chapter 27: Zayn's present

8 months later

Kaino's POV

Eight months, that's how long it's been since we adopted Moon and honestly life has been never this good. Though, I feared how it's going to be when Moon said he don't like me on the first day we brought him home, Parker made everything right. He explained Moon and made him understand. I still remember that day, months ago, when I came home and Moon called me dad for the first time, I was on cloud nine. I, for my life didn't expect he would call me dad and apologize to me when that very morning he revealed his dislike to me.

That very day I was wondering what should I do and how do I speak to Moon regarding the situation. I was so stressed and when Ria said I should talk to moon, I kept thinking about it all the time. However, my worry vanished into thin air when I came home and found both Parker and Moon waiting for me. Moon said sorry and made me the happiest person at that very moment. I was so thankful to type for making it happen and from then on our lives has been great.

Moon, from that moment, seen both of us same. To him, Parker and I both are equal. He loves both of us so much and we do the same to him. Our days have been great with his smiles and laughter, making our lives more colourful and fun.

My job at hospital is going well and Parker is also busy with work. At the beginning, he used to take Moon with him to office. But now as we're sending Moon school, he's not going with Parker anymore. Our business has improved so much that it made father so happy. Everything is going good, live feels good now.

"Dad, you listening to me?" Moon calls out staring at me confused.

I snap out of my thoughts and nod at him, "yes, I'm listening to you."

"No, you lie." He pouts and turns away from me.

"I'm sorry, I was lost for a moment thinking about something. Now tell me, I'll listen." I say with a sorry and he smiles at me immediately.

"Which color I paint this? Green or blue?" He asks pointing to the drawing he did.

I smile seeing his drawing. He drew the drawing with three people. Two parents and a child as the parents hold the child's hand. It won't take a genius for me to understand that this drawing is us with Parker and I holding his hand. And there's a small puppy sitting at the corner.

"I think blue suits the best." I give my opinion as he already used green for one of the parent.

"Tanks." He smiles before concentrating on his paint as pup sat beside Moon while watching him.

As he continues to paint, I get up and make my way to the kitchen where Parker is making dinner. Walking in, I see him staring at nothing while the food is still on the stove. Before it could burn, I move forward and put off the stove. Even then Parker doesn't look at me, in fact he didn't know about my presence. As I said before, everything is going good except that Parker has been weird for a past few days. When I ask him what's wrong, he brush it off saying it's nothing. But I know it's not nothing. He seems to be thinking a lot, nervous at times and worried the other times. Not knowing that's bothering him is troubling me.

"Parker." I call him and put my hand in his shoulder which makes him jolt in surprised.

"Kaino?" He says surprised and I watch him with worry.

"Are you okay?" I query and he nods at me.

"The dinner is ready, let's eat." He states and tries to go but I hold his shoulder and stop him.

"Something is bothering you, tell me what it is?" I ask him, usually if anything is wrong with him I would know but this time I can't put a finger on what it could be.

"It's nothing, Kaino." He lies and I can see that in his eyes. I stare at him without saying a word so he sighs before saying, "you'll know about it tomorrow."

With that he pulls away from me and walks out. I shake my head as I go after him. Tomorrow, he'll let me know tomorrow. For one day I can wait.

That night, we eat our dinner and sleep. The next morning, I wake up and get ready. By the time I go to dining table, I see both Parker and Moon waiting at the table for me. After us exchanging morning greetings, we eat breakfast and get to work. While I go to hospital, Parker takes Moon with him. Usually he's the one who drops Moon at the school before going to office. If he can't then I'll take Moon.

Going to the hospital, I get busy with work the whole day and didn't even mind the time to the point that I got surprised when I realised it's time to go home. Signing off the shift, I leave the hospital and head to home. On the way, while driving, I think about what Parker said yesterday. He told today he's going to tell me what's bothering him. But until now he hasn't and now it's already night. I hope he'll tell me, if not I'll ask him tomorrow.

Arriving at home, I park the car and get out. I frown as I walk to the door because everyday the door is always open and I could see the lights. But today the door is closed and it's all dark inside. Waiting outside, I ring the bell three times but Parker doesn't open the door. It makes me think if he's not home yet but he would inform me if that's the case. So, this time instead of giving the bell, I go to knock on the door and when I place my hand on it, it gets open immediately. Confused, I open the door fully and step in. The sight literally takes my breath away.

