"What?" the godmother of fashion stared at her beloved husband with disbelief after what he said and the surprise he took home, "Repeat that again?" Julie seems to be hearings strange things from her husband.
Her husband sighed and repeated his words carefully, "This is Drei. He's going to be our son from now on." Julie looked furious after Kuu gently pushed the shy boy in rags to her.
"What do you mean our son? Are you replacing Kuon!" she burst in anger.
"I'm not replacing our boy... it's just maybe... it is time for us to redeem ourselves and give this child home." he looked at her softly, "Trust me I am not replacing our son. Drei here is a good kid, just give him a chance." the boy looked anxious and had been looking down.
The child had dirty blonde hair and dark forest green eyes; his clothes were a bit ragged and old, still holding his worn out backpack full of clothes and books. Julie however stared at the boy coldly.
"Keep him if you want." Julie said in sarcasm, implying that Kuu keep the boy like a pet. After she left, Kuu sighed and stood facing the boy placing his comforting hand over his shoulder.
"Don't mind what your mother said, she'll warm-up soon." Kuu comforted and gave a soft smile, while the boy just gave a torn and hurt smile. "Come?" and they went to his new room.
Heading the second floor of the grand modern mansion, they entered a vacant bedroom, upon opening the plain gray and black interior greeted them, the child's eyes lit up seeing the place, "Can I really sleep here?" that broke Kuu's heart to pieces hearing him say those words. He remembered what the social worker told him.
Living with his relative, Drei does not have a room of his own and worse when he was with his mother, he would often sleep on the streets of California, "You're our third son, of course you can." Kuu gave Drei an assuring pat on the back. They arrange his things and few of the furniture to his desired areas, however the child kept on inquiring if he can touch or move the furniture before arranging them.
Dinner came and Kuu's wife gave them the cold shoulder, he wasn't used to the treatment, the only time Julie gave him the silent war was when their eldest son left without saying goodbye.
"Mr. Hizuri... I think it would be best to return me to the facility, Mrs. Hizuri hates me and now she hates you." Kuu's heart was repeatedly being stabbed hearing the child prioritizing him than his own welfare, the thirteen years old boy understood what was going on and to stop the man from being ignored by his wife, it was better to take him back.
"I promised your grandmother, I would care for you." He flatly said and implied that his decision is firm, "I will not leave you to fend for yourself and suffer through the system." With his comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, "I know my brother messed up and abandon you, and your mother wasn't the greatest, but let me give you a family you deserve… it's just your aunt… wasn't over it when our son- Kuon left, she's still upset and thought that by bringing you home we're replacing him." He explained.
"I understand, Mr. Hizuri." Drei looked down and felt terrible that he's ripping another family with his existence.
"Stop calling me Mr. Hizuri… I am still your uncle and now your Dad, there is a reason why I signed those papers and you are not a mistake. I wanted you to be part of our little family and for you to experience a proper childhood." He pulled Drei for a tight hug and little did they know Julie from behind saw their exchange.
"But, Mr… Uncle, if Mrs. Hizuri still hates me it's better for you to send me back… I'll manage." Kuu sighed and told the boy to drop the conversation and firmly demand that he will stay.
After dinner, the boy insisted washing the dishes, Kuu gave up and let him do the chore, "Come with me." Julie called for her husband who looked surprised and followed her to his study.
"Explain why that child is here?" she sat comfortably on his plush sofa and crossed her arms and legs stylishly.
Kuu leaned back to his desk and sighed, "He is my nephew that I never met or even knew existed. My late twin-brother got someone pregnant and abandoned them." Julie listened intently, "He was cared by his grandmother from his maternal side after his mother died from drug-overdose, as a child he grew up from a messy and chaotic streets I'm surprised that he survived that environment and even grew up to be this well manned and polite boy." he gave a chuckle, "It reminds me of our other son Kyoko-chan." He thought.
Kuu continued, "His grandmother died and before she passed away she somehow managed to contact me with the desire to save the boy from falling into more bad things, she refused her grandson Andreas to go to the system and I took up the job to be his father after the thought of raising another lost and sad soul, we might not have saved ours and he decided to do his own soul searching, but we can.. at least... in this situation save this child and make him feel what he missed thirteen years of his life." Looking hopeful to his wife, Julie on the other hand is still unconvinced.
