Imperfect Desires

Darren had to give Rowan his backpack since the little one insisted on carrying it now. But his small figure was truly having difficulties carrying such a heavy bag. It actually wasn't as heavy as the other bags. There were only his clothes and daily essentials in it. And although Darren knew his son was capable of carrying it, he was still worried.

It seemed that was all part of being a father.

He never had these unnecessary worries when he didn't have a son. 

All of them worked together to set up the tents but it still took some time. Now, it was already about the time for lunch and everyone was feeling hungry. At this moment, Xiu was thankful that she had already asked the cook to make lunchboxes. She was certain they wouldn't have the energy to cook right away after settling everything.

While enjoying the delicious home-cooked meal, Ah-Si suddenly asked, "Sister Xiu, I heard your baseball bat made a comeback recently? Was it fun?"

Xiu grinned, "How is it possible that my baseball bat makes an entry and it won't be the instant hit? I made a home run! It was super fun!"

"I'm pretty sure the one you had played with must have had a lot of fun as well," stated Ah-Si.

"Did you have fun back then?" asked Xiu to Ah-Si who winced as if he just recalled the ache of his body. He'd never be able to get over that night. 

"It was... memorable," was all he could say which made everyone who knew the situation burst out laughing. Especially, Nora! She was the one having the most fun when she heard that. "My dear Dory! At least, you should stop making fun of me like that. It was all for your sake."

"Well, don't you think I was worth that much?" asked Nora rhetorically.

"Evil!" commented Ah-Si under his breath. Then he looked at his elder brother and said, "But my biggest problem with that memory is actually my brother who just stood there and did nothing."

Xiao Li's lips curled up a little as he replied, "Oh, I'm sorry! Even at that time, I just couldn't bring myself to go against Xiu. Look at her! How can anyone go against her? Only an idiot would do that."

"It seems only Dylan is that idiot around here then," Ah-Si laughed at his own joke.

Dylan yawned lazily as he replied, "You can say whatever you want. My brain is so slow that I can't even process my anger out right now. Even that'd be tiring."

"Mommy," Rowan turned to his mother. "When did you go to play baseball? Why didn't you take me with you?"

Xiu licked her lips before replying, "You grow up a little, and then I'll take you to play my favorite game; baseball!"

"Okay!" Rowan actually believed that they were gonna play baseball and that made Xiu slightly embarrassed. However, that embarrassment didn't even last a minute. Then Rowan made Dylan his target and questioned, "Uncle Di, why didn't you bring the babies with you?"

Just the reminder gave Dylan a headache as he answered, "Baby Rowan if I brought babies here, I'd have gone completely mad."

Rowan blinked at him innocently, not understanding what he really meant but he was keen enough to understand that those words had a deeper meaning.

Darren made Rowan face him and explained to him, "Babies are too young. They easily get sick. If your Uncle Di brought them here, what if they got sick?"

"No, that'd be painful," said Rowan.

"Exactly," said Darren. "And that's why babies are at home with their grandparents."

"Oh..." Rowan finally understood it and nodded his head. 

Darren patted his head and urged him, "Go over and play now with your Uncle JJ." Rowan hurriedly ran away to play. Behind him, Darren glared at his best friend, "Do you have to talk nonsense in front of a kid?"

"What nonsense? I was telling him the truth," said Dylan. "Didn't you tell me that we should be honest with kids?"

Darren facepalmed himself, "Some white lies won't hurt them. Since they are too young to know the absolute truth of life."

"It seems Dylan's triplets are eating up his brain," commented Ah-Si.

"Did he ever have a brain?" was Xiu's response.

Dylan glared at them unhappily, "Y'all are lucky that you only have one child. I have three! All at the same time! Do you even know what kind of mental situation I have right now? It's tiring! If we hug one, the other starts crying. If we feed one, the next one would start throwing tantrums. They are only a year old and I'm already feeling like an old man!"

Xiu nodded her head, "Oh, poor you, old man!"

"It's not funny!" insisted Dylan.

"Who laughed?" questioned Xiu. She looked at everyone and told him, "No one really laughed here."

"I think it's Cali who is having it tougher than you," said Darren. "I don't see her whining like you. You're not the first parent of triplets in the world. Everyone manages. And you even have your parents to take care of them. You hired five nannies as well. Is it still that difficult?"

"It is!" answered Dylan. "Because they sleep in our room at night and I am the one who can't sleep because of their crying."

"Why do I think, you're just jealous that your thunder is lost?" questioned Nora.

"Huh?" Dylan was confused by her words.

"I mean you have been a baby of the house for way too long and now that someone else came to take your place, you're just jealous."

Ah-Si spurted the water he was drinking and stared at his wife.

Nora tsked at him, "It's partially Cali's fault as well. Even she continued to treat you like her baby and that's what spoiled you so much."

"Y'all are just not ready to take my side, are you?" questioned Dylan.

"I'm on your side," said Xiu as she raised her hand.. "I'm always on your side."