Effie entered his life after the death of his parents, when his youngest uncle took him in and became his guardian.
She wasn't someone he grew close to immediately. After his parents passed, loneliness and resentment consumed him.
He stopped going outside, going to school. Instead, he spent his time in his room, lost in anime and video games. It was his only comfort zone.
Most of his relatives thought he was just being lazy and wasting his life.
They didn't make an effort to understand his struggles. Even if they tried, they dismissed it, labeling him weak-minded.
Because of this, he was passed from one relative to the next, until his youngest uncle finally took him in.
That was the first time he saw her.
She was different. She never judged his hobbies, never said anything bad about them.
Instead, she supported him in her own way.
Thinking back, he realized he had never properly thanked her. He never quite figured out how to show his gratitude.
But now?
"Aunt Effie, thanks for bringing me food again." He smiled, his eyes almost closing as the intensity of his gratitude filled him.
She was taken aback by his words. It was the first time he ever thanked her, and his smile looked so genuine.
"Are you sick?" she asked, her face filled with concern.
She placed the tray on the table outside his room and gently checked his temperature by placing her palm on his forehead.
The gesture caught him off guard, but he didn't pull away. He wasn't a virgin anymore in his past life, so this wasn't enough to drive him crazy like some teenager with raging hormones.
Still, having her so close made him feel self-conscious, especially with the subtle scent of her cologne blending with the warm trace of sweat from cooking.
And it did not help that she was wearing a loose white tank top that showed off her side boob and a hint of her armpit, giving her a casual yet provocative look.
Now that he thought about it, why does he feel like she was tempting him ?
'Stop over thinking it,' he scolded himself. 'How could you think like that about her? She's not that type of person!'
He felt ashamed, realizing how ungrateful he was being.
"You don't have a fever, but..." She still looked unconvinced.
Sensing her concern, he decided to step in and handle the situation.
"Aunt Effie, I'm not sick. I just been thinking a lot, and I realized you've been taking care of me so much." He paused, knowing that such a vague response would still bother her.
"I feel much better now." He added.
"Oh, please—don't do something drastic. You still have so much ahead of you." She blinked back her tears and pulled him into a tight hug, her voice filled with care.
"What do you need, Terence? If there's anything more I can do, just say the word."
'Wait, what's going on?' He couldn't understand why she was reacting like this.
'Wait… is she thinking I want to end it all?' He chuckled awkwardly, unsure whether to laugh or explain himself.
He was also torn between correcting her and just letting her hold him, but he couldn't deny that the sensation of her soft chest pressing against him felt really…comforting.
Seconds passed, and she still didn't let go.
Then, without warning, she stepped back and looked down.
His boxers gave everything away, and there was no hiding it, not even with divine help.
Effie's flushed red. "I'm sorry I got carried away. I was just..."
She wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to look away, but it was clear she couldn't tear her gaze from his 'Blessed Body Part'
'Hold on... No way, does my aunt actually have feelings for me?'
Was the reason she was so overly supportive and kind because she liked him?
But why?
He wasn't anything special—he wasn't particularly handsome, smart, or charming.
Compared to him, his uncle was miles ahead. He held a high position in a billion-dollar company, drove a sports car, could buy anything she wanted.
He was also very charming and good-looking, thanks to his dedication to the gym, strong discipline, and well-spoken nature.
If there was any flaw about him, it was that he rarely came home due to all the business trips he had to take.
'Is it because she's sexually frustrated?'
Right now, it was the only thing he could think of, or maybe he was just wrong.
"Aunt Effie, I'm fine. I promise you, it's not what you think."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure," he nodded, picking up the tray. "Just... gonna eat and watch some anime."
She finally sighed in relief. This was the Terence she was used to seeing.
When the door closed, she didn't walk away immediately. She looked at her palm for a few seconds.
If Terence could see the look on her face right now, he would curse himself for being the most oblivious person on the planet.
Unfortunately, his return to the past didn't mean his more mature self simply overwrote his old self.
No, it was more like the two personalities had blended together, and he was still unaware of the changes that came with it.
Whether this would turn out to be a good or bad thing… well, only time could tell.