Chapter 2

Chapter 2

FOUR YEARS LATER

"Jeez, Sandra, the balloons should be up there not on your head, what are you doing?"

I burst out laughing as Sandra cat walked to and fro with balloons tied in her hair. I went to her and attempted to take them off but she didn't let me.

 "I'll take them off myself. Let me have fun with them a little longer." She says, making a peace sign as she took a selfie. I shook my head and turned to Xena, who was busy decorating the cake.

"Wow, chef. You're doing a good job." I teased, patting her back. I retied my hair and proceeded to arrange the toys on the couch. I went to join Xavier to help him hang the letter balloons.

"Collins, it says tree not three. You missed letter h." I said, face palming myself.

He smiled apologetically and I waved my hand. "it's fine, let me help you."

You must have guessed but today is the third birthday of my babies. Yes, you read that right. Babies!! Shocked? Yeah, I was too when I found out I was having twins. It was four years ago when I went to get an ultrasound with my mum. I was six months pregnant by then. I thought I was having just one baby but turns out it was two. Two girls.

Sometimes, I look back on everything that has happened before this moment. I remember the day I found out I was pregnant. Boy, did I cry. I didn't leave the dorm for about a week. I was just so confused and disoriented. I was unsure of what to do.

I mean...I was just nineteen! I was just in the second year of college, I still had a long way to go. Xena and Sandra advised me to get an abortion if I didn't want the baby. Of course, I said yes. Getting pregnant at nineteen wasn't part of my plans at all.

So the second week, I went straight to the hospital. My mind was made up. But when I got onto the hospital bed and the doctor asked me this question, "Are you ready?". I just couldn't say no.

I was... hesitant. It sounds crazy but I couldn't do it. I decided against abortion at the last minute and went back home. PS : all this while, my mum hasn't found out about my pregnancy. I was scared to tell her. Scared to disappoint her. She's the only parent I have so the thought of taking that news to her scared me.

She didn't find out until I was three months pregnant. I was so scared the day she found out. It was unexpected. Sandra, Xena, and I were in the dorm, having a nice time when we heard a knock on our door.  We were expecting Xavier to come over that day so we thought it was him. We said to the person to come in and boom! Mum saw my pregnant self, lying on the bed while eating Oreos. Damn! I felt like disappearing from the face of the earth.

"What is this? How did you get pregnant? Who is the father of the baby? Where is he?"

That last two questions, I couldn't answer. Who would have thought I would get pregnant by a stranger on a one-night stand? Honestly, I expected the worst reaction from her. I expected all hell to break loose but all she scolded me for was the fact that I kept it from her until she found out herself.

"I could have been there for you. Why didn't you tell me? So you went through all this time on your own?"

Yeah, we cried. Sandra and Xena cried. It was a whole crying party that day. I had to stop schooling and go back home with mum.

I'm so thankful that throughout those times, I wasn't alone. I had my mum, my best friends, and surprisingly, Collins, by my side.

Remember Collins? The bartender? Yeah. We became really close during those times and we're still close now. He's like an uncle to my babies. Parenting my little angels wasn't easy. Believe me, I've never been as stressed out.

London came out first before her sister, Paris. My mum gave my first daughter the name London because she is the most beautiful baby ever, hence her name. I gave the second girl the name Paris because of her eye color and she reminds me of her father who looked like he was manufactured in Paris.

Well, it's their day, I must not ruin it by thinking about their dad I haven't seen since after that night.

"Hurry up guys, mum is almost here." I announced.

I've never thrown a surprise birthday party for my kids. I'm very excited to see the surprised look they'll have. London would most likely scream the whole building down.

I gave the cake some final touches and handed confetti bombs to everyone. I got a text from mum that she's in front of the door. I could hear London's little giggles as mum opened the door.

"Surprise!!!" We all chorused, releasing the confetti bombs.

Surprised was an understatement to qualify the emotions in their eyes right now. They squealed in excitement, jumping in mum's hands in an attempt to get down. Mum put them down and they ran to me.

"Happy birthday, my pumpkins." I said, kissing their cheeks after I picked them up.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...

