Everything has changed

Chapter 11: Reflections of the life I've lived

A few hours later as the sun begins to set everyone has had their fun and food has been cooked.

"Guys food's ready!!" Jamil yelled to get the other's attention.

"Food!? Coming!" Najma immediately left the waters and ran to his brother.

"HEY WAIT UP!" Khalil then rose and joined Najma shortly.

Kalim then called to Amir who was still happily floating in the water, "Amir! C'mon Uncle Jamil cooked food!"

"Aww.." the boy pouted clearly isn't happy that he needs to get up from his happy floating time.

Kalim sighs, "C'mon don't give me that pout, Jamil's cooking is great!"

After much convincing and promise that he'll take Amir swimming again later, the boy was finally convinced to go back to the tent with the rest of them.

Jamil used tongs and placed the barbecues in each paper plate he laid out. Both Khalil and Najma's eyes sparkled and Jamil could tell Khalil was already drooling. Kalim and his little one soon came after, Amir clearly pouting.

Jamil leaned down to the boy's size, "Amir, if you don't eat you can't get back at the beach."

"But I wanna swim!" The boy complained.

"I understand that but you can't, do you wanna swim with an upset stomach cause you didn't eat?"

"No..."

"That's a good boy" Jamil then patted the little one's head.

"Wow I'm surprised you can convince him, it's hard to handle him these days..." Kalim says as his son runs off to his Uncle Khalil.

"You tell me that as if I didn't handle hundreds of your siblings..."

"They weren't hundreds! They were 72!"

"And I'm surprised you keep count.." Jamil then walked off and proceeded to eat with the rest of the group.

The group peacefully chatted as they ate, recalling memories of naivete. They laughed at their younger selves stupid decisions, mostly Jamil's past angry self. Kalim felt at peace, a feeling he hasn't felt for 4 years. He was starting to think Khalil was right. Maybe it isn't a bad thing to take it easy once in a while. Many have changed through time; he almost forgot what it's like to be surrounded like this. Jamil was back, not only that this time he was wiser, calmer, and happier. He was happy for the man.

Happiness suited him.

Smiling suited his handsome face.

Kalim stared at him, he definitely grew from the boy he once was and he couldn't be any more happy that he was at a place in his life where he can laugh freely. His face slowly dropped as he realised he's not the same.

It just dawned on him.

Until now....

He has led a miserable life.

Married at the young age of 20, as he saw people his age live their lives he stood still in that palace. Became a father at age 23 and nothing prepared him for it, while his classmates were all over the globe having fun in their lives and living the way they wanted to. While he sacrificed what he wanted for a woman who didn't even stay. Jamil traveled the world growing in the process, Azul was making a breakthrough in the world of business by having multiple investments and partnerships, the twins? Well they're still with Azul but no one can really pinpoint what they do. They do what they want when they want. Wouldn't that be a bliss? Ruggie helped raise his family from the slums and he gained money from playing Magift professionally, he's gotten quite popular too. Silver, he became a fully fledged knight by Malleus's side. He came to visit Kalim once in a while and that's the closest Kalim has been to a reunion.