Ch'en was always stern, no matter what. It was her nature and those close to her, or under her command had grown to accept it and cope with the pressure of having such a tough superior.
So when she broke some news to them, they were...surprised to say the least.
{00:27am Ch'en's Office, Lungmen}
"P-Pregnant?!" Hoshiguma exclaimed and fell back into a chair in disbelief. "H-how long?"
"3 months." Ch'en replied calmly. "I'm surprised you hadn't noticed yet."
"It's just so unexpected...I guess I wasn't looking." Hoshi pondered for a second. "W-who's the father?"
Ch'en hesitated. "...One of the medical staff at Rhodes Island. He was killed...in a recent direct attack from Reunion."
"I'm sorry, but...uh, congratulations." Hoshiguma struggled out some enthusiasm.
"I understand your perplexion, Hoshiguma." Ch'en said. "To be honest, it probably wasn't the best idea to have a child, given how busy I am, but I'll just have him stay at the Hui-Chiey residence, raise him as best I can there and, once he's old enough, visit on every day I have off."
"So, you'll be away for a while?" Hoshi asked.
"I'll work nightshifts exclusively." Ch'en explained. "There's no way I'd abandon the L.G.D completely."
"If I may say something, Ch'en?" Hoshi awaited her reply.
"Go ahead." The Dragon affirmed.
"It would be best if you tried to work as little as you can in the early years." The Oni suggested.
"I'll see what I can do." Ch'en replied. "You and I both know how hectic this job is."
"Alright." Hoshiguma seemed to be recovering. "I-Is there anything else?"
"No, that is all." Ch'en said. "Unless, you have something you want to discuss."
"I-I do not." The green-haired defender stood back up. "I'll leave now. Have a good night, Madam Ch'en."
"You too." The Chief responded, which was out of character.
Without another word, Hoshiguma left the office, closing the door gently behind her, and wandered off, still processing the bombshell she had dropped on her.
{14 Years Later}
"Happy Birthday!" Aunty Swire congratulates me.
My birthday...the one day I EXPECT to see Mum, and she's not here.
Swire places three presents and a card down in front of me.
"Thank you." I try to manage some sort of happiness.
"Cheer up, Zhang." Swire says. "It's the one day of the year you get to live without rules."
"Sorry...I just get overwhelmed easily." I reply.
Back then, my Mother was always here, but as I grew up, I've seen less and less of her. Surely, she can't be so busy as to miss my birthday? She's never done so before.
Sure, Aunty Swire and Hoshiguma are very nice to me and make me feel comfortable but, they just don't compare.
"Has anyone ever told you how eloquent you are?" I'm dragged back to the present day by Swire. "You are most definitely her son."
"Is that a compliment?" I ask.
"Absolutely!" She exclaims. "Your Mother is outstanding."
"True." I flatly state before sighing.
"What's wrong?" Swire shifts closer to me.
"I just...wish she was here, today." I lament.
Aunty Swire looks away and starts muttering to herself.
{4:46pm Ch'en's Office}
Ch'en signs off one last paper in her mountain of them, then checks the date and time.
"9th of November..." She quietly says. "That's important...right?"
She starts to think hard about the days that had passed by.
"Oh, shit!" She leaps up having just remembered.
Ch'en then swipes her car keys and bolts out of her office.
[Zhang's Perspective]
There's a knock at the door that sends my hopes up through the roof.
So much so, I go with Swire to answer it. She opens it to reveal...Hoshiguma.
"Hello, Swire, Zhang." Hoshi greets us both. "Happy Birthday!"
It's getting harder to mask my disappointment.
"I brought you this..." She hands me 2 presents.
"Thank you." I remark with a forced smile.
"Let's head back to the living room." Swire says, pulling me along.
So now, I have more presents, but I don't feel any better.
"Why don't you go ahead and open some presents?" Hoshiguma suggests.
"I don't really fee-"
"Yes, that sounds wonderful." Swire agrees, interrupting me. "Go on, Zhang."
"No." I simply reply. "Not without Mum."
I hear Swire sigh as Hoshiguma leans forward.
"Look, we don't know if she is going to make it today." Hoshi says. "So, just try to enjoy yourself at the least."
I throw myself backwards into the sofa and sigh heavily.
"Great. That's great..." I say.
(He certainly has her temper.) I hear Swire whisper.
Taking it as a compliment, I don't respond.
