Ryan: "I think they aren't home..."
Sylvia: "It can take longer to open the doors in big houses."
After a moment...
A middle-aged woman, around her mid-forties, opens the door. The way her expression changes after seeing them both suggests that she was expecting them already.
"Ryan."
Ryan steps forward as his name is called. He takes in the sight of the woman in front of him.
Must be Leo's mom...
"Leo mentioned that his friends are going to visit our house... Your names must be Ryan and hers... Sylvia?"
Sylvia's steps are more confident as she takes the place beside Ryan and offers a smile to Leo's mother.
"That's right... um... Mam. I am Sylvia and this boy beside me is Ryan. You guessed it right."
Leo's mother's eyes narrow slightly at Sylvia. She didn't expect being called 'Mam' by her son's friends.
Sylvia's words were carefully crafted. Calling her 'Mam' rather than 'Aunty' or anything else. Referring to her directly by her name or some unintended offensive title can disrupt the first impression. 'Mam' gives a certain level of freedom to navigate her boundaries later.
Leo's mother finally takes a step back to allow them the space to enter, though her gaze never leaves them.
"Come inside. Leo's friends don't come often here. And..."
Her next words catch Sylvia off guard for a moment.
"My name is Marian. Mam sounds rather distant coming from you... I would prefer if you can call me directly by my name."
As Ryan and Sylvia follow her inside, Sylvia catches up to Marian in a few quick steps and glances at her.
"Marian it is, then. I also like this."
Inside the house...
Three of them stop in what looks like a living area, though it is too extravagant compared to Ryan's house, making Ryan almost feel small standing there.
Marian: "Leo's father's name is Richard. Don't get afraid after looking at him... he looks domineering but..."
Even with the half-finished sentence, both Ryan and Sylvia instantly catch the meaning. Their eyes meet each other's in a silent communication.
Marian is not even hiding her frustration now...
Just a moment later, two men enter the living area. Leo is nervous, but he tries to hide it behind the mask of confidence. The other man is also middle-aged like Marian; his face resembles Leo's face, but the difference in demeanor is plain to see.
Marian's posture changes when her eyes meet Richard's. She immediately looks away as if the mere sight of him is painful to watch.
Richard doesn't look away, but the way his gaze darts toward both Leo and Sylvia knowingly gives away his tension.
Several minutes later...
A large wooden table is decorated at the centre, though Ryan knows that this wasn't decorated for them.
Definitely a casual thing here...
Sylvia watches the place Leo has taken, not near them, just between his parents, as if he doesn't want to be seen taking sides.
The silence is not peaceful. Instead, it feels like a preparation for an upcoming confrontation.
Sylvia isn't confident now like she was at the doorway. She is assessing the situation, noticing the moods and tensions of the people present in the room.
This is not a mere inspection of his social circle... Leo has misunderstood something, definitely.
A similar thought troubles Ryan too. The complicated energy in the room makes him hesitant about staying here too long.
Ahem!
Richard breaks the silence with a cough. He looks at Ryan and Sylvia sympathetically. Turning his head toward Leo, he gestures toward Ryan and Sylvia.
"Leo, you have good friends, I can tell already. You should show them your room."
Marian: "And why is that, Richard? They have visited for the first time; we should also talk with them first."
Richard: "Marian... But..."
Marian doesn't wait for his response. She looks toward Sylvia and gestures at the table.
"You haven't started drinking your tea yet, Sylvia. Do you want me to bring some different snacks if you don't like this one?"
Sylvia shakes her head slowly and leans forward to take her cup with a smile.
"This one is good, Marian. And I just prefer my tea a little less hot."
After ten minutes...
The initial tension of the living room hasn't disappeared; it has just transferred to Leo's room. Sylvia sits on the chair, Ryan on the edge of the bed, and Leo stands at the centre. Ryan looks visibly tired at this point, and Sylvia seems more contemplative.
During the conversation with Leo's parents, Marian directly mentioned the matter of Leo's private messages. Expectedly, Richard also tried defending Leo by arguing that the messages are basically just the result of growing age and sexual learning with friends. Marian didn't look convinced with that statement at all and immediately offered the sharp remark about not mistaking signs of bad growth for sexual education.
After the brief outburst from both parents, Ryan and the other two leave the living area.
Sylvia: "You never mentioned anything about that kind of chat!"
Ryan: "That's right. Otherwise, we wouldn't have intervened in someone else's family matter..."
Leo: "That is why... I never told you about it."
"..."
Sylvia slumps back slightly and lets out a sigh.
"Anyways, we cannot help with this matter. I don't know about your parents much, but even I can tell that it's not just about your 'messages.'"
Leo turns toward her confusedly, and Sylvia notices that immediately.
"Don't be confused. It's simple really... just because your mom left after discovering your messages, then you are the problem, right? But it doesn't work like that, Idiot."
Ryan shifts as if to interject before she starts cursing Leo, but Sylvia stops Ryan with just one sharp stare and continues.
"Just understand this, Leo. You cannot solve this matter like this... No! You shouldn't even try to solve this at all, if you don't want to create more problems in their life. Especially your mother... she..."
She stops mid-sentence as if unable to explain it properly to them.
Both Ryan and Leo wait for her to continue, but unfortunately for them, she doesn't continue.
One hour later...
They stand ready to leave the Vance's house, while three members of the Vance family stand in the doorway.
Marian looks almost the same as earlier, Richard offers a faint smile, and Leo just stands behind his parents looking resigned.
Marian: "You two should come often... especially you, Sylvia."
Sylvia takes a step toward her with a gentle smile and takes her hand before giving a nod.
"I will come soon, Marian. We can talk properly then, alright?"
What happens next is unexpected... Marian smiles back, even if it is her own version of one.
All three men watch dumbfoundedly at the two women, unable to understand what is happening.
Later at Ryan's house...
Sylvia jumps immediately onto the couch the moment they return home. She nuzzles against the cushion.
"Mm..."
"Home sweet home."
Ryan takes the seat at the edge of the couch, and before he can settle... Sylvia's feet fall directly into his lap. He stares at her feet silently, then at the back of her head.
She... didn't even look at me before doing this. She has become used to it... lazy.
Despite his thoughts, when Sylvia nudges his thigh again with her toe, his hands start massaging her feet automatically.
Ryan: "What happened earlier at Leo's house? You and his mother had some private conversation, right?"
Sylvia: "Hm... Yes. Just like that... press your thumb there too, oh... good. And yes, we did. But it was a girls' talk; I am not telling you about it."
"..."
"As you wish."