Old Friend

Summer, I can hear the cicada's sound as I walk to the Warner family home, they live in an area that is full of trees like the edge of the village I would say.

“ah, hot!” I complained as I walked on the side of an empty road, I was shaded by some trees but the heat stroke still could beat it. I’m Cean Damian a doctor and a friend of the first son of Warner Family, Fred Warner. I was requested by my friend to check the condition of his pregnant wife.

“why there isn’t any transportation that goes to your house Fred!” I am annoyed by the fact as I wiped the sweat flowing down my face. not long I saw a Hunter motorcycle that got closer to me, the rider was wearing a leather jacket and black motorcycle helmet, and they waved their hand “CEAN!”

“finally” My annoyance immediately disappeared as I heard that man's voice

He stopped beside me “Why are you walking, I already told you to wait at the bus stop”

“you don’t know how hot it is there!”

Fred just sighed “Get on, before you pass out because of heat stroke” he taunted

“you!” I got on to his motorcycle

While driving to Werner's house I can feel the wind breeze through my face

“How is your clinic there?” asks Fred as he drives

“Normal, some villager there pay me with their harvest goods”

“don’t have any plans to get married and have kids?”

“no, I’m not interested in getting married or having kids”

He laughed a little “You will die of loneliness Cean”

“whatever” I answered annoyingly

It can't be helped, I cannot tell him that I’m immortal and one of the eight pillars, getting married and having a kid never come into my mind to be honest, as long I have my clinic, my territory, peaceful life, and my “family” I don’t mind living alone.

“c’mon Cean, getting married and having kids can change your life. Look at me, I’m going to be a father next month”

“that's for you, not for me”

We arrived at the Warner Family home; a large house inhabited by 7 family members. When I got into the front yard, I saw the gardener.

“Mr. Robert” I greeted Him

“oh Cean, good Afternoon” Robert smiled at me

“Mr. Robert, wear your hat. You’re not hot?” Fred has seen worried

“I’m okay, as long my son not overheating” he waved his hand to say that there was no need to be worried, a boy appeared behind Robert and he wore Robert's hat, he seemed to be hiding

“Ash, are you healthy?” I ask the child

The kid hid behind Robert, then he petted the child's head

“he is healthy, don’t be shy, say hello to him”

“Good afternoon”

“we're going inside first, see you soon” Fred waved his hand to them

Robert Consalvo and his wife, already working with the Warner family for a long time. They are already like a family to the Warner, Ash Consalvo is already like their nephew to the family

“I heard Ash climb the apple in the backyard and give the apple to Penny” Fred seemed pleased when telling the story as we walked to the room where his wife is

“it seems like your child and him going to get along very well”

“I hope they can get along with each other”

“If I’m not mistaken your wife is pregnant with twins, right?”

“Triplets, I’m going to be the father of three” Fred seems happy about the fact

“you seem impatient”

“Yes, I want to quickly carry three of them in my arms” he looked even more cheerful

Without realizing we arrived, Fred knocked on the door to tell her that we going in

“Penny we’re here,” said Fred as we entered the room

Penny Melody, a woman with light blue hair and a sharp eye but her gaze is soft, she was crocheting on a rocking chair

Fred immediately runs to her “Darling, you should rest, come on, let’s lie down on the bed”

“I’m fine, I’m already feeling healthy”

Fred touched her cheek “You still warm, come on, lie down on the bed and Cean going to check your health”

“just like that, it's okay” as I put my bag on the table next to them “Did you forget something, Fred?” I smiled at him

“forget?”

I stared at him “You think I’m not thirsty after that walk?”

“right, I’m going to prepare an iced tea for you” he left the room while running

I sighed annoyedly “he hasn’t changed a bit since the first time we met”

Penny laughed a bit “he always likes that”

When I was almost done checking Penny, Fred came in with a tray of drinks “Here” he put the tray next to us

“Thank you” I drink the iced tea straight away until the glass is empty “Penny just tired, don’t push yourself, especially since you going to give birth next month and you carrying three children in your womb, of course, it drains your energy”

“I see” as Penny stroked her stomach “Ah, it’s moving”

“where” Fred immediately touched his wife's stomach

“Over here” Penny moved Fred's hand to show where she felt their movements

“Uwaa it's moving” he laughed happily “Will one of them become an active child? Cean comes here, you should tries to touch it They are moving” Fred seems happy about it

“I’m fine”

Fred pulls my hand “Come here” he puts them where I can feel the child's movement, I can feel them moving “this is Uncle Cean, a great doctor. You can pay him with yogurt” he chuckled

“Who said you can pay me with yogurt” I replied irritably, I could feel their kicking on my palms “Your child can't keep quiet huh, just like their father” I pulled my hand

“buhhh just said that you are jealous, go find a wife”

“you!”

