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"Mom... I’m okay now, you don’t have to worry about ~"
Egypt pouted as I spoon-fed her.
It’s been two days since we brought her to the hospital, and thankfully, she’s starting to get better.
The fever is gone, though the doctor advised that it’s best for her to stay at least one more day before being discharged.
"Mommy, when can I leave the hospital? I want to go back to school already~ I miss school... and Mr. Bear..."
Her little lips ford another pout as she whined.
I pinched her nose lightly when her pout grew longer.
"Mr. Bear? Why would you miss him?"
I paused a little at my own words. Ever since she started feeling better, Egypt wouldn’t stop talking about Mr. Bear. She ntioned him so often that even Paris seed to like him too.
Now, I can’t help but grow curious—just who is behind that bear mask that my daughter likes so much?
"Well, Mr. Bear is a kind bear. That’s why I want to see him." she replied innocently.
"I’m jealous, Egypt~~"
Both Egypt and I turned toward the door when a familiar voice ca from behind us.
Alpheus had just entered, carrying flowers, fruits, and food, with Paris trailing behind him in her school uniform.
"Uhm..H-hi Sylvia. Amie is busy at school today, so she asked to look after Paris and bring her here instead."
"It’s okay. I understand Amie."
"Uncle Alpheus! Paris, I’m glad you ca!" Egypt cheered happily, her little face lighting up.
Alpheus smiled, then placed a hand on his chest and pretended to be hurt. "But you said you missed Mr. Bear? I’m hurt now that you seem to miss him more—more than ." He then pulled a chair beside and sat down close to Egypt.
That made Egypt giggle. "Hehe, don’t be jealous of him, Uncle. Mr. Bear is Mr. Bear—he’s cute and kind. But you’ll always be my most favorite uncle out of all my uncles."
I noticed Alpheus pause for a mont before his ears slowly turned red.
"Really? I’m your absolute favorite out of everyone? More than Alfonso and your other uncles?" Alpheus asked, deliberately raising his voice as if he wanted others outside the door to hear him.
"Yes! But we have to keep it a secret from Uncle Alfonso and the others—"
"Ouch... I’m hurt now, Egypt~"
Another voice suddenly spoke from the door as it slowly opened.
Alfonso walked in, followed closely by Calyx. Both of them had their hands over their chests as if they were really in pain.
"U-Uncle Calyx... and Uncle Alfonso!?" Egypt stamred in disbelief.
"Yes, your one and only," Calyx replied with a teasing smile. "I didn’t know you already had a favorite uncle."
"Uh... t-that’s not true... I m-an, I also like y-you..."
Egypt stamred, glancing back and forth between him and Alpheus, who was already pouting.
"But you just said I’m your favorite, so no take-backs."
"Uh... n-no... I an, I’m taking it back now. You’re all my favorites... so you don’t have to be jealous anymore..."
Egypt said innocently, making the three of them burst into laughter.
"Ahem...!"
Calyx’s and Alfonso’s smiles quickly faded the mont their eyes landed on . They scratched the backs of their heads awkwardly, as if only now realizing that I had been in the room the whole ti.
"S-Sylvia... uhm, is it okay if we visit Egypt?" Alfonso asked carefully.
I held his gaze for a long mont before exhaling a quiet sigh and briefly glancing at Alpheus, who quickly avoided my eyes.
Maybe he was the one who told them about Egypt being in the hospital—that’s probably why they both ca today. It wasn’t like I could simply send them away when their reason for coming was clear.
I gave Alfonso a small nod. His eyes widened in surprise at my approval, and he imdiately exchanged a quick look with Calyx.
"Thank you, Sylvia. By the way, this is for Egypt and Paris."
He placed the bouquet of flowers and several stuffed toys gently on the side table.
After that, the three of them looked at each other again, as though they were waiting for each other to speak first.
"Uhm, actually..."
Alfonso scratched the back of his head before nudging Calyx. "Hey... why don’t you be the one to say it?"
"Why ?"
"Hey, Alpheus, it should be you who says it."
"Why ?"
I frowned, watching the three of them whisper to each other.
"Uhm, actually, Sylvia..."
Calyx muttered, unable to et my eyes as he awkwardly scratched his head again.
"What?"
