Seven Mothers: All Seven Of My Mothers Are Heavenly Goddesses?!

As the movie played on, I reached for another handful of popcorn, sinking further into the cushions. The tension from earlier had melted away, and just when I was finally starting to relax, my mother's voice pierced through the calm.

"So..." she began, her tone far too casual to be innocent. "How many girls have you met in your life, Luca? Do you have a number, or have you already lost count of the number of girls you've played with?"

I almost choked, a kernel lodging itself in my throat as her question caught me completely off guard. I coughed, patting my chest to clear my airway, before turning to look at her with wide eyes.

"What kind of question is that?" I managed to croak out. "Why are you suddenly asking that, Mom?"

"Just wondering. You know, for science and the betterment of mankind." She shrugged, her expression the picture of feigned nonchalance, though the sparkle of curiosity in her eyes betrayed her true intent.

"For science?" I echoed, my voice dripping with skepticism. "Yeah, right."

She ignored me, resting her chin on her palm with a sly smile. "I was just thinking about how the protagonist in this movie had over fifty girls' numbers saved in his phone, which was revealed when the female lead went through his phone. So I'm curious—does my beloved son beat him in that department?"

I froze, my hand hovering awkwardly in the air with a piece of popcorn halfway to my mouth. Sweat formed at the back of my neck as I turned to her, my voice unnaturally high-pitched.

"Pfft, no way, Mom~ The protagonist wins that competition hands down. No contest."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, her smile morphing into something far more mischievous. "Oh, really?" She drawled. "You seem awfully defensive about it."

"I'm not defensive!" I shot back a little too quickly, setting the popcorn bowl down on the table in a weak attempt to appear composed.

"Well, if you're so confident, why don't we settle it right now? Let me see your phone." She tapped her chin thoughtfully, leaning closer.

"What? No! That's breaching my privacy!" I recoiled as if she'd just suggested I hand over my soul.

"Private, huh? That doesn't sound suspicious at all." Her brow shot up, her gaze sharpening with the precision of a hawk.

"It's not suspicious, Mom." I grumbled, crossing my arms protectively over my chest. "I just don't want my own mother going through my stuff."

"Uh-huh." She replied, her voice laced with doubt, and then continued asking, "So, what are you hiding, Luca?"

"Nothing!" I insisted, but the way my voice cracked slightly did nothing to help my case.

"Then there's no reason I can't take a look." She sat up straighter, determination flickering in her eyes.

"There's every reason!" I argued, scooting further away from her on the couch. "Especially since I have stuff on my phone that I don't want my mother knowing at all costs!"

"So you do have something to hide!" She gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest.

"I don't!" I yelled, but the panic in my voice wasn't helping my case.

"Then hand it over," she demanded, holding out her hand like a teacher confiscating a note in class.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Fine. Have it your way." Her eyes narrowed as her lips curled into an evil grin.

And before I could react, she lunged toward the coffee table where my phone innocently sat next to the popcorn bowl.

"Mom! Don't you dare!" I scrambled after her, but she was quicker—grabbing my phone and holding it up triumphantly like she'd just claimed the Holy Grail.

"Got it!" She declared, spinning away from me with surprising agility. "Now, let's see how many ladies' numbers you've stashed away in here."

"Mom, give it back!" I protested, lunging for her.

Her laughter rang out as she deftly sidestepped my next attempt to grab the phone, her movements annoyingly graceful as she said in glee,

"Oh, this is too good! Let's see…10 girls? 20? Or are we aiming to dethrone the protagonist here?"

I knew I had to grab the phone, so I paused, narrowing my eyes as I watched her wave my phone around like it was some grand treasure she'd unearthed. My expression hardened, and she must've noticed, because her teasing faltered for a moment.

She caught the look I was giving her—the way my gaze zeroed in on the phone, calculating the fastest way to reclaim it.

So in response, her grip on the phone tightened, and she quickly spoke up, her voice light but carrying an edge of warning.

"Oh no, Luca. Don't even think about it."

I didn't listen to her, my body tense as I prepared to make another lunge. She held the phone up, out of reach, but her eyes darted toward me nervously.

Then, with an almost theatrical flair as her last-ditch attempt, she brought the phone closer to her chest.

