All Is Well

WHAT IS it feel like to have a family at such an early age?
Do we feel regrets or not?
To some, maybe yes, but to others, like Isla… she has no regrets at all.
Having a family is like you have an unwavering sense of security. You realize that wealth is not necessary for happiness. Rather than that, you’re happy because you’re loved, treasured, and accepted wholeheartedly.
Even if you have a bad day out in the world, you know that when you return home, everything will be fine. While we are out in the world, we are constantly raising our shields and swords to defend ourselves against unfortunate and nasty people who may attempt to exploit us.
However, you know that you will be able to lay down the shield and sword when you return home, as there will be no enemies. Everyone becomes so close in a loving family that they can almost read each other’s minds; they immediately notice something strange or when someone is going through a difficult situation.
It’s almost as if everyone becomes so intimately connected and entangled in one another’s thoughts and feelings that they are becoming one, a simple pattern, a family.
“Da-da-da-da…” Isla’s six-month-old daughter keeps on blabbering the word: dada… which they all know means Dad.
She pouted her lips as she heard Zero’s soft chuckle beside her. She glanced at him, met his gaze, and pierced her glares.
“What?” Zero asked and bit his lower lip.
Isla looked at her daughter as she let her stand on her leg. “Can’t you say Momma, baby?”
Zero smiled widely when Eight repeated saying, Dada. Zero reached for his daughter, and Isla let him.
Zero gave a soft kiss to his daughter’s cheek. “Your mommy is getting impatient, sweetie. Let’s practice, mom-ma,” he muttered and flashed a sweet smile at Isla, making Isla roll her eyes.
“Come on, baby. Don’t act like a baby. Don’t get jealous,” Zero said, consoling Isla’s emotion.
Isla heaved a deep sigh. “All right. Anyway, why didn’t you get to work this day? Do you plan to stay with us—”
“You got it, baby,” Zero said and winked at her.
Isla could feel the warmth that rushed towards her cheeks.
She heaved a deep sigh. “How’s your company and everything?” she asked and met his gaze.
Zero smiled. “All is well, baby. I am planning to take a one-month leave—”
“What? No. What are you going to do with that one-month leave?”
Zero let out a soft chuckle and let his daughter sit on his lap. “I am the boss, baby. I can go to work whenever I want—”
“I’ve checked your schedules. You’re fully loaded this month. So, you better get your ass off to work or else…” she paused and bit her lower lip. Isla looked around as they were sitting in the garden. However, she shook her head. “Nothing,” she added.
“Hmm… Why do I smell a horny thing?”
“Zero…” Her eyes widened to warn him.
Zero let out a soft chuckle and played with his daughter’s hand while Eight kept on blabbering dada.
“Anyway, baby. Do you want to visit our new house?” Zero asked.
Isla sighed. As much as possible, she just wanted to see it once Eight turned one.
She shook her head. “My decision is final. I will not see it not until Eight turns one,” she replied.
Zero pressed his lips and nodded. “All right.”
“Hello…!”
Zero and Isla frowned when they heard Becca’s voice. They both looked to the side and saw Becca and Apollo approaching them.
“Hi, guys…!” Becca’s cheerful voice roared in their surroundings and totally broke the solemn between them.
Hearing Becca’s loud voice, Eight started to get irritated.
Zero then stood up to sway his daughter.
Isla then glared at Becca before she turned to her brother. “Can’t you teach your girlfriend not to shout—”
“She loves that. I have nothing to say,” Apollo interrupted, making Becca’s head bigger. Becca then sneaked out her tongue toward Isla.
Isla arched her brow and rolled her eyes.
“What brings you here? I thought you two are happily living together,” Isla averted the topic.
“Ugh. Apollo is so boring to be within a day—”
“So, he’s interesting at night?” Isla cut off the hum of Becca’s words.
Becca bit her lower lip. “No comment,” she replied.
Zero shook his head while watching the two girls talk. Suddenly, Apollo approaches him and gives a soft kiss on his daughter’s cheek.
“How’s the deal with Angelo’s? It’s been a month,” Apollo began and let Eight hold his finger.
“I’m starting to get all their resources. Dad is into it too. So, I am taking a break,” he replied as he started to walk away from the girls. Apollo then followed.
“How about Tilda and her brother?”
“They’re out of the country,” Zero replied.
“Are you sure you can control them? What if they will risk your family again?”
Zero let out a devilish grin as he glanced at his daughter, who was now sucking her left thumb silently. “They can try if they can. I am not bringing my guard down if my family was involved.”
