CHAPTER 116: A BIRTHDAY CALL

"Cairo!"

Rome turned when someone called out.

There he saw the foreign man who had spoken with Doc Felize earlier rushing toward them.

The man didn’t even glance at him as he brushed past, accidentally shoving him aside in his haste before dropping to his knees in front of Cairo.

The man immediately scanned the boy’s small frame, his face carved with worry, before he pulled Cairo into a tight embrace.

"Why did you run away? Didn’t I tell you you’re not well yet?! What if something bad happened to you, huh?!"

The man’s voice carried both fear and frustration, trembling with barely contained emotion.

Cairo lowered his head, guilt flashing across his young face. He glanced briefly at him before whispering. "I-I’m sorry, Daddy... It won’t happen again. I just... I just wanted to see Mommy. I wanted to greet her on her birthday. I want to see her..."

Rome’s chest tightened as he silently watched them.

He didn’t know why he was still there, or why he couldn’t look away. For some reason, the pain in the boy’s voice felt like it was piercing straight through him.

Maybe it was because it reminded him of the same ache he had felt when Gavriel had also run away before. Maybe it was simply sympathy. That had to be it.

"It’s okay, son. Don’t cry," the man’s tone softened, though his eyes glistened with guilt. "I’m sorry if I raised my voice. I didn’t mean to. I just... I just want to make sure you’re okay. We’ll see your mom after this, I promise. So don’t cry."

Then the man gently wiped the tears from Cairo’s eyes and lifted him into his arms.

It was only then that the man finally noticed Rome standing there. He froze for a moment, his gaze narrowing slightly, as if he hadn’t expected to see him there.

"Uh... I’m sorry if I pushed you earlier. I didn’t mean it. It’s just... when it comes to my son, I can be a little... sensitive."

Rome blinked. He wasn’t sure why, but there was something cold and almost bitter beneath the man’s tone. His eyes were sharp and seemed to linger on him with a strange hostility. The man then turned away with Cairo to pass him when the boy suddenly spoke up.

"Wait, Daddy! I want to thank Mister!"

The man stopped, stiffening slightly.

"He’s the one who saved me when I almost tripped. I want to ask his name so I can thank him properly. Is that okay?" Cairo asked, hope shining in his gray eyes.

The man didn’t answer immediately. He remained facing away from him, his back tense, his silence heavy.

Rome couldn’t help but frown. What’s his problem?

Finally, the man muttered quietly. "Okay. You can thank him."

Cairo turned his head toward him, smiling faintly despite the tears still clinging to his lashes. "Mister, can I know your name?"

Rome swallowed, his throat suddenly tight. "I-I’m Rome Hariston."

"Okay, Mr. Rome. Thank you again for saving me. I hope I see you again!" Cairo said, waving cheerfully.

The man said nothing. He only adjusted his grip on Cairo and continued walking away without even sparing Rome another glance.

Rome stood there, watching them until they disappeared from sight.

A strange emptiness hollowed out his chest as they grew distant, a tugging feeling that made him want to call after them, to stay close and know more about the boy named Cairo.

Strange... why does he feel so familiar?

Rome clenched his fists, trying to dismiss the thought.

No. It’s nothing. Maybe I just miss Gabriel.

Maybe I’m also longing for the twins’ presence, so I’m getting attached to other children too. That must be it.

With a heavy sigh, he shook his head, brushing the feeling away as best as he could.

Turning on his heel, Rome finally left the hospital, though the boy’s face still lingered in his mind.

***********

Sylvia’s POV...

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"Happy birthday, Mommy!"

The twins greeted in unison the moment I opened my eyes.

I froze, blinking at them in surprise. Their cold shoulders from last night seemed to have vanished completely, as if they had forgotten everything that happened.

My brows furrowed slightly as I reached for my phone, glancing at the date.

My birthday...

I had almost forgotten about it, if not for my brother’s early greeting.

But it wasn’t just his message waiting for me. Without meaning to, I opened one from Berninzo.

’Happiest birthday to the prettiest lady in the world! Can we meet? Cairo knows it’s your birthday today and in just a few days it will be his and his sisters’ birthdays. Can you make time to see him and celebrate with him?’

The words made my heart drop, like a bucket of ice water had been poured over me.

My chest tightened. I found myself staring blankly at the screen, not realizing how long I’d been frozen there.

"Mom, are you okay?" Egypt’s small voice pulled me back.

