AMACon 3: Oikos - Children

The Truth - Epilogue

TWO MONTHS LATER

Thirdy rang the doorbell to his parent's house. Beside him stood Sebastian, who was carrying a bottle of fancy white wine.

"Ready?" Thirdy asked.

"As I'll ever be." Sebastian replied. His other hand reached for Thirdy's fingers.

The door opened and they were greeted by Thirdy's twin sister, Charmaine. She had a blissful look on her face as she saw the two.

"You two are early." She hugged them both and gave a kiss on their cheeks then she looked at Thirdy. "What took you?"

"Multiple MVCs, multiple cardio consults, one tricuspid valve repair and one balloon angioplasty. I haven't left the hospital since yesterday. You know how that goes."

"Yeah. Good thing I'm not yet chief of General Surgery." They both laughed before heading inside.

"Mom, I'm here!" Thirdy moved closer to Maine, gave her a lingering hug, and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I missed you."

"You were just with me at the set of my show helping me the other day." Maine laughed then hugged her son tight. "But, I missed you, too."

"Hey, kuya!" Athena ran towards her older brother and gave him a hug. "Who's ate Charmaine talking to?"

"That's Sebastian. The one mom keeps fussing about." He gave her an eyebrow raise which made her giggle.

"So where's..." Thirdy tried to ask his sister where her twin was but she already knew what he was about to ask so she cut him off and answered immediately.

"He's on his way home. His flight got delayed that's why he's gonna be late." She shrugged then went to set the dining table.

"Mom, I'd like you to meet someone." Thirdy said. He grabbed Sebastian from Charmaine then dragged him back to Maine. "Sebastian. My boyfriend."

"Maine? Ate Maine? Holy shit!" Sebastian blurted out. Instead of being mortified by the language his boyfriend used, he got completely and utterly confused.

"Baste. Nice to see you again. You should have told me you're dating my son you weirdo." She gave him a hug. "Im really glad he decided to introduce you." They both laughed heartily.

"I wish dad was here." Thirdy said softly. He really did wish his dad was there to personally meet Sebastian.

"My baby boy, you know, if he was here, he'd be really happy to see you with him. He'd be glad to meet him. And I know for a fact he'd be happy to see you happy, so no sadness. It's Christmas Eve." Maine squeezed her son's shoulder then pulled him in for a hug. She also grabbed Sebastian and included him in that moment.

"I just wish I could've have done more." Thirdy whispered. Tears started falling from his face.

"You already did. And, I'm sure he's proud of you. So proud." Maine started tearing up. "Just by being honest, and just by finding your own happiness, you've made us so proud."

Suddenly, the door opened. Siegfried bounced in gleefully, followed by Richard, their father.

"I just came back from a film shoot in the Philippines and when I get back here everybody's crying. What gives?" His dimpled laugh lit up the room.

"Dad!" Thirdy said. He rushed to his father and hugged him tighter than ever before.

Everything is as it should be.

(Special thanks to @musicismylyf21 for beta reading the entire collection)