So, What is Sum?
So, what is sum anyway? A brief, awkward silence hung in the air.
“...Uh, Mom?”
Vita was utterly flustered. It was a situation she never saw coming. But she wasn't the only one. Dun dun duuun— her mother's face looked like she'd just been struck by lightning.
Vita had no clue what to do. “N-No, this is…!”
For starters, she hurriedly shoved Carlyle away. Her face burned bright red, her eyes practically vibrating. Carlyle, flustered himself, went flying back more easily than expected.
“Uh, um… y'see, this is…” No excuse would cut it. After snuggling so peacefully in his arms, Vita's mind had completely blanked out.
“Vi, Vi…” Vita Shama's mother, Lady Emma, clapped a hand over her mouth mid-word.
She was open-minded, sure, but everyone had their lines. This was her child—who'd been a son just a short while ago. Seeing them like this so suddenly?
Of course I get it, she thought. She's a girl now, so this is natural. But as a parent, how could she not be shocked? Vita was still so young, clueless about the world. Sure, she'd inherited her mother's eye for guys, but this was overwhelming.
Emma nearly slipped up, then quickly corrected herself. “No, Bianca—!”
The guy hanging around with her daughter might as well be a thief. That realization hit Emma today. With four sons and no daughters, the shock was real.
“What kind of girl are you, throwing caution to the wind like that…!”
Smack! Smack!
Vita got her butt spanked by her mom for the first time in ages. “Ow, Mom—!”
“And what is this outfit? It's soaked through and clinging everywhere…”
Ah, so that's the issue, Vita realized. She blurted out, “It was sports day today…!”
“Oh, really…?” Emma paused—then smacked her again. “Doesn't make it okay!”
“Let me explain, pleeease.”
Vita's face crumpled into a pout. Carlyle Schultz was just as thrown by the situation. At a loss, he seized a brief opening and bowed deeply.
“Hello. Nice to meet you, Mother!”
One thought dominated: Make a good impression. So he bowed politely, straight-backed, tension etched on his face.
“Y-Yes, hello.” Emma nodded awkwardly, her expression softening a tad.
“I've heard so much about you.”
Out of nowhere. Vita had never once mentioned her mom to Carlyle. She shot him a dumbfounded look, but he flashed that trademark sly grin.
“Bianca always says I take after you…”
When?!
But Vita didn't know. Carlyle was mustering his courage here—to charm the mother of the girl he liked. And it worked; Emma's voice warmed a little.
“Oh? Really…?”
“You're as beautiful as she says.”
“Oh my.”
Universal truth: No woman hates a compliment on her looks. Emma knew it was flattery, of course. But seeing his sincerity made her pleased. At least he seems genuine about my daughter. That was enough for now.
“Is that so?”
Vita couldn't deny it—not with her mom smiling and Carlyle's expression oddly amusing, his eyes begging her to play along. “Haha, a little…?”
She went along with it, smiling—even though she'd never said it once.
Emma cleared her throat awkwardly, her mood easing as she gave Carlyle another look. Come to think of it, he's pretty handsome.How's he this good-looking?
But looks weren't everything. Shaking off her fussiness, she spoke up. “Come on in, for now.”
What do I do?! Vita's eyes pleaded.
Why ask me? Carlyle's shot back.
They exchanged tense glances and followed her inside.
The three of them entered the room awkwardly. Emma bustled around, stocking the fridge. She'd come with side dishes out of worry for her child, after all.
“Let me help.”
“Oh, no need…”
But Carlyle jumped up anyway, carrying dishes over. Vita helped too, naturally.
Soon, they sat around the table together. “Have some juice.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
His politeness had Emma's expression fully relaxed now. “I got flustered earlier. Forgive me.”
Emma was fundamentally open-minded. The shock came from walking in on her once-son—now daughter—in such a scene. With four boys, that thief-in-the-night feeling was new.
At least the boy's decent-looking… As a mom, she had to check him out.
“S-So, what exactly are you two…?”
“Mom…! It's not like that.”
Vita tried to deny it in a panic, but Carlyle beat her to it. “I like her.”
Straightforward gaze. Confident demeanor. “It's one-sided for now, though.”
He shot Vita a glance; her flushed face didn't look displeased. “…Oh my.”
Emma blinked. What's this? Are they serious? She'd been shocked before, but parents always care about their kids' love lives. The boy seemed fine, and her child looked genuine too. Emma felt her heart flutter unexpectedly.
Her opinion of Carlyle shot up. If Vita likes him, he must be okay.
Still, she probed. “Nothing casual, I hope…?”
“Absolutely not.”
His attitude passed muster. Polite, bold—she was starting to like him. “And you…?”
She turned to Vita. The real key was her child's feelings. “He says it's one-sided.”
A mischievous glint in Emma's eye. She teased further to test her. “He didn't force a hug when you didn't want it, or do anything bad, right?”
Show me your true feelings!
“M-Mom…!”
Vita bit immediately, flustered. “What kinda question is that…”
With Carlyle right there, it felt rude. Mom's not usually like this.
Still, she had to clear up the needless misunderstanding. Carlyle was a bit of a player, but never forceful. “No way! He's actually pretty decent.”
She defended him without thinking—then blushed. Why'd I say that?
