Through Apocalypse

December 24, 2017

Huang Jin wearing a simple knitted sweater and thick pajama pants holding Jian Bao in his arms can smell the aroma of cooked food and hear the sounds of plates and glasses and soft murmurs of voices inside the kitchen area.

Jian Bao who is leaning on his arms is still feeling sleepy. He burrowed more inside the warmth of Huang Jin's arms.

Seeing Xun Wei sitting in the living room Huang Jin settle Jian Bao in his arms.

" He had a nightmare when I went inside his room. I heard him screaming. Let him sleep more." Huang Jin whispered.

Xun Wei brows wrinkled with worry." Then get something hot to drink for Ahbao." Patting Jian Bao coaxing him to sleep.

Xun Wei, with a glint of mischief on his eyes, puckered his lips in front of Huang Jin.

Huang Jin's lips twisted into a wry smile. He slowly lowered his head, and when his lips touched Xun Wei, they were warm and firm.

He planted another lingering kiss on his lips and drew back.

Seeing Xun Wei's pleased smile on his lips and his eyes held a glint of satisfaction.

Xun Wei felt Jian Bao moving inside his arms, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. He heard rhythmic breathing, signifying Jian Bao's sleeping peacefully.

Huang Jin went into the kitchen; he heard the voice of Mama Xun and Auntie Hei talking while cooking food for Christmas Eve.

He went near Mama Xun and kissed her cheeks.

"Sweet child, what do you need?" Mama Xun satisfied with Huang Jin's gesture, asks.

"A glass of milk for Ahbao, he had a nightmare a while ago." Hang Jin stop Mama Xun from moving and told her that he would make the glass of milk. She saw Huang Jin busy making the milk and snacks; Mama Xun continued helping Auntie Hei.

After half an hour, Huang Jin had a pot of green tea for Ma Xun and Auntie Hei. Two glasses of milk and a cup of coffee for Xun Wei. A simple breakfast meal on top of the table: A plate of egg omelet, a bowl of chicken congee — a platter of dumplings and a basket of steamed buns from his dimensional space.

" Mom I made breakfast, I'll just give this to Ahbao first." Huang Jin is carrying a tray of a glass of milk, a cup of coffee, and a plate of steamed buns for Xun Wei and Jian Bao.

"Be careful on the way, or it may spill." Huang Jin nodded and went back to the living room.

Xun Wei and Jian Bao were watching a cartoon show on the television when Huang Jin arrives with a tray of food and drinks.

Huang Jin sits beside the child after putting the tray on the table and getting the glass of milk and giving it to Jian Bao. "Be careful; it's still hot."

The little child's hands took the hot milk and savored it slowly while nibbling on a piece of steamed bun.

Huang Jin also took the cup of coffee and gave it to Xun Wei while he was also busy drinking milk.

Two men and a child eating and drinking and watching cartoons feeling the warmth of Christmas.

The spread of Christmas Holiday was felt inside the Xun's residence.

The cold and freezing climate persisted throughout the year. The people who wanted to go outside and celebrate the end of the year change their minds and decide to stay at home.

Inside the Xun's villa, the a.d.u.l.ts were holding gifts and red packets. But a cute little child was excited sitting on the carpeted floor surrounded by mountains of presents and a box of red packets.

The a.d.u.l.ts we're pleased seeing Jian Bao smiling and laughing happily while tearing up the gifts, trying to see what's inside.

Huang Jin was leaning on Xun Wei. Grandpa Zhou was busy playing chess with Father Huang. Mother Xun And Father Xun decided to help the little child in arranging his presents.

The atmosphere was pleasant and lively; even the coldness of the weather can't penetrate. But the family never thought the happy atmosphere would turn into a sad and grieving day.

A phone call shattered their peaceful holiday. Huang Jin answered the call from an unknown number. He was listening to the other side. His smiling face turned pale, and his eyes turned red. Huang Jin's hand holding the phone turned white.

Seeing Huang Jin's abnormality, he listened to the speaker on the phone and heard the news. Xun Wei's eyes moved to the happy child sitting on the floor playing with Mother Xun and Father Xun.

He felt sad and pity for the child. Xun Wei's hand tightened up around Huang Jin's waist.

Feeling Huang Jin stood up, still holding the phone in his ears and walking to the kitchen. Xun Wei followed while holding hands with his lover.

"Thank you for calling; I will send someone to arrange everything. And we will follow after the end of the year. In the meantime, please help with making Sister Jian comfortable."

Huang Jin breathed deeply, trying to expel the stuffy feeling. His eyes met with the crimson eyes full of worry of Xun Wei.

"I don't know how to tell Ahbao about her sister, Ahwei, what will say to him? I thought the child would feel happy enough because he doesn't need to be hurt by his father's selfishness."

"We are here for him; we will tell the truth to the child. Now he needs us more than ever. He will feel alone because of her sister's death, but we won't let him suffer alone. Don't worry; I will make sure the child stays with us. I won't let his father take the child from you. I know that you already love Ahbao. I can see it the way you take care and smile with him."

Xun Wei assured Huang Jin while holding him in his arms.

When the couple went back to the living room, the family felt something was wrong, so they asked Huang Jin and Xun Wei.

The couple told them about the phone call and turned to Jian Bao, who was busy playing stop when he heard his name called by Brother Huang Jin.

Jian Bao turned his little head to Huang Jin with a smile on his face until Huang Jin told him something that a four-year-old brain can't process. The only word he heard was dead and his sister's name on Huang Jin's lips. After a couple of minutes, the happiness turned into a sobbing, then screaming. The child's eyes turned red, and tears rolled down his face. The shaking and sobbing inside the living room did not stop; the atmosphere was sad and solemn.

Seeing the child crying until his voice is gone eventually bowed to Jian Bao's sobs lifting the child into his arms, spending most of the dark hours holding the grieving child.

Huang Jin didn't talk and coax Jian Bao but stayed with him.

Jian Bao felt alone without her sister. He felt suffocated and scared, knowing that her sister is gone. The person who was always with him and cared about him is gone.

The feeling of despair permeated on his innocent and fragile heart. He felt someone embracing him, and his teary-eyed face turned to the embrace.

Feeling the warmth of the person holding him, he let go of his sadness for a while before succ.u.mbing to sleep.

Xun Wei took the child from Huang Jin and carried him to the sofa. He laid him down while waiting for Huang Jin to sit down.

" I told the person to arrange Sister Jian's body. After the holiday Xun Wei and I can take her body for cremation. She did not suffer from the pain when the truck collided with her car. The doctors tried to revive her, but it was too late." Huang Jin told the family.

" It's better to ask for Jian Bao what he wanted to do with her sister's remains. In this way, he can mourn properly with us around him so that he can't feel that he's alone. He's still small but experiences so many painful things."

The happy holiday turned into a sad day for the Xun's. The family waited for Jian Bao to wake up. When they asked him what to do with Sister Jian, he told Huang Jin what her sister told him before when he was three.

To cremate her and bury her remains alongside their mother in F country.

After hearing Jian Bao's words, Huang Jin told the child that they would go tomorrow to collect his sister's remains and go to Country F as per her wish.