"Do you have something to tell me, boys?"

Apollo has rarely seen his mother look this serious. There is a smile on the older Torres woman's slim lips, yet a meaningful spark fills her eyes while scrutinizing the pair of college students in front of her.

The male Torres twin lets his gaze roam in their living room before pausing to study his boyfriend beside him on the long sofa. Eujae's apprehensiveness shows in the way he straightens his back and shoulders, as well as the sheepish smile he's giving Poll's mother.

"I heard from Tem that you two didn't attend your classes today." Amelia brings the glass of lemonade to her lips without taking her hard stare off Eujae. After taking a sip of the drink, she shifts her telling gaze to her son.

"I'm sorry, Aunt-" Eujae starts, but Poll immediately cuts in, "It's my fault 'cause I got drunk last night, and Eujae had to take care of me."

Of course, he intentionally keeps the fact that he has been sober since morning to avoid having to explain what they were doing earlier this day that made them unable to go to the university. Poll doesn't think it is a good idea to tell his mom that he was having a passionate time with his boyfriend on the bed and a little bit more in the shower.

Poll feels himself blush at the memory of his and Eujae's lovemaking. His mother will surely have a heart attack if she hears the truth behind their absence from classes. The older woman doesn't even know that her big baby boy has started dating.

"Don't be mad at Eujae, okay?" he adds in a mumble and lowers his head to hide his face, knowing that a rosy color has spread across his cheeks.

"I'm not mad at either of you, sweetheart. And if anything, I am thankful to Eujae for accommodating you," Amelia answers softly, making the male twin return his attention to her. Looking back and forth between the two young men, she arcs a brow like the way Tem does every time she is doubtful about something. "But after your friend, Nick, called us last night to tell us that you were drunk and that he brought you to Eujae's house because you kept on going on about wanting to see him, I couldn't help but be curious."

Amelia's expression turns benign before she continues, "Is there something I should know about the two of you?"

The male twin sends a sidelong glance at Eujae and learns that the other man is already looking at him with a faint smile. Poll studies his boyfriend's amber-colored contact lenses. He can almost hear the words behind the man's gentle stare. A go signal to tell the truth to his mother.

Just like the day Eujae held his hand in front of their friends, Poll musters up his courage and slips his fingers in between his boyfriend's longer ones. He faces his mother back, gulping in nervousness as the older woman's observant eyes greet him.

"Mom, I..." His mother's firm look makes him waver for a brief second, and then he steels his resolve when he feels Eujae rub the back of his palm with his thumb as if to give him the encouragement that he badly needs. He might be anxious right now, but he suspects that it is even worse for Eujae because he is the one who needs the approval of his lover's mother the most.

Poll notices his mother's gaze flit at their connected hands before it goes back to him.

"I've been dating Eujae, Mom," the male twin says honestly.

A brief silence follows Poll's statement, making him more afraid of his mother's reaction.

"Is that so?" Amelia asks slowly, quietly. "I had no idea that someone like Eujae was your type, sweetie."

Her words display no hint of ill-meaning, but Poll can somehow pick up the implication behind them. I had no idea that you liked a guy.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles, unsure what else to say.

"Why are you sorry, sweetheart? I should have known after all. You've always cared about this young lad, always bringing him up in a conversation like a teenager who was having a major crush on him."

The male twin frowns as he remembers the time he used to hate Eujae. He did mention him a lot during those days, but it was only to rant about him.

"But I wasn't crushing on him," he tells his mom in a small voice, and then glares at his boyfriend when he hears him let out a soft chuckle.

"Looking closely, I guess I understand why you would have a major crush on this young man," Amelia adds, ignoring her son's objection and giving Eujae a once-over. "I've said it a couple of times before, but Eujae does have a handsome face, doesn't he? I can't blame you for falling for his charming looks."

Poll catches a glimpse of his boyfriend's grateful smile. Eujae still doesn't say anything. He might have been hesitant to interrupt the mother-son duo's exchange.

The male twin takes his mother's compliment about Eujae as a sign to say more positive things about his man.

"But his face is not the only thing good about him," he starts in a proud tone, contradicting his past self's belief. If the Apollo of last year heard the same statement from anyone, he would have been the first to strongly argue that Eujae's physical appearance was the only aspect he had going for him. That was exactly what Ten-Ten had said to Gaele.

