38

Sophia’s POV
I turn to look at who is calling me and see two kids, a boy and a girl, standing at the opposite apartment. At first, I don’t recognize them, but when the young girl suddenly rushes towards me, I realize it’s Daisy and Daniel. Daisy pushes Jake aside in her excitement to reach me, and I eagerly open my arms, ready to embrace my niece and nephew.
“Sophia!” Daisy exclaims, wrapping her small arms tightly around my waist. I return the hug, feeling a rush of warmth and affection.
“Hey, Daisy! It’s so good to see you,” I say, my voice filled with genuine joy. I then shift my attention to Daniel, who is standing a few steps away, observing us silently. “And hello, Daniel.”
Daniel nods in acknowledgment but doesn’t say anything. I understand his reserved nature and appreciate his presence nonetheless. I extend my arms towards him, offering a hug. Daniel hesitates for a moment, but then steps forward, allowing me to embrace him briefly. Although he doesn’t show much familiarity, he doesn’t seem to mind my embrace either.
“I’m glad you both are here. How have you been?” I ask, my eyes filled with warmth and curiosity.
Daisy, still holding onto me, bounces up and down with excitement. “We’ve been good, Auntie! We just moved in here a few days ago, and it’s been so much fun exploring the new place.”
I can’t hide my surprise. “You live here? In this apartment?” I point at the opposite apartment, a smile spreading across my lips.
Daisy nods eagerly. “Yes, Auntie! Right across from you! Isn’t it great?”
My smile widens, and I can’t help but feel delighted by the unexpected news. “That’s amazing, Daisy! We’ll be neighbors now. We’ll have more chances to play together with Daniel.”
Daisy’s eyes light up, her excitement contagious. “Yes, Auntie! We can have so much fun together.”
I then turn my attention back to Daniel, who has been quietly observing our interaction. “And what about you, Daniel? Are you excited about living here too?”
Daniel nods, his expression still serious but with a hint of curiosity. “It’s okay,” he mumbles softly.
Understanding his reserved nature, I appreciate his presence and the effort he’s making to be part of the conversation. I smile warmly at him. “Well, I’m glad to have you both as my neighbors. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to spend time together.”
“Alright, you two,” I say, gently pulling away from Daisy’s embrace. “I’ll let you settle into your new home. But remember, if you ever need anything or want to hang out, just knock on my door.”
Daisy nods eagerly. “Okay, Auntie! We’ll definitely come over!”
Daniel gives a small nod as well, his reticence still evident.
Just then, there is shuffling of feet at the door of their apartment. I stand there, momentarily stunned, as the doors open to reveal Alexander standing before me. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him, and a mix of emotions floods through me. But before I can gather my thoughts, Daisy springs into action, bubbling over with excitement.
“Daddy!” Daisy exclaims, her voice filled with uncontainable joy. She rushes towards Alexander, her tiny legs carrying her as fast as they can. “It’s you! You’re here!”
Alexander, just as shocked and surprised as the rest of us, is momentarily taken aback by Daisy’s fervor. He looks away from me, almost as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing. Daisy is relentless in her pursuit, latching onto his leg and tugging him towards me.
“Daddy, come on!” Daisy insists, her voice filled with an infectious enthusiasm. She looks up at Alexander, her eyes shining with anticipation. “You have to say hi to Auntie Sophia! She’s my friend!”
Alexander finally tears his gaze away from her and meets my eyes, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face. There seems to be a hint of smile in his eyes, and I’m unable to deciper what it means.
As Alexander meets my gaze, uncertainty and anxiety wreck me. The question that lingers in my mind escapes my lips in a jumble of incoherent words. “Are they… your kids?”
Alexander’s eyes widen slightly, a hint of surprise mixed with a warm smile playing on his lips. “Yes, Sophia,” he confirms, his voice filled with a touch of nostalgia. “They’re our kids.”
Tyler and Jake, who are standing beside us, look flabbergasted by Alexander’s response, their protective instincts kicking in. They immediately interject, trying to counter what they perceive as nonsense. “That can’t be true! You must be mistaken,” they protest, their voices filled with disbelief.
Alexander turns to them, a calmness in his gaze. “Why don’t you ask Sophia? She knows it’s true,” he suggests, his tone even. He looks back at me, waiting for their reaction.
But I find myself lost in a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions. My mind races, trying to process the revelation that Daisy and Daniel are the children he and I had one year ago. I had always wanted to know how the kids are. It’s a truth I had longed for, but also one I had given up hope of ever seeing fulfilled after he disappeared from my life following that party.
I never anticipated that our paths would cross again, let alone as neighbors. The coincidence feels too surreal to comprehend, and a mixture of shock, joy, and confusion swells within me.
Daisy, sensing the strange atmosphere, tries to liven up the mood, tugging at my hand and urging me to play with her. “Auntie Sophia, let’s play!” she insists, her eyes sparkling with innocence and excitement.
But I’m too lost, too confused to respond to her. The weight of this revelation presses upon me, leaving me speechless and uncertain.
Daniel, ever observant, recognizes the tension in the air. He steps forward, gently pulling his sister towards him, dragging her by the collar of her dress while she tries to struggle. “Daisy, let’s not meddle in adult problems,” he whispers to her, his voice filled with maturity beyond his years.
Daisy pauses and looks at him, batting her eyelash as she regards the look on all our faces following his words. Then she asks him, “Problems? What problems?”
I tear my gaze away from Alexander, my mind still reeling as I look at the two kids. They were tall enough to be considered at least five years old. So how come they were mine?
The realization makes me feel stupid for really believing they are indeed my kids. My kids can only be one year old by now, so how is this even possible?
I look at Alexander, anger and disappointment rising within me. “Why are you lying? They are not mine? How can they be…?”
He looks indifferent just as usual. God, I hate how calm he always is; it makes it even harder for me to see through him.
He looks at me deeply and says, “You know they are yours, Sophia.”
My breath hitches and I don’t know what to say in reply. I can’t help but feel antsy as I look at them again. “How can they be…? The children will only be one year old by now.”
Alexander stills and he finally seems to understand what I mean. His gaze pauses on the kids before he looks up at me, with that same annoying calm look in his gaze.
“I’ll explain it all to you later. Let’s not talk about all these in front of them.”
He looks at the kids and tells them, “Let’s go back inside, kids. It seems Auntie has some guests over.”
Daniel nods immediately while Daisy seems hesitant but she doesn’t disagree and they follow Alexander into their apartment.
As Alexander leads the kids back into their apartment, Jake and Tyler exchange confused glances. Jake, always impatient, breaks the silence first. “What was that all about? What were they talking about?” he asks, his voice filled with curiosity.
Tyler, the more cool-headed of the two, shakes his head slightly. “I’m not sure, Jake. But something seems off. Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding,” he offers, trying to make sense of the situation.
But my mind is still in turmoil, replaying the events of the past and trying to make sense of the present. Memories of my pregnancy flood my thoughts-the strange occurrences, the doubts, and the unexplained. I recall giving birth four months earlier than expected, the shock of seeing the children with wolf-like ears, and the nurse’s denial, chalking it up to hallucination.
The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, and a mix of emotions surge within me-confusion, disbelief, and a glimmer of hope. If what Alexander said is true, if these children are indeed ours, it would explain the inexplicable.
But I can’t bring myself to answer Jake and Tyler’s questions. I’m lost in my own thoughts, grappling with the idea that these children standing before me could be the ones I had longed to hold, to care for.