She never said anything and just walked out the room, however she went to see the boy who silently did the chore of cleaning the dishes, arranging them and neatly placing them back to where Kuu instructed him to return.
The next morning, Julie; on her way to work stepped in her car, she found Drei, walking out the gate in his worn out cargo shorts, beat-up high top Vans with the soles about to fall off and thin hoodie with his stitched-up back pack walking to school, the old beanie that covered his head failed to give him warmth from the cool breeze as the winter is about to roll in for the season.
Unfortunately Julie's direction to work is at the opposite, she wanted to give him a ride after seeing his state. However she knew the boy would decline.
And by evening when she arrived, she found the boy sitting outside the mansion, all balled-up attempting to conserve warmth and sitting by the garage gate. Julie frowned as she stepped out her vehicle and called for him, "What are you doing out here?" What a strange child, she thought.
"I… I don't want to impose and just go in." he stammers and replied in low voice, Julie did not mean to sound scary or mean to him. In fact she noticed how anxious and modest Drei was.
"Come." She called and he stood tailing her, eyeing the boy; his lips were chapped, nose a little all red, so as his ears but his hands were all pale. Upon heading in he told him to go straight to his room, warm-up and change, and indeed he bolted up after thanking her.
Since her husband wasn't around yet, being aware of her terrible cooking skills she still went to the kitchen and tried to make something. When everything she needed was prepared, "Mrs. Hizuri, do you need help?" Drei offered some help.
"Suit yourself." She said and he watched her first what she wanted to make and then helped by handing her things and assisting in managing the pans and pots.
"I'm sorry if I'm troubling both of you… I shouldn't be here, and I'm sorry that you had to hate Mr. Hizuri because of me." He looked down but continued to work on the food they are making. Julie remained quiet and watched him work.
Julie afterwards started to arrange the table and plate the food they made, delighted with the outcome she turned her head looking for the boy but he wasn't there anymore. When her husband arrived he was surprised that she made a decent edible dinner.
Julie felt a little proud and told, "Drei helped me prepare food." It was the first time Kuu heard his wife call the child by his name, Kuu smiled because of the progress.
"Where is he by the way?" he asked gleefully and excited, "I got him some few clothes and shoes. I feel like a bad father after not getting him decent things yesterday, his books are about to fall off from his bad and his shoes are so worn down, and I think he's already growing out of it too!" Kuu gave a sad sigh, Julie agreed after seeing his poor state that morning.
"I think he went up." Julie replied and continued to arrange their dinner on the table, "call him, dinner's done." She requested and Kuu bounded up to look for the boy.
Julie noticed Kuu was taking his time and went up to get them, however she was greeted a frantic husband, "I can't find Drei." He explained and opened the empty closet, holding a piece of paper, "I'm sorry if I troubled you." Immediately Kuu rushed downstairs to get his car and look for the child, dead in the cold evening.
Julie scrambled to follow her husband and thought of what the child said earlier; an image of Drei drowning in guilt and anxiety, gripping his own arm making himself numb from the pain, and repeating his apologies; Julie felt the pang in her chest remembering her own son, Kuon- going through so much pain and suffering after being bullied, questioning on where he belongs.
Now that she realized, Drei is going through the same as her son, but worse. He was raised to an awful, difficult and dangerous environment. Drei learned to rely and comfort himself. Julie felt disgusted with herself when she realized she made the poor child feel worse. Holding her tears in, she followed Kuu.
Her husband in panic drove around the city looking for a boy in shorts and thin hoodie freezing to death. Julie thought the worst when she imagined Drei curled-up for warmth on the sidewalks, she was about to call the police when her husband pulled over in front of a laundry shop, watching her husband rush in she found the boy sitting in one of the offered chairs. Stepping out and following her husband Kuu was in there hugging the day-lights-out of the boy, Julie immediately followed and sat beside the boy with worry in her eyes.
