Rhea choked on air. "That is absolutely not true."
Ling waved a hand. "Details."
"Those are not details," Rhea said, laughing despite herself. "That's the entire foundation of adulthood."
Ling leaned closer, voice lowering conspiratorially. "Nineteen is young enough to be dramatic and old enough to sign papers."
Rhea pushed her shoulder. "You sound like a scammer."
Ling gasped. "How dare you. I'm very sincere about this."
Rhea shook her head. "Five-year-old me would be horrified."
Ling grinned. "Five-year-old you was also planning snack schedules and marriage contracts. I don't trust her judgment."
Rhea crossed her arms. "I said twenty-five because I wanted stability. A career. Independence."
Ling nodded exaggeratedly. "You're stable. You're independent. You argue like a professional."
"That's not—"
"And," Ling added softly, "you already know what you want."
Rhea paused, her teasing fading just a little. "You're impossible."
Ling smiled, not pushing further. "Relax. I'm not dragging you to a wedding hall tomorrow."
Rhea eyed her. "You sound disappointed."
Ling shrugged. "Maybe a little." Then she grinned again. "But I'll wait. I like waiting when it's you."
Rhea felt her chest warm at that, even as she rolled her eyes. "You're still ridiculous."
Ling leaned in, brushing her nose lightly against Rhea's. "And you're still negotiating timelines like your five-year-old self."
Rhea smiled, quieter now. "Some plans change."
Ling nodded. "Good. As long as I'm somewhere in the future version."
Rhea met her gaze. "You are."
Ling's grin softened into something real. "Then I can survive waiting a few years."
Rhea laughed. "Barely."
"Barely," Ling agreed, pulling her closer anyway.
Ling's teasing eased, her tone shifting into something more thoughtful. She traced slow, absent circles on Rhea's arm, then sighed.
"You know," Ling said, "your mother doesn't like me."
Rhea looked at her. "She doesn't hate you."
Ling raised an eyebrow. "That's not comforting."
Rhea smiled faintly. "She's cautious. About everyone."
Ling nodded, then continued anyway, clearly needing to say this. "I know whatever history our families have… whatever past mess exists… that's not your fault. Or mine."
She paused. "But I still want to impress her."
Rhea tilted her head. "Impress her?"
Ling nodded seriously. "Yes. My future mother-in-law."
Rhea laughed softly. "You're assuming a lot."
Ling shot her a look. "I'm being realistic. You won't go against her. I can see it."
Rhea didn't deny it.
Ling exhaled. "And I don't want to put you in that position. I don't want to be the reason you fight with your mom."
Rhea's expression softened. "She's all I've had. You know that."
"I know," Ling said quietly. "That's why I'm scared."
Rhea frowned. "Of what?"
"That no matter what I do," Ling admitted, "she'll always see me as… wrong for you. Too much. Too dangerous. Too tied to history she hates."
Rhea reached out, taking Ling's hand. "She doesn't know you."
Ling gave a small, humorless smile. "Exactly. And first impressions matter with mothers."
Rhea squeezed her hand. "She's not easy to impress."
Ling huffed. "Great."
"But," Rhea added, "she values effort. Respect. Consistency."
Ling straightened slightly. "I can do those."
"I know," Rhea said gently. "But she also sees when someone is pretending."
Ling went quiet at that.
"I don't need you to perform," Rhea continued. "Just… be steady. Be patient."
Ling nodded slowly. "I can be patient. I just don't want to lose you because of her disapproval."
Rhea looked at her seriously. "You won't."
Ling searched her face. "You're sure?"
Rhea nodded. "I won't choose someone who makes me abandon my mother. And I won't abandon someone I love because my mother is afraid."
Ling let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "That's… reassuring."
Rhea smiled faintly. "Still, if you want to impress her—"
Ling leaned forward eagerly. "Yes?"
"Don't challenge her. Don't dominate conversations. Don't show off," Rhea said. "And most importantly—"
Ling waited.
"Don't try to win her in one day."
Ling groaned. "You're telling me this will take time."
"Yes."
Ling sighed dramatically, then smiled. "Fine. I'll play the long game."
Rhea raised an eyebrow. "You don't usually."
"I do," Ling said, squeezing her hand. "When it matters."
Rhea looked at her, warmth spreading in her chest. "She'll see that."
Ling smiled, softer now. "I hope so. Because I want her blessing. Not because I need permission—but because I want peace."
Rhea leaned closer. "That's the right reason."
Ling rested her forehead against Rhea's. "Good. Then I'll work for it."
Rhea hesitated for a second, then spoke like she was stating an obvious fact.
"Mom loves me more."
Ling blinked. "Excuse me?"
Rhea shrugged. "I mean… Shyra takes care of her more. She's more responsible. More present." She paused, then added quietly, "But mom is more attached to me."
Ling leaned in, intrigued. "Attached how?"
"She says I'm her mirror," Rhea said. "That I remind her of herself when she was young. Same temper. Same silence. Same way of holding things inside." She smiled faintly. "So technically… I'm her favorite."
Ling scoffed. "You're saying this very casually for someone confessing favoritism."
"It's not favoritism," Rhea defended. "It's emotional gravity."
