As Aera stepped inside the house, still holding onto the warm buzz of a fun evening, reality slapped her straight in the face.
A sharp voice echoed from the living room.
"Oh look, your precious daughter is finally back. Roaming around the streets at night, huh? Bringing shame to our house."
Aera froze mid step. She didn't even flinch. Just… blinked at the woman sitting on the sofa.
Her grandmother.
She looked at her for a second. Blank face. No reaction. Then turned and silently walked toward her room.
"Huh! So this is what she learned in school? Not even greeting her elders?" the old woman scoffed behind her.
Aera stopped. Turned her head slightly.
"First try to act like a grandmother, then teach me how to behave," she said, calmly.
That stung.
Her grandmother stood up, pointing.
"I already told my son not to let her go to school. Education is for boys! But nooo, no one listens to me. And now look at her. Lost all manners!"
Aera narrowed her eyes. Took a step closer.
"Manners? You're talking about manners?"
The old lady barked back, proud and loud:
"Yeah! M-A-N-E-R!"
From the side, her mom, who had just entered, muttered softly.
"...It's M-A-N-N-E-R."
Aera snorted. She couldn't help it. She let out a tiny laugh and gave her mom a thumbs up before heading up the stairs.
"Look at that! See how you've spoiled her!" Grandma grumbled after them. "Disrespectful little girl. Hmph!"
And with that, the elder stomped off to her room like she just lost a dramatic soap opera scene.
Later, her mom knocked on her door and came in holding a cup of milk.
"Here. Don't mind that old lady," she said, placing the cup on the table. "Just… think of it as her age. Don't overthink it, okay?"
Aera didn't reply, but her expression softened.
Her mom lingered for a second, then quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Aera sipped the warm milk.
Fun outside. Fire inside.
And yet… for some reason, it didn't feel as lonely tonight.
Next Morning
Aera came downstairs, dressed casual but with a mission, Operation Get the Heck Out Before Grandma Assigns Me the Chores of Doom.
Grandma was already posted on the couch, sipping her tea like a villain waiting to monologue.
Grandma yapping right on cue,
"Hm! No school today, right? Perfect. The floors need mopping. Oh, and dust the fans, look at that cobweb!"
Aera didn't even sit down.
Aera deadpan,
"Mom, I'm coming with you today."
Her mom looked up from her tablet, confused. "To my office?"
Aera muttering,
"Better to sit through finance meetings and boring emails than stay here and become Grandma's unpaid domestic intern."
Grandma offended,
"Excuse me?! I'm just making sure you grow up responsible! You know my friend's granddaughter handles her grandma's meds, bank work, and even massages her legs!"
Aera straight faced, sipping water
"Yeah, and I saw a news clip yesterday. A granddaughter who 'took care' of her grandma ended up selling her jewelry and running away with a scammer. They said she was so obedient too. Life's full of surprises."
Grandma...speechless
Her mom tried to hide her laugh behind a fake cough.
Mom calmly,
"Alright then. Grab your stuff. Let's go."
They headed to the car, keys jingling in her mom's hand. But just as they were about to get in,
Grandma rushing out,
"Wait! I'm coming too. I need to go shopping. Just 10 minutes I'll change and be ready."
Mom already unlocking the car,
"Mom, I've got a board meeting in an hour. Aera's tagging along because she's avoiding mop duty, but I can't be late. Sorry."
Grandma shrugged,
"What's the problem? One late day at work won't end the world."
Mom smiling sweetly,
"Then going shopping alone won't either. Bye bye~"
She waved like she was saying goodbye to a neighbor's cat and slid into the driver's seat.
Aera chuckling as she buckled in,
"That's cool."
Mom grinning as she started the engine,
"You think I raised you on cartoons and rice alone?"
And with that, they drove off leaving one dramatic grandmother behind and two very satisfied women heading toward a quieter battlefield the business world.