"You really love us, don't you?" Crystal asked Anom, her voice tinged with amusement.
"Of course..." Anom replied, realizing he had let his guard down in the presence of the two women. 'Damn! This girl set a trap for me!' he thought, regretting his swift response.
Unfortunately for Anom, it was too late to retract his words. Loreana, who had been frozen in his embrace, finally became aware of their proximity and the embarrassing situation unfolding before her daughter. Her heart skipped a beat from the embarrassment that surged within her.
"Maybe I answered too quickly, but my response wasn't wrong, you know," Anom said to Loreana, who was attempting to gather her strength to extricate herself from his hold. Gently lifting her chin with his finger, he continued, "I do like you. Perhaps I pretended otherwise because I knew you wouldn't accept it. And maybe it's unconventional, but I no longer care. Now that you two have opened your hearts to each other, let me tell you something."
Anom's arms tightened around Loreana, bringing their faces closer until their noses almost touched. "Loreana, I like you. Initially, I had no intention of feeling this way, but before I knew it, I started seeing you in the same light as Crystal. And there's no way I'm leaving you here! Even if it means going against your wishes, you're coming with me. Call me selfish, but I can't bear the thought of losing you. I don't expect you to fully accept this unusual relationship, but I won't let you leave until I'm assured of your safety. Do you hear me?"
As Anom poured out his feelings, he felt a sense of relief. As Della had previously mentioned, Loreana and Luna's influence on his soul during its formative stage had a profound impact on his personality. He didn't oppose it, but on Earth, he had little interest in committed relationships, except in his fantasies, of course. It wasn't due to any aversion, but rather a lack of connection. However, after confessing his feelings to Della, he realized he had undergone a transformation. He was no longer the same person. While it may seem that he has become aimless since arriving in this world, the opposite is true. On Earth, he had been searching for something meaningful, waiting for someone or something to infuse his monotonous life with purpose.
That's why, when Cassana asked him to accompany her, he may have seemed hesitant on the surface, but deep down, he knew this was the moment he had been yearning for.
And as expected, he wasn't disappointed. He found his purpose in this world. He yearned to grow stronger, to become someone worthy enough to stand before a goddess. He longed to seize each day with vigor and live life to the fullest. Although he had always considered himself carefree, it was only after coming here that he truly experienced the joy of acting upon his desires without being consumed by them. He felt the exhilaration he had always sought. An individual's personality was in a constant state of flux, and few could mold it to their liking. Now that he believed he had discovered his true self, he sure as hell was not going to let it waver.
Do you not see the mesmerizing beauty in his arms? An intelligent, brave, gentle, and alluring mother, no less? Only a brain-dead idiot would reject such a gift!
As Anom waited for Loreana to respond, he felt her applying pressure to his arms. Before he could utter a word, she turned her head away from him. 'Perhaps it was overwhelming for her to process all at once,' Anom thought with a sigh, releasing his hold on Loreana. She remained silent, shifting herself to the other side of the bed, facing the wall.
Just as Anom was about to leave the room, Crystal's guilt-ridden face caught his attention. "I'm sorry. Maybe I said too much," she admitted remorsefully.
Anom grinned, reaching out to caress Crystal's smooth cheek. "No, I'm grateful you did. You helped me accept something I hadn't realized until now. And..." He paused, glancing towards Loreana.
"You scoundrel!" Crystal playfully swatted him before questioning, "Did you just realize you were flirting with my mother right in front of me? You two even hugged each other so naturally, as if it wasn't your first time. Tell me the truth, Anom. What have you been up to with my mother? Did something more happen between you two?"
"We didn't do anything!" Loreana, her face flushed, interjected abruptly, sitting up to address her daughter. "Nothing happened between us, Crystal! So stop pestering him about it already! Besides, you must be exhausted, don't you think? Come on over; you can sleep with me tonight." Loreana extended an invitation, feigning calmness. Unfortunately for her, Crystal seemed to have other plans for the evening.
Crystal swiftly dismissed the invitation, raising suspicions as she said, "You know, Mom, acting like this only makes me more suspicious." She then turned to Anom and demanded, "Tell me honestly, what happened when you two were alone? Don't lie, understand?"
"Yes, of course, Miss," Anom replied, his expression displaying obedience as if honesty were his defining characteristic.
"Hmm... Where should I start?" Anom pondered, stroking his chin. Snapping his fingers, he exclaimed, "I've got it! Let me tell you about the time we visited Old Gamus' house."
"Yeah, do tell me quickly," Crystal chimed in, playing the role of an eager gossip as she added, "I had already sensed something peculiar between you two that day. So I was right all along!"
"Indeed." Anom nodded before sighing. "You have no idea how sorrowful your mother has been these days. Did you know she even took medication to control her emotions? She even took some today!"
"It's all my fault. I should have noticed earlier," Crystal murmured, guilt washing over her as she glanced at her mother's back.
"It's not too late now, is it?" Anom consoled her.
"And then what happened?" Crystal swiftly redirected the conversation, her curiosity unwavering.
"I saw her standing there, consumed by sadness and despair. Her pain was so palpable that I couldn't help but step forward to comfort her. But who could have anticipated that her emotional state was so fragile? Just a single touch, and..." Anom provided a brief account of what had transpired that day, causing Crystal to feel remorse for having overlooked her mother's suffering so completely. She also felt grateful for the night she had encountered Anom in the Zeru forest, as it had brought about a positive change in their lives.
'Perhaps it was all meant to be,' Anom thought to himself, reflecting on the unfolding events. Suddenly, a new topic caught Crystal's interest, diverting her attention from the previous conversation.
"You used energy from outside your body to create a barrier? Isn't Grandpa Gamus the only one who can do that?" Crystal's curiosity was piqued, and she was about to ask Anom to demonstrate by creating a barrier for her. However, upon noticing Anom's gaze fixed on Loreana, she decided to table the idea for the time being, showing her quick wit and getting back on track.
"Tell me, what happened after you and Mom hugged?" Crystal inquired, eager to hear the continuation of the story.
"Well, after your mother regained her composure, she realized that she was in my arms. And then... she couldn't resist and kissed me. Right here—" Anom's sentence was abruptly interrupted by a pillow hurtling towards his face, which he narrowly dodged.
Loreana glanced at Crystal, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Don't listen to his nonsense, dear. That's not how it happened..."
"But it did happen, didn't it?" Crystal interjected, catching her mother off guard. Loreana found herself torn between agreeing or denying, her expression shifting as she gritted her teeth. Finally, she made a decision and owned up to it.
"Pfft~" A distressed Loreana looked up, only to see Anom smirking and her daughter trying to stifle her laughter with her hand covering her mouth.
"You two..." Realizing she had become the target of teasing from the mischievous duo before her, Loreana felt a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "How dare you two tease me?" She pretended to be angry, but in the end, she turned around and covered her face with a pillow.
"Haha~!" Crystal burst into laughter, unable to contain herself any longer. She rolled on the bed, exclaiming, "Oh, Mom, I didn't know you could be so adorable!" Slithering forward, she moved next to her mother and hugged her from behind.
"Hmph! Just you wait. I'll get even with both of you later," Loreana grumbled with her voice muffled by the pillow, though she didn't make any protest to her daughter's embrace.
Anom chuckled, observing their playful banter. "How nice. Let's enjoy this moment while it lasts," he thought to himself, treasuring the joy and connection they shared in that moment.