Hurm?
What was this softness? It was warm too. It felt so good!
Did she get a new blanket? But, Granny didn’t say anything about it.
Oh! It slled so nice too! Like soone she knew ah.
Eh... soone?
A certain and adorable cherub lifted her eyelids, revealing a pair of puffy eyes. Still drowsy, she shook her head lightly.
When did she fall asleep ah?
Blinking, her gaze slowly regained its clarity, allowing the little one what was in front of her – the base of soone’s neck.
...eh?
Did she sleep with soone?
Froze, the little one didn’t dare to move out of shock. She blinked again before slowly raising her chin, trying to see who was sleeping with her.
Certainly, the person was neither Ruby nor Daisy. Her roommates were not as big as this soone ah.
"...hah?"
Grasping, Calliope’s eyes widened in shock. Leslie’s sleeping countenance was reflected in her round eyes.
The lady was lying on her right side, facing the little one. Both of them lie on the bed, sharing the sa blanket. Her arms encircled the child’s body, assuming the position of cradling her.
The room was quiet save for the faint echo of Leslie’s breathing and the rotation of the ceiling fan. The curtain darkened the room but, Calliope could still see the lady clearly.
"A-auntie? Ah!"
Calliope abruptly covered her mouth, realizing she might wake Leslie up. Trying to hold her breath, she stared at the lady with question marks swirling in her eyes.
Why did Auntie was with her ah?
Did they sleep together?
Weren’t they talking before?
About...
The bewildered Calliope gasped again. mories from a few hours ago flashed in her mind, reminding her of the truth about herself.
Everything Calliope heard from Calix, Leslie and Director Li continued to echo in her mind, centing the shocking truth into her heart.
"Poppy is..."
Shivering, heat rushed to Calliope’s eyes, once again pooling them with tears. She blankly gazed at the sleeping Leslie.
She was not an orphan! She was not abandoned by her parents!
Her mama and papa looked for her! Granny said evil people took her away from her mama and papa!
And... and...
Mama and Papa would take her ho with them.
Calliope sobbed, trying to contain the clashing between her joy and sorrow. She bit her lower lip hard, unwilling to stir her favorite auntie—her mama—awake from her sleep.
"Hicc... M-mama... waaa... Mamaaa!"
Calliope burst into tears. Her small body could no longer hold back from crying. The echoes of her cries pulled Leslie out of her slumberland.
"P-Poppy?!"
Surprised to see Calliope crying badly, Leslie’s grogginess disappeared in an instant. She hurriedly reached out to her daughter, bringing her closer to her chest.
"Poppy... why are you crying? Got bad dreams?" asked Leslie worriedly. She gently stroked the back of Calliope’s head.
Calliope’s cries beca louder. Grasping the front of Leslie’s shirt, she timidly asked in between her sobbing, "Mama... Auntie is Poppy’s mama, right? Right?"
Leslie blinked, sensing her own eyes glistening with tears. Nodding a few tis, she tried to reassure Calliope, "Yes, Poppy is Mama’s darling daughter... my precious... child..."
"Uncle is... Poppy’s papa?"
"Yes, Poppy. He’s your papa... He cares for you... like Mama loves you..."
"Sob sob... waaa! Mama! Don’t leave Poppy!"
Leslie’s words didn’t manage to stop Calliope from crying but, her sobbing was not as intense as before.
Burying her little face into Leslie’s chest, Calliope curled up like a baby. She didn’t let go of the forr’s shirt as if afraid to open her eyes and find no one with her.
"Mama is here with Poppy..."
"Papa and we will... go back together..."
"My darling daughter... Mama has never forgotten... about you..."
The lady continued caressing her daughter’s small back while crooning words of affection and reassurance.
Leslie was already prepared to face Calliope’s breakdown but, it didn’t an her heart wouldn’t ever feel torn. She could tell her child was frightened at the thought of being left again.
Even though Calliope had just learned who her parents were, she didn’t show any signs of mistrusting their words. She quickly accepted the fact which made Leslie happy and sad at the sa ti.
Happy because she got to reunite with her daughter sooner than she expected.
Sad because she still felt guilty for being unable to protect her from death in their previous lives.
’My sweet sweet daughter... Let’s live a happier life here.’
Calliope’s cries began to subside. Sniffling, she pouted because her runny nose made her uncomfortable. The streaks of her tears also left marks on her chubby face.
"Nose... Poppy’s nose feels weird..."
"Hehe, wait, Poppy..."
Leslie understood the particular expression Calliope was showing. Even though her daughter’s facial features were completely different from her original body, so things just had never changed.
Lifting one hand, Leslie reached out for the tissue box sitting on the bedside table. She grabbed two before returning her focus to Calliope.
"Poppy, can you sit... up?"
"En..."
Nodding, Calliope quickly sat on her bum. Leslie chuckled again as she also propped herself up. The blanket fell down, pooling over their legs.
"Blow your nose..."
Leslie placed the tissue over Calliope’s nose.
"Okay. Humph! Humph!"
Calliope tried blowing her nose with all her might. Her action tickled Leslie’s heart.
"Slowly..."
"Humph!"
Leslie refrained from laughing at the sight of Calliope’s adorableness. Imnse joy and hope flooded her heart, sending warmth to her entire body.
Even after everything she went through to reunite with her daughter, this mont still seed surreal to her.
"Let’s wipe your face... next..."
"Okay."
Getting more tissues, Leslie gently dried the remnants of Calliope’s tears. She teased the little one about her blotchy face, earning a pout from Calliope. They didn’t notice the sound of footsteps approaching from the outside.
Creak...
"Leslie? Is Calliope awake?"
Walking into the room, Calix asked Leslie that question without properly looking at the bed. He stopped short on his track right after he saw her wiping Calliope’s face.
The toy Mimo dangled from Calix’s hands. He picked it up from Director Li’s office, thinking that Calliope might want to see her favorite toy as soon as she woke up.
Staring at Calix, Calliope blurted out, "...Papa?"
Calix blinked, feeling the surge of a strange sensation within him right after Calliope addressed him with that calling.
The little one continued looking at him with a pair of teary eyes. But, anticipation flickering in them instead of sorrow.
"Poppy... my child."
Calix pursed his lips, feeling helpless all over. His gaze shifted from Calliope to Leslie simultaneously.
His wife and his child.
The ones he swore to shield forever.
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