"Why did you leave? I thought we talked about this?" Kuu asked cupping the boy's cheeks. Guilty, sad and troubled, Drei looked up to them.
"I just can't live thinking I'm causing another trouble for people, and making Mrs. Hizuri hate you." He admitted.
"She doesn't hate me… see she even came with me to look for you." He explained in a warm tone.
Julie, on impulse snatched Drei from Kuu and smothered the child with her tight warm embrace, "Andreas, never ever run away again… I'm sorry that I was upset… it's just, I thought badly of your uncle about replacing Kuon." She placed a comforting hand to his shoulder but he flinched. Kuu noticed the fearful flinch and he looked at his wife, "I'm sorry." The second she touched him again he did not resist.
They took him home and Julie sat in the back seat with Drei, the old bag, his thin clothes and thin ragged beanie were not doing their job keeping him warm, "Why were you in the store?" she inquired.
"It is open twenty four-seven and its warm in there. I used to sleep there whenever my mother becomes violent and throw things at me." He replied and Kuu felling furious clenched his jaw. Julie had to keep herself calm hearing what the boy went through. "Besides, the old lady who owns the laundry station allows me to stay if needed." Julie swore that Drei will be protected from all harm.
"Please, don't run away any more… you're not bothering us alright?" her tone became softer and loving, similar to how she would speak to their biological son.
He gave a nod and looked out the window watching the snow starting to fall. When they arrived back, Julie took him to his room and asked to change into warm clothes, she rummaged through Kuu's purchase and disappointed that there were no thicker shirts or comfortable trousers there, however Julie found a camouflage colored sweatshirt.
After changing, Kuu re-heated their dinner and added one more menu to the bunch and Julie smothered the boy with attention and affection, she never felt so good having to smother another child. After their meal, Kuu insisted he would do the chore of cleaning up since his wife and new son made dinner, Julie took time to make some hot cocoa for her and Drei.
She later found him by the balcony looking distantly into the sky, catching some stray bits of snow, "Drei?" she called for him, Drei whipped his head to her direction, "Tell me why are you afraid to trouble people?" she inquired.
He sat there silently at first, "My mom…" he spoke and Julie was no longer surprised, "She said I shouldn't have been born… she hated me because I was a maintenance to keep, I should've just died or she would've just killed me…" the woman's eyes grew wide upset, "That's what she used to tell me and beat me because I'm a bother." Julie is now furious hearing those words from the child, "Then my grandmother came… She is nice but I'm still guilty for bothering her when she's supposed to be retired and enjoying her life instead of caring for me."
"Don't think about things like that!" she said and pulled him to a hug, "Listen, it is not your fault for being born, she's just not fit to be a mother, I know I was a little mean when we met, that's because I am still hung-up on Kuon for leaving, but with you around maybe I can take this longing and pressure away, I know you are not replacing him but rather filling the lonely void that he left, you can be also our son." She explained.
"Kuu, your uncle signed some papers and you are now part of the Hizuri family, you are now our son, I hope you'll adjust and please let your father or me know if you need anything."
He blushed and nodded, "Now come, it's cold out here." before heading in, Julie wondered why Drei stopped following her.
"I hope you wont mind me staying from now on. And I promise I will not leave you like how your son left." Julie finally cried and pulled him for a tight hug, Drei in return sheepishly hugged her.
For the whole week, the couple could see how Drei was fairing and adjusting, he was responsive to all their affections and Julie overdid her smothering after he bought him a full-walk-in-closet of street clothes. Drei horrified at the sight of the spoiling actions of the couple, however he was grateful that they are accepting him.
"I want to take Drei shopping tomorrow!" Julie pouted in protest after her secretary and other staff earlier that day told her that boys; Drei's age prefers video games and he much prefers it.
"Alright… And I need to get him a phone." Kuu agreed and remembered that they need to have contacts with their new son, "I think he got home early, let's check up stairs." And they went to his room only to find that the lights were out, "Strange, he's supposed to be home by this time." Kuu looked around found Drei, slouched on the floor, leaning on the side of his bed. Finding their son on a strange position, Kuu felt alarmed and quickly switched the lights on.