The whole living room is littered with rose petals and scented candles are arranged in such a way that it's creating a pathway towards Parker who stood in the middle while holding a flower bouquet, with Moon by his side. Parker wore a blue suit. Moon's holding a small box, his dress matching with that of Parker's. Taking in Parker's face, I see him smiling at me but even in the dark room and in his happy eyes, I find the nervousness in them. Moon has a wide smile on his face and he looks so excited about everything that's happening here.

Shocked by the sudden surprise, I stay rooted in my place. What's with this sudden arrangement? It's not any of ours birthday or our anniversary. So, why this sudden event?

"Parker, what's all this about?" I question him as I walk to him wearily.

He don't say anything to that. He waits until I reach them and when I stand in front of him, he asks me something I never in my life thought of.

"Kaino, will you marry me?" He proposes to me while holding the bouquet out to me and takes the ring from the box which Moon has.

I almost faint because of his proposal. My mind stops working and my heart stops beating. Really, what he is doing? We're already married, aren't? So what's all this now?

"P-Parker, " I say my voice shuttering, "we're married already."

"I know that but the circumstances we married under are different. Our marriage had happened out of obligation and not out of love. We married to fulfill a promise. That time all these didn't matter because it was understand different situation. But now, we both love each other and are each other's everything. So, I want us to marry because of our love, not for the promise. I want us to marry because for us. I want to marry you because I love you. So, will you marry me?" He asks with tears glisten in his eyes.

My own eyes well up with tears as I listen to him. This all seems like a dream, something I never dreamt of. For him to go and think to this extent and want our marriage out of love is something out of my imagination. At one point, I had this thought but then I brushed it off immediately because I felt that would mean we're invalidating Zayn's promise and I thought that would make Parker unhappy. But now him saying the same exact things is making me cry out of happiness.

"Y-yes, I-I'll marry you." I agree before taking the bouquet from him and he puts the ring on my finger.

That's when his tears flow from his eyes and he puts the ring on my finger. I instantly pull him into a hug as we cry in happiness. When we pull away I place a kiss on his forehead and wipe his tears as I look at him in greatfulness. And realise this was what troubling him for the last few days.

"Papa, dinner surprise." Moon whispers to Parker but I hear him just fine and I chuckle at his cuteness.

Bending down, I lift him in my hands as Parker leads me to the dining table. The whole table is decorated with various food with a candle and flower vase in the middle. Sitting opposite to each other, with moon next to me, we eat the dinner. Parker made all my favorites but that wouldn't matter much I guess. In this moment, I would literally eat anything he provides me with.

When our dinner ends, we all wash up and Parker puts Moon to sleep in his room before holding my hand and taking me the store room. Confused as why he's taking there, I wait for him to tell me. Unlocking the door, he walks in and I wait outside. He comes back few minutes later with a box which looks familiar. He locks the door and looks at me before walking to the living room. I follow him and seat beside him. He places the box on the table and that's when I realise it's the box that the police officer gave to us long back saying he found it in Zayn's car. His present to Parker.

I watch him as he sadly looks at the box. Why did he bring this out now? Does he want to open this? That time, he wasn't ready to open and see what was there in it. So I told him he can see when he's ready. Now that he brought it out, does it mean he's ready to face the past?

"Parker." I call him softly.

"Before we get married and move on with our life, I want to end this here, Kaino. I want to leave all this behind and begin everything with you. That doesn't mean I want to forget Zayn, no, I only want to let go of the burden I have been carrying. All his memories will always be with me, I can never let them go. That's why I want to see his gift before I leave everything behind. I'm now ready to see and let it go." He states while looking at me with tears.

I move closer to him and hug him by his shoulder before wiping his tears and nodding at him.

"Should I stay with you?" I ask thinking maybe if he wants to do this alone.

"Yes, please." He replies and I nod at him to open the box.

With shaky hands he holds the box and opens it. I don't know what is it in but when he saw the gift, he let the box go and turned to me, crying hard on my chest. What is it that Zayn bought which is making him this sad?