In the sleeping room, on the table, a lamp lit with a single flame inside allowing only enough light for a person to read and write, Mua Kong works as he sat on that table. The bed area was dimmed allowing the person sleeping to sleep.In the past, some nights, Hli Ja went to bed ahead of time while Mua Kong catch up on work but tonight, it was two boys laying down on the bed trying to sleep.
Pao Hua cuddled his nephew to sleep, but Little Superglue has a hard time sleeping. Nighttime has definitely gotten better compared to three weeks ago, but, it still takes a lot of reminders for Little Superglue to sleep without mommy.
Little Superglue tossed and turned on the bed unable to sleep. His mind and heart felt bothered. He looked up to his uncle, "Pao Pao..?"
Pao Hua lifted his right eyes allowing enough s.p.a.ce to see the face of his nephew who was laying on his right, "Hmm."
"Houa Houa miss mommy, a lot, lot tonight." His heart felt unsettled much more so tonight due to having seen his mother"s portrait earlier in Mua Kong"s study room.
They said out of sight, out of mind, but sometimes, when you have not seen someone very dear to you for so long, the absence of time only make you miss them a whole lot more. Things belong to them or things that remind you of them only make your heart miserable. And this is how the father and son feel without their favorite woman around.
Mua Kong who was sitting on the table still, lit with only one lamp on the table paused what he was doing to look over at the direction of the bed.
Pao Hua closed his eyes before replying in a low tired voice, "Mm.. I know. Go to sleep."
Not happy with the answer, Little Superglue sat up and turned his whole body to face Pao Hua, "Houa Houa loves mommy very much. Houa Houa will be a good boy. Will mommy come back?"
Listening to the reaction of his nephew, Pao Hua turned his head towards his nephew and sighed tirelessly. He knew his spoiled nephew is too young to comprehend that mommy had sacrificed herself to save them two. To get his nephew to behave, Pao Hua had to lie to his nephew that mommy is far away and will come back when Little Superglue stop crying.
Pao Hua, himself was not sure if his sister will come back, or if she is still alive, but he hopes that she found a way to survive while he crawled to the Palace to ask Mua Kong for help. "Mm.. your daddy is here and you are here. Mommy will definitely come back."
Hearing that made Little Superglue extremely happy. His eyes sparkled happily to search for his father for confirmation, "Daddy?" He shouted, "Is that true? Mommy will come back if daddy and Houa Houa are here?"
Mua Kong froze for a brief moment without a profound answer. He was not sure how to reply to his son"s question. Mommy was probably very sad at what happened to her while he was away. So she decided to leave avoiding him for three years. If he found her, what would he say to convince her that she is the only person in his heart? How is he going to apologize to her? Will she come back? Mommy must hate him very much because he locked her up in the palace and kept her in the dark.
Mua Kong slowly laid down the ink pen in his hand onto the table, moved the chair behind and stood up. He walked over to the bed, hovered over Pao Hua and lifted up his son. With his son in his arm, Mua Kong walked to the connecting room where all the clothes are stored. With one hand, he moved the drapes to one side and in a soft gentle tone, he asked, "Those are your mommy"s clothes. You can pick one and take it with you to bed." Mua Kong hope that if his son carries something that represent her, might help his Little Superglue to sleep.
He totally understood his son"s feeling. He has not been able to sleep properly in the last three years that Hli Ja has been absent.
Little Superglue"s eyes sparkles as he shrieked excitingly, "They belong to mommy?! I can have?" He looked at his father for confirmation.
"Mm.." Mua Kong confirmed. He inched closer to the shelf to allow his son to pick one set of clothes.
Instead of reaching his little hand, Little Superglue moved his head closer to the clothes. He sniffed around before reaching his hand for a one-piece red wine silk dress. "This smells like mommy a lot." He said happily as he pulled the dress out.
Seeing the dress, Mua kong arched his brow and smiled, "That"s mommy"s night gown, also daddy"s favorite." Like father, like son, they have the same taste.