"You didn’t forget it’s your birthday, right? And the next, next, next day..." Egypt began counting on her fingers, then proudly showed me her tiny palm. "In five days, it’ll be mine and Paris’s birthday! So let’s celebrate your birthday today, Mom!" she said excitedly, throwing her arms around me.

Paris quickly joined in, hugging me tightly before kissing my cheek. "Mommy, happy birthday! I love you!"

Their sweetness made my heart ache. The corners of my eyes burned, tears spilling before I could stop them.

It was happiness and loneliness tangled together in one sharp, unshakable knot.

I cupped their little faces, gazing at them closely, memorizing the sparkle in their eyes. And yet, no matter how much love they poured into me, I couldn’t stop imagining another child standing right beside them—their brother.

The image haunted me. The thought of him missing from every important event in our lives, where he should have been with us was a wound that would never heal.

I was selfish. Selfish for always choosing to celebrate with the twins while their brother, they didn’t even know existed remained absent from our lives.

Every time I looked at them, guilt sank its claws deeper into my chest, leaving a hollow ache that no amount of love or laughter could ever completely fill.

It had always been empty.

That’s why, deep down, I feel like I don’t deserve to be happy...

Moments later, the twins’ laughter still echoed faintly in the room even after they darted off to prepare their birthday surprise.

I sat there motionless on the edge of the bed, my hands clasped together tightly.

The message from Berninzo burned in my mind.

Cairo.

I hadn’t realized tears were already slipping down my cheeks. I wiped them away quickly before the twins could return. They deserved a happy mother on her birthday, not one trembling and drowning in guilt.

But the truth sat heavy in my chest.

I had chosen this. I had chosen to live with two of my children while the third grew up apart from us, kept hidden from our lives.

A soft knock startled me.

"Mom?" Paris’s voice floated through the door. "We’re ready!"

I forced a smile and stood, smoothing my hair as if that could also smooth away the storm inside me. "Coming!" I called out.

The living room smelled faintly of burnt pancakes. Egypt had scribbled Happy Birthday Mommy! across a piece of folded construction paper and taped it crookedly onto the wall.

Paris held a plate of sliced watermelon shaped into a heart that almost looked like an oval.

Their effort was pure, innocent and it cracked something inside me.

I hugged them both tightly again, my voice low but warm. "Thank you, my sweethearts."

Yet even as I whispered it, my eyes flickered to my phone on the counter, where Berninzo’s message still haunted me.

Should I finally let Cairo into our lives?

Should I give the twins the brother they’ve unknowingly existed? Or would it only reopen wounds I’ve worked so hard to close?

I drew a slow, deep breath.

Not today. Maybe Cairo can still wait for me—at least until I’m strong enough, until I’m fully healed. Maybe...

************

On the other hand...

"Daddy... did Mommy reply yet? What did she say? Is she going to visit me today?" Cairo asked, glancing up at Bern repeatedly.

Bern hesitated. He didn’t want to tell Cairo that Sylvia hadn’t replied to his message yet, and he was still debating whether he should try messaging her again.

"Maybe your mom is busy at the moment," Bern said carefully. "You know, she doesn’t really like to celebrate her birthday, so... maybe she just totally forgot about it."

Cairo pouted, crossing his arms. "You said you were going to contact her! Maybe you didn’t even try contacting her in the first place. Are you breaking your promise now?"

Bern scratched the back of his head nervously before pulling out his phone.

"I already contacted her. See?" He held the phone out for Cairo to see. "I’m going to message her again now."

"No! Don’t just message her—she won’t even see it! Just call her instead," Cairo said, frowning.

He leaned against the headrest of his bed and reached his hand.

"Give me your phone, Dad. I’m going to call Mommy myself."

Bern scratched his head again but handed the phone over. He didn’t want Cairo sulking again or risking him running off in the hospital room. He also knew Sylvia probably wouldn’t answer his call, so he would likely have to come up with another excuse later.

Cairo took the phone and dialed Sylvia’s number. After just a few rings, he could see his face light up.

"Mommy! You finally answered the call! Happy birthday!—"

"Huh... Hello? Who’s this?"

"W-what? A prankster? I’m Mommy’s only son... How about you? Who are you?"

Bern’s eyes widened when he realized Cairo was actually speaking to someone on the line.

His heart thumped nervously. Did Sylvia really answer Cairo’s call?