Julie gasped seeing Drei's state, his right bloody hand clutching his side, his new white shirt is now stretched and torn were also drenched. The carpet was also soaked. The young man was doing his best to tightly grip the source of injury, Julie stopped herself from fainting and just cried at her son's agonizing state, Kuu springs into action and ripped his son's shirt and saw the deep wound, "Honey, get the first aid kit!" and Julie rushed to get the item, she never knew she can sprint in heels that fast. Temporarily Kuu used the blood drenched shirt to slow down the bleeding.
Drei looking pale, coughing low moans in reaction to the pain. Julie brought in the kit and opened it for Kuu, applying little bit aid to further slow the discharge of blood, Julie quickly called in an ambulance. Right away their son was rushed to the ER but shortly transferred to a trauma center. One bad news after another, when the doctor told them some results; three ribs were broken, a concussion on the back of his head which needs to be operated in haste, as the hemorrhage is starting to grow bigger, but they were thankful that the weapon used to stab their son did not reach his liver.
Without any delay he was taken to the operating room to remove the vital fluid that pooled under his skull and now pressing his poor brain, Kuu on the other hand was furious on what happened to him, he and his wife knew their youngest wasn't the type to start fights or even engage with them. Adreas was too timid, polite and sweet to be like their eldest son. Julie cried and prayed that their baby to saved, "Drei is too young to be taken away from us." She cried over Kuu's shoulder.
Kuu rubbed her back in comfort, "Please... don't take Drei from us..." Kuu prayed in his thoughts.
Julie decided to call their family lawyers and immediately contact the public school where their son is currently enrolled, the director and principal were responsive and called for a meeting the next morning. Drei remained unconscious for a few days which worried his parents, Julie never left his side and cried thinking she'll lose another, Kuu was all red in fury on whoever did this to their boy.
The next day, to the couple's surprise there were teen girls outside the hospital suite, "Do you need anything girls?" Julie coldly inquired, the girls stood there awestruck staring at Julie's beauty.
"Is this Andre's room?" they asked, "The nurses told us this is his room number."
"Are you friends with my son?" she asked again and they looked at each other blinking and shocked.
"We thought Andre doesn't have a mom…" they whispered, "Yes… we're his classmates." One shy girl from the back replied while the others gossip and whisper.
"I see… Drei is still as sleep and he isn't awake yet." She said softly, the girls all looked down and gave her their cards and gifts to her instead, leaving their well wishes for Drei's recovery, although that one shy girl remained and let her friends leave first.
"Uhm… ma'am?" the girl then caught her attention.
"Yes?" Julie curious as to why the girl stayed.
"I need to tell you something." Anxiously rubbing her hands, Julie glanced at the other girls' backs heading in the elevator, "I told my parents about this and they told me to tell you because it is the right thing." Julie knew what it was.
"Come, let's sit first." He guided the girl inside and she awed at the beautiful and expensive interior of the room, however looking at her classmate, her smile turned to sadness, pitying Drei in such state; hooked in so many tubes and apparatus, especially the oxygen and the thick bandage over head head and abdominal area.
"Andre was bullied, beaten and stabbed by Kyle Arches…" she admitted, "He's the school bully and had been picking on Andre for the longest time, they would call him names and tease him about his mom that doesn't love him, however when they called his mom a whore and everyone's bitch a few days ago he started to fight back and Kyle stabbed him with a cutter and he fell from the stairs going down the second floor." Julie's eyes were on tears hearing what the little girl told her.
"Andre said his mom was beautiful and never a whore and told everyone she loves him, right before Kyle stabbed him." She looked down, "He was right, his mom is really pretty." She gave a shy smile and Julie softly patted her head.
"Thank you, dear. This would help us give Drei justice." She turned to her son with a tear in her eyes thinking he defended her. After the girl left Julie burst out into tears holding her son close thanking him for what he did. "What is your name sweety?" Julie finally asked.
"Jen Garcia, ma'am." She replied.
"What a beautiful name. And thank you again Jen, your mom and dad should be proud of you." Julie gave her a tight embrace.