Apollo smiled and tapped Zero’s shoulder. “I am happy with the progress and for you. I never portray that I will be witnessing a different Zero. A more tame one.”
Zero smiled. “Anyway, how’s the preparation?” he asked, making Apollo raise his thumb and glance at the ladies when they stopped.
“All set. We only need to wait for the right time,” Apollo replied. “Good luck,” he added.
AFTER LUNCH.
“What’s wrong with you?” Isla complained when Becca started to drag her. “Where are we going?”
Becca smiled. “I want to fix my hair. And color my nails. So, let’s go to the salon…!” she exclaimed, making Isla frown.
“I don’t want to. I just want to rest—”
“Come on, girl. Just this time—”
“No. I have works to do, and I’m on my red days,” Isla interrupted.
Becca let out a soft chuckle. “Come on. Don’t be a killjoy. Looked at Zero and Apollo; they went out.”
“I need to look for my daughter—” Isla didn’t finish her words when Becca exclaimed… “Nana…!”
Nana then went closer to them with Eight wrapped in her arms. “Yes, young Miss?”
“You can take a look at Eight for a while. I’m gonna take Isla to the salon,” Becca said.
“Yes, Miss,” Nana replied, making Isla roll her eyes and heaved a deep sigh.
She surrendered. “Fine.”
Becca smiled widely and dragged her out of their mansion.
They spend an hour at the spa and another hour at the salon. Isla was a little bothered since her daughter was left at home. However, when she called Nana to check if everything was fine, she felt relief when she heard her daughter was playing.
“Oh, how I miss this life. How about you?” Becca asked after a few moments of silence.
Isla just nodded. Making Becca arch her brow. “Aren’t you happy?”
She pressed her lips together and suddenly sighed. “Quite,” she simply replied, making Becca frown.
“Geez, you should feel happy—”
“I am. But we need to go back early… it’s already three.”
Becca formed a sly smirk on her lips. “Five.”
“No. It’s too late. Let’s go back after this.”
“Five, and don’t you worry, Apollo will pick us up, and Zero already knew about this. Maybe, by now, they’re already at the mansion. Didn’t Zero tell you that they’ll be home at three?”
Isla frowned and shook her head.
“I’ll call him—”
“No!” Becca exclaimed. “I mean. No. He might miss you,” she added and bit her lower lip.
“You’re strange,” Isla uttered.
Becca smiled awkwardly. “Am I?”
Isla squinted her eyes and suddenly faced the lady in front of her. “Isn’t she weird?”
The lady looked at her shyly and nodded. “I think so, ma’am,” the lady replied, making Becca’s eyes widen.
“What—”
“Cut the drama and stop talking,” Isla asserted.
After that, no one dared to speak until they were done.
“Where are we going again?” Isla asked confusedly when Becca dragged her inside the famous boutique.
“Let’s get dressed—”
“There’s no occasion—”
“Just,” Becca simply replied, and suddenly they were welcomed by the store manager.
Becca asked for their limited-edition dresses, and she was the one who picked Isla’s dress.
Since Isla is too lazy to start an argument with Becca, she just wears the dress, and when she gets out, Becca is already wearing hers.
“Perfecto!” Becca exclaimed and turned to the manager. “Thank you for these lovely dresses,” she said.
Isla frowned slightly. “Who will going to pay for—”
“Don’t worry. My treat,” Becca asserted and flashed a wide smile at her.
Isla heaved a deep sigh. It was just a simple dress—Lilli Pulitzer Jacquard Fit & Flare Dress paired with black Dior heels.
She was confused about why they had to wear those dresses. However, she just let Becca. Well, way back then, Becca always did the makeover thing once a week.
“Next stop, back to the salon,” Becca asserted, which made Isla shake her head.
Becca commanded the staff to put some simple makeup on their faces when they got back to the salon. And in a few minutes, it’s done.
“Now, I am wondering why we need to dress like this… are you planning something, Genie?”
Becca pressed her lips and moved away. “You know I am not fond of surprises—”
“Really?” Becca cut off. “Consider this as a token of our friendship—”
“Oh, come on. Cut the drama,” Isla uttered and walked outside the salon.
“Let’s wait for Apollo here. He’s on the way,” Becca said with a smile.
Isla arched her brow and just shook her head.
“Oh, let me carry your bag.” Becca snatched her bag, which startled her a bit.
“Geez. What’s wrong with you?”
‘She’s weird,’ Isla thought.