CHAPTER SEVEN

Sunday finally came and I was really nervous.

I don't know how Elias did it but Felicia actually permitted the play date. When I arrived she was leaving and Elias said one of his siblings invited her over for girls time.

Since Felicia loves the glamorous life, she decided to go but I had a feeling he had a hand in this.

"Sora." Asa said with his eyes fluttering as he handed me a crayon colored flower.

"Your really such an artist." I complimented as his cheeks flustered.

"But not more than me mommy!" Ren shouted as he hung on Elias who supported him with a hand.

"Your both artists and talented ones." I said not wanting to pick any side as Ren giggled.

"So ready to go?" Elias asked as he packed the last thing Asa would need for a picnic at a popular forestation for the public.

"Yeah!" Ren shouted as he ran towards the door while I carried Asa who was hugging my neck like he was scared I'd disappear.

I helped strap the kids in their kids seat as Ren kept babbling about random things you'd expect two years old to do or at least almost two would.

Asa seemed to understand and would respond with his head. The only time we heard him talk was when he saw a firetruck which he used to distract Ren from talking.

"Are we there yet?" Ren asked.

"No." Elias responded.

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"When are we going to be there?" Ren asked as Asa pinched and dragged his cheek making him cry as I and Elias laughed.

Ren kept quiet afterwards pouting at Asa with his arms folded who seemed uninterested as he read a picture book about animals and vegetables.

It didn't take much time for Ren to be interested in the book and join him.

That was what I loved about children, they easily forgive no matter what even though most will turn out to be hateful when they age. They had no problem and if they did, it was either parents or something bizzare and humorous.

"We're here." Elias said as Ren cheered while Asa clapped along.

Elias got them out of the car, placing them between the both of us.

I held Asa's hand from one end while Elias held Ren's hand as we walked to find a good spot.

I couldn't help but feel shy with the way people were staring at us and tourist were taking pictures like we were some celebrity family on the block.

I helped set the picnic blanket as Elias and the boys played around.

Asa didn't run much, taking breaks to stare at the butterflies before chasing after it again.

Ren ran after him, screaming to follow him as Elias ran after both of them why I helped to lay out the snacks, allowing the warmth of the sun to bath my skin a little in hopes of a little tan. I was naturally pale and I got a little jealous of people who could tan because I couldn't tan easily like others.

I was still staring at the beautiful clear sky, memories of Jon and my happiest days flashing before my eyes when I felt a soft pull on my sleeve.

Asa stood with a tiny flowerpot in his hand that had a baby white hydrangea. I collected it with a smile realizing Asa knew what each flowers meant.

Pink carnations meant a mother's dying love.

Elias said Asa was too young to remember his mother though he was aware of her presence in his life but it seemed he remembered her perfectly well because I shared similarities with her.

"Mama loved flowers, doesn't cry when she sees them." Asa confessed as he blinked with his eyes down. I hugged him as he stood still before returning the hug back.

"Mommy look! Uncle and I caught bobbyfwies." Ren shouted as he ran up, giving me a jar which had two beautiful butterflies inside.

"You have to set them free, this is their home and their family will miss them." I said as Ren pouted.

"Bwut I want them. No!" Ren whined as he hugged the jar and whined. I didn't want to deal with him acting like a spoilt brat, disadvantages of having no siblings but Elias came to the rescue.

"Ren, so you love your mommy?" Elias asked, catching Ren's attention as he sniffed and nodded. "Would you like it if someone you don't know took you away from your mommy and you never saw him again?"

"No. I lobe mommy so Ren will stay with mommy and ba-chan." Ren claimed as he held my arm with his other hand while he clung to the jar.

"That is exactly what your doing to those butterflies. Your taking them from their mommy and ba-chan and we can't have that can we?" He asked as Ren looked at the jar, Elias then me.

"No." Ren responded tearfully.

"So unless the butterflies want to stay with you, you have to let them go home. Okay?" Elias asked and Ren nodded.

Asa stretched his hands towards Ren for the jar. Ren gave it to him and Asa carefully opened it with Elias' assistance, releasing the butterfly as they watched it go away.

"Bobbyfwies baa-bye! Go and meet your mommy and ba-chan!" Ren shouted as he waved them bye while Asa clumsily copied his actions in curiosity.

Elias sat down beside me, taking a sandwich and chewing as we watched the boys using a picture book to find things in their environment.