Collecting herself she called her husband, immediately Kuu rushed back with his manager, they asked his manager if he can watch their son for a while since they had some business to attend to. Julie again called their family lawyers and together they planned on what actions to take. Julie was looking forward this weekend to spoil her son, however it was ruined after the incident that almost took the life of her child.
Monday quickly rolled in and the couple was preparing to leave and head to confront the director and principal of the middle school, Drei however finally opened his eyes and looked for his mother, Kuu was little hurt after their son turned into a huge momma's boy, Julie immediately rushed to his side and gave him her full attention.
"Sweety, Jen told us everything." She informed him and he wasn't himself and just hummed, "Are you in pain?"
"No…" Drei gave a little groan because of his throat.
"Do you need anything? Are you hungry?" Kuu inquired fussing on his son's side.
"A little." And he coughed which scared Julie.
"Alright, I'll go get you something. What would you like though?" Kuu turned to him.
"Anything would be okay, please."
Kuu dialed his phone and tried to remember their son's favorite dish, "He liked hotdogs, wieners, hams and bacon." He thought and then ordered some soft dough pizza and soup for him.
"Where are you going?" Drei asked Julie.
"Oh, sweety, we're just off to see your school and have that boy punished, we'll be fast, I promise." And Julie planted a kiss on his bandaged forehead. Kuu on the other hand was instructing his manager that Drei needs more sleep after his food and to watch him closely.
The white Cadilac escalade was convoyed by three black ones rolled in-front of a public school, and teachers as well as students came out to investigate, however after seeing the famous model / designer as well as her veteran actor husband steps out, the Principal was there to greet them, "We want this to be quick, Andreas is waiting for us." Juliana Hizuri snarled with terrifying and loud tone.
"We just want to know what exactly happened and why was our son stabbed and almost murdered?" Kuu's anger was unstoppable.
"Excuse me?" the Director standing beside the Principal asked confusion.
"Kurtis Andreas Jules Hizuri." Julie cleared, however they might not be aware of the new name, "Or better known as Kurt Andreas Stephens." Their eyes were showing how shocked they are.
"There are reasons why he keeps that name in the records and decided to go to a small public school like this." Kuu sighed trying to calm himself. The Principal almost panicked and guided the couple to his office together with the lawyers, immediately they called the parents of the boy named Kyle.
Kuu and Julie met the chubby boy and his parents, indeed he was a brat, "What did my son do to you and why did you almost murder him?" asked Julie in anger. Kyle's mother tried to defend her son however the word murder was heavy after lawyers were involved and staring down at the other couple.
"Let me remind you, Mrs. Arches that young master Drei received a three inches stab wound that almost reached his liver if it weren't for his forceful hand stopping the slashing weapon, three ribs on his right broke as well as his left arm, and a concussion growing to a hemorrhage that needed to be operated, leaving him with thirteen stitches. Young master fought for his life for ninety-six hours and just woken up this morning, surely it a grave felony of attempted homicide."
Kyle's father sat in his place looking pale at his son, "We also had some witnesses that you were the one who keeps on bullying the young master as well as provoking him until you called Madam Juliana colorful names?" the boy looked petrified after Julie stared him down.
"I do not care if you call me names, but almost causing my son's death, you deserve to be punished." Julie said in outburst.
"Do you have proof that my boy did those?" Mrs. Arches arrogantly challenged.
"Looks like we need to pull some evidence so your son can be convicted?" Julie glared at her, "Trust me we have sufficient evidence." Julie gritted her jaw in anger, "You almost took our son away from us. And we will do anything in our power for you feel the same." After Julie threatened the woman across her was hyperventilating. Julie started swearing at her in Russian and Kuu did not stop his wife.
"That's enough." Sighed by Kyle's father, "What can we do to compensate you?" he asked, he looked like a businessman.
Kuu rested his arm over his knee, staring down Kyle's father in the eye, "Even your livelihood could not compensate the life of our son." Kuu this time retorted. "And even with your money combined we'll still be richer than you."
"What I want is that your son to be expelled from this school." Julie thought of calling every school in the country to blacklist the name and give information that the child almost killed another, by pushing another on the stairs and stabbing. "And if ever you try to pull some strings to get him to any schools? Trust me, I can always turn to the media."
