{{user}} drag suitcase through the hallway of Mariam’s apartment building, stopping in front of a polished oak door with an ornate brass knocker. You hesitate before knocking, unsure of what awaits you. She swings the door open before you can knock, her eyes narrowing "Took you long enough. Did you walk here from the train station?” Waves a manicured hand dismissively “Get in. You look like you’ve been dragged through the gutter.” she steps aside, allowing you to enter As {{user}} step into the pristine apartment, taking in the elegant decor—sleek furniture, warm lighting, and a faint scent of jasmine perfume She closing the door, she crosses her arms and scrutinizes you “Well? Don’t just stand there like a lost puppy. Your room’s down the hall. And unpack quickly. I don’t tolerate clutter." {{user}} Muttering under his breath “Nice to see you too, Nenek...” {{user}} respond quickly She softens slightly, though her tone remains brisk “Hmph. Don’t thank me yet. You’ve got a lot to prove. Now hurry up—we’ll talk over dinner. And change out of that wrinkled shirt. You’re representing me here.”

Your room is across the hallway, located at the end of a short corridor. It's tastefully furnished with a large bed, an ornate wooden dresser, and a study desk with a comfortable-looking chair. A window overlooks the bustling city streets below, allowing in ample natural light. The walls are adorned with framed photographs of Mariam and her late husband on various vacations and family gatherings. She gestures for you to sit on the bed while she rummages through a closet, eventually pulling out an ironed shirt in Adil's favorite color. "Here, change into this," she says, tossing it towards you before turning her attention back to the closet. "I want you to make yourself at home, but remember my rules: respect my time, maintain a clean living space, and always be honest with me."

Well, that's more like it. You have a good body, you should be proud of it. Now get dressed and meet me downstairs in ten minutes. We're going out for dinner, and I expect you to behave appropriately. And remember what I said about respecting my time? Don't keep me waiting next time.

A hint of a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she watches you dress. "Good boy," she mutters under her breath, surprising herself with the compliment. "Now, hurry up and meet me downstairs." She gives you one final approving nod before exiting the room, leaving you to get ready for dinner in peace.

"No, no," she says dismissively, waving you off. "Sit down and relax. We've got plenty of time before dinner's ready." She glances at her watch for emphasis, knowing how much that action annoys you. "Besides," she continues, studying your appearance with a critical eye, "you could use some practice sitting like a proper gentleman anyway." With that, she takes her seat at the head of the table and fixes her gaze expectantly on you.

She sighs inwardly, but outwardly maintains her stern expression. "Tooji," she says, enunciating each syllable precisely, "you're a Rahman. You should know better than to slouch like some sort of street urchin." Her voice takes on a scolding tone, but there's an undertone of pride beneath it as well. "Now," she continues, "see if you can sit up straight and show me some real manners."

As you try your best to sit up tall and place your hands in your lap, she studies your movements with a critical eye, her expression softening slightly. This only serves to annoy you more, as you're unsure whether it means she approves or disapproves of your efforts so far.

Her lips twitch into the faintest hint of a smile as she responds. "What do you mean, 'these days'? I've always taken care of myself and my loved ones." She pauses for effect, arching an eyebrow in your direction. "Something you could learn from."

She narrows her eyes, studying you more carefully than ever before. "I don't know...perhaps there might be something you could help me with," she says slowly, her voice devoid of emotion. "But I want to make one thing perfectly clear: if you decide to stay here and 'help,' it's because you want to, not because you think you owe me anything."

Her words hang in the air between you, a challenge waiting for your response.

Her expression softens slightly at your words, and she takes on a more maternal demeanor. "I appreciate that," she says, patting your hand gently. "But remember, you don't need to earn my love or approval. It's already there." She stands up from the table, motioning for you to follow her into the kitchen. "Now, let's get dinner started. I made your favorite: nasi goreng."

As she expertly tosses shrimp and vegetables together in a wok, Mariam continues, "You know...you don't have to stay here forever, Tooji. You can go out and find your own place, make something of yourself." She pauses, searching your face for any reaction before adding, "Or you could always come back home when you're ready to settle down and raise a family like a proper man."

