I slept in today, which didn’t please my mom. Cynthia, Alex and me were tortured by my mother in the kitchen, even though all 4 of us barely had space inside. The counter tops were full of prepped food, condiments, spices, ingredients, drinks… no order whatsoever. We have been preparing food since 1 pm. It was around 6:30 pm right now, the chicken and pork were in the oven, roasting. The sides were in the fridge and salads being tossed by Cynthia. I set the table the way my mom wanted to; candles, winter ornaments, plates with silver lines, three different types of glasses for each seat, quality napkins with slim sliver snowflakes… my mom was going all out today.

My mom and Cynthia were getting ready together, as I could hear them laughing every now and then inside my mom’s room. Alex helped set the silverware and urged me to go get ready myself while he checked on the food in the oven. I put on an oversized T-Shirt off the shoulder, one of my favorite T-Shirts, and my stacked silver necklaces were sitting nicely on top. I was feeling hot, because of the intensive arranging and the heat from the oven, so I decided to put my hair up in a hair clip, some strands of hair in the front hanging out and framing my face. As I was making sure my hair clam was secure and my hair still covered the back of my neck, the doorbell rang. I heard Alex go towards the door, so I stayed in my room, checking out my outfit. Only when I heard the knock on the door did I realize Geonsu might have arrived first, as Romina knew to just walk inside. I wanted to open the door for him, but Alex reached the door first. I walked out of my room and headed towards the entrance.

“Oh, hello. I am Geonsu. You must be mister Be…” before he could finish or I could hear his full introduction, Alex interrupted him.

“Who are you? I think you have the wrong apartment.”

Alex used such a cold tone, I was taken aback. I fastened my pace and called out to Alex.

“Alex, Alex… He was invited by mom. He’s my acquaintance. Hey! Come inside.” I opened the door fully and while Geonsu took his jacket and shoes off, I spoke to Alex, whispering.

“I didn’t think to tell you someone knew was coming over.”

“Who is he? How did you meet this guy? He’s old.”

“He’s only 32. Romina knows him as well…”

“Yes, but why is he here?”

I stopped talking to him, seeing how awkward Geonsu stood in the middle of the hallway, holding some bags in his hands. I dismissed Alex, not understanding what his problem was. My household was always welcoming new people, and my mom invited him over. What was his issue? Hearing voices outside, my mom and Cynthia got out of the bedroom and approached Geonsu.

“Geonsu, my dear! Welcome, welcome! Don’t stand there so awkwardly. This is Cynthia, my best friend. She works at Bella-Donna. You’ve never met each other, right? How could that be? You work next to each other!”

“Hello, missus Becker. No, I’ve never met Cynthia. Good to see you!”

My mom and Cynthia looked at each other and busted out laughing. I started to giggle as well, only Geonsu was looking around puzzled, not understanding what he said that was so funny. I think my mom pre-gamed a bit too much with Cynthia. I saw her eyes glow a bit.

“Dear, I’m not married. Call me Denise, okay?”

My mom was gesturing him to step inside the living room and make himself comfortable. As she mentioned she wasn’t married, Geonsu glanced at Alex, then followed her inside the living room, walking past him.

“I brought something for you. I hope you enjoy it.” He said while handing her a tall, slim gift bag. My mom opened it and inside was a very expensive looking white wine. She giggled, showed off the gift and went inside the kitchen to look for a wine opener, while talking to Geonsu from a distance.

“You know, we also got you something. You’ll get it in a second. Kento, go take it from your room.”

I turned to leave but before I took a step, he pushed another gift bag in front of me, waiting for me to grab it, not maintaining eye contact, blushing and not saying a word. I saw his chest move up and down, breathing hard. He flustered me as well. I took it and looked inside. It was a very small, elongated box inside, wrapped up in silver paper. I usually would not open gifts in front of the person gifting, but it got me curious. When I unwrapped the paper and opened the box, I gasped and, to my excitement, I sprinted to the kitchen to show my mom, not even thanking him.

“Mom! Mom! Look…”

“Oh my! How beautiful. Let me hold it.”

“No, wait. I didn’t get to hold it first!” I protested, feeling like a 10-year-old who didn’t want to share his toy. I suddenly realized my mistake, put the box on the counter and walked back into the living room.

“I’m sorry, I got too excited. Thank you so much! How did you know?” I felt light tears form into my eyes. I didn’t feel like crying, but I got so excited I felt like I could not control my emotions.

“I asked Romina what something is you like to do… she only said coffee and espresso were your true love.” He smiled.

Alex wanted to know what was going on too, but didn’t want to ask me or Geonsu, so he went into the kitchen and looked inside the box, where my mom and Cynthia were already giddily remarking on the present and awing over how thoughtful Geonsu was.

It was a small, silver, retro espresso spoon. Around 11 cm tall with intricate shapes at the top with a small white rock. Around 2,5 cm wide, the spoon's bowl was sculpted into the shape of a delicate seashell, its ridges catching the light like polished silver waves.

I went back into the kitchen, took my present and brought it to my room. I came back to the living room, and my mom was waiting for me to give Geonsu his present. We both decided and bought it. I shyly presented the box to him. He looked genuinely surprised.