"He's good at a lot of other things too, like studying. And he has a good personality. He's smart and kind, even though he can be smarty-pants when teasing me." Poll catches the sound of his boyfriend awkwardly clearing his throat, but he pretends not to notice as he continues, "He has something like a part-time job on the internet, but don't worry, it's totally legal. Even Tem knows it because it's what they study in one of their business subjects. And he is good at this job too, that's why he's rich."

Another soft chuckle comes out of the man next to him. Still, Poll focuses on convincing his mother that Eujae is a great boyfriend.

"He is very good at doing tasks. He is organized and likes everything to be neat."

"Sounds like someone you're not, sweetheart," the older woman interjects in a gentle voice.

A pout appears in Poll's expression, but he can't exactly argue with his mother's remark. He nods begrudgingly. "That's why he sometimes scolds me when I eat messily and leave crumbs of food in his house. He's really good at cooking too. He was the one who brought most of the food on my and Tem's birthday. He has a nice voice, but he is terrible at singing."

There are a lot more areas that Eujae is very competent at, but Poll thinks those are things that only he should know.

Like how wonderful he is at whispering sweet nothings in your ears, kissing, and sex? The little voice in his head wants to know, causing more blood to rush to his face. Shut up, stupid, horny brain.

"I see," his mother whispers, distracting Poll from his spicy thoughts before she addresses the other man. "If my Poll is this in love with you, then I am not exactly in a position to stop his happiness. I have also personally seen how sweet of a young man you are, Eujae. I can't say anything bad about you. You might have already known this, but despite Poll's feisty nature, he is a bit more sensitive on the inside. You are the first person he's dated, so I ask you to be more understanding and patient with him. I don't want him to be crying a lot because of this relationship. Are we clear, dear?"

"I don't cry though."

Eujae bows his head ever so slightly and speaks for the first time since the discussion started. "Thank you for entrusting Apollo to me." Looking up, he turns to Poll with an adoring expression. He keeps on talking in a low, solemn voice as if he's reciting a vow in front of the altar with Amelia as their witness. "I can't promise that I can completely avoid upsetting him in the future. It may be inevitable to do small things that will unintentionally disappoint him, but I can at least assure that even I don't want to see him hurting and crying. I will take good care of him, Ma'am."

"I told you I don't cry," Poll repeats with an edge of dissatisfaction.

Simultaneously, his mother reminds Eujae, "I've been telling you not to call me Ma'am, dear. The next time you do that, I'll just think you're calling me mom for mother instead of ma'am for madam. In which case, I won't mind. Since you're my baby Poll's beloved boyfriend, you're already like a son to me."

A subtle trace of amusement coats Eujae's words as he answers, "Sorry, Auntie. I was a bit nervous."

Amelia tilts her head to the side as if to examine the young man's face better. "My children really have great tastes, don't they? Both you and Cloud are very handsome lads."

"Why do you keep complimenting his handsome face, Mom? He's just gonna be smug about it," Poll mumbles, like he wasn't the one who had been heaping praises on his boyfriend a while ago.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you jealous because you don't want me to call anyone but you handsome? Or is it because you don't want anyone, but you calling your boyfriend handsome?" The older woman doesn't wait for her son to respond as she says, "Stay for dinner, alright, Eujae?"

"Thank you, Auntie."

Amelia nods and gets up from the single sofa. "Then I'll leave you two. I'll be in the kitchen preparing the food."

"Do you want any help, Auntie?" Eujae asks politely.

"Next time, dear. Let me treat you to my cooking for now, and next time you can do it for me." Amelia winks before turning to her son. "Attend to your boyfriend, sweetheart, and don't argue with him, alright?"

Poll frowns at the older woman's retreating back, unhappy with how his mother sounded as if all he has done with people is argue. As soon as Amelia disappears into the other room, the male twin turns to look at his boyfriend. His scowl deepens at the sight of a familiar smirk on Eujae's lips. He just knows the expression too well.

Before his lover can get a chance to tease him again, he crosses his arms on his chest and huffs, "You're wrong."

"I didn't even say anything, baby." Eujae snickers and plants a soft kiss on his grumpy little bean's forehead.