"Asa really enjoys flowers. His smart to be knowing what they mean. He also said your ex-wife loved flowers." I said as I held the little flowerpot as Elias expression softened.

"He did? I know he has little memories of her but I didn't expect him to remember that much." Elias said in disbelief as he watched Asa who had his right cheek, nose and forehead pecked by Ren as we both laughed.

"Well Asa is full of surprises like his dad but no one can beat your kid when it comes to energy. How do you manage him?" Elias asked as the boys headed for the blanket for break.

"The harder they play, the faster they drop. I'm barely home because I have two part time jobs so when I get back before Ren's asleep, the only time we truly bond is storytime or bedtime songs. If he ever wakes up, we do folklores in Japanese till we both drop. It's hard at first but knowing I have him makes me happy and makes all the suffering worth it. All I want is to see my Ren happy, that's what every parent wants for their kids...well most." He confessed as the boys sat down.

I helped put their lunch in their plates and gave them carton drinks with a straw. Elias eyes were on me the entire time as I blushed, avoiding his eyes in embarrassment.

"So tell me about your family?" Elias asked as I pointed at myself. "Who else would it be except you beautiful?"

I covered my face in shame for thinking sinfully about him when he smirked, revealing his nice canines. I blinked as faint images of my parents came to mind.

"I don't really remember much about my parents but I do remember that we were poor and happy. My parents were farmers who showed hospitality and kindness to the fullest. They were kind, warm, playful, confident and brave even in the face of danger. Even when our house collapsed and they met their death, they smiled at me as they made sure I didn't get hit by the impact. I was five at that time so I was sent to the orphanage though it closed down after I graduated from elementary school." I explained as I rubbed my fingers together.

"It must have been hard surviving." Elias as I chuckled.

"Pretty much but it was fun because I was never alone. I had friends but we all went our separate ways before I met Jon." I confessed as I smiled and was distracted when Ren tapped me.

"Tag your it mommy!" Ren squealed as he ran and I tagged Elias before he could run then started running.

I screamed out in joy as I ran, Elias chasing after me as I ran faster.

It surprised me how someone who acted so slow was fast and he caught me around the waist as we fell down before Ren and Asa jumped on top of us, laughing.

Asa didn't seem to care that he was laughing as he buried his face in my stomach.

The play date was really fun and it seemed Asa had the habit of pinching and pulling Ren's chubby cheeks till Ren hits his hand and pouts.

At some point, they disappeared but came back with Ren soaking wet and Asa's body stained with mud. So we had to call the fun to an end.

"Thank you so much for today, we really had fun." I said as I held a sleeping Ren in my arms as Elias nodded.

"I should thank you for accepting it. Asa had so much fun he even slept off." Elias said as my eyes trailed to Asa who was sleeping peacefully in his baby seat.

"I guess this is goodbye." I said as I adjusted Ren's head on my shoulder.

"For now. Goodnight Sora."

"Goodnight Elias." I greeted and turned my back, entering inside the house as Edith came out.

"I guess no dinner for you both?" Edith asked as I shook my head.

"We had dinner at Starbucks. Could you help me clean up Ren and tuck him to bed, I'm really tired." I requested as Edith nodded, taking Ren away from me and carrying him to his room.

I cleaned up everything we took, dropped the flower pot somewhere safe and walked to my room, taking off my clothes. I was about to shower when I heard a beep from my phone.

I had fun today. Would love for the kids to spend more time together. I read as I shook my head, guessing this was one of his silly tactics to have me around him.

I had fun too but would be nice if we had more kids around. I typed back as I sat on the bed.

Then why don't we make more kids?

With your girlfriend?

No. With you.

I could hear my heart thumping as a strange feeling of warmth sizzled me. I didn't know how to respond and left it hanging.

Just kidding. Goodnight, I need to wake up early to drop Asa for therapy and get to work as well. I read softly and then he went offline.

I sighed as I fell on the sheets, thoughts of Elias coming to mind.

I was attracted to him, I liked him no lie but I wasn't in love with him.

Also, he was dating Felicia and I don't want to cause Felicia or Edith any trouble or be the reason that Elias breaks up with Felicia.

That guilt would be too much to bear and even to this day, I'm still bearing the sins of my past.

"I guess I should stop thinking so much of it and deal with it. Only a dead man can never have problems." I whispered to myself and stood up to have a nice, long, scented soak.