“I hope you like it. My forgetful son chose it; to replace the one you lent him.” She said and turned around, putting music on and getting the drinks in the living room while Geonsu was opening the box slowly.

It was a dark marine blue, cashmere and merino blend scarf. Nothing fancy, but something I knew he needed and would be happy for. I noticed he had a lot of scarves, even though the one I forgot to bring back to him was missing, I remembered he wore different ones the first time we met and the day we went to the police station. We both put a lot of thought into the presents.

“Thank you. I’ve never had such a high-quality scarf. I like it very much.”

Romina arrived soon after and like every year, she brought tequila over, the drink her, Cynthia and my mom would wipe clean together. The food was ready and we took our seats around the table. I was sitting next to Romina and Alex, my mom followed next to Alex and between my mom and Geonsu was sitting almost in front of me. Cynthia was sitting between Geonsu and Romina and was talking with Romina noninterrupted, as the two of them didn’t see each other for a while, oblivious to the rest of the people sitting there.  As each and every one was finishing the food, Alex started to make small talk. Or rather, small jabs.

“So, how do you support yourself, Geonsu?”

“I am a sauté chef. I have 7 years of experience.”

“So, you were what? 26 when you started to be a sauté chef?”

“Yes, sir. Indeed.”

“Hmm, what were you doing 7 years ago, Kento?”

What? How is that relevant? He knows I was in 10^th grade.

“I was a sophomore. But you know that. Why?”

“And you were a freshman 2 years before that, right? Oh, how time flies!” he grinned and picked up some more food.

“Alex, I don’t want to think of work right now. It’s the holidays.” my mom looked at Alex, putting her fork and knife down. She looked pissed. I didn’t understand where Alex’s energy suddenly came from.

“I would argue any job is a good job. I didn’t go to university, but I earned my place there and my income is just fine. What do you do, sir?”

“No one says going to university is better than. I was just remarking how interesting and different your stages were. You were 26, Kento is going to be 26 in 2 and a half years.” He sipped on his wine and continued to eat.

It seemed that my mom didn’t appreciate the stifle vibe and the subtle criticism, so she intervened and changed the subject. I think she wanted to figure something out, rather than comfort Geonsu.

“So, are you an Alpha? Is that appropriate to ask?”

“Yes, yes I am.”

“Only my son has a secondary sex. I am a Beta, you know?”

“I didn’t know. Was it hard raising Kento?” He smiled and raised his eyebrow, giving me a side eye.

“Oh God, don’t remind me. He used to get into my coffee beans and hide them to smell them at night when he was 5. When I hid them, he searched for something similar and hid dried kidney bones in his room. He must have his them somewhere damp, because mold grew and he couldn’t go inside his room for weeks!”

Everyone started laughing, even Cynthia, who heard this story hundreds of times.  Everyone started to talk in pairs. Geonsu and my mom were bonding over their love for science, Romina and Cynthia over their favorite reality TV show, only me and Alex were not talking. I didn’t appreciate the hostility towards Geonsu, so I asked him, whispering.

“What is up with you today? I’ve never seen you so unfriendly.”

“He is almost 10 years older, that’s what it is. While you were a sophomore, he had a stable career and he is an Alpha. Dominant at that. Do you not understand what power imbalance is? I think he is predating on you!”

“What are you saying? We are friends! And I can make my own choices if something were to be between us.”

“I just don’t like him. I think you are too simple minded to understand the situation…”

He kept on talking, but I couldn’t hear him. He angered me so much, I wished I could just stand up and leave. I wanted to smoke and be away from his talking.

“You are not my dad. And I’m old enough.”

I stood up and went to the balcony for a smoke. I knew I might have hurt his feelings; I didn’t intend to. But to say I was simple minded when it came to this stuff hurt me more. Not because I had much experience or lots of relationships, but because the last one I had left me scared. He knew and still chose those words. Alex followed me outside and apologized.

“Kento, wait. I am sorry. You know how I feel about you. Even if you don’t see me like that, I see you as my family. You and your mom are all I have. This is how I see you. Please, forgive me. I know I hurt you.”

“I am sorry too, for what I said.”

“I know you made progress, but you should keep in mind what happened. I don’t want to scare you into never letting someone touch your heart again… but be careful. Please.”

We hugged and everything got settled. This is why I liked Alex, especially when I figured out he was dating my mom. My mom deserved someone soft and kind, who wants to shield us and not hold grudges, who apologizes and gives in. As we stepped inside after 15 minutes of chilling and smoking, the atmosphere got louder and lighter.

“And you walked in those? How is that possible?” Geonsu shouted, pointing at my mom’s shoes, his mouth hitting the floor.

“And more! I danced and did flips and all that!”

What did we walk into? My mom showing off her shoe collection to Geonsu. I guess Geonsu was now several meters deep into the family Becker lore. I didn’t even want to know what else my mom told him. We were outside for only 15 minutes. Cynthia was trying on my mom’s shoes, reminiscing.

“These ones I loved the most. I borrowed them a bunch of times from you. You never let me have them fully! And they were limited edition! You evil girl!”

“Yeah, well too bad! I loved them and still do!”

Romina tried to walk in some red high heels but almost fell on the coffee table. My mom grabbed her laughing maniacally and held her hands, for her to be able to take a few steps.