{Seraphina's POV}
[Jack: Eizkel is fine and asleep, ma'am.]
[Me: Good! Did you check the cameras? Did he eat?]
[Jack: Yeah, he ate...]
[Me: Why did you type it like that?]
[Jack: Him and Miss Noire are currently sleeping together. I didn't think Mr. Eizkel had it in him.]
[Me: You're watching them? That's a new low, Jack.]
[Jack: Miss, your jokes aren't funny.]
[Me: Damn it. Here I thought I got you for once!]
[Jack: Better luck next time. Bye for now.]
[Me: Hmm.]
I put my phone down, the cool glass brushing against my fingertips as I sighed in relief. My whole body slumped into the soft mattress beneath me, the tension I'd been carrying for two days finally starting to melt away. The amount of worry I had felt was enough to last a lifetime.
Outside the window, the muffled sound of waves crashing against the shore drifted into the room, mixing with the distant laughter of families enjoying the morning sun. Fortunately, Euphi and Cain were having the time of their lives, exploring the beaches and various waterparks without a care in the world.
I left my phone behind on the nightstand and headed into the bathroom, the cool tiles pressing against the soles of my feet. The hot spray of the shower soothed my muscles, washing away the last traces of sleep and lingering anxiety. By the time I got out, the scent of fresh coffee and toasted bread filled the room, breakfast having been delivered while I was getting ready.
Before I knew it, it was already 10 a.m. over here, the sunlight spilling warmly across the bed and carpeting the floor in a soft golden glow. With it just turning 9 back home, now seemed like a good time to call and hear how things were from Eizkel himself.
'Hold on, hold on. What if I call and they're still doing it? N-No way my son can last two hours, right? But he is my kid... and our family is built to last...' shook my head. If he really was still going, he wouldn't pick up the phone. There's no way he'd pick up the phone... totally.
My finger hovered over his caller ID, and then I just pressed it. I full sent it, and Video called him and all! My son wouldn't da—
"Eiz~!"
'...'
"Hey, Miss Seraphina!" Katelyn answered the call with a very loud pleasure-filled moan. A moan I wish I didn't hear, but now that we were here...
"So... why answer the phone when you two are deep at it?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"You two are sleeping together still, right?"
Her face lit up bright red, her eyes darting off to the side like she was searching for an escape. She clearly didn't know how to handle this situation, but you'd think she wouldn't answer the phone while going at it.
"NO! I-I was stretching, and I called for Eiz since he's in the shower!"
"Uh huh. And you moaned like that because you were stretching?"
"Y-YES! Oh, Eiz, please take this!"
She passed the phone off to my son, who was shirtless and completely wet. At least, I could believe he took a shower, but not for one second did I believe they hadn't done anything. She was wearing one of his shirts and while I couldn't see her bottom half with the way his shirt rested, I knew something was up.
"Mom?"
"Hey, Eiz. Having fun?"
"In a sense, yeah."
His voice was easy and relaxed, carrying the lazy warmth of someone who had just finished a shower and wasn't stressing over much.
"So, how was it?"
"How was what?" He cocked his head to the side genuinely confused.
"Your first time, obviously!"
He blinked at the screen, water still clinging to his lashes before a slow, amused grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. The soft sound of a towel rustling against his shoulder filtered through the mic as he shifted the phone a little closer.
"Oh, haven't gotten to it. Kinda takin' it slow. No need to rush things yet."
"You're serious?"
He nodded without hesitation, droplets scattering from his still-damp hair, his posture loose and unbothered.
He wouldn't lie to me, so I believed him... but I still found it strange that he hadn't done anything. Katelyn was a super attractive girl —maybe not as much as me— but still pretty. She had a perfect body and her personality was cheerful, so it just felt weird.
The camera moved with him as he walked over to his bed, laying down.He tossed the towel off somewhere, and Katelyn's voice entered through the mic.
"You shouldn't throw it on the ground."
Eiz looked over to his right, smiling.
"I'll pick it up, Kate, but I'm on the phone. By the way, why are you hiding?"
"I can't..."
"Bahahaha~ I'm sure she just misunderstood. You are wearing my shirt after all!"
I decided to join in.
"Kate, dear, it's okay. I really did misunderstand. I'm sorry, alright?"
She joined my son on his bed, laying on his side with her head resting on his shoulder. Her eyes wouldn't meet the phone, but at least she wasn't hiding anymore.
Smirking, I stared at Eiz straight through the phone, right into his blue eyes.
"I didn't think my son had it in him!"
His lips twitched, and Kate looked worried for some reason, but I disregarded it as nonsense.
"What can I say, Mom? It's hard being this good loo—OUCH?!"
"You don't look as good as me!"
"Huh? Do you not see the skin? The eyes? The hair? I'm an absolute king!"
"Hehe~ A king of bullshit."
Watching them flirt was entertaining, but I had to hurry this up. Cain and Euphi would be back soon.
"Okay, you two. While it is entertaining, I just have to ask, how are you doing, Eiz?"
Kate became worried once again, and Eiz looked sad. He tried speaking but stopped several times, and after several minutes, Kate spoke for him. I did not like that.
"Y-You two need to talk when you get home."
"And I mean this with no offense, Kate, but I didn't ask you." My mood soured thinking about what could be wrong with my Eiz. What could be so bad that he couldn't tell me right now?
I did feel kind of bad coming at her like that, but I'd apologize after I found out.
Eiz just nodded and looked away from the camera, his shoulders tensing slightly as he did.
"I see. Then, we'll do that."I took a deep breath, the air scraping against my throat as I forced myself to stay calm before continuing,"Kate, sorry for the outburst. Eiz, whatever it is, you're still my son, so—"
'Huh?'
I had to stop.My son was crying right in front of me.
Tears clung stubbornly to his lashes before slipping down his cheeks, catching in the faint light of the screen. His lips trembled as he tried and failed to keep a brave face.
What the hell was going on?!
"Eiz, it's okay."
"Y-Yeah, Eiz! It's fine!" Kate's voice cracked with forced cheerfulness, but he wouldn't stop. The sound of his quiet tears making it hard for me to breathe.
Kate grabbed the phone, giving me a look, her hands trembling slightly around the edges of the screen. I understood her intent immediately and gave her a small nod, my throat too tight to speak.
The call disconnected a second later, the screen going dark with a soft click that felt louder than it should have in the heavy silence.
I sat there, staring at the faint reflection of myself in the black glass, the ghost of my own worried face staring back.
This was one of the few times I truly loathed being helpless. I clenched my fists against my thighs, nails biting into the fabric of my pants as frustration simmered under my skin.
Me making it this far in my career was supposed to ensure I'd never be helpless again, but it seems the world has a funny way of messing with me.