We sang as Sandra and Xena brought their cakes. They both clapped happily, giggling as the cakes were brought before them.

"Fiya." Paris said, pointing to the lit-up candles. I grinned and kissed her cheek.

"Come on, make a wish." Xena said as she took London from me.

They both clasped their hands together and mumbled inaudible baby words before blowing the candles. We all cheered and settled at the table. Before we started eating, we decided to take a picture. Of course, Paris kept running around not wanting to take pictures. She just hates posing for the camera. Typical me.

"Come on, Paris, just one picture." I say.

"No!" She says, running to the back of the chair.

"Paris, piture~~" London whined, going to him. I watched in adoration as she whispered something in Paris ear.

"What are they talking about?" Collins asked, chuckling.

Paris smiled and nodded before taking London's hand and coming out. "Ready to take pictures now?" I ask her and she nodded, spreading her hands for me to carry her. Her sister just knows how to convince her. I wonder what they whispered about though.

We ended up taking a lot of pictures. Most of it ended up messy because London wouldn't stop aiming for the cake. It was chaotic but I loved every single second of it.

"Okay, last picture." Collins says as he set up the camera. He quickly rushed to us before the timer started counting.

"In three, two...

At the last second, London shoved a handful of cake into her mouth which caused everyone to burst out laughing.

"When I thought we'd finally take one picture that isn't messy." Mum says, throwing her hands in the air dramatically. Collins went to the camera to take out the picture.

"It actually came out nice." He says, staring at the picture with a bright smile. We went to him to check it.

"It really did." I said smiling.

***

The party ended around 5 p.m. Collins left first because he had something to get to.

"Y'all should go rest at home. You have school, do you not?" I ask and Sandra groaned. "I can't wait to be done and just get the F out." She huffs, taking a long sip of her juice.

"Besides, we can just rest here. If we leave now who will help you clean up?" Gabby says and I smiled. London and Ben are with their grandma. I guess they are twisting her hair again.

Sandra and Xena helped me clean up the living room and wash the dishes. We had dinner and ended up chatting till 12a.m which is a bad idea because I have to wake up early tomorrow.

Around 5.45, I woke up the next morning. Sandra was already up but Xena was still snoring. Typical, Xena. I knocked on my mum's door but I got no reply. I went in and found my twins sleeping peacefully on the bed. I smiled and sat gently on the bed. As I expected, Paris opened her eyes. The slightest noise can wake her.

"Did I wake you?" I say, brushing his hair with my fingers. She shook her head and crawled on my lap. She held my arm while I patted her back with my free hand. He purred sleepily and says, "thank you, mama." before sleeping off. Little things like this just make me tear up. I planted a soft kiss on her forehead and placed her back to sleep on the bed.

"You're welcome, baby."

I kissed London's forehead and she smiled but she didn't open her eyes. I opened the curtains before going back out. I met mum in the kitchen, making breakfast.

"Good morning, mum."

"Morning, sweetheart. Slept well?"

I yawned and nodded. She's made breakfast already. Let me go prepare my babies for school. They just started preschool and it's kinda hard for them to adjust. I remember the first day I dropped them off at school. It was a crying mess. For them and me. Yes, me. Paris adjusted pretty quickly but London still throws a fit once in a while.

Xena, Sandra, and mum helped me prepare them for school. At 8 am, I dropped them off at school and went to my working place. I work part-time at a restaurant. And I can't say I'm having the best experience there but what can I do?

As I was about to step in, a hand pulled me back.

"You can slap me later but please just go with the flow." The person said. What the...

I raised my head, only for my eyes to meet a pair of very familiar green ones.

My eyes widened in shock and my mouth went dry.

It's him. I could recognize those ethereal jade eyes anywhere.

"Y..y..." I couldn't form words, I could only stare at him, dumbstruck.

"I'm sorry." He says, before leaning in and claiming my lips. My bag fell out of my hand as my whole body tensed up. He pushed my body against his as he kissed me. I could not struggle, I could not push him off. I could only shut my eyes tightly, hoping this was a dream.

  That's him! My baby daddy!