Guiren's eyes greeted the day shine and he rubbed the remainder of sleep before yawning then switched his gaze to the beauty beside him.
Waking up would always be a pleasure, if he could always see her in the state of sleep looking so gorgeous despite looking messy and stressed from last night's intimacy.
Meilin stretched her arms above her head yawning, eyes slowly opening to adapt to the bright light trickling in through the blinds.
"Morning" Guiren greeted with a smile as he leaned in to peck her cheek. "Morning Guiren" The two love birds stared, both in a good mood as they got in random chatters.
"Go check on the kids, I need to go get breakfast ready" She got off the bed, wrapped a towel around her body then left for the kitchen.
Guiren got up and did the same. Lucky to have extra pair of clothes with him in his back pack, he quickly changed into it and went to the girl's room.
He turned off all the night lights and the lullaby song that was always on repeat. He took out Li Na and placed her in his lap as he sat on the bed "Morning..." His nostrils flared, as he sniffed something fishy "Is that you Li Na...Did you make a stinky in your diaper?" The girl giggled as she kicked her legs and babbled to the man.
From the books he'd read, and videos he'd watched he learnt how to be a good father. He wanted to impress Meilin and prove he was father material by giving the girls a warm bath and dressing them up.
For the first time in three years, Meilin could see every day of a better future and she wanted it, she wanted to stay and be apart of it more than anything she's ever wanted. Maybe everything was going to lead her back to love again. She's probably destined to be with Guiren as his wife. That was the only logical explanation for her sudden feelings for him.
An hour passed and Guiren was done dressing the girls up and he gave them both a Peck on their cheeks. He loved them so much, and he'd always, if he's their stepfather or not.
He took them to the dining room and placed them in their high chairs. He could already smell the nice aroma of croissant, toasts, eggs too.
The moment he slid into his chair, Meilin walked out and served him his share of food, eggs, a pile of fried potatoes, and spread avocado over his toast "Bon Appetite" she winked and he smiled "Merci"
Breakfast with the woman her loved, and her kids and possibly his kids too. Just like a family, when last did he have such warmth from a lovely environment? Have a beautiful woman like Meilin in his life? He must bee very lucky indeed.
Outside in a hundred thousand pounds worth Mercedes car, a familiar man was in there, cool a/c system on as he continued to count the hours Guiren had spent in Meilin's residence.
Haru was triggered by his actions. Just like he'd thought, he'd already started sleeping with the woman he wanted. The only woman he sought despite the days of misunderstandings, he still loved her and also will.
Information from people that knew about Guiren and his whereabouts with Meilin and her kids led him to France and luckily to him, the same hotel Guiren booked.
Did he stay over night waiting for Guiren to come out? Yes he did? He had his eyes locked on the entrance of the apartment door patiently waiting for the opportunity to run his rival over. But he thought of something else that would separate permanently.
Insanity made way into Haru's mind, like a thief, stealing important things that's kept his mental state in check, replaced them with a dangerous ideas, breeding a new personality and suppressing the others.
Guiren walked out of the building and noticed the car that zoomed off. He shrugged, shoved his hands in his pockets and strolled to the bus stop.
In minutes he got back to the hotel, got in the lift and made way to the room 69. He plopped himself of his bed, kicked his slippers off and sunk into the mattress.
Meilin was back at the apartment teaching the girls how to say papa but they'd always get distracted and babble words that made little or no sense.
"Say Papa"
They'd just stare then try to walk away but she'd pull them back and kiss them lightly.
Time passed and she was already tired. The kids looked like they wanted to take a nap too. She placed them in their cradle and sang them to sleep before she headed for her own room.
"House fire!!!" that's all Meilin could say and the line went dead. It was just a voice mail and it was recorded twenty minutes ago.
Guiren was at himself for over sleeping but didn't want to think negatively. He had to find a way to get to the apartment and try to rescue his family.
Meilin woke up to an inferno, started by God knows what. The doors were locked and the wildfire just kept spreading. She wept knowing she couldn't get to her children's room because the heat caused by the fire was enough to burn and drops from the ceiling barricaded the entrance.
She couldn't call anyone around for help because her flatmates were also crying for help and trying every possible way to survive.
It Seemed like there was no hope for her but as soon as she heard the wailing siren and sound of tires screeching she had little hope that she'd make it out alive. She clasped her hands to pray that her kids were okay. No matter what, she couldn't lose them.
Guiren made his way into the building despite the heat scorching his skin. He only had one thing on his mind 'to be the hero, her hero'
The smoke thickened and he began to cough. Meilin was losing consciousness, her movement narrowed because of the circle of fire she found herself in.