As promised they left, however Julie looked for the little girl who helped them, "Jen, sweety, come and visit again." She gave her a hug, "Drei's now awake and he would be happy to see a friend coming over."
"Jen has a crush on Andre~" someone teased and the poor girl blushed hiding her embarrassed face, Julie found it cute and amusing.
"Ah… puppy love." Kuu spoke in Japanese.
"Oh… really now?" she giggled, "Well, then he might be more than happy to see an admirer?" she winked in tease.
Back in the hospital, Julie and Kuu were excited to see him, however instead of resting and sleeping, Drei was wide awake and playing chess with Kuu's manager, "Kuu, for the love of everything, I lost thirty seven times!" he complained and Julie lost it and made fun of her husband's manager.
Kuu laughed at his manager complaining and forgot he was upset that Paul failed to follow his instruction. Kuu however teased Paul for losing on a streak, "Thank you, Mr. Paul." Drei thanked him and he sighed.
"You are welcome. Goodness he's too polite unlike your mean son Kuon." Shaking his head, "How is he by the way?"
"Oh… he's already dating our dream daughter and doing fantastic in the Japanese industry actually." Julie bragged.
"That's nice, it is good he found something where he finally fits." Paul nodded.
"Dear, Jen is here~" Julie excitedly bounced in the living room after the twelve years old girl with her parents visited after a dinner invitation.
There was no reply but she can hear him slowly walking down the stairs, his arm tightly bounded in black shoulder immobilizer sling and thick rib binder, Jen winced seeing his state but after three months he was able to walk.
The Hizuris bonded with the girl's family for a while and praised the couple on how they raised their daughter, "We'll transferring Drei from another school." Jen looked sad, "Although, you can always visit and play, besides you're his first real friend." Julie comforted and Drei smiled at her, she smiled back.
"Thank you for telling them on what happened." Drei appreciated what she did.
"It was the right thing to do." She blushed.
After dinner they chatted a bit until the Hizuri couple invited the Garcia family for Christmas which the family happily accepted.
The head bandage finally came off, Kuu took Drei to have a new haircut and was surprised to know he was a bright blonde boy, identical to their son, especially the eyes, although his was a little deeper in green.
He can be mistakenly identified as their own child which made things more easy for them to introduce in the future. After his operation, his shaggy thick dirty blonde dyed hair was cut into an ugly style, so Kuu brought him to his personal stylist and now his original bright blonde hair is styled in two-by-four fade cut, Kuu brushed the remaining hair on top sideways and it looked perfect.
The pompadour fade looked slick which Paul; Kuu's manager approved, "Do you have a piercing?" Paul noticed his left ear.
"Oh… my friend pranked me three years ago and gave me a pierce, I thought it would heal but the hole is still there." Kuu realized he had a high pain tolerance after such joke..
As winter passes, his rib and arm are completely healed after therapy and treatment, Kuu and Julie never thought having another child in their home would fill the void of their missing son. And having Drei around means Julie can fuss over and spoil another.
After months of staying with the couple he grew comfortable but still gave reservations when it comes to asking them anything, Kuu learned his son is fond of music and has a power cord voice hitting high notes. One day when Julie took Drei to her company Kuu busied himself redecorating his room placing speakers in two corners near the television, added a floor lounge set and added an acoustic guitar with a ukulele beside it.
The poor boy when he arrived was startled after his father bought some things again for him, however he was grateful for it and thanked him. "It doesn't change the fact he's a momma's boy though." Julie stuck her tongue, poor Kuu felt offended..
"You ready for your new school tomorrow?" Julie asked as she takes out his new uniform; simple white dress shirt, with navy blue waistcoat with the academy insignia and name, she however disliked the necktie and started to search from her boutique a similar color but the design is much more better.
"I am, but not excited though." He sighed.
"Still afraid?" she asked and he nodded.
"It is fine, sweety, you'll do just fine, however from now on you are a Hizuri, understand?" and he nodded, "I am so proud of you after you passed that hellish entrance exam and got ninety-eight score!" she gushed over how smart he is, "They placed you with the special section so your classmate population is small."
