Perceptions.

My heart was beating crazy fast. The girl was attractive, yeah, but there was no chance I was saying yes. I had to turn her down somehow.

“I’m really sorry, but I’m not… comfortable asking them such a thing at this moment.” That was the best I could think to say. I guess I could’ve answered with a simple ‘I’m not interested’ but the thought of turning down someone so harshly hurt even me.

“I see. That’s too bad,” she said, her smile falling. “Maybe some other time, then.”

“M-Maybe.”

“God, you really are cute. I had to give it a shot. Anyway, I’d like a vanilla latte, please.”

I nodded. “Right away.” I wrote it down and went back behind the counter.

“Holy cow. That girl didn’t hold back at all,” Maria said, already preparing the cups of coffee. “First time one has been so direct, right?”

Yeah. It completely caught me off guard. Girls had flirted with me before, some had also asked me out, too, but they didn’t know I was already in a relationship, and it had never happened like this. This girl, however, knew and didn’t care.

Realization dawned on me. If people believed I was free to date multiple girls so long as my girlfriends consented, then were all these girls here to ask me out, too?

“At least you turning her down lowered expectations for the others,” Maria muttered. “Good to know you can show some restraint.”

“Some?”

“You’re dating five girls.”

“Right…” I sighed. “Does it… seem weird to you?”

“Hm? Now that you mention it… A little?” Maria furrowed her brow in thought as she picked up pastries and placed them on plates. “Weren’t you hiding it before?”

“Yeah.”

“Why reveal it now, then?”

“It seemed like an appropriate time.” I sighed and looked around. “Maybe it wasn’t.”

“Relax. It’ll pass. Let me give you some advice. Don’t accept the advances of just any girl who approaches you. You’re cute, and you’re a nice kid, but you’re not gonna hit it off with everyone. Save yourself some trouble and learn to be selective.”

“So it’s okay if I accept some girls’ advances?” I asked her, crossing my arms.

“I don’t know. You do you. I’m not your mom. Also, don’t take this the wrong way, but this could very well be a fad. The appeal may wear off soon.”

I nodded. “I think so too. And hope.”

She placed the last cup of coffee on the table and pushed it on me. “Well, enough of that. Now back to work. Keep the flirting to a minimum.”

It didn’t happen again, thankfully.

Also, I had conflicting feelings about it, but I got a hell of good tips that day. Well, I didn’t **** anyone, but I did wonder if they would ask for their money back if they knew most of it was going towards christmas presents for my girlfriends.

I got home at about 9:30 pm since a few customers stayed for a little too long, making us take longer in closing, too. Cake was the first to greet me, as always, and you know… After such a stressful day, seeing my cat coming to greet me gave me a strange sense of comfort.

I picked her up and held her close to my chest. She meowed and began to purr, pushing her head against my chin and my cheeks. I couldn’t help but smile.

Then the loud sound of a photo being taken made me turn towards the kitchen. Isabelle was peeking from the kitchen with her phone in hand. She then began to type on it.

“Did you eat?” she asked me.

“Not yet. Did you cook?”

“Yeah, but I ran away.”

I tilted my head. “What do you mean?”

“I made basic pasta with tomato sauce.”

I set Cake down on the floor. “Was it good?”

“Mom liked it, but I think it lacked a bit of salt.”

“Let me have some.”

I went into the kitchen. Mom was sitting at the table, scrolling down her phone, but it seemed she was reading something important.

“Hey mom. Sorry I’m late.”

“Did work keep you?” she asked, smiling at me.

“Yes. We had more customers than usual.”

“Good tips?” Isabelle asked, walking over to the stove before I could.

“Thankfully.”

“Nice.” She opened the pot, grabbed a plate and prepared a serving of pasta for me while I sat down. She set the plate in front of me and sat down with me and mom.

I was hungry, so I immediately tried the pasta. The sauce was a little sour, maybe because it wasn’t left cooking for long enough or because it didn’t have enough salt, but it was good. The pasta itself was well cooked.

“It’s good,” I told Isabelle before having another bite.

My sister beamed. “Really?”

“Yeah. I think I get what you meant about the salt, but it’s fine.”

I was hungrier than I realized, so I cleaned my plate rather quickly. Isabelle looked happy.

I picked up my plate and went to the sink to wash it. It was mostly to buy myself some time as I thought of how to bring out the next topic.

I turned around. Isabelle was playing with Cake on her lap and mom was replying to some message on her phone. I waited for her to finish before I sat down again.

“Mom?”

“Hm? Yes?” She set her phone down on the table and looked at me, giving me her full attention.

“There’s… something I need to tell you.” My chest tightened and my hands began to feel numb. “I’m… dating Mila, Grace, Sarah, Alice and Noelle.”

God, saying it out loud to my own mother was perhaps the weirdest, most surreal sensation I’ve ever experienced. It also sounded ridiculous, like I was going down a list.

Mom frowned and crossed her arms. “I had a feeling, but I didn’t think that was really it.” She then chuckled. “You were something of a late bloomer, but now this?”

I smiled nervously. “I don’t know how it happened, either.”

“How long has this been going on?” she asked.

“F-Four months.”

Her frown returned, now a lot more serious. “Four months? Why did you hide it for so long?”

I wanted to believe I had a valid reason, but that had gone away with Frey’s magic. If even mom believed it wasn’t a problem that I was seeing five girls, then there should’ve been no reason for me to keep it a secret from her.

“I…”

“It’s not his fault, mom,” Isabelle suddenly interjected. “For the longest time he didn’t even know they were dating.”

Mom blinked. “What?”

Isabelle laughed. “They were just hanging out with him, going on dates and the like, but Oliver thought they were just friends. Those girls didn’t understand that Oliver didn’t know what was happening.”

I blushed madly. Isabelle had saved my ass, and what she’d said was mostly true, so I wouldn’t complain, but it did make me look like a dense imbecile.

…

Okay, yeah, I was.

Mom sighed. “Okay, I believe it. We girls can be annoyingly obtuse.” She smiled. “So that was what you meant that time I asked. You said you didn’t know what was going on between you and them.”

“Y-Yeah,” I nodded. “But now they all agreed to be my g-girlfriends, and… I didn’t want to keep it a secret.” Anymore.

Mom shook her head with a resigned smile. “You’ll have a very tough time ahead of you, dear.”

“I know, but… It’s better than what it used to be. I’m… happier now.”

Mom’s smile was full of relief and care. “That’s good. No wonder you’ve been growing so quickly lately. You have to be your best for the people you like, right?”

Man, this felt embarrassing. “Yeah.”

“So… is he not gonna get scolded for hiding his girlfriends like I was?” Isabelle asked.

“You got scolded for bringing a stranger home while I was out of the house,” mom told her firmly. “That’s an entirely different matter.”

“R-Right.” Isabelle laughed it off awkwardly.

“Oh, and Oliver?”

“Y-Yes?”

“Bring them all here when they have the time. I’d like to talk to them.”

Oh.

…

Should I be worried?

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