Carlyle stifled a laugh beside her. Her mom wore a subtle smile. Vita finally realized she'd been played. “Mom…!”
“So you like him too? Hugs like that when there's no feelings? Kinda weird.”
Vita was speechless. She wanted to cry.
That reaction confirmed it. A bit fast, but…
Looking at her no-longer-son but daughter, Emma felt reassured. If they were both serious, what more was there to say? Young love.
“So, what are you two?”
She asked with a beaming smile, relieved. Vita had been struggling to adapt to girl life; Emma had always worried.
Vita sat mum, face burning, limbs curling up in embarrassment. How'd it come to this?
She glared at chill-as-ever Carlyle, who just cleared his throat innocently.
Vita wanted to crawl into a hole. But Carlyle had a conscience, apparently. “We're in the sum stage, Mother.”
He answered for her. Vita didn't even know exactly what sum meant, but huffed in agreement. “Y-Yeah!”
“What's sum?”
Carlyle replied politely. “When you like each other but aren't officially dating yet.”
Vita, mid-sip of juice, choked and spat it out. “Koff—koff!”
What the hell kinda nonsense is that?!
“You okay, Bianca?”
“Y-Yeah, fine.”
She hissed in Carlyle's ear. “—Hey, you nuts?!”
“—Just helping out.”
He whispered back intimately. “You two are close.”
Emma was convinced. Vita pouted silently. Denying it now would look weird. Damn his mouth…!
Glared daggers at him—but to her mom, it just looked cute. Anyway, the awkward, embarrassing ordeal dragged on. Age? Future plans? Why her daughter?
This isn't a meet-the-parents…
Carlyle fielded the barrage. “Independent since childhood?”
“Yes, Mother. Not much I haven't tried.”
“Oh? You've got real grit.”
Self-reliant young, jack-of-all-trades, even full scholarship after work-study. Emma's face grew warmer, smile blooming by the end.
“Oops, I've overstayed.”
“Not at all, Mother. It was fun.”
She was even chuckling now—and shoving Vita's back. “Walk him out.”
Vita blinked blankly, then yelped. “M-Me?!”
“Of course!”
No choice. She stood with Carlyle at the building entrance. Short silence.
Vita pondered, then declared, “Hey. Don't get the wrong idea…!”
“Wrong idea? About us being in sum…?”
He chuckled. Vita flushed. “It's not like that.”
“...Kinda hurts.”
Suddenly serious. He pulled her into his arms again. “You have no idea how tense I was.”
Vita couldn't respond. “Your mom's pretty open-minded.”
“Yeah, always.”
She pushed him off—time to go—and he waved casually. “See ya, sum.”
So laid-back. Vita sighed as his figure receded. Sum my ass. Definitely not.
“Come here, Vita.”
Now alone with Mom. Vita shuffled over hesitantly. “...Mom.”
“No need to explain.”
Emma smiled warmly. “I was startled, sure. But it's natural.”
“Natural…?”
“Of course. You're a girl now—dating guys isn't weird.”
Is it? Vita's words caught in her throat.
“Gone further than hugs?”
Caught off-guard, she denied frantically. “N-No! No way!”
Like a guilty thief. But Emma looked knowing. “Always use protection. You're young. I respect your choices, but rules are rules.”
Stern advice. Vita nodded meekly. “Y-Yeah…”
She always did anyway. Totally lost now, she blurted her inner turmoil. “Mom… am I weird?”
Confused heart spilling out. “I used to be a guy…”
Emma pondered, then replied. “Not at all. If you couldn't adapt, that would worry me.”
Not the answer Vita expected. “Your body's a girl's now—your heart following suit isn't strange.”
Vita felt odd hearing it. “Anyway, he seems nice. Carlyle…? Independent, bold.”
“Urgh…”
She'd defended him, but it irked her. Felt like losing somehow. “Not that great…”
“Really?”
No wonder her dad, Maximilian Shama, was wrapped around Mom's finger. Fiery dad, gentle mom—family rank one. Vita clammed up, seen through.
“And handsome.”
“No, really not.”
“No living together, though?”
“Mom—!”
Vita yelled at the teasing. “It's not like thaaat…” Nearly in tears.
“Full daughter mode now.”
Emma just laughed. “Anyway, gotta go.”
They ate dinner together; Vita saw her off. “Eat properly. No skipping breakfast.”
“Got it. Take care.”
Alone now, confusion swirled. She hadn't told her parents about reverting plans—didn't want to worry them.
But it hit her: They see me as their daughter now…?
Obvious, yet Mom's words lingered. Natural. Not weird. Her growing femininity.
Chilly autumn evening. Lost in thought, her phone buzzed. Carlyle's text.
What kinda word is that? But guessing the meaning, her face heated up. Cringe overload.
Why'd I defend a guy like this…?
Annoyed for no reason. Whatever. “Haa—”
Vita ruffled her hair, leaped onto the bed, and kicked the innocent blanket. Then typed a reply.
Her face was a little hot—from anger, obviously. “Oh, right.”
Another text. Why Emily said she'd message tonight.
(Location attached)
Right—tomorrow with Emily. Sum or whatever, Vita was all-in for her. Her face lit up brightly.