I used to think that growing up meant more freedom.

Staying out late without curfews, buying what I like, when I like it, and deciding what to eat without someone nagging me to “eat more vegetables”.

To be fair, all these do feel liberating.

Although, in the spirit of accountability, I still let my parents know when I will be home late so that they don’t have to worry.

But ever since I got attached, I noticed something different – my conversations with my parents have changed.

“Does he take care of you?”

The realisation dawned on me when I put a spin on my usual morning routine.

As my spoon clinked against the mug, I was reminded of how I used to “volunteer” to stir my parents’ coffee for them when I was younger because I was intrigued by how the coffee powder dissolved.

Over time, I stopped being fascinated by that process and didn’t offer to help anymore.

So at that moment, I decided to make another cup of coffee for my mum while I was at it.

As we nestled on our sofa, each with a cup of coffee, she broke the silence by asking about my boyfriend.

“How’s T treating you?”

“Does he buy you dinner when you go out?”

“Have you and T talked about BTO-ing already?”

That’s when I noticed that her questions had stopped being about my everyday life, but they had become about my future.

It was as if she was also starting to realise that she wouldn’t be around to take care of me anymore.

Now, all she wanted to know was if my boyfriend could take care of me in the future.

After chatting with her, I found myself wondering if my dad shared the same thoughts.

Still daddy’s little girl