Kafka grinned, a cheerful hum rumbling in his chest as he turned the key, the scooter purring to life beneath them. The gentle vibration buzzed through his hands on the handlebars, steady and sure.
"You ready, Mom?" He asked, leaning forward slightly, eyes glinting with excitent.
"I’m ready, Kafi." Olivia nodded, her voice a soft, breathy laugh as she gripped the front of the scooter for balance, her own heart fluttering with nerves and giddy anticipation.
"Alright then, if you’re really ready, you’ve got to mark the start of our journey." He then said to her surprise, voice low and mischievous, gesturing toward the open road. "Count us down, Mom, three, two, one, and we’re off! Co on, make it official."
Olivia’s cheeks flushed, her voice catching in a flustered squeak as she shot him a quick glance over her shoulder, her fingers tightening their hold.
"Count down? Out loud? Three, two, one?" She repeated, her tone wavering between disbelief and nervous laughter. "Kafi, that’s so childish. I’m a grown woman, I can’t just...shout numbers like a kid launching a toy rocket! It’s embarrassing!"
Kafka smirked, his voice turning into a soft, coaxing purr as he nudged her shoulder lightly, his eyes sparkling with amusent. "Oh, co on, Mom, don’t be such a spoilsport." He teased, his hand resting gently at her waist in reassurance. "It’s fun, and it’s just us out here. Nobody’s gonna hear you but . Do it, three, two, one, and let’s blast off. Make it epic."
Olivia bit her lip, a tiny groan slipping past her as she shook her head, her stomach flipping with a embarrassnt and bubbling excitent.
"You’re impossible, Kafi." She muttered, her tone laced with playful defeat, her grip on the scooter tightening. "But fine, fine! If it’ll make you happy, I’ll do it. But you better not laugh at , okay? Here goes nothing..."
She drew in a deep breath, her voice rising to a small, almost childish chirp, her heart pounding with unexpected giddiness.
"Three...two...one...liftoff!"
Kafka laughed, a delighted whoop escaping him as he twisted the accelerator. The scooter surged forward smoothly, the wind catching them in a rush.
"That’s the spirit, Mom! That’s how you properly start a ride!"
He cheered, his voice brimming with warmth and excitent as they glided onto the main street, while Olivia’s hair lifted in the breeze, her voice breaking into a soft gasp as the wind kissed her face and the road unspooled beneath them.
"Oh my gosh, Kafi, this is amazing!" she exclaid, her voice bubbling with awe as her wide eyes took in the passing village houses. "The breeze, the slls... it’s so different from being in a car!"
She let out a soft laugh, her fingers gripping the seat lightly as the wind brushed against her face. "I thought I’d miss the horsepower, but this... this feels magical. Sitting here with you driving—it’s like you’re taking care of now."
For a mont, her heart swelled as a quiet realization settled in.
Back then, it was always her behind the wheel, guiding him through roads big and small, making sure he felt safe and secure.
But now, here she was, sitting in front, trusting him completely as he steered them through the streets. The thought made her chest ache in the best way, pride and tenderness blooming deep within her.
"You’re doing great, you know?" she added softly, her voice warm and full of quiet admiration. "It’s so smooth, and the wind feels incredible. I could really get used to this."
Kafka’s lips curled into a grin, a quiet hum of contentnt escaping him as he kept his focus on the road, his hands steady. "Told you the princess seat was the way to go." He said, his tone smug but threaded with affection, his chest glowing with her joy. "You’re getting the full experience, fresh air, open views, and the whole village vibe. Way better than any car, right?"
"Way better, Kafi." Olivia nodded, her voice a giddy chirp as her eyes darted over the scenery flashing by, her heart fluttering with pure joy. "It feels so open, like I’m part of the world zipping past. I can sll the flowers, the atpies from that house we passed, it’s like everything’s alive and right here. You were right about—!"
And just as she was about to say that this really was the right decision, her words caught abruptly in her throat and she imdiately stiffened, her smile faltering as her eyes flicked to the sidewalks.
Why?...Well, that’s because heads were turning towards her for so reason.
One by one, people glanced their way, smiles tugging at their lips, soft laughter spilling between cupped hands as they whispered to each other.
And seeing this, a rush of heat blood in her cheeks, spreading all the way to her ears. Her fingers clenched tightly around the edge of the seat, her heart suddenly pounding, not from excitent this ti, but from embarrassnt.
"K-Kafi." She stamred, her voice shrinking to a nervous squeak. "Wait...Why are people staring at us?"
Kafka cast a sideways glance, his expression calm and curious, but the playful glint in his eyes betrayed him.
"Staring? What are you talking about, Mom?" He asked lightly, his tone innocent as he scanned the pedestrians.
He noticed the giggles, the amused looks, oh, he definitely noticed, but he bit back a grin, his heart warming with affection at how adorably flustered she was becoming.
"You sure it’s not just your imagination? Nobody’s staring."
Olivia’s face turned crimson as she sank lower in her seat, her hands flying up to cover her cheeks. Her heart thudded in her ears as she peeked through her fingers at a group of teenagers on the sidewalk, snickering behind their palms.
"No, Kafi, they’re definitely staring!" She exclaid, her voice sharp but shaky, panic rising in her chest as her eyes darted to the laughing onlookers. "Look at them! They’re smiling, giggling, pointing at us!"
Kafka chuckled, his voice a teasing hum as he leaned closer as he decided to spill the truth.
"Well, of course they’re staring, Mom." He said, his tone playful, his hand steady on the accelerator. "It’s not every day they see a beautiful woman riding up front on a scooter, looking all cute like she’s on a grand adventure."
"...I an, I’d stare too, it’s pretty amusing, you gotta admit."
Olivia’s face turned redder, her voice a flustered protest as she peeked through her fingers, her heart racing with embarrassnt.
"Kafi, don’t say that!" She huffed, her tone sharp but shaky, her hands still covering her face. "You’re making it worse! It’s bad enough everyone’s laughing at , and now you’re teasing too? This is mortifying!"
She glanced back at him, her voice dropping to a desperate murmur, her heart stinging with humiliation.
"Can I please just move to the backseat? I can’t sit up here with everyone staring like this...It’s too much, Kafi, please!"
But to her shock, Kafka shook his head, his voice a playful refusal as he grinned, his eyes fixed on the road.
"No way, Mom, you’re staying right where you are." He said, his tone firm but affectionate. "You’re trapped in the princess seat now, and I’m not letting you go. It’s way too comfy having you up here, and I’m having too much fun to let you hide in the back."
"Trapped?" Olivia’s eyes widened, her voice a pouty grumble as she turned to glare at him, her heart flaring with indignation. "Kafi, you’re bullying !"
She exclaid, her tone sharp but cute, her hands dropping to point at a giggling group on the sidewalk.
"This is public humiliation, and you’re just laughing it off! Look at them, smiling and whispering, I can’t handle everyone staring at like I’m so kind of spectacle!"
She had thought this would be a sweet, pleasant ride with her son, a quiet mont to enjoy the breeze and feel close to him.
But instead, it had turned into this, a parade of embarrassnt with all eyes on her.
The way people looked at her, amused and whispering as if she were so strange animal on display, made her chest tighten.
The weight of their gazes pressed down on her, and for the first ti, she wished she could just curl up, cave in, and disappear from everyone’s sight...
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