"I guess it would be nice to have my circle small, I don't want to have another incident."
"Don't worry, like I said you'll do just fine."
"Okay." Drei felt assured.
Drei was surprised when Julie and Kuu insisted to take him to school. The white luxury SUV rolls stops by the fancy gate. Students watched the white vehicle pull over on the dropping ground with the new student who enrolled late, yet passed the entrance exam with flying colors, topping the former student President and setting another high record in their school history.
"Call us if you need anything alright?" Julie smothered him with kisses which Drei did not refuse, he just nodded and let his father ruffle his hair, "Goodness darling, don't mess up his hair!" and Julie styled his hair back to its pompadour brush state.
"Do your best today, kid." Kuu chuckled and Drei smiled in reply.
As their son walked away, the couple couldn't help but worry, the thoughts of their boy being stabbed and placed in the same apparatus in his hospital bed kept on repeating, "Can't we just home school him?" Julie asked her husband who had similar worry shook his head.
"I know he'll have a new life here. We just need to trust him." Kuu pulled his wife to his chest.
During at work, Julie couldn't help but worry, "Are you alright, ma'am?" her apprentice asked in concern.
"I am, but I don't know about baby Angel." She sighed thinking about her youngest son.
"Drei will be fine, ma'am. He's a tough little cookie." Her apprentice comforted.
"Thank you, Annie." She sighed, "I can't wait to pick him up from school." Still with a worried look.
Kuu on the other hand wasn't any better, worried about the boy in school, "Paul, I'll be out for a while." Pulling his phone out and dialing his son knowing it is lunch and he can bother him.
"What happened?" Paul turned to his charge.
"Nothing, I was just worried for nothing." Came a snort from Kuu and a sigh of relief, "He's doing okay." he thought and smiled sending his wife a message that their boy is fine, so he can give her a peace of mind.
Afternoon quickly passed and the couple fetch their son from school, spotting the boy walking out with three other boys happily chatting, for the first time of the whole day Julie finally smiled seeing her son scratch free and safe.
"Oh, your Mom and pops are here." Another blonde boy noticed and gave Drei those cool-bro-handshakes, another boy taller than the three gave him a bro-hug as well as the raven haired one.
"Are they your friends?" Kuu inquired in delight, his quiet son nodded.
"This is Richard Rachester Hirose." Introducing the blonde, "And this is Haruki Kuran." Patting the tall brunette, "And this is Liam Tsukimori." Kuu noticed that the boys are Japanese and children of his acting colleagues. He chuckled at the coincidence.
"Well, thank you for taking care of our boy, why not come and play with him on weekends?" the boys looked at each other and smiled at him nodding, "Great, don't worry about your parents, we're all friends at work too, they'll be fine letting you boys come to our place."
For the evening Kuu made a ton of food which they had enjoyed and after dinner Drei excused himself first to do his homework leaving the couple to talk. Sharing a bottle of wine and enjoying the cool breeze, "I love Angel and I care a lot, but I am still guilty that we are driving our attention to another while we forget our Kuon." Julie muttered.
"Remember what I told you?" Kuu comforted, "We love them equally, Kuon is a big boy now and living well and perfectly in Japan, while Angel is here with us. He is young but been through a lot, he needs care and love, he needs us." Kuu explained it to her again.
"Kuon is alright." Julie scooted closer to her husband and opened her iPad to see her son's recent post. With a gasp, "He's dating our baby girl!" shocked.
"Oh…" Kuu blinked, "I think I should prank Tsuruga-san a bit." He chuckled, "A little shovel talk for dating our favorite girl." Julie giggled. Kuu is delighted that despite they may not call their eldest son his name and bond with him, they still had a mode of communication through his new name and his new girlfriend.
Weekend came by, "Hey, kiddo!" Kuu entered the kitchen and found Drei and his three best friends cooking in the kitchen with some heavy snacks, "What are you guys making?" he gave a good sniff at the meat plated.
"Mr. K!" the boys greeted.
"We're making some cheese tacos…" Drei replied.
