Roman sighs while looking at his son. He knows how to play his cards really well. He is making that cute face to earn his teacher's softness and use it against his dad. Roman can't let that happen after all the teacher is just a stranger, who they don't even know properly, and importantly, Ayan shouldn't trouble others.
"I apologize for his behavior," Roman spoke while pulling Ayan from Dean. Dean's soft eyes which were looking at Ayan glanced at Roman.
"Not an issue, sir," Dean replied with a smile and looked at Ayan, and pinched his cheek. "He must be terrified of injections." Dean continued speaking and looked at his phone and remembered, his mom was still in line.
"Maa, is it ok if I reach home myself?" Dean asked while turning his head around.
[Ok. But, don't forget about your health. If you feel something off then immediately call me and take assistance.]
"Ok, ma. I will take care of myself." Dean ends the call and looks at Roman glaring at his son in his arms.
Probably the father understands that they troubled the teacher. Thanks to the boy still looking at Dean with pitiful eyes.
"Do you wish to audition for child actor?" Roman asked his son, who quickly looks at his dad with confusion.
"You'll nail any role. I can bet on it, especially--" Ayan held his father's mouth and looks at his teacher.
"Papa, the teacher might not be feeling well. Don't give him pain in the head." Ayan spoke while pressing his tiny palm on Roman's mouth.
Roman raises his eyebrows and removes the boy's palm. "It's not pain in the head, it's called a headache." Roman corrected his son.
"Both give pain. So, same." Ayan counterattacks with a smile.
"You'll not spend time with Calder. He's highly influencing you." Roman said and his eyes fell on the chuckling teacher hearing their conversation.
Roman clears his throat and is ready to apologize again. However, his son beats him. "Teacher, tell papa for no needles." Ayan again requests while making a cute face again.
"Sir, please don't mind us," Roman spoke with a forced smile. "Please don't bother yourself. This is nothing new." Roman threw a quick glance at his son. "He will be fine by tomorrow." Roman eyes were speaking to Ayan, who understood the action.
"Sorry, teacher," Ayan whispered and looks down with dejection. He looks at his teacher and smiled. "Let's go, papa. We are late." Ayan spoke, looking at his father. Roman felt guilt filling his eyes. Was he too harsh now?
"No," Dean quickly spoke and stepped towards Ayan. "If it's not a bother can I also--"
"Yes, teacher. I will be so happy." Ayan spoke as his eyes again fills with sparkle.
Roman doesn't understand what type of magic Dean does that his son is so attached to him. He is just a teacher like anyone else. Why is he being special in Ayan's life? Would this man take his dear son away? Just a while ago, it was just him and his son and now, this person pops out of nowhere.
"You are not going get any award there. It's just a vaccine." Roman said with anger. He steps back from Dean while holding his son tightly in his arms. There is sudden uneasiness in his heart, like something awful will happen.
Dean watched the duo walking away from him while Ayan looks over his father's shoulder and waved at him. Dean waves back while negative thoughts fill his head eventually.
Why did this person react that way? Did he do anything to anger the man? Did he cross his line and spoke something which he shouldn't have? He was just worried about the boy, who was asking for his help. Maybe, he should just stay with himself and not bother others with his presence. After all, karma is reaching out for him.
Unknowingly, tears brim his eyes as he turns away to leave the hospital as it feels suffocating here. He inhales deeply to calm his heart from beating fast. He thought walking the way home. It will benefit both his health and heart too.
He walked on the pavement while in deep thought, looking at the long path ahead of him with daze eyes. Dean, who was four years younger than his current self was very different from the present. If it was his past self, probably he would have thrown fists at the man. He didn't approach the child, it was the other way around. Foremost, he was not good with kids. He had known them as annoying creatures, forgetting at some point he was a child himself.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Dean groans with annoyance at the kids jumping on the sofa while all the cushions are thrown on the floor. His older brother is playing with them too.
"Dean, they're so cute, right?" Ethan asked while throwing a ballon at his nephew. The boy looks keenly at the ballon to catch it. He caught it and smiled at Ethan who claps his hand.
"They're troublesome. Look at this one, jumping on the sofa as though it's a trampoline." Dean spoke, watching the girl jumping while hugging her doll.
Dean had his project work scattered on the table as he was planning to finish it while watching TV. If its Sunday and unexpected guests are a must in the house. Dean's cousin visited them with a grand surprise. Dean also gave a bright fake smile at their unwanted visit. Currently, his parents and cousin went to the market to buy decorations for the little boy's upcoming birthday.
"Does our home look like a daycare centre?" Dean asked while gathering all his project materials. He can't risk keeping them here.
"I will stay in my room and this time," Dean looks at his brother who is looking at him. "Please make sure they do not play around my room." Dean made sure to press each word in his brother's brain.
"I want to work in peace." Dean quickly marched towards his room.
"Where is uncle going?" The little boy asked while looking at Dean walking away.