Within the house the fire spread effortlessly, transforming the once pretty building into a labyrinth of fire. Guiren was afraid of them choking in the smoke, he had to find his way one way or another and get them out.
The firefighters were doing their job but it wasn't easy with the number of residents in that building a lone. They brought out people, alive, dead and some lucky enough to escape eternal rest but sustained traumatic wounds.
Guiren used his shoulder to knock the door down and made way into her flat. The flames didn't let him see much but he had to trace his way to the kids room first. He remembered the way to the kitchen and knew the girl's room was just around the corner.
The smoke coming from the room was intense and it made him worry. He searched around for something he could use to push down the burning door and he found a pole, it was hot but he had to bare the pain to save his daughters.
The door came down and he dashed in, the room was hot and kids were crying. He quickly grabbed them, using his body as a shield and made a run for it as the ceiling collapsed.
News reporters gathered, police cars and two ambulances contributed to the crowd. 'Meilin...Meilin is still in there'
It snapped jnto his head and he looked for someone he could give the kids to "Listen to me, my wife is in there and I need you to hold unto my daughters for the mean time. Give them to the nurses available, they must be hurt" The stranger nodded and she went straight to a police man nearby. She explained everything and the man thought Guiren was crazy.
It was dangerous for him to go back in there and he didn't ask anyone for help. "Does he think he's some kind of hero?!" The cop was enraged and he order for the fire force team to stop him but it was already too late. He went in.
"Quite unfortunate, his wife isn't in there. She's right here" The parademic attending to Meilin sighed unable to do anything but pity the man that went into the blazing building to save his wife.
The smoke made Meilin unconscious and she was not aware of the things happening around her. She wasn't even in the state to think, she was engulfed completely by the darkness the void of sleep provided.
The flames and the thickness of the smoke made Guiren choke as he fought through the fire to search for Meilin. He cared less about himself, all he had on his mind was getting Meilin to a safe zone even if he'd die while doing it.
Outside, survivors and the safety department watch and witness flames licking the brickwork as the apartment is engulfed by the deadly fire. The hose was aimed at the base of the fire, but they needed more water pressure.
The flames burn hot, short and violent, with no care what will be left behind. Guiren was still trapped inside but the fire force tried their best to put it out before he suffers grave damage from the flames.
Guiren went to every part of the floor in search of her but he concluded she'd been taken out by someone already. He was happy, at least she was safe. The door was jammed and there was no way he'd be able to leave. He was going to burn.
Meilin woke up, her eyes brimming with tears. The building was still burning, and the water wasn't doing much. The wind carried the smoke to the left, raining ash like anti snow everywhere.
"My kids!!! Guiren!!!" She wanted to get ho but the parademic workers didn't let her. They volunteered to bring her kids to her, but they might not do the same about Guiren.
The fire died down and the fire force made their way out with a stretcher and a man was tied to it. He was carried to the ambulance just in time for Meilin to look at him.
Her mouth Widened as tears cleared a path down her face. Guiren... it was Guiren...ghostly pale, skin consumed and ash, somewhat blue lips with opened injuries all over. She shut her eyes, trusting she was simply seeing things.
"That is not Guiren...That's not Guiren...That's not Guiren..." She repeated to herself. 'It was him' she slapped herself when that idea came up 'no...no...no...'
The fire was everywhere on the news, corpses were transported to the hospital and the survivors were taken along too.
Guiren was in the hospital being operated on, he was very much alive but the probability of being in a vegetative state was high.
Meilin couldn't blame anyone but herself. She shouldn't have called him, it was all her fault. She literally killed him. Tears came down in streams and she hardly paid attention to her crying girls. How could she when she couldn't stop herself from weeping?
She sat there as still as a statue while the magnitude of the tragedy swept over her. Part two of the operation would commence in a few hours and the doctors already promised her that they'd try their best.
A nurse entered the room without saying a word to her. As long as he wanted to help, she'd pardon the rudeness.
"Meilin...Meilin...Meilin..." Guiren repeated and his visitor disguised as a nurse was irritated. "Even at The point of death you still call her name...I told you I'd win" He pulled off his mask and smiled maliciously "Too bad you can't see me, and I doubt you can here me too but I started the fire. I knew you'd try to play hero. Thanks for saving the kids though, I appreciate your efforts."
Guiren's face was bandaged but he had holes to aid breathing, he couldn't hear much and the fire also took his sight permanently.
"I'll take good care of her Guiren. I promise" Haru picked up a pillow and pressed it on Guiren's face. He didn't stop until the sound of sound of Meilin's name muted. "Dead?" he inspected the man and his breathing seemed to have ceased "Good" He lifted his head up and placed it gently on the soft pillow. "Rest in peace" he bowed with a smile then left.