"Luca, if you come any closer, I'll put it somewhere you'll never dare to retrieve it." She suddenly said, her tone smug as her gaze dropped pointedly downward to her plump chest.

My entire body froze. "You wouldn't." I said, my voice low, almost daring her.

"Oh, I absolutely would." She smirked, tilting her head.

I raised a hand as if to challenge her bluff, but the look in her eyes told me she wasn't kidding.

She'd do it...She'd absolutely do it.

So, my shoulders slumped, and I took a reluctant step back, my pride taking a hit as I admitted silent defeat.

Seeing me back off, she let out a sigh of relief, her smirk softening into something gentler. "Now that's a good boy, Luca." She said, her voice quieter now.

But then, almost as if realising what she'd just done and how she was treating me at the moment, her expression shifted. She sighed softly, the humour in her expression fading as a quiet seriousness settled in.

Her fingers curled around the phone, and she looked at me with a mix of guilt and sincerity. "Luca..." She began, her voice softer now. "I…I'm sorry. That wasn't fair."

"W-What?" I blinked, surprised by the sudden change in tone.

Her shoulders sagged slightly, and she glanced down at the phone in her hands as though it were the source of all her trouble and continued saying,

"Blackmailing you, invading your space like that—it wasn't right. I got carried away, and I shouldn't have. I just…"

She hesitated, her brows knitting together as she searched for the right words. Finally, she looked up at me, her eyes earnest and filled with something that almost looked like regret.

"I just wanted to know more about this part of your life. You've always been so private, and I try to respect that, but as your mother…" She paused, her voice catching slightly before she continued. "I worry. I can't help it...I wonder what you're not telling me, and sometimes I push too hard because I'm afraid of what I don't know."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I shifted uncomfortably, my guilt bubbling up as I watched her wrestle with her emotions.

"I wasn't trying to embarrass you." She went on, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted to understand. To feel like I'm still…a part of your life." She held the phone out to me, her hand trembling ever so slightly. "So here. Take it back...I'm sorry for crossing the line even as your mother."

I stared at her, her outstretched hand, the phone she was so willingly giving up now.

For a moment, I couldn't move...Couldn't speak. The vulnerability in her voice, in her expression, was so unexpected that it left me momentarily stunned.

When I finally reached out and took the phone, I hesitated, holding it between us as I met her gaze.

"Mom…"

She shook her head, cutting me off with a small, rueful smile.

"No, it's okay. I know I shouldn't have done it. I just…" She trailed off, sighing as she clasped her hands together. "You're my son, Luca. My only son. And I know you're an adult now, but sometimes I just miss the days when you were little, and I didn't have to guess what was going on in your life. When you'd come running to me with every little thing, and I never had to wonder if you were okay."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, I was silent, caught between the familiar push-and-pull of guilt and the stubborn streak that had always kept me at arm's length.

I sighed, leaning back against the sofa, my fingers absently tracing over the edge of my phone in my pocket. I wasn't one for sentimental gestures, but seeing her sitting there, looking more vulnerable than I was used to, something inside me shifted.

So, without saying a word, I pulled my phone out and held it toward her. "Here," I said quietly.

She blinked, staring at the phone in my outstretched hand as if it might vanish at any moment. "Luca…" Her voice was soft, disbelieving. "Are you serious?"

I nodded, shrugging like it was no big deal.

"Yeah. Go ahead. Check it if you want."

Her fingers hovered over the phone, hesitant, as she searched my face for any sign of reluctance.

"I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you—"

"You're not." I interrupted, my tone firm but not unkind. "If it's going to make you stop worrying so much, then it's fine. Besides…" I leaned back with a small, self-deprecating smile. "You and the others have already seen the worst of me. How bad could a few phone contacts be in comparison?"

Her lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes glowing with a mix of gratitude and affection. "You're such a shy boy, Luca." She murmured, taking the phone from my hand. "Even when you act distant, you always end up worrying about me."

"Don't read too much into it. I'm just trying to save myself from another lecture." I rolled my eyes.

She chuckled, the tension between us easing as she tapped on the screen to unlock it. And the moment she did, her expression softened further, her smile growing wider.

"What's with that silly look on your face?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

Wordlessly, she turned the phone around, revealing my wallpaper.