Ling laughed. "You're unbelievable."
Rhea continued anyway. "She worries more about me. Checks on me more. Even when Shyra is the one actually doing things." She glanced at Ling. "That's why I said — you're right. I won't go against her easily."
Ling nodded slowly, absorbing that. Then like a switch flipped her mouth curved into a wicked grin.
"Ohhh," she said. "That explains a lot."
Rhea narrowed her eyes. "Explains what?"
Ling waved her hand vaguely. "Her reaction that day."
Rhea frowned. "What day?"
Ling leaned back, smug. "The window day."
Rhea froze. "What window day."
Ling laughed openly now. "The day I climbed into your room. And then walked into the hall like I owned the place."
Rhea stared at her. "Ling."
"You remember," Ling continued happily. "Your mom was in the hall. I was stretching."
Rhea's face flushed. "You were shamele—"
"I was," Ling interrupted. She shrugged. "Abs were visible."
Rhea covered her face. "Oh my god not again I don't want to remember."
Ling grinned wider. "Your mother looked at me. Properly looked."
Rhea peeked through her fingers. "Stop."
"She's very beautiful," Ling added thoughtfully. "Very elegant."
Rhea dropped her hands. "Do not finish that sentence."
Ling ignored her. "I mean, if she wasn't—"
"Ling," Rhea warned.
"I might make her my second girlfriend," Ling finished proudly.
There was a beat of silence.
Then Rhea burst out laughing. "You're insane."
Ling looked offended. "I'm appreciative."
Rhea shook her head, mockingly stern. "She will slap you."
Ling smiled. "Worth it."
Rhea pushed her shoulder. "She will actually slap you."
Ling laughed, holding her hands up. "Okay, okay. No second girlfriend. Just future mother-in-law."
Rhea sighed, still smiling. "You really have no fear."
Ling's expression softened just a little. "I do. Just not when it comes to you."
Rhea looked at her, warmth blooming in her chest. "She'll never like your nonsense."
Ling leaned closer, lowering her voice. "She doesn't have to like my nonsense. Just has to see I'd never hurt her favorite child."
Rhea swallowed. "That matters to her."
Ling nodded. "Then that's what I'll show."
Rhea smiled softly. "You're still getting slapped if you show your abs again."
Ling laughed. "Deal."
Ling's phone vibrated suddenly.
The sound was sharp in the quiet space between them intrusive, unwelcome.
Ling glanced at the screen, and the shift in her expression was immediate. The teasing softness disappeared, replaced by something controlled, alert.
"My mom," she said.
Rhea's smile faded. "Right now?"
Ling nodded once and answered, her tone respectful but tense. She turned slightly away, speaking low. Rhea couldn't hear the words — only the pauses, the clipped replies, the way Ling's shoulders slowly tightened.
"Yes."
"I understand."
"I'll come."
The call ended.
Ling stood still for a moment, phone still in her hand, like she was bracing herself.
Rhea watched her carefully. "You have to go?"
Ling turned back to her. "Yeah."
Rhea frowned. "But you said… Saturday, Sunday. You said you'd stay."
"I know," Ling said quietly. "I meant it."
Rhea searched her face. "Then what happened?"
Ling exhaled slowly. "Family happened."
Rhea didn't argue immediately. She just nodded, once, trying to mask the disappointment that crept into her chest. "Is everything okay?"
Ling hesitated just a fraction too long. "I'll handle it."
That was all she said.
She walked toward the room without another word. Rhea followed a few steps behind, stopping at the doorway as Ling opened the cupboard and pulled out the clothes she'd thrown earlier.
Ling dressed efficiently hoodie, shirt, jeans the same clothes she'd arrived in. Each movement felt heavier now, deliberate, like she was putting armor back on.
Rhea leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed loosely, watching in silence.
"So… this is it?" she asked finally, trying to sound casual and failing.
Ling paused, then turned to her. "For now."
Rhea swallowed. "You didn't even argue with her."
Ling's jaw tightened. "Some fights aren't loud."
Rhea looked away. "You always leave like this."
Ling stepped closer. "That's not fair."
"It feels fair," Rhea said softly. "You come, you make everything feel safe again… and then you go."
Ling reached out, stopping just short of touching her. "I'm not leaving you."
"But you are," Rhea replied, voice steady but fragile. "Physically."
Ling closed her eyes for a second. "I didn't plan this."
Rhea nodded. "I know."
Silence stretched.
"I'll come back."
Rhea didn't answer immediately. Then, quietly: "You always say that."
Ling finally touched her just her wrist, grounding. "And I always mean it."
Rhea looked at their joined hands, then up at Ling. "Promise?"
Ling didn't smile. She didn't tease. She said it seriously. "Promise."
Rhea nodded, even though her chest ached.
Ling stepped back, moving toward the window again the same way she'd come in. She glanced back once more, eyes lingering.
"Don't overthink," she said.
Rhea gave a faint smile. "That's not something I do."
Ling huffed softly. "Liar."
Then she was gone slipping out the window, disappearing.
Rhea stood there long after, staring at the empty space, holding onto the promise like it was fragile glass.
The weekend they planned stayed behind untouched, unfinished.