Mika leaned back slowly, his eyes half-lidded, the look of memory softening his face. For a few seconds he didn't answer, just let silence draw out as though he were sifting through his past. Then finally, with a quiet exhale, he nodded.

"…Probably back when I was 10 years old I guess." He admitted, tone casual, almost reflective.

Yelena's eyes widened in shock.

"10 years old?!" She blurted, her voice breaking with disbelief. "That long ago? Don't tell me...you noticed me ever since then?"

He gave a faint, rueful chuckle and nodded again. "Yeah. I did."

Her face burned hotter, her heartbeat rattling against her chest as if it wanted to escape. But before she could even process that revelation, Mika's voice continued, calm, almost teasing in the way he unfolded the fake memory.

"I remember it clearly. We were at a poolside once, summer vacation, I think. I was stretched out on one of the chairs, sunglasses on, half-asleep, not really paying attention to anyone. Just enjoying the day. And then…"

His eyes flicked up to hers, glinting.

"I saw someone. Someone walking out of the water with a figure so utterly flawless, so perfectly shaped, it stole my breath. My whole body went stiff. My jaw literally dropped. And...my sunglasses fell straight off my face."

Yelena gasped, her entire body jerking like she'd been burned. "M-Mika…!" She stammered, already blushing furiously, because she knew exactly where this was going.

"I thought to myself..." Mika chuckled softly, shaking his head at the memory. "...Who in the world is this woman? That body was so stunning it demanded attention. So hot, so balanced, it even made someone like me who wasn't interested in women at that age awaken something deep inside. And then…" His grin widened slightly, sharp and knowing. "...I realized who it was. You. The same women who helped me into my swimming trunks a monent ago...My own mother."

Yelena nearly keeled over, her hand shooting to her forehead as she gasped for air. "Oh my God…" She whispered, mortified. "...y-you can't be serious, "

But he only leaned closer, unbothered, eyes unwavering. "That was the first time I realized, Yelena. That your figure wasn't just nice. It was...perfection. And I never forgot it, since your body was probably what activated my puberty."

Hearing this horrifying but exciting fact, her chest heaved.

"M-Mika…!" She stammered again, clutching at her chest like she was on the verge of fainting. "This conversation, it's too much, I can't...I can't—"

She wanted to jump into the pool herself, submerge her whole body in freezing water, and not come back up until her blush disappeared.

Still, despite the whirlwind in her chest, a question burned on her lips. She forced it out, weak and trembling.

"B-But Mika...didn't it feel...strange? Didn't it feel wrong after realizing it was me? Didn't it bother you, looking at your own mother that way? It's...not normal. Not right. Didn't it affect you later?...At all?"

She stared at him, wide-eyed, pleading for some kind of denial.

But Mika only shook his head without hesitation. His answer came fast, steady, and calm,

"No. Not at all."

Her breath caught. "W-What…?"

"Sure, in that moment, yeah, I was shocked." He leaned back, shrugging lightly. "It was...weird, for a second. Realizing it was you, my the women who made my lunch everyday. Of course, I hesitated. I didn't know how to take it at first."

"But then I thought about it...and really, what was the problem? It just meant you had a body worth admiring...That's all. Nothing more, nothing less."

"And once I accepted that, I moved on. I kept treating you the same. I never let it change how I saw you...how I acted with you. Not once."

Yelena stared at him, stunned.

"…Really? Nothing changed at all? No different feelings buried deep down? No...lingering thoughts?"

Mika shook his head again, firm.

"No. Not at all. I saw you the same way as always. You should know that better than anyone, Yelena. Have I ever treated you any differently?"

She froze. Her lips parted faintly. And then, slowly, she shook her head. "No...you haven't."

The realization softened her. He was right. Mika had always been the same, teasing, sharp-tongued, shameless...but never once had he treated her with hesitation, or with some hidden agenda.

That consistency washed over her like a wave of relief, and she exhaled heavily, clutching her chest as though releasing a burden she hadn't realized she was carrying.

"…I see. I understand now."

Mika also saw the relief settle on her face, and his lips curved...Good. She was steadying again.

But he also knew he couldn't just leave it there. He had to seal the moment, lock her in completely. So he lowered his gaze briefly, his smile fading into something softer, more hesitant.

"But the truth is..." He murmured, voice laced with something almost pitiful. "...back then, I didn't really think much of it. I brushed it off. It was just...like when a kid thinks his friend's mom is hot. Or when someone admits their teacher is attractive."

"...Weird, yes. But harmless. I never cared enough to dwell on it. But now…"

He trailed off, shaking his head with a weak chuckle, eyes dropping to the floor.

"…Now that I'm saying it out loud, I realize how strange it sounds. How inappropriate it must feel for you, hearing it from me. And maybe...maybe I went too far."

"I just wanted to cheer you up, Yelena. I wanted to make you feel good about yourself again. But instead…" He sighed, bowing his head low. "…instead I probably just made everything more awkward between us. I'm sorry...I-I'm sorry for that."

The tone in his voice, the quiet sorrow, the guilt weighing down every word, shook her.

Yelena's eyes widened, her heart twisting painfully.

Just moments ago, he had been bold, relentless, complimenting her so casually it made her feel like she was suffocating.

But now, now he was the one looking small, pitiful, like he regretted it all. He was blaming himself. For her. For going out of his way to say things no one else would ever dare say, just to lift her spirits.

And there was no way she could hold back when he was looking so pitiful at the moment.

"Oh no, darling! No, no, no!"

Yelena burst out, her arms suddenly wrapping around him, pulling him tight against her chest. She buried his head into her embrace, holding him as though she needed to shield him from his own guilt.

"Don't you dare feel bad. I'm not awkward. Not at all. What you said isn't wrong, it isn't wrong in the slightest."

"Yelena…"

"Hush." She stroked the back of his head, clutching him tighter. "I appreciate it. All of it. Do you understand me? I know how embarrassing it must have been for you to say that...I know how awkward it should feel."

"But you still said it, for me. And that means the world, Mika. Do you understand?...It means everything to me."

Her voice cracked with warmth, with sincerity. She pulled back just enough to look at his face, her smile trembling, eyes shining.

"Really, Mika. I'm so thankful. So thankful to have raised such a darling boy who cares about his mother so much that he's willing to bare his heart, to say what no one else would say, just to comfort me."

"...So, thank you, Mika. Truly, thank you."

Mika tilted his head up, his wide eyes glistening, caught in her embrace.

"…Really? You're not...awkward at all? You don't think I said anything strange?"

She gave him a tender smile, shaking her head.

"No. Not at all, dear. It was strange for a second, yes...but then I realized. You weren't saying it out of malice. You weren't saying it to cross a line...You were saying it because you care."

"Because you wanted me to feel better...And for that, I couldn't be happier. I'm so lucky to have you."

Then, with a soft laugh, she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss onto his forehead.

"Mika, my sweet boy...I'm so happy to have you in my life."

Mika blinked up at her, his lips twitching before he let out a long breath of relief.

"Thank God...for a second there, I thought I said too much. I thought it was going to ruin things between us."

But Yelena only shook her head firmly, hugging him close again.

"Never. No matter what you say, Mika, nothing will change between us. It will always be the same. Always."

And as she held him tenderly against her chest, Mika smiled beneath her embrace, soft, warm...and sly.

Because in that moment, he knew. His goal was achieved. He had disarmed her doubts, broken through her defenses, and now...now he was ready to take full advantage of it and be as shameless as possible...