Her laughter didn't quite reach her eyes, and I felt her arms encircle mine, as her grip tightened around my hand, pulling me just a little closer.
It was as if she needed to remind everyone—and herself—that I was hers, her son, who had been by her side through everything.
She pulled me closer to her, and my hand touched her breasts as if it were my hands supporting her breasts. Her actions were subtle, but my hand clearly did not just brush past her breasts.
But it stayed there, and she didn't seem to mind. It seemed all her focus was on showing them whom I belonged to. The look she gave her friends said it all: "See all you want, ladies, but he's mine."
With a gentle squeeze on my arm, she leaned in. "Well, we really should be heading out," she said, giving her friends a teasing smile that didn't hide her message.
Holding me close, she walked us away, leaving her friends glancing after us with amused expressions, but I could feel her hold linger a bit longer as if making sure they knew.
Ever since then every time we ran into any of them afterward, they seemed to find reasons to ask about me. I'd get questions like, "How's Samuel? Is he still hitting the gym? At what time does he go to the gym?
I swear he looks even more grown-up every time I see him." from Susan, who'd been friends with my mom since college and always wore way too much perfume.
Or Sarah, who would casually mention, "We should plan another girl's group outing, Esther. And make sure to bring Samuel along! After all, a muscular handsome guy like him being around us would make us feel safe and protected."
It wasn't just their words but the lingering, admiring glances they sent my way like I was some thrilling secret they couldn't wait to share among themselves.
Each time, my mom would laugh along, but I could see her expression shift slightly—the way her eyes narrowed, watching their every move, as if marking her territory.
The playful smiles they sent in my direction only seemed to make her grip on me a little tighter, like she feared I might slip away if she didn't keep me close, exactly reversing the situation when I would hold my mom dearly fearing she might run away, to now she holding me dearly and possessively.
As their comments kept coming, she grew more possessive in her quiet way. Her hand would rest on my arm or shoulder a bit longer, pulling me a little closer whenever they spoke.
It felt like each admiring remark only deepened her resolve to keep me by her side. When Sarah made a particularly bold comment, Mom instinctively wrapped her arm around my waist, giving her friends a look that said, 'He's mine, and no one else's.'
Sometimes, she'd rest her head on my shoulder or lean into me, as if afraid I might disappear if she didn't hold me that way. Even when she laughed with them, I could feel her hand tighten slightly, like a silent message telling them to back off.
And whenever their compliments turned especially flirtatious, she'd casually brush a hand through my hair or nestle closer, sending a clear signal: 'Look all you want, but he's mine.' I could tell by the faint, proud smile on her face that she enjoyed the reminder as much as they envied it.
One night, Mom and I went out for dinner with her friends, and from the moment we walked in, it felt like every eye in the place was on us. People glanced our way, some even openly staring.
I could tell my mom noticed too. Instead of sitting in her own chair like everyone else, she surprised everyone there by settling herself down on my lap.
She gave a small, playful smile and told me she "was feeling lonely and just wanted to be pampered by me," but I knew there was more to it.
It was like she was making a silent statement to everyone around us: 'He's mine, and nobody's taking him away.' And, of course, Mom seemed to enjoy every bit of attention we drew.
She'd lean back against me, casually resting her hand on my arm, her fingers sometimes lightly brushing against mine. If someone at another table looked over, she'd glance at them, her expression almost daring them to look any longer.
"You don't mind, do you, Samuel?" she asked softly, giving me a look that told me she was perfectly content right where she was, and even if she minded that, she wasn't going to sit anywhere else.
"Not at all, Mom," I said with a smile, wrapping my arm around her waist a little tighter.
The whole dinner felt like we were in our own little world, even with everyone watching.
Her friends chuckled at her actions, raising their eyebrows as they noticed the closeness between us. Linda gave me a teasing look and said, "Well, aren't you two cozy! Esther, are you sure you want to keep him all to yourself?"
Mom just laughed, patting my shoulder. "Absolutely. You all will just have to find your own heartthrob. He's bound to be mine for the whole life."
During the whole dinner, we were the center of attention, not just at our table but all around. People glanced our way, curious about the connection between us. Mom leaned back against me, her laughter filling the air as we shared little jokes and memories.
Her friends continued to make light-hearted comments, hinting that they wouldn't mind borrowing me for their own errands or events. I could tell they were half-joking, but my mom kept me close, her arm around my shoulders, a small smirk on her face as if to say, 'Nice try, ladies.'
Mom gave me a knowing look, as if to say, 'Just humor them, but don't forget who's really here for you.' I chuckled and gave a polite reply, but it was clear from her protective gaze that she wasn't letting any of them get too close.
It's funny how she's supposed to be acting mature, but here she was with each passing day going more and more kiddish in her actions, to the point she wasn't even trying to hide that she was acting possessive, in fact, she was quite the opposite.
She felt extremely proud of herself for acting that way, as could be seen in her actions getting bolder by the day.
As for the girls my own age… well, that was almost a given. Even back in high school, I couldn't walk down the hallway without catching someone's eye. One day, after track practice, a girl from the cheerleading squad approached me, twirling a strand of her hair with a flirty smile.
"Hey, Samuel, maybe you could help me with my running form sometime? I'm sure there are plenty of other things you could show me too."
She looked up at me with that coy smile, her cheeks pink. She would laugh about it later, reminding me that being "irresistible" was apparently my superpower.
(Flashback No Jutsu Ends)
Each memory made her shake her head with a fond, amused smile. She had been there through it all, half-amused, half-exasperated as I brushed off the attention.
And while I could joke about it, we both knew the truth. I didn't mind the attention neither did she, in fact, she felt all the more proud of me because of it. What mattered most to me was being strong enough to protect her and make her proud.
Just to tease her, I showed her all the photos Linda and Karen had taken, especially the ones where she had sat on my lap during dinner. They were all photos secretly taken by her friends, and they had made an album out of it.
When she saw them, her cheeks flushed a bright red, but she couldn't hide a proud smile.
"This is nothing," she said with a playful look in her eyes. "If it's to protect you from them, I'll do it again. But I have to say, it was pretty funny seeing their faces when I sat on your lap and made you feed and pamper me the whole dinner."
I laughed, watching as a blush deepened across her face. She knew I was teasing her, but the pride in her eyes was unmistakable. She was genuinely enjoying the memory.
"Well, maybe I was a little possessive," she admitted, her voice a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "But it's because I love you so much. I just wanted to keep you safe and happy, to protect you from the world."
A warm feeling spread through me as I pulled her into a gentle embrace. "I know, Mom. And I appreciate it more than you know. But I'm not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself."
She hugged me tighter, her familiar warmth wrapping around me. "I know, sweetie. But a mother's love never stops. I'll always be here to protect you, even if it means being a little possessive."
I chuckled, feeling grateful for her words. "I know, Mom. And I love you for it."
She looked at me, a proud yet playful glint in her eyes, and I could see how deeply she cared. Even though she could be a little overprotective at times, I knew her love was pure and unwavering.
I couldn't have asked for anything more, and now I just need to use that for my advantage.
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Just a quick update: my main focus is currently my MHA fic, so this new story will have slower updates. But if you're want to read ahead, I've got some special options for you on Patreon!
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