Chapter 35 The trio's birthday(Jian, Zhenzhen, and Yiyi)
"Good morning mom," Barry greets his mother Lauren, and then kisses her cheeks after entering the kitchen and seeing his mother preparing some baking utensils and ingredients.
"Good morning son," replied Lauren, giving Barry her sweetest smile.
"What are you doing so early in the morning, mom?"
"I'm going to make cupcakes, I promised the twins that I'll be the one making their cupcakes." She said happily whilst mixing the eggs and other ingredients in a bowl.
"Mom, you're spoiling the twins so much," Barry said while making his way to the countertop to get a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
"I love spoiling them, how I wish I could do this kind of thing when you were little. Just let me do this for your children instead," replied Lauren whilst continuing to mix the ingredients. Barry feels pity for his mom. Now that he is already a parent, he couldn't imagine how her mother felt, suffered, and was heartbroken during those years that she couldn't even hold her son nor just a glimpse of him. Barry put down the cup of coffee and hugged his mother.
"We can still do that," just think of me as a five years old Barry," He said jokingly.
"Then, why not let go of me and help me instead?" Lauren said as she smeared flour onto Barry's face. Barry chuckles and then lets go of his mom.
"What should I do then?" He asked looking for something he could help with.
"Get the cupcakes case and help me fill them halfway." Replied Lauren pointing to the trays where cupcake cases are at the kitchen island table.
The mother and son happily prepare the cupcakes whilst talking and laughing harmoniously. They didn't even notice Liam who's now going back upstairs after seeing them.
Liam has just woken up, he was about to go to the kitchen when he sees the mother and son happily baking cupcakes. Liam smiled and stopped midway through the kitchen. The smile on Barry's lips is so pure and genuine. Liam decided to not disturb them and get back upstairs. All Liam wants is to see his precious husband happy. And he wanted Barry to experience the true motherly love he didn't experience for so many years because of what the Hills family did to the mother and child back then.
As much as Liam wanted to punish the Hill family, he could do nothing as both mother and son didn't want any connection to them and they didn't want to waste time dealing with the past. Instead, they want to spend their precious time without being troubled by the unfortunate past.
The party starts at exactly 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The theme is Marvel Heroes. Jian and the twin's birthdays were just three days apart, so they always celebrated them on one occasion.
Jian's costume is spiderman, Yiyi is Balck Widow, whilst Zhenzhen is Thor. Everyone at the party is wearing marvel superhero costumes including the adults.
Jian, Yiyi, and Zhenzhen's classmates are all invited as well as their distant relatives.
"Happy Birthday, Yiyi, Zhenzhen, and Jian," Said Maxie and Steve. After the incident in the school a couple of months ago, Steve and Maxie didn't bully them again and they became friends.
"Thank you," the trio in unison. Maxie is wearing a wonder woman costume whilst Steve is the Ant-Man
They all sang Happy Birthday and then the trio blew the candles in unison. Just then, a dramatic late entrance got everyone's attention. They all look towards the three costume heroes walking the garden foyer towards the party celebrants. It's Tyler, Blaze, and their adopted son Xian. Blaze is wearing a Batman costume and Tyler's costume is Hulk whilst the twelve years old Xian is Hawkeye with Bow and Quiver sling on his back filled with realistic toy arrows.
Yiyi gazes intensely at Xian whilst striding toward them. Despite all the noise around, Yiyi could only hear her heartbeat and could only see Xian's striking aura coming closer to them.
Liam and Barry frowned at Yiyi's reaction. Liam is wearing an Iron man costume whilst Barry is Captain America.
"Happy Birthday Yiyi," Yiyi could only hear Xian despite everyone's greetings.
"Ahem!" Liam nudged Yiyi who's is lost in trance whilst staring at Xian
"Thank you, brother Xian," said Yiyi after Liam nudged her.
"You're welcome pretty Yiyi," Xian then smiles brightly at her. Yiyi looked around to find something but she couldn't find the object she was looking for. She pulled the red ribbon from her hair and knotted it.
"Brother Xian," she calls.
"Yes, pretty Yiyi?" Xian replied
"Your hand!" Yiyi commanded him
"My hand?" Xian frowned but still extends his hand for Yiyi whilst the rest just quietly watched them with brows furrowed
"Mr. Xian Song, I want to marry you when we grow up!" Yiyi blurted out while knotting the red ribbon onto Xian's index finger. Everyone laughs hysterically at Yiyi's statement except for Liam whose face is reddened in frustration.
