Crash.
One moment, Charlie was blissfully wrapped in the warm cocoon of his bed, savoring the last remnants of a dream. The next, he was jolted awake by the harsh rays of sunlight piercing through the curtains and landing directly on his face. He squinted against the sudden brightness, his groggy eyes slowly adjusting to the new day. As his vision cleared, he saw his mother standing by the window, her figure framed by the drawn curtains. She stood there like an avenging angel, the light streaming around her, giving her an almost ethereal glow. But the look on her face was far from heavenly. She was looking at her son, who was still curled up in bed like a caterpillar in a cocoon, with a mix of affection and exasperation.
"Still not up by ten? You think it's still morning?"
Charlie wanted to defend himself, to say that for a hardcore gamer, late mornings were a given, but he couldn't muster the energy. Instead, he groggily reached for his phone on the bedside table. His fingers fumbled with the screen as he tried to unlock it. Finally, he managed to check the time, his expression shifting from sleepy confusion to mild indignation.
"It's not even nine yet!"
But his mother didn't argue. She didn't need to. With the calm authority of someone who had already won the battle, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Charlie to stare after her in disbelief. He lay in bed for a few more minutes, trying to cling to the remnants of his interrupted sleep. Eventually, though, he gave up and, with a heavy sigh, swung his legs over the side of the bed and forced himself to stand, yawning as he stretched.
Last night's mission had been intense, and the rewards were more than satisfying. But what irked him was that the enemy, the one who had manipulated dreams and created chaos, had managed to escape. Charlie's instincts told him that defeating that foe would have earned him a treasure trove of experience points. It was frustrating to think that the opportunity had slipped through his fingers, leaving him with unfinished business.
He could only wait for the next chance to confront the elusive enemy.
Maybe it was because he'd called upon the moon god Kongsu for help, but operating as Moon Knight had drained him more than usual. The battle had left him feeling exhausted, his energy sapped. By the time the fight was over, he had barely managed to log off the game before collapsing into bed. He had swallowed a quick supplement, hoping it would help restore his energy, and then drifted into a deep, dream-filled sleep.
Now that he was awake, Charlie felt somewhat rejuvenated. The rest had done him good, and as he got dressed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up, he felt a bit more like himself. When he returned to his room, he noticed his mother was tidying up, smoothing the sheets, and fluffing the pillows as she made the bed.
At first, Charlie didn't think much of it. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the unused box of supplements on the bedside table. A jolt of panic shot through him, and he almost blurted out, "Mom, it's not what you think!" But he quickly bit his tongue, holding back the impulse.
Luckily, this time, his mother didn't ask any awkward questions like she had when she once saw his figurine collection and wondered aloud why some of them weren't fully dressed. Instead, she kept quiet, going about her task as if nothing was amiss.
But Charlie knew better. He was certain she had seen the box of supplements. It was too late to explain, and besides, how could he possibly explain? Telling her that he was playing a game that required supplements to maintain his energy sounded ridiculous, even to him.
He sighed inwardly, glancing at the box again. The supplements were effective, no doubt about that, but they always seemed to carry the wrong implication. It wasn't the first time he'd been misunderstood because of them.
If only he had the protection of the moon god Kongsu like Moon Knight did. In Egyptian mythology, Kongsu, the god of light and night, was said to protect travelers and enhance male vitality. Charlie figured that working for Kongsu must come with some hidden perks that Moon Knight surely enjoyed...
After grabbing a quick bite for breakfast, Charlie decided to take his mother out for lunch. He wanted to do something nice for her, especially after yesterday's events.
He had originally planned to take her to the business district across the way, where there were a couple of restaurants he had been wanting to try. But the incident at the milk tea shop the day before had left the entire area under quarantine. Even though the Secret Service had cleared the infection, the district was still locked down, and it didn't look like it would reopen for at least a week.
So, Charlie and his mother headed to the only other nearby business district. It was a bit further away, but it was their only option.
However, with the first business district closed, everyone in the area seemed to have flocked to the second one. As it was the weekend, the streets were teeming with people, all looking for a place to eat, shop, or simply pass the time.
