That night, while one life was slowly ebbing away in the distant woods, two lives were being born. Two more Elite Five members became a young parent.
The first of the new generation of the Elite Five.
Coincidentally, all four were born in the same year, and each pair had the same birthday.
Kyle"s twins, then Ali and Sam"s children. They became so close that people often mistook them as quadruplets.
The next day, everyone congregated in Sofiya"s VIP ward.
This was the best time for them to meet before the new mothers went home, as they would be in confinement for about 40 days. Both Ali and Sam already had hired the confinement women for their respective wives.
During this time, too, visitors are discouraged from coming as the newborns would still be susceptible to germs and viruses.
Kyle"s twins were already in the "safe" period and thus, could be brought out - although he wouldn"t do so unnecessarily. This, however, was a special occasion.
The birth of a new life is always important.
Sofiya had to undergo a Cesarean section, which was essentially an operation to deliver the baby through an incision on her abdomen and uterus. As such, she would have to be warded longer (at least three days) while Betty could go back within a day.
Kyle was carrying Rory, while Sayuri was holding Alex. Betty was in a wheelchair while Sam was carrying his daughter. Ali"s son was in a ba.s.sinet beside Sofiya"s bed.
They were busy introducing their kids to each other.
"Everyone, meet Aurora Misty Smith," Kyle said, as he held his daughter higher up in his arms.
"And Alexander Belvior Smith," Sayuri replied, standing beside Kyle.
Although everyone had seen the babies before, this was the first time they have seen them since they were discharged. The twins looked like normal babies now, instead of small premature babies that tended to look very thin.
They had bright eyes and rosy cheeks, making everyone ooh and ahh at the babies.
"And this," Sam said, unable to stop looking at his newborn daughter, his face full of awe, "Is Fleur Johnson."
"Our son, Muhammad Ziaudin," Ali said softly, stroking his newborn son"s head, "which means brilliance of the faith."
"What does Fleur mean?" Xing Han asked curiously.
"Nothing fancy, really," Sam said with a smile, "It just means flower. She is our delicate flower, our angel."
Kay watched this scene, feeling a little bittersweet.
It was as if she was left out from this momentous occasion.
Their lives had now pa.s.sed another level, reached another threshold that she had yet to touch.
Before, they were all at the same level, in the sense that they were going through their "milestones" together. School. College. Work.
But now, their paths were slowly diverging. It"s so easy for friends to lose touch, mainly because they were caught up in their own lives. Their own families.
Three of them were married, one was going to be soon while she would still take a few more years - if things went well. In the meantime, the others may have more kids as well.
So, only she and Xing Han wouldn"t be a part of this "journey" for now.
She turned to look at Xing Han and noticed that he was not affected at all.
"I"m an Uncle to so many kiddies!" he was exclaiming excitedly in happiness.
"You"ll be a great Uncle," Kyle said with a smile, "And a better G.o.dfather."
"G.o.dfather? Me? Really?!" Xing Han said.
"If you and Big Bro Nic accept, that is," Kyle said.
"We accept! We accept! Why wouldn"t we?!" Xing Han shouted, jumping up excitedly.
"Do you want to hold her?" Kyle asked.
"Can I?" Xing Han asked worriedly.
Kyle smiled, "Of course."
"You aren"t scared I"ll drop her?" Xing Han asked as he wrung his hands.
Kyle"s smile was gentle as he said, "You"re my BFF, aren"t you? You"ll be extra careful, right? I trust you."
Xing Han nodded, but he was so nervous.
Rory was so small.
Sure, she was still bigger than the newborns but still!
"Sit down," Kyle said.
For someone as nervous as Xing Han, sitting down is better as he would be in a more comfortable position. Kyle guided him on how to position his hands, in order to be able to hold Rory.
Kyle then placed her in the crook of Xing Han"s arm.
Xing Han stared down at the baby, and she stared up at him.
She then flashed him the biggest smile ever, laughing.
She couldn"t help it.
The expression on Xing Han"s face was funny to her. He was holding her so stiffly, not daring to move while his face had a look of both wonder and fear at the same time.
This friend of her father had the kindest face she had ever seen. If he was Father"s BFF, then he must be just as how he appeared. Nice.
Aurora liked him already and wanted to let that person always smile. He looked best when he was smiling and laughing.
She laughed again, liking his shocked face.
Hearing her laugh and seeing her adorable face, Xing Han fell hard.
He melted completely.
"Auw, she is so adorbs!" Xing Han said, in awe and lovingly, "When you grow up, I will bring you and show you all the fun things, okay? I have soooo many things to show you! You and your brother, of course. And then …"
Kyle, upon seeing this, shook his head helplessly as Xing Han prattled on, oblivious to the world. He was so focused on all the plans he was making in his mind, completely mesmerized by the intense gaze Rory was giving him.
Kyle couldn"t help but wonder if he had lost his BFF to his daughter …
Alex, snuggling in his mother"s arms, couldn"t help but frown listening to that guy drone on while Rory was gurgling and laughing. Leave her alone and she starts charming all these guys around her.
Alex couldn"t help but wonder if he has a long road ahead of him in keeping her away from pests.
Thus, the two men in Rory"s life were visibly affected by this turn of events.
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Later, all the babies were asleep.
The hospital brought a couple of ba.s.sinets over, so the twins slept in one while Fleur slept in the other.
"I notice a new ring, Sayuri," teased Xing Han, pointing at her finger.
"Yes, Kyle proposed last night," Sayuri answer with a smile.
"Proposed? Huh? But you"re already married," Xing Han said in confusion.
"Yeah, but I never asked her," Kyle said, "I believe every woman would like to be be asked, don"t you think?"
"So does this mean you"re going to have a wedding ceremony?"
Kyle looked at Sayuri, seeking her opinion, "That depends entirely on Sayuri. Whatever she wants, it"s hers."
To him, the wedding ceremony itself was a drag.
Even in his past life, he found it rather tedious. It wasn"t that he didn"t want to get married, but the only real ceremony was the actual solemnization itself.
That was small and intimate, with the closest family members.
The reception, or the wedding ceremony, seemed more to be a declaration to other people that they were married. It was just a party whereby the bride and bridegroom dress up (some even had several changes of clothes), feed the people who came, get presents and wave them bye-bye.
It was different if their wedding ceremony was where they became legal husband and wife during the ceremony itself.
It wasn"t here.
Sayuri tilted her head, seriously considering this.
On the one hand, didn"t every girl want that fairy tale wedding?
She looked down at Alex.
"I"m not sure, honestly," Sayuri admitted, "I"m already a mother, and after the incident, everyone knows we"re married. So having a wedding ceremony seems a bit redundant. Yet, I do wish to wear a wedding gown. Am I being silly?"
Kyle came over and knelt down beside her as she was sitting down on a chair at this time, "No. You"re never silly. If that"s what you want, then we shall have one. For the simple reason that you want one."
"How about when the kids are older? Like, say, four? Or five? Then Rory and Fleur can be your flower girl and Alex with Ziaudin can be the page boys and ring bearer," suggested Kay.
"Sounds like a good idea," Kyle said, "What do you think, Sayuri?"
Sayuri thought about it, "What if I"m pregnant again at that time?"
The others laughed at that, especially at the sheepish look Kyle had.
"I"ll behave," Kyle said then smiled slyly as he wriggled his eyebrows, "Then we can go on our honeymoon as well."
"True, we didn"t have that either," Sayuri said, "You have a lot to make up for."
Kyle smiled, "I just have the rest of my life to."