"Dad…" Josh uttered.
Randy and Venus's eyes widened as if to question how quickly their brother had been
co-opted.
I just did it, " Josh replied sheepishly. "It's not like Mommy disapproves or anything like
that."
The three children then turned in concert to regard Carla.
Their mother appeared quite abashed and did not know how to respond.
Josh asked softly, "You wouldn't be against us treating Uncle Zay like our Dad, would you,
Mommy?"
"Whatever do you mean by treating me like your Dad?" Zayn frowned. "I am your Dad, to
begin with."
"Huh?" The children were dumbfounded as they glanced at Zayn and Carla.
"Let's go inside. I'll explain this to y'all."
Carla concurred. A matter of such importance should be discussed when everyone had
settled in.
"Okay!" The children nodded obediently. However, their mood was somber, as they sensed
their mother had something important to announce.
The entire family bundled into the study when they came back in.
Mrs. Borah and the three kids were seated side by side, while Zayn and Carla
occupied the couch across from them.
The housekeeper was a little uptight. "Perhaps I should step outside while your family
talked, Miss."
"You are family too, Mrs. Borah."
Carla then gestured for her to sit.
Mrs. Borah could only stay put on the one side with the half-asleep Dori nodding off in her lap.
"What do you want to tell us, Mommy?"
Randy was as self-assured and collected as the eldest amongst the children ought to be.
He mustered the courage to speak up even though he was quite the nervous wreck himself.
"Mommy had never broached this subject with you before…" Carla stuttered as she had
no clue as to how to even begin. "The truth of the matter is…"
"Allow me, " Zayn interjected. "I'm actually your father. Your real father."
"Huh?" The children's eyes were forced wide as they glared at him, dumbstruck and in
absolute disbelief.
"I met your Mommy four years ago and left a seed in her body, which grew to become the
three of you…"
Zayn appropriated the descriptions used in some illustrated books which he had
consulted previously on the subject.
"We didn't know each other that time, and I wasn't aware that she was pregnant until we met
again four years later under a different identity. We didn't get along at first because we had a
number of misunderstandings between us, but that's out of the way now. Since then, I've
also learned that you're my children, so…"
"Hold on a second, " Randy interrupted, as there was much he did not understand. "Why did
you leave a seed inside Mommy when you didn't even know each other? That doesn't seem
very logical."
"Yeah, yeah."
Josh and Venus quickly concurred as the trio shared the same stance.
"That…"
Zayn's brows furrowed as he considered how to best explain in a comprehensible way
for children the stimulating yet bizarre manner in which they were conceived that fateful
night.
"It's because it was dark. We couldn't see each other."
Carla's attempt was brusque and tactless.
Zayn rolled his eye at it. The children were bound to end up learning the wrong things
with that approach.
"How did you know that we're your children then?" Randy's rational mind continued to whirl.
"Yeah, yeah. How did you find out?"
Josh and Venus merely echoed what was said. They did not know as much, but they knew
Randy was bright. It was safe for them to assume, therefore, that Randy's questions had to
be on point.
"It's because you and I both share the same allergy towards the kiwi fruit. That was what
prompted me to do a DNA test for both of us. The result established that you're my son. As
Josh, Venus, and yourself are triplets, it naturally follows that they must also be my children."
Zayn then passed the DNA test results along to Randy.
He did not speak to the children like they were three year old, but treated them as though
they were his equals.
That made them feel respected and therefore take his words seriously.
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