Aselia returned home before Yurian did and found Esma waiting for her.

"So, how did it go? Any hope?" Esma raised one eyebrow. Aselia went ahead and slumped alongside her on the sofa. She placed the emerald box on the table and took off her bandana before throwing it beside it, she then placed her head on Esma’s shoulder.

"I liked her, she was sweet and they looked adorable together. But I don’t think both of them are there yet or realise it," Aselia provided her insight.

"Hmm, does that mean he needs a little push?" Esma asked while lovingly patting Aselia’s head.

"Yes, he needs time and little motivation to take the next step. But there is a spark between them, I could sense it."

"Interesting, so let’s make sure we keep pushing him now. I don’t want to die without grandchildren," Esma had that mischievous glint in her eyes as she rubbed her hands together and Aselia couldn’t help but repress laughter by burying her face in Esma’s shoulder.

"Oh! yes, she brought chocolates," Aselia picked up the box and opening it, offered it to Esma.

"Delicious, these are some fancy chocolates," both of them popped them in their mouth and began to relish in the taste.

"Yummy indeed," Aselia licked her fingers.

"You want something else to eat my dear?" Esma asked after a while, as they finished eating the nutty chocolates.

"No, I ate with Jaguar."

"Is he treating you well? Or has he been misbehaving?" Esma was still a bit apprehensive of him.

"He treats me just fine and I like him too but that spark is missing somehow. But I promised him I will give it a try and be friends with him. So going with that."

Their conversation was interrupted by the opening of the front door and Yurian’s entrance. Both women turned to face him with cheeky smiles on their faces and Yurian couldn’t help but feel blood rush to his cheeks as he stared back at them with a neutral expression. An awkwardness followed.

"Hey! My mother and sister, you guys are still awake?"

"We are, I wanted to hear how was my son’s first date in a long time," Esma offered him an angelic smile but he knew there was trickery hidden behind it.

"It wasn’t a date Mom. We are just friends. She was only here because Leia insisted," Yurian began to take off his shoes but could feel the four pairs of eyes following all his movements.

"A very sweet and beautiful friend, who flew thousands of miles from another continent, bearing gifts just to meet her friend and impress his elder sister in the process," Aselia nonchalantly added and did a high five with Esma. Yurian sighed.

"That’s because she is a nice person, doesn’t mean we have romantic feelings for each other..."

"Yet," Esma completed his sentence with a serious tone as he sauntered over and sat down beside her.

"Mom!" Yurian knitted his eyebrows and let out an angry yelp.

"Rawais! my son, my cuddly oddly doodle," Esma made smooching sounds as she pinched his cheeks, embarrassing him further. Aselia had bent over from laughter seeing the look on Yurian’s face.

"Stop embarrassing me. What’s wrong with both of you lately," he glared at them, hauling his body away from the reach of his mom who still wanted to cuddle him.

"Nothing, we are just happy for you. Everyone needs a companion with whom they can talk or open their hearts. Someone you can share trivialities with without any fear of being judged. We just want you to have someone like that too," Esma pulled him closer so he could rest on her shoulder, just like Aselia was doing.

"I know but I don’t think she is that person for me. It’s complicated," the heavy sigh that escaped him after these words didn’t go unnoticed by the two women beside him.

"Why? What’s wrong? Is she in love with someone else?" Aselia straightened up a bit so she could glance at Yurian and understand what his expressions reflected.

"No, but she..." he couldn’t bring himself to speak the rest of the words.

"She what Yurian? Tell us," Esma stared at him with seriousness enveloping her beautiful eyes.

"She is a vampire and I am a vampire hunter. We all despise vampires. Do you think you people can accept a vampire amongst you?" he blurted out and deadly silence hung in the air after his utterance. Aselia’s eyes held disbelief, her lips formed a straight line while Esma clasped her mouth with her hands to not let out a shriek, her eyes widened in shock.

"See. That was the reaction I was trying to avoid and exactly the reason I didn’t tell anyone about her. She won’t be accepted and I don’t want anyone saying hateful words to her," seeing both women were still tongue-tied he shook his head and getting up went to his room.

"I didn’t see that coming. Truth be told I don’t want a vampire for him after everything," Esma hid her face in her hands feeling overwhelmed. Aselia hugged her.

"It’s alright to feel that way but we can’t dictate his love life. It has been after a long time that he has started to let someone in. We have to try to be supportive," Aselia whispered to Esma as she held her in her arms.

"I know. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I don’t even know the girl. Let me go talk to him," Aselia nodded at her words and let Esma head over to her son’s room.

Knocking on the door she entered to find him sprawled on the bed with his arm over his eyes.

"Rawais, my boy," Esma approached him and sat down. "I am sorry I should have been more considerate."

Yurian removed his arm and glanced at his mother, there was this sadness in his eyes which broke her heart.

"Mom, I understand how you feel about vampires. You don’t have to apologize."

"Yes, I do. I almost judged you, my precious boy. That’s not what I should be doing. So I promise there will be no judgement on you. Whoever you chose or want to be friends with, I will wholeheartedly accept."

She warmly smiled at her son who was watching her with a gloomy face but her words comforted his agitated heart and he leaned closer to hug his mother.

"Thank you, Mom, I love you!"

"I love you too!"