Worry
After they ate the first cake, Ai started work on the actual cake for the birthday.
“It is done at last!” She couldn’t contain her happiness at the end.
Thanks to the previous success she was oozing with confidence. With quick decisions and control, Ai completed the cake in less than an hour. The cake was very simple like the one before, but it had her kids' names.
She wrote them with great care. Adam provided her with a guideline using melted dark chocolate. And Ai used that to trace the names on with the heart-warming wish and a few bunnies.
‘She messed up a little but it is good,’ He smiled at the final product and placed it in a box.
“Adam I’ll go and get the food ready. You can come with the cake a little before midnight,” She turned to him with bright eyes.
Before, the plan was to hold the party tomorrow night. But, Ai completed the task earlier and wanted to surprise the kids at midnight.
“Sure thing, don’t give it away before that,” He had to warn her because of her excitement.
“Kuku! Don’t you know how good of an actor I am?” She winked at him.
Adam laughed. Ai knew how to hide things a little too well.
“Anyway, don’t keep me waiting!” Ai entered her house with a smile when he nodded.
.
.
.
“What do you think mama planned for the party tomorrow?” Ruby asked Aqua on their way home from school.
“Well, it might be the usual… but maybe with a better cake and food?” He gave a logical answer. Yet, Ruby glared at him.
“Are you saying that Mama’s food and the cake she buys isn’t good enough?” She wouldn’t take that disrespect.
“Come on. You thought of him too, right?” Aqua said.
“N-No way, I like everything from Mama better. Also, don’t change the topic!” Ruby struck his shoulder.
“Hmmm… if you want me to choose. I’d take Mom’s food and his cake, the store-bought one doesn’t feel the same anymore,” Aqua reined in his drool. His entire worldview has crashed since he met Adam.
“Hah! So, you have betrayed Mama after all,” Ruby looked disappointed.
“Were you even hearing anything?” Aqua’s lips twitched. But he decided it let it go.
“Haha, in the end, I am the biggest fan of Mama. No one can take my place. Don’t worry mama your daughter will console you,” Ruby skipped over to their house in a great mood. And it only got better when Ai greeted them with a hug.
“Welcome home Aqua, Ruby. How was your day?” Being greeted by her at the door stirred the feeling of joy within them.
The past few days have been delightful. They may forget a lot of the memories from these mundane school days when they are older. But they can never forget this moment.
After all, this was the first time it happened since they started school.
“It was fun. We got to swim in the pool again!” Ruby hugged Ai and told her about the smallest details of the day.
“That must’ve been fun, what about you Aqua?” Ai asked. But before he could answer, Ruby jumped in.
“Nii-chan was in the corner reading a book,” Aqua wanted to glare at that grinning idiot. But Ai touched his forehead with worry.
“Doesn’t feel like a cold? Something else? Does your tummy ache?” Aqua shook his head as she continued to question him in a gentle voice.
‘It wasn’t so bad,’ No one would hate it when their favorite idol worries about them in such a manner. That is the highest level of fan service that no one but their close family can get. And he was proud of this privilege.
“How long will keep that perverted grin on?” Ruby’s mood has soured since then. She didn’t expect him to get that level of attention because of her attack.
They were now in the living room after they changed out of their uniform. But Aqua couldn’t stop enjoying that moment. The two hadn’t fallen ill in ages, so he had to savor that moment as another might not arrive in the next few years.
“Thanks, Ruby,”
“Shut up,” Unamused Ruby turned the T.V. on. Continuing the last DVD she was watching this morning.
The catchy tune flowed into the room with endless chants. Ai walked in with a plate full of cut fruits. She knew this song very well.
“Hmm? You’re watching the Tokyo Dome performance again?”
“Yes, I can watch this on repeat for the rest of my life and never get bored,” For some reason, Ruby was in love with this performance of hers. And not just her, it became a fan favorite too.
The DVD sales are showing good results to this day even if two years have passed since then. It held a special place in her heart too. After all, this was one of her biggest events.
But, it wouldn’t have been possible without someone.
“Of course, the star of the show is me after all,” Ai knew how to please the audience. But the somewhat confident look turned into a sweet one when her kids nodded in agreement.
“Let’s see if you can keep your word, Eh?” Ai smiled and sat down with them singing alongside Ruby. Aqua enjoyed the live performance from in the background waving his lightsticks around.
But, if she didn’t stop Ruby. She would’ve continued to watch that performance on repeat till midnight once again. Thankfully, she listened to her. They put in another DVD and enjoyed their time watching a trending drama series.
The kids enjoyed the thriller suspense as Ai took notes from the Main female lead’s acting. She may fit into high school dramas because of her young charm, but it was always good to branch out.
They continued this after they had their dinner, it was the usual food but the two ate more than they should. Around this time the two would’ve hit the sac but not today.
“Mama has a surprise for you two. So, don’t sleep ok?” Ai went and raised their expectations.
Their birthday would arrive in a few hours. And like every year Ai had something planned for that moment. It would usually be gifts that embodied the word ‘surprise’.
From a Mystery Book series to a doll collection, she would give them the most random of things. But they never thought anything of it. Because no matter what it was the gift would always be special to them, and somehow it turned out to be what they wanted.
But, today’s gift was more than special. When they saw Adam walk in they couldn’t have thought that it would be something like this.
“Mama made a cake for you two!” Ai couldn’t wait for their reaction. And she wasn’t disappointed; Ruby couldn’t contain her smile when she hugged her mother.
She always wanted this but never thought it would happen. Aqua also joined the family hug, he was happy but not on the same level as Ruby.
‘Could it be that she was young when she passed away?’ He always had his doubts regarding Ruby’s age.
She accepted everything and had a mature side, but was always full of energy and naivety of a young child. So, he worried that she might not see Ai as her real mother. Surprisingly, she did.
In fact, Ruby’s affection for Ai was beyond that of a hardcore fan. She adored Ai as an idol, but she loved her more as her mother. But then there was only one possibility.
‘Did she grow up without a parent figure?’ Thus, his worries grew over time. He couldn’t see her as anything but a child that was probably neglected.
And Ai was always busy working, but it was to provide a better future for them. They might not have understood it if they were normal children. He was especially worried about Ruby not taking this properly.
Yet, nothing of the sort happened.
“I love you, Mama!” Ruby didn’t want to leave Ai at all. She understood Ai’s job, maybe because she was a fan of hers. But the main reason was their mother herself.
“I love you too,” Ai kissed her forehead with a smile and turned to Aqua.
“Well, thanks for the cake Mom. I love you,” This embarrassed Aqua but he couldn’t ignore her bright eyes.
“I love you too Aqua, I love both of you so much,”
It was a little awkward for his older mind to receive that kiss from a girl who was his patient at one point, but it wasn’t bad.
Even when busy with work, Ai gave them more love than they could handle. She continued to do it to this day.
With this, he can finally put that worry of his to rest.