"Chocolate for Yuyu, strawberry for Lan and Mango for ." holding the three ice-creams cones in his small hands, Honey jumped his way back to the waiting area where he had waiting until Wang Shi and Suyin finish their talking. "I better be careful, Ducky loves mango flavour, can’t let her steal it."
He paused outside the office door, wondering, what’s taking the two so long. "Did they slept already? What about my foot massage?" As curiosity took over, his steps moved closer. An angel appeared out of nowhere on his shoulder. "No no no, little one. That’s a bad manner. Rember you promised not to disturb them?"
"But it’s taking so long. I’m bored"
"Let them be. You enjoy ice-cream with your sisters."
"I think you should check what’s happening." The devil’s voice sounded from the other shoulder.
Angel, "Don’t teach him bad. Honey dear, I’m sure Ducky won’t like it."
Devil poked his trident towards Angel, "Your Ducky loves you unconditionally, she can never mind your presence."
Honey’s steps moved closer.
Angel whispered, "Be good. The ice-cream is lting, go back to your sisters."
CLICK
Honey stepped back at the sound of the door. The ice-cream slowly dripping down, tingling his fingers. The happiness takes over him, finally he would be back to bickering with Ducky.
"Suyin, please, listen to once. Just once. I was not--"
SLAP
"DON’T TOUCH ."
Fuming in anger she opened the door and walked straight into Honey. The ice-cream spoiling their clothes. Honey fell straight on his bum.
"Oww.... What are you doing?" Honey pouted, shaking off the lting ss from his hands, "I’d have to bathe now. Poor ice-creams, such a waste."
Suyin’s heavy eyelids too slow to blink, her iris frozen. As if sothing flashed inside her, she couldn’t take another step but stare at the little human sitting on the floor, clumsily trying to get the ice-cream off his clothes and hands. A little sticking at the corner of his lips announcing his naughtiness.
"Do you know these were for Yuyu and Lan? I’m sure the parlour is closed by now. They will definitely make a fuss over it."
Suyin’s stare was a mountain hiding pain within. The boy ahead was the reason her son’s heart was stolen yet he was the one keeping her son beating within him. Alive. She had sworn to yank the heart from the child’s body and let his parents feel the sa pain she had been suffering. But can she really do that?
"Don’t keep standing. Help up. Dad, you gotta order them again. Yuyu and Lan won’t listen to any excuses. Ducky, you better be ready, I will make you pay double." Honey tried to stand up but slipped, laughing at himself. Adorable.
This smile! Ti trapped. Her heart skipped a beat. It’s the smile of her baby. He was laughing from within Honey. And the smile was as beautiful as the one when he smiled for the first ti. Ignoring the cold puddle, she knelt down.
"Hey, careful, you--" Before honey could say another word, he saw tears streaming down her eyes. "I was just joking. Promise I won’t do anything. Won’t even ask for a foot massage. Please don’t cry," tears were his weakness. It especially makes him uncomfortable if they were from Suyin.
He wiped her tears, but they were endless. Unstoppable. Her chin trembled like a small child. Honey looked up at Wang Shi but found him standing silently. A careful look, a film of water had his father’s eyes glossy too. It confused Honey. It scared Honey. It worried Honey.
Suyin’s shivering hands touched Honey’s heart, feeling the beat within. The world turned into a blur, and so was every sound. Her shoulders shook, so many tears burst forth like water from a dam, letting the emotional pain flew out of her every core.
"F-Fai....." she bent her head to hear Honey’s heartbeat, "Mumma’s Fai, you are there. I love you, baby. Mumma misses you."
Suyin hugged Honey with all her might, rocking the little human in her arms like a mother, kissing him all over. Her defences breaking over, "My baby-- Mumma’s Fai." and then ca a cry so raw that even the eyes of strangers would wet. Maybe that’s why the two little girls ca running when they hear soone crying. They ran to hug Wang Shi’s legs. "Uncle, why is pretty sister crying?"
Wang Shi ruffled their heads. He had no answer to the question.
"A-Aunty Suyin, what happen? Who is Fai? My na is Honey. And you are not my mom, but Aunty Suyin and Weirdo Duck--"
"NO. You are my FAI. My baby, my Fai." She had been conscious of her emotions, and the presence around kids knowing it affects them. But today-- she just gave way to the enormity of her grief. It was her own child she was hugging after five years. It was her own heartbeat she finally heard again after five years. How can she be in control? Let tears flow unchecked.
