After we arrived at the place I mentioned, which was not the exact location where Hiro and I were, I immediately got off. He took my things, and I helped him. "Thanks for the delivery," I said when he finished giving me my things. When I made sure I didn't have anything left behind, I waved at him.
"Are you sure you didn't leave anything behind?" he asks me. I shove him away because I am sure it is gone. "Okay, don't push me away like that." He said it while his eyes were half-smiled, so I suddenly lowered my hand. "Bye," he said for the last time, and he entered his car. He blew his horn one more time before leaving.
I waited for a minute before calling Hiro. I told him in a text that he had rented a car until we got back to Chicago. I want to go for a walk for at least a week while I plan to mourn for today and tomorrow because of my dad. I've been hugging his big picture frame since earlier; I can't let it go, even if I am having a difficult time arranging everything.
"Hello, I'm here," I told him on the other line.
"Just wait there; the kids were awake, and they heard that I was leaving, so they ran and joined me." I giggled at his story and added the noise in his background. "Alright, I'll hang up, and your kids were so excited to see their mom." He hung up, so I just waited a few minutes before someone honked at me.
"Mommy." When I opened the backseat door, Red's face was the first thing I saw. I kissed his forehead. Rayden was still sleepy because his eye was still red from scratching. "Where's grandad, mom?" I was stunned by Red's question, but I still managed to smile and stroke his hair.
"He is in a safe place, baby," I replied, kissing him. "You stay there first, and I'll help Aunt Hera put my things at the back."
"Don't yell, Red!" Hiro warned before Red could say something, so my baby zips his mouth and crosses his arms at his chest.
I went to the man and helped him put my things in the back of the vehicle. I just laughed because, even though Hiro was doing something, Red still managed to annoy him. They can't really stop their conflict about that.
"Just calm down," I commented, but he still really hit my three-year-old baby. I just shook my head and sat in the backseat with my babies when we were done.
"Mommy, how are you? Aren't you tired there? How's Grandpa treating you? Isn't he scary?" Rayden asked me another question. Suddenly, my heart softened when he asked me about his grandfather and how I was. I caressed his head. Hiro and Red had their own world even though the car was moving.
I kissed the back of his hands. "Granddad is good, baby. He took care of me, but he's in the hands of God now." I told him, and he stroked his tiny hands.
"Mommy, everything will be fine. God loves those who trust in him." I pinched his cheeks; he was overloaded with cuteness.
I never regret the decisions I made in life; they are my blessing in every decision that I made in my whole life. I will never trade them, and I can't bear to be hurt even a little bit.
Hiro rented the apartment; it's nice, the surroundings are clean and spacious, and there's also a children's playground. Inside the room, all sets are complete: kitchen, bathroom, two rooms for sleeping, and even a fridge. I put the two to sleep first and then arranged my things.
"Hey," Hiro said, coming in without knocking since the door was open. "How is it there? What happened to your dad?"
"It's a long story, but to make it short, Dad failed to be alive and made his promise to me through his notes, and those illegitimate aunties and uncles of mine have been imprisoned. According to what I know, I found out everything I should know, and their wealth went to me." I told him a long story, and my heart twisted upon telling everything.
"Condolence girl," my smile turned upside down. I still can't accept that it happened so quickly. We didn't even talk properly because we were always interrupted, and our last conversation was the most painful of all.
"Thanks, Hiro." I just continue cleaning the room because I have to express my feelings to others. Because no matter what I do, that pain is still here, and that event that I didn't expect is still stuck in my mind. Everything was still fresh.
I didn't sleep all night; I just kept crying. Hiro understood the assignment and took the kids and put them to sleep in his room first. The incident was painful; we didn't have the guts to talk deeply; we didn't even bond that much, and suddenly he disappeared. I hate myself for not making it up with my dad before.
"I'm so sorry, D-Dad," I wept while hanging my head low. I was on the floor and sitting. I folded my knee and put my head there while hugging my foot. "I failed you once again. I didn't do anything right." I sniffed and let out everything that night until I fell asleep on my own while my face was sticky and I was in that position.
The next day, Hiro woke me up and told me to wash my face before my kids would notice me. I quickly went to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror over the sink, and my eyes widened. My hair was so sloppy that I couldn't even recognize my own face. I wash my face, but the puffy eyes still can't be removed, so I put concealer on it afterward.
In front of my kids, I wanted to tell them that I was fine, but when I was alone there, my tears suddenly started to flow. Just like mommy, I blame myself as hard as fvck. But every time I remember what Dad wrote in his notebook, I always end up with a bitter smile.
'It's not your fault what happened. I am such a big jerk for blaming you when it was your mom's decision and life. I was blinded by hatred and disappointed that I dumped everything on you, Cbiara. So remember, whatever happens, forget everything, and don't think that you are guilty. Everything is fate, and no matter how much we try to stop it, what is destined will happen and will happen. And one more thing, Raven is a good man for you and to my grandchildren.’