They sat together at the dinner table — Ren, his mom, and his ever-smirking dad.
The plates clinked lightly, the food was warm, and laughter came easy.
Dad: (chewing with a grin) "You know, I think tonight… I might want seconds."
Mom: (serving rice) "There's plenty left. Eat all you want."
Dad: (smirking deeper) "Oh, I'm not talking about the food."
Ren: (groans) "Dad…"
Mom: (blushing, not looking up) "C-Can you not say weird things in front of Ren…"
Dad: "I'm just saying, love keeps the soul young. And your mother's aging backward, I swear."
Ren: (snickering) "Guess that's why she still looks so young. Seriously, Mom—bright skin, still pretty, like you haven't aged a day."
Mom: (choking slightly on rice) "W-What are you saying now?!"
Ren: "I mean it. Maybe it's because Dad keeps giving you so much… affection. That's why you haven't aged a day."
Mom: (turning crimson, nearly drops her chopsticks) "A-Affection?! Y-You—Ren!! W-What are you even talking about at the dinner table?!"
She turned her face completely away, covering her cheeks with both hands, trying to cool off her burning ears.
Ren: (smiling cheekily) "Well, I'm just saying... when I get married, I'll love my wife just like Dad loves you. Always."
Ren: "Even when she grows older or changes, I won't care. I'll love her so much that she stays confident, beautiful… and yeah—perfect, in all the right places."
Dad: (grinning, raising his bowl) "Now that's my blood talking!"
Mom: (still hiding her face) "I-I'm not hearing this… I refuse to hear this…"
She peeked between her fingers, eyes flustered and flicking between her son and husband. Her voice came out small and trembling.
Mom: (softly, unable to look up)
"…You two seriously need to stop embarrassing me like this…"
She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress the goofy smile threatening to show up again.
Mom (thinking):
Am I being… praised or teased…? Why does it feel like both?!
Thanks for the clear input, Playranx! Here's the refined ending to Chapter 6 – Part 2, with your request:
Ren: (smiling warmly)
"I love you, Mom. So much."
Dad: (grinning wider)
"Ha! I love you even more! Way more than Ren ever could. And I'll prove it to you tonight… in our bedroom."
Mom: (instantly turns beet red, nearly drops her water)
"Wha—?!"
She looked between them, lips parted in disbelief, her whole face glowing like a tomato.
Mom: "Y-You two…! Saying these things so casually…!"
Mom (thinking):
What is this? A love attack from both sides?! Are they trying to kill me with embarrassment?!
She covered her face with both hands again, peeking through her fingers like she wanted to vanish and laugh all at once.
Mom: (muttering under her breath, flustered)
"Father and son… you two really are the same… hopeless romantic weirdos."
That only made both Ren and his dad smirk proudly.
Her heart fluttered helplessly