CHAPTER 135: NOT YET

"Uhm, m-mom... do you have enough money to pay for this?"

Cairo asked, looking up at me with those round, questioning eyes while I went through the rack, checking the sizes of the shirts I planned to buy for him.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

"Why? You don’t like me buying you clothes?" I teased, glancing down at him.

Cairo frowned slightly, his lips curling into a pout. "No... but... you’re buying a lot. You don’t have to. I’m okay with my old clothes."

I knelt down to his level and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead.

"Sweetheart," I said gently, "just let me do this for you. I’m enjoying buying you clothes now that you’re here with me."

We were at the shopping mall, surrounded by racks of colorful shirts and the soft hum of people chatting and shopping around us. I had promised Cairo we’d spend the afternoon together to buy a few things he needed and pick out gifts for his and his sisters’ upcoming birthday.

It had been such a long time since I’d done something like this. Even though I had to spend nearly all my savings, I wanted to give them something truly special.

He hesitated, then smiled shyly. "Okay... but are you also going to buy clothes for s-sister Paris and E-Egypt?"

I paused for a moment. He was probably still shy around me and around his sisters too. I couldn’t blame him. Everything had happened so suddenly, and it wasn’t easy for a child to process so much change all at once.

I would give him time. He needed to adjust at his own pace. And when we went home... I still didn’t know how to explain everything to the twins about Cairo either. I just hoped things would turn out fine that they’d accept him as warmly as he was learning to accept them.

"Yes, we’ll buy some shirts for them too," I said softly, forcing a reassuring smile. "So don’t worry about it, okay?"

He nodded, relief flickering in his eyes.

As I stood up and handed a few shirts to the cashier, my gaze drifted toward the mirror near the counter. There we were—me, looking tired but trying to smile, and Cairo, clutching the small paper bag of the things I had just bought for him, holding it tightly with both hands.

For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to breathe... to pretend that everything was normal again.

"Let’s go, Cairo. Let’s buy some dresses for your sisters." I said with a gentle smile.

Cairo’s face brightened, and he beamed up at me before taking my outstretched hand.

---

Meanwhile...

"Dad, why are we even here? I thought we were going to have lunch with Grandma and Uncle. Instead, you brought me here to look for girl clothes?"

Gabriel asked innocently, tugging on Rome’s sleeve as they stood in front of a display of cute dresses.

Rome glanced down at him and chuckled.

"Well, rather than having lunch with Grandma and Uncle, coming with me is more fun, right? We’re buying gifts for some very special someone."

"Special someone?" Gabriel repeated, frowning in confusion.

"Do you still remember the kids you met before—when you ran away?" Rome asked, his tone softening. "The twin sisters, Paris and Egypt? It’s their birthday tomorrow. That’s why I’m planning to buy them some gifts."

Gabriel’s eyes widened in realization. "Ohhh! Right! They’re turning six tomorrow, aren’t they?"

"Yes," Rome replied with a small smile. "And I brought you with me because I thought you might help me pick out something nice for them."

Gabriel pouted. "But, Dad, how can I know what they like? I’m not a girl like them!"

Rome laughed quietly. "You’re right—but I still want your opinion."

He began picking out dresses from the rack, one after another, holding them up to compare styles and colors.

"Dad, why are you buying so many?" Gabriel asked, watching as his father carefully examined each dress.

Rome smiled faintly, his gaze softening as he held two dresses.

"Because I’ve missed a lot of their birthdays," he murmured. "I just want to make it up to them this time."

Gabriel tilted his head, studying his father’s expression. "What did you say, Dad?"

Rome blinked, then smiled faintly. "Nothing."

He crouched down, showing Gabriel the two dresses he held.

"What do you think? Which one would Paris like more—the yellow one or the blue one?"

Gabriel grinned and pointed without hesitation. "The blue one! It looks like the sky. Paris seems like the kind of girl who likes cool colors."

Rome chuckled softly, nodding. "Okay, this will be for Paris."

Then Rome lifted another dress pink and flowy, with ribbons at the waist and compared it with a yellow one that shimmered under the store lights.

"How about these two? Which one do you think Egypt would like more?"

