Once inside the house, I barely had a moment to collect myself before my mom followed me up to my room, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement. "So? Tell me?" she asked, unable to contain her eagerness.
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, the reality of Antonio’s confession—and my tangled emotions—suddenly becoming too real, too close. "Mom, please," I murmured, feeling overwhelmed and a bit embarrassed by her directness. "It's not like that... I mean, not yet. I don't know yet."
She edged closer, her expression a mix of concern and intrigue. "Honey, I just want you to be happy. If you have feelings for him—"
"Mom!" I cut her off, more sharply than I intended. "Can we please not do this right now? I really need to think about everything."
Seeing the firm set of my jaw, she pause