"Oh… you're not using tortillas?" Kuu quizzed, "Is that cheese?" he mused after seeing the grated dairy cooking flat on the iron pan.
"Uh-huh… we're trying some other recipes we found online." Drei showed the said article to Kuu who looked impressed.
"Well, I just came down to tell you that your mom and I are leaving for the day since I need to take her to the studio and fashion venue, can you hold the fort for me boys?" he patted Haruki, they all gave a thumbs up in response, "Great, just call me if anything happens alright?"
"We will." Drei replied.
Julie all dressed for business entered the kitchen, "Smells nice~" she complimented.
"Thanks Mrs. Jules!" the boys welcomed and she giggled.
"Well, we're leaving, please take care of Angel, alright?" and the couple left, the boys teased Drei being called Angel by his parents.
"Hey guys?" Drei caught his friends' attention.
"Sup?" they turned to him.
"I heard my folks talk about Kuon…" he started and the boys dropped what they were doing and eating, "I never met Kuon and they never told me anything about him, I don't want to pry but I just want to communicate with him that I am not replacing him or stealing his parents…" they noticed his sad guilty eyes. "In fact… I just want to thank and care for them as much as I can for all they've done for me, I want to let him know that they are okay and I want to keep them company while he is away." They comforted him with a pat.
"I'm not that smart and all, but I think social media can help." Liam explained and they turned to him with questioning look.
"Explain, dunce." Richard demanded.
"So mean." Pouted by Liam, "Why not try to upload photos and daily vlogs about your parents on social media and tag Mr. K and Mrs. Jules, he might stumble upon your photo and message you from there, and speaking of message subtly let him know that they are in a good company and while he's not around you'll be there for them."
"From all bad ideas you've made, this is a decent one." Haruki nodded and Liam did not take offense on such.
"Thanks." Drei smiled and continued his work on their food.
While the boys are hanging out the kitchen that afternoon with their laptops and phones out dealing with social media making their little platform for their future videos and posts for either food and their jam sessions.
"Hey boys, got anything left for me?" Kuu looked for any plate for him and Drei brought out two plates instead, Kuu happily munched on his treat and to the boys' surprise Julie walked in with their mothers.
After dinner when their guests left, Kuu called Drei down to the garage and showed him brand new skateboards placed on a stand rack, "That's yours, kid. Your grandma told me a while back that you're good at this." Kuu patted him, the boy still in awe struck seeing something he always wanted.
"Are they really mine?" Kuu nodded.
"Go give it a try." And without any second words Drei did an ollie which impressed Kuu.
Kuu thought about converting the old unused tool shed in their poolside as his maintenance garage. Shortly Kuu realized all these things where they would cook, bring him to school every day, make him his own space and eating dinner with his son's friends' family are new and never experienced it with their Kuon.
Indeed, Kuu bought matching full glass door, windows and few wood supplies that Sunday morning. Piled in one side of the shed, he is dressed in simple faded jeans and shirt ready for his little handyman work. Drei helped him around installing everything and organizing the tools on the new wall rack Kuu installed, Julie in amusement took photos of them and shared it on her social media, never in her life with Kuon they would have this kind of bonding.
Yes, she and Kuu took Kuon wherever they were and bond with him in a cutest way, however after Kuon turned to a teen, they rarely spend time with him doing such things. Julie wished her son Kuon would come home soon so they can all bond, however she was a little worried of what Kuon would think if he knew they took in another child.
She had to open that topic with her husband when she can, however for now she would love to spend time with her little family in a quiet weekend where there are no guests, business or work, she sat by the shaded area in their giant pool side and watched her boys do some work.
However she noticed Drei's recent post capturing a beautiful picture of her and Kuu sweetly talking inside the vehicle, it was a backseat photo but Kuu and Julie are looking at each other with a smile while waiting for the green light, his caption was heartwarming and sweet subtly calling out a brother he never met and letting him know that he will be keeping the couple company until the day he would come home. Of course because it was tagged to her and Kuu it created a little mayhem since they never disclosed or told people that they have a second son.
They would have to deal with damage control soon and create a story, besides people can be easily be fooled after her little Angel is a carbon copy of her husband.
~END?~