Even on the drive there, it was clear that the area was busier than usual. The roads were jam-packed with cars, the traffic moving at a snail's pace. Charlie could hear the cacophony of honking horns even through the closed windows of the car. The frustration of the drivers was palpable, and it wasn't long before the sound of blaring horns gave way to the more colorful language of drivers who had lost their patience. The shouts and insults flying between car windows were almost enough to make Charlie smile, reminding him of a relative with a notorious case of road rage.
This relative was known for muttering curses like "Stupid Btch" and "Dumb Ass N***" while driving, and though these curses were potent, they came with a risk. If used on the wrong person, they could escalate into a full-blown argument where no one came out unscathed.
When they finally arrived at the mall, it was a sea of people. The crowds were dense, and even though it wasn't quite lunchtime yet, there were already long lines forming at the entrances of the most popular restaurants.
But Charlie had anticipated this. He had wisely reserved a spot online earlier, and by the time they arrived at the restaurant, there were only a couple of tables ahead of them. They took a seat in the waiting area just outside the restaurant, settling in for what would hopefully be a short wait.
The two hadn't talked much since they left the house, the silence between them comfortable but tinged with unspoken thoughts.
Yesterday's unexpected incident had prompted Charlie to tell his mother that he had taken up a part-time job with the Service Division. Although he played it down, explaining that it was more of an observer role where he just watched from the sidelines, the nature of the job was still dangerous. His mother, Megan, hadn't said much in response, but Charlie could sense her unease.
"There's something you don't know," she began, her voice soft but steady as she stared at the railing in the corridor for a few moments before continuing. "It was the year you first left us to come here for college.
Because… you had never left home before. You were always with us. So, it made me very uneasy, very anxious… Your dad laughed at me, said I was worrying too much. He said you were a man now, that you should've been independent long ago. He told me that at your age, he was already out on his own.
But I couldn't help it. I was still uneasy. Especially in those first few days… I would dream about you every night and wake up in the middle of the night, wondering if you were homesick, if you could adapt to living on your own, if you were handling everything okay...
I knew your dad was right, but I just couldn't rest easy. I couldn't sleep peacefully."
She paused, then turned to look at Charlie, her eyes soft with maternal concern.
"So, I bought a plane ticket and flew to Riverton."
Charlie was taken aback. "You? You came to Riverton? When I first started college?"
"Yes."
"But you… Dad… you didn't tell me…"
"Because I didn't want you to know how worried I was, and I didn't want you to think I was interfering too much in your life." Megan's voice was gentle, but there was an undercurrent of emotion. "I only stayed for one day. I got off the plane at six in the morning and found your address.
I watched you go out, saw you get breakfast, go to class… I watched from outside the classroom, saw you attend your lectures, have lunch… and then go back to your apartment at the end of the day.
You seemed fine—spirited, independent—something I hadn't really seen when you were with us.
I flew back that same night. Your dad picked me up at the airport after work and teased me, saying I'd never learn how to let go."
Charlie was at a loss for words. The image of his mother, quietly following him through the day, watching him from a distance, filled him with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.
"I never knew…"
"You've grown up; you've got your own life, your own plans. I know you're dealing with things…
...things we may not fully understand.
We won't try to persuade you to abandon your goals. But we want you to know that no matter where you are or what you face… your dad and I, we'll always be here for you."
Charlie's throat tightened, and he felt his eyes prick with unexpected tears. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words were lodged in his throat, refusing to come out.
"... I'll go check how many tables are still ahead of us," he finally managed to say, though it wasn't what he wanted to express.
He didn't know why those words had come out, but he needed a moment to compose himself. Taking a deep breath, he stood and started to walk toward the counter. But as he moved, he felt the weight of someone's gaze on him.
Charlie paused, instinctively turning his head in the direction of the gaze. Sitting in the waiting area, a few seats away, was a girl who seemed almost too perfect to be real. She was delicate, like a porcelain doll, her features refined and ethereal. She wore a white dress that made her look even more like a work of art. Her light blue eyes were large and unblinking, fixed intently on him as if she were trying to figure him out.
She didn't look away when their eyes met. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, as if curious about him, and continued to stare, her expression unreadable.
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