Mochi returned from the kitchen.
Empty bowl.
Red face.
Burning.
Her family waited.
Like this moment was scheduled.
Her father stood straight.
Serious.
Criminal-interrogation posture.
Her mother smiled.
That dangerous mother smile.
Candy sat on a stool.
Small.
Judgmental.
Maya leaned on the wall.
Cracking her knuckles.
Ready for violence.
Her father cleared his throat.
"Bring the boy here."
Mochi almost tripped.
"D-DAD! He's sick!""He just ate!"
Her mother waved a hand.
"We're not killing him.""Just talking."
Candy pointed like a commander.
"Bring the suspect!"
Maya crossed her arms.
Mafia bodyguard mode.
Mochi wanted to vanish.
Laddu appeared.
Kitchen entrance.
Wrapped in a blanket.
Hair messy.
Face pale.
Fever still there.
But standing straight.
Trying.
"Good… morning…?" he said weakly.
Her father pointed.
"Sit."
Laddu sat instantly.
Too fast.
School punishment reflex.
Mochi hid behind a pillow.
Across the room.
Candy opened a toy notebook.
"Tell us everything."
The interrogation began.
"When did you meet my daughter?""10 AM. Amusement park."
"And what first?" her mother asked.
"…Rollercoaster."
Candy gasped.
"Unnie hates that!"
Maya narrowed her eyes.
"Did you force her?"
"N-no! I flipped a coin!"
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"…It was always heads."
Candy pointed.
"You CHEATED."
"Yes…" Laddu admitted.
Mochi buried her face.
"And then?" her mother asked.
"Costume shop!" Laddu smiled.
Maya groaned.
"Oh no…"
"She wore a pirate hat.""Too small.""She looked cute.""Then lightsaber—"
"She jumped.""Three feet."
"M-M-Mochi!" Mochi squeaked.
Candy rolled laughing.
"And the Nazi costume?" Maya asked.
Laddu froze.
"Bad joke!""I put it back!"
Her father stared.
"Good.""Or I'd put YOU back."
Laddu gulped.
"And those clothes?" her mother asked.
Mochi slid lower.
"I… bought her clothes," Laddu said shyly.
Silence.
Her mother smiled.
Her father raised an eyebrow.
Maya choked on water.
Candy gasped.
"BUYING CLOTHES?!"
"She said cute," Laddu said simply."So I bought."
Mochi peeked.
Eyes wide.
Heart racing.
Her mother clutched her chest.
"She likes shopping?"
Laddu nodded.
"If she my wife, sure."
Mochi turned completely red.
Candy jumped.
"Can I shop too?!"
"Sure," Laddu said.
"How much?" Candy asked.
"In your dream," Laddu replied."You buy everything."
The room burst.
Laughter.
Laddu added calmly—
"But I dream with open eyes."
More laughter.
"And the restaurant?" her father asked.
"Noodles.""Extra spicy."
Her mother gasped.
"And you lived?!"
"No problem," Laddu said."Chili like fly.""My granny food stronger."
Candy snorted.
"And chopsticks?" she asked.
"I failed.""Badly.""So she fed me."
Silence.
All heads turned.
Mochi hid again.
"I-I was helping!"
Her mother squealed.
"That's adorable!"
Her father blinked.
"She FED you?"
"Yes," Laddu said seriously."Like baby bird."
Maya facepalmed.
Loud.
"Then why outside all night?" her father asked.
"We talked," Laddu said."Until sunrise."
His voice softened.
"About everything.""It was… nice."
Mochi peeked again.
Red everywhere.
"And she fell asleep," Laddu added."So I gave her my jacket."
Her mother melted.
Candy clapped.
Maya wiped a fake tear.
"He's an idiot," Maya said."But a good idiot."
Her father watched Laddu.
Long.
Quiet.
"You didn't touch her.""You behaved.""You kept her warm.""And now you're sick."
"Yes, sir," Laddu said.
Her father nodded once.
"My daughter likes him."
"DAAAAAAD!" Mochi screamed.
Too late.
Verdict given.
"He's acceptable."
Her mother cheered.
Candy danced.
Maya patted Laddu's shoulder.
Survivor of war.
Laddu exhaled.
Mochi hid her face.
Embarrassed beyond words.
But deep inside—
Her heart glowed.
Warm.
Like sunlight.