"Okay okay, call whatever you want. But please don’t cry," A part of him was breaking too. He’s not liking a bit how she was crying and he was just-- helpless.
While patting Suyin’s back, Honey’s eyes looked at Wang Shi for answers but saw him standing with head drooped low. "Tell what happened? I promise to help you. Has dad scolded you? Did he fight with you? Though I love him the most in this world, I promise not to take a side. You can rely on ."
Amidst her heartbreaking sobs, the disturbing reality wakes her up. Her sobs stifled and she raised her head from Honey’s chest. Honey cupped her wet cheeks with his ice-cream stained hands. She could sll lovely flavours on him. Mango! It’s their favourite.
Shivering, she pointed at Honey’s heart and then at herself. "Mine. "
"Yes. I’m yours and dad’s both. How many tis do I have to say it? Are you crying because of this? Has grandma said sothing?"
She shook her head, "Y-you are mine. Only mine."
"Only your and dad’s. Happy now?"
"NO," her stifled sobs overco by a wave of emotions again. She stood up and scooped Honey in her arms, "You are mine. I won’t let anyone else have you. You are only mine. MINE. Let’s go."
Wang Shi moved, "S-Suyin,"
"SHUT UP. STAY AWAY FROM US. HE’S MINE."
Honey wiggled in her arms, punched her shoulder, "What are you saying? Look, how are you even talking to dad? Dad, what happened? Why is she talking like this?"
"Because that’s the truth. You are my baby."
"I’m not. You are my Aunty and he’s my dad. How can I be your son?" Honey reasoned, "Let go."
"I won’t. You are my baby. His son is dead."
Wang Shi, "Suyin please don’t do this. He’s just a kid. He won’t understand any of this. I promise to--"
"STAY OUT OF THIS. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY A WORD." her voice echoed, "I won’t let you have him. He’s mine..... He’s my Fai,"
"Suyin, please control. Let us talk."
Honey bit her shoulder and wriggled free from her clutches, running straight to Wang Shi. "Dad," as Honey opened his arms, Wang Shi took him in. Patting, he coaxed the scared little one. "Is she sick? Had she hurt herself sowhere? I’m not liking this Ducky. Can you fix her back to the old version?" he cried, showing the child underneath him.
Suyin reached to touch Honey but Honey curled himself into a tight ball in Wang Shi’s arms. "NO NO NO.... I’m not leaving dad. I’m not your Fai. I’m not. No one can take from dad." when Honey cried there was a rawness to it as if Suyin had opened his old wounds.
Yuyu and Lan hit Suyin with their tiny fist.
Yuyu, "Stay away from Honey bro and Uncle Shishi. You are not a pretty sister, but an evil sister."
Lan, "We won’t let you take Honey bro anywhere. He’s ours."
"Aunty Suyin, wake up. Rember, we had visited Fai’s grave. He’s sleeping beside Angel. How can I be Fai? I’m not going anywhere. Dad please--" The red marks on Wang Shi’s face caught Honey’s attention. He gently touched them with his cold fingers, "Who did this?"
"I scratched myself by mistake."
Suyin’s grey orbs were like the dark shade of clouds gathering before the storm, freezing at the father-son duo. Wang Shi looked at her, wanting her to blink, co inside, sit down and talk to him. They really need to talk about this a lot. But she won’t. At least not right now.
"She did this?" Honey snapped at Suyin, "You hit my dad? How dare you hurt him? I hate you. You are bad. BAD." a part of her soul was bound to that mont, to the realisation Honey won’t be hers unless Wang Shi was here. She has to do sothing to get rid of him.
Her eyes narrowed down at the man, mouthing, "This is not over. He’s mine." Slowly her steps moved back, farther and farther until the distance took her away from their eyes.
Behind her, Wang Shi hugged the three kids, ’Yes, this is not over. But first, you have to calm down and think with a clear mind.’ He takes out his phone to ssage soone, hoping that person will talk to her and stop her from doing anything reckless.
She’s a raging fire right now. A fire that knows no difference between right and wrong and destroys everything cos in its way.
*********
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