"Mia, don’t listen to their nonsense, come on, eat more," upon hearing her son say Mia Foster liked matsutake mushrooms, Melody Zachary helped serve some more, also timely easing the awkwardness. Mia Foster could only force a smile and tried her best to lower her presence as she buried her head.
The men frequently raised their glasses again, all congratulating Melody Zachary on her birthday. By the end, everyone had drunk quite a bit. When the meal was over, all four men were noticeably quite drunk, walking unsteadily.
Standing outside the restaurant, watching the others leave one by one in their cars, Mia Foster also bid farewell to Melody Zachary.
"Auntie, I’ll head back first. I have work tomorrow."
Melody Zachary turned to look at her son, who was leaning against the wall with a troubled expression, "Mia, if it’s convenient, could you take Auntie home? You see, Felix..."
"Mom, I can go back on my own, it’s fine," Felix Shaw pushed against the wall forcefully, wobbling over. After just two steps, he stumbled towards the direction of the two women.
"Oh my goodness, can’t you be more careful! Why drink so much? Really!" With Mia Foster’s help, Melody Zachary caught her son, frowning and rebuking him.
"Haha..." Felix Shaw stood up straight, but was clearly unsteady, "Mom, it’s your birthday, your son is just happy!"
Melody Zachary supported her son’s arm, continuing to plead with Mia Foster, "Mia, help Auntie get Felix back home. Auntie can’t manage alone,"
Felix Shaw stood on the steps in front of the restaurant, even while being supported by his mother, still swaying back and forth, drunkenly looking at Mia Foster, without speaking.
"Alright," after hesitating a bit, Mia Foster had no choice but to agree. Felix Shaw was tall and big; Melody Zachary was petite and older, and couldn’t possibly get him home by herself.
"Auntie, please hold onto Felix here, and I’ll go get the car."
"Eh,"
Seeing Mia Foster agreeing, Melody Zachary responded happily, wrapping her son’s arm around her neck and shoulder. Felix Shaw swayed every now and then, making her stagger along unsteadily.
A few minutes later, Mia Foster drove the car over, together with Melody Zachary, they braced Felix Shaw from both sides towards the sedan.
Before reaching the apartment where Felix Shaw lived, Mia Foster already heard his faint snores.
Glancing through the rearview mirror, Felix Shaw was already asleep in the back seat, leaning on his mother’s shoulder.
Arriving downstairs at the apartment, the two women supported Felix Shaw into the unit building; despite being heavily drunk, Felix Shaw still kept some consciousness, taking steps as they moved, though his entire weight nearly fell onto Mia Foster.
Staggering as they supported him into the apartment, Melody Zachary hurried into the kitchen to make a sobering soup for her son, leaving Mia Foster alone to guide Felix Shaw into the bedroom. As she was about to lay him on the bed, inertia led her to tumble down with him.
Felix Shaw lay on the bed, half of his body pressing on Mia Foster’s. Despite several attempts, Mia couldn’t push him off and had to speak, "Felix Shaw, you’re crushing me, please move."
"...No, if I move you’ll leave..." Felix Shaw mumbled, his voice carrying stubbornness, and the arm draped over Mia Foster’s neck seemed to exert force as he frustratingly lifted his long leg onto her waist, pinning her entirely beneath him.