A chill swept through Ria despite the warm festival night air. Kai's smile faltered as a woman with his same warm brown eyes and a stern expression approached them. "Kai Modesto, there you are! Your father's been worried sick!"
"Mom, hey," Kai mumbled, his hand tightening around Ria's. "This is Ria, my friend. We were just..."
"Friend?" Mrs. Modesto cut him off, her gaze flickering to Ria with a sharpness that made Ria's skin prickle. "It's almost nine o'clock, Kai. Don't you think it's a little late to be... fraternizing at a festival with... well, whoever you are?"
Ria straightened, her chin held high. The casual dismissal stung, but she wouldn't let Kai's mom belittle her.
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Modesto," Ria said, her voice polite but firm. "We were just wrapping up our art booth for the festival."
Mrs. Modesto's eyes narrowed as they took in Ria's paint-splattered overalls and the worn sneakers peeking out from beneath them. A disdainful sniff escaped her lips.
"Art booth, huh?" she said, her voice dripping with skepticism. "And what kind of art is that, exactly? The kind that gets you nowhere in life?"
Kai's jaw clenched. "Mom, that's not fair!"
"Fair?" Mrs. Modesto scoffed. "Life isn't fair, Kai. And let me tell you something about life – it's about making smart choices, surrounding yourself with people who will elevate you, not drag you down." Her gaze returned to Ria, a sneer twisting her lips. "Look at you, child. Do you honestly see a future here? With someone like..." She trailed off, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.
Tears welled up in Ria's eyes, a hot wave of anger threatening to spill over. But before she could retort, Kai stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous.
Tears welled up in Ria's eyes, a hot wave of anger threatening to spill over. But before she could retort, Kai stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous.
"Mom," he said, his gaze unwavering, "enough. Ria is talented, kind, and beautiful. And unlike some people I know, she judges people based on their character, not their bank account."
Mrs. Modesto's face flushed a deep crimson. She opened her mouth to argue, but the words seemed to die in her throat. Ria watched in a daze as a flicker of something akin to shame crossed her features.
After a tense silence, Mrs. Modesto took a deep breath. "Fine," she muttered, her voice laced with defeat. "But we're talking about this at home, young man. And you," she added, turning to Ria with a pointed look, "consider this a warning."
With that, she turned on her heel and stalked away, leaving Ria and Kai standing alone amidst the fading festival lights.
Tears streamed down Ria's face, a mixture of hurt and anger coursing through her veins. Kai reached out, wiping a stray tear with his thumb.
"Ria, I..." he began, his voice thick with frustration.
Ria shook her head, unable to speak. The encounter with his mom had shattered the happy bubble they'd been in. Suddenly, the challenges of their relationship felt insurmountable.
Sensing her withdrawal, Kai sighed. "Look, let's get you home. We can talk about this properly."
Ria nodded mutely, her heart heavy. As they walked away from the festival, the vibrant colors of the artwork and the joyful sounds of the music seemed muted, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within her.
Reaching her doorstep, Ria turned to face Kai. "Maybe your mom is right," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Maybe this... maybe we..."
Kai cupped her face in his hands, his eyes filled with a fierce tenderness. "Don't listen to her, Ria. You are amazing, and our connection is real. We'll figure this out, together. I promise."
Ria searched his eyes, desperately seeking reassurance. A part of her yearned to believe him, to hold onto the love they'd just discovered. But another part, the part wounded by Mrs. Modesto's cruel words, whispered doubts.
Taking a deep breath, Ria pulled away from his touch. "I need some time to think, Kai," she said, her voice trembling. "Please, just... go home."
Kai's face fell, but he nodded slowly. "Okay," he mumbled. "But don't shut me out, Ria. Please."
The following days stretched into an agonizing silence. Ria threw herself into her art, the vibrant explosions on the canvas a stark contrast to the dull ache in her chest. Kai's texts, increasingly desperate at first, then dwindling into a worried silence, did little to ease the turmoil within her.
Sarah, ever the loyal confidante, kept a watchful eye on Ria. One afternoon, after a particularly frustrating art session, Sarah nudged a plate of cookies towards Ria.
"You're going to give yourself an ulcer if you keep staring at that blank page," she said bluntly. "Talk to me, Ria. What's really going on?"
Ria sighed, picking at the edge of the plate. She poured out her heart, the encounter with Kai's mom echoing in her mind, her words laced with a mix of anger and hurt.
Sarah listened patiently, her brow furrowed in thought. "Okay, first of all," she said once Ria finished, "Mrs. Modesto is a walking stereotype. Wealth and social status don't define who you are, Ria. And second, have you considered talking to Kai?"
Ria scoffed. "What's the point? His mom clearly doesn't approve. She probably expects him to date some socialite with a perfectly manicured ponytail and a trust fund."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Have you ever considered that maybe Kai doesn't share his mom's narrow-minded views? He stood up for you, Ria. That means something."
Ria remained silent, a sliver of hope flickering within her. Perhaps Sarah was right. Maybe Kai was worth fighting for.
The next morning, Ria stood outside Kai's house, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Taking a deep breath, she raised her fist and knocked on the door. A tense few moments passed before the door creaked open, revealing a haggard-looking Kai.
His eyes widened in surprise, then lit up with a hesitant joy. "Ria! What are you doing here?"
"Can we talk?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kai nodded, stepping aside to usher her in. The house was strangely quiet, the air thick with unspoken tension. They settled on the living room couch, a worn leather behemoth that seemed to dwarf Ria's small frame.
"I... I've been thinking about what you said," Ria began, her voice trembling slightly. "And about what your mom said."
Kai winced. "Look, Ria, I'm so sorry about my mom. She can be... well, she can be a real piece of work sometimes."
"But what if she's right?" Ria blurted out, tears threatening to spill once more. "What if this is a mistake? What if we're just setting ourselves up for heartbreak?"
Kai reached out, his hand hovering over hers for a fleeting moment before pulling back. "Ria," he said, his voice filled with a quiet conviction, "life is full of challenges. But the best things in life, the things that make it worth living, are often the ones that come with a little risk."
He paused, his gaze meeting hers. "We may be different, Ria," he continued, "but our differences are what make our connection so special. And if we give up because of someone else's disapproval, then we'll never truly know what could have been."
Ria looked into his eyes, awash with a mix of vulnerability and determination. A tiny voice inside her, the same one that had dared to dream and confess her feelings on stage, whispered that maybe, just maybe, Kai was worth the risk.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "So," she said, her voice gaining strength, "are you saying we should give this a shot, even with a disapproving dragon guarding your castle?"
Kai grinned, the familiar spark back in his eyes. "Maybe," he said, "we can slay the dragon together. One awkward conversation with my mom at a time."
Ria's smile widened, a warmth blooming in her chest. The future remained uncertain, but with Kai by her side, and a shared determination to fight for their love, it felt a whole lot brighter. Taking a deep breath, she reached for his hand, her fingers intertwining with his.
"Then let's slay some dragons," she declared, a newfound fierceness glinting in her eyes. "Together."