My eyebrow shot up. I couldn’t help but feel impatient. What exactly were they trying to say—and why did they look so afraid of my reaction?
"Actually, Mommy..." Paris finally broke the silence after getting bored of watching the three of them stumble.
"It wasn’t just Uncle Alpheus, Uncle Alfonso, and Uncle Calyx who ca to visit Egypt. Mr. Bear Man is actually waiting outside the door... and Uncle Dave is already on his way here."
The three imdiately averted their gazes when I looked at them.
Mr. Bear Man, huh? Why does it feel like this ’Mr. Bear Man’ is soone they actually know?
"Mr. Bear Man!? Wow, I want to see him!" Egypt exclaid, her eyes sparkling with excitent.
Everyone’s gaze turned to then, as though they were all waiting for my approval. But the mont I raised an eyebrow at them, the three quickly looked away again.
"Why don’t you invite him in?"
The three of them whipped their heads toward at once, their eyes wide with surprise.
"R-really? H-he can co in?"
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Why wouldn’t he? You all seem to know him. So why don’t you just invite him inside?"
I crossed my arms, curiosity now itching at . I’ve been wanting to see this Mr. Bear Man without his mask—the sa animal Egypt constantly talks about. Sothing in my gut tells Alpheus’ friends are hiding sothing from ... about Mr. Bear Man’s real identity without the mask.
Alpheus walked over to the door and slowly pulled it open. A mont later, "Mr. Bear" appeared, as if he had been waiting outside all along.
Alpheus leaned in and whispered sothing to him. I noticed the man give a small nod before his gaze flickered toward .
Then, carrying as many flowers and fruits as he could manage despite his oversized bear costu hands, he stepped inside.
"Mr. Bear! You’re here!" Egypt squealed with excitent.
Mr. Bear was about to rush over to her, but I quickly moved in front of Egypt, blocking the way.
There’s sothing about this "Mr. Bear" that makes uneasy. I don’t know why. It isn’t even the first ti I’ve seen him, and yet... this ti feels different.
The air around him is unsettlingly familiar, almost strange. A sharp instinct flared within —warning not to let him get too close to the twins.
"Mr. Bear, we haven’t actually t face-to-face before." My tone ca out colder than I intended.
"I’m glad you’re here and that you care about Egypt. But the truth is, I don’t know who you are without that mask. Aren’t you uncomfortable wearing such a heavy costu?"
He didn’t move. Not a single step. It was as if he had turned to stone.
Alpheus and Alfonso exchanged quick, nervous glances.
"Ah-ha... well, Sylvia, you see—Mr. Bear is just a shy man. He’s not very comfortable—"
Alfonso began, trying to smooth things over, but stopped short when the Bear Man raised his hand. Even with the costu on, I could feel the coldness radiating from him—sothing I couldn’t simply overlook.
His eyes—hidden deep within the shadows of the costu—t mine. I couldn’t explain it, but the weight of his stare cut right through . That sa strange familiarity pressed harder against my chest.
He can’t be...
Slowly, he lifted both hands to his oversized bear head. Then he began to raise the costu’s headpiece.
I froze the mont I saw the man who appeared before .
Despite the cheerful smile of the bear costu, the person behind it was the complete opposite.
A chill imdiately ran down my spine, though I quickly forced myself to remain calm.
How is he here? Don’t tell his friends said sothing to him again...
Slowly, I shifted my gaze toward each of his friends, noticing how they all began to sweat at the sa ti.
And now, standing right in front of , was Ro—the very Bear Man Egypt and Paris had been so fond of.
Did he find out sothing about the twins?
Did his friends tell him that they’re his children? Or did he figure it out on his own?
On the outside, I tried to stay composed in the face of his cold stare, but inside, my emotions were a storm.
Fear, anger, confusion—they were all colliding in a ss I could barely hold together. I wanted to ask so many things—why he ca here, what exactly he knew—but only one question slipped past my lips.
"Why are you here?"
My voice ca out colder than I intended, sharp and controlled, yet trembling with everything I was holding back.
Slowly, a chilling smirk curved across his face.
"Do I even need to explain that?" His tone was low, almost mocking. "I ca here... because of the twins."
Then his eyes shifted toward them.
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