"Hai."
A tug at his shoulder woke him right away and he blinked drowsily. "Chunhua."
"We should leave. It's quite late now."
"Ah? What's the time…?"
Looking at the clock, he didn't realize when the time had passed beyond eight. They talked a lot, ate a lot and then passed out quite literally. The joy of Jing's first word had turned the day into a festival.
He let out a small yawn and looked around. "Where are the kids?"
She smiled. "Come, I will show you."
They walked upstairs and she took him to a room with a door slightly ajar. Hai peeked in and found the three boys in bed.
Jinhai had a story book across his lap, his hands making animated gestures and his eyes widening and sparkling now and then as the story hit high and low notes. Opposite him sat Jianyu and baby Jing, following his gestures with their heads and whole bodies. They swayed left, then right, lost in the flow of Jinhai's fantasy world. Their eyes sparkled like tiny stars, completely immersed in his storytelling.
"I tried telling Jing a story today, but he wasn't impressed at all," she chuckled. "He was looking for Jinhai all around. He was getting all restless without him, but as soon as Jinhai held him, he brightened right away."
Hai stared at his sons in silence. Within his boys, he tried to search in his memories two brothers he knew. Where were those brothers at the age Jinhai and Jing were at now?
"Jing is really enjoying himself…" he whispered in a trance. "I used to tell stories to Liling too."
"Mhm. She told me."
"Strange. I don't remember if anyone…told me any stories. Oh yes, Mom used to. Sometimes. Not…him though. He didn't like stories. He didn't like it when the monsters in the stories died. I never understood why."
"Jaaaaaa…!!!" Jing's arms flailed upwards with the brightest light in his eyes as Jinhai mimicked the sound of a victorious sword's slash.
"Then as I grew older, I didn't find it so strange anymore," Hai smiled at Jing's antics. His laughter felt music to his ears. "He was the monster in every story. I think he used to feel defeated whenever they lost."
Inside, Jinhai pointed at the sky on the page. "The giant, purple monster died and the skies became clear again. The sun shone and the flowers blossomed once more," he pointed at the flowers, making Jing's jaw drop in wonder.
Chunhua's hand quietly slid through his fingers, squeezing it tightly and warmly.
"Does the world to you…look a little less redder than before?"
A faint light passed his eyes.
"Yeah I guess…the hue isn't so…bright that it hurts my eyes."
He gripped the back of her hand. "I am sorry I mentioned our divorce. Are you mad at me?"
"Yes, I am. Your instinctive reaction is to always put up a wall," she pursed her lips. "It's a bad habit I hate about you. Don't come crying to me one day if I leave with Jinhai and Jing."
He looped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. "I am sorry. I will never say mean things again."
"You always keep doing that too…" she mumbled. Nevertheless, she rested her forehead on his shoulder.
"They will do well," she said softly.
"Yeah."
Jinhai's peripheral vision then caught his parents and he hopped off the bed to their side, holding Jing in his arms.
Chunhua smiled. "Is the story over?"
Jinhai nodded.
"Aunt, it was fun!" Jianyu merrily exclaimed.
"Yeah, I could tell," she chuckled.
Hai knelt before them. He watched Jing tugging and pulling Jinhai's cheek, the latter standing completely still and patient as if he was already a monk.
"Was the story good?"
Jianyu beamed. "The bad purple monster died at the end, Uncle! Bro's sword was awesome! Swish swoosh and it defeated it!"
"That's cool. Looks like Jing enjoyed it a lot too."
"Baaaaaaaa!!!" Jing was quite vocal about his agreement.
Hai smiled. He placed his palm upon Jinhai's head, ruffling his hair.
"Jinhai. You are a good brother. Always..be a good brother."
Jinhai blinked at him twice, then nodded. "I will always take care of Jing."
"Me too!" Jianyu raised his hand dutifully.
Jinhai looked up. "Why is Mom crying?"
"W-What, this? You can ignore me, dear," she wiped the tears off her cheeks but to no avail. More tears only continued to gush out in response.
"I am fine, I am fine."
"Haww, Bro! Are you making my sister-in-law cry?" Liling arrived, the floor faintly trembling under the weight of her angry stomps. Guiren followed her.
"I-I didn't! It's the kids. They made my beautiful wife cry," he pouted.
"Don't lie!" She glared. "It's always you who keep troubling her."
He promptly looked away from that accusatory gaze.
Chunhua sniffled. "I am fine, Liling. It's just that kids grow up so fast. They were just babies until yesterday, and now I feel I will just blink and they will be adults already…"
Liling nodded hard. "I feel it too!"
She glared at Jianyu next. "Jianyu! You cannot grow up too fast!"
"..."
Chunhua said, "We will take our leave. It's been too late."
She gasped. "What, you are leaving already? Noooooo!" She jumped to trap her within the confines of her arms. "Don't leave. Oh, oh! Stay the night hereeee!"
"That…"
Guiren nodded.
"Yes, yes, we will have an amazing night out! Let's have another round of celebration~"
Hai sneered. "You just want an excuse to drink booze."
"You are welcome to leave, idiot brother. We don't need you!" She harrumphed.
Jianyu asked with shining eyes, "Mom, can we eat ice-cream?"
"Of course!"
Hai raised his hand, very slowly, gauging his wife's reaction. "Three scoops…?"
The sparkle around the boys increased tenfold. Chunhua's eyes narrowed in silence.
"T-Two and a half?" he sweated.
The corner of her lips twitched. "Hmph."
Hai shone. "Boys, we can have three scoops!"
"Yay!"
Jinhai showed no particular enthusiasm over the count of scoops, though Jing did even if milk was his fate, not ice-cream.
The three boys trotted back to the living room for their ice-cream party while Hai watched them walk away, hands in his pockets. He looked down, the gritty shackles loosening ever so lightly.
'Hai, where do you see yourself free?'
A small, almost imperceptible smile curved the corner of his lips.
"A little bit. I see myself free... just a little more."
