The golden rays of the late afternoon sun streamed through the wide windows of the family’s small but warm living room. Lala, a bright-eyed girl with a curious nature, sat cross-legged on the floor surrounded by her sketchbooks. She was busy drawing funny animals when she heard her mom humming a tune—a tune she hadn’t heard in a very long time.
Lala looked up from her drawings. Her mom’s face glowed in a way that seemed different, almost as if she was carrying a secret happiness inside her heart. It wasn’t just the usual smile of warmth; it was softer, deeper, almost like the smile she sometimes wore when looking at old photo albums.
“Mom?” Lala tilted her head, her pigtails swaying. “Why are you humming? You only hum like that when you’re really happy.”
Her mom laughed lightly, brushing off the comment, but Lala could see her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. “Oh, nothing, sweetheart. Just an old song that came back to me.”
But Lala’s instincts told her otherwise.
Later that evening, as they prepared dinner together, Mom suddenly dropped the name that would ignite Lala’s curiosity. “By the way, Kien might visit us this weekend. I’ll need your help to make the house extra nice.”
Lala’s spoon froze mid-stir. “Kien? As in CEO Kien? The one from the big company in the city?”
Mom nodded, but her smile betrayed something more than casual friendship.
Lala’s mind raced. She remembered hearing about CEO Kien before. He was successful, kind, and respected by many. He had even appeared in the local newspaper for his generous charity work. But why was Mom talking about him with such warmth in her voice?
When the weekend came, Lala waited eagerly. She wanted to see for herself what was happening.
The doorbell rang, and in stepped CEO Kien—tall, confident, yet with a gentle presence. He wasn’t dressed in his usual business suit but in a comfortable shirt and slacks, carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers.
“Hello, Lala,” he said warmly, bending slightly to meet her eyes. “Your mom has told me so much about you.”
Lala blinked. “Really?” She looked quickly at her mom, who seemed suddenly shy, smoothing her hair unnecessarily.
Dinner was lively, filled with laughter and shared stories. Lala watched quietly, studying every detail. Her mom’s eyes sparkled whenever Kien spoke. She laughed a little longer than usual at his jokes. And every now and then, their gazes lingered on each other just a moment too long.
For the first time, Lala saw her mom not just as her loving caregiver but as a woman with feelings of her own—feelings that seemed to bloom like a secret garden whenever Kien was near.
After dinner, as they sipped tea, Kien shared stories about his travels and the challenges of running a company. Lala listened closely, but what fascinated her more was the way her mom looked at him—with admiration, warmth, and something Lala couldn’t quite name.
When Kien finally left that night, promising to return soon, Mom stood by the doorway a little longer than usual, holding the flowers close. Lala tiptoed behind her, observing silently.
“Mom,” she finally asked, her voice small but curious, “do you… like CEO Kien?”
Her mom turned, surprised, and blushed again. “Lala… he’s a good friend. That’s all.” But her voice carried hesitation, as if she wasn’t entirely convinced herself.
Lala, though young, was not naive. She could feel the difference between simple friendship and something more tender.
Over the next few weeks, Kien visited often. Sometimes he came with books for Lala, other times with small gifts for the house. Each time, Mom seemed happier, lighter, as though an invisible weight had lifted from her heart.
One afternoon, while Mom and Kien were in the garden watering flowers, Lala sat on the porch, quietly doodling but keeping her eyes on them. She saw how gently Kien adjusted the watering can in Mom’s hands, how naturally their laughter blended, and how they seemed to exist in a world of their own.
It made Lala’s heart both flutter and ache. She was happy to see her mom smiling so much, yet it felt strange—almost like sharing her mom’s love with someone else.
Later, Lala confided in her stuffed bunny. “I think Mom really likes him. And maybe… maybe he likes her too. But what does that mean for me?”
Her thoughts swirled like clouds. She remembered the times when it was just her and Mom, their small world of secrets, giggles, and comfort. Would things change if CEO Kien became part of their lives?
One evening, Lala couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer. She asked directly, “Mom, when you’re with Kien, you look different. Happier. Do you… love him?”
Mom froze, taken aback by her daughter’s straightforwardness. She knelt down, holding Lala’s hands. “Sweetheart, you’re very observant. Yes, I do feel something special for him. He’s kind, respectful, and he makes me feel seen. But I want you to know, no matter what happens, you are always my first love, my greatest joy.”
Lala’s eyes filled with tears, but they weren’t sad tears. They were tears of realization—that her mom’s heart was big enough to love her deeply while also finding happiness with someone else.
That weekend, Kien invited both of them to a picnic by the lake. It was simple—sandwiches, fresh fruit, and laughter under the shade of tall trees. Lala watched the two of them together, noticing how natural it felt, as though they had always been a family.
By the end of the day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of pink and gold, Lala whispered to herself, “Maybe it’s okay. Maybe Mom deserves this.”
And in that moment, Lala realized she wasn’t just surprised—she was beginning to accept, even embrace, the possibility of her mom finding love again.
The journey ahead would bring questions, adjustments, and new experiences. But one thing was certain: Lala’s world was growing, not shrinking. And though the surprise of her mom’s feelings for CEO Kien had shaken her at first, it was slowly blossoming into a new kind of hope—for her mom, for herself, and for the family they might one day become.