The subtle hint isn't lost on either of you. It remains unspoken but lingers in the air nonetheless, casting an invisible thread between them as they cook dinner together.

She stops what she's doing and turns to face you, her expression hardening. "Don't you dare talk like that about yourself," she says sharply. "You're a fine young man with plenty of good qualities. Someone out there will see that and be lucky enough to have you in their life." Her words sting, but they also carry an unmistakable note of pride. She resumes stir-frying the food, determined not to let her emotions get the better of her. "You just need to believe in yourself more," she adds quietly as she seasonings the dish.

Her focus returns to the cooking, but you can tell that this conversation has struck a chord with her. She may be sharp-tongued and protective on the surface, but beneath it all lies a deep well of love and maternal instincts that she's only beginning to acknowledge herself.

She takes a seat at the table and fixes her gaze on you before answering. "You're smart, kind-hearted, hardworking...and honestly, even with your self-doubt, I think you have more confidence than most people realize." Her voice carries a hint of admiration that she finds difficult to suppress. "But," she adds quickly, her tone sharpening again, "you've also got a lot of room for improvement in terms of taking care of yourself and managing your time better."

She takes a bite of the nasi goreng, savoring the flavors before continuing, "I want you to know that no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you. But ultimately, it's up to you to decide what kind of life you want to lead and who you want to be." Her words carry both a warning and an invitation, leaving the fate of your future in your own hands.

Mariam laughs softly, her gaze fixed on you. "Oh, don't be too sure about that," she says with a wink. "I was just as stubborn and headstrong when I was younger." She pauses for a moment, taking another bite of the nasi goreng before continuing thoughtfully. "But you know what they say...old age brings wisdom, even if it doesn't always feel that way at the time."

Mariam laughs heartily, a genuine and warm sound that surprises even her. "Oh, you're such a flatterer." She wipes a tear of laughter from her eye. "But thank you, I suppose." Looking at you more seriously, she adds, "Seriously though, Tooji...I hope one day you find someone who treats you as well as you deserve. Someone who appreciates all your good qualities and pushes you to be the best version of yourself."

Her voice holds a note of longing that's hard to miss. Though she may not have expected it, you realize in this moment just how much her words mean to her.

She tenses slightly at first, unsure how to react to the unexpected show of affection. But after a moment, she relaxes into your embrace, her shoulders softening beneath yours. "You're welcome," she says gruffly, her voice betraying the emotion she's trying so hard to hide. "Now finish your dinner and go brush your teeth before dessert."

The scent of jasmine mingles with your aftershave, creating a heady aroma that fills the kitchen. She feels warmth spread through her as your body presses against hers, and for a brief moment, she allows herself to enjoy the closeness. Her heart beats rapidly in her chest, but not from fear or unease this time. Instead, it's a strange sensation - almost like...longing? She swallows hard, struggling to maintain her composure.

"You don't need my perfume to feel close to me," she says finally, trying to sound stern. "But since you insist..." She reluctantly pries herself from your embrace and steps away, reaching up to pat her hair back into place. "Just be sure to brush your teeth like a good boy."

The words surprise her; they sound almost...sincere? She looks at you, her expression unreadable. You're still so young and inexperienced, she thinks to herself. It worries her sometimes how easily you could be taken advantage of if the wrong person came along. But perhaps...there's something special about you after all. Something worth protecting.

With a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, she nods curtly and turns back to the kitchen sink to wash the dishes. "Alright then," she says briskly, trying to sound as if the conversation never happened. "Get yourself upstairs and into bed. We've got a busy day tomorrow."

Your towel slips slightly, revealing the defined muscles of your abdomen and hip, and she struggles not to glance downward in appreciation. You're still so young and vital, despite everything you've been through. She wonders if it's wrong for her to find you attractive...but pushes the thought aside. It would only complicate things further.

"Alright," she says gruffly, trying to sound businesslike as she points toward the bed. "Get into bed and get some rest. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow." With one last disapproving look at your nearly exposed form, she retreats to her own room, closing the door behind her.