"I didn't expect you to have time and play with your family. Since you're always busy every day."
"Hahahaha! That's because my wife has been nagging me to come and play with the kids. I don't want her to nag me even more if I keep refusing!" Clarke replied with a hearty laugh.
But then, that laugh disappeared when Clarke's phone vibrated, he got a call.
Everyone went silent immediately, including the kids who stared at Clarke with dreadful eyes. Even Hermes already knew what would happen next after hearing that ominous ringtone from his Dad's phone.
The situation became awkward, and Clarke gulped, "I—'ll take the phone call first. Wife, you should prepare the kids to play in the water park."
Clarke turned around and walked away from his family. He picked up the call from one of his staff in the office, "What is it?"
"Boss! There is an emergency! The office data has been hacked, and our next confidential project has been stolen! We need you in the office right now to make a decision!" The staff reported.
"WHAT?!" Clarke was surprised, then got angry in the next second. "How could you screw up this badly!? I paid you to secure that project!"
"I—I'm sorry, Boss. But I don't know what's happening! All the computers and data inside the office has been hacked!"
"Argh!" Clarke growled in frustration. "I'll come to the office soon, you better salvage anything you can, or you'll face the consequence!"
Click.
Clarke hung up the call and looked at Gaius and his kids, chatting with Reed, waiting for him to return.
He felt so guilty because he had already promised his son that they would play together on the slide, and swim together, have a small race, chilling on a floatie.
Now everything was ruined because of some big problem in the office.
He stared at Gaius, who looked so happy, maybe because this was the first time they had a short vacation after months of hard work.
Clarke clenched his fist and walked towards his family. He patted Gaius' shoulder and whispered, 'We need to talk alone.'
Gaius felt something ominous, but he nodded and gave Artemis to Hermes, "Take care of your sister for a moment and stay with Uncle Reed. I'll have a talk with your Dad."
…
Clarke and Gaius distanced themselves from the kids, and Clarke mustered his courage, "Wife, it's about the office…."
"There's a problem that forces you to leave and take care of the company, right?" Gaius already guessed what the problem was.
Clarke lowered his gaze out of guilt, not knowing what to say.
"… is it that urgent? You can't skip it? Just for the day…."
"I can't. It's crucial to save the company."
"… then you should at least talk to the kids," Gaius pointed at Hermes and Artemis. "Especially Hermes, he was so excited to play with you since morning."
"W—Wife, are you disappointed?"
"Clarke, I think you know the answer already. But I won't be the one who stops you from doing your job, just go and tell the kids first."
…
Clarke and Gaius returned to their kids after the discussion. Gaius picked Artemis from Hermes and pushed Hermes to face his father. Hermes stared at his Dad, who looked worried, "Dad? What's wrong?"
"Son, I have something to do in the office. I have to go now."
"But… you promised to play with me. You've never spent your time with me, Dad…." Hermes stared at his Dad as if he had been wronged. People in the school often told him that he was lucky to have Superbman as his dad.
But Hermes never felt so because his dad rarely spent time with them. Even something as simple as watching movies together, Clarke never did that with the kids.
"Hermes, Dad's work is really important. You'll understand when you get older. We can play another day, okay?" Clarke tried to coax his son to no avail.
Hermes stared at his dad with red and teary eyes. He was ready to throw a tantrum, "You keep saying dad every time I asked you to play. But Dad, you never play with Artemis or me! That is so unfair! My friends play with their dads often!"
Clarke was hopeless against his son, who started throwing tantrums. He looked at Gaius, asking for help.
Gaius stared at Clarke expressionlessly and then grabbed Hermes' hand, "Don't cry, Hermes. Dad has other things to do."
"But Mom! I really want to play with Dad! He promised to play, but now he leaves us again!" Hermes refused to let go.
Artemis also got affected by her older brother, and she started sobbing as well, making Clarke even more guilty. He kept staring at his wife, begging for Gaius to help him, but Gaius only stared at him with a flat expression.
"Okay, okay, don't cry, Hermes, Artemis. There is Uncle Reed here, right?" Reed suddenly barged in and patted Hermes and Artemis' heads, "Don't worry, you can play with Uncle! Do you want to play water slides? Floating in the long river with a floatie? Or do you want to experience sea waves?"
Hermes finally stopped sobbing and looked at his Uncle as if looking at a saviour, "We can do that, Uncle?"
"Yes! Your Dad is very busy right now, but that's for your own good! Uncle will accompany you and your sister today, don't worry!" The usually cold Reed became very gentle. He tried to give the affection that Clarke couldn't give to Hermes and Artemis.
"Un… okay…"
Clarke was relieved when he saw his children finally agreed to play with Reed instead.
Reed took the kids with him to the water park, leaving Clarke and Gaius alone.
"Wife…"
"Just go, Clarke," Gaius said coldly.
Clarke felt heavy in his heart because Gaius didn't even want to call him Husband, a sign that he was upset.
"I'll return as soon as possible, okay?" Clarke said. He tried to reach Gaius' cheek, but the latter backed off to dodge Clarke's touch.
"It's alright. Take your time. It must've been an important matter, right?" Gaius asked.
"Yes, it's bout the future of the company…."
"Then go, don't worry about us. Reed has taken care of the kids anyway," Gaius turned around before he walked away. He said, "I doubt you can solve the problem quickly. You don't need to return to this water park after you're done with your job. Just return home instead. I bet we already finished our dinner the moment you've returned."
"Wife… are you angry?"
[Oh, for fuck sake! Of course, I'm angry! What kind of dense idiot you are!]
[Pupa: You're too harsh on him. He's trying to save the company he worked hard, you know.]
[I know, but that doesn't mean I can't get upset, right? Especially for the kids, they must've been so upset because Clarke failed to fulfil his promise.]
[Kids don't know about work, project, risk or anything. They just want to have fun! Of course, they'll be upset!]
[Pupa: It seems that you're just upset to gaslight the situation even further. Is it because of your experience when you were little?]
[…]
"Just leave now, Clarke," Gaius said as he walked away from his husband.
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