side and said, "...You're amazing, Auntie Yue. Really."
Auntie Yue chuckled. Then she said, "Big Sis is going to be mad. All that time and pain carrying you around her belly and you end up liking me more instead. Hmph. Serves her right."
She had probably meant to come off light-hearted.
But I definitely heard a bit of vindication in Auntie Yue's tone.
...Was there a story I didn't know about between them?
What was I saying? Of course there was.
Mom never talked about her childhood. Auntie Yue never did either.
But from the pieces I'd picked up over the years... and seeing the dynamics firsthand...
Hm. I'd guess that it was a bit similar to the dynamics between me and my younger brother in the future.
I had been seen as the 'perfect' child for a long time. He ended up being compared to me all the time and acted out because of it.
Unlike Auntie Yue though, my younger brother wasn't that competent. He was very much rough and tumble and almost got into jail in the past. Hell, he walked out of the house one day when he got into a fight with my mom.
It was only when I walked him back home that he stayed instead of running off.
Considering how family dynamics definitely echoed across generations, Auntie Yue probably did something similar. Except, she looked like she ACTUALLY ran off. And picked herself up along the way.
Auntie Yue took my backpack from me when we arrived on the top floor. As she did, she said, "Well. It's too late for takebacks." She smiled at me and winked. "They left you with me. So you're mine now, Little Fatty."
I laughed and winked back at her. "Okay, 'Mom.'"
Auntie Yue flinched.
I let out a teasing smile. "What's wrong, Mom?"
"...Weird." Auntie Yue placed a hand over her heart and muttered, "I'm way too young to be called Mom. It should feel weird. But why is it... nice?"