When the right time comes

21: An initiative

“Does it taste good?

“Yes.” 

“Should I order one more bowl?” 

“No! This is more than enough.” Timmy gleefully said as he shoved another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. 

Haikuan smiled. “My brother likes strawberry flavour and I like exactly what you chose.” 

“Really?” Timmy had a wide smile on his face as he exclaimed. “My brother also likes the same flavour as your brother’s but we share everything we get and eat both, hehe.” He paused after taking another bite. “Um...Do  you want some?” He pushed his bowl towards Haikuan, offering him the ice cream. 

“No, no. I'm good.” Haikuan shook his head and gently pushed it back to Timmy.  “Actually I have a sore throat.” He said as he sipped on the hot chocolate he ordered. 

“Oh? Okay.” Timmy took the bowl back and continued eating happily.

Haikuan smiled at the cuteness of the younger. It's really a coincidence that they met outside the hospital when Haikuan was out to pick up the cake for his brother's birthday. Timmy was there for the same too, to buy a cake. 

He didn't know why but Haikuan felt like offering the cute boy an ice cream and Timmy didn’t deny it either. Gosh! The glint in those eyes! Haikuan will never forget it in his life. He had never seen someone become this happier after offering an ice cream. His child-like face and curious eyes which shrink as his smile widens from ear to ear… That was a sight to behold. So peaceful.

“By the way, you have a brother?” Haikuan asked as he sipped onto his drink.

“Yes. We are twins actually.”

“Oh! Really? I like twins.” 

Timmy laughed out loud at the remark. “Really?”

“Yes.” The smile widened on Haikuan's face. “It's good to see two versions of the same thing at a time. God is really magical, right?” 

Timmy chuckled. “Well, even so, there still would be something that varies to each other. I can bet you won't get confused among us. You can easily distinguish between us. Though he is the eldest, I'm the tallest and I have silky black straight hair whereas he has brown wavy hair. It said that his facial features mainly came from our mother. Maybe I took after my father.”

“Why is it a maybe? You can still check it with your mom and dad, right?” 

On that question, Timmy faltered. His smile was sad. “We… we can never again check it with them in person. They are already gone to the other world.” He lowered his gaze.

“I'm sorry.” Haikuan didn't think Timmy had a wound in his heart. The younger one seemed so cheerful to think so. 

Timmy smiled softly. “No. It's alright. It doesn't matter anymore. We still have our aunt and uncle who look after us like their own children. So, no worries.” 

Seeing him smile brightly again, Haikuan too joined him. The heaviness he felt at heart when he heard about the demise of Timmy's parents dissipated slowly. 

He saw Timmy eating the ice cream again and a bit of it spread on his lips. Haikuan extended his hand to wipe a small cream beard formed at the corner of Timmy's lips with his thumb and saw the younger one stopping on his tracks. Haikuan smiled warmly at Timmy when a flash of red spread across his cheeks which Haikuan found very adorable. 

That sweet moment was interrupted when Haikuan got a call from his mother. She was checking on the cake in case he forgot. They were holding a party for Yibo in the evening. No other guests. Just them.