"Where did this child get her shamelessness?" Liam thought facepalming himself.
"Okay," replied Xian without thinking seriously. He thought that Yiyi was just making fun of him.
"You are not allowed to have a girlfriend until we grow up!" Yiyi stated.
"Alright," replied Xian.
"You are not allowed to love anyone except uncle Blaze and uncle Tyler," Yiyi commanded him.
"I won't," replied Xian.
"You are my future husband like Dadda and Daddy, yes?" She said whilst her eyes punctured through Xian's soul.
"Umm... Yes?" Replied Xian, unsure of his answer.
"Yes'' without “umm”, Yiyi is full of authority.
"Yes!" Xian answered without hesitation.
"We're good then. Keep that ring, I will replace that with a diamond ring like those on Dadda and Daddy's finger once I have my own money." Yiyi declared. Everyone's jaws dropped open at Yiyi and Xian's conversation.
"Ahem!" Tyler nudges Liam and Barry. "So, should we start preparing for their wedding?" Tyler while chuckling
"Shut up man, they're just children." Liam glared at Tyler.
"I wonder where Yiyi gets her confidence?" Blaze fondled his chin whilst staring at Liam.
"I wonder too," was seconded by Tyler. Barry just laughed at them
"I'm not wondering anymore," said Barry shaking his head whilst also staring at his husband.
"Oh come, babe, am I that shameless?" Liam asked
"Yes, you are!!! Tyler, Blaze, Barry, Jonas, Colby, Victoria, and Charlie are in the chorus. Liam gives up. He couldn't win against the whole family.
The party was going well, the children were enjoying the games and the magic show performed by the party clowns and magicians. And some children already have their way to the table enjoying the party food.
"Xian is already 12 years old so he didn't have that much fun with the clowns. He chooses to sit down with Zhenzhen at the table eating the cupcakes Lauren and Barry made in the morning. Zhenzhen is not that sociable like Yiyi.
"Hey, there little Zhenzhen," greeted Xian.
"Hello brother Xian, but please remove the little. I'm not a little boy anymore, I'm already a young man just like you." Zhenzhen litany
"Oh, okay young man," Xian chuckles. "Would you mind me sitting with you here?" Xian asked as he pulled himself a chair.
"Of course not, brother-in-law," Zhenzhen replied gracefully.
"Brother-in-law?" Xian frowned.
"Then what should I call you?" Zhenzhen raised his brows
"Brother or big brother would be better," replied Xian
"But you agreed to marry my sister, then you are already my brother-in-law."
"Come on young man, your sister is just playing around. You both were only just 6 years old, alright?" Xian explained
"You didn't know my sister, brother-in-law. Here are some cupcakes grandma and Dadda made this." Zhenzhen pushed a plate of the blueberry cupcake to Xian.
"Thanks, buddy!"
"You're welcome brother-in-law," replied Zhenzhen. "Nice ring," Zhenzhen added, referring to the red ribbon bonded onto Xian's index finger. Xian smiled
"Yeah," Xian then takes a bite of the cupcake whilst fondling the ribbon with his thumb.
Xian and Zhenzhen continue their random talks oblivious to the people at the next table taking videos of them whilst having a brother-in-law heart-to-heart convo.
"Okay, picture time!" Victoria calls everyone's attention.
"3, 2, 1, smile!" Said the photographer for a group shot. Liam who's wearing the Iron man costume pulled Barry who's wearing the Captain America costume and kissed him. The photographer captured the perfect timing. But they didn't expect Yiyi to also pull Xian and then kiss him on the cheeks. Everyone laughed at the father and daughter antics whilst Xian blushed bright red. He was truly surprised.
"The following days, it's time for Blaze, Tyler, and Xian to go back to the mainland. Yiyi insisted that she wanted to accompany Xian to the airport since they will not be able to meet again for a long time. They often meet only through video calls.
"Keep that ring, alright?" Yiyi reminded Xian again.
"Alright my Princess," Xian ruffles Yiyi's hair.
"Uncles please keep an eye on Xian for me, please?" She said shifting her attention to Tyler and Blaze. The couple chuckles and squeezes her cheeks.
"We will princess, do not worry," replied Tyler.
"Geez, these kids!" Barry shook his head. They bid goodbye to Blaze, Tyler, and Xian as they were about to board the plane.