New Life : A Second Chance

While the men were meeting in the dark, Patrick was going through his own demons. He had been severely affected by his talk with Shifu.

As the conversation played in his mind, Patrick sat there, his mind drifting back to the day he had first become a father. 

✿ Flashback ~ The Birth of the Twins ✿

Patrick had been in a state of panic when he saw how his beloved wife was suffering. She was screaming, even though she tried so hard not to. His heart was torn. 

Although he knew this was part of the process, and the pain inevitable, it did not mean that he wasn't affected. He held on to his wife's hand, and let her grip him as hard as she could. He had felt the pain, but he knew it was but a drop in the ocean compared to what his wife was experiencing.

Sure, she was under drugs right now but it didn't seem to work. 

Her forehead was full of beads of sweat, and the doctor was being as encouraging as he could.

"You can do it! Yes, you're doing great! Just a little bit more," the doctor was saying as he sat there, in between his wife's legs to welcome a new life.

Patrick knew better than to be where the doctor was. He had already heard horror stories of that and even the thought of seeing a baby being pushed out of that particular opening sent him into a state of panic.

The last thing he wanted was to be traumatised over something that was as miraculous as this.

So he stood at where his wife was, watching the doctor as he welcomed his firstborn.

"It's a boy!!" the doctor yelled.

Patrick's heart swelled upon seeing that tiny baby, being brought out. 

They hadn't wanted to know the gender of the babies, for they wanted it to be a surprise. Whether it was a girl, or a boy, it didn't matter. They were getting two and that was already a miracle in itself.

Patrick watched with eyes of love as the nurse took his son, who was full of mucus and his skin was red. His eyes were tightly shut and face was scrunched up while he was wailing at the top of his voice.

People say that newborns look like potatoes or were really ugly with all those wrinkles and red skin but to Patrick?

Nothing was more beautiful to his eyes than his newborn son, who was crying his heart out. Such a healthy boy, with such a strong pair of lungs.

"One down, another to go! Push! You can do it!" the doctor was yelling.

Patrick's attention turned back to his wife, as his gaze relunctantly left the nurse who went to take his son away. He gave his wife's hand a gentle squeeze and kissed her sweaty forehead.

"You're doing wonderful, sweetheart," he said, his voice having a slight hitch, "Thank you so much."

The second one came out pretty fast, much to his surprise. It was as if the baby couldn't wait to get out since the first had already left the womb.

Unknown to Patrick, that was exactly the reason why his daughter came out so fast right after his son. She had felt the womb to be so scary and dark, and she didn't want to be in there anymore. 

She had quickly willed herself to the entrance and practically shot herself out, kicking through as if she was swimming. Since her brother had gotten out first, the passageway wasn't as tight so it was easier for her. 

The doctor was actually caught unprepared and had barely managed to have his hands in a ready position to welcome the newborn as she came out. 

"YES! It's a girl!" he yelled happily, covering his nervousness and near mistake. Luckily, no one had caught that.

Patrick watched with amazement as his beautiful princess was brought out. 

He had a pair. A boy and a girl.

He as going to spoil them rotten.

He watched as the nurses took his kids away and they were wailing like crazy. He had found it wonderful at first, then got worried when they wouldn't stop. However, when they were together, they were content.

That was the first hint he got about how close his children would be. At first, it felt like the most natural thing but soon, he felt that it was not so good. 

It was more of the fact that the twins were so different. Like, ying and yang. 

Kay had been the sweet child that depended on them for anything whilst Kyle had been the independent one that never turned to them at all. At first, Patrick was quite involved in the raising of his children but …

Patrick sighed when he thought about it. 

It had happened so naturally that he didn't realise it at all.

When did it start?

The fact that Kyle would do things without being asked? He didn't even need to be potty trained though he had some difficulty at first in aiming. He was always polite that Patrick didn't need to reprimand him for anything.

Patrick was also extremely busy and worked long hours at the office. Being the CEO was not easy and he was fortunate that his wife was so understanding and could hold the fort.

So, it was only natural that the moment Kyle showed the vast potential of being the next CEO, Patrick felt that it was his duty to ensure that Kyle could withstand the pressures that came with it.

He had been so engrossed and amazed at Kyle's ability that he had forgotten one crucial detail.

His son was, ultimately, still a young boy.

He remembered what Shifu had said : "You continued to raise him as you would a robot"

The more Patrick thought about it, the more Shifu's words pierced his heart, right to his soul.

He really had been a very bad father. Patrick sighed.