After he paid me and took me to the bus stop, before he left we had a little conversations

“Cean, when Penny has given birth, visit my children kay”

“yes, if I can”

Fred punched my shoulder gently “Not “if I can” you must “can”,  You can carry them later. Who knows you suddenly want a child hehe”

“yeah yeah, but in any way I don’t have plans to have them”

One month later

I got a call from Fred, that his three children were born healthy and I was immediately asked to come to see them. I wait at the bus stop while carrying the gift for their newborn

“Cean” Fred came to pick me up, he is seen happy “Come on, I can't wait for you to meet my kids”

I sighed “Okay okay”

I see the triples sleeping peacefully on the baby cot. One boy and two girls

“They cute right” Fred stands next to me

I just stare at them

“my first son, Floyd, my second daughter the one with the darker blue hair than both of them, Franny, and my youngest daughter, Freya. Three of them were born in a healthy condition”

When I turned my gaze to Fred, he looked happy

“uwaa Cean, I become a father,” said Fred as he hugged me “I became a father”

“Congratulations, hope they are always healthy”

not long Franny cried

“What's wrong Franny, don’t worry Father here” Fred immediately carried his child and calmed her, he showed Franny to me “Look her face is cute”

“yes, like you”

“yeah, she looks like me” Fred smiled “Want to try to carry her?”

“How do you carry her?”

Fred told me how to hold a baby, now I’m holding Franny in my arms. I looked at the child's face gently “You are very small” I smiled at the child

“well well look who said that “I am not interested in having a child” now you are holding one and smiling at them” he taunted me

“I still don’t have interest” I answer annoyedly

“Cean when you get married or have a child call me, and I will match one of my children to you" he joked

“never going to happen”

It’s been 1 week since the birth of the triplets

I was already preparing for the clinic closing when I heard the phone ringing and I answered them

“This is Dami-“

“Cean”

I can hear Fred's sound from the phone, his breathing sounds irregular

“Cean, it seems like I won't be able to see my children grow up” he laughed

I immediately panicked “What do you mean, don’t joke with me!”

“sorry my friend-“

“Don’t talk anymore, I’m going there!”

I immediately borrowed one of the villager’s motorbikes and stepped on the gas to the Warner family house

When I arrived, the house seemed empty and dark, I busted the front door. I saw Fred father's corpse lying on the entrance, I immediately ran to Fred and Penny bedroom. On my way there, I see the bodies of the Warner family, Mr. Robert, and his wife.

“FRED” as I kick the door open only to see Penny's lifeless body lying stiff beside the baby’s cot and Fred lying down on the floor dying, I run towards him

“Fred hold on” I try to save him

“Cean, my child has been taken”

My eyes winded “What?!”

“Listen to me, the one who did this is Kiko Louis” his breath starting to slow down

“Don’t talk too much, I’m-“

“Cean, I already losing too much blood and please give the three gifts on the closest when they turn 18, Penny made those for them." He took a deep breath "Please save them if you can” he coughed up blood and laughed a bit “Thank you Cean, for being my best friend” Fred took his last breath, I lay stiff while holding his hand, I could feel the warmth of his body fading. I just stayed still.

“Mr. Cean” I immediately looked at the source of the sound

Ash stands behind the door, he seems shaking and full of fear. I ran to him and carried him

“Let go outside with uncle, okay, you must be scared” I took Ash out of the house

The police came, I told them what I saw. All of the Warner and Consalvo family have been murdered by a sword, Kiko Louis hasn’t been captured and Ash is guarded by Eryl

I’m at a graveyard, I pray for Warner and Consalvo family member

“Fred your child Franny she grows healthily. She looks like you in face and eye color” I was silent for a moment “I have a daughter, named Ruby. I adopted her. You were right. Having them changed you. Your son Floyd now his name is Lucius, became a librarian I heard that he was a sage when he was an adventurer, and Freya now her name is Chi, her eyes really like Penny's. Sharp but she a kind and gentle kid, she works at my mother's bakery, well more like she works at her mother's bakery. I will come to visit you again; don’t worry I make sure your child grows happily. I haven’t given the gift to them, it's unfair if I only give it to Franny when she turns 18 and the others don't. I’m planning to give them right now” I stand up and see Fred's grave before I leave “You can rest now, my friend. You don’t need to worry anymore” Then I left the graveyard

I arrived home, I knocked on the door to let them know that I was home “I’m home” as I entered the house

“Father where have you been?” asked Franny who is currently sitting in the living room while holding a newspaper and eating a sandwich

“papa do you want a warmth tea, It’s cold outside so please drink some” as she walked from the kitchen while holding a cup of tea to me

I stood still for a few seconds and took a deep breath “Franny” as I turned my focus to her

“call Lucius and Chi to come here. There is something I want to talk about”