Ethan gave an awkward smile and says, "He wants to be alone. Uncle has projects, just like you guys have homework." Those kids nodded their heads.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Ayan was sniffing and licking his ice cream. He is trying to show that he is upset with his dad while often glancing at his father sitting next to him. Roman was changing channels with furrowed eyebrows.
"Papa, it still hurts," Ayan shows his arm while pouting. Roman smiled at his son and picks him in his arms.
"Baby," Ayan looks at his dad. "How about we go out tomorrow?" Roman asked remembering their time in the bakery when Ayan was so excited assuming their visit was for a picnic which was for the hospital.
"How about a picnic?" Roman suggested as Ayan made a thinking face.
"Will uncle Cal come?" Ayan asked as the last time they'll visit a botanical Garden and Calder was with them with his wife.
"I'll ask him."
"But, I have school tomorrow." Ayan widens his eyes with realization.
"I'll send a leave letter." Ayan nodded his head with a big smile.
They heard the doorbell ringing as Roman placed Ayan back in his place and gave him the remote.
"Who is it?" Roman asked while stepping towards the door.
"Sir, courier."
Roman opened the door and took the item while signing a paper.
"Papa will be back in minutes. After finishing the ice cream wash your hands. " Roman informs as he walks towards his room.
"Ok, papa."
Roman steps inside his room and sat on the bed. He quickly ripped the cover and carefully took a photo frame present inside the box.
Previously, it broke into pieces so Roman bought a new frame. He takes the photo of his wife, who is smiling brightly. He caressed the picture remembering the time he took this picture.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"No, I'm not looking good." His wife shied away from the camera. She is camera shy and extremely soft person. If there is any work that needs to be handled delicately. She is the right one.
"You are always beautiful."
"You're saying this because you are my husband."
"No, you are beautiful. Because you own a beautiful heart which worries for others even if they're nowhere near related to you."
"You can't capture a heart in that camera." The lady showed her tongue followed by a laugh.
"But, I can preserve this memory."
She gave a thought, "My hair are not--"
"They are dark as a storm and smooth with long curls." Roman placed the camera on the table while walking towards his wife sitting on the sofa.
"When light falls on these brown eyes, they always fill with galaxies." The lady looks at her husband sitting next to her.
"This pointy nose," Roman taps her nose as she scrunched it while narrowing her eyes, showing anger.
"I love it when it rubs against mine." This brought a little shade of pink to her cheek.
Roman taps her lip with his finger and points at the camera. She looks at it with reflex as the camera clicks the picture of Roman kissing her temple while she has a bright smile.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Roman wipes his tears while hugging the newly framed picture of his wife. His heart feels heavy as he tightens the grip on the frame.
"I miss you," He whispers as tears glide over his cheek.
He always tries to calm himself to not make his son worry about it. However, he can't stop himself from hugging the frame, dwelling on their memories.
He can't stop himself from imagining his wife being alive and staying with them.
He can't stop himself from feeling lonely when he sees his friends with their betters halves.
He can't stop himself from crying to sleep while hugging a pillow instead of his wife.
Sometimes, he wonders whether he is living in the past with his heart and breathing the present with his brain.
"Tomorrow, we're going to a picnic," Roman spoke while looking at the picture.
"Thanks to our son. He was playing the upset game with me." Roman chuckled while caressing the picture. "We always planned to spoil him with whatever we can, right?"
"There's a new project and I'm having a bit of stress. Your head massage would have helped me a lot." Roman smiles while keeping the picture to his heart and closes his eyes.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"I'm fine," Roman tried to assure his wife.
"I can see how fine you are."
"I'm not handsome?"
"You know, I did not mean that,"
"So, I'm not good-looking?"
"No! I did--"
"So, I'm not--"
"Shush!" She quickly climbs the bed and scoops a little balm between her fingers.
"Lie down," She gestured to him. Instead, Roman keeps his head on her lap. She smiled while applying the balm to his forehead and massaged carefully.
"Whenever you are not fine. Don't hold everything to yourself." She whispered rubbing his temples as he sighed while closing his eyes.
"I'm there to take care of you." She continued while caressing his forehead.
"Will you always be there?" Roman asked holding her hand and looking keenly for the reply.
"Yes,"
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"Liar! Pure white liar." Roman sniffs while rubbing his forehead, feeling it throbbing. He kept the picture carefully in the drawer and stood up while clearing his throat. He puts up a smile and steps out of the room.
Ayan heard the sound of his father's steps as he turned around. "Papa, I washed my hands." The boy showed his palms while standing on the sofa.
Roman chuckled and took a hand towel from the dining table. He held the boy's hand carefully.
"After washing. You must dry your hands with this towel." Ayan nods his head. He watched his father stroking the towel on his hand.
"Next time, I won't do this," Roman spoke while pointing at his clean and dry hands. Ayan nods his head in understanding.
Roman smiled and ruffled Ayan's hair.
I hope I'm being a good parent. I will try to give our love to Ayan.
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