Gabriel leaned closer, tapping his chin as if in deep thought. "Hmm... Egypt’s the cheerful one, right? I think she’d go for the yellow one. It looks fun and bright like her."

Rome’s lips curved into a faint, nostalgic smile. "You might be right."

He hung the chosen dresses carefully over his arm and turned toward the cashier only for his steps to falter when he noticed a familiar figure standing nearby.

"Cairo, what do you think of this? Do you think Paris and Egypt will like this dress?"

Rome froze the moment he heard that familiar voice.

Sylvia.

She was standing just a few racks away, facing the opposite direction as she spoke to the small boy beside her, who was also turned slightly toward him.

The mere mention of Paris and Egypt made Rome’s entire body go rigid.

"Y-Yeah..." the boy answered shyly. "But I think they’ll like this one more."

Rome’s gaze followed the boy’s hand as he pointed to a soft pink dress covered in tiny ribbons and lace.

"Oh, you also think so?" Sylvia asked, her voice gentle and warm with a smile.

"Yes," the boy replied, nodding a little. "Egypt and Paris seem to like pink more. I’ve seen most of their toys and bags... they’re all Barbie designs."

Sylvia chuckled softly, brushing a few strands of hair from the boy’s forehead.

"Okay then, we’ll get this one. How about you? Do you want anything else? Let’s go to the toy section after this—I’ll buy you some toys."

"I-I’m okay with the things you bought for me," Cairo said quietly, his tone sincere. "That’s already enough for me."

"You don’t need to be shy, sweetheart. Just let me do this once, okay? Buying things you like... it’s more than enough for me."

Rome’s chest tightened as he listened. He didn’t move. He couldn’t.

"Dad, what happened to you?" Gabriel’s small voice broke through his trance.

Gabriel followed his father’s gaze, and his eyes instantly widened in recognition. "Wait... is that Aunt Sylvia? Dad—it’s Aunt Sylvia! Let’s go say hi!"

He tugged eagerly at Rome’s arm, trying to pull him forward. But Rome didn’t budge. His eyes were still locked on Sylvia, who was now walking toward the counter with the boy, gently placing the dresses on top of the pile she was about to buy.

"Dad, what’s wrong with you?" Gabriel asked again, frowning. "Come on, let’s approach her!"

Rome didn’t respond. Instead, his gaze dropped to the display in front of him, rows of Barbie dresses, almost identical to the one Sylvia had chosen. His expression hardened slightly.

He turned to the saleslady who had been quietly assisting them.

"Miss," he said firmly, "prepare all the pink Barbie dresses you have. I’ll buy them all."

The saleslady blinked in surprise. "A-All of them, sir?"

Rome nodded once. "Yes. Every single one."

Gabriel frowned in confusion. "Dad?"

Rome didn’t answer. His eyes followed Sylvia and the little boy who looked about Gabriel’s age as they walked away, her hand resting gently on the boy’s shoulder.

"Dad?" Gabriel called again, this time louder. "Let’s just approach Aunt Sylvia if you’re just going to stare at her!" he said with a small pout.

Rome’s gaze softened slightly as he watched Sylvia laugh at something the boy said.

For a moment, it felt as though time had folded back on itself for reasons he couldn’t quite explain.

He felt Gabriel tugging at his sleeve again, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Dad, is there something wrong with you?"

Rome blinked, forcing himself to refocus. "Nothing," he murmured. "Let’s go pay."

As they walked to the counter, Gabriel kept glancing over his shoulder toward Sylvia and Cairo, who were now heading toward the exit.

Rome’s eyes lingered until they were completely gone. Then, he exhaled—a long, shaky breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

"Dad..." Gabriel’s voice pulled him back again, gentler this time. "Are you... okay?"

Rome forced a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Yeah," he lied softly. "Let’s just finish here. We still have to wrap these for Paris and Egypt’s birthday."

Gabriel nodded hesitantly, though he could tell something was off. He watched his father’s distant expression as he handed the dresses to the cashier, his fingers tightening slightly on the edge of the counter.

Somewhere deep inside, Rome knew he should’ve gone after Sylvia—should’ve said something, anything. But he couldn’t.

Not yet.

Maybe he wasn’t ready to face her.

Or maybe... he was afraid of what he’d see in her eyes if he did.