Hoshiguma stands up and exits the room.
{4:52pm, Lungmen Highway}
Ch'en, stuck in traffic, taps impatiently on the steering wheel.
"Should've taken a G.D car..." She murmurs to herself.
The car horns and engine sounds are drowned out by Ch'en's phone ringing.
"What now?" She says, irritated. "Hoshiguma?"
Ch'en answers.
"Hoh? I didn't expect you to pick up." Hoshi says.
"Being stuck in traffic makes people incredibly bored." Ch'en explains.
"Traffic? Where are you going?" The Oni asks.
"Shopping." Ch'en says. "I need to get a gift for Zhang and then I'll be right over there."
"So, you'll be here soon?" Hoshi inquires.
"If this traffic clears quickly I should be there within the hour." The Dragon replies.
"Good, because he's getting restless." Hoshiguma says. "He's really concerned that you'll miss his birthday."
"Hm, that's just like him..." Ch'en thinks for a second. "Don't tell him I'm coming, I want it to be a surprise."
"Roger." Hoshiguma hangs up.
Ch'en sets her phone down and notices that the traffic has started moving.
"Perfect timing." She says as she pulls off down an exit ramp.
'What would he want?' Ch'en thinks to herself while parking.
That question remains on her mind as she exits her car and begins walking to the shopping district.
[Zhang's Perspective]
I decided to excuse myself to my room to cool off.
Why can't Mum be here right now? It would be so much better.
"You know, Zhang, this really isn't good for you." Aunty Swire says through the door. "Your Mother is a very important person in the survival of this entire city, as hard as it is, you can't expect her to be home frequently, especially since you can look after yourself at this age."
"I only EXPECT to see her on occasions like this." I shout back. "Is that too much to ask?"
Swire doesn't reply and instead, I hear her walk away.
Why does she not understand? I want to see Mum today more than any other year since I haven't seen her once in the last 6 weeks. Put simply, I miss her...a lot.
"Zhang." Hoshiguma's voice takes over.
She speaks gently.
"What?" I answer.
"I have a cake in the car." She says. "Do you want me to go and get it for you?"
Cake? Wow, Hoshiguma really knows how to play to my weaknesses.
"Y-yes, please." I reply.
"Okay, but you'll have to come out of your room if you want any." She says before wandering off.
"Fine." I say, more to myself than anyone.
I exit my room and, begrudgingly, start to make my way back to the living room.
{5:05pm Lungmen Shopping District}
"Are you Madam Ch'en?" A civilian asks.
Ch'en masks her annoyance.
"Yes, what of it?" She replies.
"Oh, I just wanted to say thanks for ensuring the safety of this great city." The guy says.
"Just doing my job." Ch'en returns to looking at the array of items before her. "Now, can you please not bother me? I'm busy."
"With what?" He continues.
"What did I just say?" Ch'en drops her politeness.
The man looks at her, confused.
Ch'en sighs. "Just getting my son a birthday present."
She suddenly notices something that Zhang will surely like and picks it off the shelf.
"I have to go now." She says. "Stay safe, citizen."
Ch'en wanders up to the cashier to pay and then leaves the store.
"Son, huh?" The man remarks, then smiles.
Ch'en wastes no time in returning to her car and swiftly pulling out of the car park.
She embarks on her 20 minute drive to the Hui-chiey house.
[Zhang's Perspective]
"How did you know red velvet was my favourite?" I ask Hoshiguma.
"Lucky guess." She replies.
"Very." I add.
My vision lands on Swire who is messily scoffing her slice of cake with an alarming lack of manners.
"Do you mind?" I say annoyed.
She swallows. "Sorry, I just can't help myself when it comes to sweet treats."
I don't have the energy to continue this dispute and instead return to my own slice.
...Some time passes and Swire is asleep, leaning into Hoshiguma who is watching the TV intently.
Another knock at the door makes me jump and wakes up Swire.
"Who could that be?" Hoshiguma asks herself before standing up.
I join her in going to the door and eagerly watch her open it.
"Ch'en?" Hoshiguma says, somewhat surprised.
Mum?
"Mum?!" I exclaim running up to Hoshi's side.
"I'm here." That's Mum's voice.
The door opens fully and I almost launch myself at Mum.
"Woah, hey..." Her arms gently wrap around me. "You've got to stop doing that..."
I pay little attention to what she says and just revel in the euphoria of her finally visiting me on my birthday.